Tag: Cobra

First Look: Cobra KING F9 Speedback Driver
Cobra Puma Golf has been on a hot streak lately with some great equipment, highly desirable clothing and some great results from their tour staff. Last year’s KING F8 and KING F8+ drivers were very good – at least as good as most of the competition – but that wasn’t good enough for the engineers at Cobra.

Cobra has taken what they learned with the KING F8 driver and released the KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver. To no one’s surprise, they created a monster. As far as I could tell, the KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver was the most talked about driver at the 2019 PGA Show.

I say it all the time, but fitting matters. There are tens of thousands of possible club and shaft options out there these days, and simply changing shafts can alter the performance of a club dramatically. Fortunately, the Cobra KING F9 driver is available in three lofts (9, 10.5 & 12), has 2 adjustable weight ports, an 8 position adjustable hosel and dozens of custom shaft options.

We’re testing the Cobra KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver now and will be back here in the near future with some test numbers and a full review, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the photos and video below!
- Not sure where that small nick in the paint came from…
May 9, 2019
Best of the 2019 PGA Show
It has been just over a month since the 2019 PGA Show ended, and now that the dust has settled and we’ve had time to reflect on the week, here’s a list of what we felt were the best products or services we could find while walking the halls of the Orange County Convention Center.

Apparel

https://youtu.be/GzcQYZd0TQY

Best in Show: Original Penguin – Founded in 1955, Original Penguin was a brand launched by Munsingwear with what is thought to be the world’s first golf shirt. When the likes of President Richard Nixon, Arnold Palmer, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope are wearing your stuff, you are obviously doing something right. Now owned by Perry Ellis International, Original Penguin is making a big comeback in golf with a line of classic designs using modern performance fabrics.

Honorable Mention: Loudmouth Golf – The mad clothing scientists at Loudmouth have been hard at work making all sorts of new stuff to help you stand out and turn heads, and not just on the golf course. If it seems like company founder Scott “Woody” Woodworth and his crew are having more fun than anyone else, it’s probably because they are. Loudmouth makes some of the flashiest garb you can find and they are rapidly expanding into the fashion and lifestyle industries.

Footwear

Best in Show: Jack Grace – The classic saddle golf shoe is back, and this small company from Arizona has given it a much-needed refresh with some innovative technology. The saddle on the Jack Grace Innovator 1.0 golf shoe is interchangeable! No longer will you be limited to the color of the shoe you bought. Now, you can buy several saddles in different colors and patterns to match your outfit as needed. It’s not only a brilliant idea, but it really works! With 3 shoe colors, more than 25 saddle colors and 25 lace colors available, you have over 1875 possible combinations. Even Imelda Marcos would approve!

Honorable Mention: Puma Golf IGNITE PROADAPT – Rickie Fowler’s new golf shoe is light, stable and loaded with technology. Cobra/Puma Golf is quickly re-establishing itself as a major player in golf and is cutting into Callaway and Taylor Made’s market share, and they are doing it with a solid lineup of damn good looking and performing clubs, apparel and accessories.

Drivers & Fairways
Best in Show: Cobra KING F9 Speedback – This driver is hot. Period. I think was probably the most talked about driver at the PGA Demo Day at Orange County National’s massive circular range. Like many modern drivers, it looks cool, is adjustable and loaded with tech. The KING F9 Speedback driver already has already garnered several professional wins in the hands of Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson. The scary thing is, the matching fairways are just as good…

Honorable Mention: PING G410 – The two biggest names in golf are missing from this list for good reason. While their newest offerings are good, I feel they missed the mark slightly compared to Cobra and PING. The massive success of the PING G400 (2018’s number one driver) carries over into the PING G410 driver, with more adjustability for fine tuning and some new shaft options for better fitting. We’ll be testing this one soon so stay tuned!

Honorable Mention: Lynx Golf Prowler VT – Adjustability in drivers isn’t new. Every major manufacturer now makes adjustable drivers, but Lynx is doing it differently with an interchangeable face! Now you can adjust the loft of your driver by simply changing out faceplates, and it won’t affect the lie or face angle. Brilliant! The Lynx Prowler VT driver will arrive in the US in June or July.

Irons & Wedges

Best in Show: New Level Golf – Only a small, privately owned company could put out irons that look this cool and perform as well as they do. Founder Eric Burch’s motto for New Level Golf is “Small company, big impact” and it fits, because his designs certainly made a big impact on me when I saw them in my buddy Tony’s bag at Bandon Dunes last July. I’ve been a fan of New Level ever since, and with the introduction of their new 623 irons, my lust for these awesome forged and CNC milled beauties is only growing.

Honorable Mention: Indi Golf Wedges – For years I’ve been begging golf club manufacturers to develop non-conforming clubs for recreational golfers. Indi Golf is one of the few that have actually done it. The Indi Golf Stingray wedges are available in both conforming and non-conforming models and in 2 finishes. Not only do they look and feel great, but they perform great too. If you want to add more spin to your short game, you’ll want to try the Indi Stingray wedge.

