Equipment
Show Stoppers: Day 3 at the PGA Merchandise Show
Team GolfWRX is in Orlando to be your eyes and ears at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show.
Enjoy our last edition of “Show Stoppers” — the newest, coolest products we found at Demo Day and inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Cleveland Wedge Analyzer Powered by Swingbyte
In the realm of golf club fitting, wedges are far and away the most complicated. There’s so many variables to consider: loft, bounce, a golfer’s swing, the course conditions, etc.
Cleveland’s new Wedge Fitting App works in tandem with SwingByte to make the fitting process painfully simple.
To get fit for a wedge, all golfers have to do is select their course conditions and make a swinging motion of their choice (chipping, pitching, a flop shot, etc.) with a club equipped with SwingByte.
The free app uses an algorithm based on angle of attack and several other variables to recommend one of Cleveland’s three different wedge grinds, and can also recommend wedge lofts based on what set of irons a golfer plays.
Cool Clubs S3 Shaft Analyzer
Scottsdale-based custom club fitter Cool Clubs hopes to make shaft fitting simpler with its new S3 Shaft Analyzer, which measures every important shaft parameter — straightness, consistency, deflection, stiffness profiles, frequency, torque and more — on a single machine in just 2.5 minutes.
The S3 was designed and built by Cool Clubs, and the company has published data of more than 1000 driver shafts on its mobile app.
The app is free, but gearheads will want to pay $20 for a 1-year subscription that unlocks all of Cool Clubs’s shaft data.
The company plans to perform similar tests to each shaft category going forward.
Puma shoes, a block of ice and Blair O’Neal
Puma’s new TitanTour shoes are designed to keep your feet cool, but we’re not sure the shoe – or even the ice sculpture shoe display – can cool down Cobra-Puma brand ambassador Blair O’Neal.
The shoes are designed to regulate temperature by using Outlast Certified Space Technology — designed for NASA to manage temperature in spacesuits — which explains the astronaut mannequin trying to photobomb our photo of Blair.
To learn more about the TitanTour shoes, click here.
Epson M-Tracer MT500GII
Epson’s M-Tracer MT500GII is the latest in the fast-growing category of lightweight, affordable golf swing analyzers.
The M-Tracer weighs a featherlite 15 grams and a built-in inertial measurement unit, derived from Epson’s industrial sensors, providing golfers with detailed information about their club head speed, swing tempo, face angle, club path and more.
The device is part of Epson’s new Active product category, a line of sports and fitness devices that the Japanese electronics company has developed to give athletes accurate, easy-to-understand data on their performance.
The M-Tracer measures the swing at 1,000 samples per second and uses bluetooth to wirelessly transmit swing data to iOS and Android devices. It works with Epson’s M-Tracer app to create a 3D “trace” of the club head, further in-depth analysis and allows golfers to store up to 3,000 swings of a golfer’s swings in the cloud, according to Epson representatives.
The device will be available March 15 at endorser David Leadbetter’s Academies and through Epson’s website for $299.
Mitsubishi Rayon KuroKage XT
The prototype shaft Mitsubishi Rayon shaft used by Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy is coming to retail.
It’s called the Kuro Kage XT and is manufactured in the company’s Toyohashi facility in Japan with a higher grade carbon fiber material that gives the shaft less torque and a stiffer tip than Mitsubishi’s Kuro Kage Silver TiNi shaft.
It will be available in April and will sell for $400.
Sam PuttLab
There’s a few scratch golfers on the GolfWRX team, but the putting analysis and training system made the SAM PuttLab exhibitor say “Yikes” to our strokes.
The new Sam PuttLab 5, which uses ultrasound technology and algorithms to track the movement of your putter head, now allows the golfer or fitter to watch a 3D replay (below) of the stroke. It’s like watching your stroke on TV – even though some of GolfWRX’s putting strokes were made for radio.
SAM’s new PuttLab App also allows users use their smartphone as a remote control for the PC software and share their data results on social media.
Always wanted a PuttLab? The company has a PGA Show discount running through Feb. 15, which gives consumers a $500 discount and free shipping. Sam PuttLabs start at $6,495.
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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Equipment
Masters gear roundup: Limited-edition bags, balls, and more
The Masters in itself is a huge tradition in the world of golf, but it also brings its own traditions with it. One of the big ones for us golf equipment fans is the limited edition gear that is influenced by the season’s first major championship.
Around tournament time, companies big and small offer bags, balls, and accessories that are designed with the colors and history of the Masters Tournament.
Here is some of the gear that we will see this weekend out on the lush, green grass of Augusta.
Callaway
The land Augusta National sits on was once a nursery. Callaway looks to be celebrating that history this year. Colorful flowers are used all over the side panels on the staff bag and on top of the headcovers. Callaway also did some limited edition Chrome Tour golf balls with azalea patterns.
