Buyers Guides

Apps 2018: V1 Instruction System

V1 instruction continues to evolve its leading platform by announcing a new product matrix offering options for all levels of teaching.

“Golf instruction and how instructors teach continues to evolve,” Chris McGinley, CEO of V-ONE Sports, said. “By asking the right questions including where and how, and listening closely to our V1 teaching professionals, our job is to provide the right tools and a pathway to success.”

Whether teaching full or part time, in a bay or studio with fixed cameras, with mobile on the go in multiple locations, or require branded communications and integrated marketing for a golf academy, V-1 has the right package to make an impact.

“We have people out testing it, and we try to make it the best we can,” said V-1 Vice President Gary Pallis. “The system is seamless; you video the swing with the app, upload it, the instructor gets an e-mail link to the video online. When he does the analysis, you get an e-mail back.”

Pallis added that V-1’s 5,000 teachers have done three million lessons to date. “We’re triple of anyone else, and it’s done by the top instructors.”

The V1 video instruction platform offers multiple options for teaching in a studio, on the range or both utilizing V1’s award winning Pro HD desktop and Pro App mobile software. V1 Premium packages provide video instruction, branding, integrated marketing in Complete, Studio or Mobile options. V1 Basic packages are for individual instructors who just want the best video analysis tools.

Both Premium and Basic packages include the ability to capture and analyze video, create and deliver more effective, high quality digital lessons and deliver them via email, text, and cloud-based locker. V1 allows for tips and drills to be integrated into lessons, and it offers a large range of professional model swings for compare and overlay during analysis.

www.v1sports.com

Training Aids 2018: InPutt Stroke Trainer

InPutt is a simple training tool that simply guides a golfer’s body to replicate the same stance and stroke on every putt. Made from high-density polyethylene and the result of 15 years of development, Its patent-pending curvature on a plastic mold that keeps the putter head square while maintaining the position of the arms, shoulders, and torso through the entire arc of a proper stroke. The white guidelines on the top of InPutt help to ensure that the clubface stays square from backstroke to through-stroke and every point in between, and the small heel reminds players not to take their backstroke too far.

“Players can see their putting issues in real-time, and correct them on the spot,” said InPutt inventor Barry Herbst, who built the device based on the knowledge that 80 to 90 percent of Tour players have an inside-out stroke. “As they practice with InPutt, they can continually identify and correct mistakes, and teach themselves an easily-repeatable perfect putting stroke.” INPUTT encourages what some refer to as muscle memory and creates strong neural pathways through repetition. Repetition and consistency are the keys to controlling your putt.”

It works for every length putt but especially with those crucial 8 to 12-footers. It also comes with a plumb line-like string to help dial in aim and truly groove one’s stroke.

“InPutt is the answer,” said Ted Sheftic, PGA Professional and GOLF Magazine Top 100 teacher. “From beginners to expert players, InPutt can improve your putting. My students who have used InPutt have had tremendous success. I’ve worked with junior players who have gone from 38 putts a round to under 30 putts. That adds up to a lot of low scores.”

www.INPUTTgolf.com | Check the price on Amazon!

Training Aids 2018: K-Motion

Building on the success of the original K-Vest and technology that dates back to 2002, K-Motion — which encompasses the K-Coach and K-Player systems — takes one of the game’s most complete four-dimensional motion capture protocols to new, more data-rich level.

“Moving from K-Vest to K-Coach is part of our commitment to helping every coach make their players better faster,” says Steve Diamond, Chairman of K-Motion. “K-Coach is not only our world-renowned technology but also our cloud-based platform and extensive education system for coaches to not only transform their players’ games, but also their businesses.”

The vest itself is lighter and thinner than ever, with additional sleeves for the arms and legs so players and teachers can view set-up and swing from every possible angle, including from above, and turn every motion into a target number so the student knows what moves to ingrain, which to avoid, and how to put it all together into a seamless, repeatable whole. K-Player 2.0, the company’s training-specific product for players, ensures a player practices the right movements for the right amount of time, regardless of whether they are with their instructor or alone. A coach sends a custom-tailored training program designed in K-Coach to the student’s K-Player, the player then downloads the program and begins practicing exactly what the coach designed.