Putters

Best in Show: Odyssey Stroke Lab Putters – Odyssey Golf has been around for a long time, and they continue to innovate and make some of the best performing putters on the market. Odyssey Stoke Lab putters combine a lighter steel/graphite shaft with weights in the head and the grip and a new White Hot microhinge insert to produce a series of putters that enhance tempo and feel of the stroke. There are six mallets and four blades to choose from, fitted with either a pistol or oversize grip.

Honorable Mention: Sacks Parente Putters – Steve Sacks has spent a lifetime in golf and pioneered the concept of an ultra-low balance point in putters. Using 35g graphite shafts and grips that weigh less than half what a normal grip does, he can place the balance point of his putters at 5 inches or less from the sole, making the putter more stable, easier to swing and helping transmit more feel. All this tech doesn’t come cheap, however. Sacks Parente putters match performance with price.

Rangefinders

Co-Best in Show: Bushnell Pro XE – Bushnell Golf has taken last year’s excellent Pro X2 rangefinder and gave it a brain. The new Bushnell Pro XE rangefinder now automatically considers altitude and temperature as well as slope when measuring distance in a mode they call “Slope with Elements.” The feature can be turned off for tournament play. The Pro XE is also waterproof and accurate within +/- one yard at up to 500 yards, and has built-in magnets to stick it to the post on golf carts or anything else metallic. With new tech also comes a new price, and this one will have an MSRP of $549. The Pro EX comes out in late March 2019. Go to https://www.bushnellgolf.com / for more info.

Co-Best in Show: Nikon COOLSHOT PRO STABILIZED – In a nutshell, Nikon took the image stabilization technology from their professional camera lenses and stuffed it into a laser rangefinder, making it super easy to lock on to your target, even with one hand. Combine that with slope adjustment, a claimed accuracy to 3/4 of a yard inside of 700 yards, and super fast measurement speed and it make the Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized a co-best in show winner. MSRP – $449

Honorable Mention: SkyCaddie SX500 – Sporting a bright and large (for golf GPS) 5″ color screen, the SkyCaddie SX500 takes golf GPS to the next level. Pre-loaded with over 35,000 courses and wifi connectivity, you can always keep it up to date with the latest software updates and course maps. Available for $399 with a 1-year subscription.

Accessories & Misc

Best in Show: Big Max Golf Blade IP Push Cart – Austrian company Big Max Golf dominates the European market for “trolleys” or push carts as we call them in the USA. Weighing in at only 6.5 pounds and folding nearly flat, the flagship Big Max Blade IP push cart is simply the best push cart available in my opinion. It folds and unfolds in seconds and has a whole line of accessories to customize it to your specific needs. MSRP – $329 direct.

Honorable Mention: Click Caddie – Sometimes a product comes to market that makes you do a double take, scratch your head and say “Why didn’t I think of that??” Devices like this have probably been thought up by many people, but only the guys at Click Caddie were able to bring it to life. This simple little device fits in the golf ball holder of almost every golf cart out there and holds your phone or GPS securely with silicone straps or the built-in magnet. Simple, right? Sometimes we get lost in a sea of technology at the PGA Show and miss simple but brilliant ideas like this one. I’m glad I discovered these guys. Not everything has to cost $400 or more to be useful. The Click Caddie sells for $24.95 on Amazon.

https://youtu.be/bsaGzqYApek
March 9, 2019
Check Out Rickie Fowler’s New Shoes
PUMA Golf’s new IGNITE PROADAPT Shoes are here – Here’s a sneak peek!
- White/Gray Violet
- White/Gray Violet
- Gray Violet/White
- Gray Violet/White
- Black/Dark Shadow
- Black/Dark Shadow
PUMA Golf’s IGNITE PROADAPT footwear is almost here, and they look sharp! This is the shoe worn on the PGA Tour by fan favorite Rickie Fowler. They have the stable, full-grain leather upper design preferred by Rickie. In fact, he debuted PROADAPT earlier this season and relied on them during his recent victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

From the official press release – “During the footwear design and creation process, we work with our Tour team, utilizing their feedback to deliver shoes that reflect the feel and performance desired by the best golfers in the world,” said Andrew Lawson, Footwear Product Line Manager at PUMA Golf. “Rickie was involved from the earliest stages of design, expressing his desire for an upper that provides a ton of support with premium styling. Better players will love these shoes as they offer comfort, maximum stability, ground traction and motion control through your golf swing.”

The PUMA IGNITE PROADAPT footwear comes with a one-year waterproof warranty and feature technologies such as:

·       Pro-Fit Insole – This ultra-soft, yet supportive PU insole provides excellent fit, performance and long-lasting comfort on the course.

·       Adaptive Fit System – Dual-layer, decoupled collar construction utilizes premium full-grain leather materials and a molded comfort collar to provide the comfort of a running shoe, but the look of a high-end leather shoe.

·       Atlantis Leather Upper – Ultra-premium, full-grain leather upper delivers soft feel, enhanced quality and sophisticated look.

·       IGNITE Foam – Revolutionary and proprietary PU foam provides ideal energy return, responsive comfort, stable cushioning and superior step-in comfort eliminating typical new footwear “break-in period.”

·       Pro-Form TPU – Premium TPU Outsole compound delivers high performance, grip and abrasion resistance on all surfaces.

·       Tornado Cleat – a dual talon, low-profile cleat provides excellent traction and long-lasting abrasion resistance, and is easy to change out using the Fast Twist 3.0 system.

