FRESH FROM ORLANDO: 2020 PGA Merchandise Show Roundup

The 2020 PGA Merchandise Show has finally come to a close. The dust has settled, the PGA Pros and Golf Media have all returned home and now all that’s left is for the golf season to begin.

Although it’s very easy for an annual event to become mundane, certain vendors are able to strike gold and debut something special and unique that shakes up the industry. After attending the 2020 Tour Edge Media at Lake Nona Golf Club, Demo Day and the Merchandise Show, here are 2 things (because there are easily 10 more things I could mention) from each category hat really stood out.

TECH

The personal, consumer launch monitor category has recently become a very active segment. I mean, everybody wants quality accurate, Tour-esque data to help identify their strengths and weaknesses. But this unfortunately requires a driving range and, deep down, we all dream of having our own home simulator that could provide a quality indoor golf experience, but most of us don’t have $20,000+ to pick up a Trackman.

Flightscope’s new Mevo+ personal launch monitor takes all the strengths of the Mevo and cranks the volume up to 13 to put together the most complete, high-performance personal launch monitor/simulator that doesn’t require you to sell a kidney.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by FlightScope Golf (@flightscopegolf) on Jan 20, 2020 at 7:00am PST

Using doppler radar, the Mevo+ can now collect 16 data points—carry distance, club head speed, smash factor, apex height, flight time, ball speed, spin rate, vertical launch angle, horizontal launch angle, lateral landing, angle of attack, total distance, roll distance, spin axis, spin loft and shot shape—whether you’re outside on the range or indoors.

And if the 8 additional features weren’t enough, the Mevo+ also comes equipped with a camera to record your swings and assist with target alignment, an environmental optimizer that adjusts for weather conditions and elevation and, my favorite feature, 5 E6 CONNECT simulator golf courses, 17 practice ranges, a darts mini game and on-line events. The different modes can each be run through the FlightScope Golf app, FlightScope Skills app and E6 Connect simulation software.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by FlightScope Mevo (@flightscopemevo) on Jan 23, 2020 at 10:01am PST

The Mevo+ costs $2,000, which is more expensive than the Mevo and some of its competitors, but these other units are strictly launch monitors and are not equipped with a golf simulator function. In light of the foregoing, there’s a strong argument that the Mevo+ is the most capable launch monitor/golf simulator that doesn’t require you to be a drug dealer or bank robber.

And while we’re discussing golf simulators, virtual reality is quickly becoming an exciting demographic. With the help of a Oculus Quest VR headset, someone could take on Darth Vader in a lightsaber battle or experience the chaos of a covert op. But what if you could experience the same 18-foot putt Nicklaus faced to win the 1986 Masters?

Pro Putt VR—the same team that developed Golf Scope to help you read greens like Tiger—is looking to make that possible. After investing amount of tremendous amount of time and effort into developing the physics engine and complementing software, Pro Putt VR has created a VR genuine, real life putting simulation that could replicate the putting experience you’d have if you were standing on the 18th green at Torrey Pines on a Sunday.

And in the event you got tired of hitting that downhill, double breaker from the opposite end of the green, Pro Putt VR also comes equipped with mini game modes, including a challenge mode that progressive gets harder and harder.

While this is already very, very promising, the Pro Putt VR has alluded to some very exciting, big news on the horizon that will have every golfer running to grab an Oculus Quest.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES

STITCH is most well-known for its headcovers and it’s no surprise why. No matter whether you prefer to protect your valuables with leather or knit, STITCH’s stuff is simply top notch (which is how it often finds its way onto the headcovers of top guys such as Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood). And to help make sure they have something for everyone, STITCH announced at the Show that it would be launching the STITCH Lab—a custom headcover program that allows golfers to design their own headcover, down to the base and accent colors, stripes, logos, typefaces and logos.

But headcovers isn’t the only thing STITCH does. Indeed, the company makes equally high quality golf bags (such as the SL2 carry bag), lifestyle bags and apparel, all of which I was able to see and touch at the PGA Show last week.

With respect to lifestyle bags, the Ultimate Garment Bag (UGB) particularly stood out. Immediately noticeable is while the UGB is a duffle bag, it doesn’t open like a traditional duffle bag (one zipper across the top). Instead, the UGB entirely unzips into a garment bag so you can store a suit and then zips back close so you can stack and store you shoes, shirts and anything else you’d be taking with you:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by STITCH GOLF (@stitchgolf) on Oct 18, 2019 at 5:30am PDT

Meanwhile, STITCH also has been turning out some incredible polos, pullovers, sweaters, shorts and pants. Indeed, the recently released layering pieces are all classy and fit in perfectly on the course or out at dinner, but I’d like to focus on the Sterling 5 Pocket pants which are moisture wicking, breathable and water repellant:

In sum, STITCH has lots of awesome stuff, and as much as I love my headcovers, I think it’s time to explore what else they’re offering during 2020.

Since the revitalization of the company in 2017, TRUE has been firing on all cylinders. And while it’s easy to rest on your successes, TRUE continues to develop new, unique models that each look to find a balance somewhere on the spectrum of dedicated golf shoe and casual, streetwear.

For 2020, TRUE will be releasing at least 4 new models. 4 models from any dedicated golf shoe company in a single year would be a lot, but 4 from a smaller company is a testament to TRUE and how much effort they put into developing new products.

The four models I can confirm were all on display at the PGA Show: the ECO Knit, the OG Feel, the LUX Knit and the LUX Pro.

