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Show Stoppers: Demo Day at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show

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Team GolfWRX is in Orlando to be your eyes and ears at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show.

Each day, we’ll publish a list of “Show Stoppers” — the newest, coolest products we find at Demo Day and inside the Orange County Convention Center.

Enjoy this list of Show Stoppers we found at Demo Day at Orange County National Golf Course.

Adams Pro Red Hybrid

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Adams’ new Pro Red hybrids look similar to the company’s current Pro hybrid, but they give golfers much more control over their ball flight.

Do you tend to slice or hook your hybrids? Remove the sole plate and you can give the 95-cubic-centimeter more draw or fade bias by repositioning its three internal weights. Two of the weights are 2 grams, while another weighs 25 grams. Golfers can move the 25-gram weight to the toe for more fade bias and to the heel for more draw bias.

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The new hybrids also have Adams’ Ghost Slot technology on the top of their crowns for top-notch ball speed, another slot on the sole and the company’s famed upside-down head shape to lower CG and improve versatility.

The Pro Red hybrid ($229) will be available in lofts of 16, 18, 20, 23 and 26 degrees and will be in stores April 17.

Click here to see more photos of the Adams Pro Red Hybrid. 

Ben Hogan Ft. Worth 15 irons and TK Wedges

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Ben Hogan’s new irons and wedges looked better in person than we anticipated from the company’s stock photos. The soles are thin, the top lines are clean and the feel is tremendous.

It’s a little weird pulling out a 35-degree club instead of a 7 or 8 iron, but we could get used to it — and probably will even come to like it.

Ben Hogan President/CEO Terry Koehler suggests 4-degree gaps for the company’s long irons instead of the traditional 3-degree gaps offered by most companies.

Click here to learn more about Ben Hogan’s new irons and wedges. 

Bridgestone J815 Driver

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It’s rumored that Brandt Snedeker will play Bridgestone’s limited-edition J815 in 2015. While his endorsement is likely to help the cool factor of the club, the driver is pretty cool on its own.

It has all the technology included in the company’s new J715 drivers, as well as a few new ones. The sole was stiffened with a new design to leave room for the specially designed crown to flex.

And what a crown it is.

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The red, graphic-covered crown, is an eye catcher, and the J815 has slightly more draw bias than the J715.

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Like Bridgestone’s J715 drivers, the J815 has a milled driver face to reduce spin.

Bridgestone E-Series Golf balls

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Bridgestone’s new version of the E-Series golf balls have a new, “webbed” dimple design that increases surface coverage by 10 percent for better aerodynamics.

The E5 is a two-piece, urethane-covered ball that’s good at creating a higher ball flight and more spin around the greens.

Both the E6 and the E7 are three-piece golf balls with surlyn covers. The E6 is a low-compression golf ball that reduces curvature, while the E7 is a higher compression ball that flies a little farther for golfers with faster swing speeds, according to Bridgestone.

The new balls will be available in February and will sell for $28.99 per dozen.

Bushnell TourX Jolt Laser Rangefinder

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Bushnell’s new TourX Jolt has the ability to measure slope, a traditionally non-conforming feature of a laser rangefinder. It skirts the rule with the company’s new Exchange faceplate design, which disables the laser’s slope capabilities for tournament play.

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The laser offers Bushnell’s quickest readings and 6X magnification, along with the company’s Dual Display Technology that allows golfers to switch between a red display for low-light conditions and a black display for brighter days.

Bushnell’s TourX Jolt will be available in April for $499.

Click here to see more photos of Bushnell’s new TourX rangefinder. 

FootJoy HyperFlex and Icon Black

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Last year, Footjoy launched its premium D.N.A golf shoe, which found a middle ground between FootJoy’s traditional and sporty models.

At this year’s PGA Merchandise Show, FootJoy had a product for each category — a traditional model called the Icon Black and the extremely sporty HyperFlex.

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The Icon Black ($350) is a new and improved version of the company’s legendary “Classic” spikes, with FootJoy’s finest, most premium materials.

The HyperFlex ($190) uses FootJoy’s new FlexGrid 2.0 exoskeleton upper that offers lightweight, waterproof performance and the comfort and stability demanded by tour players.

Nike Engage Wedges

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Nike’s Engage wedges come in three different soles –Square Sole, Dual Sole and Toe Sweep — and we learned that they also come in three distinctly colored packages.

The raw, 8620 steel wedges are sealed in wax packaging to prevent them from rusting before they make their way to consumers.

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GolfWRXers asked for the raw wedges played by Nike’s Staff Players … and Nike listened.

Click here to see more photos of Nike’s Engage wedges. 

Nike Converge Putters

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Ever wanted to fine tune the position of the weight in your counterbalanced putter? The counterbalanced versions of Nike’s new Converge putters allow golfers to do just that.

If you’d rather have the weight positioned under your right hand or your left hand, you can do it with Nike’s Converge B1 01 and S1 01 putters, which have a 70-gram, adjustable sliding weight that is secured down the putters’ shafts inside the grip.

