Titleist 718 AP2 and AP3 Limited Black Finish Irons Preview - The John Wick of Golf Irons

It implies seriousness and professionalism.  It indicates strength and discipline.  The color black is authoritative and powerful, and Titleist is now offering their 718 AP2 and AP3 beasts of the fairway in a limited high polish black finish that makes these irons look even more cold-blooded and dangerous. 

 

The new 718 AP2 Black and AP3 Black heaters are finished with a sleek, high polish black PVD coating that gives them a supercharged, almost venomous look that confidently asserts you're a force to be reckoned with.  These are the John Wick of golf irons. 

Callaway Golf Becomes Official Partner of the European Tour - Next Stop, Total Consciousness!

In recent years Callaway Golf has dominated the equipment market as the #1 driver in golf and the number 1 irons in golf.  And now with the announcement that Callaway is an Official Partner of the European Tour, it's making it known to all comers - they're locked and loaded with their sights set on being the #1 brand in golf for a long, long time. 

 

The wide-reaching partnership is for the next five years, and you're going to see Callaway absolutely everywhere.  They will be the official driver, official golf ball, and official shoe and golf bag of the European Tour.  Odyssey and OGIO become the official putter and luggage brands respectively.  And Callaway Apparel and Travis Mathew become the official on-course apparel. 

Callaway Apparel Signs Cody Gribble as Tour Authentic Flagship Brand Ambassador

Callaway Apparel announced today that PGA Tour winner and University of Texas national champion Cody Gribble will be their flagship brand ambassador for the Tour Authentic collection.  This collection is an exclusively curated collection of ultra-premium garments representing the absolute best in materials, craftsmanship, and innovation. 

 

Callaway executed a meticulous search to find and identify an ambassador for their Tour Authentic collection who would epitomize the elite player seeking the best in form and function.  After meeting with Gribble Callaway knew immediately he is exactly the kind of player for whom this design was created. 

Scotty Cameron 2019 Select Fastback 2 and Squareback 1.5 Putters Preview - Tour-Proven Mid-Mallets Add Key Neck Configurations

There are only a few putter companies on the market that get me really excited for new launch season.  Scotty Cameron is always one of them, but not for the reason you might think.  Yes Scotty is the gold standard for performance and craftsmanship.  But Cameron also gives golfers exactly what they want when new designs are created and genuinely takes into account our feedback. 

 

So it wasn't a surprise to learn Cameron added two new mid-mallet models to his flagship line of Select putters this year based on feedback from the game's best players and the golfing community overall.  The Select Fastback 2 and Select Squareback 1.5 incorporate specific neck configurations and performance characteristics that focus and cater to our collective voices as a golfing community.  And I have to salute Scotty for that. 

Mizuno Unveiling New ST 190 Woods, JPX 919 Irons, and New Athlete Partnerships at PGA Merchandise Show

After a short hiatus from the PGA Merchandise Show, Mizuno Golf returns to Orlando next week where they will exclusively unveil new products and athlete partnerships to the more than 40,000 attending  PGA Professionals, golf retailers, and industry leaders from around the world. 

 

During Demo Day I'll be hitting and testing their new ST190 Woods and JPX919 Irons and bring you coverage of their comprehensive lineup of equipment, bags, and accessories throughout the week.  I can't even begin to tell you how seriously pumped I am that Mizuno is back! 

Miura Golf CB-301 Cavity Back Irons Preview - A Masterful Evolution in Iron Design

Taking the most innovative design elements of their traditional models and blending them with modern techniques, legendary Japanese club maker Miura Golf has created the new CB-301 irons, and they're being hailed at the finest forged irons in Miura's storied history. 

 

The CB-301 irons are fully forged cavity backs with an incredibly large sweet spot for consistent distance and accuracy, and also the longest irons Miura has ever produced.  Miura's calling them the model we've all been waiting for.  I'm calling them a cavity back design that potentially creates an entirely new standard for iron performance and exellence.  Straight up, these look like champions for golfers of all skill levels. 

