BogeyLounge: EQUIPMENT NEWS Archives

March 2, 2007

USGA should groove away from my wedges...

The executives at Callaway Golf have been aware of the U.S. Golf Association's desire to impose restrictions on irons for two years, but that doesn't mean they're certain of the implications.

"This is by far the most collaborative process I've had with the USGA," said Steve McCracken, Callaway's senior executive vice president. "We're left with a philosophical decision. Do we really need a rule?"

The proposal restricts the size of the U-grooves on irons, a change that would limit the amount of spin that can be imparted on a golf ball. The players who benefit most from the current rules are highly skilled members of the PGA Tour, a fraction of the sport's players.

McCracken accepts the USGA's findings, but he said, "What do you hope to accomplish by changing the rules? Is it worth disrupting all other golfers in the world?"

NO!

Links: Club exec wonders if groove rule needed [USA Today]

Here V Go Again! [GolfDigest.com]

USGA won't ban U-groove clubs [PalmBeachPost]

February 19, 2007

Callaway's new line gets "Tour Validation" with playoff matchup

The biggest winner coming out of yesterday's playoff duel wasn't Charles Howell or Phil Mickelson, it was the equipment company they both represent.

There is no better scenario for Callaway than to have it's number one staff player battling their longtime up and comer... and to have both players using the company's latest gear.

Not only did Howell use Callaway's new FT-5 driver and Black Series putter, he talked about how much the gear has helped his game during his post round press conference.

"I switched drivers to the new FT-5 Driver at the beginning of the year and I'm driving the ball so much better with this driver than any other I've ever used," said Howell. "I also put the new Odyssey (Black Series) putter in my bag last October and I haven't even ordered another one; this is the longest I've ever gone without changing putters in my professional career."

In addition to the new FT-5 Driver and Odyssey Black Series Putter, Howell also used an X 3-wood, FT-Hybrid 3H, X-Forged Irons (3-9), and HX Tour Golf Ball. Mickelson also used the FT-5 Driver, FT-Hybrid (2H) and HX Tour Golf Ball, as well as the X-Tour Irons (4-9), X-Tour Strong 3-wood, X-Tour Wedges (52-, 56- & 60-degree), and the Odyssey White Hot XG #9 Putter.

This could be the shot on the arm Callaway has needed to get back on top. The new line looks very promising and their tour pros are coming through with the all important "tour validation".

Time to get your Callaway stock (ELY) orders in because the stars couldn't be aligned any better for the company.

Link: Callaway Golf Staff Member Charles Howell III Wins Duel at Riviera With New FT-5 Driver [PRnewswire]

February 15, 2007

The Wait is Over: Callaway Launches FT-i and FT-5 Today!

After nabbing a big introductory win at Pebble Beach last week, Callaway's dynamic duo drivers (FT-i and FT-5) arrive in stores just in time for the upcoming golf season.

Nothing warms me on an ice cold northeastern morning than the thought of shiny MOI goodness being unboxed and placed on showroom floors. Think I'll take a drive later today.

Callaway Press Release - After nearly six months of buzz and anticipation, the latest drivers featuring Callaway Golf’s proprietary Fusion Technology are available today, Thursday, February 15, at golf retail locations across the country.

The Callaway Golf® FT-i™ and FT-5™ Drivers have been the talk of the golf equipment world since word of their development leaked out last fall. The FT-i Driver has drawn tremendous attention for its unique square clubhead – featuring Complete Inertial Design for a higher total moment of inertia – and the remarkably straight drives it produces, making it quite possibly the World’s Straightest Driver.

The FT-5, a more traditionally-shaped driver with 50 grams of discretionary weight to help better control tee shots, was named Editor’s Choice on the prestigious Hot List published in this month’s issue of Golf Digest. The FT-5 Driver also was in Phil Mickelson’s bag when he won last weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am by five shots, matched the tournament record at 20 under par and missed just one fairway in the final round.

"I've never had this kind of feeling on the tee box," Mickelson said. "I'm not worried about if it's going to go left or go right. I'm just so comfortable right now. There's a whole different center of gravity, MOI, all that technical stuff. It's not because of anything with my swing, but that the club just performs well."

The new FT-i Driver has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $625; the FT-5 Driver has an MSRP of $535 for the standard model and $565 for the Tour version. To learn more and to find an authorized Callaway Golf retailer near you, please visit www.callawaygolf.com.

Links: Callaway Golf

January 4, 2007

REDWOOD Putters: A fitting tribute to PINGS's roots

Four days into the year and I've already got an early favorite for new gear of the year.

Ping's new Redwood Series pays tribute to the home of the original PING putter—Redwood City, California. It was in Karsten Solheim's garage that his equipment revolution was born and with it came the commitment to quality and innovation found in this 100% milled putter series. The Redwood comes in three classic Ping head options - Anser, Piper and Zing.

This line is a real thing of beauty, featuring the quality of a Scotty Cameron with the price of a Ping ($249).

The Anser has a nice weight to it and it just has this look that screams "we're going to grow old together".

I'm playing with it later in the week. More on the Redwood Putters to come.

Link: Redwood™ Putters [Ping Golf]

December 7, 2006

Callaway's square FT-i driver arrives February 15, 2007

I've seen it in blogs, Golf Digest, Callaway's website, and even on TV during the Del Web Father-Son challenge... and I still don't believe my eyes.

At first, I thought no way, but now I'm starting to warm up to the idea of a square mass of titanium that promises (in a round about way) to be the straightest driver ever. They actually end their promotional web video with the tagline "Straightest driver ever?" (note the question mark).

The Callaway site has a great pdf (it's a PDF of a powerpoint deck) that shows the various steps and design incarnations that lead to the final FT-i design. There's also a video of Callway pros (Annika, Cambo and Charles Howell) being introduced to the FT-i for the first time.

Is this the club that puts Callaway back on top? It's sure to be the one piece of gear everyone keeps their eye on in the next few months. If it sells, watch out for the square driver invasion.

Link: Witness the Shape of Things to Come [Callaway Golf]

October 10, 2006

Hip to be square? Nike launches new SasQuatch

I saw this on a website a little while back and thought it was a fake. Today, I see an official Nike release regarding the new Square Sumo Driver on Australian golf site iSeekGolf.com.

I'm far from a traditionalist when it comes to golf, but I'm not sure I'm ready for this. Actually, I'm a little scared.

Nike Golf - Now even more visually distinctive due to its square head design, the SQ SUMO² features golf's highest MOI of 5300. This advanced MOI is created by the geometric square design combined with the utilisation of a multi-material construction. A deeper beta titanium face, a titanium body and a composite crown combine to bring about material weight savings that are redistributed into the square design, making the driver hotter, longer and more responsive. As such, the square geometry dramatically enhances the SQ PowerBow and SQ Max Back Centre of Gravity (CG) technologies, which work together to increase MOI.

Check out the link below for complete images.

Link: Nike debuts radical new Square Sumo Driver [iSeekGolf]

August 23, 2006

Pinfire Golf provides array of configurations and colors

Pinfire Golf Putters

Saw this product in a positive review blog post over at the GolfPunk Blog, and the look of these putters has my interest peaked. Some of the color options break away from the traditional, but the design and science behind these beauties takes them beyond the novelty category.

According to their website, Pinfire Golf is fast becoming an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of the world's finest putters.

Founded in 2004 in a small workshop in Corona California, Pinfire has grown to be a significant force in the putter industry, with putters designed for the highest moment of inertia.

By the way, they look pretty cool too.

Official Site: Pinfire Golf

Read: My Summer Fling [GolfPunk Blog]

July 18, 2006

Callaway Golf introduces prescription sunglasses

Recently, Callaway Golf announced that golfers can now get the complete line of Callaway Golf Eyewear in a prescription version.

Anyone with a +3.00 to a -5.00 prescription can wear these sunglasses, which include a patented lens formula with prescription in the entire lens. Average cost of prescription $250 to $300 plus frame cost.

More info: www.callawayeyewear.com/rx/

July 16, 2006

Innovation or Novelty? Only time will tell...

Don't know how I missed this last week, but The Sand Trap's Jack Waddell took readers down memory lane with a post on past innovations that left a lasting mark on the game.

Particularly interesting was the Dave Pelz original three-ball putter that was introduced in 1984 but didn't see the light of day until 2002 when Odyssey licensed the idea from Pelz and figured out how to produce a conforming version.

Also, check out TaylorMade's aptly named "Pittsburgh Persimmon" driver that was introduced in 1979.

TST's Bag Drop continues to be BogeyMan's all-time favorite blog feature. Nice work Jack, Erik, and company.

Read: Golf Clubs that Changed the Game [The Sand Trap]

June 26, 2006

Geoff Ogilvy says distance is bad...

"Guys who used to be able to drive 300 yards (274 metres) can now hit it 340 (310 metres). Long term it's not good for the game." - 2006 U.S. Open Winner Geoff Ogilvy

It didn't take long for first time major winner Geoff Ogilvy to use his new found spotlight to be outspoken about a golfing topic.

Looks like Geoff will be using his increased exposure to battle the evils of technological advancement. Real important topic there Geoff... by the way, your biggest sponsor -COBRA Golf- has made a name for itself recently for marketing drivers known for their increased distance.

I don't know whether to blame him or the media for continuing to harp on this non-issue.

Last week's U.S. Open (and other majors in recent history) was not at all influenced by how far people could hit the ball... The outcome came down to who could hit the ball straight, who could get up and down, and who could putt.

Stop talking about distance because the only people that should care about that is us weekend hacks who barely shoot 99 but can't stop talking about that beauty of a drive we hit on 18 that went 275 yards.

Read: Ogilvy says changes harming golf [ABCsport]

April 20, 2006

Big heads, double drivers, and shifting weights...

Callaway FT-3 and TaylorMade r7

USA Today points out that Sam Snead used the same $3.25 Wilson driver from 1938 to 1970 (en route to 3 Masters Championships in 1949, '52, '54), while Phil Mickelson took an entirely different route in using two drivers in the same event.

Huge drivers with various weight shifting technologies are here to stay, so you might as well do your research and join the bandwagon.

After all, you still may not be able to buy a good swing, but you sure can pay for better results off the tee. How you pitch and putt is still up to you.