The PROADAPTs are available in three colors and will carry a retail price of $200.

The PUMA IGNITE PROADAPTs are available now for pre-sale on PUMGAGOLF.com and at select retailers. They officially hit stores on March 13, 2019.
February 27, 2019
CADI is Changing Golf Retail

For decades, the usual procedure for buying new clubs was to drop by the local golf retailer and buy your clubs off the rack. If you were lucky, one of your friends had the same club(s) and you got a chance to try it for a few swings before you bought it. Chances are more likely however, that the new driver sitting in your bag was a blind purchase. You took a chance that it would work out. Sometimes it does and you love the club, but most of the time it doesn’t and the club either sits in the garage or ends up as a trade-in or eBay auction. Now that driver prices have risen beyond the $500 mark, it’s no longer worth it to simply buy a driver off the shelf without a live demo first.

That’s where the ingenious Cadi Kiosk comes in. Every day can be a demo day if your course has a Cadi Kiosk installed. Simply use the touch screen interface to browse from a selection of the latest driver, fairway, hybrid and putter models, choose the one you like, swipe your credit card and a door will open with your club within reach. Simply grab it and it’s yours to try for the day on the course! Warm up with the club, take it on the course and hit it under real conditions. If you love the club, simply keep it and your card will be charged the full purchase amount. Easy peasy!

If you don’t like it or want to try something else, just return to the Cadi Kiosk and scan the club’s barcode. The system will ask if you want to return or exchange the club and you simply follow along. When returning the club, it will open a locked door for you to insert the club, then you simply walk away. The fee for a full day demo will likely be around $10. If you end up purchasing the club, the demo fee is credited back to you.

During the demo process, it is inevitable that some clubs will start to show signs of use. Not only will the Cadi Kiosk’s inventory will be updated regularly with new clubs, but the prices of slightly used demo clubs will also be adjusted to reflect their condition. This is another way to save money if you don’t mind buying a slightly used club.

With Cadi, there’s no need to go to the big box or specialty golf retailer. If you prefer to hit clubs on the course in real conditions instead of into a net or some jacked-up simulator, the Cadi Kiosk is for you. For golf course operators, placing a Cadi kiosk in a strategic location is a simple and effective way to enhance the golfer experience and expand their services without carrying more inventory.

Cadi plans to offer drivers, fairways, hybrids and putters from the most popular brands such as Callaway, Taylor Made, Cobra, Titleist/Scotty Cameron and more. The first of their innovative Kiosks is located at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, Florida near the theme parks in Orlando. Plans are to open more locations in Florida and California in the near future.

For more information and to locate a Cadi Kiosk near you, visit https://www.cadikiosk.co m or check out their Facebook Page!

February 25, 2019
Closer Look: Cobra KING F8+ Driver
When I first started playing golf around 1989-1990, metal woods were starting to dominate the PGA Tour and only a handful of holdouts still used persimmon drivers and fairway woods. Golf club technology evolved rapidly in the 90s, and it wasn’t long before club heads started getting bigger and bigger. In the 1990s, the best player on the planet was Greg Norman, and he used the original King Cobra driver to launch tee shots like moonballs on a frozen rope. The King Cobra driver of that era will go down in history as one of the most recognized and influential clubs of the 90s, along with the Callaway Big Bertha.

These days, golf club technology continues to evolve but the emphasis has shifted towards fitting rather than distance. The USGA’s limits on club design with regards to performance have constrained manufacturers when it comes to ball speeds and overall distance, so much of the new technology you’ll find is geared towards fine-tuning the way the club performs for individual golfers. The new Cobra KING F8 and F8+ (plus) drivers are no exception.

(Left) KING F8, (Right) KING F8+

Cobra Golf’s F8+ driver is geared towards the better player (0 to 15 handicap according to Cobra), and the difference between this model and the regular KING F8 driver is evidence of that. The forward weight port on the F8 driver is located in the heel area and set back a bit to help square the clubface and produce a draw action to combat a slice. In the F8+ driver, the weight port is located front and center, near the middle of the clubface which moves the center of gravity (CG) forward to reduce spin, while remaining in a neutral position for better workability. The other main difference is in the shaft. The F8+ driver comes with a choice of premium shafts from Aldila and Project X that feature premium materials and stiffer, low torque profiles that reduce spin for improved performance in distance and dispersion.

