Swing Blade

For 2005, La Jolla Club Golf Company has reduced the height of the sole blades on its popular Knife fairway woods and added a standard proprietary Fujikura shaft. The company said the redesigned 2005 Knife woods will begin shipping later this spring.

"After almost two years on all the tours and in the hands of golfers throughout the country, we are finding that people prefer the reduced blade height that's featured on our Tour Knife," said La Jolla President Paul Herber. "The blades are still high enough to provide golfers with all the benefits of the original Knife."

Herber said the '05 Knife (suggested retail price $129.95) features shallower blades and special back weighting, which allows the club to sit much squarer and provides better hitting off of tight fairway lies and rough.

The Knife metal woods (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) feature a patented set of three blades on the club sole coupled with a low center of gravity. The two outside blades, according to Herber, act as outriggers, stabilizing the club head through the swing, even through twist-producing rough, while the center blade acts as a rudder for straightness.

Together, Herber said the blades work to keep the sole from touching the ground. Less drag generally adds distance for most golfers. Herber said the Knife's design places 60 percent of the club weight below the equator, making the club more forgiving and versatile.

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