Read: Modern drivers carry the weight of variety [USA Today]

April 10, 2006

Consumer Reports - Golf Ball "Categories are murky"

Nothing too groundbreaking from the upcoming Consumer Reports golf ball article... Other than every ball regardless of price point traveled virtually the same distance.

Something interesting, however, was the fact that the first golf balls were packed with boiled chicken. Can that possibly be true?

You know what they say, "You can't make birdies out of chicken skin"... sorry, I couldn't resist.

Read: Slicing through the hype [Consumer Reports]

Anatomy of a golf ball [Consumer Reports]

April 3, 2006

Phil Mickelson puts two drivers into play...

Mickelson Uses two (2) drivers

There are times when I am trying out or reviewing a new driver during a round of golf and happen to carry two drivers. As can be expected, my buddies (and I use that term loosely), always give me a hard time about it.

Now I see that Phil Mickelson did just that over the weekend and plans on doing it at Augusta next weekend.

Are we really going to get that specialized? And if so, why not just get everyone playing an adjustable driver and allow them to change the settings between holes.

For now, I'll enjoy the new era of acceptance for people who carry mutliple versions of the same club... Who knew I was such a pioneer?

Read: Mickelson using two drivers at BellSouth [Golf World]

March 27, 2006

Cleveland's HiBore Driver... Like Déjà Vu all over again?

The hype surrounding Cleveland's HiBore driver is building as the new line starts arriving at pro shops this week.

The early word is "straight and long". Vijay (who gets paid to say so), says the driver will be club of the year.

The hype may be deserved as the HiBore seems to be performing well on tour, however, I've got to question the "innovative" design.

Think you've seen that shape before? I did, and before I dismissed it as a case of gear head déjà vu, I did some research and found a club that had been the star of a long running infomercial promoted by long-drive record holder Jack Hamm just a few years ago.

The club was called the "Air Hammer" (pictured right) and resembles with striking similarity Cleveland's HiBore. Now I'm sure that the HiBore is the result of Cleveland Golf's engineering and design team and a more sophisticated piece of technology than the "Hammer", but you've got to wonder...

Anyway, Cleveland has launched the HiBore website which inlcudes everything you need to know about a driver that may change the shape of golf, again.

Visit: Cleveland Golf at HiBore.com

March 24, 2006

Divers benefit from your dips in the pond

Looks like your golf buddies are not the only ones benefiting from your dips in the water.

According to this ESPN.com piece, at least 200 million golf balls are lost each year in the US alone. The divers who go after them earn anywhere from $50,000 t $100,000 for their effort.

At the 17th at TPC-Sawgrass it's estimated that 120,000 balls get wet each year, however, only about 30 of them are contributed by the pros playing in the 4-day event.

Read: Golf ball diving is big business [ESPN.com]

March 12, 2006

Grooves, what are they good for?

Ever wonder why golf clubs (particularly drivers) have grooves?

A nice post by Grouchy Golf Blog tells you all you need to know...

Read: Just Groovy, Baby! [Grouchy Golf Blog]

March 11, 2006

Club head that adjusts at impact... Fact or Fiction?

This sounds like an early April fools day joke, that is until you read the part about how scientist got the idea to do it from an April fools ad placed in a newspaper five years ago.

Even me, the self proclaimed leading proponent of all things technologically advanced in golf, thinks this would be a little too much assistance. The best part of the article is where the head of the company says he's read the rules of golf and thinks there's nothing illegal with a golf club that adjusts at impact to make sure the ball travels straight.

Is he really serious?

The club uses a microchip and electric fibres in its titanium head to calculate where the ball is being hit. In the milliseconds the club and ball are in contact, the microchip redistributes the forces in the head to put as much power and accuracy behind the shot as possible.

No photos yet, but I can't wait...

Read: Golfers go further with one little chip [TimesOnline.co.uk]

March 9, 2006

Callaway HX Pearl: Show us those Pearly whites...

Will Callaway's new "girls" ball become the next unisex anomaly like the Precept Lady ball a few years ago?

After all, what guy doesn't like a "striking pearlised finish that gives your ball a unique lustrous glow"?

The new HX Pearl Golf Ball will be available at US retail beginning March 15 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$32 per dozen.

"The introduction of the new HX Pearl Golf Ball underscores our commitment to women's golf," said George Fellows, President and CEO of Callaway Golf. "Women golfers have told us they want the same high-tech performance golf balls men play, but they want them to be designed for their style of play. We listened to them, and the result is the HX Pearl, a superior performance ball that delivers exceptional distance and soft feel tee to green."

Callaway debuts HX Pearl Golf Ball [iSeekGolf.com]

February 27, 2006

Nanotechnology already making a difference in golf

Every week we hear of another way that technology will improve our golf game. And depending on what side of the issue you stand on, debate on whether it is good or bad for the game as a whole.

Regular visitors to the Lounge know where I stand on the issue... There's no holding down progress, and if it means that more people will be able to play (and enjoy) golf later into their lives, then I'm all for any technology that does that.

We can let the PGA and LPGA figure out how to make sure that technology doesn't interfere with the fairness of competitive play, but if you care about the game's growth and popularity on a grass roots level, then you should embrace the future of golf technology.

Just think of the millions who have tried golf and given up because of the frustration induced from trying to get the ball airborne and then getting it to go straight... If they just had a little help, maybe they would have stuck with it.

Oh well, look on the bright side, more open tee times for the rest of us.

Read More:The Future of Golf Equipment is Near [Cybergolf.com]

February 17, 2006

Callaway's Mea Culpa to the financial world...

Callaway hosted an investor conference yesterday to tell the investment world "We've been hiding, we've done it because we haven't had a good story to tell" and "You will see more of us".

Now i'm sure he is referring to the investment world and not the consumer golf world, because on that front Callaway has been out there. The introduction of new performance balls, FT-3 series of dirvers and fairway woods, an X-Tour line of forged irons... all good and out in front of most other golf co's.

However, the "we haven't had a good story to tell" line comes from the fact that these products, while selling ok, probably haven't done much for the company's bottom line (which is the only thing investors care about).

Read more:
Callaway tees up for tomorrow [SD Union-Tribune]
Callaway sets 3-year plan to drive sales, profits [Reuters]

February 15, 2006

LPGA's rising stars impacting the business of golf...

Excitement abound as the LPGA prepares to kick off its' season at the SBS Open in Hawaii. There's an entire crop of rising stars expected to cause on-course fireworks as they battle each other for position.

According to this USA Today article, on-course is not the only place they are expected to cause change. More than ever before, the talent on the LPGA tour is making an impact in the business world of golf. Even affecting the equipment decision making process of middle-aged men.

The piece goes on to say that Paula Creamer is taking steps toward the elite class of golf star that Arnold Plamer ruled.

"Palmer was respected by men and loved by women. Creamer is respected by women and loved by men."

Read more:
Creamer could change business of women's golf [USA Today]

February 10, 2006

As Tiger's stock rises, so does Nike SQ Driver

Call it ugly, call it freakishly yellow, but don't call it a dud...

It looks as though Tiger Woods' success in back-to-back victories is doing wonders for consumer sales of his latest NIke club, the Nike SasQuatch 460 driver. No movable weight technology, just a face almost as deep as it is wide and a USGA limit pushing 460cc's.

In its first two months, the SasQuatch has more than doubled the market share gained by Nike's 2004 Ignite driver in its first two months. More telling, though, is that when the SasQuatch debuted, Nike did not have a single driver among Golf Galaxy's top 25 sellers. Since then, however, the SasQuatch has been number one across Golf Galaxy's 50 stores. - CNN Money

February 6, 2006

What's in JB's Bag? As if you didn't know...

No self respecting hacker could watch Kentucky bobmber JB Holmes hit the piss out of the ball this weekend and not wonder what gear was in his bag.

JB (a Cobra staff member), played King Cobra woods, Titleist Irons and wedges, and a Pro V1x ball.

As if you hadn't already visited the Cobra website... C'mon, Bogey wasn't born yesterday.

February 2, 2006

Mizuno does it again... This time with Bettinardi

I'm really trying here. There is no bigger advocate for Mizuno golf products than me. Every chance I get to talk about their products I take it.

Now I don't know if I missed this at the PGA Show, or if this news came out afterwards, but it looks like MIzuno has partnered with Bob Bettinardi to produce a line of putters.

MIzuno has been out of the putter business for three years (formerly had a TP MIlls line), so this is big news for them. Right?

Maybe I'm missing it, but I can't find anything on their website (and I even looked at Mizuno sites from other countries)... If any of you find anything there, please let me know.

Just another case of an equipment company that produces excellent gear, but can't market themselves to save their lives (or business).

Read: Mizuno fills out lineup with Bettinardi putters - GolfWeek.com

February 1, 2006

Nickent Golf : What are they thinking?

Based on what I've seen, Nickent Golf is heading in the right direction. Great looking clubs (although the jury is still out on the Pipe Putter) backed by some serious engineering and technology. Good design in regards to logos, brochures, website, retail displays, and trade show booths.

Nickent Golf has every ingredient needed to get golfers excited about their products save for one very important detail. The big name endorser.

An endorser. A real, honest to goodness face of the company that says, "this gear is ready for the big time!" Sure they can put out all the press releases they want about Darrell survey results and being the #1 hybrid on the Nationwide tour or #3 on the PGA Tour. That's all great and a testament to their "Cinderella" story, but when you've got a chance to get to the next level, you gotta grab it, and having a hockey player (Jeremy Roenick) as your lead endorser does nothing for "Joe Golfer" who looks to pro golfer validation to feel good about club selection.

Regardless of how stupid it is to buy clubs based on what some guy (or gal) gets paid to associate their name to, it is an important detail, particularly for a new (and relatively unknown company).

Somewhere there is a Nickent marketing executive telling his bosses that they don't need to follow what everyone else has done in order to be successful... I beg to differ.

Here are some quotes from Nickent's website regarding their association with Roenick. Read them and tell me how any of this would help persuade you to play these clubs. He's not a golf pro, and his not your common weekend hacker, so I don't see where he fits in connecting with your typical golf consumer.

I really hope this isn't the case of someone at Nickent being a hockey fan smitten with the idea of a Roenick association... It would be a shame for a company that is so close to the top of the mountain.

"Jeremy represents the kind of customer that is buying our golf clubs,” said Lee. “He’s been playing a lot more golf lately due to the NHL lockout and he was looking for clubs that provide feel, forgiveness and power all in one."