Click here to see more photos of Nike’s Converge and Method Matter putters.

Nippon’s new iron and wedge shafts

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Nippon has gained traction on the PGA Tour in recent years with its N.S. Pro Modus3 120 and 130 iron shafts. For 2015, the company will expand the line with a N.S. Pro Modus3 125 shaft.

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The 125 has a weight and trajectory between the lower-launching 120 and the higher-launching 130. It is complemented by the company’s new Modus wedge shafts, which are offered in 105, 115 and 125-gram models and heat treated in specific sections of the shaft to improve feel.

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Nippon representatives also showed us the new Modus prototype iron shafts (above), which weigh about 115 grams each and are currently being used by Hunter Mahan, as well as several other PGA Tour players.

Click here to see more shaft photos from Demo Day. 

TaylorMade AeroBurner MiniDriver

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The AeroBurner MiniDriver and TP model (right).

TaylorMade’s AeroBurner fairway woods are proving to be some of the longest, if not the longest fairway woods we’ve ever tested at GolfWRX. That’s why we were happy to see TaylorMade introduce new AeroBurner MiniDrivers at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show.

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The AeroBurner MiniDriver and TP model (right).

You might not need a MiniDriver, which is essentially an oversized fairway wood, but golfers who do swear by them. The combination of the MiniDriver’s smaller head and lower center of gravity can lead to MiniDriver shots that go as far as… well, your driver.

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The AeroBurner MiniDriver and AeroBurner driver (right).

It’s available in both standard and TP models, which have a flatter lie angle and a more opened face angle to suit the needs of better players.

Click here to see more photos of the MiniDriver. 

*We are still waiting for pricing and additional information including release dates on many of these products. We will update this story with that information as soon as possible. 

Full 2015 PGAM Coverage

Show Stoppers: Demo Day
Show Stoppers: Day 2
Show Stoppers: Day 3

Visit our 2015 PGAM forum to see all the photos and discussion.

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46 Comments

46 Comments

  1. Keith

    Feb 4, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    The Bushnell is still illegal whether you can remove the faceplate to disable slope or not. I found out the hard way with my Leopold.

  2. Pingback: Scratch The Golfin' Caveman's Blog » Blog Archive » The Best And Wackiest Gear From The 2015 PGA Show!

  3. Chris C

    Jan 22, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    Bridgestone’s J815 certainly breaks from their conservative tradition. My eye generally gravitates towards staid appearing equipment ( eg. Bridgestone’ s J40 ) but, for some unfathomable reason, I love the looks of this driver. This is particularly weird since I have always hated the looks of most Nike drivers. In any event, I am curious about the comment regarding the 815 having more of a draw bias than the 715. In so far as the 815 seems to be directed at tour use ( ie. Snedeker, et al ) and the 715 appears to be directed at the rest of us, should not the 815 actually have less of a draw bias than the 715?

  4. Josh

    Jan 22, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Really glad I switched to Leupold from Bushnell after my V2 got stolen, especially now that Bushnell is just blatantly copying their designs (removable faceplates that turn slope on and off).

  5. Preston

    Jan 21, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    Well, I do like the FJ black shoes….

  6. Preston

    Jan 21, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    wow, golf equipment is getting really ugly. No wonder people are dropping from the game… LOL

    • Brandon

      Jan 26, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      If the looks of a golf club or piece of equipment was the reason why someone might quit golf, then I’m glad they did.

  7. Golfraven

    Jan 21, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Sadly the FJ Icon Black models are not the most pretty shoes I have seen from them – too futuristic. Like the combination of old classics and newer Icon technology. Probably will sell cheap in sales because not many people will want them.

  8. Golfraven

    Jan 21, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Welcome back Ben Hogan. Bring them on. Maybe will go back to BH wedges and irons again if they are still on the market in 2 years.

  9. golfing

    Jan 21, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    Golf doesn’t need to be boring.
    I Like the clubs technology, especially the Adams hybrid for people that lose the ball
    left. The Bridgestone driver looks amazing to me, and the Nike putter to.

    The mini driver looks also a good club, and I want the blue toe sweep with the Modus wedge shaft.

    • Chris Loskie

      Jan 22, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      Thats a plastic cover on the club..raw finish

  10. JAugusta

    Jan 21, 2015 at 9:25 am

    If my tail light ever cracks and needs replaced, I will just replace it with the new Bridgestone driver head.

  11. Callaway X Hot

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Does anyone even use a mini driver?

  12. Michael C

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Does anyone else see Optimus Prime when they look at the Bridgestone Driver?

  13. CC

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Nike golf= ugly clubs
    Please stick shoes and shirts and get out of the equipment biz

    • Golfraven

      Jan 21, 2015 at 1:46 pm

      +1. Rory will not help selling those neither so save the cash and if you need ti sell clubs, sell those cheaper for newbies and those who fancy red clubs.

