Viper XT driver
Bullet-shaped , it delivers a 'one-two punch' for longer drives, thanks to its drafted-stepped sole design and interchangeable rear weighting, combined with the standard fitting of a 'hoop-wind graphite shaft, PUREd to ensure its strongest side takes the full force of impact.Available in a right-handed version, in three flexes and four lofts (9.5, 10.5,11.5 and 14 degrees) and left-handed in 10.5 and 14 degrees.
First impression:
The bullet-shaped Snake Eyes Viper XT driver, say the makers, delivers a 'one-two punch' for longer drives, thanks to its drafted-stepped sole design and interchangeable rear weighting. It also hand-PUREs its shafts before assembly to produce the most accurate delivery of clubface on to ball. Research has shown that an UnPUREd shaft fitting can lead to mis-aligned flexing during the swing and an inconsistency of strike, increasing miss-hits by upto 44 per-cent.
Looks: Sits well behind the ball and looks powerful with its head shape tapered either side. A criticism of the headcover is that being made predominantly of a rubberised material it's unforgiving and a struggle to replace on the clubhead without much involuntary noise effects.
Feel/Performance: I struck my first half a dozen drives solidly out of the middle of the clubface on a medium-height trajectory, despite the 11.5 degree loft. An encouraging start from a club that didn't feature the bells and whistle of many new drivers but in custom-fitting allowed for a change of weight at the back of the sole. This certainly had an effect in my gaining more height through the air than I've ever achieved and was particularly noticeable using preferred lies to hit the ball off the deck. The viper XT delivered a high, soaring, left to right flight, reminiscent a well-struck 3-wood but gave me at least 20 extra yards.