Technology Overload

My Cobra KING F8+ came fitted with the Project X HZRDUS Yellow 75x shaft. Cobra Golf packed a lot of features and tech into this driver, so let’s go over all the features:
- Golf’s first CNC milled face – The forged titanium face is precision milled for exact face thickness, weight, and consistency. According to Cobra, testing against a traditional hand-polished driver face, the CNC milled face on the KING F8 driver produced increased ball speeds ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 mph across the face.
KING F8+ CNC Milled Face
- Have you heard of Taylor Made’s “Twist Face” technology? Sorry to break it to you, but Cobra did it first, and they did it years ago. Cobra’s Dual Roll Technology utilizes different curvatures on the top and bottom of the face to optimize launch and spin for shots hit above or below face center.
- 360 Aero – Polymer trips on the crown and titanium trips on the sole are optimized for better aerodynamic efficiency, giving you more clubhead speed. All I know is, they certainly help give the club a unique look at address.
KING F8+ 360 Aero
- 2 adjustable CG settings – With a heavier weight in the back and a lighter weight in front, you’ll get a slightly higher ball flight and more spin. If you swap the weights and put the heavier weight in the front, you’ll bring the ball flight down a bit and lower spin by as much as 400 rpm.
- MyFly w/ Smart Pad – The adjustable hosel has eight loft settings to fine-tune launch and spin to each player. In my F8+ driver, I can turn the loft setting from 8 degrees all the way up to 11.5. The Smart Pad ensures that the driver sits square at address in every setting for greater confidence. One issue with other adjustable drivers is that changing the loft also changes the look at address; Not so with the F8+ driver.
- Carbon fiber crown – Making the crown out of ultra-lightweight carbon fiber allowed Cobra engineers to move weight around where it is needed to make the club more forgiving. It also looks really cool.
Lamkin Cobra Connect Grip
- Cobra Connect, powered by Arccos, allows golfers to track their driving performance and accuracy with the Arccos app on their phone. A sensor built into the grip connects with the app and uses GPS to track your location on the course. The sensor can detect when you hit a drive and marks the location that you hit your second shot from to determine if you are in the fairway or rough and how far from the tee you are to calculate distance. Arrcos Driver, their stand-alone product, usually sells for $49, but the same technology is built into the F8 drivers at no additional cost.
What I Like
- I love the look of this driver. The nardo gray colored head with all the aero features and circular milling on the face just looks cool and futuristic to me. I’ve always been a traditionalist, but this club looks really good without being distracting.
- The feel is perfect. The ball comes off the face with a muted “click” and you can really feel the impact in your hands. In fact, the feel is good enough to know immediately where you hit the ball on the face, and that’s easily confirmed because you can usually see the impact mark from the golf ball on the face. This driver reminds me of the foam filled metal drivers from the early 2000s before they got obnoxiously loud.
- Ball flight with the driver set up at 9.5 degrees and neutral settings was ideal. The HZRDUS Yellow shaft keeps the ball from ballooning but still gets it in the air quickly. My short swing and relatively quick tempo managed to load this shaft pretty well, even if it’s not my favorite model shaft. I prefer something with a little more active tip section, like the excellent range of ultra-premium shafts from TPT Golf.
- Cobra has made it easy to customize this driver, with over 40 custom shaft options! You can also change the length, grip type and even build up your grips if that’s what you prefer. There are more than a dozen different grips available with the built-in Cobra Connect feature, and even more standard grips.
- The Cobra KING F8+ driver isn’t the most forgiving club I’ve hit recently, but it isn’t supposed to be either. This is a serious club for good players that can generate enough clubhead speed to make it work. Like I previously mentioned above, the face transmits feel to your hands about mishits better than most modern drivers. In this regard, the F8+ is a bit of a throwback.
- The KING F8+ is infinitely adjustable, between the multiple loft settings and weight port tuning. I ordered two extra weights from Cobra because I like to swing sledgehammers. I replaced the 12g & 2g standard weights with an 8g in the back and a 16g weight in the front. Overall swing weight at 45″ comes out to D7. I have swung heavy clubs for decades because I want to leverage physics to my advantage. As long as you can maintain your average swing speed, a heavier club will transmit more energy to the ball than I lighter one, and you’ll not only get more distance, but a heavy club is also more forgiving than a light club.
What I don’t like
- I’m not a fan of the stock Lamkin Crossline grip with Cobra Connect. I’ve always preferred cord grips, but unfortunately, the Cobra Connect grips don’t include a cord grip in their custom options. I used the stock grip for a while to play with the Arrcos app and Cobra COnnect features, but eventually changed the grip out for one of the new Lamkin Players Cord grips.
- The Project X HZRDUS Yellow shaft is a good shaft, but to get the most out of this club I would have had to order it with one of the many custom options. The other two stock options are the Aldila NV 2KXV Blue 60 and 2KXV Green 65 shafts. However, in their custom shaft offerings, I would lean towards Mitsubishi’s Tensei CK Pro line or Fujikura’s awesome ATMOS Tour Spec shafts (fitted in my Ping G400 three wood) would transform this club into a monster.
- I know I just finished saying that the Cobra KING F8+ driver is infinitely adjustable, but for some, that may not be a good thing. If you are one of the people that end up buying this club right off the rack and have not been fit for it, you’ll probably need some time to find the loft and weight settings that work best for you. Without the help of an experienced club fitter, it may take several months to get it right. If you have access to a launch monitor or a good pro, they can help you get it dialed in much sooner. It took my buddy Tony from Hookedongolfblog.com about two months to get his KING F8 driver set up right. I still don’t think I have it dialed in properly. It’s close, but I don’t think the HZRDUS shaft is right for me.
Cobra KING F8+ MyFly Hosel

Conclusions

The Cobra KING F8+ driver is loaded with tech, looks great, feels and sounds awesome and can be customized far beyond the needs of most golfers. It is the total package in a driver unless you prefer a super loud hollow sound at impact and a very high ball flight. This is a driver for serious players and purists which is blended with slick looking technology and aero features. Pricing varies depending on custom options, but expect to pay $399 for stock versions and up to $600 for a driver with custom shaft and grips.
August 15, 2018
Father’s Day Gift Guide – Summer 2018

It’s June, and the commercials are already playing on TV for Father’s Day. If you haven’t gotten your golf-nut dad anything yet fear not, because we’ve got some great ideas for every budget. Let’s get right to the list. Here are nine gift suggestions for all you last-minute shoppers!

