Equipment

Show Stoppers from Day One: 2016 PGA Merchandise Show

Published

8 years ago

Jan 28, 2016

After Demo Day on Tuesday, The PGA Merchandise Show moves inside the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for its remaining three days. Enjoy the “Show Stoppers” we spotted on Day One, as well as our general galleries below.

RoboGolfPro

A golfer tries Sergio Garcia’s swing.

This may hurt to hear, but you’ll probably never hit a golf ball like a major champion. But with RoboGolfPro, you can feel what it’s like to swing like one.

At the PGA Show, RoboGolfPro teamed up with TaylorMade to bring you the ultimate experience. While waiting in line to try the experience, PGA Show attendees could feel what it’s like to hold grips that were molded by the hands of Jason Day (pictured above), Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and Fabian Gomez. Then, they could swing like them, too.

The patented system uses robot arms to guide the club (to height scale) on the exact swing path of golf pros, but can also be used in an instructional setting to help golfers feel a certain path, which is determined by the instructor.

RoboGolfPro is in golf academies and instruction centers across the country and the world, and has recently opened two new locations; one in London, and another at the Mike Schy Academy in Madera, Calif. They’re available for personal purchase also, but will run you approximately $150,000.

SeeMore expands Giant putter line

Most golfers know a SeeMore putter when they see it, thanks to the company’s Rifle Scope Technology (RST). The gun-sight alignment system uses a red dot on the top rail of the putter, which golfers “hide” with the putter’s shaft at address to achieve a square clubface and consistent shaft lean.

From left: Original FGP, Giant M1t, Mini Giant, Giant FGPt, Giant FGP

In recent years, the company has expanded its lineup to include more traditional Anser and mallet-style putters that also have RST Technology, but the original FGP, used by Zach Johnson to win the 2015 Open Championship, has remained the company’s crown jewel.

Last year, the SeeMore expanded its FGP line with a new Giant FGP putter, which took the original FGP shape and enlarged it to improve the effectiveness of the alignment aid. Its lighter, milled aluminum body (the original is made from steel) also allowed for the addition of two copper sole weights, which increase the putter’s moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of a forgiveness.

This year, the company has expanded the Giant line with three new styles that will be available in February. See photos of each putter below.

The Giant FGPt ($295) is slightly smaller than the original Giant.

The Giant mt1 ($295) has a more classic heel-toe shape than the original.

The Mini Giant ($395) is the smallest of the Giant models. It offers the best size-to-MOI ratio, according to the company, through the use four copper weights.

Arccos Driver

There’s no question that golf clubs will get “smarter” in the years to come. What isn’t so certain is how fast the golfing majority will adopt systems such as Arccos, which uses lightweight sensors that are secured to the grip of a golfer’s clubs to track shot distances and tendencies through Bluetooth and GPS.

The company’s first launch included 14 sensors that allowed golfers to track their performance from driver to putter. Its latest product, Arccos Driver, focuses exclusively on a golfer’s tee game through a new app, which also doubles as a golf GPS.

Like the original system, Drive is installed on the top of a golfer’s grip.

Company CEO Sal Syed says the majority of golfers are interested in “capturing that one awesome shot,” which more often than not is the one awesome drive golfers hit. Arccos Driver not only measures every drive a golfer hits in real time, but like the original system, offers game-improvement analytics. It’s also more affordable, selling for $79.99 (the original system sold for $399.99).

Within 20 drives, golfers will know how far their hit their drives, as well as their “Driving Handicap,” Syed said. For the competitive crowd, Driver also creates challenges based on skill level and tendencies to help golfers improve their games. Points can be tracked for both head-to-head competitions, as well as for the company’s Global Leaderboard.

Arccos Driver is available for iOS and Android devices. The company is currently taking pre-orders.

Adidas Tour360 Boost Olympic shoes

To commemorate the 2016 Olympics in Rio – the first games in the modern era to include golf – Adidas launched three new Olympic-inspired Tour360 Boost shoes. The three offerings, which are NOT limited releases, will sell for between $200 and $230 when they’re released, depending on the model.

TaylorMade-Adidas golf athletes representing the United States – we’re looking at you Dustin – are expected to wear these patriotic Tour360 Boost shoes along with the USA’s team uniform.

Also, the dual-material uppers on the black and tri-color striped models (above, $230) have a bottom-half made from thermoplastic urethane (TPU) that’s waterproof, and an upper half that’s made from prime knit; a stretchable fabric designed for more comfort around the top of the foot.

Odyssey’s new putters… and there’s a lot

At the PGA Show, Odyssey released a slew of new putters.

White Hot RX: The White Hot RX putters have a new insert that combines two different kinds of elastomers to make them feel softer than the original White Hot inserts. Like Odyssey’s Metal-X milled putters, the new inserts have an oval-pattern – with a paint texture added to the edges – to grab the ball and make it roll faster.

