We live–and play golf–in a high-tech world. On the course, technology has come a long way. It’s in the form of GPS devices to gauge yardages, portable swing analyzers to assess areas of improvement and through the manipulation of driver viscera to make your tee shots 20 yards longer. How you benefit from it all depends on your game.
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SEEMORE
SeeMore‘s zSeries Tour Limited mallet ($395) is milled from 303 stainless steel, with a face pattern that enhances both feel and roll. Interchangeable heel and toe sole weights are made of milled aluminum and stainless steel. Seemore.com
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PING
Variable-depth grooves milled into the face of PING‘s Nome TR mallet ($340/adjustable length, $305/fixed length) lend distance control. The aluminum putter weighs 350 grams, has a sultry, non-glare matte-black body and a striking white alignment bar. Ping.com
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CALLAWAY
Callaway Golf’s X Hot 3Deep fairway wood ($229) is essentially a deep-faced 3-wood with a low CG. Its Forged Face Cup is structured to boost ball speed across the face for longer drives. It’s offered in lofts of 13 and 14.5 degrees. Callawaygolf.com
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FUJIKURA
Fujikura‘s high-tech FUEL shaft continues to ride a wave of popularity thanks to its ability to deliver long and controlled tee shots. Check out the new red, white and blue, limited edition (very limited!) to commemorate this year’s U.S. Open. Learn how you can get one at Fujikuragolf.com.
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TAYLORMADE
TaylorMade‘s Spider Blade ($200) is a heel-toe-weighted blade that enhances stability and forgiveness with a very high MOI. Its heavy grip counterbalances the putter to ease keeping the head on path during your stroke. Taylormadegolf.com
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TAYLORMADE
TaylorMade‘s Daddy Long Legs mallet ($200) is stable at impact. It’s made of stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, titanium, tungsten, polycarbonate, Surlyn and TPU, and has a heavy 130-gram grip that counterbalances the clubhead for a stable and smooth stroke path. Taylormadegolf.com
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SKYPRO
SkyPro ($200) is a sub-one-ounce sensor that attaches to any clubshaft. It doesn’t even have an on-off switch, but it relays your swingpath, clubhead speed, swing plane, face rotation, etc., instantly via Bluetooth to a free iPhone app that displays swing data and animation from any angle. Golfskypro.com
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STAN U
Noted short-game guru Stan Utley has taken his teaching online, via an member-based website called Stan University ($199/yr). There, you can watch custom videos and interact directly with Stan via chat and q&a sessions. We’ve tried it ourselves, and can’t help but feel this type of web-based communication with instructors is an awesome feature, especially with highly sought-after instructors who charge a premium for in-person lessons. New features at Stan U are coming soon, and we’re happy to wait. Stanutley.com
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OAKLEY
Oakley‘s Flak Jacket XLJ sunglasses ($150) feature G30 lenses that enhance depth perception by boosting visual contrast. The large frame sports interchangeable nose pads for a comfortable, more personal fit. Oakley.com
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GOLFBUDDY
GolfBuddy’s Voice+ handheld GPS unit ($180) features silicone for comfort, an 11-hour rechargeable lithium battery that lasts two full rounds per charge and 35,000+ preloaded course maps. The unit now displays front, center and back distances right on the main screen, and speaks yardages with the press of a button. Golfbuddy.com
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CLICGEAR
ClicGear‘s compact 3.5+ walking cart ($249) is similar to its predecessor, but with an 80 percent larger storage net, bigger cup holder and new bag strap system. It also features an umbrella holder storage bracket and positive lock brake system. Clicgear.com
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NIKE
Nike Golf‘s Verdana ($900) is the lightest women’s set of clubs the company has ever produced. That helps generate faster swing speeds. The 11 clubs are gapped for distance, and optimize trajectory and spin just for women. A carry bag is also included. Nikegolf.com
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LINKS & KINGS
Links & Kings‘ Muirfield headcover ($75) bears the Open Championship logo on handcrafted, premium leather. It’s protected with lining and finished in contrast stitching. Linksandkings.com
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BUSHNELL
Bushnell’s NEO-X Golf GPS watch ($200) is preloaded with 30,000+ worldwide courses, has up to 16 hours of battery life per charge in GPS mode and can be used as an odometer. As a rangefinder, it displays real-time yardages. Bushnell.com
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TITLEIST
The blade-style body of Titleist‘s 712U forged utility iron ($259/graphite shaft, $229/steel) has a deep CG and high MOI. It’s more stable and playable than a traditional long iron, producing more trajectory and spin control than a hybrid. Titleist.com
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ADAMS
Adams Golf‘s Idea SUPER 9031 hybrid ($200) for low-to-mid handicappers has a tiny 80cc clubhead with sole and crown slots that enhance ball speed. Its thin stainless-steel clubface produces a spring-like effect. Adamsgolf.com
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SKYGOLF
SkyGolf’s SkyCaddie Watch ($200) is preloaded with maps and distances of 30,000 courses. It displays yardages to the front, center and back of every green on a convenient wristwatch. Plus, it doubles as a clock, an alarm, a stop watch and an odometer. Skygolf.com)
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BOCCIERI GOLF
It’s no longer a secret, that’s for sure. We put these Boccieri grips to the test ourselves and we’re amazed at how well the counterbalanced weighting felt and performed. Each Secret Grip ($16) has a 17g tungsten cap in the butt end, resulting in a feel that’s better tried than talked about. Trust us, it really works. Boccierigolf.com |
TOUR EDITION
The new Tour Edition grips come in a variety of colors and in matte or shiny finishes, all sporting the classic wrap style that many players love. Better yet, these grips absorb zero water, meaning a simple wipe of a towel keeps them completely dry. They also last a long, long time. Touredition.com |
WINGRIPS
The Duratech grip from Winn is the company’s most radical grip to date. Featuring a mix of Elaston ETX rubber with WinnDry XT Polymer, the Duratech combines the best in tackiness and feel. The upper hand is firmer than the lower hand. In fact, it’s our favorite grip that Winn has ever made. Winngrips.com Winngrips.com |
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BLACK WIDOW
By now, you probably know the Black Widow brand for its spikes, but the company also makes some awesome grips, too. Among our picks is the Hybrid grip, which combines added traction in the upper region and a soft feel down low. bwgrips.com
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SHARPRO
Sharpro is a small grip company with big potential. How do we know? We’ve tried the 3CAT, and it’s the real deal. The anti-torsion bars actually help prevent twisting, which means you can swing harder and not worry about any slipping. sharprogrip.com
For do-it-yourselfers with shafts lying around, the cost of the head alone could make it worth taking a chance.