Equipment Review: MacGregor MACTEC NVG2 Tour Driver
by Jeffrey Reed

MacGregor Golf is synonymous with top-quality equipment, and plays an important part in the history of the game, thanks to a 109-year history (not to mention a record 59 Majors on the PGA Tour). It may come as a surprise to you, then, to learn that MacGregor is one of the fastest growing names in golf. But when you consider the fierce competitiveness of the golf equipment industry, even the most storied of manufacturers are reinventing their products in order to compete.

Enter the MacGregor MACTEC NVG2 Tour driver, which we here at London Ontario Golf give two thumbs up as the Best New Driver of 2006. The 2006 MACTEC line includes eight new products, anchored by the NVG2 and NVG2 Tour drivers.

At first glance, the NVG2 Tour driver looks like a futuristic machine. With that description, you’re not far off: the NVG2 Tour driver really is one of the most technologically advanced golf clubs on the market today. The most unconventional looking portion of the NVG2 Tour driver is featured on the sole of the club, but don’t overlook the entire driver from shaft to toe when searching for high performance.

Designed for low handicappers with faster swing speeds, the MACTEC NVG2 Tour driver is loaded with outstanding features. I tested the 10-degree model with stiff shaft. It boasts a 445cc head, but no worries: even if you’re accustomed to today’s 460cc monsters (hey, even Tiger swings a 460cc stick), you won’t notice anything different about this well-oiled machine. In fact, thanks to its myriad of features, you may find the NVG2 Tour driver to outperform the driver currently in your bag.

The NVG2 Tour driver uses MacGregor’s Cup Face 360-degree Technology. In fact, all 2006 MACTEC drivers, fairway woods and hybrids – and even the new NVG2 cavity back irons – feature the Cup Face 360-degree innovation. What it does is completely eliminate welds on the face of the club, making the entire face the sweet spot. The face of the NVG2 Tour driver is made entirely of high-performance TVC Beta Titanium. For mere mortals like you and me, and even for pros on the PGA Tour, this means added forgiveness, plus longer, straighter shots. I’m a big believer in MacGregor’s 360-degree technology: almost every shot I hit with the NVG2 Tour driver traveled straight down the fairway, with a piercing trajectory. As baseball broadcaster Bob Prince once said of line drives, “You could hang your laundry on them.” No big balloons with the NVG2 Tour driver; only explosive drives with ultra-low spin.

It’s incredibly easy to hit a fade or a draw with the NVG2 Tour driver. I took it to the range and practiced my stinger off the tee. It handled so smoothly, I would feel comfortable hitting it on tight dogleg par-4s instead of an iron or hybrid. And that affords you greater distance without sacrificing control off the tee.

As mentioned, the underbelly of this monster reveals some added innovative technology. We’re all familiar with adjustable and fixed weights in today’s clubs, but MacGregor is really onto something here with their Quadra Tungsten Weighting system, designed for less twisting and greater accuracy. Adding a high MOI, enormous stability and pin-point accuracy, this weighting system operates on the principle of Triangulation. In short, the dispersion of force between three points guarantees that wherever the force is applied, the nearest point will always have two other points supporting it. Two light screws are fixed in the extreme heel and toe to localize the CG low and deep. And, there’s a heavier dual tungsten positioning in the side of the heel for added stability and minimal twisting at impact. I love the weight of this driver, which felt comfortable from the get go.

There’s much to be said for the NVG2 Tour driver’s shaft – a Fujikura Quadra Action Shaft, with Fujikura SPEEDER technology. This technologically advanced shaft actually increases clubhead speeds at impact for explosive distance. There are three bend points a four stiffness zones which MacGregor says can boost clubhead speeds by as much as 5 mph at impact. I put this to the extreme test, slowing down my swing speed for ultimate accuracy, and the ball still jumped off this club with authority.

Want more reasons to test the new NVG2 driver? A super light titanium crown reduces overall mass up to 12 per cent for lower CG, reduced spin, high launch and greater distance. With the Tour driver, I didn’t find the launch to be any higher than the typical 9-degree lofted driver in my bag. In fact, I found all drives to travel in a low, piercing manner, but that’s my typical style off the tee. You may find your shots travel with a higher launch. This club also boasts specially tuned polyurethane sole inserts offering solid acoustics and improved vibration damping. I actually noticed the lack of vibration, and found the sound off the face to be pleasing, unlike some empty tin can sounds found with other drivers on the market.

The NVG2 driver shares many of the features found in the Tour edition, but is a little lighter on the wallet, and designed for mid- to high-handicappers. The Tour driver is available in lofts of 8-, 9-, 10- and HL (high-launch) 10-degrees, while its cousin is available in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degrees. There are women’s models, too.

Don’t be fooled by the many visible features of the NVG2 Tour driver. Once you try it, you’ll be sold on its technology and its performance. Learn more at www.macgregorgolf.com.