This year's PGA Merchandise show has come and gone and now it's time for our annual review of the most interesting products we saw. No, we didn't attend the show this year, but the coverage from manufacturer PR, the Golf Channel, golf forums & bloggers was exhaustive and easily provided us with a wealth of products to evaluate for this list.
Please note, this our list of most interesting products we saw, not the best products, because we have not demoed any of these products and this list is in no way an endorsement for any of them. The PGA Show is a great way to narrow down the list of new products to demo and ultimately purchase for personal use or add to our store.
IRONS
Ping G710 Irons
To be transparent we've never been fans of the chunky looking Ping Irons, but the new G710 has our interest peaked. From the unique hosel design to the tip & toe weighting helping to limit twisting to the unique black finish, there's a lot to like with this iron.
Cleveland Launcher UHX Irons
Cleveland introduced a hybrid iron set that combines hollow body long irons and cavity back short irons in one set.
The Launcher UHX Irons feature hollow long irons for more forgiveness with cavity back short irons that provide pinpoint control. A variable high strength HT1770M steel face insert claims to improve ball speeds for increased distance, even on heel and toe impacts. The V-Shaped sole is said to improves turf interaction for better speed retention at impact, and the Tour Zip Grooves claim to increase spin for optimal control throughout the Launcher UHX Irons.
DRIVERS
Honma TR20 460
The TR20 460 utilizes TiCarbon+Fast Frame technology, featuring an ultra-lightweight high COR titanium frame and carbon body construction, which claims to transfer more energy from your swing to the ball. Three adjustable weights are said to provide stability, low spin or draw bias to dial in ball flight and gain distance.
Mizuno ST200x
This driver from Mizuno features a feather light design that is said to promote a high draw bias for golfers with lower to mid swing speeds. The ST200x adds an additional heel weight and utilizes their "Beta Rich" titanium (Whatever the hell that is???) in their variable thickness face.
PUTTERS
Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 S Putter
Bettinardi precision-milling the face from American 303 Stainless Steel, and adding a 6061 aluminum rear piece, is said to create the best feeling MOI putter to date, which offers optimal weight distribution for greater stability and added forgiveness. The 6.0 was developed for the player who prefers minimal toe hang with a single bend shaft flowing into the putter head, aimed at enhancing the natural flow of the swing arc for maximum forgiveness in the putting stroke.
Tour Edge Wingman
Coming in at exactly half the price of the Bettinardi Inovia, the Tour Edge Wingman offers a ton of tech in what is a rather large package. Tour Edge claims that their variable weighting system creates a putter with the highest MOI on the market.
WEDGES
Callaway Jaws Wedges
Designed by the infamous Roger Cleveland, the new JAWS wedge line features a groove-in-groove technology offering maximum bite on the ball and greater spin & control.
Bettinardi HLX 3.0 C-Grind Wedges
Designed using soft carbon steel which is said to translate to a softer feel on approach shots and around the green. The C-Grind adds more material in the toe & heel to provide cleaner contact and more forgiveness. An all new face material that is 20% thinner than previous models claims to produce more aggressive spin with a more consistent distance control.
SHOES
Adidas CodeChaos
A snug sock like fit that is said to offer extreme comfort, waterproof technology in an ultra light spikeless stylish shoe.
Puma Ignite Cage
A great looking athletic golf show that pairs well with shorts or slim fit golf pants. The Puma Ignite claims to offer comfort and stability with their new Cage technology. Available in a lace up and BOA closure this one is on our short list for the spring golf season. The Tornado cleat is the one drawback as we are not a fan of this design and the headache of buying, yet another package of expensive extra cleats.
GOLF GRIPS
Winn DRi-Tak LT - LT stands for Less Taper and Winn has created a larger diameter grip to ease grip pressure, which makes it another option for golfers with arthritis or hand/joint pain.
SuperStroke Traxion Tour Club Grip
Utilizing the same proprietary Traxion technology as the SuperStroke putter grips, the new Traxion club grip offers a consistent feel from top to bottom of your golf bag. Like many new club grips, the Traxion Tour builds up the bottom portion of the grip to promote less pressure on the club.
ACCESSORIES
Bushnell Wingman
Admittedly, we are not a fan of music on the course, but we are slowly losing that battle. So if we have to adopt it the Wingman from Bushnell is the route we would go. Combining a blue tooth speaker with a GPS device that verbally tells you the distance to the hole is pretty darn cool. A super strong magnet allows you to secure the Wingman to a golf cart.
Bushnell ProXE Rangefinder
Featuring Bushnell's Pin Seeker & Jolt Technology, the new ProXE rangefinder incorporates sensors that track temperature and adjust for slope & altitude when presenting yardages. While not legal for tournament play it provides more information than any recreational golfer could ever want to make better club selections.
BenSHOT Golf Ball Pint Glass
A cold beer never tastes better than after a hot summer round of golf. Why not enjoy that beer in this whimsical pint glass from BenSHOT that features an actual golf ball in the glass. At $24.99 they are a bit pricey, but hey they use an actual Titleist ball in the glass and you know those things ain't cheap!