"Not that Roenick needs any help with distance. He hits his driver well over 300 yards on average. He stated that he needed clubs that could handle his 135 mph swing speed, but that also kept him in the fairway."

"This success on Tour led to numerous celebrities playing their clubs, and the Nickent Marketing Department stated they thought they could get more mileage from a celebrity than by following the industry norm and signing a Tour player."

More info: Nickent Golf [official website]

January 30, 2006

Back from Golf Nirvana (Next year, a better game plan)

For someone like me who really enjoys a trip to the local golf shop to putz around and waste some time (and usually money), a trip to the PGA Merchandise Show can be quite an out-of-body experience.

My initial intentions were to roam the show floor and go find a quiet space to post from every couple hours, but that just didn't work out due to the overwhelming nature of the show. A better plan would have been to cut up my days into half or quarter days with predetermined topics being covered (i.e. Training Aids, Putters, Drivers, Balls, Apparel, eyewear) and posted on said topics.

Since I was only able to be at the show for a day and a half and wanted to see everything, I instead took a different approach and wandered about taking it all in and coming back with over 200 brochures for products and services that I have no doubt will serve as great content here at the Lounge for many a weeks to come.

I was able to meet a ton of vendors with great (and some not-so-great) products and plan to follow up with them in the next few weeks in order to do some new product features here at the Lounge.

Until I'm able to settle back in here today and edit some of the photos and info into posts, here are some story links from the media who covered the event.

PGA Show displays new merchandise
Larry Durland - GalvestonDailyNews.com
"It’s necessary to study the show directory to get a feel for what’s here and ideas for what to visit. Time does not permit visiting a lot of them because of sheer numbers. For example, the directory lists 33 exhibitors under the tees classification, 30 exhibitors under grips and 23 exhibitors listed under ball retrievers. A golfer in good condition could spend days looking at exhibits and trying out equipment on the huge driving range and putting green in one end of the hall."

PGA Show is a circus-like atmosphere
Jason Sobel - ESPN.com
The event covers 1.1 million gross square feet of the Orange County Convention Center. And if you were to walk every aisle, you'd log a total of 10 miles -- all while being weighed down by more brochures, handouts and tchotchkes than you could ever hope to pore through.

Little guys pitching ideas at Show
Chris Stevenson, OTTAWA SUN
Get off the beaten path and away from the glitzy displays put up by the industry's well-known names and you find the little guys whose unbelievable passion in their idea and product consumes their lives -- and their bank accounts. Joe Curkovic figures he has spent $1.4 million to get his Swingscope teaching aid to market. The Montreal native has developed Swingscope (swingscope.com) to help teach golfers the proper turn in the backswing.

Sex, golf and rock and roll
Chris Stevenson, OTTAWA SUN
One golf company that bears watching is Heavy Putter, which we told you about for the first time last year at this time. An update: The company has attracted interest on the Tours and has been used by Nationwide Tour star Troy Matteson, who won the money title last year and is on the PGA Tour this season. He went from 110th in the putting stats to eighth using the Heavy Putter. The name explains it. The putter is about twice as heavy as a normal putter with weight under the grip to give the club balance.

Tracking the hottest products for 2006
Jason Sobel - ESPN.com
After a stint at this week's PGA Merchandise Show, the Weekly 18 departs from its usual take on Tiger and the gang to deliver news on some of the hottest, coolest and craziest golf equipment on the market for the 2006 season.

Golf firm shooting high with space-age element
Chris Stevenson - Ottawa Sun
Element 21 is staking its potential success on scandium, the 21st element on the Periodical Table (titanium, the metal it hopes to replace as the material of choice in golf, is 22nd). The company's pitch is scandium, which has been used in the Russian space program and missile technology (hence the tie to the ISS yesterday). It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any material used for golf clubs. It's 25% better than titanium, 50% better than graphite and 70% better than steel, says the company.

January 24, 2006

Bogey Lounge is going to the Super Bowl ... of Golf!

What could be better than traveling to Detroit, Michigan in the middle of winter to see the Steelers play the Seahawks in the Superbowl? How about a trip to sunny Orlando, Florida for a visit to the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show and Convention?

Yup! I agree, golf it is... so tomorrow, I'm packin' up the Bogey backpack and heading south to O-town for what is sure to be an awesome experience for a gearhead like me.

The bags are packed and the camera batteries are fully charged, so be sure to check in at the Lounge this Thursday and Friday as I attempt to bring you an insider's look at the PGA's annual orgy of golf gear goodness.

While I've covered many a special event for an internet audience (from NFL and NHL drafts to Major League Baseball post season games), I'm looking forward to this experience more than any because of the uniqueness of the event.

So if you've got any ideas about things at the show you'd like to get a closer look at, let me know and I'll try and do some posts geared towards your comments.

2006 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW LINKS:
Official Show News Coverage [PGA.com]
Live Internet Video Coverage [GolfCenter.tv]
Official Show Website

Also, the Golf Channel will provide two hours of live show coverage Thursday through Saturday from 1pm-3pm, with one-hour highlight recap shows each night at 10:30pm. Read More

SOD: Golf Digest and The 2006 Hot List

When I was a little BogeyRugRat, I would roam around the house in November and December of every year with the BEST Catalog tucked under my arm. Inside the retailer's annual holiday toy guide were markings and notes indicating the painstaking process I went through in putting together my list for Santa.

Now I'm all grown up and things have changed, albeit just a tad. No more toy catalog for me. For the last few years the months in question have been January and February and the publication I turn to nowadays for shopping comfort is the Golf Digest Hot List.

The pub excites golf gearheads so much, that it should be delivered in a plain brown wrapper. Take a look at some of the features online at GolfDigest.com, but do yourself a favor and get the "hard" copy at your local news stands before it's too late.

Read: The 2006 Hot List [Golf Digest]

January 10, 2006

Congrats to TaylorMade on a company first!

I've already gone on a limb (I think a pretty sturdy one) and named the TaylorMade r7 425 my early favorite for club of the year, and it looks like my thoughts are being shared by tour pros as well.

"It appears TaylorMade has an immediate hit on its hands with the new r7 425 driver. In its PGA Tour debut last week at the winners-only Mercedes Championships, the club led the driver count with nine out of 28. That gave TaylorMade a sweep of the drivers, fairway woods, irons, hybrids and putters – the first time in the Carlsbad company's 27-year history it has done so. TaylorMade drivers have been No. 1 in the count for 205 straight weeks." - Tod Leonard, San Diego Union-Tribune

Congrats to TMaG on a company first!

December 16, 2005

Golf Digest talks with Scotty Cameron

Scotty Cameron Putter

Here's a must read just posted on GolfDigest.com. A short but amusing interview with 43 year-old Scotty Cameron ... putter designing guru (in my book he's an equipment artist).

Here's an excerpt: The price points on my putters are relatively high, but you aren't just buying performance. You're buying confidence. It's human nature to have greater faith in something you've paid a premium for. On the other hand, the putters I make had better deliver, because if a $5 putter you grab out of a barrel performs better than a putter that costs $275, we both know which one you'll pick.

I'm using that one on Mrs. Bogeyman next time she asks me why I need a $500 driver... "confidence baby, you don't want a hubby with no confidence, do you?"

Read: My Shot with Scotty Cameron [GolfDigest.com]

December 11, 2005

TaylorMade hits mother lode with Clarke's r7 425 comments

new TaylorMade r7 425

Darren Clarke sits atop the leader board at -14 at the Target World Challenge. So far this week, he has shot a 65, 73, and 64. He also has 5, yes 5, eagles during the three rounds.

Oh, and by the way, in his post-round interview he credits his phenomenal play on the par 5's to a new addition in his bag.

"... On Tuesday I got a new driver, a (TaylorMade) R7 425, a brand new one (model)," Clarke said. "I hardly ever put something straight into the bag, but this one was straight in.

"It's making a huge difference to my distance off the tee. There's a couple of traps taken out of play and that's helped a great deal on the par 5s."

Talk about a marketer's dream come true... Christmas has come early for TaylorMade, so the boys and girls in Carlsbad should drop everything and spend the next 72 hours finding a way to capitalize on this gift.

How big is this?

Take a gear head like me for instance. I was preparing to write that I hated the latest design direction of the new r7 and some of the other new drivers. Now, like a guy whose standards drop as last call nears, I'm looking at the r7 425 with a whole different appreciation. Call it the golf equivalent of "beer goggles"... that's right, I'm seeing the new r7 through "distance goggles".

A contrasting example is Michael Campbell's U.S. Open win with the new Callaway FT-3 driver. While it was a nice score for Callaway, the only message that the consumer world got from it was that the driver/technology was "good enough" for a pro to win with. While that may be a nice selling point, it doesn't mean that Joe golfer's game will benefit from it.

Compare that to Darren Clarke's recent comments and you can easily see how TaylorMade hit the mother lode of golf marketing... "It's making a huge difference to my distance off the tee." Spoken by a real life pro golfer that has just made five eagles in 3 rounds.

That, my friends, is the holy grail of golf equipment press... Distance to golfers (of any ability) is like fire was to prehistoric man. It is the single biggest reason that the Pro V1 golf ball revolution took off. Now all TaylorMade needs is some ancient player to start talking about how clubs like the r7 425 are ruining the game and we'll have ourselves a 2006 club of the year before January 1.

I would venture that yesterday's comments by Clarke were probably enough to send more hacks (myself included) running to TGW.com to see when this breakthrough club would be available. And right before Christmas too, now that's special.

[See the new TaylorMade r7 425 at GolfGods.com]

December 10, 2005

Nike Golf promotes new shape of their game...

Nike SasQuatch Driver

Nike has enlisted the services of Emmy award winning Trollback + Company, for the production of film spots aimed at promoting the company's new SasQuatch Driver and Slingshot Irons.

Set to debut at the International Japan Golf Trade Fair in Tokyo, Japan in February, the spots focus on the lines, geometry, and advanced space-age engineering of the new products.

Nike even fires a little "adjustable weight" salvo at the TMaG gang in Carlsbad with an ending tag line for the SasQuatch that reads... "NEW GEOMETRY. THE ONLY ADJUSTMENT YOU NEED."