A groundbreaking feature being introduced in K-Coach is Train to Your Best Swing. The process is simple: coaches of all levels auto-capture a group of swings, pick the best one or use the average of the group and then let the automated swing fitting feature convert that swing into a customized training program that guides the student to replicate and improve upon their best swing. It’s all delivered via biofeedback training and a cloud-based coaching platform that enables superior monitoring of players and connection to K-Player.

The seamless connection between coach and player extends the lesson tee, making it feel like an instructor is at every practice session. It’s a bonanza for today’s number-driven techno-geeks, though old-school feel players will benefit, too.

www.k-vest.com

Shafts 2018: Aerotech TiFiber

Best known for its SteelFiber iron shafts — the only composite shafts of their kind in the iron sector — Aerotech is making a big push in the driver and fairway metals space, too, with its new TiFiber shafts. Delivering superior strength, unprecedented stability and the lightweight properties of titanium fiber technology, the ultra-premium Aerotech TiFiber is a game-changer. TiFiber wood shafts are designed for players to attain the highest level of performance and optimize launch angles and spin rates for increased distance and pinpoint accuracy.

TiFiber Tour 70 shafts feature a ‘Tour Stiff’ tip section to optimize flight by reducing spin and lowering trajectory, while TiFiber Pro 60 has a slightly softer tip section and benefits players who need a bit more launch and spin, yet who still want the added stability of titanium.

Meanwhile, Aerotech CEO Chris Hilleary and his crew continue to perfect their flagship SteelFiber shafts. “It’s the product that has really put us on the map and we’ve built our brand around it. It’s the first graphite iron shafts that’s really gained some traction on tour, with 65 wins among all tours. It’s a graphite iron shaft with a full layer of steel on the surface. — the stability and consistency of steel combined with the vibration dampening characteristics of graphite. It’s the best of both worlds. Matt Kuchar is playing it. Brant Snedeker. Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie. Mark O’Meara.”

What about forf the 12 handicapper? We’ve created everything from 75, 85, 95, 110, 125 gram — from steel weight to lightweight graphite. We can get you into then right weight and stiffness to optimize your ballflight.”

Hilleary then mentioned the new TiFiber. “We also make a hybrid product, a driver shaft that’s heavier, so we have a titanium fiber shafts, 60 gram and 70 gram. All good fitters will give you a progression of weights through the bag.”

Next up is an “FC” or Flight Control shaft for the iron game. “It’s a flighted version of our most popular shaft, which has a stiff tip. The wedge is the same stiffness as the 95-tip stiffness, while the mid-irons and longer irons are easier to hit because the tip gets softer quicker than the original steel fiber, leading to more load. It will appeal to a broader audience.”

Aerotech shafts are available as a custom option with all the major OEMs, except Mizuno. “Or you can go to any club fitter that’s a dealer of ours, professionals, the best of the best,” Hilleary said. “You can get custom fit with any set and any of our shafts.”

www.aerotechgolfshafts.com

Shafts 2018: Seven Dreamers

Seven Dreamers Laboratories, Inc. is the maker of the most exclusive, premium and expensive golf shafts in the world.

The company’s acclaimed models are made in Tokyo by craftsmen who custom build each shaft. Setting Seven Dreamers apart from other brands is a unique manufacturing process that uses aerospace-quality carbon fiber, a proprietary 3D design system and an autoclave to cure shafts, as opposed to less efficient ovens used by competitors.

The company’s unique autoclave manufacturing methods and FRP precision molding techniques of top craftsmen have enabled us to manufacture high precision and quality shafts. The carbon that is used in carbon shafts has a property that hardens when heat is applied (such as when cured in an autoclave). Seven Dreamers uses this property to manufacture their shafts.

