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Maide’s new apparel collection excels from top to bottom

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When Maide launched just over a year ago, the rookie golf apparel label had a very simple, but audacious goal in mind — design a great-looking pair of pants that will fit better than any other trousers in your closet.

If Bonobos, Maide’s parent company, does one thing really well, it’s pants. The company has at least 45 varieties of cotton twill, corduroy and wool trousers that aspire to achieve a made-to-measure fit at ready-to-wear prices. Branching out into golf seemed like a no-brainer, especially considering many of the company’s executives are avid golfers, including Ian Velardi. As the Director of Design at Bonobos and head designer for Maide, Velardi is responsible for fabric and trim sourcing, garment development and color direction for both brands.

“We built such a healthy business with Bonobos and we have this built-in customer base,” Velardi says. “I think a lot of our Bonobos customers are golfers and it just made sense to cater to them (especially since we’re known for our pants). Plus, we didn’t see anything out there in the market that was indicative of being the ideal golf pant.”

The new Fall 2014 collection from Maide is what software engineers would affectionately describe as being fully baked. The Spring collection of past years had pieces that played well together, but the colorful light sweaters and golf shirts always seemed like a secondary consideration. The new collection is thoughtful and all grown up. Pants continue to be the strength of the line, but the new sweaters and outerwear pieces designed by Velardi haven’t missed a detail, blending a sophisticated style with all the performance and fit a Maide customer has come to expect from the brand.

maide-collection

Vintage golf inspirations are the brand’s DNA. The brand is designed to appeal to a customer who cares about what he wears to the course, but doesn’t want anyone to think he has a team stylists consulting him. If you want to identify with a style icon, think of a young Arnold Palmer. Or a Davis Love III. Or an Adam Scott.

“Our idea of the customer is based on a person who lives in the city and is fashion-conscious, but is also active,” Velardi says. “He wants to look good and be comfortable, but doesn’t want to look like their dad on the golf course. He wants to wear something that has more attention to detail and especially attention to fit. It’s still rooted in classic American feel, but is modernized.”

The best-selling Highland pant ($108) which combines superior fit with standout performance thanks to a breathable poly fabric has been updated for the season with a new button enclosure, more subtle branding and new colors that include khaki, black, navy, grey, white, stone, sapphire, deep pine and toasted coconut.

maide-highland

The pant comes in two fits: slim and standard. The slim fit is a little narrower overall, noticeably tapered through the leg. The standard fit is far from boxy; it’s actually a little trimmer than the Polo RLX line and features a slit zipper on the bottom of each leg, allowing you to adjust the drape as needed. Both editions of the Highland pant feature a curved waistband that promotes a snug, but comfortable fit. A silicone strip sewn into the waist keeps your shirt from riding up and out of your pants as you’re swinging a club. The pockets, which tend to be a forgotten-about feature for most golf apparel brands, are also well thought out. There’s ample room in both the front and back pockets for stashing scorecards, tees, balls and yardage books.

MaideGolf

As good as the pants look (and they look great), they perform even better. The poly stretch fabric allows complete freedom of movement and there’s never any bunching or sagging. They’re the kind of pants you can wash repeatedly, never bother to iron and yet depend on retaining a fresh-off-the-hanger look.

Not to be outdone, Maide also offers a trouser made from premium Italian cotton with a hint of stretch. The Palmetto ($138) is a step up the style ladder. The pants are classically tailored and feature adjustable tabs at the waist in place of belt loops. These pants are more than capable of handling a round of golf. Pair them up with one of Maide’s new fall sweaters that are designed to keep you warm without adding bulk. The Duke of Argyle cotton v-neck ($88) takes an age-old fashion trope and reinterprets it into an understated diamond knit pattern. Maide also offers a slightly more performance-oriented crew-neck they affectionally call the Dew Sweeper ($98) made from a blend of Woolmark Coolmax and extra-fine merino wool.

maide-dew

Velardi loves the challenge of designing active apparel that doesn’t scream golf clothing.

“We have this idea that we like to call stealth tech,” Velardi says. “Our clothing is not overly technical like say the stuff from Puma. Ours are in the fibers — the stuff you can’t see. This way you can still perform but you’re not going to look like you’re wearing really technical clothes.”

Within the new collection, the lifestyle influence is unmistakably imprinted on outerwear. The brand strikes a bold move introducing a navy blazer ($298). It’s a stylish two-button jacket made from 100 percent premium Italian cotton knit piqué that can survive being unceremoniously rolled up in a ball and shoved into a golf bag. It’s a great accessory to have on hand and slip into at a country club or an upscale golfing event.

maide-duke

Maide’s other outerwear piece, a golf vest, is wearable on and off the course. The Wescoe ($168) is Velardi’s favorite item from the new collection and that isn’t surprising. The outside of the vest is a poly shell that is water-resistant and wind-proof. The inner lining is 100 percent cotton. It’s actually pretty warm for a light-weight jacket.

The vest features a packable hood and snap pockets, plus a hidden storage pocket in the back. It’s versatile enough to handle just about anything Mother Nature throws at you this season apart from a good, old-fashioned downpour. From a performance standpoint, The Wescoe is extremely comfortable to wear and swing in a club in. It’s going to make believers out of many golfers who tend to struggle to find a jacket that mimics the comfort of a golf shirt.