By the way, I have finally figured out why the name SasQuatch. Nike claims that their new driver has the biggest "footprint" of any driver. I guess that's part of the "new geometry"... I still hate the name and the yellow design features.

Read: Trollbäck + Company Produces 3D Nike Golf Films

See the spots: Nike SasQuatch and Slingshot ads

December 8, 2005

Callaway Golf debuts X460 driver (in Australia)

callaway x460 driver

Get ready gear heads, 2006 should be a good year for us... Callaway's newest features all titanium construction, 460cc's, Regular and Tour versions, and some nice Fujikura shaft options...

Callaway Golf Press Release - Callaway Golf Company today announced a limited South Pacific region launch of the new Callaway Golf X460 Driver, an all-titanium driver combining a robust face with modified VFT (Variable Face Thickness) Technology and a newly-designed sole that helps eliminate alignment problems. The new X460 Driver in standard, Tour and women's models is now available at retail across the South Pacific region with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of AUD$479.

The new X460 Driver incorporates CT/VFT Technology across more of the face than any all-titanium driver Callaway Golf has ever made, resulting in more ball speed on mis-hit shots. This next generation of VFT Technology takes ball speed right up to the legal limit under the Characteristic Time (CT) standard established by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

More at: Official x460 page at Callaway Golf Australia

Larger photo available after the jump.

December 6, 2005

Jazz Golf launches new website...

I had never heard of these guys before receiving a press release from their PR agency. Unlike some companies or PR firms that send me email posing as a golf fan that has made a discovery, this announcement was honest and simple. It basically said, "We have a new website"... nothing like a little honesty to get you free publicity.

Lesson to be learned: Just be honest... you can't generate positive "buzz" by being wormy.

You know who you are...

Like the music, we think the game is about improvization; each round, every "performance" unique and deserving to be cherished. We make clubs for golfers who swing their own way; who appreciate the idea that each blank scorecard represents an experience yet to be written. - Jazz Golf

Check out: JAZZ GOLF

December 4, 2005

Belated Birthday wishes to the Titleist Pro V1 - the ball that changed it all.

Did you know that seven weeks ago, on October 11, the world's most popular golf ball, the Titleist Pro VI, had its fifth birthday. It was unveiled at the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas in 2000 and now accounts for more than one in every four balls sold in the US — a success rate that allows its manufacturer to dominate a $1 billion-a-year market.

As I continue to fight my "high-end" ball habit, this was tough to see. [read Recovering from "high-end" golf ball addiction]

I mean, c'mon, if one out of every four balls sold is a Pro V1, then they must be better... Right?

November 12, 2005

Nike adds women's ball to mix...

It's no coincidence that there is renewed interest in ladies golf equipment and apparel. With the rise of young stars like Wie, Creamer & Pressel, it was only a matter of time before manufacturers realized that the tide is rising towards the "Tiger" effect we experienced in the mid 90's.

Golf has become "cool" again, and if things continue on track (and the PGA and LPGA do their part to promote the game accordingly), there could be an upcoming golden era for the ancient game.

I know it's only a new ball launch, but you can tell a lot from watching Nike manuever.

The new Super Lady ball is the first that Nike Golf has ever made specifically for women. With a 432-dimple pattern, the 60-compression ball helps to produce higher-trajectory shots while improving velocity and distance through its low-compression core. - Nike Golf

Read: Wonder Woman [PGA.com]

November 9, 2005

New Ping Site...

Looks like Ping has launched a new (and much better) website to coincide with their latest G5 line. The site uses flash, which lots of times come off as clunky (slow) and not very user friendly, but the Ping site seems streamlined, smooth, and chock-full of info.

Thanks to MediaGuru at the Hooked on Golf Blog for the heads up on Ping's new face on the web.

Callaway offers sneak peak at 2006 offerings...

Kudos to the SandTrap's Donald MacKenzie who provides a sneak peak at Callaway's 2006 product line. Donald speaks of an all titanium X460 driver line, a lower profile X line of fairway woods, new wedges, new putters...

It's enough to make an equipment junkie drool with '06 excitement. While some of you get depressed over the weather turning for the winter, I get warm and fuzzy about all of the pending equipment announcements.

Thanks to Donald and The Sand Trap for helping warm these chilling fall days with thoughts of new gear for '06.

Read: Sneak Peak at Callaway's 2006 New Products [The Sand Trap]

November 3, 2005

Recovering from "high-end" golf ball addiction...

So I find one of these balls a few weeks ago while playing a round. It had a magic marker alignment ring on it (which I personally can't stand), but I paused a minute because I'd never seen these balls before. Hmm, a Wilson Staff Dx2?

Wonder if this is their high end ball? The last thing I need at home is more "junk" balls that will never get used, however, for some reason I proceeded to toss it into my bag.

Later in the round I reach for a new ball (usually looking for a ProV1 or BlackMax), and pull out the Wilson.

Oh well, I'm shooting a bad score and it's late in the round, so what the heck? I tee off using the Wilson... and about 275 yards later I'm standing in the middle of the fairway preparing for my second shot from about 250 yards away... Three wood - down the gut - carries about 220 - and rolls right through the green... I chip close, make a 2-footer... BIRDIE!

Next hole, I reach for a "good ball" and proceed to not make a birdie or par or even bogey... round ends, whatever.

The significance of this already long winded tale is that over the next few rounds, whenever I pulled out that old Dx2, I would make par or birdie... Par 3, Par 4, Par 5 it didn't matter.

No one has ever accused BogeyMan of being smart, so it took a while for me to realize, that there was a correlation between the success I was having and this ball.

Was it a magic ball? No, that can't be it. I know! It was superior to the balls I was using, probably a $60/dozen self correcting nano-technology ball that I hadn't heard of!

No, that wasn't it either. As a matter of fact, as I would later learn, this wasn't a "high" end ball at all. It was a low end, Wilson 2-piece ball. On sale, in fact at Edwin Watts for $13.95/dozen.

Could it be that BogeyMan has been throwing away gobs of hard earned cash in order to play (and lose) the "good" balls, when he could have been a better golfer all along using these "rocks". By the way, the dx2 felt soft and responsive before I found out that they were $13.95 per twelve.

What's a desperate golfer to do? I bought a dozen of the Wilson Dx2, and of course a dozen of Wilson's "high end" ball the Tx4. The logic, of course, was that if the cheap ball played so well, think of how the top line model would perform.

O.K., I promise I'm wrapping up here... Long story short... The more expensive Tx4's were nice but nothing to write home about, but the dx2's continued their impressive run of long and straight carry off the driver, control off the irons, and responsiveness in the scoring zone.

What have I learned? Don't be an equipment snob! The price or marketing of a golf ball doesn't matter when it comes to your score. Maybe this 2-piece ball is extremely well suited for my swing?

Whatever the case, I'm glad I found and kept this ball. Maybe it was a gift from the golf gods as a reward for raking bunkers and fixing divot marks.

I can tell you, it won't be easy to quit my "high-end" ball habit. As I sit here I'm fighting the urge to purchase a dozen ProV's for an upcoming golf trip. Old habits are hard to teach new tricks... or something like that.

Editor's Note: BogeyMan has always known that equipment doesn't make the golfer. It's just that he's having a hard time actually convincing himself of that. "It's all so shiny and new, and the tour players are using it, I need it... really!"

November 2, 2005

Hey Mizuno, why do I always have to come looking for you?

Once again, Mizuno, a company that produces excellent equipment and backs it up with piss poor marketing, has struck again.

While browsing at a local golf shop the other day, I ran into the new Mizuno mx-500 driver. This thing is down right sweet looking. Quaility craftsmanship, solid feel and a confidence inducing setup at address, this club looks like it could be major player in the driver category.

However, here's my problem. I watch a ridiculous amount of golf on television, I read everything available about golf, and yet I had to run into this piece of gear by "mistake". Not to mention, when I did find out about the driver, I had to spend time searching around the internet for some decent info. There are vendors out there (Edwin Watts, etc...) that have more info about the mx-500 on their website than Mizuno does on it's corporate product site.

I'm excited about trying out the mx-500, but I doubt many others will ever think to do the same. After all, you can't expect customers to come looking for you.

Here's more info on the mx-500 Driver:
GolfReview.com
GolfMagic Review
Detroit News
Mizuno Site

September 10, 2005

Solheim (Ping) Family Interview

While looking for info on the new line of Ping products (G5), I came across this interview featuring some nice commentary on the state of Ping (and the new G5 line) directly from the source.

On the eve of the 2005 Solheim Cup matches, members of the Solheim family, for which this week's Solheim Cup is named, met with the media. The competition that pits the best American women golfers against their European counterparts began on Friday morning at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. While they discussed the Cup, the family mostly talked about their Ping equipment company. Following are excerpts from their interview session.

Read: Solheim Family Interview [Cybergolf.com]

August 24, 2005

MP-60: Mizuno to launch another version of Cut Muscle design irons

I'm looking forward to checking out Mizuno's latest offering from their "Cut Muscle" line (the MP-60 is expected to ship in early September).

I have been playing Mizuno's MP-32 for a year now and can honestly say they are the best irons I've ever played.

While I'm a high handicapper, the "cut muscle" design allows me to play a true blade design (which I prefer to the "soup spoon" look most game improvement clubs sport), while still offering the forgiveness and low center of gravity that allows me to get the ball airborne easily.

From Mizuno.com-

-MP-60 is 4% larger and has a 10% larger sweet spot for player looking for more forgiveness in a player's club.

-Cut Muscle Technology provides ideal center of gravity for perfect trajectory and enhanced, solid feel.

-Grain Flow Forged, 1025 select mild carbon steel from consistency in club face for a soft, solid feel.

-Modified U-grooves product ideal spin rate for maximum performance in all types of conditions.

-True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts.

-Set includes: 3-PW (8 irons)

More info: CutMuscle.com [Mizuno]

August 17, 2005

Are you one of the lucky ones? : The State of Golf Stores

If you live in certain areas of the U.S. where golf stores are vying against one another for your business, consider yourself very lucky.

While we have a very nice collection of private and public courses in the Baltimore metropolitan area (Bulle Rock, Caves Valley, Greystone, etc.), the closest we get to the likes of Edwin Watts and Golfsmith is through the paper pages of their catalogues.