Mizuno
There might not be a green bag here for Mizuno, but they know how to celebrate the Masters! This year, Mizuno is offering Mizuno Pro 241 “Azalea” irons to a limited number of lucky customers. A new green iridescent finish is applied to the heads and some beautiful colored ferrules bring some floral color to the irons. If you are lucky enough to grab a set, you will be impressed by the green display box the irons come in as well!
TaylorMade
This year’s staff bag goes a little heavier on a metallic green color to pay homage to the first major of the year. If you look closely at the details, you will notice shiny gold accent pieces, a small Amen Corner, and an inner lining with Georgia peaches. The headcovers are made from matching metallic green fabric and feature “88th” embroidery for the number of Masters tournaments that have been played. TaylorMade’s TP5x Pix golf balls come in a case that looks, and feels, like a peach!
Srixon
Srixon’s bag for the 2024 Masters goes heavy on green and white with a more simple and classic design on the outside. When you unzip the pockets you will treated to a hidden inner lining that has Georgia’s state fruit, the peach, printed all over. Heck, Srixon even included the pit! Headcovers are matching white and green but have a look that reminds you of the iconic Masters scoreboard.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Tiger Woods’ winning WITB, 2019 Masters
At the 2019 Masters, Tiger Woods famously ended an 11-year major championship drought. When Francesco Molinari faltered during the final round, Woods pounced. With a Sunday 70, he captured his fifth green jacket and 15th major championship.
Check out what Tiger had in the bag below.
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (3-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind Raw (56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS
Ball: Bridgestone TourB XS
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
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Equipment
Best irons in golf of 2024: Pure enjoyment
In our effort to assemble the 2024 best irons, we have again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2024 irons is best for your game.
Ultimately the best way to find your personal best iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.
We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. And of course, proper set makeup and gapping is essential. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.
We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.
Best irons of 2024: The process
The best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.
It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!
Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at.
These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you determine which category is most important for your swing and game.
Best irons of 2024: The categories
- Overall performance
- Easiest to launch/Slower swing speed
- Pure enjoyment
- Shotmakers
- Most technology-packed
- Best blade
2024 Best irons: Pure enjoyment
We continue to see an overlap in the way fitters in this category define the top irons. The most playable irons are the most likely to be higher launching, and shots that fly higher make the game more enjoyable for everyone. This reiterates our belief that your iron selection should not be defined by your handicap but instead by what gives you the best opportunity to play your best — and most enjoyable — golf.
Ping G430
Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever,” the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to two more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation that features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to a solid feel and pleasing impact sound.
Fitter comments:
- “The best G.I. iron on the market. Easy to hit and launch while making great ball speed for distance.”
- “The best iron in the game improvement category. High launch and packed with forgiveness on those off-center hits. It’s one of the easiest irons to hit. So easy to hit and look at for the average golfer.”
- “Yeah, I mean, that’s definitely a go-to and in the matrix for sure. I mean, it’s just super easy to hit, super forgiving. They don’t mess that iron up.”
- “Ping does a great job of building golf clubs. Their design is fantastic and it’s not for everybody, you know, it’s not the lowest-spinning club…but it sure is one of the most forgiving golf clubs and most consistent golf clubs. Ping G430 in that category of club, you can have something that a good player who needs a little help maybe can use because it’s consistent across the face, and you can’t do that with some of the other clubs because they’re not as consistent across the face for the ball speeds. It is a monster for us.”
- “The best iron in the game improvement category. It’s one of the easiest irons to hit.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
TaylorMade P790
Their story: Engineers utilized the variables of tungsten weighting, SpeedFoam Air, and internal mass — with an assist from AI — to precisely give golfers what they need in each iron. For example, launch and forgiveness in the long irons. More specifically, TaylorMade is using what the company calls FLTD CG (flighted CG) to strategically position CG throughout the set (lower in the long irons, higher in the short irons). CG is positioned almost a millimeter lower in the long irons compared to previous generations. In the shorter irons, the higher CG positions allowed engineers to dial in spin and promote accuracy.
Fitter comments:
- “Best combination of everything. The amalgamation of all irons on the market blended into one mathematically perfect design.”
- “I think people recognize the name. It’s a very popular club. It stands up to every model in a category.”
- “That’s the staple in the players distance category. It’s year-in, year-out. It’s tough to beat TaylorMade — they don’t go wrong with that iron, for sure. They make little refinements, but it’s almost like, yeah, just keep making little refinements. Don’t kind of mess that up just because the, I mean, it, it fits such a wide range of players and it’s just such a good iron that fits a wide, wide range of handicaps.”
- “I think where TaylorMade kind of struggled over the past is getting that spin on the golf club, and I think each generation it just keeps getting better. I think they did an awesome job.”