Most carbon shafts currently on the market are fabricated by wrapping the core metal (or mandrel) with a prepreg (a thermal shrinkable carbon sheet), and then cured in an oven. The core metal is wrapped with thermal shrinkable tape because tension is usually insufficient under 1 atm. However, removal of the tape causes unevenness on the surface of the shaft. This method requires the grinding of the shaft to remove any unevenness and to make it perfectly round. The process often results in individual variabilities in elasticity and rigidity.

Seven Dreamers’ pioneering approach ensures the carbon fiber retains 100% of its quality and eliminates the common practices of adding unnecessary resin and paint or polishing and grinding. The resulting design provides incredibly smooth feel and near-perfect transfer of energy at impact for more distance with tighter shot dispersion.

Shafts start at $1,200 and are available for woods, irons and putters.
sevendreamers.com

Shafts 2018: TPT Custom-Fitted

Based in Switzerland, TPT has carved out its own niche with a combination of materials and by-hand winding processes that yield batches of shafts with the same frequency, controlling the finishing process to within one micron. TPT custom-fitted shafts are incredibly precise.

“We are unique to the industry. We’re vertically integrated,” says Jeff Meyer, technical director. “Mitsubishi makes our fiber, we make our own resin systems. We use a tape winding process that allows us to get fiber orientations from 0 to 180. We can reduce torque, stiffen the tip, soften the tip. We have infinite design opportunities. And we only use authorized fitters so we make sure that every golfer is fit with the right product. The automation process that we’re currently putting into action makes sure we’re that much more dialed in.”

TPT also employs a proprietary numbering system to denote its flexes — from 15 (lighter) to 19 (heavier), with lower and higher kick points corresponding to each number. This gives fitters the widest possible parameters to fitting every club to every player, right through the bag. Those with high clubhead speed often go with the lighter, higher kickpoint shaft, while slower swingers somehow find their way to the heavier shafts. David Leadbetter is a big fan and helps get the word out through his golf schools.

$499 each | www.tptgolf.com

Golf Balls 2018: Bridgestone TOUR B

Designed utilizing data from more than 3 million ball fitting sessions, the Bridgestone TOUR B line features the TOUR B X, XS, RX and RXS. TOUR B X and XS are designed for low handicap golfers looking for exceptional feel. A softer urethane cover formulation provides excellent spin and greenside control, while increased distance comes from enhanced aerodynamics and improved 330 Dual Dimple design. The RX and RXS are for mid-to-low handicappers, delivering explosive distance and optimized trajectory thanks to high repulsion construction and new 338 modified Dual Dimple design. The RX will help players hit more fairways while those looking for unmatched feel will gravitate toward the RXS.

“Unlike other manufacturers, we don’t try to shoe-horn golfers into a ball that doesn’t fit their game,” says Adam Rehberg, Bridgestone Golf Ball Fitting. “Plain and simple, our goal is to help golfers find the ball that will lower their scores by maximizing performance from tee to green.”

The TOUR B series is a result of Bridgestone’s continued commitment to remaining on the forefront of innovation. Bridgestone owns over 1,000 golf ball patents and has more than 900 polymer engineers worldwide drawing on the company’s rubber expertise to design the industry’s leading golf balls.

“The secret to our success is in the data, as we rely on our database of millions of swings to understand how golfers of all skill levels are hitting the ball,” says Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone Golf Marketing Manager. “We then start to build out player personas based on trends and collaborate with third party golf industry data sources to further fine-tune each persona bucket. Once we have established exact needs of different players we determine which of our proprietary technologies can help them rise above the competition.”

In addition to the new TOUR B series, Bridgestone Golf designs a diverse portfolio of golf balls to meet the needs of all player performance characteristics, including the e6 SOFT, e6 SPEED, Extra Soft and Lady.

www.BridgestoneGolf.com | Check the price on Amazon!