There are a few decent golf stores in the area (Mammoth Golf and 2nd Swing), but they hardly fight for business with great deals or sophisticated services. Lack of selection, high pricing, and uninformed salespeople are the norm for these stores. While in other states, golf retailers have taken the business to another level.

Do you experience this in your area? Or are you one of the lucky ones?

I bring this up because of a story I found today that talks about Golfsmith opening a superstore in the Ft. Lauderdale area which will now raise the level of attention that Edwin Watts gives their customer base (which was already pretty high to begin with).

Read: High-tech swing simulators now a must for golf stores [Sun-Sentinel]

August 16, 2005

"Callaway Boy" sports Titleist and TaylorMade woods in championship

Being the gear junkie I am, I usually don't feel closure on a major championship until I know what tools were used for the win.

Looks like Phil is as bad as BogeyMan when it comes to mix and matching his woods, using an FT-3 Driver, an r7 TP 3-wood, and a 904f 4-wood. The last time he mixed it up that closely during a win was at last year's Masters, where he used a V-Steel 3-wood and 980f 4-wood.

Coincidence? I think not... Rock on Lefty!

The Lesson?: Play what you feel comfortable with, not what matches up nicely in your bag.

Read: What's in the Bag? [TheGolfChannel.com]

August 15, 2005

Aldila NV Shaft available in pink ... Are you man enough?

Seventy percent (yes 70%) of Aldila's pink-colored NV shafts are being sold in men's flexes. The shaft, originally custom-made for Paula Creamer, was not going to be brought to market, but the company rethought its position as Creamer's visibility increased.

I believe there is some sort of fundraiser involved for breast cancer, so there is a good cause behind it.

Both my r7 (Green NV) and my FT-3 (Burnt Orange NV) have the NV shaft and I love them both... Do I dare take the challenge and actually get one of my clubs fitted with a hot pink shaft?

Probably not, however, it would most likely stop my buddies from copying every last one of my golf purchases. First they make fun of me for being an equipment whore, then two weeks later, they are using the same piece of gear.

See the NV Pink at: Aldila.com

July 28, 2005

r7 Quad Returns 95% Satisfaction Rating

Sounds like everyone who buys an r7 driver is a happy camper... Surprised? You shouldn't be. I've hit them all and my r7 is still the best of the bunch.

From The Washington Times - A little more than a year ago, TaylorMade's r7 Quad driver debuted at the MCI Heritage Classic in the hands of Retief Goosen. More than 50 worldwide tour wins and three major championships later, the r7 Quad is the runaway favorite among PGA Tour players and the planet's most popular club among amateurs.

From scratch stallions to single-digit players to high handicappers, nearly everyone who tries the r7 Quad and its Launch Control technology raves about the club.

"Our surveys have returned something like a 95 percent satisfaction rating, which is truly remarkable for an expensive product [$499 retail]," TaylorMade director of public relations John Steinbach said yesterday. "Interestingly, our surveys have also indicated that an extremely high percentage of those who buy the club not only understand the technology but fiddle with the weights."

Read more: Worth its weight [Washington Times]

July 12, 2005

British Open hats now available at the TaylorMade accessories store

Now you can buy a replica of the 2005 British Open cap worn by TaylorMade staff professionals at St. Andrews online at shop.taylormadegolf.com.

The TaylorMade Accessories Store also carries the 2005 Masters and US Open hats, along with all the accessories for your movable weight club.

July 8, 2005

Monza Corza: Read this before buying another putter...

I don't have time to write a full review that would do this putter justice, so for now heed my warning: Don't buy another putter until you've had a chance to try the new Rossa Monza Corza putter by TaylorMade Golf!

From the time I picked it up to try at a golf store, to the moment I rolled in my first putt with it, it has changed my outlook on alignment assisted putters.

Maybe it's the AGSI insert (Anti-Skid Groove System Insert) which allows balls to skid less and spin forward on impact, or maybe it's the incredible configurable weight system that allows you to customize the weight to your exact specs... whatever it is, this putter will make you roll the rock like it was meant to be rolled.

I'll give it a full review once I've had a chance to play it one more time, but for now, all you need to hear is the comment my playing partner (a total stranger I got paired up with) made after I smoothly sank yet another ten footer...

"Boy! You sure do have the smoothest rolling ball I've seen in a long time... it must be fun to putt when you can roll the ball like that!"

Now, while "smoothest rolling ball" are not the words you want a 65-year-old man saying to you while you're alone in the woods, it sure is enough to tell me that you gotta try this putter.

As always, Stay Tuned...

June 23, 2005

A potential Callaway Golf takeover?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Callaway Golf Co. is quietly weighing an all-cash, $1.2-billion takeover bid that would take the nation's largest manufacturer of golf clubs private, according to sources close to the situation.

The unsolicited takeover offer from buyout firm Thomas H. Lee Partners and insurance mogul William Foley II was submitted to Callaway's board May 20, sources say. It comes amid an industrywide slump in golf equipment sales and turmoil at Callaway.

Read: Callaway Said to Be Target of Takeover Drive [LAtimes.com]

June 4, 2005

A "Rock-Bottom" tale of success...

Ever thought of taking that "selling clubs on Ebay" hobby and turning it into a multi-million dollar business? Yeah, me too.

Here's the story of the brothers Rath and how they turned summers of diving for lost golf balls into one of the most recognized online golf retail brands.

Todd Rath and his older brother, Tom, took the first swing at their ultimate profession as teenagers in Rochester, N.Y. “We used to go diving for golf balls,” Todd Rath said.

They’d scoop them from sand traps and water hazards at courses around town, soak them in cleaner to loosen the residue and spin them through the washing machine at home – breaking the belt on Mom’s Maytag many times. They hawked used balls at flea markets and through wholesalers, garnering about a buck a ball. A busy summer would bring in close to $15,000 for each of them.

That paid the brothers’ tuition at Perdue University. Tom Rath graduated and went to work as an accountant for IBM, eventually ending up in Binghamton, N.Y., in the late 1990s. But he never dropped the ball-diving bug and began to expand into more golf equipment, buying excess from pro shops and selling on e Bay in his spare time.

Read more: Norfolk warehouse is bargain-hunting equivalent of a hole-in-one [The Virginian-Pilot]

June 1, 2005

Golf ball research brings uncertainty

Here's more on the USGA's limited flight golf ball "research project" from the Associated Press...

More than 100 fans pressed against the white picket fence to watch Davis Love III go through a short practice session. He started with a few wedges and worked his way through the bag until he was launching tee shots on the range at Quail Hollow Club. This got their attention.

His work done, Love looked over at them when asked a question that has been making the rounds lately.

Is too much power ruining golf?

"Go ask all these people if the game is ruined, if it's too easy," he said.

Then, perhaps realizing he was in Charlotte, N.C. -- the heart of NASCAR country -- Love offered an analogy to show the difference between PGA Tour players and the people who only dream of being that good.

"If you give me Jeff Gordon's race car out there on the track at Charlotte, I cannot make it go as fast as he can," Love said. "But he can make it go as fast as the car will possibly go. So, you give us this equipment, we can make it go as far as it possibly can go, because we're better than everybody else.

"These people, they need the help."

Read more: USGA's research project has raised a few flags [Monterey County Herald]

May 24, 2005

TaylorMade's r7 Quad Accessories Store: It's a whole new ballgame...

There was a time that all you could do with a new piece of golf equipment was play with it and clean it (maybe you could also throw it in frustration).

Now, with the advent of movable weight cartridges in drivers and fairway woods (and even putters), looks like golf manufacturers have opened up a new category that auto dealers have been taking advantage of for years. The aftermarket accessory...

From extra weight cartridges, to wrenches, to new headcovers, this online venture only sells accessories for the r7. You can't buy the clubs themselves, but you can find anything related to the r7, which is great news for r7 owners who may need replacement parts or additional weights in order to realize that perfectly tweaked ball flight.

And with the looming arrival of TaylorMade fairway woods with movable weight, TMaG's timing couldn't be better.

Check it out: TaylorMade's r7 Accessories Store

May 21, 2005

Buyers Beware! Fakes floating around on Ebay...

These aren't "knock-offs" (although I have a problem with them as well)... These are highly sophisticated copies, but highly inferior products. Like others have said before me, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is..."

Bloomberg News - Jacques Gladu snapped up a $640 set of Callaway Golf Co. clubs from a Quebec-based Web site in March, confident he'd found a bargain at a third of the usual price.

Three days later, he called Callaway to check if they were real. ``My ball was going everywhere,'' says Gladu, 58, a retired human-resources consultant in Montreal who plays off a 3 handicap. ``I was almost certain the clubs were fake.''

Gladu was a victim of swindlers who are spreading Chinese- made counterfeit golf gear from stalls in Shanghai and southern Guangdong province to Internet auction sites around the world. The increasing sophistication has prompted Callaway to team with five competitors, including Nike Inc., in a bid to close down suppliers at their sources.

Read more: Fake Callaway Clubs, Made in China, Swindle Web Buyer [Bloomberg News]

May 20, 2005

The PGA Practice Range: Golf's water cooler

SI.com's Rick Arnett takes an interesting look at what goes on throughout the week at the practice range of a PGA event. Being the equipment whore that I am, this is the ultimate "kid in a candy store" scenario.

Check it out...

Why amateurs should be jealous: When a pro wants to try a new stick, the rep will present at least three models with different shaft, loft, and lie tweaks. The pro will hit only one shot per club. If the shot doesn't measure up, the club is cast aside immediately because a player will subconsciously alter his swing to best change the shot shape.

In a perfect world, the club should match the swing, not vice versa. Unfortunately, most amateur players are subjected to off-the-rack clubs (although some do take advantage of launch monitors) and will have to tweak their inconsistent swings to hopefully justify the club's cost.

Read the rest at: Inside Golf - Golf's Water Cooler [SI.com]

May 15, 2005

More on the great "limited flight" golf ball debate...

This won't go away, and I fear they will eventually do something about it... For someone like me who is lucky to hit the ball 260 yards (on a real good drive), it will certainly have an effect on my enjoyment of the game.

As I've said before, USGA, leave our balls alone and have course designers put more emphasis on accuracy and shotmaking.

"The USGA is looking into golf balls that don't travel as far. While many in the sport say it's about time, some believe there's no need for a change."

May 9, 2005

Nike One Platinum: Magic ball arrives in stores!