- “If it’s not our best-selling iron in the fitting center, it’s always like number two. It’s such a great, great performer across the board. And yeah, it just keeps getting better every year. It’s really awesome; crazy distance on that thing too.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Srixon ZX5 Mk II
Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of Z ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.
Fitter comments:
- “I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate-to-high handicappers.”
- “So I would say it, it kind of stands out in its category because it does launch higher than its competitors. It also sits in between some of the models, like, it doesn’t directly compete with a hollow cavity and it doesn’t compete with, like the Cobra King Tour. Like, it’s a degree stronger. For a forged iron, it performs great for us. The only problem is that it is a little bit light in a swing weight, so we have to be careful of who we fit.”
- “It’s definitely one of our more popular irons for sure. You know, you get a guy who wants to play something small but still wants something more forgiving, and they don’t want kind of that full hollow body iron. I mean, that’s definitely one of our best sellers for sure. We’re seeing that a lot of combos — that’s a one iron that you can definitely combo with the ZX7 for sure.”
- “I think a lot of guys like the concept of the V-Sole with them…If you’re talking an overall package, you know, for the guy that is looking for something clean. That’s a spectacular golf club. Good looks and good feel and great, you know, great performance, and it fits a lot of categories.”
- “I think the one struggle a lot of companies have with that category is getting something to spin, so to try and give like guys so they don’t get those knuckleball shots or that fly out of the rough that goes 20 yards longer. I kind of think that that’s what I think makes that item so good is you get some spin on it, and I think it, it looks and feels good enough that like it, a guy that’s a mid-single digit can play it and be like, yeah, that’s good enough for me. But it’s also forgiving enough that a guy that’s in that kind of 12-to-15 kind of category if he wants to reach a little bit and play something that might look a little bit better. It just fits such a huge, huge range of players. I think it’s just awesome.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal
Their story: “With the JPX923 Hot Metal, Mizuno introduces “4355 nickel chromoly,” which is 35 percent stronger than the original Hot Metal material and allows for an eight-percent thinner clubface. Cup face construction works in tandem with a deep center of gravity for high launch with stopping power. Mizuno developed Hot Metal Pro, Hot Metal and Hot Metal HL (High Launch) from 175,000 real golf swings recorded via Mizuno’s Swing DNA system.”
Fitter comments:
- “These are great for a player who flips at the ball but also needs some help and forgiveness. The strong lofts help reduce a player’s launch and spin.”
- “Great forgiveness with the feel that Mizuno is known for.”
- “Great looking and great feeling irons.”
- “If I had a player come in, that’s just your, you know, your average golfer. It’s one that is like, “Hey, this is, this is one to try.” This is gonna produce a lot of ball speed and is super forgiving. You can combo it really well. Mizuno does a great job where you can do combo sets just with lofts.”
- “It’s very good. It’s one of the most popular. Always in the mix of game improvement irons when people come in and they want to hit something that’s forgiving and that also still feels less clicky.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Titleist T200
Their story: If there were gripes about the previous generation of T200 irons, it was probably because of feel and sound at impact. Titleist heard your feedback on the previous T200 irons, and it listened. The new 2023 T200 irons have a reengineered chassis to create a stiffer structure and create a more stable feeling and muted sound. They also refined the Max Impact Technology within the head to sit closer to the L-face, further solidifying the feel.
Fitter comments:
- “Best overall for us. Great looks, workability. Plenty of forgiveness.”
- “I like the great look of these and they are easy to play for the average golfer.”
- “That’s a big combo iron for sure, especially, but it’s also, you know, in that player distance category, it’s one of the higher launching ones, and it’s gonna spin a little bit more. I would say some of those irons in that category they launch, you know, they’ve launched a little bit lower and they don’t spin, which it is great for some players, but also some still want to play a smaller package.”
- “I think it was definitely a big jump from the previous one. Yeah, I mean, one thing I’ve noticed is compared to some of the other irons, even kind of equal loft, it tends to get a little bit more height on it.”
