Equipment

Here to Stay: 5 Top Trends from the PGA Merchandise Show

Published

11 years ago

Jan 27, 2015

The GolfWRX team was in Orlando for the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show to bring you live coverage of the event. Now that we’re back in Detroit, it’s time to make sense of it all.

It’s always fun to see the latest golf equipment, apparel and gadgets, but it’s even more fun to predict what products have the potential to change the way golfers play the game.

Goofy training aids and novelty items will always have their place at the PGA Merchandise show — it’s actually part of the charm — but they aren’t likely to revolutionize golf or the industry.

On the other hand, there were products that were truly innovative, and will help golfers improve their games, have more fun, or both. Here are five top trends we think will have a positive impact on golf for years to come.

Launch Monitors and Indoor Golf

Like the introduction of video analysis, launch monitors and swing tracking devices have transformed golf instruction and how the game is understood — and they were everywhere at the Orange County Convention Center.

Doppler Radar launch monitors FlightScope and Trackman have earned their keep as the premier club/ball tracking devices, but we also saw a slew of other options — especially those that are designed to work indoors. Some products cost as much as luxury cars, while others were cheaper than a nice steak dinner for two.

One of our favorite simulators was from Full Swing Golf, which uses a combination of infrared and camera technologies to give users accurate ball and club data. With the addition of Swing Catalyst, golfers can also see how their weight moves during their swing simultaneously with high-speed video.

“We’re a launch monitor first and a simulator second,” said Chad Coleman, vice president of marketing and sales for the company — but that doesn’t mean that the simulator part was a second priority. Golf shots hit on Full Swing Golf systems appear on the screen in real time, and course displays are digital, not photographs, which makes course play more realistic.

After announcing partnerships with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, Full Swing was arguably the hottest simulator at the Show. Units start at $45,900.

Looking for a more affordable fix? Portable devices such as those from Epson and SwingByte, which work with smart devices through Bluetooth, attach to any golf club to offer data on swing speed, path, tempo and a lot more. They also display swings in 3D through their respective apps.

Epson’s M-Tracer will sell for $299 when it is released, while the SwingByte 2 currently sells for $169.

Science and Motion (SAM) PuttLab 5 brings launch and swing analysis into the putter realm. It uses ultrasound and algorithms to track your putting stroke and provides feedback on launch, path, face angle, tempo, impact and more. You can even watch a graphic replay of your swing on TV if you have it connected to a monitor.

As this technology evolves, the most coveted tee times could become those slotted after the sun goes down.

Putter Adjustability and Counterbalancing

Adjustability in golf clubs is hot in the equipment industry and for very good reason. With a few clicks of a wrench, golfers can dial in the loft, lie angle face angle and head weight of their clubs.

Putters, for the most part, have been neglected by the mainstream — but that’s beginning to change.

Happy Putter, invented by Vikash Sanyal, the founder of Never Compromise putters, allows golfers to adjust lie angle, loft, head weight and offset.

“TOUR PLAYERS HAVE HAD ACCESS TO ADJUSTABLE PUTTERS FOR YEARS ON TOUR VANS,” SAYs SANYAL. “HAPPY PUTTER LET’S ALL GOLFERS ADJUST THEIR PUTTERS NOW, TOO.”

The smiley-faced putter has 484 total configurations — making it more adjustable than any club on the market.

Counterbalanced putter grips have caught the attention of golfers — especially with the looming ban on anchored putters in 2016 — because they add more stability to the stroke. But not all new counterbalanced grips are created equal.

Nike’s new CounterFlex putter grips allow golfers to adjust where the counterbalancing weight is located with a sliding 70-gram weight that is secured inside the grip. In our testing, there was a noticeable difference in feel when the weight was located in the bottom of the grip versus the top of the grip. Golfers will get more counterbalancing effect if they locate the weight at the top of the grip, but like all things in golf equipment, results vary.

SuperStroke introduced it’s +Plus Series grips at the show, which allow golfers to turn any putter into a counterbalanced putter.

With SuperStroke’s “CounterCore,” golfers can add a 50-gram weight plug inside the butt end of the grip without removing the grip or adding adhesive, allowing them to switch from a counterbalanced putter to a non-counterbalanced putter with the turn of a wrench.

The +Plus Series grips come in three sizes: 2.0XL (big), 3.0XL (bigger) and Flatso 2.0XL, which has a wide, flat front that offers a different feel.