The magical Nike One Platinum has finally arrived, allowing you to make chip shots that break two different ways and then sit on the lip of the cup before dropping in... OK, maybe not quite like that, but among the marketing blah-blah is something about how much it helped Tiger maximize distance and control while using large headed drivers.

Note: Currently, Tiger has a 56.6% accuracy rating off the tee (good for 159th on tour).

If anyone has had a chance to try the "One Plat", let us know your thoughts. I'll pick up a dozen and let you know my thoughts in the coming weeks.

NIKE DESCRIPTION: Nike Golf is adding another color to its line of golf balls. The Nike One Platinum, the first ball designed to maximize the potential of larger headed drivers, joins the Nike One Black and the Nike One Gold, giving golfers a new way to score in the red.

The Nike One Platinum features a Progressive Density Core with a soft center and a progressively harder outer shell. This provides lower spin off the tee even with its soft outer cover.

In November 2004, Tiger Woods switched to Nike Golf's newest driver, the 460cc Nike Ignite. He proceeded to win two and place second over his next three events. Woods' ball had the optimum spin-rate with the 460cc Nike Ignite, but it was thought that he could be more efficient and longer with a higher trajectory ball.

Even though he was hitting the ball further and controlling it better with the new 460cc Nike Ignite, he still was not reaching his full potential. The challenge for Nike Golf's golf ball team was to develop a ball that was longer and controlling with larger headed drivers, without losing the spin performance around the green. And from the looks of it, Nike Golf has definitely delivered.

May 2, 2005

TaylorMade Introduces the r7 TP Fairway Wood

More news from the gang in Carlsbad, this time it's the new r7 fairway wood complete with movable weight cartridges... Too much? I can't "weight" to find out (coming in mid June).

Once again, I couldn't find anything on the TM website about this announcement. I don't know why TMAG wouldn't speak directly to their customers, but instead through press release distributors. Oh well?!

The r7 TP is a titanium fairway wood engineered with two TaylorMade Launch Control (TLC) ports positioned low in the back of the clubhead, near the heel and toe. Installing TLC cartridges of differing weights in the TLC ports allows the player to move the clubhead's CG toward either the toe or heel to promote varying degrees of draw bias and fade bias, as well as to promote a neutral, or straight, ball flight.

TaylorMade Introduces r5 dual TP

While I haven't seen this on TaylorMade's website or on Carlsbad Confidential, I came across this release on golf-gear-review.com regarding a soon-to-be-release r5 Dual which will allow you to change the weight cartridges like the r7.

Maybe the gang at Carlsbad Confidential can weigh in with some additional info?

Titleist Presents: The Futura Phantom Mallet

While I've never been a fan of mallet style putters, this one has gotten my attention. The Futura Phantom Mallet by Titleist (Scotty Cameron) seems to have merged the qualities of a traditional mallet putter with the forgiveness and alignment assistance of their "over the top" Futura line.

I haven't had a chance to try this putter out, but Erik B. from the Sand Trap has posted an excellent review for all to enjoy.

Later this week I'll preview all of this season's new putter options, so as always, stay tuned...

April 28, 2005

Nike MaxSight : Performance-enhancing contact lenses?

I still haven't gotten used to wearing sunglasses while golfing. I've got a pair of Oakley's that I wear in between shots on sunny days, but for some reason I just feel I can't focus on shots with sunglasses on.

I know this isn't a problem for most people because I know all of my buddies have no problem with wearing shades while swinging.

Looks like I may have a solution thanks to Nike who is testing contacts that act like sunglasses. A major feather in their cap is the unreal start Baltimore Orioles leadoff hitter Brian Roberts has gotten off to this season (he first tried the contacts during the O's last spring training game and has been on a tear ever since).

Plenty has been said about performance-enhancing drugs this spring. Well, get ready for a new wave of performance enhancers, only these do not cause side effects and are not subject to suspensions. Known as performance-enhancing contact lenses, they were designed to help hitters pick up the seams on the ball better and to protect the eyes from the sun.

"They're almost like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses," Roberts says. "I could tell such a huge difference right away that I was willing to give them a shot."

Seven years in the making by Nike and Bausch & Lomb, the lenses — which will be known in the retail world as MaxSight — are so new they have made their way only into a few major league clubhouses so far. [The Sporting News]

Read More: Performance-enhancing contact lenses?
[The Sporting News]

April 20, 2005

Soft or metal? Spikes debate is back

For most of us, metal spikes are not even an option due to local club rules put in place to protect greens. But for tour pros (who are allowed to wear them) they offer more stability than soft spikes and thus are still popular among many players.

While Phil Mickelson got the brunt of it at the Masters due to Vijay's complaints, he is not the only culprit leaving spike marks behind.

According to the Darrell Survey, which tracks equipment use on the major tours, 41 of 132 players in last week's MCI Heritage Classic used metal spikes (31.1 percent), and about a dozen of them wore the longer version. On the LPGA Tour, soft-spike use also is about 70 percent. That's a lot more than I would have thought.

I've linked to this Palm Beach Post article which does a nice job of breaking down the metal vs. soft spike debate.

Read more: Soft or metal? Spikes debate is back [Palm Beach Post]

April 16, 2005

Keep your hands off our balls! - The USGA's search for sluggish golf balls

Technology is not the problem, as a matter of fact, technology has made golf even more popular. People love the long ball, and what's so bad about a grandfather being able to enjoy a round with his grandson? (with the help of a driver and ball that helps him keep up).

Grow the rough, put more importance on precision shots, length shouldn't be the defining factor of a course's difficulty level (that just intimidates and excludes many players).

The search is under way for a more-sluggish golf ball.

In a small victory for golf traditionalists who think the game has been threatened by high-performance gear, the United States Golf Association is asking manufacturers for prototype balls that fly shorter distances than those currently allowed.

The request, sent by letter to golf-equipment manufacturers this week, doesn’t signal a rule change yet. But it is part of what the USGA describes as ongoing research to better understand golf-ball technology “if the need to change the rules arises.”

The letter, delivered to about 35 manufacturers, including Nike Golf, TaylorMade Golf, and Callaway Golf Co., asks makers to submit two golf-ball designs — one that would land 25 yards shorter on average than the USGA’s current standard, and another that would fall 15 yards shorter. The letter says participation is voluntary and doesn’t set a timetable for submitting the prototypes. [The Wall Street Journal]

April 13, 2005

SmartSwing: Clubs that record your swing data

Technology and golf go hand-in-hand, however, this seems like tech over the top (especially for a training aid). Judge for yourself...

SmartSwing Intelligent Clubs use a series of gyroscopes and accelerometers in what is called a 6-degree of freedom inertial measurement unit. In plain English, SmartSwing circuitry uses acceleration and rotation information to determine the position of your golf club in space with pinpoint accuracy over 1000 times per second.

The parts used by SmartSwing are used in a variety of other applications ranging from air bag deployment in automobiles to missile guidance systems. Bet you didn't realize a golf club could be this smart!

All of the information recorded is stored in flash memory on your club to allow for later wireless download and processing on your personal computer.

Visit SmartSwing's Website

On the computer, SmartSwing uses a sophisticated set of patent-pending mathematical equations to convert the information recorded by your Intelligent Club into the representation of your swing that you see in SmartSwing Visualizer software. This swing information is then compared to a reference swing.

SmartSwing's patent-pending reference swing is yet another scientific revolution for golf. The reference swing is a mathematically calculated mechanically efficient swing based on golf theory and the swings of past and current golf greats. It automatically scales to your specific physical dimensions to give you something to strive towards with each and every golf swing.

The combination of position, acceleration, rotation and reference information for each of your golf swings enables sophisticated swing analysis and accelerated learning. SmartSwing Intelligent Clubs open the door to accurate information in real-time that was previously only available in the highest end video systems and launch monitors, if it was available at all. For example, with SmartSwing you can study your club face orientation, release timing, tempo, instantaneous club head speed, lag, and more.

April 12, 2005

Yet another "clever" Nike marketing ploy...

I know it feels like "beat up Nike" day, but here is another example of "clever" Nike marketing (i.e. deception)...

The boys over at Carlsbad Confidential have posted an intriguing story regarding how Nike has worked some numbers and thrown around money in order to make some pretty heady statements about their success on tour...

Why is this important? Because, whether you admit it or not, you buy your golf equipment based on a lot of these claims. Once something is tour proven, it gives it the legitimacy it needs to get you to shell out for it.

Read: Nike Steals the Iron Count at the Masters [CarlesbadConfidential.com]

Presenting the Nike One Platinum - We think?

So now Nike wants the world to know that Tiger was playing a Nike One Platinum...

As was pointed out on these pages just a few weeks ago (see post), Tiger had been playing the yet-to-be announced Nike One Platinum since the start of the season (maybe even at the end of last season). However, as Nike puts it, Tiger likes to play a disguised prototype ball until he decides whether it is worthy of his name. That story was leaked because it "was time" after Tiger won at Doral to let the buying public know about the Platinum's success.

Sounds more like marketing than product research to me... What if Tiger doesn't play well at the Masters? Do you think Nike would have plastered the announcement for the Nike One Platinum on their front page on Monday following the tournament.

For all we know, Tiger played a Nike One Gold on Sunday, and because he is allowed to play a ball that is "disguised" with fake markings, we'll never really know.

Here's the point to my rant: If equipment companies want to use tour wins to promote their products, then they should be held accountable for every piece of equipment put into play by their pros and not hide prototypes in the name of "research". The way the system is set up now, companies can promote their wins and hide their failures.

If Tiger's ball says Nike One Gold on it... then he should be playing a Nike One Gold (who knows, maybe he was).

As sports fans discussed Woods' fourth Masters win on Monday, Madison Avenue was abuzz about one of the best product placements since E.T. and Reese's Pieces. Nike launches the One Platinum in the fiercely competitive $4-billion-a-year golf market next month. Countless replays of Woods' magic moment have been the kind of exposure money can't buy. "It was a hole-in-one," says Mitch Kanner, a Los Angeles-based product placement expert.

With Woods' chip shot taking 17 seconds to bounce and roll into the hole, the footage seems ready-made for use in a 30-second TV spot. Chris Mike, director of marketing for Nike Golf, said Monday he's working on several possible commercials. - USAToday.com

Read: TV close-up of hesitant golf ball scores for Nike [USA Today]

March 31, 2005

Tiger Woods secretly tests new Nike One Platinum ball

Another ball change for Tiger? see below...

