Equipment

Show Stoppers from Demo Day: 2016 PGA Merchandise Show

Published

10 years ago

Jan 27, 2016

Demo Day kicks off the PGA Merchandise Show each year, with golfers testing the latest golf gear at the 360-degree range at Orange County National in Winter Park, Fla.

Enjoy our list of “Show Stoppers” from Demo Day below, as well as our general galleries from the event.

Ping TR 1966 putters

You could say that Ping celebrates the anniversary of its Anser putters every year. The classic, heel-toe weighted blade putters are still some of Ping’s best selling models, and nearly every major putter company sells a putter inspired by Karsten Solheim’s legendary design.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Anser, however, Ping did something special. Using 3D scans of the original Anser and Anser 2, the company was able to recreate the subtle contours and radius details Solheim shaped using his mills and hand files.

The Anser, which has a manganese bronze PVD finish, has no alignment aids, as well as a more rounded shape and a thicker topline than the Anser 2.

The Anser 2, which has a stainless steel blast finish, has a more angular shape and a white alignment aid on its flange.

There’s also a bit of new technology in the putters – Ping’s TR (True Roll) grooves, which are milled into the faces of the putters to create more consistent distance on putts contacted off center.

Both putters, available in March, have an MSRP of $162.50. Their head weights are 340 grams, roughly 50 grams heavier than the originals. They use stepped steel shafts that were also re-engineered from the original Anser designs.

Toulon Design putters

Most golfers would be interested in a putter that feels better and rolls putters better than what they currently have. As TaylorMade’s Executive Vice President of Product Creation from 1999-2015, Sean Toulon knows that better than most.

Now at the helm of his own golf equipment company, Toulon Designs, Toulon says he’s created putters that do just that. They use a crosshatched face pattern that creates a softer feel at impact, as well as smaller, horizontal grooves that he says gets putts rolling faster.

Toulon putters officially launched at Demo Day, and are available in four models that start at $400.

Ben Hogan VKTR hybrid, PTx irons

Last year, the newly formed Ben Hogan Golf Company made a splash at the PGA Merchandise show with its line of Ft. Worth 15 blade irons and TK 15 wedges. This year, the company broadened its lineup with the release of its VKTR hybrids and PTx irons.

The VKTR hybrids ($249) aren’t promising golfers more distance. Rather, their high-spin design places a premium on trajectory control. Four adjustable weights allow golfers to tweak their ball flight, with three 2-gram weights and an 18-gram weight that give golfers the ability to adjust spin rate and trajectory bias.

Like the Ft. Worth 15 irons, the company’s new PTx irons are forged, but they blend a titanium core with a 1025 Carbon Steel frame to give golfers a higher trajectory and more forgiveness. They’re offered in lofts of 20-47 degrees to allow golfers to choose the distance gaps that work best for their game.

Like Hogan’s other irons, the PTx irons use the company’s V-Sole design that helps them resist digging at impact. They’ll sell for $169 each with KBS Tour-V or Tour 90 shafts, and will start shipping April.

Cobra King Utility

Golfers are used to adjusting the loft of their drivers with the turn of a wrench. Cobra’s new King Utility clubs bring that technology to irons.

Although the clubs won’t be released until May, they already have a following on Tour. Rickie Fowler used a King Utility to win last week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

According to Cobra, the King Utility irons use a 17-4 stainless steel face insert that’s added to the club with an L-Weld to increase ball speed and forgiveness. They’ll be adjustable from 18-21 degrees, with three draw settings that make the club slightly more upright.

Aldila Rogue iron shafts

Graphite iron shafts have been around for decades, but only in recent years have they started to gain traction with better golfers. One of the reasons why? Advanced construction methods have given shaft makers more freedom in their designs, allowing them to create profiles that weren’t possible in the past.

Aldila’s new Rogue iron shafts take that precision to a new level with what the company calls a “Hyperbolic Flex Progression.” It alters stiffness for each individual iron shaft to improve trajectory control.

Most shafts get between 6-8 CPM (cycles per minute) stiffer per club, according to Aldila, but the Rogue iron shafts are different. Take the Pro 105-S shafts, for example, which use a 2-4-6 design. The 3-5 iron shafts get two CPM stiffer between shafts, while the 6-8 iron shafts irons get four CPM stiffer between shafts. The 9-W shafts get six CPM stiffer between shafts.