      • E184

        Jan 21, 2015 at 4:05 pm

        Clearly you did not read anything on the Nike wedges, as the “red” is a wax coating so the wedges don’t rust prior to purchase.

        • Golfraven

          Jan 22, 2015 at 2:12 pm

          Ok, wasn’t really refering to the nike wedge but more to the Covert drivers. I see Nike droped the “trend” with red paint and moved to more classic design. Don’t want to offend Nike loyalists here, it’s just my personal view. Nike obviously have huge budget and can come out with all sorts of stuff and back it up with marketing BS. Just think of the one brand in particular all those tour players gamed before moving to Nike. Nike just does not have great legacy as Club designer – period. they cope up with innovative technologies indeed but those technologies only last 1-2 seasons. Would you still game the Sumo square driver? Hmmm, classic design, not.

        • talljohn777

          Jan 22, 2015 at 4:05 pm

          Actually, you misread the copy. The wax coating was referring to the raw wedges pictured below that comment. The picture above shows the wedges that “come in three distinctly colored packages.”

        • talljohn777

          Jan 22, 2015 at 4:17 pm

          Actually, I think you may be correct as I look else where on the internet and cannot find them in color, just raw. I retract my comment.

        • Golfraven

          Jan 22, 2015 at 4:32 pm

          Rusting? Really? Where will those clubs be stored, on a fish market or golf warehouse? More marketing BS.

          • Chris Loskie

            Jan 22, 2015 at 10:47 pm

            Actually they do rust from normal usage.. I had mizuno mp 10s raw finish and they get a nice little rust layer

            • Golfraven

              Jan 23, 2015 at 3:55 am

              yes agree but they dont rust in short time unused or on the way to the show. thats bit unreal.

              • Bobby T

                Jan 27, 2015 at 9:07 pm

                The waxy coating is to prevent the wedges from rusting on the shelves prior to sale. Its a nice way to stand out in shops as well as they obviously have gotten everyones attention, even those who only like to look at pretty pictures and not read words associated with the photos

    • Billy

      Jan 21, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      IDIOT!

    • Mat

      Jan 21, 2015 at 4:22 pm

      Dear Troll, like to see u put out some sort of equipment!

  14. Kevin

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:34 am

    Top Ten show stoppers? Kind of limiting the coverage on demo day. I would rather have read about demo day and all the companies who put their product out to be hit. I would also have liked to know what clubs everyone hit and their initial impressions. Which manufacturers booths were busy? Busy equals interest. Some of us don’t tweet, instagram or facebook. What’s next, pictures of booth babes?

  15. RAT

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:19 am

    those colored nike wedges look dollar storeish

    • Don

      Jan 21, 2015 at 10:22 am

      It’s just the wrapping so the wedges didn’t rust before they got to the show. Gotsta read the text.

      • Adam

        Jan 21, 2015 at 2:22 pm

        “and we learned that they also come in three distinctly colored packages”.
        No Don, you gotta read the text… and learn to spell.

        • chris

          Jan 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm

          No Adam you need to learn basic reading comprehension … 3 colored packages….once the packaging is removed…no more color. Not that difficult really.

        • Chris Loskie

          Jan 22, 2015 at 10:50 pm

          Lol nice reading comp

    • RAT

      Jan 21, 2015 at 2:26 pm

      oops, stand corrected on the color thing but the wedges still look dollar storeish(cheap)

  16. Mike

    Jan 21, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Are we sure the interchangeable face plate on the new Bushnell makes it leagal for tournament play? Leopold has the same Technology on one of their rangefinders and I read that the USGA decided it was still not conforming.

    • Golfraven

      Jan 21, 2015 at 1:58 pm

      I have the Leupold GX-4i and this is confirmed legal by USGA and R&A for tournament use worldwide according to rule 14-3/05 if you have the chrome cover on and not the Smart Key. Guess Bushnell did similar base on this model.

  17. L

    Jan 21, 2015 at 2:09 am

    So there is a TP head to the AeroBurner? It’s considered TP just because it’s more open? We’re back to that again?

    • Guanto

      Jan 21, 2015 at 3:04 am

      Clueless about equipment are we?

      • Fake

        Jan 21, 2015 at 12:28 pm

        Not as clueless as you, monkey, who doesn’t read the comment to the end!

  18. Matt

    Jan 21, 2015 at 12:29 am

    That Bridgestone driver is the ugliest golf club I’ve ever seen.

    • Connor

      Jan 21, 2015 at 1:53 am

      Word.

      • Don

        Jan 21, 2015 at 10:24 am

        Yup. Going after the Callaway market I guess.

    • Golfraven

      Jan 21, 2015 at 2:25 pm

      What is this obsession with red heads. I could buy the marketing spiel when white heads came out first but this is taking it to the next level. Sorry, not for me.

  19. Zak

    Jan 21, 2015 at 12:27 am

    Those RAW Nike Engage wedges are AMAZING!

    54-12 square and a 60-09 dual sole please.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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