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Show Stoppers: Day 2 from the PGA Show

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We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage from the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show so far.

  • On Tuesday, we brought you hundreds of photos from Demo Day as well as the first batch of Show Stoppers. Our coverage highlighted premium clubs and shafts.
  • On Wednesday, we followed with our second batch of Show Stoppers that included Zombie Golf, a performance-tracking golf ball and several new equipment launches.

Now we’re serving up our third and final batch of Show Stoppers from the 2017 PGA Show; 10 of our favorite items from Day 2 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Before we depart, we want to acknowledge all the GolfWRX Members we’ve met at this year’s PGA Show. Your influence in the golf industry is paramount and your passion for this great game is inspiring. For those of you not in attendance, thank you so much for following our coverage. The views, comments and interaction on our social media channels has been incredible.

We take great pride in the access we’re able to provide to one of golf’s greatest events, and if you haven’t already, we hope that all of you get to one day experience a PGA Merchandise Show.

Areso Wedges

RWWedge

You may know Areso as a company that provides fully customized putters, but it’s breaking into the custom wedge business in the near future, as well.

The yet-to-be released wedges — named RW after company owner and engineer Rock Wu — have heads that are fully milled from either forged carbon steel or blocks of stainless steel. They are able to be personalized for bounce, sole grinds, leading edge grinds and profile shaping. The grooves are also milled, and can be adjusted for spacing depending on swing characteristics and preference.

RWWedgeUndercut

The wedges are designed with a deep undercut behind the face to raise CG, which is desirable for more boring-trajectory wedge shots. The wedges also have a bulkier toe portion to push the CG toward the center of the club face. The bronze-colored weight seen on the cavity can be made from aluminum, tungsten, titanium or stainless steel to dial in swing weight.

RWwedgeMilled

The company says it will work with a launch monitor system to assist in the fitting process. Wu estimates the wedges will be available to the public in 3-6 months.

Edel Single-Length SLS-1 Irons

EdelSingleLengthIrons

When Bryson DeChambeau broke onto the golf scene, he was using a set of custom single-length Edel irons and opened the eyes of golfers everywhere to the one-length philosophy.

David Edel, who worked with DeChambeau on the irons he used, is now releasing a retail set of single-length irons, called SLS-01. Who will most benefit from single-length irons? “Everyone,” Edel says.

The irons are made with variable thickness throughout the set. They has about 12 degrees of bounce, and are made with welded-face technology on their carbon steel bodies. To optimize the performance of the clubs, Edel is implementing a fitting system based on a golfer’s swing, accounting for length, lie angle, swing weight and swing style.

Edel_Single_Length_SLS_1_IronsShaft company Paderson has made progressive, wound-composite shafts for the irons that are optimized for single-length performance. Edel says that traditional steel shaft are not as effective for the single-length system.

Edel_Single_Length_SLS_1_Irons_addressSLS-01 irons (3-PW, SW) will be available for $240 per head. Fittings are necessary for purchase.

Ernest Sports ES16 Tour

ES16TourGolf

As one of the leaders in data tracking for shots throughout the bag, Ernest Sports has a new ES16 Tour doppler radar system that sells for $5,900.

The ES16 Tour, which has both indoor and outdoor modes, uses quad doppler radar and two photometric cameras — all packed into the portable system — to provide golfers with a total of 21 data points, including both club and ball information.

The ES16 Tour is possibly the most affordable option for accurate ball and club readings in a space that’s packed with competitors.

G/Fore, Peter Millar Collaborate on Luxury Golf Shoe

GForeMillarGolf

Certainly you know G/Fore as a risk-taking apparel company that makes boldly colored golf accessories, and you know Peter Millar for its classic golf apparel and conservative colors. What happens when companies from different ends of the golf spectrum team up to make a golf shoe? You get a Show Stopper.

GforeSoles

Founder and fashion entrepreneur Mossimo Giannulli designed the line, which features three shoe models — Bogue Gallivanter (2 colors), Disrupter (2 colors) and Pintuck Gallivanter (3 colors) — that are built for luxury, comfort and performance.

See more photos from the G/Fore’s 2017 PGA Show booth

Each of the shoes have a lightweight EVA midsole, an insole built with ridges for mind-blowing comfort that you need to feel to believe and waterproof leather uppers. They also have TPU (thermoplastic urethane) outsoles with cleats for traction.

GForeBubbaShoes

In its standard line, G/Fore also offers numerous fashionable options. Our favorite is the Yohji-influenced Crusader high top shoe (pictured above) that has caught Bubba Watson’s eye, according to Giannulli. Watson, the two-time major champion who wears G/Fore shoes and gloves, is apparently interested in wearing them at The Masters.

Golf Pride MCC Align

Golf_Pride_Align_Grips

Love ribbed grips? Golf Pride has something for you with its new MCC Align, which the company believes will please not only be loved by ribbed-grip players but by a much larger percentage of the golfing population.