Golf Clubs

Wilson C300 Irons – The new C300 and C300 Forged irons feature Wilson’s Power Hole technology – Urethane-filled holes positioned around the face to allow the face to flex and expand the sweet spot. The C300 Forged irons offer the same greater ball speeds for better players that prefer a more traditional shape and feel. Wilson C300 Irons: $799.99 at Amazon.com

Cobra KING F8 Driver – The KING F8 driver is packed with tech. A precision CNC milled face for maximum ball speed, 360 Aero technology for speed combined with adjustable weights and hosel for a precise fit make this driver a great option for almost everybody. Add in Cobra Connect powered by Arccos Golf and you’ve got the most technologically advanced driver on the market. Better players will gravitate to the KING F8+ driver with less draw bias and heavier swing weights. Cobra KING F8 Driver: $358.87 on Amazon.com

Pyramid Putters – With a milled face and grooves angled to help steer mishit putts back online, the Pyramid putter can help you make more putts. It also has a pyramid-shaped alignment feature on the top and a proprietary taperless grip for lighter grip pressure. I love the soft feel and positive roll off the face of the Pyramid Putter. The matte black finish reduces glare and it’s cheaper than many competing brands. $279.95 Available direct online at Pyramidputters.com

Accessories

Glove Ride – When the weather is hot and sweaty, one of the biggest challenges is to keep your golf glove fresh & dry. Glove Ride’s Glove Caddie helps by giving you a place to attach multiple gloves and help them dry up and stay in shape. It attaches to your golf bag with a solid metal clip and has a strong velcro strip to attach multiple gloves while they air-dry. There’s also a poker chip ball marker that can be customized for special events or golf courses. Available online at Gloveride.com for $19.95

Golf Pride Align Grips – Up to 80% of PGA Tour pros use Golf Pride grips. That’s not likely to change any time soon now that they’ve introduced new grips with ALIGN Technology. A raised red ridge on the bottom of the grip provides consistent hand placement and club face awareness. The ridge is made of 50% firmer material than the surrounding grip to amplify the feel. ALIGN technology is available on three popular grips: The MCC, MCC Plus4, and the new Tour Velvet. Go to golfpride.com for more information.

Under Armor Eyewear – Under Armor has come a long way in a few short years. As a leading sportswear company, they’ve cut into the market share of giants like Nike and adidas by offering high-quality products at a reasonable price. One department where they’ve excelled is in eyewear. For golf, they’ve developed UA Tuned Propel sunglasses that provide contrast enhancement which helps you to read the course more precisely & track the ball easier. Even better, they’re priced at only $74.99 at underarmor.com

Tech & Gadgets

Bushnell Hybrid – For years people have been asking for a laser rangefinder combined with GPS. I’ve always wanted a device that combined both technologies, but as it turns out, it’s not that easy to make. Good news – Bushnell has finally gotten it right with the new Bushnell Hybrid. The Bushnell Hybrid gives you this information by displaying the lasered distances to the pin and GPS provided front and back yardage readings within the LCD. You can also get GPS yardages for front, center and back on the outside of the device in case you have a blind shot and cannot see the pin. Available for $399 at Amazon.com

Swing Caddie SC200 – Launch monitors are all the rage these days on the professional tours, but not many people can afford the same models the pros use since in most cases they cost over $10,000. However, there are a number of devices that can give weekend amateurs much of the same information at a fraction of the cost. One of these devices is the Swing Caddie SC200 from Voice Caddie. The SC200 is about the same size as a large cell phone, making it very portable. The Doppler radar displays information like carry yardage, swing speed, ball speed, loft angle and smash factor. Best of all, it only costs about $350 on Amazon.

Garmin Approach S60 – Garmin is best known for its navigation devices for cars, but they have quietly been making top quality GPS distance measuring devices for a while now. One of these awesome devices is a watch called the Garmin Approach S60. Much more than just a golf GPS watch, the Approach S60 is a full-fledged smartwatch that pairs to your phone via Bluetooth and displays notifications for incoming calls, texts, emails and other alerts. It comes preloaded with more than 41,000 golf courses around the world and using the Garmin Connect app on your phone you can update the course list and get updates for the watch. The full-color display is easy to read in bright sunlight and the battery lasts up to 10 hours in golf mode. Available now on Amazon for $345.59