“We paid a lot of attention to the shape of the arm-hole so that it gives you a lot of good arm movement and mobility,” Velardi says. “The shoulder point-to-point is pretty narrow so that it doesn’t overhang and get in the way of your swing.”

maide-westcoe

Maide’s fall collection is available for purchase directly through the Bonobos website. The parent company launched in 2007 as an e-commerce-driven retailer focused on delivering a world-class fit and superior customer service. In 2011, Bonobos expanded its services offline, opening a handful of showrooms called Guideshops where customers could work one-on-one with a stylist to experience the brand in person.

In keeping with the company’s expansion opportunities, Maide can also be purchased on the web at Trendy Golf and Trunk Club. The brand has also developed relationships with New York Golf Center, PGA Tour Superstore and a growing list of exclusive green grass shops including but not limited to Shinnecock Hills, Medalist and Aronimink golf clubs.

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Rusty Cage is a contributing writer for GolfWRX, one of the leading publications online for news, information and resources for the connected golfer. His articles have covered a broad spectrum of topics - equipment and apparel reviews, interviews with industry leaders, analysis of the pro game, and everything in between. Rusty's path into golf has been an unusual one. He took up the game in his late thirties, as suggested by his wife, who thought it might be a good way for her husband to grow closer to her father. The plan worked out a little too well. As his attraction to the game grew, so did his desire to take up writing again after what amounted to 15-year hiatus from sports journalism dating back to college. In spite of spending over a dozen years working in the technology sector as a backend programmer in New York City, Rusty saw an opportunity with GolfWRX and ran with it. A graduate from Boston University with a Bachelor's in journalism, Rusty's long term aspirations are to become one of the game's leading writers, rising to the standard set by modern-day legends like George Peper, Mark Frost and Dan Jenkins. GolfWRX Writer of the Month: August 2014 Fairway Executive Podcast Interview http://golfindustrytrainingassociation.com/17-rusty-cage-golf-writer (During this interview I discuss how golf industry professionals can leverage emerging technologies to connect with their audience.)

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Sean P

    Nov 17, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Wish we could get this in the UK, looks good.

  2. nikkyd

    Nov 14, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Wow! My $20 izods shorts from the mens department at jcpenny have green rubbery silicone stuff on the inside of the waistband too! I want to know what brand the big boys like els, mickelson, weekly, dejong wear. That skinny slack look looks terrible on guys like me. And uncomfortable too!

    • nikkyd

      Nov 14, 2014 at 11:40 pm

      I may add also, the best golf outfit i ever did see, was worn by kevin costner in Tin Cup. In the scene where he qualifies for the open. With a 7 iron. Now thats an outfit. Not loud, but nice looking and probably better yet…comfortable

  3. Pat

    Nov 14, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    100+dollars for a pair of trousers??? I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination but I’m not dirt poor either. Even if I had the money to throw away on this brand I would rather spend it on golf lessons. This proves that golf is definitely for the wealthy and is becoming more out of reach for the “common” man.

  4. Arnold P.

    Nov 14, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    The fit looks a little too much like skinny jeans for me. I’ll stick with my tailor.

  5. Tip o'kneel

    Nov 14, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    A silicone strip SOWN into the waist keeps your shirt from riding up and out of your pants as YOUR swinging a club.

    • Ron R.

      Nov 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm

      You’re. Smartipants.

      • Tip

        Nov 14, 2014 at 3:53 pm

        Look, if I’m going to be subjected to product pushing, then the least you can do is proof your work. If I put this in front of a client, I’d get laughed out of the room.

        Btw…the pants are a nice pick up if you have an opportunity…

  6. Drew R.

    Nov 14, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    I love the Highland pants and maide sweaters. I would prefer if they created some shirts with moisture wicking materials.

  7. Jamie Eck

    Nov 14, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I just got a pair of these pants and they are great. My favorite part is the material they have around the inside of the waistband. It keeps your shirt tucked in at all times without feeling like it is pulling it down.

  8. AZ Golfman

    Nov 14, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Being 6’5″, its always been hard to find good golf pants that fit well. Once i found out that bonobos sold 36″ inseam, my prayers were answered! i have several pairs of bonobos pants that i wear for work and golf and the fit is very tailored. I get compliments on them all the time.

  9. Peter Kratsios

    Nov 14, 2014 at 10:36 am

    I have been playing golf for 10 years and have never been loyal to a clothing brand before this year. However, that changed when I bought a pair of the Highland pants at the beginning of golf season, and realized how much a quality pair of pants influenced the golf swing. I have several pants and even a few golf shirts from Maide.

    Love what you guys are doing over there, keep it up!

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Whats in the Bag

Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)

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  • Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X

Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX

Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash

Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.

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Equipment

Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

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Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.

In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).

With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

See all of our photo galleries from the week here 

Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters

Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.

That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.

One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…

We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…

While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.

We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).

See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here

An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird

Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.

Well, we have an update.

According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.

Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron

As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.

Good timing on that switch, Jordan.

On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.

Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:

“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’

“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”

Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball

At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.

GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…

 

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A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!

Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.

On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.

Check out Kim’s full WITB here

A smart golf ball stamping

I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.

While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.

And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.

For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

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Whats in the Bag

Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)

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  • Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X

Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3

Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.

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