According to Bruce Miller, Golf Pride’s Retail Product Manager, ribbed grips are used by about 33 percent of PGA Tour players. Their presence in North America retailers is almost non-existent, however, and a very small percentage of golfers ask for them.

Golf_Pride_Align_Grips_2

Miller called traditional ribbed grips “old technology,” at least in part because of the difficulty of putting them on straight. MCC Align grips are constructed differently. They use a dedicated piece of material that runs along the back side of the grip. It’s 50 percent firmer than the rest of the grip, and its straight line and firmness makes the grips much easier to install properly. It’s also a much better reference point for golfers because of its increased rib size and added traction.

The Align strip sits between a white “gutter,” which presses up the rib up to the USGA’s maximum allowable thickness when it is installed. “Everything we do in our grips is about improving performance during the swing,” Miller says. “This is going to help golfers before they even swing.”

The grips will sell for $10.99 ($11.49 in Golf Pride’s MCC Plus4 Model) and will be available in the spring.

Iceblock Putter

IceblockPutterGolf

The concept of the Iceblock putter came not from a golf research and design facility, or a longtime golf club designer, but rather from a surgeon’s office in Basel, Switzerland. Daniel Wengen, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and self-proclaimed 17-handicap who owns 23 patents in the medical field, was sitting at his desk one day, bouncing a golf ball off a block of acrylic that held medical implants.

“I’m just a doctor,” says company founder Wengen. Yes, a doctor with a Show-Stopping putter.

CompanyOwnerIceBox

The block of acrylic, which weighs nearly 500 grams, turned into the Iceblock putter of the same size and material. A few additions were made to make it into a useable and legal putter; alignment lines scratched into the top and sole of the putter, a shaft drilled into the center of the head and drilled holes on its ends (the R&A prohibits objects that can be struck on all four sides of the head). The putter works for both righties and lefties and stands on its own on flat surfaces.

IceblockAddress

Wengen says the putter benefits golfers because of its incredibly soft feel and high MOI (moment of inertia). The putters sell for $249 and come with SuperStroke putter grips.

MG Itobori Grind

MG_Itobori_Irons

MG’s golf equipment is custom-ground by Mayuki Takai in Japan… and wow, is it gorgeous stuff. He takes each club to a grinding wheel to create its unique appearance, which is also said to improve performance.

MG_Itobori_Driver

As you might have guessed, the clubs are very expensive. For example, the driver pictured sells for $1250 (head only).

MG_Itobori_Irons_Soles

Customization options are near limitless, and hopefully your club budget is, too. See more photos. 

OUUL Super Light Stand Bag

OUUL_Python_Collection

Golfers who carry their clubs want a stand bag that’s light, functional, good looking… and of course durable. OUUL’s Super Light Stand Bags from its Python Collection check all those boxes and more. They weigh just 2.7 pounds and use a patented flex foot base system that is made to be highly durable.

OUUL_Super_Light_Stand_Bag_TopThe top of the bag was designed with serious golfers in mind. It has several different “handles” that makes it easy for golfers to grab the bag from several different angles, and its 3-pocket system, insulated beverage sleeve and 8.5-inch 5-way top will provide all the storage and access golfers need.

OUUL_Super_Light_Stand_Bag_FabricThe bags have a hand-crafted “python” print that’s available in several different colors. They sell for $209.99 each.

Tour Edge Exotics CBX Forged Irons

Tour_Edge_Exotics_CBX_Forged

Tour Edge Exotics is known for its premium fairway woods, but it’s a new iron that’s generating buzz for the company at the PGA Show. Its new CBX Forged irons are triple forged from soft S25c carbon steel to deliver a pure feel that matches their blade-like appearance at address.

There’s a bit of new tech in the irons, as well. A dual-level flange and a TPE alloy insert enhance the feel of the irons, the company says.

Tour_Edge_Exotics_CBX_Forged_Address

The CBX Forged irons have modern lofts (20-degree 3 iron, 29-degree 6 iron, 46-degree PW). A price is yet to be determined, but it’s going to be reasonable. Expect to pay around $125-$150 per club depending on what shaft you choose.

Travis Mathew

TravisMathewBasketball

Based out of Huntington Beach, Calif., golf and lifestyle brand Travis Mathew is about more than only golf clothes and accessories… and its arcade-style booth proves that.

In the Orange County Convention Center that’s filled with golf equipment, apparel, gadgets and anything golf-related as far as the eye can see and feet can walk, Travis Mathew’s booth offers a refreshing break from the sport with a fully loaded bar, pop-a-shot basketball and skeeball. The booth also had leather couches to kick back and relax after logging 10,000+ steps while circumventing the PGA Show floor.

GforeBathroomShoes

The company was also showing off its Fall 2017 line of golf clothes, which include everything from performance polos to stretch-fit button downs that work great for off-course wear, as well. A bathroom-style display for its new line of shoes was… well, interesting to say the least.

That’s all folks

MassageShow

Related: See more photos from Day 2 of the PGA Show. 

