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Rory McIlroy recovered from a quadruple bogey to shoot a 1-under 70 and maintain the lead at the halfway point of the Dubai Invitational.

About The Opportunity and Testers

The Forum has had some major testing opportunities in the past but none came close to the 2023 Forum member review for Titleist White Box Golf Balls Test. Of the more than 11,000 golfers registering, we selected 79 as testers. It was our largest single test ever. 

Those selected received a sleeve of Titleist prototype golf balls to test and review. At the end of their testing, they were asked to fill out a form to provide the information we now are sharing with you. 

Golfers of all backgrounds and abilities were selected to test the Titleist prototype ball. The testers also shared feedback and test results on the Forum in a dedicated thread to this testing opportunity. To date, that dedicated thread has more than 550 posts from testers and members discussing and speculating about the Titleist White Box golf balls. 

What follows is further information regarding the testing pool that was selected.

The Start of Testing

Tom the Golf Nut speculated immediately on what golf ball it was after his first few hits. “I hit into the sim screen with a 9-iron and the ball feels like the AVX and Pro V1 do. The AVX, Pro V1 and the test ball feel similar off of the putter face as well. So the ball is not in the firm ‘X’ category.”

Choosing what distance to play from is an age-old question debated on first tees everywhere. 

A select number of golfers have that choice down to a science but the rest tend to take educated guesses or assume age and gender should be the only variables involved in the decision. 

The result: a significant number of golfers play courses that are too long for their skill level. 

An already difficult game becomes even harder. A slow round becomes even slower. 

What is it about golfers that makes us so unwilling to move up a tee box? And could the rollback—set to take place in 2030 for recreational golfers—eventually be the slight push some of us need to adjust our mindset? 

Craftsman Golf’s stated mission is to make the best golf head covers: “We believe that golf headcover styles your golf game and reveals your style, spirit, attitude, and your unique & authentic performance on the course! You are unique, and we think your golf head covers should also be!” 

Our testers were excited to get their hands on these headcovers which are priced lower than many of their aftermarket competitors. Five MGS Forum members were selected to test and keep Craftsman headcovers in exchange for their honest reviews. Two testers, tchat07 and Woody83, opted for the wood headcovers while Alf. S, Randall Robbins and Big moose went with irons. 

Tester Expectations

Durability was one of the core qualities our testers would be looking for. While some had never used anything other than the stock cover that came with their clubs, others had used a lot of aftermarket covers. 

Another area that would be focused on is fit and functionality. How secure will these headcovers be? For our irons testers, would the closure system be of high quality? Are they easy to remove and replace? Let’s take a look at what our testers had to say.

In order to stay in his bag, tester tchan07 said “ it will need to maintain its shape well and maintain its look. I am gentle with my headcovers so there is no reason it should not last a very long time but that’ll be up to the craftsmanship (pun intended).”

Gary Woodland posted a 71 in his first tournament since September brain surgery. But the score was irrelevant. "Probably the happiest I've ever been shooting over par, tell you that," he said.

Keith Pelley is resigning as CEO of the European tour to lead powerhouse Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, The Sports Network in Canada reported Tuesday.

The 2024 PGA Tour continues with the Sony Open! Could Si Woo Kim bring home another victory? Check out how to watch the action on ESPN+ now.

Designed for the golfer who puts a premium on precision, consistency and clean aesthetics, Wilson's Staff Model Blade and CB deserve consideration.

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Practicing off mats can give you a false sense of confidence, but there are ways to get the most out of your winter practice.

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How might Tiger Woods fare on the PGA Tour Champions circuit? Expectations are already sky-high. Just ask Jack Nicklaus.

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After struggling with his pitch shots, this senior golfer shares the steps he used in order to see better, more consistent results.

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Srixon's Q-Star Tour and Q-Star Tour Divide golf ball offer a new core and cover that make more distance and short-game spin a reality.

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We might never know everything Jordan Spieth said in his best-man speech at Justin Thomas' wedding, but Thomas just gave us a highlight.

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Complete 2024 Sony Open Friday tee times for Round 2 in Hawaii, featuring Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Kevin Kisner and more.

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Cobra engineers have refined key technologies from its Darkspeed metal wood line to create the new and powerful Darkspeed irons.

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Thanks to a new technology platform, including the integration of new materials, Cobra's Darkspeed fairway woods deliver greater performance.

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Armed with a faster and more aerodynamic shape, plus new internal technologies, Cobra's Darkspeed drivers are primed to deliver more distance.

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The story of the COBRA DARKSPEED driver family is relatively straightforward. If you’re a higher swing speed golfer—let’s call it 100 mph or more—COBRA is going to deliver more speed by way of its best-in-class aerodynamics. 

But what if you don’t swing fast?

No problem.

For golfers who don’t generate enough clubhead speed to find quantifiable benefits from COBRA’s aerodynamic shaping, you’re still getting three (well, maybe four) outstanding drivers to choose from.

COBRA’s Unfortunate Reality

Before we dig into the tech, allow me a brief diversion to talk about something I think sucks.

Once the testing dust has settled, it won’t be any surprise if the COBRA DARKSPEED fairway woods and hybrids stand comfortably alongside the best-performing gear in the industry. 

Performance (or lack thereof) isn’t the reason COBRA doesn’t end up in the bags of more golfers. 

The reality is slightly more complex, though it’s rooted in a simple premise—plenty of companies make high-quality equipment and, for better golfers, it feels at times as though they need a reason to justify a COBRA purchase. 

Put differently, the R&D team is doing its job. Now, the challenge is primarily a marketing (read: storytelling) one. 

All that aside, let’s take a look at how DARKSPEED differs from the 2023 AEROJET line.