June 10, 2018
9 Last Minute Gift Ideas For Golfers
There are less than two weeks left before Christmas, and for online shoppers this weekend is probably the cut-off point for shipping to make sure it arrives on time. In case you are out of ideas for the golfers in your life, here are a few suggestions!
- Bushnell Pro X2 Rangefinder – With Slope-Switch technology, dual display modes, Pinseeker with JOLT, 6x magnification, a range of up to 1300 yards and a solid waterproof metal housing, the Bushnell Pro X2 is the flagship of Bushnell’s laser rangefinder line. It’s legal for tournament play when the slope-switch is turned off. It locks on to targets quickly and vibrates when locking on to the flag from distances up to 450 yards. Available on Amazon: $449.98
- Club Glove Travel Gear – If you ever travel by air to play golf, you’ll need a reliable travel bag to protect your clubs. There’s a good reason that 90% of tour players use Club Glove – They are the best quality, most reliable travel bags available. Made in the USA and available in several sizes, your golf bag will be well protected and getting around the airport is a breeze. I’ve logged close to 50,000 miles of air travel with my Last Bag, and it’s not showing any signs of wear other than some dirt and dust from airliner cargo holds. Paired with their matching luggage and the Train Reaction system and you have a complete travel set that’ll last you decades. Club Glove Last Bag available on ClubGlove.com: $319.00
Photo Credit: MyGolfSpy.com
- Bridgestone Tour B Golf Balls – Played by Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Bryson DeChambeau, Paula Creamer and more, the new Bridgestone Tour B golf balls are one of the top performing golf balls available. I’ve been using them since the 2015 season and I love the stable flight, penetrating trajectory and predictable spin and fell around the greens. Bridgestone Tour B XS: $44.89/dozen
- Cobra Golf Soundchuck Mini Bluetooth Speaker – It seems that more and more people are playing music on the golf course these days. With mobile phones and unlimited data plans, streaming music from the internet is very popular. Play music from your phone or tablet in style with the Cobra Soundchuck Mini bluetooth speaker. Available in three colors, it clips to your golf bag, cart or person to keep the party going on the course. MSRP: $79.99 – Amazon Price: $64.99
- Puma Golf P Cap – Rickie Fowler wears this cap on tour. It’s simple and stylish. Available in 6 colors. Why not get a few? You can never have too many snapbacks… Amazon Price: $27.85
- Golf Pride MCC Plus4 Align Grips – The most neglected part of any golfer’s equipment is usually the grips. Your only connection to the club is obviously important, and you are probably giving up strokes if you are playing with worn out grips. The most used grips on tour for decades, Golf Pride makes grips in all styles and sizes, but perhaps the most popular grips in their line are the MCC Plus4 that feature a reduced taper design for greater feel. Golf Pride’s new ALIGN technology helps you feel the grip under your hands and achieve consistent hand placement. You’ll be sure to improve your scores with new grips, so why not get the best? You can get a set of 13 Grips with all the tools you’ll need for $149.99 on Amazon
- Sun Mountain 4.5 LS Golf Bag – If you are anything like me, you play some rounds riding in a golf cart and some walking the course. The folks at Sun Mountain know this and designed a carry/stand bag that works for any situation. When walking the course the adjustable, heavily cushioned dual strap manages the load and the stand deploys easily and holds the bag stable. When riding, there’s a cart strap pass through that allows access to all the pockets and the flat bottom is shaped to fit in the cart’s bagwell. The Sun Mountain 4.5 LS really is the best of both worlds in one bag. Available in many colors on Amazon for $209.99
- Tattoo Golf Apparel – The mad scientists over at Tattoo Golf have been making unique & stylish golf apparel for years, but they’ve really stepped up their game lately and have quickly become my current favorite golf apparel brand. Mixing their trademark skull & crossbones logo with daring patterns and bright colors, one could describe Tattoo’s style as golf clothing for bikers, but their look now transcends the biker crowd and appeals to anybody that wants more than just the boring old khakis and solid color shirts your dad wore on the golf course. Not only is their stuff exciting and fun to wear, but they are quality built and priced to blow the big brands away. Sign up for their mailing list for flash sales and big discounts (sometimes up to 30% off!) and check out their fashions online at https://www.tattoogolf.com/
- WAGC USA Membership – Calling all American residents! Would you like a chance to play golf for Team USA in an exotic location, all expenses paid? It doesn’t matter what your ability, because the World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) is an annual golf competition that is broken down into five flights with handicaps ranging from 0.0 to 25.0. The WAGC plays locally all over the USA, and players earn points in local events to earn exemptions towards the national championship, where the winners of each flight are named to Team USA and represent the US (all expenses paid) against 35 other countries at the 2018 WAGC World Finals, being held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia For more information visit the WAGC USA’s website here. Annual membership is only $189
December 12, 2017
2017 PGA Show – 6 Standout Products

For the golf industry, the biggest day of the new year arrived on Wednesday, January 25th with the opening of the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show. We walked around the massive Orange County Convention Center yesterday and took in all the sights and sounds. As one of my friends who was attending for the first time said as we walked into the main hall – “I’m in sensory overload right now!”

There are over 1000 exhibiting companies and over 40,000 attendees from 90 countries so it’s nearly impossible to see everything, but here are a few of the products and companies that got our attention and are making a buzz this year.