To provide a brief summary of each model, the ECO Knit is the one I’m most familiar with as I was able to sneak home with a pair. Similar to the TL-01s, the ECO Knit is a very lightweight shoe that features a more casual, streetwear design but, thanks to TRUE’s unique tread pattern, could easily be used on a golf course. But most noteworthy about the ECO Knit is that its upper section is 100% constructed from recycled materials and features a breathable, mesh-like design. This not only made the ECO Knit the perfect shoe to spend hours on my feet walking around the PGA Show, but it also makes the ECO Knit the perfect TRUE shoe to start at its $99 price tag.

The OG Feel, meanwhile, will take all the positives of the Original—a wide toe-box and zero drop heel—and offer it in an ultra-light weight design with a breathable mesh upper section.

The LUX will be an entirely new design for TRUE that continues to embody their perfect for on- and off-the-course design focus. To start, the LUX Knit will feature TRUE’s first ever waterproof knit upper rides on the all new Wanderlux sole, designed to provide an unparalleled experience from everyday life to the links. The stable, flexible and lightweight design will also be backed with a 2-Year TRUE Waterproof guarantee.

Alternatively, the LUX Pro will be TRUE’s new flagship tour level shoe that tips its cap to the brand’s past while also providing some insight into its future. The premium full grain leather, clean cap toe oxford silhouette is brought to life with modern, minimalist detailing.

While the ECO Knit will be available soon, the OG Feel, LUX Knit and LUX Pro will all be hitting the TRUE store in summer 2020.

EQUIPMENT

This might be the hardest category. Indeed, with all of the limitations on driver COR (coefficient of restitution) and CT (characteristic time) limits and groove rules for irons and wedges, it’s very difficult for any OEM to release something earth shattering.

As a result, no one should expect any manufacturer to release a golf club that goes 20 yards further or spins 2,000 RPMs more than everybody else’s equipment on a properly struck shot. Yes, drastic improvements can be made on off center shots, but that’s a conversation best reserved for supplemental testing.

That said, there are two equipment manufacturers that I believe worth highlighting.

First, Wilson Golf. In a world where Vokey just released the SM8, TaylorMade debuted the Milled Grind 2 wedges with RAW faces and Callaway introduced the JAWS MD5 Wedges, wedges were a very crowded arena in the equipment marketplace.

However, that didn’t Wilson Golf from putting out its best: the Staff Model Wedge Forged and Staff Model Wedge High Toe (HT).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Hozel Rocket 🚀 (@hozel_rocket) on Dec 31, 2019 at 6:00am PST

I was lucky enough to hit both at Demo Day and was genuinely impressed with how great both wedges performed and felt. I immediately gravitated towards the HT and wanted to see how close I could get to replicating a Phil flop shot. Due to the HT’s precision milled grooves across the entire face, you can lay the HT completely flat on the ground and, easily, add 10°+ of loft to your 60° (just make sure to keep your face out of the danger zone). Doing this provided a beautiful, rainbow-esqe ball flight that only carried ~20 yards and allowed the ball to land nice and soft on the driving range. As a result, it was easy to see how the addition of the full-face grooves makes the HT significantly more versatile for when you need to get creative.

After I had fun flying the ball straight up in the air, I switched over to the forged Staff Model Wedge. I’ve been particularly interested in this model since Wilson Golf announced it due to the fact that I really enjoy the soft but solid feeling provided by forged iron, and initial impressions are that there is a very strong likelihood that this will find its way into my bag in 2020.

Due to the fact that I primarily use my 56° for shots from 50-75 yards out and bunker shots from a medium-ish range, feel is somewhere near the top of the list of things I expect from that club. While there’s lots of great options out there, I’ve always found cast wedges a little hard and “clicky” and the small-market forged options considerably outside my price range (see PXG’s new 0311 Forged wedges, for the small, one-time price of $295 per wedge).

Fortunately, Wilson Golf has made an incredible feeling forged wedge in a wide variety of lofts—48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°—at an incredibly competitive price point of just $130 per wedge.

Now if you happen to pick up some new equipment this year, then you’re going to need a shaft to help optimize performance. KBS made a great presentation during the Tour Edge Media Day at Lake Nona about their brand new TD (Tour Driven) Driver/Wood Shaft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by KBS Golf Shafts (@kbsgolfshafts) on Oct 15, 2019 at 6:01am PDT

KBS is most well-known for its iron and wedge shafts, which are commonly found in the bags of Rickie Fowler (KBS Tour C-Taper 125 S+ in his Cobra Proto Blades) and Phil Mickelson (KBS Tour V 125 shaft in his irons, but has also been spotted with the new TD Driver).

By design, the TD Driver/Wood Shaft is a Mid Launch/Low Spin Performance Graphite golf shaft that optimizes the maximum performance and efficiency of spin and launch angles at various swing speeds.

What particularly caught my attention during KBS’ presentation at the Tour Edge Media Day was when Kim Braly (the “KB” in “KBS”) noted that golfers ego’s often get in the way when getting fit and/or selecting the shaft to put in their gamer. Instead of going with the “Regular” shaft, many of us are, to our detriment, convinced that we should be playing a “Stiff” or, even worse, “Tour Stiff”. As a result, Braly decided that KBS would not be labeling the TD Driver with a flex “profile”. Alternatively, the TD will be branded with a Categories Number, ranging from 1 to 5 (going from lightest to stiffest) that are best understood by a qualified fitter and kept “out of sight, out of mind” of the golfer.

When finding the right driver shaft for you, it’s necessary to find that perfect balance of distance and control, because while it might be great to pump it 300 yards+ plus with the super low spin, low launch Tour Super Duper Special ultra-premium shaft, it doesn’t do you any favors if you can only keep it in the fairway 1 out of every 20 drives. That said, I’ve been very impressed with my C-Tapers in my irons and 610s in my wedges, so maybe it’s time to see how my first KBS graphite shaft would perform in my driver.