Heard of scandium? It's a metal that a Canadian company, Element 21 Golf, is putting in everything from drivers to putters to shafts. According to the company, its scandium alloy is 55 percent lighter and 25 percent stronger than titanium.
Plus, it's cheaper.
Recent independent testing showed that Element 21's Shock driver varied, on average, 7 yards off center, while titanium drivers averaged about 22 yards off. The lighter-weight material makes it easier to move weight around the clubhead and design a clubface that minimizes dispersion on both on-center hits, such as those that were tested, and drives hit off-center.
"The extensive computer simulations and player testing we, and others have seen in recent weeks, have been validated," said Dr. Nataliya Hearn, president and CEO of Element 21. "We feel this is a very significant game improving statistic that will benefit players of all handicaps."
Scandium has the potential to allow advances in clubhead technology that maximize distance while increasing accuracy. Sure, it has the potential of being nothing more than a fad, but so far the concept is gaining ground on the PGA and Champions tours. Pros -- as many as 80, according to Andy Harris, Element 21 director of tour operations -- have tried the company's Eagle One scandium shafts. While no tour winner has sported one of the shafts, golfers using Element 21 shafts have started to crack the top 20 this year.
Element 21 is not just interested in what tour players think. It has been working hard over the last six months to attract clubmakers. An equipment video and free shaft offer aimed at members of the Professional Clubmakers' Society drew response from nearly 30 percent of that group. They also have had a presence at PCS events, notably last week's International Symposium and Expo in Louisville, Ky.
"Re-shafting of clubs is an important part of the golf industry, with close to 20 million clubs being re-shafted each year," said Bill Dey, Element 21's executive vice president and general manager. "The professional club makers represent a significant portion of this business by working PGA teaching professionals, tour players, low handicap, aspiring or affluent golfers.
"The better players are usually first to try new technologies regardless of price to entry, and have so far proven to be our company's better ambassadors and conduits of information to the general public."
And now, drawing on the connection between scandium and space technology, Element 21 is trying to arrange for an astronaut on the International Space Station to hit a golf ball into orbit around the earth. NASA is considering allowing the drive, but concerns have been raised about adding to junk in space and about the safety of hitting a golf ball that could potentially join the same orbit as the space station.
"Every single record for distance in the golf industry will be shattered," a company press release states.
We will have to wait and see if Element 21 golf equipment makes it into space, but for now, it's showing up with increasing regularity on tour and in the workshops of professional clubmakers.
In addition to shafts, the company offers a new Shock driver, Eagle One irons and wedges, and hybrid clubs.
For more on Element 21, go to www.e21golf.com.