Tour Edge Exotics XJ1

Originally intended for the Japanese market, Tour Edge decided to bring their “Super metal” driver and fairways to the US market after the overwhelmingly positive feedback from testers. With a body made from lighter and more flexible 9-1-1 Titanium bonded to an amorphous Kevlar-carbon crown and paired with a 45 gram Fujikura Air Speeder shaft, the XJ1 driver is designed to perform best for golfers who swing under 100 mph, delivering higher ball speeds and more distance for slower swingers. I attended a private Tour Edge media event on Monday and the club is living up to the hype. The fairway woods may be even better. The heavy tungsten sole represents two thirds the weight of the club, placing the center of gravity very low and making them very easy to hit. Technology and performance come at a price however – The XJ1’s MSRP is $599 and the fairways retail for $449. Given Exotics’ reputation for making awesome clubs, they are going to be worth the price. Just ask anyone who has an Exotics driver or fairway wood in their bag.

Single Length Irons

If you haven’t heard about single length irons yet, you probably will this year, starting right here. The idea is simple. By making all your irons the same length (usually between 37.5 to 38.5″ long, or the length of a 6 or 7 iron) you will be more consistent because the setup position will be identical for every club. The concept was brought to national prominence by NCAA and US Amateur Champ and Bryson Dechambeau and he’s continued to use the single length irons on the PGA Tour after signing an endorsement deal with Cobra/Puma Golf. Naturally, Cobra is now marketing a set of single length irons, and so is the company Bryson’s original irons were made by – Edel Golf.

The concept is interesting and has its merits, but there are also a few drawbacks. Because the length and lie angle of every iron are identical, with only the loft changing, distance variation or gapping between clubs will shrink. If every club is the length of a six iron, that means you’ll hit your long irons shorter than normal and your short irons further than normal. I personally feel that transitioning from a 38.5″ pitching wedge to a 35″ sand wedge will prove challenging for many, but I’m hoping to have a chance to test the concept this season and report on the findings here!

Ouul Bags

Pronounced OWL, this new company produces light-weight golf bags and luggage with striking colors, patterns and designs. A particular favorite of mine is the Ouul Python Collection stand bags. They are super light weight but very sturdy, with handles around the top that make handling the bag so much easier when walking the course. The bags only weigh 2.7 pounds and come in ten different colors.

Honma

Honma is a Japanese manufacturer that has been around for over 50 years. While they’ve been well known in Japan for decades, they are just starting to make waves in North America. They made worldwide news recently when Japanese PM Shinzo Abe gave US President-elect Donald Trump a $3700 gold-colored Honma driver as a gift.

While speaking to him yesterday, Marketing, Media & Public Relations Manager Keith Patterson pointed out that Honma Golf enjoys 100% market share in the “over $50,000 golf clubs” segment. While this is funny, it’s also true. Honma makes a set that sells for $50,000 and includes graphite shafts infused with gold flakes, gold plated club heads and hand stitched golf bag.

While a $50,000 set of gold clubs makes for an interesting story, it’s important to note that Honma makes clubs for serious players also, and they are very, very good. I’ve been disappointed with Honma in the past, but the company culture has changed. With several new faces in the management team, a can-do attitude and contagious energy, they are entering the US market with a vengeance and the PGA Show floor is buzzing with excitement about their clubs. We’ll be bringing some in depth coverage to this brand in 2017, so keep an eye out!

Ecco Cage Pro SPYDR-GRIP

Ecco makes golf shoes that I think have the best combination of fit, durability, comfort and performance on the market. They continue to innovate and bring to market some of the best looking and best performing golf shoes in the world. For 2017, they have a new model called the ECCO CAGE PRO featuring a new SPYDA-GRIP sole with naturally placed pivot points for better traction and grip.

Hickies

For people like me that are lazy and hate tying shoes, you’ll want to take a look at the Hickies lacing system. Replacing your laces with the memory-fit elastomer Hickies lacing system turns any shoe into a slip-on. The stretchable Hickies help customize the fit of your shoes without much effort and they look cool too. Multiple color options allow you to customize the look of your golf shoes also. Hickies burst on the golf scene in 2016 when Danny Willett won the Masters wearing shoes laced with Hickies.

January 26, 2017
2013 PGA Show Hits & Misses – Drivers
The 2013 PGA Merchandise Show has come and gone, and the golf world is now ready for all the new toys to come to market. I’ve been going to the PGA Show in Orlando since 1996, and every year some companies come out smelling like roses, and others – not so much. In this “hit & miss” series, we’ll explore some of the winners and losers from this year’s show broken up into categories for Drivers, fairways, irons, wedges, putters, balls, accessories and misc items. Read on, because there will surely be some surprises and upsets!