Club Fitting Made Easier

Isn’t it frustrating when you want to try a certain shaft with your favorite driver head, but their adjustable tips aren’t compatible with each other?

Club Conex’s new UniFit adapters allow golfers to try just about any shaft with any club head. It works with three pieces — one that replaces the adapter inside an adjustable club head, one that attaches to the shaft and one that sandwiches between. The adapters offer 12 unique settings and 1 degree of adjustment.

It’s idealistic to think that universal adapters could become common place in the industry — different equipment companies use different adapter technologies to further their own designs — but it’s great that gear heads (like us) who like to test multiple club heads from multiple manufacturers now have an inexpensive way to do so.

The target market for UniFit is club fitters looking to reduce shaft inventory, and we anticipate that we’ll see a lot of them make the switch to this technology.

Cool Clubs, a custom club-fitter based in Scottsdale, uses its new S3 Shaft Analyzer to measure every shaft parameter and has compiled a database of over 1,000 shafts. The app, which costs $20 for a year subscription, allows golfers to see the results from every shaft in Cool Clubs’ database.

Comparing shaft parameters has never been easier, and as golfers demand more information before they buy shafts, this trend isn’t going anywhere.

Niche clubs

Most of the GolfWRX Staff originally found the site through their yearning to know more about the clubs tour players were using. For that reason, we’re glad to see major equipment companies releasing more tour-inspired, niche products.

Sure, more frequent releases create year-long interest in golf equipment brands and can possibly boost sales, but what we like is that it gives golfers access to clubs that they otherwise may not have been able to purchase.

Callaway’s new Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges were designed by Phil Mickelson, and a high-toe design and extended grooves make hitting open-faced shots easier and create more spin.

TaylorMade’s AeroBurner MiniDriver further proves the point that specialty clubs can have staying power.

AeroBurnerMiniDriver

Its predecessor, the SLDR MiniDriver, was released in 2014 as an oversized fairway wood designed for use off the tee. It was redesigned for 2015 as part of the company’s AeroBurner line, proving that specialty clubs don’t have to be one-hit wonders.

Golf clothes that don’t look like golf clothes

To the chagrin of traditionalists, snapback hats, flat-brim hats and spikeless, sporty shoes are here to stay, and there was a wealth of apparel companies offering products that fit the trend.

RickieFowler

We’re not saying Rickie Fowler had everything to do with this, but it’s no coincidence that his big hats and bright-colored outfits have gained traction since his arrival on Tour.

Golf clothes seem to want to look like anything other than golf clothes right now, even on the traditional side. Spikeless shoes may have just been the start.

Full 2015 PGAM Coverage

Show Stoppers: Demo Day
Show Stoppers: Day 2
Show Stoppers: Day 3

Visit our 2015 PGAM forum to see all the photos and discussion.

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20 Comments

Sam

Jan 28, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Thanks for a good overview but you missed the best putting system- http://www.quinticballroll.com/. Its way superior to SAM with actual data from cameras not algorithms.

Reply Report comment
- MGolfer
  
  Jan 29, 2015 at 1:29 pm
  
  SAM measures the real 3D movement of the putter with 6 degrees of freedom. Cameras can not do this, algorithms are needed to calculate movements out of camera pictures. So it’s the opposite of what Sam is writing.
  Also Quintic mainly focusses on ball roll, for putter movement they use a small sticker for detection. Putter data is only available in the impact zone with Quintic.
  
  Reply Report comment
Daniel

Jan 28, 2015 at 10:28 am

I think the future of golf needs to be an affordable in-home simulation unit. This will allow players from all across the country to play against each other at anytime of the day which would accommodate most people with full-time jobs. The competitive online and high quality simulation would really increase the amount of young people and definitely allow for sustained participation in golf in the future.

The current trend of building elaborate home simulation systems for 45,000+ Does not allow for the average person to have access to these type of simulators. I think companies like foresight and the like have a correct with affordable, accurate and portable launch monitors. I look forward to playing around of golf with friends after work especially since I live in the Northeast.

Reply Report comment
- Jay V.
  
  Jan 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm
  
  Great insight here. If you fast forward 20 years, we’ll be able to play in the basement against the wall projection asynchronously or synchronously with our buddies like kids do now with Call of Duty (or whatever the latest one is). Bang a quick nine out on your lunch… save and send it to the boys… and catch up after work for the back nine in the winter.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jake Anderson

Jan 28, 2015 at 7:16 am

Those simulators are awesome. Way too expensive still, but maybe in a few years time…?
Every golfer needs one of those in his home and they should not cost more than 2000 $.

Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Jan 28, 2015 at 2:37 pm
  
  I think that SkyTrak from SkyGolf has come up with a launch monitor in the price range you are talking about. Apparently they are going to partner with WGC for simulation purposes. Right now I think they have a promotion for $300 off of a unit through Facebook, using SKYTRAK300 through January 31, 2015. Hopefully, they will continue to run the promotion after the 31st. Hope this is helpful. http://www.skytrakgolf.com
  
  Reply Report comment
setter02

Jan 27, 2015 at 9:46 pm

Counter balanced putters are a fade that just hasn’t run its course yet, it will in a few seasons. Only reason stuff like this is coming to market i for consumers to think that there is real inovation being done to get more money out of your wallets. A bad putter will still be abad putter regardless of whats in their hands. Where are all the wedges above 60* now? Same with the ‘min i drivers’ I game one because I like it, but also have the club head speed to use it. But I don’t doubt for a second that a 983K couldn’t do exactly the same thing at the shorter length off the tee.

We all like new toys, but the hype surrounding things is grose, the constant marketing is too much. Not many clubs of today can honesly out perform the best of 10 years ago.

Reply Report comment
- Ben
  
  Jan 28, 2015 at 10:21 am
  
  Counter balanced clubs have been around for decades. This is not a new idea or technology.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - setter02
    
    Jan 28, 2015 at 12:56 pm
    
    Agreed, not new ‘technology’ to wrx members, but for the VAST majority of weekend warriors it is. You can’t take stuff from this site and translate it to the other 99% out there that play this game. That 99% is what keeps golf alive and what OEM’s are catering towards in their marketing schemes. Why else do you think TM sells so many drivers with crap stock shafts, certainly not based on lack of competition and superior performance.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Joe Duffer
  
  Jan 28, 2015 at 3:11 pm
  
  +1 Well said
  
  Reply Report comment
Shallowface

Jan 27, 2015 at 7:33 pm

I screwed up watching Golf Channel’s coverage of the show.
I took a drink every time I heard the word technology. I was blitzed in 30 minutes.

Reply Report comment
ABgolfer2

Jan 27, 2015 at 7:19 pm

Nobody is dressing like Ricky Fowler off the course,

Reply Report comment
Merty Huckle

Jan 27, 2015 at 6:40 pm

ok, where are the show pics showing products?

Reply Report comment
- GolfWRX
  
  Jan 27, 2015 at 7:05 pm
  
  here they are… http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/forum/515-2015-pga-merchandise-show/
  
  Reply Report comment
Rich

Jan 27, 2015 at 5:19 pm

All well and good to have the universal fittings for heads and shafts but the additional adapters are going to add weight to the club head and totally change the balance of the club. Good idea but will need to improve before they will be truely revolutionary.

Reply Report comment
Baltazar

Jan 27, 2015 at 4:51 pm

Most golfers are dressing like little boys instead of gentleman. Whatever happened to clean leather shoes nice slacks and a solid color polo. Phills doing it right.

Reply Report comment
- R
  
  Jan 27, 2015 at 5:20 pm
  
  It’s because we lost a lot of golfers and need a way to bring new, young kids into it to maintain the growth of the sport. At least the men are still wearing pants/slacks instead of shorts and polos instead of t-shirts or cut-offs, unlike the women who are dressed like clowns going to the stripper proms. There’s no respect in the women’s game’s images, and we’re all supposed to succumb to the argument that it’s sexist if we don’t let them play dress up? Pathetic.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rich
  
  Jan 27, 2015 at 5:20 pm
  
  +1
  
  Reply Report comment
- Anders
  
  Jan 27, 2015 at 5:41 pm
  
  You don’t know the answer to your own question? Sad.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeremy

Jan 27, 2015 at 4:13 pm

But… the Golf Board. That’s the only trend that matters.

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Titleist Vokey Proto Wedges 54M, 60T

Published

31 mins ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.

From the listing:

(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.

Whats in the Bag

Ryan Palmer WITB 2026 (June)

Published

33 mins ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 70 6.5

5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX

Irons: Srixon ZXiU (23 degrees), Srixon Z785 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 (4), KBS Tour 130 X

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (50-08F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Check out more in-hand photos of Ryan Palmer’s clubs here.

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

21 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.