The design helps golfers better dial in the appropriate trajectories and distances for each iron, according to Aldila. They’re available in two models, Standard (about $40 each, 65-A, 75-R, 85-S flexes) and Pro (about $100 each: 105-S, 115-X flexes).

Nippon N.S. Pro Regio Formula shafts

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Despite the abundance of graphite shafts currently available, many golfers still have a hard time deciphering what type of shaft will work best in their driver or fairway wood. Leave it up to a company known for its steel iron shafts to help solve the riddle.

Nippon’s N.S. Pro Regio Formula shafts use profiles that are similar to the company’s popular N.S. Pro Modus iron shafts, so if you know what Modus is best for your iron game then you know what Reggio Formula is best for your tee game.

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The Formula M is based on the Modus 130 iron shaft, with a firm butt section, firm mid section and a softer tip section that creates a stable feel and a high trajectory.

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The Formula B is based on the Modus 120 iron shaft, with a soft butt section, firm mid section and a firm tip section that creates a lower trajectory.

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The Formula MB falls in between. It’s based on the Modus 105 and Modus 125 iron shafts, and has a balanced profile.

All three shafts sell for about $400.

SuperStroke S-Tech

SuperStroke, known primarily as a putter grip company, has expanded its club grip line. And two of golf’s biggest names — Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia — are using the company’s new S-Tech grips on the 13 other clubs in their bag.

The new grips are both softer and less expensive than the previously released TXi models, and will be available to the public in three colors (black, grey and blue). They’ll sell for $6.99 each (standard and midsize) and will start shipping in April.

Yonex N1-MB irons and Triprinciple hybrid

Yonex’s new N1-MB irons, forged from S25 Carbon Steel, add a touch of feel to the muscle-back heads with a graphite plate placed behind the face, which helps to dampen vibrations at impact, according to the company. The irons heads are made with a low and deep center of gravity (CG) for a higher launch, making them more forgiving than the blade irons you may be used to.

The Tripricinple hybrid, with one of the most awe-inspiring new designs at the PGA Show, has a cavity cut into its crown and grooves that run diagonally instead of horizontally. The grooves provide more consistent spin from various lies – especially wet grass, according to Yonex – while the crown’s cavity lowers CG for a higher launch.

The new Yonex hybrids also have a reverse-flow shaft matching system that’s lighter in the longer lofts and heavier in the shorter lofts (the hybrids are offered in lofts of 20, 23.5 and 27 degrees). Their bodies are made from SUS630 Stainless Steel, while their faces are made from 455 Maraging Steel.

Bubba hits a drone from mid-air, and a look at his driver swing in Slo-Mo

.@bubbawatson hitting a low fade with the new @PingTour G driver pic.twitter.com/3okzTxBAMl

— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) January 26, 2016

Two-time Masters champion and Florida-native Bubba Watson blessed the PGA Show with an appearance at Oakley’s Prizm booth, and he didn’t disappoint. He put on a display of shots; a reenactment of his famous rope-hook wedge shot on hole No. 10 at Augusta to ice the 2012 Masters, nearly knocking a flying drone from mid-air — he clipped the propellers, but it didn’t fall — and of course, a slew of driver swings producing different ball flights.

“Normally when you think of golf you don’t think of ‘cool and fun’… you think of action sports,” Bubba said. “But my swing, at 120 mph, is an action sport.”

There to promote Oakley sunglasses, Bubba told the crowd he doesn’t wear sunglasses to play golf because it affects his feel, but he never goes anywhere without at least five pairs of Oakley Turbine sunglasses in all different colors. Oakley released a new frame (pictured above) to house their popular Prizm-style lenses — which work well for a sport such as golf because the lenses amplify tones and increase definition.

FootJoy FreeStyle

These aren’t the “Classics” that you’ve seen from FootJoy in years past, but the new FreeStyle shoes move the company toward a more athletic and modern style aimed at comfort and performance, much like the HyperFlex shoes released by the company in 2015.

