My Impressions of the Show


Gary Mayes
equip2golf.com Editor

Returning to the PGA Merchandise Show this year, I had high expectations about being able to take it all in a better fashion than last year. Last year was my first year to attend and I felt as though I spent the first day standing around wide-eyed and in awe of the enormous displays and "circus-like" atmosphere. Well, it seemed to go better this year although it still is amazing the number of people, booths, and golf products that are all inside of one building. Nevertheless, armed with a media pass, digital camera, notepad, and a "staff" this year, I was eager for the weekend of scoping out the new equipment. Below you will find my list of new products to watch this year as well as some other observations of the Show.


Product Highlights
Products that I feel will do well this year.


Driver

Taylor Made 300 Series

I knew about these, as we all did, prior to the show. Taylor Made gets kudos for getting away from the orange color schemes and returning to a more traditional look. This line of drivers provides golfers of all handicap levels with a number of choices to choose from.

Fairway/Utility Wood


Middleclub

Is it a wood or an iron? The Middleclub provides a wood head with iron length. The majority of us would be better off replacing our longer irons with one of these clubs.

Irons


Pixl Blades

Take a traditional blade design with clean lines and make it as forgiving as a cavity back iron and what do you get? For one, you get me as a customer. Pixl blades are suppose to provide just that. A group of engineers leveraging technology from another industry could be one of the year's big stories. I anxiously await a test of these beautiful set of irons.

Wedges


Cleveland 900

When you speak of wedges, you can't help but think of Cleveland wedges. This new model looks like another classic. Available in choices of bounce and finish will make Cleveland's already deep wedge lineup even deeper.

Putters


Bobby Grace, Purestroke

I was very impressed with Bobby Grace's new line of putters. From the striking mix of colors and metals to the ease of setup and feel, it appears to be a winner. Also the Purestroke putter line deserves equal billing. I stroked putt after putt with these putters inside their booth and had a hard time missing a putt. I tried each and every model in their line, including a long putter, and the feel is unsurpassed.

Golf Balls


Take Your Pick

This was a tough category to select a single ball. Odds are that the following balls will do well this year and deserve mention: Titleist Pro V1, Strata Tour Ultimate, Nike Tour Accuracy TW, and Maxfli Revolution Solid.


Sleepers
Manufacturers that you need to know more about.



How can you not like the new equipment coming out of Porsche Design Golf? The precision and the classic Porsche design style makes you want to take the new offerings for a test drive. Filling out their product line with new irons, woods, wedges, and putters should better position them to do well this year.


Feel Golf is quietly beginning to make its presence known. Feel wedges have begun to show up in several bags on tours around the world. Take note of them. It will be interesting to see how far they can go.


Dunlop Sports has taken a big step forward in their equipment lineup by securing the services of noted club designer Tad Moore. The new line from top to bottom gives the Dunlop brand instant credibility. Look for this lineup to do well.


Most Intriguing
The product that I found to be most intriguing.



There were several clubs at this year's Show that I thought were interesting and made me stop and take a second look. However, there was only one component that, not only made me take a second look, but seemed to have the Show buzzing. My vote for the most intriguing product at this year's show would have to be the True Temper BIMATRX Technology shafts. True Temper has combined a high modulus graphite shaft with a specially engineered steel alloy tip. The result is a shaft that combines the lightweight of a graphite shaft with the consistency of steel. Mark Calcavecchia recently set a new PGA Tour scoring record (28-under par) and won his 3rd Phoenix Open using a BIMATRX shaft in a PING TISI driver. Look for several more golfers to give this new shaft technology a try this year.


Personal Highlights
My personal highlights experiencing the Show.


I was fortunate to meet Scotty Cameron at the Show last year. I went by to see him again this year and he was once again gracious in spending some time with me answering questions about his Studio Design series putters.


As we finished up our discussion, he reached into his pocket and handed me one of his newly designed divot tools and told me to "post this on your site!".
Thanks Scotty!

It is a pleasure getting to talk to company representatives that are "jazzed" about their new products. Talking with the club designers is the best. You really can feel the passion and pride that they have in their work.

I am very glad that Randy Cox was able to attend the Show with me this year and assist in providing the equip2golf.com coverage. Randy is an excellent golfer and has a wonderful sense for the game. Randy will continue writing for us and I hope that he is able to attend again next year. Thanks Randy!

I hope that you enjoy our coverage of the Show and be sure and provide us some feedback on how we can improve it for next year.



(2.11.01)

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