They will be available in models #1, #2, #7, #9, Rossie, 2-Ball V-Line, and a new V-Line Fang, and will sell at $159.99 ($179.99 with Superstroke grips).

Works Versa extension line: The Works Versa extension line uses the familiar Fusion RX face – a White Hot insert covered with a metal mesh cover to improve ball roll — and Odyssey’s Versa color schemes.

The extension line includes Odyssey Works Versa Marxman Fang, Odyssey Works Versa #7H, Odyssey Works Versa Sabertooth and Odyssey Works Versa Tank Sabertooth. The new offerings start at $179.99.

Toe Up: Most putters are either face balanced or have a toe-down design. Odyssey’s new Toe Up putter, fittingly, has a toe-up design, which is said to reduce torque throughout the stroke, thus stabilizing the putter path and face angle.

They putters are offered in Odyssey’s slightly tweaked #1 and #9 models. They come stock with SuperStroke Flatso grips and will sell for $199.99 starting April 15. Like Odyssey’s Metal-X Milled putters, the putter faces are chemically etched with tiny ovals that improve ball roll.

Gears Golf

Blair O’Neal hitting drives on the Gears Golf system.

Gears Golf is only a few years old, but is already considered one of the most comprehensive club and body analyzers on the current market. It uses 6-8 high-speed cameras, which capture 360 frames per second, and works by finding the center of spherical probes attached to a golfer’s club and body to identify location. Unlike other systems, it does not use algorithms to determine its data parameters. It sells for about $40,000 per unit.

Gears gives golfers detailed information about their angle of attack, clubhead speed, club path and face angle during different parts of the swing, as well as face impact location, grip speed, shaft torque, deflection, shaft droop and much more.

Jesper Parnevik learning more about his swing on the system.

Cobra-Puma has partnered with Gears Golf, and its R&D department used the system to develop its new line of King clubs.

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Billy Horschel’s winning WITB, 2017 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Published

57 mins ago

May 1, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

The tournament bearing the name of one of golf’s all-time greats is now known as the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Back in 2017, it was still the AT&T Byron Nelson and Billy Horschel was still a full-bag PXG staffer. The Florida Gator leveraged those wares to a playoff victory over Jason Day securing his fourth PGA Tour win in the process.

Check out the clubs Horschel had in play seven years ago in Texas.

Driver: PXG 0811X (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Black 6 X

3-wood: PXG 0341X (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 75 6.5

Check out more in-hand photos of Billy Horschel’s gear from 2017 here.

5-wood: PXG 0341 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 75 6.5

Irons: PXG 0311T (3, 5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Check out more in-hand photos of Billy Horschel’s gear from 2017 here.

Wedges: PXG 0311T Milled (52-10, 56-10, 60-07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: PXG Bat Attack
Grip: SuperStroke Flatso 1.0

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Billy Horschel’s gear from 2017 here.

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Equipment

How Cleveland Golf’s wedge selector tool improves the wedge buying process

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

More than most golfers would care to admit, confusion often reigns when it comes to selecting a wedge — let alone configuring an entire wedge setup. Make? Model? Loft? Grind? Finish? Two wedges? Three wedges? Four? The questions abound!

While it’s easy to get off the fairway and deep into the rough quickly, the framework question for choosing wedges is the same as the entirety of the golf bag: How should I set up my golf bag to shoot the lowest score possible?

Manufacturers, in addition to, well, manufacturing golf clubs, also understand that golfers need to make informed decisions to get the most out of their equipment. It’s with this in mind, and to help golfers answer the aforementioned foundational question about their wedge setup, that Cleveland Golf has launched its wedge selector too.

To learn more, we talked with Cleveland’s Senior Product Manager, Casey Shultz.

GolfWRX: What was Cleveland seeing in the marketplace that led to the development of the wedge selector? How do golfers benefit?

Casey Shultz: Currently, there is a lot of talk about what grind players should play and what is right for their game in that aspect of selecting a wedge. But there is more to improving wedge play than finding the proper grind. We would even argue it’s one of the smaller dials for improvement. Players can find more success with wedges designed from head shape to shaft, sole width, gapping, and then the grind. Putting a system in place that makes the process of selecting the right wedge easier is something we feel can have a massive impact, especially for recreational players.

GolfWRX: Now, in breaking down Cleveland’s wedge selector tool, the point of departure is figuring out whether you’re an RTX or CBX player. Can you briefly spell out who each of these wedges is for?

CS: For lower handicappers, the RTX series is our tour-validated line of blade wedges. These are for players looking to play a lot of open-faced shots around the green, prioritize workability, and like to flight their wedges. CBX wedges are designed to make the short game easier, while still offering some level of versatility for the mid-high handicapper looking for a wedge that will reduce chunks and add forgiveness on all strikes. CBX’s are also a great option due to them blending well in weight and shaping with more cavity back iron sets.