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26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. Mike

    Feb 2, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    The Exotics CBx forged irons were amazing! Still have in my bag their original CB fairway wood, and original Proto driver, although that is not in the bag, just a back-up driver, but it’s still a great driver. But back to those new irons, just purchased the Mizuno JPX900 forged irons, and if I knew these were on their way, I would have waited. Kind of on the small/traditional size, but wow did they feel great. Just as solid as the Mizunos.

  2. Jonah Mytro

    Jan 28, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    Saw the MG Itobori Grind heads/clubs at the show – amazing looking club heads with unique color finishes..$300-$600 per club, a little on the expensive side…No hitting bay at booth so no opportunity to demo them..

  3. Tony P

    Jan 27, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    yawn

  4. Johnnylongballz

    Jan 27, 2017 at 4:32 am

    So not really Show Stoppers, just random stuff at the show.

  5. Jack's Hit

    Jan 27, 2017 at 2:40 am

    If the hand-grind irons of the Itobori perform – do they all perform differently because the hand-ground soles are all configured randomly and therefore you have no idea how they perform from club to club through the turf? Great idea, purely for pretty looks but totally incomprehensible for actual performance.

    • Adrian

      Jan 27, 2017 at 6:26 am

      The bounce angle of the club can still be accomplished even though they have their unique touch. Their little grinding touch won’t affect the playability of the club much at all but the aesthetic look of the clubs is very unique in my opinion. I think they have the most unique irons and wedges I’ve seen in a long time. I really like what they do to a golf club !!

      • S Hitter

        Jan 27, 2017 at 12:21 pm

        I don’t think he means bounce. Bounce angles can be maintained this way, I agree.
        I think he means that if the shapes of the soles from club to club in irons like this all look different: i.e., if a 9 iron sole has bumps in certain areas and the bumps in his 8 irons have bumps in areas that don’t exactly match, when we are all used to using smooth soles that all react consistently in normal irons we can buy in stores today; the variety of the bumps will make the heads deflect this way and that way from club to club to make them unpredictable, unless the bumps can all be placed in exactly the same places in the same size and shapes on all the clubs.

  6. Matty

    Jan 27, 2017 at 1:06 am

    This may sound like a dumb question from someone in Canada, but is the PGA Merchandise Show open to the public?

    • Jack's Hit

      Jan 27, 2017 at 2:42 am

      Yes, if you have a proper business in golf that actually has an income. Take a look at the application requirements. So no, it is not open for walk-in with a ticket that can be purchased at the door.

      • Matty

        Jan 27, 2017 at 10:54 am

        Well, if they want to “grow the game,” it should be open for the public for one week.

        • LaBraeGolfer

          Jan 28, 2017 at 12:48 am

          Pretty much the point of it is to showcase a companies product to companies in golf that may wish to purchase them to sell at their stores and pro shops. It’s one of those things that is pretty much accessible to anyone in the golf industry I believe. One of my coworkers when I worked at Dick’s had credentials to go somehow, I forget why but we both worked in the golf retail in store.

  7. COGolfer

    Jan 26, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    The Edel irons looked reasonable, until that top shot…

    • fillwelix

      Jan 27, 2017 at 2:53 pm

      Completely agree, I was so on board and then I saw that topline…

  8. Mad-Mex

    Jan 26, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Is the PGA show relevant anymore? $5900 irons, $12 grips, $500 drivers,,

    • Tom

      Jan 26, 2017 at 9:29 pm

      kinda like a car show…are they even relevant any more?

      • Mad-Mex

        Jan 26, 2017 at 10:54 pm

        Great point, I say 10 years ago they were, now manufacturers can do their own virtual release show, the killer for them is their product is not readily available. I live in Riverside California, I wanted to see what the fuzz was about PXG clubs, San Diego was the closest (an hour and 15 away) were I could find one.

        • Jack's Hit

          Jan 27, 2017 at 2:43 am

          Quit living in the armpit of America and move to a real city then lmao

  9. Dat

    Jan 26, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    The ES16 is “affordable” at $5900? Affordable for who? PXG posers?

    • Al

      Jan 26, 2017 at 11:03 pm

      affordable relative to a $25k trackman. I’d love to have a home sim and am glad to see the price starting to come down. I’d bet prices of comparable launch monitors will drop by about $500 a month.

      • Al

        Jan 26, 2017 at 11:05 pm

        *$500 a year

      • Dat

        Jan 27, 2017 at 9:01 am

        Not even in the same league. Prices need to come down a ton in the coming years, or this tech will forever be something only used by pros.

  10. bm

    Jan 26, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    Everything’s so clear now. Mizzle is Morris Wanchuck.

  11. LD

    Jan 26, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    I may be splitting hairs here, but that topline on the Edel irons is absolutely dreadful.

    • Steve

      Jan 26, 2017 at 10:25 pm

      It ain’t just the topline. A BUNCH of ugly this year IMO.

      • Jack's Hit

        Jan 27, 2017 at 2:44 am

        Who the feck cares about one-length anyways nobody’s buying

  12. Guia

    Jan 26, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    A number of gimmicks.

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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

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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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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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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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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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