- “It’s great for one of those guys that if I get in there that’s kind of hitting a little low. It’s one to kind of throw in my hands…you’re seeing that initial launch kind of pick up a little bit compared to some of the other ones.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Best irons of 2024: Meet the fitters
- Adam Rathe: Club Champion
- Adam Scotto: Club Champion
- Adam Seitz: Club Champion
- Aidan Mena: Club Champion
- Alex Dice: Carl’s Golfland
- Alex Praeger: Club Champion
- Ben Giunta: The Tour Van
- Blake Smith, PGA: True Spec
- Bo Gorman: True Spec
- Brad Coffield: Carl’s Golfland
- Brett Ott: Club Champion
- Brian Riley: Club Champion
- Cameron Scudder: Club Champion
- Carmen Corvino: True Spec
- Christian Sandler: Club Champion
- Clare Cornelius: Cool Clubs
- Dan Palmisano: Club Champion
- Dane Byers: Club Champion
- Darren Joubert: Club Champion
- Dennis Huggins: Club Champion
- Drew Koch: Club Champion
- Eric Touchet: Touchet Performance Golf
- Erik Gonzales: Club Champion
- Evan Morrison: Club Champion
- Gus Alzate: True Spec
- Jake Medlen: Stripe Show Club Fitters
- Jake Woolston: Club Champion
- Jake Wynd: Club Champion
- Jay Marino: Club Champion
- Jeremy Olsen: Club Champion
- Jim Yenser: Club Champion
- Joe Stefan: Club Champion
- Joey Simon, PGA: Club Champion
- Jonathan Kaye: Club Champion
- Jordan Patrick: True Spec
- Jordan Rollins: Club Champion
- Kevin Arabejo: Club Champion
- Kevin Downey: Club Champion
- Kirk Oguri: Pete’s Golf
- Kyle Lane: Club Champion
- Kyle Murao: Club Champion
- Marc Roybal: True Spec
- Mark Hymerling: Club Champion
- Mark Knapp: Carl’s Golfland
- Matt Miller: Club Champion
- Matt Rish: Club Champion
- Matthew Gandolfi: Club Champion
- Mike Martysiewicz: Club Champion
- Mike Weis: Club Champion
- Mitch Schneider: Club Champion
- Nicholas Barone: Club Champion
- Nick Sherburne: Club Champion
- Nick Waterworth: Haggin Oaks
- Preston Vanderfinch: Club Champion
- Rick Lane: Club Champion
- Rob Anderson, PGA: Club Champion
- Russell Hubby: Club Champion
- Ryan Fisher: Grips Golf
- Ryan Grimes: Club Champion
- Ryan Johnson: Carl’s Golfland Bloomfield Hills
- Sam Kim: True Spec
- Scott Sikorski: Club Champion
- Scott Felix: Felix Club Works
- Scott Trent: Club Champion
- Sean Pfeil: Club Champion
- Shaun Fagan: True Spec
- Steve Harrow: Club Champion
- Tad Artrip: Club Champion
- Thomas Mattaini: Pull the Pin
- Tony Rhode: True Clubs
- William Buse: Club Champion
- William Cho: NovoGolf
- William Fields: Club Champion
RELATED: Best driver 2024
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Lee H.
Jan 28, 2015 at 12:59 am
That Cleveland wedge analyzer was right on point when I tried it at the show. It validated what I knew all along about my swing, which is that I sweep the ball. Therefore, it recommended their 1-dot wedges (something with less bounce), which also helps with the playing conditions I play in.
Also, I would like to mention that the new version of the Srixon Z-Star that was given to me at the show has noticeably more spin on it than the 2013-2014 version. Those with swing speeds under 105, I’m 92, will appreciate the better feel of the ball and increased spin.
Glen Coombe
Jan 26, 2015 at 6:08 pm
We’re happy to have made the news! SAM PuttLab & BalanceLab are constantly being improved. Our new 3D replay is very exciting. I combined both technologies with my Putting Perfection Platform to great reviews… By those who experienced it.
Check the Putters forum for more info.
Lane
Jan 26, 2015 at 4:25 pm
The name for this article came from someone that stumbled on the new show at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas. At least that’s the first thing that came to mind. Show Stoppers. It’s being advertised all over in Vegas
Lane
Jan 26, 2015 at 4:24 pm
The name for this article came from someone that stumbled on the new show at Wynn
Dolpglundgrenade
Jan 26, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Seriously? So nothing. There was nothing new or interesting to the average wrx reader? I guess you should skip putting this up and focus on other fun and interesting facts about the show because this is s###. C’ mon man.
JEFF
Jan 26, 2015 at 2:19 pm
This is what’s boring golfers into doing something different. I’m a golfer and ready to take up bowling after reading about this crap!
Jacko
Jan 24, 2015 at 6:55 am
Boring… Any chane of something useful, the “hype” of this golf show is such a disappointment, when will people realise the only way to improve at this sport is to actually have some ability, work hard on your game and understand what you are capable of mentally on the golf course! Shaft and wedge analysers ?? … ZZZZ
Rich
Jan 26, 2015 at 8:06 am
Please see my comment below. You need to look more closely at the pictures my friend.
Philip Kim
Jan 23, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Kuro Kage XT? Sweeet
Jay
Jan 23, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Wow. Four swing analyzers and a pair of shoes. That’s all you got? Snooze…..
austin
Jan 23, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Big fan of what blair is doing
bob
Jan 23, 2015 at 12:58 pm
well, that was boring.
Rich
Jan 23, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Are you kidding. Did you see Blair O’neil?