GolfWRX: Proceeding through the RTX wedge selector, one of the first forks in the road is wedge finish. Can you break down the finish options and the considerations for a golfer in making their selection?

CS: With the RTX series we offer Tour Satin, Black Satin, and Tour Rack finishes. Tour Satin is our most popular finish and offers the most grind options. With HydraZip face blasts on the newest RTX Wedges, glare is significantly reduced at address compared to other silver finish offerings. Black Satin offers custom skin options as personalization and is one of the more durable black finishes on the market but will have some visible wear over time especially on the sole. Finally, Tour Rack is our tour authentic raw finish that will rust over time. The Tour Rack finish also comes with the option of applying any of our Tour Crafted leading edge and sole grind offerings to the Wedge for players really looking to fine-tune their performance.

GolfWRX: Can you walk us through the rest of the RTX wedge fitting process?

CS: Once players have selected their preferred finish, we gather information on their iron set and loft preferences to determine proper gapping. A properly gapped set of wedges, both with each other and transitioning from a player’s last iron, is key to ensuring their set covers a wide range of approach yardages well. We then ask specific questions about the performance the player is looking to achieve in their sand and lob wedges to determine proper grinds for each of those wedges. Lastly, we confirm a preference for traditional or Full-Face grooves at each loft. Full-Face grooves offer a new level of versatility, especially with open-face shots, but it’s up to the player if they want to transition to this groove design. Our algorithm will then take these results and determine a set of wedges best suited to the player’s game.

GolfWRX: Let’s circle back to grinds. Is there a grind configuration across their wedges you’re seeing the majority of players choose or is it pretty evenly divided?

CS: The MID grind is certainly the most popular grind across all lofts, with the blend of versatility and forgiveness in a wide range of conditions suiting many players. In sand wedge lofts, the second most popular grind is our FULL, which has a little more bounce than the MID and is especially effective out of the sand or rough. In lob wedge lofts, the popular alternative to the MID is the LOW grind, offering max versatility around the greens. We’re also seeing more amateur and tour players opt for our Full-Face models, especially in the lob wedge lofts where they are planning to open the face and get creative around the greens.

GolfWRX: Can you take us through the CBX wedge selector?

CS: In the CBX selector, we start by determining if a player is looking to play a lob wedge or not. For many recreational golfers, a lob wedge may not be necessary for the consistent short-game performance they are looking to achieve. Next, the CBX selector focuses on ensuring players end up with a set that transitions well into their irons, while also staying within the constraints of a player’s bag setup. With new players distance, game improvement, and super game improvement iron lofts becoming stronger than those of the past, creating a properly gapped set of wedges is trickier than ever for these players. The selector tool takes the guesswork out of the equation, while also considering a player’s set makeup and interest in replacing a wedge. Finally, players are given the option of when or if they would like to transition into a Full-Face design for added spin on strikes all over the face.

GolfWRX: Is there anything else you think GolfWRXers need to know about Cleveland’s wedge selector tool?

CS: Our wedge selector tool is designed to be used in concert with our set builder webpages. At completion of the selector, a player’s recommended wedge set will automatically be applied to the appropriate set builder. From there, they can easily adjust components or build specs to every Wedge all in one place. Players can also add Tour Crafted sole and leading edge grinds to refine their performance on our Tour Rack wedges, or personalize custom characters, skins, and paintfill in the same place. It’s a one-stop shop to build the perfect wedge set for any player’s game.

This article was presented in partnership with Cleveland Golf. Check out the wedge selector here.

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Equipment

Golf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

On Tuesday, LIV announced their individual championship will be held at Bolingbrook Golf Club just outside of Chicago. The event will take place September 13-15.

The late announcement is seemingly due to LIV looking for the right course in the Chicago area that has the infrastructure that can accommodate a professional event.

The choice of Bolingbrook Golf Club has received some feedback on social media.

Maybe Rich Harvest Farms wasn't available? RHF is 50miles from Chicago but at least it's surrounded by farm land so plenty of space to set up

— Crawf_Indiana (@captaincrawf) April 30, 2024

Awful course choice, it's a dog track!

— Rob (@piratedwight) April 30, 2024

????#LOOK: Bolingbrook GC in Illinois, site of LIV Golf’s just announced Individual Championship has tee times available around the $50 mark.

Are you teeing it up here? pic.twitter.com/b8Lgv9ZzhK

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) April 30, 2024

LIV fans were quick to point out that Bethpage Black, which is hosting the 2025 Ryder Cup, can also be played for a reasonable price, making the point the greens fees don’t always equate to the quality of the golf course.

During LIV’s first two seasons, LIV utilized Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago. It’s unclear why that course is off the rotation in favor of Bolingbrook.