Equipment
Q&A: Air Force One launches new irons, sheds Powerbilt branding
Succeeding in the golf equipment industry takes good science. There’s the science of engineering top-performing clubs, but companies also need to be scientific in delivering the right message to consumers.
Ross Kvinge, formerly President and CEO of Powerbilt Golf, says his company was doing the hard work of making great golf clubs, but were overlooked by consumers – at least partly due to Powerbilt’s divided brand image. While Powerbilt made high-end golf equipment through its Air Force One line, it also made budget-friendly equipment for recreational golfers.
Could Air Force One products enjoy more success without the Powerbilt name?
Ross Kvinge, President of Air Force One Golf
Kvinge is about to find out. His new company, Air Force One Golf, will keep the nitrogen-charged technology that its clubs were known for, but leave the Powerbilt name behind. Enjoy our Q&A with Kvinge, now president of Air Force One, about the new brand, as well Air Force One’s AFX Pro Series new irons and yet-to-be-announced fairway woods.
WRX: Was it a tough decision to leave behind a company name that has been such a big part of your life since 1998?
RK: No doubt. There is a lot of heritage in the PowerBilt brand and we felt we would be able to leverage that with the introduction of the nitrogen charged patented technology. However, we found we were investing in re-establishing the PowerBilt brand in the premium market. We found that to be a bit more difficult than a clean launch of our patented technology under the Air Force One brand. As an industry veteran I grew up with the PowerBilt brand and remember the good days when PowerBilt was a leader in the persimmon wood market and forged irons. Unfortunately younger generations don’t know about those days and see the value in the brand.
WRX: Tell us about the new AFX Pro Series irons. What’s the target audience?
RK: The AFX Pro Series has evolved over the years mainly from input from our customers. We first introduced the Game Improvement iron with every club in the set pressurized with nitrogen. We found in the short irons, control was more of an issue than the added distance from the nitrogen so we went to a cavity back. We then saw better players interested in just the long irons with nitrogen due to the feel and distance the clubs delivered. We saw a market there, but knew we needed a club head shape that would appeal to the better player. Through that we developed the AFX Pro Series iron with a thinner top line and sole along with reduced offset.
WRX: We reviewed the Air Force One DFX MOI and Air Force One DFX Tour drivers when they were Powerbilt products, and found their performance to rival or even surpass top-selling drivers. Will anything change about them?
RK: We are working on new drivers for the future, however, to help with a smooth transition we utilized the same tooling. As you stated, the DFX MOI and DFX Tour have tested quite well against the competition. We have a huge potential to increase our distribution and reach a lot of people now that haven’t had a chance to experience the Nitrogen Charged Technology. We felt the current model would position well for the new launch.
WRX: You told us there’s a new fairway wood in the works. When will it be released, and what makes it different?
RK: Yes we do have a new fairway wood that we will introduce in late April. On our previous fairway woods we lost some of the benefits of the nitrogen technology due to the shallow face on the woods.
The key for the nitrogen is to get the trampoline effect and allow the nitrogen pressure to rebound the face and increase ball speed. Since it is more difficult to create the same effect on a fairway wood we went to our Air Foil dual slot technology. This has somewhat of an accordion effect on the sole and the crown that allows the whole face to move and allows for the spring back effect of the Nitrogen pressure. This will enable us to compete in distance and accuracy that we have seen in some of the most recent competitor fairway woods.
WRX: Thank you for your time, Ross.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Shank-Master
Apr 19, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Change the brand to Titleist and all those who voted shank would be drooling and performing self gratifying acts on themselves in a circular formation at the thought of being able to buy these at 4 times the cost these clubs sell for.
Jbeagle
Apr 12, 2016 at 3:41 pm
If you reshaft does the nitrogen leak out? or is it trapped in the head?
Tj
Aug 9, 2021 at 10:39 pm
Idk.. Does nitrogen leak when u change your tire??
