New weapons — Bigger, better and sleeker: A sampler of clubs, balls and shoes for 2001 - golf equipment

Golf Digest, Dec, 2000 by Peter Farricker, E. Michael Johnson

STX' Sync Classic features a long hosel with full-shaft offset and a heel-and-toe weighted head. The putter features two interchangeable inserts, one for standard rebound on normal-to- fast greens, the other with mor rebound on slow greens ($195; 800-789-7888; www.stxgolf.com).

Slazenger's high-performance, three-piece wound Players ball features a solid center for lower spin rates off the driver. The ball's soft thread windings and polyurethane cover are designed to produce increased spin on approach shots, says the company ($52; 800-766-2615; www.slazenger.com).

The three models of Lynx' 310cc Parallax Tour Forged Beta Ti driver offer the same face deflection for three golfer swing speeds through Specific Face Thickness engineering: 9 degrees for the 105 m.p.h.-plus swing speed, 10 degrees for 90-105 m.p.h. and 11 degrees for 75-90 m.p.h. ($350; 800-456-3344; www.golfsmith.com).

Also look for: Tsunami driver from GolfGear (800-955-6440; www.golfgearint.com); TiZirc driver from Cubic Balance (888-77CUBIC; www.cubicbalance.com); Apex Edge irons from Hogan (800-772-5346; www.spalding.com); Jack Nicklaus Tour woods from Nicklaus (800-322-1872; www.nicklaus-golf.com); C-groove putter from ProGear (800-845-4327; www.bestputter.com); Dexter WeatherLite shoes (888-833-9837; www.dextershoe.com).

Pixl wedges feature a proprietary face insert that consists of more than 200 individual pieces called pixels, which act independently at impact and are designed to improve distance and feel on off-center shots. Available in 52- and 56-degree models ($150 with stainless-steel pixels, $240 with proprietary shape memory alloy pixels; 888-4PIXLGOLF; www.pixlgolf.com).

Maxfli's new Revolution Exceptional Spin Series wedges have angled grooves engraved individually into the clubface for added spin. Also look for Tour Performance Series wedges, 52-, 56- and 60-degree lofts ($119 per wedge; 800-768-4727; www.maxfli.com).

Tour Edge's Bazooka 320J driver features a forged, super-beta titanium clubhead with a thin face for maximum rebound at impact, says the company. The 4611/42-inch shaft is designed to generate faster clubhead speed for golfers with mid-range swing speeds ($600; 800-515-3343; www.touredge.com).

Square Two's Lady Rave II iron is a stainless-steel model that features copper sole inserts designed to move the center of gravity lower. The clubs also utilize a patented Posiflow system which reduces pulls and fades, says the company ($428 for 4-SW in graphite; 800-526-2250; www.squaretwo.com).

Snake Eyes' MC-01 Forged irons feature a pure blade profile with a unique "Muscle Cavity" back design. The MC-01 irons use an additional forging step to pack the steel tighter in the die, designed to increase the steel density and reduce dead spots ($650; 800-456-3344; www.golfsmith.com).

New from Nike is a split-toe model in the Course Air Tour TW line. Features include a Zoom Air heel unit for added cushioning, a composite outsole shank for stability and the company's T@C (traction at contact) full-cup outsole. The shoe carries a two-year waterproof warranty, and comes with a 90-day comfort guarantee ($140; 800-344-6453; www.nikegolf.com).