Introduction
Let’sstart with a bold statement. I think Ram areone ofgolf’smoreunder-rated brands.
The best driverI’veever owned was the Ram FXV.I’venever had anythingbefore or sincethat went straighter. WhenI’mhitting massive hooksnow, I lament the day I ever let it go.
Remember the Ram Zebra putter? Man, thatmallet was a cult all its own. And Tom Watson gamed the brand too,along with Nick Price, RayFloydand Gary Player.Ramwere a serious brand for serious players when I was taking myinitialsteps in the game.
They live on and the traditionalist in me is delighted to see them doing so.
But thisisn’tsomerose-tintedstroll down memory lane. When I took Ram’s newFX-LOCK Silent TrolleyBagout for a spin, I quickly realised it was an impressivebit of kit – with one very cool innovation you might not have seen before.
Keywords
Ram Golf FX-LOCK Silent Trolley; Ram Golf; Ram trolley, Ram trolleys, Ram, Ram lock trolley, golf bag, Ram golf trolley bag
NCG Summary and rating
NCG Summary
A spacioustrollybag with more pockets thanyou’llprobably everneed butwhichwill live and die in your eyes by the 14-club locking divider system. Ifound itvery useful–an easy wayto store and find clubs – but wonder how itwilllook after a year of heavy use.
PROS
- Extremelygood value
- Many spacious pockets
- Lock system keepsyour clubssecurelyin place
CONS
- How durable will the divider system be long term?
Key Facts
| Top Dividers | 15 full length (includes the putter well) |
| Weight (kgs) | 3.3 |
| Pockets | 10 |
| Strap | Single |
| Material | Hard-wearing polyester |
| Waterproof | water resistant |
| Valuables pocket | Two |
| Velcro glove patch | Yes |
| Water bottle pocket | Insulated two-bottle beverage sleeve |
| Colour options | 4 |
Key benefits and downsides
| Key benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Value – at £119.99 it is hard to quibble. | Durability – will have to report back on how the the divider system holds up over a full season, or more. |
| Pockets – from valuables to apparel, ball and bottle pockets, this bag has all you need for a long or quick round. | |
| Lock system – keeps your clubs secure but also silent throughout the round. No more clatterting and banging! |
First Impressions
I’mout of thestandbag game.I’mpushing 50 and,thoughI’llcontinue tocarry in the winter, the thought of hawking around a full set – particularly in these never-ending heatwaves –is not on my wish-list.
Whenthe RAM FX-LOCKSilent Trolley bag turned up, there was instant appeal. Particularly at the £119 price tag.
I’verecently bought a new set of irons andwanted to resist the understandable urge to splash out on covers to protect them.I’mstill in the honeymoon stage whereI’mgutted about every little dent.
It’shere the bag’s club dividers–thisinnovative locking system – reallystood outand they do dominate everything about this product.
We’llget into that in some detail shortly, but I really liked the red,whiteand blue colour scheme. And having only owned one cart bag before in my golfing life, Icouldn’tget over the number of pockets – and their size!
How I undertook the review
I tested the bag on a push trolley duringseveral clubcompetitionsatSandburnHall, in York, and then on a golf buggy during a 36-hole day at Close House.
What I found
Let’sget straight to it. Ifyou’relooking at buying this – andthat would be whyyou’rereading this review –you’reprobably interestedin two things: the price point and the divider system.
At £119, this is exceptional value without being budget. I’ve yet to see whetherit’sfully waterproof – this is the hottest summer ever,apparently–but ifit’snot you are notmissing out onmuch else.
Pockets
There are an incredible number of pockets,10 at my count and I may have missed a couple of hidden ones inside.
They’renot gimmicks, either. The four front pockets– one for balls, one for tees, a cooler pocket, and Idon’teven know what the top one is for – are incredibly spacious. You could fit every accessory you owned, plus two drinks and your suncream into the quartetalone. I know this becauseI’vepretty much triedit.
Two small zip pockets on each side are perfect to keep phones and keys apart and the two outside pockets were large enough to put a shoe in each (I was breaking in a new pair).
I could comfortablyinserta pair of waterproofs, take off themidlayeron a warm day, and have space for more in the larger inside pockets.
You will never find yourself making compromiseswith kit againandI’venot even mentioned the umbrella holder, towel buckle,or the glove patch.
14-way Club Locking Top
Then there is the 14-way Club Locking Top. Ram say this is to solve the “annoying…rattle, tangle, and clatter on every bump of the cart path”.
Itis described as a “silent club-lock top that features 14 individual dividers with rubber sleeves that grip each shaft”.
They look a little ungainly at first, but they arevery effective.Not only dotheyholdyourclubs firmly in place,but they alsoremainin situ even ifyou’rebumping from path to heavy rough.
At first, I thought it was going to be a real hassle trying to figure out which dividerI’dtaken a club from as I tried to replace it after hitting a shot.
Butit’svery easytolocatethe space andit’seven easier to find a club if you spend a second or two ordering them properly.
My only concernhere, andit’sprobably unfounded, is how durable the rubber sleeves will continue to be with prolonged use.As you remove and replace a club, they spring back into place. That keeps the tension and it will be interesting to sure whether that plasticityremainsthe longer I use the bag.
Putter Holder
Other highlights of this bag include the external putter holder, which is large enough to fit the driver as well,and, at 3.3 kilograms, this bag isan easy pick up evenholding a full set.
I’musing aMotocaddypush trolley and the Ram FX-LOCKSilentTrolleyBagfits very well and stay in place – no more mid-round adjusting because my carry bag has started to lean to the side.
NCG Final Say
This is a seriously impressive golf bag at a value price.It’slight, seems to have space for everything, andcomes in four colour options. How invested you get will depend on how youperceive theClub-Locking Top, butit’s aninnovation that should be applauded and it works extremely well out on the course.
Price information
RRP: £119.99 / $179.99
Other product details
Colours: Black-Grey / Black-White / Blue-White-Red / Blue-Grey
Bag height: 92cm
Type: Trolley bag
Use: Push or cart (buggy)
Rain hood: Comes complete with a matching rain hood to keep clubs and grips dry, plus an umbrella holder, velcro glove patch, and a buckle for your golf towel.
More information: Ram Golf UK / Ram Golf US
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