Golfmagic Awards 3: Balls, irons, putters

Titleist ProV1, ProV1x and Titleist NXT balls - voted top off the tee

Continueing our announcement of the Golfmagic awards for 2008, we're delighted to reveal that golf balls, irons and putters received significantly more votes than ever before, confirming the wide variety of products available to golfers.

However, all produced conclusive results which underline that when golfers find equipment they like, they are determined to shout about it and spread the word.

MANY GOLFERS would contend that the introduction of the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball is the most significant addition to the golf industry in the last 20 years.

And certainly, despite the challenges of top names like Srixon, TaylorMade, Callaway and Nike, the St Ives-based Titleist brand has maintained its grip as market leader. Golfmagic members didn't disagree, significantly placing the Titleist ProV1x ball - the preferred choice of triple major champion Padraig Harrington - at the top of the pile ahead of its own sister model- the Titleist NXT - and the Srixon AD333.

Mizuno MP-60 - 'magic iron'

Golfmagic has also recently been conducting its own survey on the forum and the Titleist position seems to be borne out - though in the current financial climate it appears golfers are tending to try harder to keep their golf balls in play for longer.

When it comes to which irons a golfer favours, it can be very subjective. While some like the chunky top-line appeal of the confidence-building cavity back clubs, others prefer the low profile and pure striking of a blade or muscleback style of club.

In winning its category the Mizuno MP-60 iron had a clear appeal to those who appreciated its sleek lines and performance as well as those who aspired to reach a higher level of skill and felt this type of club was next on their list.

Odyssey White Hot XG7

Commented Mizuno's David Matthews: "Sites like Golfmagic.com have evened the market out. Mizuno is a manufacturer with great technical attributes which were harder to communicate pre-internet. Now we're able to put much more detail into the market and allow communities like Golfmagic.com to decide which parts have merit and pass the story onto golfers who wouldn't normally have come to us.

"Suddenly irons like the MP-60, which would have been more of a marginal iron 10 years ago, are getting into the bags of a wider range of players. Unless golfers had a chance to find out from other players that these irons could work for them, this could never have happened.

"The market isn't purely driven by advertising and endorsements anymore and that's very much in our favour. A thank you to everyone for voting for the MP-60 and their Magic iron."

Sue Page, Callaway/Odyssey Golf's PR and events manager receives the award from Golfmagic Editor Bob Warters at the Golf Europe trade show in Munich.

But it was the Odyssey White Hot XG7 - with its distinctive twin pointed tail and insert face that voters decided had most appeal.

A delighted Jeff Dodds, Callaway and Odyssey Golf European marketing director, said: "Winning awards is great, but winning awards that are voted for by the public is even better. "The XG No.7 putter – or ‘fang’ as we like to call it - has been a massive success for Odyssey, both on Tour and in the hands of the club golfer, and this very prestigious Golfmagic.com award will take pride of place on the Odyssey mantelpiece.”

LOOK OUT for more Golfmagic award winners - including top weather wear, shoes and Forum personalities and reviewers in subsequent articles.

*We want to know about the golf balls, irons and putters you're currently using - as well of course, as the shoes, trolleys and waterproofs. Submit a user review to help other golfers make informed choices and for the chance to win one of three Spherical Blade putters we're giving away for the best reviews during October and November.

And if you’ve got equipment to buy or sell second hand or even swap you can do that too, in our new and improved classified/swap shop section.