Aerotech Golf SteelFiber FC Graphite Iron Shafts Preview - Become a Better Ball Striker

If you want to be a great ball striker you need to hit the high soaring ball with your irons and also the low penetrating missile.  And Aerotech Golf is making it easier in 2019 for us to fire darts and take control of our iron trajectories no matter what type of shot the course demands. 

 

The new SteelFiber fc "Flight Control" graphite irons shafts will be unveiled next week at the PGA Merchandise Show, and these really could be the kind of shafts that once and for all make us the ball-strikers we've always hoped to one day become. 

2019 Major Championship Predictions - First Time Winners Will Continue Their Incredible Run

We’re about 80 days away from the first major of the new season, and last year’s major champions and stories will be tough to beat.  Patrick Reed was amazing in his Masters win, outplaying Rory McIlroy while holding off frenzied charges from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.  Brooks Koepka won two of the next three majors, emerging victorious in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship (becoming just the 20^th player in history to win multiple majors in the same season).  And Francesco Molinari breezed through the final round at the 147^th Open Championship bogey free to become Champion Golfer of the Year. 

 

If any of these stories surprised you in 2018, prepare for even bigger surprises in 2019.  Like Brooks Koepka not winning any majors after winning two in the last three years.  Like Jordan, Rory, and Phil Mickelson not being able to close out career grand slam chances.  And maybe the biggest surprise, first-time major winners taking all four major championships in 2019 (making that a run of 14 first-timers in the last 17 majors). 

Matt Kuchar and Bridgestone Golf Continue Winning Ways with Victory at Sony Open

Matt Kuchar and Bridgestone Golf are getting used to taking up residence in the winner's circle.  Kuchar's win at the Sony Open using a full arsenal of Bridgestone clubs and the Tour B X golf ball was his second victory in his last three starts, and Bridgestone's seventh win in the last 15 events. 

 

Pretty soon Bridgestone's "Smiling Assassin" is going to be known more for the assassin part than the smile Kuchar seems to always have on his face.  Kuchar's victory at Waialae Country Club also made Bridgestone's Tour B family of balls the winningest golf ball on Tour over the last five months. 

Nike Air Max 1 Golf Grass Shoes Preview - Al Czervik Would be Green with Envy

If a pair of shoes is going to be inspired by golf courses, there's really only so much in terms of architecture you can draw upon.  There are water and sand hazards.  There are trees and waste areas.  And of course there's grass.  Lots and lots of green grass. 

 

The new Nike Air Max 1 Golf "Grass" shoes look like like something Al Czervik from Caddyshack might wear for a round at snob-infested Bushwood Country Club, but really this is just a classic example of the be different, not necessarily better mantra of today's social media driven world.  And so it makes perfect sense that Nike has taken their iconic kicks and given them this shaggy, grass-like makeover for an extremely interesting (entertaining?) look. 

Jason Dufner Signs Godawful Endorsement Deal with Dude Wipes - Is This the Worst Endorsement Deal Ever?

When I'm making a decision on what male sanitary wipes to purchase, I want the expertise and peace of mind that comes with advice from a professional golfer.  That has to be what Jason Dufner was thinking when he signed an endorsement deal this week with Dude Wipes, right?  Well that, or Duf Daddy just doesn't give a damn and is getting his while the getting's good. 

 

After confirming Dufner's twitter announcement of this godawful deal was the real thing, I quickly came to the conclusion this is the most ridiculous endorsement deal in the history of golf.  It potentially has ESPN Films 30 for 30: The Rise and Fall of Jason Dufner and Dude Wipes written all over it.  And it might even be the worst endorsement deal in the history of all professional sports. 

New Year's Resolutions for Top Stars on the PGA Tour

With the New Year comes new goals, new dreams, and the usual suspects - New Year resolutions.  It’s a time for self-evaluation, retrospection, and re-evaluating your golf game (with special attention given to those weaknesses that have kept you from taking the next step in playing better). 

 

In this respect professional golfers are no different than the rest of us.  They’re looking at their shortcomings and building plans for improvement to put themselves in the best positions to be successful.  And if recent history has shown us anything, it's that we live in an era where any player can get better any given year.  Here are five superstars who can make some noise and return to glory if they commit to these New Year Resolutions. 

