Equipment Review: Alpha C830.2 Plasma Driver and Fairway Woods
by Jeffrey Reed

Here are two more winners from the Alpha Golf company, which continues to grow in stature amongst golf industry insiders, thanks to a one-two punch of outstanding aesthetics and performance.

Alpha’s newly-updated C830.2 Plasma driver and fairway woods are long, accurate and surprisingly soft off the face. These long-bombing clubs deliver a lot of punch for lightweight woods, but make no mistake about it: they’re certainly not lightweights off the tee nor the fairway. You can thank updated technology for that.

Here’s the secret to Alpha’s C830.2 Plasma driver success. Innovative plasma welding construction delivers an optimal welding of the face and body, reducing head mass and promoting a stronger, more solid construction. Unnecessary weight has been removed from around the face, offering a lighter yet more solid performer. And the pill pops off the face as soft as butter. In fact, of any quality driver I’ve ever tested, this is the softest. Best of all, it’s accurate, and doesn’t sacrifice distance.

The same can be said of the C830.2 Plasma fairway woods. I tested the 15-degree 3-wood, boasting a small but mighty head. Off the tee and off the carpet, I found it to deliver better than average distance, and a high trajectory promoting soft-landing shots.

The 460cc driver is designed to deliver distance and workability, and it didn’t disappoint. It was easy to fade or draw with this big boy. An Increased Target Design (ITD) face insert creates a large sweet spot and hot face. The Super-thin SP700 titanium face features the maximum COR for plenty of pop. Boasting a wide body, the C830.2 Plasma driver offers plenty of forgiveness, too.

I tested the 9.5-degree driver – there are four loft choices, from 7.5 to 10.5. I see this club especially beneficial for mid- to high-handicappers, and would recommend those golfers put the 10.5-degree model in their hands. My model has the Alpha Platinum 65 stiff shaft, with low to mid kick point. It performed admirably, but it’s good to know there are custom shaft options, too.

The C830.2 Plasma fairway wood is available as a 3-, 5- and 7-wood. It’s a great club for use on those long par-5s where you’re hitting a 3-wood into the green: the ball gets airborne quickly, and lands as soft as butter – just like the feel when the ball leaves the face.

No matter what your handicap, the C830.2 Plasma woods won’t disappoint. For more on Alpha Golf, visit www.alphagolfclubs.com.