Golf Balls 2018: Callaway Chrome Soft

The latest version of the hit Callaway Chrome Soft balls combine Tour-proven performance with unparalleled feel and exceptional mis-hit forgiveness. One of several new features, a Graphene-infused Dual Soft Fast Core has a larger inner core to maximize compression energy while minimizing driver-spin and promoting high launch for long distance.

“We’ve innovated at every layer, starting with our groundbreaking new Graphene Dual SoftFast Core,” said Alan Hocknell, SVP, R&D, Callaway Golf. “The result is an extremely fast and soft-feeling ball that promotes high-launch and low spin off the tee for long distance, and incredible shot-stopping spin around the green.”

Premium dual-core construction promotes more distance off longer clubs, and more control off of mid-irons, short-irons and wedges. A thin ultra-soft Tour urethane cover generates shot-controlling, stroke-saving spin on pitches and chips and teams with the SubMantle and low compression core combine for great feel.

Softer golf balls compress easier on off center hits for incredible distance all over the face.

“After introducing the original Chrome Soft ball in 2015 with a core technology that broke the soft and fast paradigm, we’ve established an incredible trend toward this type of ball on both Tour and among amateur golfers,” said Jason Finley, Director, Product & Brand Management, Golf Balls, Callaway Golf Company.

www.callawaygolf.com | Check the price on Amazon!

Golf Balls 2018: Titleist Velocity

The new Titleist Velocity golf balls are designed with proprietary high-speed technology to deliver even more distance on every shot. With the introduction of new high-visibility color options – VISI-White, Velocity Orange and Velocity Pink – the power of Velocity is also packed with personality.

The 2018 Velocity has been reengineered with a softer high-speed core and Titleist’s fastest cover blend to deliver extremely low spin and fast ball speed off the tee for increased distance. Velocity’s advanced aerodynamics produce a high flight on all shots to enhance distance and help golfers stop the ball closer to the hole.

“Everything we do with Velocity is to generate speed and distance,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “When we spoke to Velocity golfers at the beginning of the development process, they told us they wanted even more distance, especially off the tee. Our R&D team responded with new core technology and the fastest cover of any Titleist golf ball on the market to give them that added advantage.”

The softer, high speed LSX core produces fast initial velocity with extremely low spin for deep downrange distance on all full swing shots. A new, faster NaZ+ cover provides higher ball speed for longer distance, and a spherically-tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design optimizes Velocity’s aerodynamic performance, producing high flight and long carry for shots that fly far and land more softly on the green.

Titleist Velocity is offered in four colors — White, VISI-White, Velocity Orange and Velocity Pink.

www.titleist.com | Check the price on Amazon!

Putters 2018: Directed Force

The Directed Force putter is a center-shafted, uniquely shaped putter that debuted a couple years ago with its original Reno model, but the revolutionary “lie angle balance” technology behind it still stands alone in the broad and competitive world of wands.

While most club manufacturers concentrate on face balanced and counterbalanced putters, Directed Force’s approach to club balance purports to get rid of unwanted head rotation and torque once and for all by increasing the putter head’s ability to stay square through the ball during the putting stroke without any adjustments from your hands.

The result — the body’s smaller and less reliable muscle groups relax, allowing a player’s stronger muscles to maintain control over swing speed and path. Lie-angle balancing creates a “pendulum-like” stroke with unmatched stability, ball direction and distance control.

Putters ship fully assembled with a “PressGrip,” which features integrated forward press technology. The putter shaft travels through the grip’s elliptical shape off-axis by 3 degrees, not through the center of the grip as found on most putters. This unique shaft alignment creates the forward lean players are looking for to hit up through impact without increasing the loft of the putter. All are mechanically forged from 6061 aircraft aluminum and heat treated to eliminate any natural inconsistencies in the metal.

Every Directed Force putter is custom fit for every golfer, from shaft length to lie angle. The proprietary formula and head design ensures a consistent center of gravity for every club regardless of a player’s unique specifications.

www.directedforce.com | Check the price on Amazon!