Slowly but surely, nanoscience is making its way into many of the products in the world today.

Essentially, nanoscience refers to the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules as measured on the nanometer scale, which translates to one billionth of a meter. Nano pioneers say that materials, such as carbon composite graphite, can be made lighter yet stronger through nano processing.

Production in the fields of medicine, computers, biotechnologies and space research have all embraced nanoscience processing. And so has golf.

“More and more, you are going to see nanoscience applications in many of the common products we use every day,” said Frank Thomas, former USGA senior technical director. “It is the future.”

Yonex is one of the major proponents among golf equipment makers employing nanotechnology. So is Wilson.

Earlier this year, Yonex introduced a Cyberstar Nanospeed driver and counterpart fairway woods. For 2007, the company is rolling out a full line of high-tech Cyberstar Nanospeed irons.

Meanwhile, another company, lesser-known Penneagle Golf, has a new putter for 2007 that advances its own technological advancements in weighting with a system it calls OWS. Joining a small lineup of putters it already has out, the new Atherton model has been well received in early sessions with GolfWeb testers.

Here’s a closer look at the latest from Yonex and Penneagle.

YONEX

The new Cyberstar Nanospeed irons are packaged 3-PW as a set, with a matching 50-degree approach wedge and 56-degree sand wedge available.

The new Cyberstar Nanospeed irons are packaged 3-PW as a set.

The lofts on the irons gradually increase in degrees of separation, with just two and three degrees between the low and mid irons up to five degrees in the short irons, and six degrees between approach and sand wedge.

The multimaterial heads on the Nanospeed irons are equipped with Elastomer, a rubber-like material sandwiched between two graphite plates behind an ultrathin stainless steel face. The combination is meant to increase repulsion power without sacrificing feel and workability, while also providing vibration dampening.

The long, mid and short irons vary in construction. Long irons Nos. 3-5 feature a hollow head design to help produce a high launch angle and greater forgiveness. The mid irons (6-9) have a cavityback design for distance control and precision. The scoring irons (PW, AW, SW) feature a half-cavity blade-like head to enhance spin performance and softer landings.

Yonex’s proprietary Nanospeed shafts with nanocarbon Fullerene reduce the thickness of the conventional shaft wall by five percent without sacrificing stability. The addition of Elastic Ti in the kickpoint enhances energy transfer. The overall result should be increased clubhead speed at impact.

In testing among both pros and amateurs assembled by GolfWeb, Yonex’s Cyberstar Nanospeed irons were rated very satisfactory, and especially well-suited to advanced to mid-level players. The clubs were specifically praised for looks, grip, a soft feel at impact, trajectory and distance achieved. Several pros reported hitting the irons straighter and further than with their own regular clubs.

Suggested retail price for a set of irons (3-PW) is $1,260.

In re-testing the 460cc Cyberstar Nanospeed driver, GolfWeb players praised the club for its setup, grip and distance achieved, and continued to recommend it for more skilled golfers.

The driver head features an ultrathin and lightweight Fullerene crown combined with a titanium body. The engineering allows for extra weight to be redistributed low and deep for a higher launch angle, decreased spin rate, large sweet spot and enhanced moment of inertia (stability factor).

The Fullerene and Elastic Ti reinforced shaft is geared to be strong and resilient. Elastic Ti is a lightweight, high strength, extremely elastic nano titanium alloy. The Fullerene allows graphite fibers to be fused directly together, thus reducing the amount of resin required and yielding a strong and light crown and shaft.

Further, Yonex’s Centrifugal Force System capitalizes on gravity to help increase clubhead speed when the shaft reaches the bottom of the swing arc as it drives through ball.

Suggested retail price for the driver is $449.

Matching fairway woods come in lofts of 15, 18 and 21 degrees, with a list price of $349 each.

PENNEAGLE

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Penneagle is a small company that has been making very classy, very solid and very high-tech putters for a few years now.

The Penneagle Atherton putter has a list price of $169.

Its latest offering is the Atherton model, a heel/toe type blade that is new for 2007.

The key to Penneagle putters is OWS, which stands for oppositional weighting system. With a head made of stainless steel, high-density tungsten inserts are positioned on the heel and toe for greater stability and control; a low-density polyurethane midsole insert helps optimize weight distribution; and a high-density tungsten backweight further enhances stability.

There’s also a lightweight aluminum face insert milled with proprietary cross-groove technology to help hold the ball at impact and promote forward spin for a truer roll. And, there’s Penneagle’s V-site alignment which, at address, helps frame the ball and square the putter face.

“The Atherton has taken the traditional blade-style putter to the next level of technological advancement,” said Tim Durnin, Penneagle Golf president.

A consensus of GolfWeb testers rated the Atherton “must consider,” praising the putter for its looks and an extremely solid feel at impact.

Outfiitted with a GolfPride grip and available in lengths of 34 and 35 inches, suggested retail price for the Atherton putter is $169.