The new FreeStyle shoes are made with a mesh upper for lightweight breathability, and come with a two-year waterproof warranty. A slip-resistant heel pad and extra cushioning under the tongue and in the back-inner portion of the shoe where the Achilles rests was added to make the shoes more comfortable.

FreeStyles ($190) will be available February 15 in three colorways (white/grey/charcoal), (navy/orange/lime) and (black/white/gray). They will also be offered with the BOA closure system for $210.

The companies that weren’t there

Demo Day at the PGA Merchandise Show provides golfers, media and PGA professionals an opportunity to see the newest equipment and test products in an outdoor environment. Most major equipment companies attend the event, but this year there were several notable absences.

Companies that didn’t attend include Nike, which recently launched its line of Vapor Fly clubs, PXG, one of the talked-about new golf companies in recent memory and Mizuno, which launched its new equipment line last fall.

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23 Comments

Mat

Jan 28, 2016 at 5:18 pm

The iron head is the future. It won’t be long until entire sets are manufactured that way.

Reply Report comment
steve

Jan 28, 2016 at 9:37 am

Why would Toulon get in at that price range for their putters? They needed to undercut Betti’s and Camerons by a lot, under $200 should have been their starting point

Reply Report comment
Parisgood

Jan 27, 2016 at 6:29 pm

Nobody has mentioned what the manufactures are doing with the loft. The new Taylor Made M2 irons 5 iron has a loft of 23 deg. My 1970 set of Wilson Staffs 5 iron had a 32 deg loft. So which one am I going to hit further? Also Taylor Made released the M1 driver this fall, now what did they introduce at the show, the NEW and improved M2. Will there be a new and even better M3 by springtime?

Reply Report comment
- JP
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 8:45 pm
  
  I agree with you on the lofts of the M2 irons. There are YouTube videos out already that show the M2 irons on a launch monitor in which the shot height and distance of the M2 6 iron was the same as a standard 5 iron tested side by side. They stamped a 6 on a 5 head and claim it’s longer… Ridiculous. But the M2 driver is not an upgraded or new M1. It is the replacement for the Aeroburner. They incorporated the carbon fiber crown for it, but it is not the “new” M1. I think Taylormade made a big mistake in naming it M2. It should have been more aptly named M1 Speed, or M1 Burner….. M2 is very misleading.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Parisgood
    
    Jan 27, 2016 at 10:12 pm
    
    Didn’t know that about the M2, thanks that’s interesting.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Tim
    
    Jan 27, 2016 at 10:59 pm
    
    While I appreciate your attempt here. Wouldn’t the club launch and fly lower if it was lower lofted?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Clay
      
      Jan 27, 2016 at 11:21 pm
      
      Launch and flight are impacted by center of gravity. A blade with a high cg will launch lower and spin more where an ski club launches high and spins less despite the lower loft.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Joe Golfer
  
  Jan 28, 2016 at 1:43 am
  
  TM did introduce the M2, but it isn’t supposed to be a New and Improved version of the M1.
  They are two completely different clubs, and you are supposed to choose which one would benefit you the most based on your skill level, swing speed, style of play, what you need most from a driver…
  As far as mentioning the strengthening of the lofts, it probably did not get mentioned because it is nothing new.
  TM has had models with 23* five irons for several years now. It’s old hat.
  If you’re expecting a bunch of comments about how strong the lofts are compared to clubs from years ago, you’re late to the party. That’s been happening for years, and it includes numerous brands of clubs. There are now PW’s that are 43* and 44*, so one may need two gap wedges to fill the blanks between the PW and the SW.
  
  Reply Report comment
DFence

Jan 27, 2016 at 3:39 pm

“BETTER TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON LESSONS AND KEEP YOUR OLD CLUBS.”

Says every golf instructor. Misses the point. This is equipment.

A golf instructor won’t fix a slice, the golfer fixes the slice. Equipment and Instruction are both tools to help a golfer, they work hand-in-hand. I have had golf instructors that teach the newest fad, some that are old school. Clubs are the same way, and in both categories, some are great and others aren’t worth a damn.

Here’s what you do: Spend your money however you want, on whatever you value, because neither an instructor or equipment will make you any better. You need to play as often as you can, and be open to recommendations when playing with people better than you. An ugly swing / ugly club will look pretty if you have repeated “golfing” enough that you’ve learned how to put that ball near the hole in a real golf setting. It’s that simple. And if a club/instructor makes you want to go out and play more, then you’ve made yourself better. But there is no blueprint, or else every here would be featured in the tournament pictures.

