Over the last couple years I’ve noticed a trend of smaller independent golf companies making a splash in the golf business, with products that are often half the price of major brands…with performance that in many cases rivals them.
Just recently I reviewed the Precision Pro rangefinder which is nearly as good as the incumbent Bushnell.
Swing Caddie created a launch monitor for a fraction of the price of Trackman or FlightScope.
And for the last few years Bombtech has been doing the same thing with the golf club.
I love this trend, and I’ve come across some excellent products that 10 years ago we never would have seen.
I was introduced to Tyler Sullivan, the founder of Bombtech through a mutual friend – and they offered to send me their new Grenade 2 driver to check out.
So did it live up to expectations?
Read on to find out.
First Impressions
Ok, the moment you look at a Bombtech driver, you can tell it’s not your typical golf club, or your typical driver.
With names like “Bombtech”or “Grenade” you can guess there won’t be anything subtle about it – and there isn’t.
The club stands out, and you shouldn’t buy it if you don’t want people asking you about it during every round you play.
The design is definitely polarizing, and some people are going to absolutely love it, and others won’t be a fan.
For me? There’s things I like about the look, and a lot that isn’t my cup of tea.
I love the matte black crown. It looks sleek and sexy, and it has a “grenade 2” alignment notch that is pretty useful.
I also like the lime green motif. It adds a nice contrast, and really stands out amongst a sea of generic looking clubs.
On the other side of things, for me personally, the graphics and text is over the top.
The “Grenade” logo used on the bottom of the club head and head covers doesn’t exactly look high end.
Same goes for the “Grenade 2” graphics on the shaft itself. There’s an attempt at a glass shattering look, but it just isn’t for me.
But here’s the thing. This driver isn’t aimed at the stodgy, pretentious, traditionalist.
It’s aimed at a younger generation of golfer that wants something that looks cool, is affordable, and helps you hit the ball far.
And the Bombtech Grenade 2 delivers on that promise.
Bombtech Grenade 2 Performance
My version of the Grenade 2 was equipped with the Bombtech stiff shaft. Overall I was surprised by how good the club felt. It had a nice weight to it, that felt just a touch lighter than my Mizuno JPX-900, and overall felt really good.
After three rounds and a handful of range sessions, I have a pretty good feel for the club, and overall I came away really impressed.
Within a few hits, I noticed a few thing that jumped out about this club.
The face is hot. Balls just pop off the club.
It has a delightful, slightly high pitched sound. Not high pitched in an obnoxious Nike SQ kind of way, but in a way that says – “yes, I did just drive it 15 yards past your ball.”
After multiple rounds I also found the ball flight on this 10.5 degree club to be relatively high.
That could just be my swing style, but I consistently hit the ball moderately higher than I have with other 10.5 degree clubs, and it also led to a fade bias. Lots of baby fades.
From the moment I picked it up however, I immediately began hitting some beautiful, long drives with the Grenade 2.0.
Is it quite as long as my Mizuno? Not quite for me personally, but I think that has to do more with my tendency to hit the ball high, so the 9.5 loft of the JPX leads to more roll.
We’re also talking about a club that’s nearly half the price – price to performance on this club is off the charts.
They offer the Grenade 2 with a 9* loft as well – if I were going back, I’d definitely lean towards that one.
But what about the lack of adjustability?
There is no adjustability on the Grenade 2.0.
But here’s the thing, adjustability in my mind is the biggest gimmick in golf.
Why?
I’ve had adjustable drivers for the last 3 years.
Do you know how many times I’ve adjusted them combined?
One.
That’s it.
When you start adjusting to compensate for flaws in your swing, it isn’t going to do anything good for you.
Sure it will help more people make a certain club work for them, but if you find the right one to begin with – it’s a non issue.
So in many ways I think the lack of adjustability on the Grenade is a good thing for the average golfer.
Final Thoughts on the Bombtech Driver
Overall I came away impressed with the performance of the Grenade 2.0.
It retails for $297, but there are a variety of coupons online that drop that price down below $250 – which makes this a great deal.
Who is it perfect for?
The Grenade 2.0 is great for the person who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on a driver, wants something that draws attention and stands out, and has great distance.
Who is it not for?
If you’re a traditionalist, want a name brand, adjustability, or want something that blends in – this will not be the club for you.
It’s also worth mentioning one of the best things about buying from a small business is the customer support. Getting ahold of someone at Bombtech is much easier than say, getting ahold of a Taylormade executive.
They have an excellent 60 day return policy, so you can feel good about your purchase and know that if for whatever reason it doesn’t work out – you’ll be covered.
Check out the Grenade 2.0 on the Bombtech website here.