Last week, Sports Illustrated reported that Woods since January has been playing a prototype Nike ball called the One Platinum. He has been using it to crack 300-yard drives -- with a three-wood. He has been rolling in clutch 28-footers at Doral with it. And he has been using it to win a couple of tournaments while playing No. 1 tag with Vijay Singh.

But here's the kicker.

Woods has been hiding the ball from the Darrell Survey -- which monitors equipment use on the PGA Tour -- by playing a ball stamped with the name of his previous ball, One Gold.

Such is the cloak-and-dagger world of golf equipment manufacturing.

"As is usually the case, he'll put a prototype in play before he signs off on anything," said Nike communications director Dean Stoyer. "He's got to see how it works in competition before we introduce a new ball that's tied to him." - [Detroit Free Press]

See the complete story:
Tiger Woods test new Nike One Platinum [Detroit Free Press]

TAG Heuer's Tiger Woods edition golf watch...

“Together with TAG Heuer designers, we have developed the one watch that I can wear on my wrist without adversely affecting my golf swing.” - Tiger Woods

"This is an extraordinary achievement," says Tiger, who extensively tested the TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch prototypes and then wore the pre-series in the 2004 Boston PGA Tournament. “Now, for the first time, golfers can wear a watch in total comfort, and make a contribution to a great charity that helps youth at the same time. “Golf experts have always said that you should take your watch off before you step up to the tee, and TAG Heuer has proven them wrong. It's a great watch and a true pleasure to wear."

“Calling upon Tiger to collaborate on the design of the world's first-ever professional golf watch was an obvious choice,” comments Daniel Lalonde, TAG Heuer NA President and CEO. “Not only is he a world-class champion golfer, but since 2003, Tiger has played a key role in the design and development of a number of TAG Heuer timepieces, including the sold-out, Link Limited Edition Tiger Woods watch.”

The TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch is based on a unique design that provides maximum comfort to the wearer. The clasp and folding buckle of a conventional watch are often awkward and can hurt the wrist while intensively playing golf. Also, the standard placement of the crown at 3 o'clock can interfere with the golfer’s motion and comfort when the wrist is bent. To overcome these obstacles, TAG Heuer developed a revolutionary patented system that integrates the clasp into the watch head, and also moved the crown across the dial from the 3 o’clock to the 9 o'clock position.

"Golfers have very specific reasons for not wearing a watch during play -- the added weight on the wrist, the strap being too loose or too tight, not to mention the intense demands the game puts upon the wrist,” continues Tiger. “Working systematically through these and other obstacles with TAG Heuer's amazing team of watchmakers, engineers and designers, we were able to address all of these concerns and overcome them."

Another challenge TAG Heuer addressed is that a regular watch often slides on the wrist, snagging on the golfer's glove and creating discomfort. If the watch is tight enough so that it won’t slide, it, too, becomes uncomfortable, since the wrist's diameter changes during the course of a game -- even during the course of a single swing. To combat these problems, TAG Heuer developed an exclusive, ultra-flexible silicon strap with amazing elasticity that eliminates any sliding. The strap also dampens any shock to the wrist and adapts its length to any change in wrist diameter.

Since regular watches are often too heavy and impede the golfer’s swing and putting precision, the TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch is made of ultra-light titanium, stainless steel and silicon. The super-slim watch weighs only 55 grams, making it an astonishing 60% lighter than other TAG Heuer steel watches. This extraordinary slimness also makes the TAG Heuer Professional Golf watch one of the most elegant and dressy luxury square-shaped watches on the market. Concludes Tiger, "It’s so incredibly light, you literally forget it’s on your wrist -- until you need it."

More information: WatchNetwork.com

March 28, 2005

Maxfli BLACKMAX: Everything you've ever wanted to know...

Maxfli recently launched an updated site which covers (in depth) everything you would ever want to know about the new BlackMAX golf ball.

Now I've only had the opportunity to play one round with the ball, but it has already captured my attention in a big way. Great off the driver, true off the irons, and super responsive around the greens. A consistent ball all the way around.

Check out the new Maxfli site which includes charts, graphs, video, and testimonials (if nothing else, it's an example of excellent web marketing). MAXFLI.com

For early reviews click here:
GolfMagic.com | The Sand Trap | Carlsbad Confidential

March 26, 2005

Links from the past: Wired Magazine [May 2000]

From time to time, I'll post a link to an old golf related story that I think you'll find interesting today...

Today's comes from a May 2000 issue of Wired Magazine and covers how new (now old) technology comes into play in golf. The basis of the story revolved around Callaway's launch of their first ever golf ball (remember the "We brought in Boeing engineers to help design our new Rule35 golf ball" talk?)

Here are a few more interesting tidbits from the 2000 article:

Roughing It Taylor Made's Rescue club may look like a gene-splicing experiment gone terribly wrong, but its performance benefits are unbeatable. By combining fairway wood distance with long-iron control, it serves as the trouble club nonpareil: The tungsten sole plate under its titanium body makes it play as well from the rough and from fairway bunkers as from perfect lies. Rescue club with Bubble graphite shafts: $320 each, in 15-, 18-, 21-, and 24-degree lofts.

Precious Metal OK, so it's not solid platinum. It's carbon steel and nickel, with a thin platinum plating. But the oh-so-elegant Titleist Scotty Cameron Pro Platinum putter delivers on the promise of its name in balance, feel, and aesthetics. In the right hands, each clack is like a kiss from a movie star. Scotty Cameron Pro Platinum putter: $250.

Evolution Rarely if ever does duffer-targeted technology translate into a club that feels and plays (asSportsCenter's Stuart Scott would say) like straight butta. But Tommy Armour's new 845 evo v-31 irons pull it off with two clever innovations. The weight distribution changes from club to club, making the 9-iron, for example, look strikingly different from the 3-iron. And the flex points of the new Tri-Gold shafts differ through the set to optimize distance and trajectory. 845 evo v-31 irons: $832 per set.

See the entire story: WIRED Golf [WIRED Magazine - May 2000]

March 22, 2005

Hi-Tec CDT Golf Shoes: Golf's alternative to steroids?

(Original review done March 22) As if it's not bad enough that we carry a diagram of weight distribution configurations for our drivers, now it looks like some of us will have to do the same for our golf shoe cleat configurations.

The new Hi-Tec CDT golf shoes are said to employee proprietary cleat technology that makes the Hi-Tec CDT the "world's first game improvement golf shoe".

Endorsed by Irishman Padraig Harrington, who says the shoe has increased his ball speed from 166mph to 173mph (for a whopping 17.5 yards of distance increase), the shoe is the result of "two years of intensive research to perfect the shoe's biomechanics".

Are we buying any of this? You're probably not, but BogeyMan is a fool... so my review of the Hi-Tec CDT appears below (with follow-up updates to follow)...

For more info check out Hi-Tec online for yourself.

My initial thoughts on the Hi-Tec CDT Golf Shoes:

I finally had a chance to try these shoes last week and I have to say that I was impressed with the overall comfort and performance.

STYLING: There is no doubt that these are good looking traditional shoes and the quality and durability is easy to see. I look forward to seeing how they perform in wet conditions, but based on the construction I assume they will stay dry.

COMFORT: The Hi-Tecs come with two sets of insoles (regular and wide fit). I have always stayed away from the traditional golf shoes because of the narrow fit. My wide foot calls for a wide front (usually found in non-traditional golf shoes - i.e. Cyclonic, ECCO, etc...), but these traditional looking shoes fit nicely even with the regular fit insole.

If there was any discomfort, it was with the fact that the spikes on these shoes dig so deep that I found my feet catching ground when I was just walking up the fairway.

PERFORMANCE: While I didn't see (or expect) the marked improvement in distance that the shoes claim, I honestly did feel more balanced over the ball. I also felt that some thought did go into the shoe's design when it came to the golf swing and the body's weight shift from takeaway to follow through.

OVERALL: Probably not worth the price tag ($129), but still a very nice shoe. Comfort, quality, and performance are all above average.

UPDATED JUNE 17, 2005 - I was wrong. This shoe is very much worth the $129 price. Once I started wearing these regularly (and breaking them in), I couldn't switch back to some of my other shoes. They may not be the best looking in my collection, but they have now become the most comfortable golf shoes I own.

They stay dry in all conditions, and provide better support than I have ever gotten from a cleated shoe.

Try them, and you won't be sorry.

Callaway Announces Long-Awaited Entry into Forged Market

On Monday, Carlsbad-based golf equipment maker Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY) said it will begin shipping a new line of forged iron clubs on April 15. It's Callaway's first foray into the forged iron market, according to company officials.

The clubs, called Callaway Golf X-Tour, are forged in two pieces and made of carbon steel. A standard set has a suggested retail price of $1,280.

Callaway's stock price improved by a penny Monday to $13.27

Read the Callaway Press Release - Business Wire

See our previous post which includes photos of the new X-Tour irons: Callaway X-Tour Irons... Winning Now, Coming Soon...

March 10, 2005

The (art)Work of Bob Bettinardi

To the cognoscenti, the Bettinardi name is synonymous with performance, prestige and price. Since partnering with Ben Hogan in 2003, a retail Bettinardi putter can be had for anywhere from $190 (for the Hawk series) to roughly $500 (for a stainless-steel model)—high end, to be sure, but in the ballpark with top offerings from other major companies.

But a visit to the Internet reveals a different story, one of a feverish collector's market where rare Bettinardi Tour prototypes can run upward of $10,000.

Then there are the models available exclusively in Japan, the only region excluded from his contract with Hogan. There, Bettinardi putters rank in the top three on the Japanese Tour Darrell Survey, and this is where some of his most creative pieces can be found today. (TLgolf.com)

The latest issue of Travel & Leisure Golf has a feature on putter craftsman extraordinaire Bob Bettinardi. His putters look almost too good to putt with and their quality feel is just extraordinary.

All this from a guy who owned a machine shop, making parts for defense and medical contracts. Now in just a short period of time, he's up there with the likes of Cameron, Vokey, and Grace.

