Grade: B
Teacher’s Comments: Plays well, looks funny.
Following the trends set by name brand manufacturers, GigaGolf for 2009 has released the GX2 Hybrid in a square headed design. Like all of the geometric designs, the goal with the GX2 was to raise the moment of inertia, thus improving the results of off-center hits. GigaGolf says that the club’s sole has been designed to reduce friction by reducing surface area. An internal weight is supplsed to keep the center of gravity low and help produce long, high ball flights.
The clubface is built with forged 455 stainless steel, and feels hot at impact. The stock shaft performs well enough for this mid-handicapper, but I actually think I would have preferred a steel shaft.
And if a steel shaft is your thing, you can get it at GigaGolf. Using their online customizer, you can specify different grips, shafts, flexes and lengths.
In practice, I have enjoyed playing with the GX2. I have the 3-iron substitute, and it goes about as long as I would expect for a three iron, but with a much higher ball flight. I don’t like it as much as my five wood out of the short grass, but the GX2 much more effective out of the rough. In that lies the source of the constant tinkering of the contents of my bag. I can never decide whether to carry hybrids or fairway woods, or what mix thereof makes the most sense.
In spite of the advice I’ve been given about playing hybrids, I found the GX2 to be most effective when the ball is a little forward in the stance, like a fairway wood.
The club I received was professionally assembled, with the grip properly aligned, and the ferrule sitting flush to the hosel. There was no extra epoxy or glue marks.
My complaints with the GX2 are purely aesthetic—and they’re why I gave the club a “B”. To my eye, the small, square head looks for all the world like a Craftsman hammer on the end of a stick. It reminds me of that training club that was out a few years ago that was designed to look like a hammer head (who was the “famous” teacher who was promoting that one?). I’ve had a hard enough time getting used to the look of “regular” hybrids; the GX2 is just another leap for me to make.
But if odd looking heads don’t bother you, the GX2 may be just the club for your bag. I think the performance is solid, and the price—starting at under $40, depending upon how you configure it—is terrific.
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