Hits
- Adams Speedline Super LS – This driver is hot. The face feels springy and responsive, and the sound is a classic click, which is refreshing compared to that “hollow can in an empty warehouse” noise many drivers make. It features Adams’ Fast Fit fitting system, which allows for extensive adjustability of face angle, length and swingweight.
- Cobra Amp Cell – Youthful and colorful are words used to describe all of Cobra/Puma’s offerings. They are available in Red, Orange, Blue or White. Adjustable for loft and face angle.
- Callaway X Hot – This driver is light and easy to swing, and combines a hot face with Callaway’s OptiFit Hosel that lets you adjust the face angle in Open, Square or Closed positions.
- Wilson D 100 – One of the lightest drivers I’ve ever swung, this one shocked many testers at the outdoor Demo Day. Don’t overlook Wilson when shopping for a driver this season, you’ll be impressed.
- Cleveland Classic XL Custom – A continuation of the throwback Classic driver from last year, Cleveland blacked out the head and adorned it with gold trim and an adjustable hosel. Still one of the hottest, lowest spinning drivers on the market.
- Nike VR_S Covert – Nike made a splash with the Covert driver and its oddball cavity back design. The unique adjustable hosel lets you adjust loft independent of the face angle, allowing them to sell a single lofted head that the user can adjust from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees.
Misses
- Taylor Made R1 – Sorry Taylor Made fans, the newest driver looks like a reboot of the previous models with a new paint job that is even more distracting. 168 different adjustable configurations virtually guarantees you’ll never stop fiddling with it. Still a good club, but didn’t steal the show.
- Taylor Made RBZ Stage 2 – The RBZ gets a new paint job and Taylor Made is promising even more distance. Ever hear that line before? The standard shafts from the RocketBallz woods continue to be some of the most inconsistent on the market. If you want this club, don’t buy it off the rack – get properly fit.
- Titleist 913 – Titleist is on a 2 year product lifecycle and as such, their clubs don’t change as much as other companies. The 913 drivers are great performers and popular with better players, but Titleist’s presence at the show was uninspired this year.
- Ping G25 and Anser – Both drivers are quality offerings, but they both look and perform very similar to one another and this will just confuse consumers. The graphics are more or less the same as last year’s models, and I don’t see any compelling reason to upgrade if you bought a G20 last year.
- Tour Edge Exotics XCG6 – Tour Edge makes one of the best clubs you’ve never heard of. Their fairways are legendary for distance and have sort of a cult following. For some reason the drivers have never been as popular, and this season’s models will not change that. Shame, because they are one of the best drivers in golf.
I want to point out that this isn’t a review, nor am I saying any of these drivers are crap, but I’m commenting on the impression I got of their launch at the PGA Show based on their performance at the outdoor demo day, media buzz at the show and after speaking with company reps. As with all trade shows and product intros, there are many factors that go into a successful product launch, and we look forward to getting our hands on these drivers for full reviews in the coming months!

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January 29, 2013
Cobra Golf Sold To Puma

The Acushnet Company – Fortune Brands’ golf business – announced today that it has sold the Cobra Golf Company to Puma AG. The sale includes the Cobra brand, all related inventory, intellectual property and its endorsement contracts. Cobra’s list of professional staff includes Camilo Villegas, J.B. Holmes, Ian Poulter, Jason Gore and David Feherty. Cobra Golf has had a great year so far, with Ian Poulter winning the Accenture Match Play Championship, Camilo Villegas winning the Honda Classic and finishing third at the Match Play, and J.B. Holmes has started his year with 2 top three finishes so far.

Acushnet plans to continue to provide services for an agreed upon period of time beyond the sale to facilitate the seamless transition as Puma breaks into the golf industry on the equipment side. Production, distribution, field sales and customer service will continue with the help of Acushnet for a time, until Puma has gotten up to speed.

“With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of our industry-leading Titleist and FootJoy brands,” said Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of Acushnet Company. “At the same time, Cobra is a strong brand with a heritage of innovation, and we wish the quality associates guiding the brand future success. Golfers and our valued partners will remain the key focus throughout the impending sale and we are confident that our customers will continue to be serviced to our high standards.”

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p style=”text-align: center;”> Pending regulatory approval, the date of the sale is expected to be early in the second quarter of 2010, and all Cobra Golf business will be conducted by Acushnet Company until that time. All Acushnet Company associates dedicated to the Cobra business are expected to become employees of PUMA. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"Through the acquisition of Cobra Golf, we reinforce PUMA’s commitment to our sportsperformance business by strengthening our growing and successful Golf category," said JochenZeitz, Chairman and Chief Executive of PUMA. “Cobra Golf has a history of innovativeperformance products fused with an edge and is therefore a perfect fit for PUMA, reinforcingour overall mission of becoming the most desirable Sportlifestyle company. With Cobra Golf,PUMA will capitalize on the many opportunities in the Golf category and upside potential aheadof us.”
Based in Carlsbad, California and founded in 1973, Cobra Golf produced one of the first utility clubs - the Baffler - long before use of such hybrid clubs became popular. Cobra's innovation continues today with recent releases such as the new ZL and S2 Drivers, as well as the Baffler Rail Hybrid. In 1996 Cobra Golf was acquired by Fortune Brands and has since then been managed together under the Acushnet Company umbrella with its other golf brands. “Titleist and FootJoy are powerful golf brands that are poised for long-term growth,” continued Uihlein. “This laser focus and our longstanding commitment to deliver superior performance and quality will strengthen golfers’ trust in the Titleist and FootJoy brands in all global markets.” The most prominent Puma spokesman is Rickie Fowler, who has sported Puma's apparel on the PGA Tour for only a few tournaments but is already making a mark, not only with the flashy style (or lack thereof) but with his great play, earning several top 5 finishes in his young professional career. One has to wonder if Rickie will be encouraged to move from Titleist brand equipment (Owned by Acushnet) to the newly acquired Cobra Golf. It will also be interesting to see what happens with the Cobra Golf brand. Will Puma rebrand Cobra equipment as its own or retain the well known and respected Cobra brand clubs?
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March 10, 2010