Equipment Review:
SMT Golf DB Plus Driver
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

SMT Golf has done it again – and this time, with an added aesthetic touch. In the past, we’ve raved about the 430cc Indio driver head from SMT Golf which, paired with the Reactive Linear Motion (RLM) Argent shaft, provided incredible length and surprising accuracy. This month, we put the new SMT DB Plus driver head to the test and, again paired with the RLM Argent shaft, it produced in spades.

SMT Golf bills itself as “the winningest component company in the history of golf,” with numerous accolades to its name, including: longest driver on any PGA Tour since 2003 (339.3 yard average); six RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships, plus hundreds more Long Drivers of America victories; and too many world-wide wins and awards to mention here. Add the SMT DB Plus driver to this mix, now that Phillis Meti of New Zealand has set a new Women’s U.S. Long Drive Competition record drive of 349 yards.

Headquartered in Oswego, Illinois, SMT Golf has made news with its interchangeable head/shaft combinations. SMT owner and president, Mike Tait, is a 30-year PGA of America Professional who is passionate about the golf gear he designs. With products like the new DB Plus, it’s easy to see that this passion produces big-time.

Here’s the scoop on this outstanding new driver. First of all, don’t let its 440cc head scare you. Think about it: is there much difference between a 440cc head and a 460cc behemoth? Not much. And, thanks to Tait’s design genius, you won’t notice the difference at all.

The DB Plus driver is a combination of two of SMT Golf’s most popular clubheads: the 455cc Deep Bore – the winningest component clubhead in the history of golf; and the long-bombing Indio clubhead which also offers great feel and accuracy.

Tait says it took SMT Golf over one year to twin the two clubheads while offering increased playability and additional MOI – Moment of Inertia for those of you still learning the latest golf lingo. Increased MOI in today’s clubs prevent clubhead twist, adding stability on off-centre hits – critical to a driver’s clubhead. After testing the DB Plus, I can state that SMT Golf has succeeded in this department. This 440cc club is very accurate, despite the urge I had to grip it and rip it. Come on, this is SMT Golf, right?

Here’s what SMT Golf has to say about its DB Plus: “At 440cc's the DB Plus fills a void in the SMT line like no other. Hiding the weight and the bulk of the hosel piece inside the clubhead has allowed us to move the center of gravity (CG) to a much more playable position in this particular head. A mildly classic pear shape with deeper heel and backskirt design hides the size of this head nicely. We have taken the patented double forged crown design, first brought to market on the very popular Indio clubhead, and modified it slightly on the DB Plus to work in harmony with its unique sole design to produce a large clubhead that still feels very solid yet plays absolutely true to loft, something that is almost always lost in today's larger designs.

“The double forged crosshatch section of the thin titanium crown has been reserved for the front half of the crown allowing the heavier crown section to encircle it, bringing the weight further from the striking area of the clubface thusly increasing the MOI of the design. Turning this titanium beauty over, you will see just the opposite as you have on the crown. The heavier part of the sole is actually closer to the face and the rear of the rounded sole sweeps rapidly up and away into the backskirt area for stability, trajectory, energy transfer, and optimum spin profile of your golf ball. We finished it up with a rich black metal flake crown to blend seamlessly with the new 3390 Series fairway woods and added a bright white accent for a bit of excitement. Oh yes, and the graphics are ‘upside down’ for a reason. When you start hitting your new DB plus driver, you will undoubtedly be ‘posing’ a bit as you watch the ball fly down the fairway, and in case there are any cameras around during your follow through, we wanted to make sure that they could read the name of the club easily enough - DB Plus!”

Pretty heady stuff, but that says it all: this club produces. Ironically, just as I had with the Indio clubhead, I tested the DB Plus into a strong head wind at the range. Yet, even with your standard top-grade range ball, I was able to pop the pill with authority.

Here’s the little touch of aesthetics I mentioned earlier. SMT Golf has designed the DB Plus with an interchangeable guitar pick-shaped aluminum medallion in the toe. SMT can custom laser engrave your name, your club logo, etc. onto special-order medallions.

The best part about the DB Plus driver? The clubhead sells for $155 US, and comes with a magnetic headcover, SMT matching logo ferrule, SMT logo wrap grip, a package of aluminum medallions in different colours plus SMT’s 100% lifetime warranty. Available RH lofts: 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, 10° and 12°. The RLM Argent shaft sells for $69 US.

SMT Golf includes numerous SMT Elite Club Builders at the company web site. Canadian-based builders include Hale’s Custom Clubworks in Toronto, and Golf Etc. in Niagara Falls. You can also order online.

Visit www.smtgolf.com to learn more.