And if someone writes in all Caps, then they are extra full of 5h!t.

Reply Report comment
- Brandon
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 5:03 pm
  
  “because neither an instructor or equipment will make you any better.” This is completely false, a great instructor will absolutely change your game and its not even close in comparison to new equipment.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - DFence
    
    Jan 28, 2016 at 12:07 am
    
    Are you an instructor? Why do you care?
    
    Since you care so much, prove it, show how. You disparage clubs for their math, show yours.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Bill
      
      Jan 28, 2016 at 1:18 pm
      
      The point is if you have a bad swing and are a 36 handicap, buying an M1 isn’t going to make you a 26 handicap. The old adage, “it’s not the arrow it’s the indian” holds true. Most golfers would get more benefit by spending $500 on short game lessons than buying the latest greatest driver.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Matto
        
        Jan 29, 2016 at 4:23 am
        
        But people enjoy buying & having new things!! I don’t know why people keep pushing the “spend the money on lessons” line.
        I find it bizzare that people continue to try and protect complete strangers from spending their hard earned cash!!!
        I work hard, make good money, then in turn enjoy spending it on trivial sh*t like golf clubs!!!
        I’m gonna be dead for so much longer than I’m alive. Blowing cash to keep me happy is the least of my worries. But thank you for your concern, sincerely.
        
        Reply Report comment
golfraven

Jan 27, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Oh boy, Ben Hogan hybrids are back! Best news as I was looking at the Callaway Apex but why would I buy anything else then the real deal. My first hybrid was a Ben Hogan and if this baby is performing as it looks it will be in the bag for a loooong time. Cannot wait to hit it.

Reply Report comment
Josh

Jan 27, 2016 at 2:43 pm

Diagonal grooves… funky!

Reply Report comment
Chuck

Jan 27, 2016 at 1:45 pm

About that Triprincipal hybrid…

Anybody remember the old Sonartec/Royal Collection woods and hybrids? They had the deep cavity in the sole. And they were (especially the fairway woods) fantastic little low-flying balloon-preventing hammers. David Duval had one in the bag for years; presumably for no pay. So did Luke Donald. And many others.

That cavity/cutout really seemed to work. There was nothing quite like a Sonartec fw.

Reply Report comment
SouthbayZ

Jan 27, 2016 at 12:18 pm

Sometimes I wonder if all the people that complain about new models of clubs, high-end Anser style putter lines, and hyperbolic performance claims have the same issue with all the new cars that come out every year. Do they lose sleep over new brands of clothing and different styles of jeans? Maybe this option induced insomnia is what keeps them on these threads whining late into the night. Oh shoot, theres a new ripped off Ferrari coming out this year that’s $400,000.00 a pop. Just what the world needs. Better get some Ambien and crying towel.

Reply Report comment
- Cliff
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 1:01 pm
  
  You can stop wondering, the answer is yes! No need to read the comments if you don’t like what they say.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Fahgdat
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 1:21 pm
  
  No, SouthbayZ you numbnut, they don’t complain about the cars because they don’t have to compete against other people with them in a game, or look stupid and embarrassed that they couldn’t hit the ball straight even with the best equipment. All they do is drive down the road with their cars. Not like they take their expensive flashy cars to the race track and play bumper cars against other people to see if the new car that just came about really is 0.2 seconds faster than the last one. >face palm<
  
  Reply Report comment
Dave

Jan 27, 2016 at 11:14 am

Thanks for all the pics!

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Jan 27, 2016 at 10:15 am

Toulon putters. Just what the golf world needs. Another ripped off putter design for $400.00 a pop.

Reply Report comment
Nolanski

Jan 27, 2016 at 8:18 am

Regarding those new Hogan PTx irons… Lofts start at 32*?

Reply Report comment
- Matt
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 10:02 am
  
  the hogans are 20-47. Just construction is different from 32-47….
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.

They wrote:

“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”

Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”

Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Equipment

Members of the Mini Driver Club – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.

@TightFade asked:

“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”

Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”

Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Whats in the Bag

Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g