| Title: | Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference! |
| Notice: | FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61. |
| Moderator: | FUNYET::ANDERSON |
| Created: | Tue Feb 15 1994 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2129 |
| Total number of notes: | 21499 |
I am surprised that there is not a note about thermoplastic clubs. Thermoplastics are a class of plastics that include polyester, nylon and ABS materials. Thermoplastic club heads are made from a lexan and nylon composite. Currently, only woods are available in thermoplastics. Other than the club head all other components are the same. The advantage of thermoplastic is its strength to weight ratio. Because it is so light, club heads will be solid like wood, but lighter to allow better control of weight distribution. Plastic will also have a smaller area of compression at impact, which creates greater acceleration. Third, plastic can be molded in a variety of colors and shapes. The best known commercial thermoplastic club is the Cobra Bullet. It is made from Kevlar(a name brand nylon/polyester composite). They sell for about $125 per club at Nevada Bob's. There is also a guy in Nashua that custom builds sets of plastic woods(1-3-5) from $200. Some of the component places are now selling plastic components. The price of plastic heads are about 2.5x the price of metal(wood is about 4x). As far as I could tell the club can be made with standard epoxies. The hosel does need to be wrapped, though. I bought a plastic driver for my wife through Advantage Golf Supply. They are a component supplier, but will build clubs to spec for customers. The cost was around $40 for a women's standard club. This club has been spending more time in my bag then my wife's. I probably need to be fitted for my own. Brian
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 931.1 | My review | CURIE::BBARRY | Coolidge,Klein,Peete | Mon Apr 30 1990 17:51 | 18 |
As I said in the base note, I stole my wife's plastic club because I liked it so much. I find that the plastic driver feels softer in cold weather. This club has the chance of being a season extender in the northeast. In March I took my metal driver(Prima 10 degree), my wife's metal driver (Northwest 11 degree), and the plastic driver(11 degree) out for a round when the temperature was 28 F. I used DT 100 compression and XL II balls which both hit like rocks in the cold weather. I played 6 balls off each tee then best two to the hole(Not a big crowd at 28 F). The plastic club out drove the others an average of 20 yards, felt softer at impact and definitely came off the club faster. Actually hit one drive 280 yards(My driver is charted at 220) that was a perfect pop and drop flight like on the cover of the XL II box. In May I'll be in Arizona and see how plastic works in 100+F. Brian | |||||
| 931.2 | Ultramid users? | GRANPA::RFAGLEY | Mon Apr 30 1990 18:54 | 4 | |
Has anyone hit the new Cobra Ultramid driver? I'd like to try one, or
get some opinions here.
Rick
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| 931.3 | Test Drive? | CURIE::BBARRY | Coolidge,Klein,Peete | Mon Apr 30 1990 19:29 | 11 |
> Has anyone hit the new Cobra Ultramid driver? I'd like to try one, or
> get some opinions here.
The Nevada Bob's on RT 9 in Westboro, MA has one you can tryout in
their net. The one they have has been tested a lot. BTW what I called
the Cobra Bullet is in fact the Cobra Ultramid.
Brian
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| 931.4 | THERMOPLASTIC=DURABILITY | MCIS5::WIERSUM | The Back Deck Wizard | Wed May 02 1990 17:48 | 11 |
There is a guy in Worcester who makes clubs and he supplies driving
ranges with a THERMOPLASTIC wood for rentals.
He claims that these thermoplastic clubs will outlast a wood wood
by a factor of 100. he showed me, I believe.
He just rebilt my OLD Ram Tour woods and are they BEAUTIFULL.
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