No Chink in This Armour
David A. Dodson

If you've ever played golf with more than four or five different people, then you've probably seen a set of Tommy Armour clubs. Their 845 series is one of the most popular and most played with set of irons in the history of the game. And they plan on keeping up that tradition with the introduction of their 845 Forged Persimmon Driver, a 350cc Beta Titanium driver that combines the latest performance technology with the classic look of their original 693 Persimmon wood driver.

But can it hit? Like Holyfield . We tested one with a nine and a half degree loft, a forty-five and a half inch Grafalloy ProLite Elite stiff flex graphite shaft and medium Lamkin Crossline grip. The balance of this club is extraordinary; there was no power loss from backswing to finish. Also impressive is the club face's level of forgiveness; contact with the sweet spot was gratifying to say the least in terms of distance and control, but even swings that missed it turned out to be quite playable. Be forewarned, however, this club is loud; hits in the sweet spot produced a solid ping, but contact anywhere else sounded like a small shotgun. Again, the ball trajectories on these off shots were fine, but a few of our fellow golfers flinched at the sound.

Visually, the 845 Forged Persimmon Driver is probably the most beautiful driver I've ever seen. The top of the club head (the part you see at address) has a glossy mahogany finish with the Tommy Armour script logo etched in gold lettering over the sweet spot. When you see it in the sunlight, the club's name makes sense; it looks almost wooden. The sole of the club is unpainted, polished metal with the 845 Forged Persimmon emblem etched in black under the sweet spot,"Fire Hardened Beta-Ti" golden etched in a small black painted field near the toe, and the loft degree embossed on the heel. The Grafalloy shaft is two toned with dark maroon and gold, and the grip is black with tiny gold stars and the Tommy Armour script logo etched in gold in line with the head. Believe me, it's quite the attention getter.

Bottom line: your bag is empty without this club. Besides lessons, the 845 Forged Persimmon Driver is the best investment that you can put into your golf game. It's a masterpiece in engineering and design. It comes in 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5-degree lofts, your choice of regular or stiff flex shafts and a head cover. For about four hundred and change, you can pick one up at your local golf shop or get one online at one of the dealers listed at www.TommyArmourGolf.com.