Inegra SV IV Square Driver Review

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Integra SV IV Square Driver Review

Please note - this article was written in 2008. The information is valid - but the prices on comparable clubs have come way down. We no longer recommend the Integra SV IV. You can get the Nike Sumo2 5300 for the same amount now and it's a better club. For a little more, you can get the Nike Sumo2 5900 - the highest MOI of all golf clubs:
Nike Sumo2 5300 (2007) - $99
Nike Sumo2 5900 (2008) - $149
These are the lowest prices on the internet for these clubs. Ignore the prices in the article.

The new square golf drivers are extremely HOT clubs, and for good reason. Golfers are finding they can hit the ball longer and straighter with the square drivers, so they are quickly gaining acceptance. Unfortunately, with the high technology comes a high price tag. Even the cheapest name brand square driver is running $199. Most of the big name brands like Nike or Callaway are selling their square drivers for $400-$500. That's a lot of money for a single club, no matter how important it is. The Integra SV IV Square Driver is an alternative to the high-priced, name-brand square drivers. With the Integra SV IV, you can enjoy the new square head technology without spending the kid's college fund.

The Integra SV-IV Square Driver is one of the best Sumo2 Square Driver Clones

The SV III was a big hit in 2007 when it debuted as an alternative to the Nike Sumo2 5300. For 2008, Nike came out with the Sumo2 5900 and Integra followed suit with the SV IV. The SV IV square driver has an elongated rear section of the head which puts more of the mass behind the hitting area. This provides optimal game improvement characteristics such as higher ball flight and longer, straighter drives.

The SV IV has a nice solid feel to it and it sets up to the ball very nicely. In fact, the SV IV's technology revolves around the ease of alignment with the two straighter edges. These edges make it easier to visually line up the club toward the target. This is pretty significant since more than 70% of all amateurs struggle with alignment problems (that means you very well might too -- even though you may not know it).

One final minor feature is the sound. If you have ever heard the sound that the first generation of square drivers made, it probably made you cringe. The SV IV still has that distinct tinny sound that plagues most square drivers, but because there is no carbon composite in the crown, the sound is much less hollow sounding. For those who prefer a more traditional driver sound, that's good news.

The SV IV has a High MOI for Straighter Drives

The SV IV, like the Sumo 2 it copies, has an exceptionally high Moment of Inertia or MOI. MOI is a measure of the club head's or resistance to twisting during off-center hits. If you struggle to hit your driver in the sweet spot every time (and who doesn't?), the SV IV may be exactly what you need to improve your driving.

The Integra SV IV Driver has such a big face and such a high MOI that it makes almost the entire face of the club a sweet spot. Even if you hit the ball off the toe or heel, you won't lose much distance or direction. And if you hit the ball high on the clubface or low, the ball will still launch off the clubface pretty much the same as if you hit it in the middle.

How does all this translate to your game? Well, if you are a short hitter, you will see a big improvement in your distance. That's because the ball loses less energy on mis-hits that (when the clubhead would normally twists on impact), so you get more of your swing power transferred to the ball. As long as you hit the ball squarely, it will result in longer drives.

The SV-IV Won't fix Your Swing

The SV IV has significant game-improvement features, but it won't "fix" a bad swing. You still have to deliver a good swing to hit the ball properly. What the SV IV will do is minimize the bad results of mis-hits. If you leave the club face wide open at impact, you will still slice or push the ball. It may not be quite as severe, but it is not a magical club that cures bad swings.

How Average Golfers rate the SV-IV Square Driver

It's one thing to hear the theory of how a driver is supposed to help your golf game. But the real test is in how well a club helps out average golfers like you and me.

Golfers of all calibers have had good things to say about the Integra SV IV Square Driver. One 30 handicapper had this to say: "My golfing buddies couldn't believe I only paid $85 for this driver. I was hitting it as far or farther than all of them and they use $400 drivers! Thanks! "

An mid-low handicapper had this to say. "It didn't feel quite as smooth as the Sumo 2, but the $300 price difference wasn't worth the tiny advantage I was getting. I now hit most fairways or am just off the edge. The SV-IV has definitely improved my driving confindence."

The SV-IV Built to Order

One of the greatest things about this club is that Redwing Golf will manufacture it in their warehouse to your exact specifications. They have an easy online fitting system and they allow you to choose your favorite shaft and grip type. Some of the shafts will cost extra, but since you are getting such a great deal to begin with, I would definitely not skimp on the shaft. You can upgrade to a UST or Grafalloy shaft for only about $10-$15 extra and I guarantee it will make a difference. One of the biggest drawbacks to buying the stock clubs off the rack at Walmart or Kmart are the shafts. They use cheap, bottom of the line shafts to keep costs down. Most amateurs fail to realize that the shaft is almost as important as the driver head technology. So I wouldn't waste the great technology of the SV IV with the standard shaft either.

Although I personally play the GX Squared Ti 460 driver from GigaGolf, I tried out the Integra SV-IV for several rounds this past Spring and found it to be a very good driver for the price. The only way to know is to order one and give it a try. If you don't like the club for any reason, just send it back within 30 days for a refund or they can put a different shaft on it for you too if that's the problem. Either way, you really can't lose. Try out the Integra SV IV Square Driver today and I'll bet you'll be hitting 'em long and straight in no time.

Square Golf Clones