WHEN Titleist unleashed its new family of 915 drivers, fairways and hybrids at the beginning of this month, it also introduced an exciting new technology called Active Recoil Channel (ACR). The ACR is a long, wide and deep sole channel that actively flexes at impact and recoils to launch the ball off the face with higher speed and lower spin for more distance but doesn't sacrifice forgiveness.

Says Dan Stone, vice president of research and development, Titleist Golf Clubs: "We've increased speed and lowered spin without sacrificing MOI (moment of inertia) or forgiveness - and we're the first to get that combination right. The Active Recoil Channel is a major technical leap in the area of spin reduction. In player testing, we've seen significant distance gains, up to 15 yards for players who need spin control."

The new 915 D2 and D3 drivers also come with a high-speed forged face insert (Radial Speed Face) with a radially thinner perimeter in the heel and toe, which works with the ACR to increase ball speed on off-centre hits, while the 915F and 915Fd fairways and 915H and 915Hd hybrids have been designed with an Ultra Thin Face that increases ball speed across the face. Titleist began incorporating the ACR in the prototype phase four years ago and has been fine-tuning it over the years