A Look at the new PRGR GN502 Tour and GN502 Silver Drivers

A Closer look at the New GN502 Tour and GN502 Silver from PRGR!

PRGR has released two amazing drivers this year in the all new GN502 series.  Based on months of research into an all new high performance head design, PRGR with input from the largest group of golfers in Japan, the average/amateur golfer, determined that nearly 70% of this group with body turn type swings had issues with slicing the ball.  These golfers have an early release type swing where kicking occurs according to how fast the club is cocked in the downswing. In most cases the problem caused an outside to in swing path leaving the head un-rotated and open at impact. This open face causes a glancing blow and not the solid head on impact we all desire.

PRGR headed back to the drawing board with the goal of designing a driver that could grab the ball with maximum impact, a driver that focused on returning to the square position through the hitting zone.  PRGR decided that they would create a driver with a  gravity angle set at 30 degrees. The gravity angle is measured from the optimal movement point in the head back to the shaft and follwing a line to the face of the driver. PRGR discovered that with a larger gravity angle the head was able to return to a square position more easily. While this does not of course correct the outside in  swing path it gives the average golfer a better chance at getting pure impact and maximizing distance with the driver. PRGR calls this gripping the ball.

PRGR settled on this large 30* gravity angle along with small face progression on what became the  new PRGR GN502 Silver.  Along with this new gravity angle factor, PRGR looked at three main elements in the drivers design, ball speed at impact, spin and trajectory.  With the GN502 Silver focusing on the average golfer, PRGR decided that high trajectory with lower spin would be the key to acheiving maximum distance.  No driver can acheive this without lift creating carry. CG was placed deep with the purpose of increasing launch and ball velocity. Theｙ placed what was called a hip sole lowered in the back of the head to simultaneously increase face surface area and add to the lowered center of gravity along with weighted sole plate on the towards the back.  They wanted to design this head so that even with its high launch, the trajectory would be strong enough to overcome the wind.

PRGR also gave the new GN502 Silver a face with a thicker impact spot or sweet spot. This not only increases ball speeds but creates great feel on impact. This variable thickness face created  a sweet spot that is 30% larger than the previous T3 502 Silver driver which was one of the most popular drivers of 2008. The toe side of the new GN502 actually has more volume than the old T3  also adding to the centrifugal force needed to rotate the head. After the GN502 Silver's release late last year, sales have been great with many average golfers flocking to the 460cc conforming driver to help gain that extra few yards and hit that soft draw.

One small problem arose though after the launch of the GN502 Silver. Where did that leave the better golfer, faster swinger and PRGR's top two pros Azuma Yano and Hideto Tanihara. The new GN502 Silver did not match their profiles so PRGR went back to the drawing board and created the GN502 Tour which was just released in Japan. The 450cc Tour has a much shorter center of gravity and weight moved FORWARD in the head creating a low spin and mid trajectory shot. The balance of the driver and square to slightly open face is made for a straight to fade ball. The Tour driver allows the player to swing through the impact zone with confidence and control. This is an "easy to hit" driver for the more advanced golfer looking for a low spin mid trajectory ball. The length of the overall club was also shortened to place more empahsis on control.

PRGR also decided to retweak the original lightweight softer feel GN502 shaft which had a focus on distance to create the new GN502 Tour shaft, a heavier and less torque shaft, made more for control and stable play.

PRGR sent over two demos, the GN502 Silver back in February and the GN502 Tour last month and I came away from test sessions very impressed with both. The thicker face really does provide feel and a nice pop on impact. I cannot play a driver if it has no feel. For me finding the right golf gear is not only about performance but about feel. Why else do weall look for soft forged irons or drivers that give us that slingshot sensation.

The GN502 Silver which I first tested was very easy to hit for a draw and just a pleasure to square up at impact. I am indeed one of those 80% average golfers who do slice the ball and the GN502 Silver helped immensely. The stock shaft had wonderful feel, I have always rated the PRGR stock shafts (they do make their own proprietary shafts) a notch above most OEM stock shafts. For those who want even more, the GN502 Tour is available with all the best shafts from GD including the new EV series, the Motore Speeder from Fujikura and the very smooth and stable Kai'li from Diamana.

The GN502 Tour I tested last month had a nice red GN502 Tour shaft and launched the ball a lot lower than the GN502 Silver I had previously tested. Both test drivers were 10.5* however it was very obvious the Tour launched lower plus a little fade for me. One thing I noticed which I discussed with the PRGR sales rep was what seemed to be very high ball speeds at impact. I had my old T3 502 Silver from last year to compare but the ball seemed to jump off the face of the new GN502 Series with much more urgency.

In conclusion I have to say I'm very excited about these drivers. I try as much equipment as I can and I have been very impressed with PRGR and their designs and performance. So much that I will bag a GN502 Silver for this season.

Check out both drivers in the TSG Pro Shop!

PRGR GN502 Silver Driver
PRGR GN502 Tour Driver

Check out pics and join the PRGR GN502 Silver Driver discussion in the forum
Check out pics and join the PRGR GN502 Tour Driver discussion in the forum