You possibly can go forward and label me a simple mark in case you should. A few months in the past, I purchased a non-conforming driver I noticed in a Fb advert.
Welp, I went and did it once more.
Nevertheless it’s not my fault. The folks at Efficiency Golf bombarded my timeline with advertisements for its 357 Fairway Hybrid. The rationale I used to be getting bombarded could be traced to an outdated colleague named Billy Holliday (for actual!). He messaged me on Fb a number of months in the past, asking if I knew something about this 357 factor. On the time, I didn’t. However, apparently, Zuckerberg’s algorithms took over and made certain I a minimum of had the chance to study.
Because it was on sale for Christmas, I shelled out $150 and figured what the hell. How dangerous may it’s?
Seems, it’s not dangerous in any respect.
In actual fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s one of many few “infomercial” golf equipment that truly does what it claims to do.
Do I’ve your consideration?
What’s a 357 Fairway Hybrid?
Based on the Efficiency Golf web site, the 357 is designed particularly for senior golfers who battle with commonplace fairway woods and hybrids. The identify itself, once more in keeping with the web site, means it combines the carry of a 3-wood, the shaft size of a 5-wood and the loft of a 7-wood. Two of these issues are undoubtedly true for. You’d want slightly statistical semantics to make all three true.
Efficiency Golf (extra on that firm in a bit) says the 21-degree 357 is made for senior golfers who battle from 150 yards plus and for whom fairway woods are, at finest, an iffy proposition.
Chris McGinley, a 35-year trade veteran, designed the 357. McGinley spent over 20 years at Titleist, engaged on woods, irons, Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putters. He additionally served a stint with Honma as VP of Product and North American GM.
The 357 options what the corporate calls “Tru-Fusion Expertise.” As finest as we will inform, that’s the buzzword for that 3-wood/5-wood/7-wood mashup. It additionally incorporates a “Progressed Face Bulldozer Design.” The 357’s face is bigger than what you’d discover in a standard fairway wooden or hybrid which the corporate says will transfer grass out of the best way for cleaner contact, even within the tough.
It additionally incorporates a “Energy Launch Crown,” a recessed crown that lowers the middle of gravity. Numerous OEMs do one thing comparable however the 357 takes it to an excessive. In spite of everything, the decrease the CG, the better it’s to get the ball up within the air. Mix that with a 7-wood loft and you’ve got a membership that’s silly simple to get airborne.
Does the 357 Fairway Hybrid carry out?
In a phrase: Hell, sure.
OK, that’s two phrases, however I gotta let you know, this factor did shock me.
You must perceive a few issues, although. Should you’re youthful than me or in case you nonetheless have some swing velocity, this membership will do its job nevertheless it’s most likely a job you don’t want accomplished. Second, you need to perceive that this membership isn’t magic. It’s not going to remodel your fairway wooden sport from an obliterative round-killer into one thing Rory or Scottie can be pleased with.
It does, nevertheless, precisely what it says it should do.
Over a number of vary classes, I discovered the 357 to be the silly-easiest membership to get a ball airborne within the common path of my goal that I’ve tried in a very long time. When you can nonetheless mishit it, this factor launches shortly, flies excessive and straight (with a sweetest child draw you ever did see) and lands, as Lee Trevino would say, like a butterfly with sore toes.
In different phrases, softly. Very softly.
I finally scored some GC Quad launch monitor time. Through the session (with a median swing velocity of 89 mph), I noticed the next:
Carry: 178 yardsTotal: 184.5 yardsLaunch Angle: 19 degreesDescent angle: 47 degreesSpin: 5,500 rpmBall Velocity: 122 mph
For enjoyable, I attempted hitting the simulated 18th inexperienced at Pebble from 180. To not brag or nuthin’ however this outdated man peppered the pin with dart after dart (perhaps slightly brag). That’s about 6-iron distance for me usually however I’m fairly certain my hit price with the 6 wouldn’t have been as excessive.
The place does the 357 match?
The declare that the 357 carries as a lot as a 3-wood doesn’t compute. For me, a minimum of, the space sits between my 5-iron and 6-iron. What I can and can rave about, nevertheless, is the 357’s consistency and forgiveness.
Might I see the 357 and its higher-lofted brother, the 359, changing my 5- and 6-irons? Sure, however provided that I checked my ego on the door first. I do know magnificence is within the eye of the beholder however because the man beholding the 357, it’s form of busy trying (and that’s placing it kindly).
Hope you want orange.
As for the ego factor, I’m simply not mentally prepared so as to add extra headcovers to the bag. I do know Fred {Couples} does it and I ought to recover from my very own rattling self however I’m simply not there but. A number of botched lengthy irons, nevertheless, and I may be altering my thoughts.
As for that declare that the 357 performs so long as a 3-wood? That’s semantics, given the goal golfer. In case your typical leisure senior golfer hit 10 photographs along with his or her 3-wood and 10 photographs with the 357, they’d seemingly get extra constant, usable strikes with the 357. Finest shot to finest shot can be no comparability, however total common? The consistency of the 357 would seemingly win out.
Or on the very least, be extra satisfying.
Is the 357 Fairway Hybrid price it?
For the senior golfer with no ego, completely.
As talked about, that is a kind of uncommon infomercial-type golf equipment that does precisely what it says it does for the meant viewers. It’s simple to hit, launches excessive and lands delicate. Are there different fairway woods that may outperform the 357? Might you set a 5-wood shaft in a 7-wood head? Completely. however not for $149. The present value on the Efficiency Golf web site is $249 however they at all times appear to have some type of deal going to get you to purchase now.
That may be the one subject I’ve with the membership. There’s at all times a little bit of suspicion when the web site lists the membership at $399, places a line by that value and offers you a $249 value in daring. It’s just like the membership is completely on sale.
Moreover, proper beneath the value is a message urging you to rush and declare a 50-percent low cost plus free bonuses. That appears slightly disingenuous.
It’s additionally essential to notice that Efficiency Golf is a subscription-based video golf instruction supplier. The corporate works with a number of the sport’s best-known lecturers, together with Hank Haney, Nick Bradley, Martin Chuck and David Leadbetter. If you purchase a 357, you get free non permanent entry to Efficiency Golf’s choices. As soon as the free trial is up, you need to be sure to formally cancel all these subscriptions. in case you don’t need them. In any other case, you’ll wind up paying a month-to-month charge you’re not conscious of.
Additionally, be ready to be peppered with follow-up cellphone calls, emails and texts to be sure to keep enrolled. The gross sales affiliate I spoke with was useful, cancelled my subscriptions with out subject, however nonetheless tried her finest to maintain me in this system.
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