P4 High Heat Driver

To say Dean Knuth’s contributions to the game of golf were significant would be an understatement.

For 16 years, Knuth was in charge of monitoring handicaps for the United States Golf Association and was dubbed “Pope of Slope” because he was the primary inventor of the USGA Course Rating and Slope System. 

Now the 60-year-old, San Diego-based engineer, who happens to be a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, is introducing yet another gift to the game.

Knuth is the primary inventor of the P4 High Heat Driver, a revolutionary club dedicated to using high technology to give you longer golf shots by increasing the initial velocity off your club face.

The driver is based on the principle that the greatest loss of kinetic energy at impact between a golf ball and a driver is the result of heat generated during the deformation (flattening) of the ball. If the flattening of the ball can be reduced, it will launch off the face with higher velocity and less spin, for a longer flight and with greater roll.

The driver is based on Knuth’s study of anti-submarine warfare and is made from special Russian titanium previously used in different aerospace programs around the world. Knuth studied different aspects of submarine technology when he was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy prior to joining the USGA staff October 1, 1981.

Knuth says only 400 clubs were produced and the only place to find them are at www.pandagolf.com. Without any type of marketing budget or professional endorsement, the small company is relying on word of mouth to move its product. So far the reaction from those who have purchased the club has pleased the inventor.

“All the feedback has been real positive,” Knuth said. “The great thing to a person is people have raved about the driver; taken their old driver and put it way. A lot of interesting people are out there using it.”

An early plan to sell the patents developed during the created of the High Heat driver was rebuffed by major equipment companies.

“I talked to a few big companies about buying the patents but they spend a lot in research and development and were not interested in outside inventions.”

Knuth patented the discovery that when the driver face vibrates at a very high frequency, golf ball acceleration increases and spin decreases. He also discovered that the optimum feel increases at higher frequencies, giving the user greater distance and increased accuracy.

Knuth said this club will improve golfers at every ability level but there is a certain group that will see the most improvement.

“Testers had swing speeds around 90-100 mph with the driver,” he said. “Top handicaps level out with swings that produce about 4,000 rpm. Low handicappers and professionals have 3,000 rpm or under. This driver has given better distance and reduced spin rate down to 3,000 and allows players to get roll. Ninety to 100 mph swing speeds will benefit the most.”

The P4 High Heat Driver, which is selling for $399.00, is made in 420cc volume (called the ES™ model), with two versions—9.5 degrees loft and the 11degree loft for higher ball launching assistance. There is also a left-handed 10.5-degree model.

The shaft, which Panda Golf calls the “engine” of a quality driver, is a top-end premium Fujikura.

The High Heat driver has been approved for use by the USGA.