With almost 1,000 vendors displaying their wares at the 58th PGA Merchandise Show attempting to understand, much less write about all of the items is a virtual impossibility. There were however some products that caught the eye or were outstanding examples of innovation and deserve to be have attention paid to them. More will be highlighted in this column in the coming days.
Titleist
The Pro V1 changed the game of golf with its introduction ten years ago and Titleist has regularly brought out an updated version every two years since. The 2011 Pro V1 is meant to elevate the ball’s performance to new heights (might be a pun somewhere there) by employing a new dimple configuration. There are 40 fewer dimples (352 vs.392) in five sizes on the latest Pro V1 that Acushnet engineers say provide more surface coverage resulting in more spin and control. The Pro V1x has been altered to have 328 tetrahedral dimples in seven sizes for lower spin off the driver and long irons giving more distance while allowing higher spin rates on shorter irons for precise distance control. List price for both is $58 but street price will be $46.
Taylormade Golf
TMag’s new R11 and Burner Superfast 2.0 drivers, in our opinion, will the runaway hits (can’t seem to stop those puns) in clubs this year. Both are already prominently in use on the PGA Tour and the white color of the clubhead crown is distinctive and along with the black finish of the clubface, an excellent alignment aid.
The R11 has the TaylorMade weight adjustment system in combination with an adjustable hosel for face angle and loft which neatly solves the problem of having the face angle change when the loft is changed. The adjustments are quick and easy to do unlike some of the adjustment systems on other makers’ drivers and provide a neat approach to fitting the driver to any player’s swing. The R11 comes in a TP version ($499) with the regular version at ($399).
Don’t need all those adjustments, the Burner Superfast 2.0 has the same white clubhead and black finished clubface but not all the weight ports and hosel adjustments. It carries an MSRP of $299 and there’s a neutral bias version, the TP model for $399, with an open face and the Matrix Ozik HD 6 shaft. This one is already a favorite on Tour and recreational players will jump on the Superfast 2.0 at this aggressive price.
Bettinardi Golf
It seems like Bob Bettinardi has been designing and producing top quality putters forever and at the Show one of the new ones drew out attention. Like all his putters the BB27 is milled in Chicago from a solid block of metal (in this case carbon steel) and this face-balanced head has a slightly larger profile to aid in aiming and a double-bend shaft. List price is $275.
Pin High Pro
The most common fault of recreational players is probably coming over the top at the start the down swing. Golf instructors have tried maybe hundreds of exercises and Torquemada-inspired devices to cure this accuracy and distance robbing habit. Pin High Pro has hit on something that works and since the essence of curing coming over the top is first shifting the weight to the left foot on the down swing, their simple device is great to teach that move.
The Pin High Pro consists of a mat the golfer stands on with a sensor under the left foot which beeps when it detects the proper weight shift; simple, effective and a good teaching aid. It’s $70 online at pinhighpro.com
Wilson Golf
The news concerning Wilson Golf wasn’t necessarily about their product line which has been a non-factor the club business for the past several years. The good news is in 2010 sales were up ten percent worldwide and 23 percent in the U.S. Company executives believe the corner has been turned towards putting the brand back in the limelight. Though the Chicago-based company has more major wins victories (61) than any other club manufacturer their clubs (often heavily discounted) have not caught on with recreational players even though Irishman Padraig Herrington was an endorser. For 2011 Wilson says they have two television spots starring Ricky Barnes slated to appear the Golf Channel and they will sponsor TGC’s coverage of the European Tour.
Cleveland Golf
The immensely popular Cleveland wedge line is expanded for 2011 by the CG16 models, an up to date version of the CG14. The new wedge features the same Tour Zip Grooves and laser milling of the face as do the CG15. Two finishes, Black Pearl and Satin Chrome are available at an MSRP of $199.99.
Cleveland’s putter brand, Never Compromise has been more or less dormant recently but drew attention at the PGA Merchandise Show with the new Gambler Series. The stainless steel forged heads may be customized in a variety of ways with graphics, designs and colors from a catalogue on the web. These are very pretty putters and should fill a niche particularly for those who would like to have their name engraved on their putter head.
Ashworth
Big things are afoot (wow, another pun!) with the iconic Ashworth brand since being purchased by TaylorMade-adidas two years ago. In addition to the revitalized and neo-traditional men’s and ladies’ on- and off-course fashions for 2011 they are using some of the monetary muscle of their parent to introduce four models of men’s off-course footwear under the Ashworth Footwear Essentials Golf brand.
A loafer tagged as the Encinitas; the Cardiff, a spikeless golf shoe for on-course and off; and the Leucadia, a structure-less saddle shoe. Each is named for a beach town in San Diego’s North County region, where the Ashworth brand was born. Rounding out the offering is the Ashworth Standard Issue sneaker. The line will be in stores June 1 and carry a MSRP of between $70 and $140.
About Ed Travis
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- 2011 PGA Merchandise Show on the books
- AXIS1 GOLF TO INTRODUCE THE UMBRA AT 2011 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW
- Chip shots: Golf news and notes from around New England
- Chip shots: Golf news and notes from around New England (off-season edition)