Frank Gatazka
Apr 12, 2016 at 11:36 am
The end of an era! First there was Hagen, then MacGregor, now PowerBilt. The brand did not quite make 100 years. I have played PowerBilt equipment since I learned the game in high school, 42 years ago. I fondly remember their persimmon Citation woods and forged Citation irons, both in stainless and high nickel chrome plated carbon steel. They were played by some of the best including Bobby Nichols, Miller Barber, Frank Beard (I have one of his PB drivers in my collection), Gay Brewer, Charlie Coody, Bill Kratzert and Fuzzy Zoeller. The persimmon woods were simply the best crafted commercial woods that could be had at the time. I was lucky to have a custom set made in 1990 at the very end of the persimmon era and visited the then famous “Slugger Park” factory in Jeffersonville Indiana to watch them be completed. The TPS cavity back irons in their original configuration were some of the most forgiving cast clubs available. Recently, I’ve played the Air Force One irons and Air Foil 2 woods and found the irons and driver very easy to hit, and long. The only problem is that I managed to crack three of them (not due to my swing speed for sure, as it is 85-87 MPH), due to a design defect where the sweet spot has milled grooves in the already thin face, thus precipitating a fatigue crack problem (I suppose if I didn’t hit the sweet spot as frequently there would not be a problem?). PowerBilt was always there with great customer service, and I have had the cracked clubs replaced. I believe the newer models have a slightly thicker face to avoid this cracking problem. To me it is sad indeed to see the name go the way of low-cost starter sets and junior clubs (now licensed to Hireko Golf) when PowerBilt used to stand for quality, and was for many years the “pride of the pro shop”. Alas, time marches on! I wish the new Air Force One brand good luck, as the product is for real and not just a gimmick!
James
Apr 26, 2016 at 5:27 pm
The Powerbilt brand is not dead, it was just purchased by another company.
James
Apr 26, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Oops, didn’t read your entire post before commenting. Sorry!
George
Apr 12, 2016 at 8:44 am
Is there a problem with the nitrogen leaking with time since there is material fatigue from use?
Chuck D
Apr 12, 2016 at 12:46 am
Nitrous oxide has to be the next frontier for golf distance, right? Hitting it 400 has to be the next
big thing for amateurs! Oh wait…………..
Brian
Apr 11, 2016 at 1:58 pm
I game an AFO DFX and it’s really a fantastic club. The sound is a little tricky to get used to initially, but the numbers and performance are there. The only thing I wish AFO would do with the next iteration is add adjustability. My shaft selection has brought ball flight down, but I’d love to be able to control it that much more. Good luck, AFO!
Regis
Apr 11, 2016 at 1:39 pm
I flirted with the idea of buying the Air Force One driver several times because it received very good reviews from a number of sites. I always failed to pull the trigger because it was never available for demo anywhere near me and I live in a densely populated area with a very big golf presence. In today’s market I just don’t see any manufacturer making substantial gains without in hand availability and that, to some extent goes for Bridgestone (clubs), Srixon , Wilson and a lot of other traditional names. What I see in a private cub environment is that one guy shows up with a new driver (set of irons, putter) he’s loving it and all of a sudden its the local rage. Changing the name is not going to be significant.
Ron
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:24 pm
The first set of iron I had were Power Bilt Citation Levelumes. Should have kept the Power Bilt name!
Meaks
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:32 am
Clearly this was an in-house branding effort. No legitimate marketing vendor would have advised them to use this name for a brand name and I wish them luck trying to compete against Nike in SEO on Air Force One.
Eric
Apr 12, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Kind of a harsh comment but I totally. The name just reeks of gimmick low end gear. Shame they didn’t at least split the brand the other way, restore the strength of the venerable Powerbilt brand and rename the low end.
TCJ
Apr 11, 2016 at 8:30 am
Nitrogen?! Now all they need are some ball bearings…
Tom
Apr 11, 2016 at 9:04 am
or carbon fiber.
Blmarling
Apr 11, 2016 at 2:15 pm
For more power, more oomph…LOL