Not all clubs that would be very suitable for a wide range of golfers have to carry upper-level prices. Premium performance equipment can be mid-tier priced, and PowerBilt is a very good example.
PowerBilt's new "premium" Citation FZ1 line of clubs offers a driver with a suggested retail price of $299, fairway woods at $199, hybrids at $149 and a set of nine forged irons at $799. Actual retail prices will be lower.
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| PowerBilt's Citation FZ1 irons |
In the name of the new series, FZ stands for Fuzzy Zoeller, the Masters, U.S. Open and Ryder Cup champ who is a member of PowerBilt's tour staff and provided input into the development of the clubs.
"I love everything about the new Citation FZ1s, and not just because they named them for me," he said. "They set up beautifully at address. And they have that sweet feel that excites a player when the club strikes the ball."
Founded in 1916, PowerBilt remains a venerable name in the Hillerich & Bradsby sporting goods household. Not long ago, however, H&B -- well-known for its Louisville Slugger equipment and, more recently, for its Bionic line of performance gloves -- entered a distribution arrangement in the U.S. in hopes of expanding the golf brand.
"We decided to license the PowerBilt name in the United States," said Larry Edlin, president of PowerBilt Golf. "We needed to move the brand into new channels of distribution for which we did not have relationships. Hillerich & Bradsby still owns 100 percent of the PowerBilt brand. We have 19 licensees around the world representing 23 countries. We control all aspects of product development and vendor management. In the next two years, you will see a significant push with the PowerBilt brand in the United States."
Along with Citation, PowerBilt also markets TPS and Grand Slam models of clubs. Here's a closer look at the new FZ1 portfolio.
Driver
The big thumper in the Citation FZ1 lineup features a 460cc beta titanium head with an enhanced MOI (moment of inertia, a stability factor).
Although it sets up in a traditional posture at address, the driver features several advances in geometric shaping, including a two-level, multifinish sole, and strategic internal and external weight placement.
Two internal weights in the rear of the club help create a deep center of gravity to minimize backspin for greater ball carry.
Two pre-set biases are available for the head: Draw and Neutral. Both biases offer a choice of 9 and 10.5 degrees of loft; the Draw bias also offers 12 degrees.
All Citation series woods and hybrids are equipped with Aldila graphite shafts, and all FZ1 clubs also have Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips.
CBSSports.com testers rated the driver very satisfactory for trajectory and distance. With an MOI rating of 4,700-plus, it is more forgiving on off-center hits than its predecessors but might be slightly less forgiving than some other drivers. Thus, testers recommend the driver most for advanced to mid-level players.
Like all the Citation FZ1 clubs, the driver is available for right-hand players only.
Fairway woods
There are three lofts in the FZ1 fairway woods lineup: 15, 19 and 23 degrees.
The clubs feature stainless steel heads with a modest profile. The head depth, combined with a two-level, multisole finish, is designed to enhance playability from a variety of lies.
Custom shaft and grip options are available.
Hybrids
Numbered 2, 3, 4 and 5, the Citation FZ1 hybrids have lofts of 18, 21, 24 and 27 degrees.
For maximum versatility, they feature a four-way, multifinish, two-level radius sole.
A consensus of CBSSports.com testers rated the hybrids "very satisfactory" and as "good or better than more expensive models." Specifically, the FZ1 hybrids were labeled very solid, very workable and very forgiving, with an excellent setup at address.
Still, as a specialty club, hybrids come in the greatest diversity of shapes and sizes. A few testers struggled a bit, meaning each potential buyer must test and decide for themselves. Overall, though, these hybrids were judged "should consider."
Irons
PowerBilt is offering a set of forged irons with a cavityback design and minimal progressive offset.
The irons are numbered 3-SW, and can be bought as a nine-club package or as a combination set utilizing two hybrids and 5-SW in the irons.
Milled for precise head weight and shape, the heads are made from a very solid but workable carbon steel. They each have nickel and chrome plating, and a combination of satin and bead blasted finish.
Our testers praised the irons as easy to swing and solid at impact, with a "great response" off the face. Better players called the irons "very workable."
Pitch shot
Callaway and TaylorMade announced they have reached a settlement and patent license agreement in a dispute over high MOI drivers, undercut irons and ballmaking technology. According to the deal, each company will have specified rights to make products under patents owned by the other.
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