Read the complete T&L Golf story: Precision Play (by Thomas Dunne)

Visit: bettinardi.com

March 9, 2005

Hybrids in the year 2005: Help Is On the Way

The name says it all: A "hybrid"is a mix of two breeds. A relatively new club on the market, it's part fairway wood, part long iron. The clubheads, which come in different shapes depending on the brand, generally resemble shrunken fairway woods, or fat irons. (Golf For Women)

All I know is that I purchased a Mizuno Fli-Hi CLK 17* a few months ago and in the few rounds I was able to squeeze in between bad weather, I am convinced this club will change my game.

Off the tee on a long par-3, off the deck 210 yards out, or under a tree and needing to hit a low knockdown runner 170 yards, this club can do it all. I know it's a good sign that when I daydream of good weather and getting out there to play, my thoughts are of hitting the hybrid...

Here is a good piece from Golf for Women on hybrid technology and how it's playing a starring role in the bags of pros everywhere.

Check it out: Help Is On the Way (Golf for Women)

The many flavors of Callaway Golf balls...

Visit Callaway Golf and check out a complete profile of all of their balls. The site includes a breakdown of information on every ball in the Callaway line.

Check it out: Callaway's Golf Ball Family

March 8, 2005

Bridgestone Sports sues Acushnet (Titleist & Co.) over patent infringement

Golf goods maker Bridgestone Sports Co., a unit of Japan's largest tire maker Bridgestone Corp., said Tuesday it has sued U.S. golf ball manufacturer Acushnet Co. over alleged infringement of 10 patents.

Bridgestone Sports (which includes the Precept brand) and its wholly owned subsidiary Bridgestone Golf Inc., based in Covington, Georgia, filed the lawsuit Monday with the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, the company said in a press release.

The complaint claims Acushnet, based in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, infringed on 10 patents of Bridgestone's patent portfolio covering multi-piece solid core golf ball technology used in six types of the U.S. manufacturer's Titleist brand of golf balls.

Bridgestone Sports is also seeking an injunction against Acushnet over patent violations, the company said. - Kyodo News

Corporate Press Release from Bridgestone:

BRIDGESTONE SPORTS INITIATES PATENT INFRINGEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE ACUSHNET COMPANY
Titleist's Leading Golf Balls Allegedly Infringe Upon Several Bridgestone-owned U.S. Patents

Covington, GA, - On March 7, 2005, Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bridgestone Golf, Inc., filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Acushnet Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Bridgestone Sports is currently the leading golf ball manufacturer in Japan with a 40% share of that market, and Acushnet remains the leader in the U.S. golf ball market.

In the complaint, Bridgestone Sports charges Acushnet with willful infringement of ten United States patents from Bridgestone Sports' extensive patent portfolio covering multi-piece solid core golf ball technology. Among the Acushnet balls charged with infringement are: Titleist® Pro V1™, the Titleist® Pro V1x™, the Titleist® NXT™, Titleist® NXT Tour, the Titleist® DT SoLo, and the Pinnacle® Exception™ golf balls.

Bridgestone Sports is seeking an injunction against Acushnet from infringing upon the company's patents and for unspecified compensation for damages that have occurred as a result of past infringement. In addition, Bridgestone Sports seeks a declaratory judgment of non-infringement with respect to four United States patents owned by Acushnet.

"During the course of several months of negotiations with Acushnet, we attempted to settle this dispute; however, when negotiations failed, Acushnet left us with no other course of action, but to file suit," said Mr. Kawano, President, Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. "We remain hopeful that this matter can be settled, but in the meantime, we must protect our intellectual property rights. We will do so passionately and we are committed to see this matter to the end, in order to properly remedy the infringement."

Bridgestone Sports, together with its U.S. subsidiary, Bridgestone Golf, Inc., located in Covington, Georgia, develops, manufactures and sells premium golf products, including Bridgestone Golf™, Precept® and TourStage® golf balls. Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed golfers including, Stuart Appleby, Shigeki Maruyama and Nick Price. Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., whose headquarters are in Tokyo. For more information visit http://www.bridgestonegolf.com.

Corporate Press Release from Acushnet:

ACUSHNET COMPANY RESPONDS TO PATENT INFRINGEMENT ALLEGATIONS BY BRIDGESTONE SPORTS

Fairhaven, MA (March 7, 2005) - Acushnet Company, manufacturer of Titleist® and Pinnacle® brand golf balls, strongly denies allegations by Bridgestone Sports included in a press release and filed in a complaint today.

The Acushnet Company is disappointed that Bridgestone Sports and its subsidiary Bridgestone Golf have chosen to attempt to compete via press release and litigation. As the worldwide market leader in golf ball sales and in patenting new golf ball technology, Acushnet takes intellectual property matters very seriously. As such, Acushnet respects the valid intellectual property of all its competitors and expects the same in return.

"We have been discussing patent issues with Bridgestone for well over a year," said Joseph Nauman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Acushnet Company. "We had hoped to amicably resolve these issues and had recently provided Bridgestone with further information in support of our position. However, rather than address that information in private dialogue, Bridgestone has chosen to make this matter public and to litigate."

"We believe Bridgestone infringes the Acushnet patents cited in its complaint and strongly deny that Acushnet infringes any valid Bridgestone patent. Acushnet will vigorously defend itself in this action and will fully pursue the protection of its intellectual property."

Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE - FO). Titleist, Cobra, FootJoy and Pinnacle are trademarks owned by Acushnet Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Stay tuned...

Nike vs. Callaway - Round 1 goes to the Swoosh

Tiger Woods, Nike's posterboy for all things golf, used his "inferior" equipment on Sunday to best Callaway poster boy Phil Mickelson. Before the tournament, Tiger switched from his trusty Titleist 3-wood to a new Nike model (T60), leaving his Scotty Cameron putter as the only "non Swooshed" equipment in his bag,

Ironically, the 3-wood was instrumental in beating a player who a couple of years ago commented on Tiger's misfortune of having to play with "inferior" equipment (because of his deal with Nike).

Tiger thinks his 3-wood shot on the 12th hole on Sunday carried 280 yards, and a tour official said that Shotlink measured the carry on the shot to be around 300 yards.

Trailing by two strokes going into the final round, Woods birdied three of the Par 5s and eagled the fourth, accounting for the three shots that his competitor gave up with two birdies and two pars on those same holes. Woods hit the Ignite T60 3-wood off the tee on No. 10 leaving him with a three-iron, a chip and a putt for birdie. Woods then made a statement on No. 12 hitting his Nike Ignite driver off the tee followed by a 300-yard second shot with the new 3-wood that rolled up to the green.

Read More: from IseekGolf.com -
Tiger's Ignite T60 plays deciding factor in Ford win

March 2, 2005

Aldila Reports Strong Fourth Quarter & Fiscal Year Results

My favorite shaft maker continues to grow and the popularity of hybrid clubs can only help their business... Some interesting facts about Carbon Fiber Technology and Aldila's overall business are included in this earnings report press release...

"The Aldila NV and NVS continue to gain momentum as leading shafts on the PGA, Nationwide and European Tours. In 2004, players using the NV Series of shafts won 10 PGA Tour events, 6 events on the Nationwide Tour and multiple times in Europe. Players using Aldila NV Series shafted drivers won nearly $12,000,000 on the PGA Tour in 2004. We will continue to be aggressive with our tour support in 2005."

READ THE COMPLETE RELEASE:

February 17, 2005

New Callaway HX HOT promises even more distance...

I for one, can't wait for the snow to melt so that I can get out and try some of the latest equipment offerings, particularly balls... And these new Callaway bullets will be first on my to-do list.

Here is a piece from Callaway's site that offers some insight on the difference between clubhead speed and ball speed, and how they affect distance.

From Callaway.com- We asked Richard C. Helmstetter, Callaway Golf Vice Chairman, tech guru and the inventor of the original Big Bertha Driver, to explain the different between clubhead speed and ball speed, and why it should matter to you. LINK

TheGolfChannel.com sums up all the new ball offerings from the PGA Merchandise Show.

Note: A 3-piece Callaway ball for just $24.99? - maybe things are changing when it comes to retail pricing on golf equipment... rejoice.

February 12, 2005

Callaway X-Tour Irons... Winning Now, Coming Soon...

When Lefty changed equipment before last year's Ryder Cup everyone thought "bad move". But after some tweaks and upgrades, looks like Callaway and Mickelson are a match made in heavenwood.

Phil is back to hanging tough with the big boys (moving into the #4 spot after last week's win), and his gear company couldn't be happier. Will his convincing win at the FBR give credibility to Callaway's soon-to-be-released offering? Meanwhile, Callaway fans await the arrival of a legit tour caliber iron. Stay tuned...

From CallawayGolf.com - X-TOUR IRONS
It’s one of the most talked-about debuts on tour this season – an iron with forged precision and feel, Callaway Golf forgiveness and playability. The new X-Tour Irons are now in the bags of players like Phil Mickelson and Charles Howell III, and later this spring they’ll be available at a retail location near you.

Here are some photos of the X-Tours found on the internet:
BACK | SOLE | FACE | At ADDRESS

February 11, 2005

Promotional stunt may turn into latest trend?

Looks like Nike's promo stunt at the FBR Open may have ignited a return to a colorful trend... We at BogeyLounge are all for non-traditional approaches to the game, but this one may be over the top.

Read: USA Today - Rolling out new black ball lights up telephones at Nike

February 5, 2005

Golf Porn? ... Golf Digest "Hotlist" (Uncensored)

It says it right on the cover, "Uncensored". If there were such a thing as golf porn, this would be it.

Pick up a copy before it's too late, or check out Golf Digest online. Throughout the month they will be releasing more of this issue on their website.

January 28, 2005

Big Dogs getting bigger and thinner...

Just when you got used to that huge 400cc driver you bought last spring, here we go again.

The Golf Channel.com's George White reviews each company's driver offering from the PGA Merchadise Show. Check it out.

January 27, 2005

700,000 Square Feet of New Golf Gear!

The 2005 PGA Merchandise Show opens today in Orlando, marking the official start of the golf year for me. There may be snow on the ground in the northeast, but it warms my heart knowing that 45,000 people are experiencing golf nirvana.

Plenty of new products will be introduced over the next few days, so stay tuned for all the latest. (editors note: The Golf Channel is brodcasting 3 days worth of live coverage from the show floor 2-4pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with rebroadcasts each evening).

Read more here: Lights, Camera, Show! - PGA.com