Five Players Poised to Break Out on the PGA Tour in 2019

Over the course of a professional golfer’s career, few achievements are so unique and rewarding as the moment it all comes together.  It’s the breakout, and it’s a sacred moment.  Not just improvement, but absolute revelation.  Sometimes it’s a breakout tournament.  Other times it’s a breakout round, or even a breakout shot.  It’s living proof of what a player might become, and the hint that someday they could be a superstar. 

 

It’s Jordan Spieth holing out from a greenside bunker at the 2013 John Deere Classic to force a playoff.  It’s Rory McIlroy dominating in 2009 at Dubai to win his first professional victory.  These breakouts happen every year, and sometimes when we least expect them.  Here are five players to watch this season who could take a giant leap towards super-stardom in 2019. 

TaylorMade M5 and M6 Drivers, Fairway Woods, and Hybrids Preview - Speed Injection: A New Twist on Twist Face

It's not exactly like Popeye eating a bunch of spinach, but TaylorMade's new M5 and M6 drivers, fairway woods, and rescue clubs are speed injected with new technologies that promise to deliver maximum allowable speeds at impact. 

 

Last year TaylorMade engineers developed Twist Face technology to counteract the high-toe miss (a hook) and low-heel miss (a slice), and help straighten ball flight for both.  This year they've taken Twist Face to the next level with the introduction of Injected Twist Face technology, exposing the false narrative that speed limits have been reached in a metalwood. 

A Perfect Match: Wilson Golf Signs Gary Woodland to 10 Club Endorsement Deal

Whether you like it or not, whether you want to admit it or not, Tour validation is brand validation.  And so when Wilson Golf officially announced it signed Gary Woodland to a 10 club endorsement deal today, that immediately shot Wilson's reputation skyrocketing into another stratosphere of greatness. 

 

Now this is not to say Wilson didn't make great clubs before.  You already know my opinion about their equipment.  From their irons (FG Tour V2, FG Tour 100, and C300 irons) to their wedges (FG Tour and PMP) and drivers (FG Tour F5 and C300), I think Wilson has made some of the best equipment in the industry for every skill level for many years. 

Bump N' Grind - Bob Vokey Launches New HandGround Program for Vokey Wedges

Master Craftsman Bob Vokey is now offering the tour grinding experience to all golfers through the introduction of the new HandGround program on Vokey.com.  For golfers seeking tour-level customizations such as additional heel relief, a squared up leading edge, or Bob's popular tour grind, the HandGround program is the answer. 

 

For the last year Bob has personally trained two grinders on all of the performance and profile adjustments that have resulted from his more than two decades of work with the world's best players.  Bob's passion for building relationships with individual players is the essence of the Vokey brand. 

Kevin Na Joins Callaway Golf - Puts Epic Flash in Play at Sentry Tournament of Champions

Kevin Na is a good guy with a great personality.  And now he's also officially a Callaway Golf staff player. 

 

On New Years eve Na announced on Instagram that he signed an endorsement deal with Callaway.  And with new sticks in hand, Na looks ready to contend at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and maybe happier than he's ever been before in his career. 

PXG GEN2 Drivers, Fairway Woods, and Hybrids Preview: Second Generation Superstars?

Gentlemen, start your engines!  PXG is releasing GEN2 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids that feature Hot Rod technology inspired by American muscle cars, and promise to unlock more yards and find more fairways.  And PXG's billionaire owner Bob Parsons hopes a new pricing structure will further increase their customer base in an equipment market that grows more competitive every year. 

 

PXG's new GEN2 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids all feature updated carbon fiber crowns and new adjustable weight systems with movable tungsten and titanium weights.  The new technologies are significant improvements over their GEN1 counterparts,  but it's the price reduction that's most likely to bring in new golfers. 

Justin Rose Signs with Honma Golf - Endorsement Deal is for 10 Clubs

While most of the world was celebrating the arrival of 2019, Honma Golf was celebrating the arrival of their newest and biggest staff member - World No. 2 Justin Rose. 

 

After weeks of speculation that the reigning FedExCup champion would join Honma, the endorsement deal became official as the calendar flipped to 2019.  Rose's deal with Honma will include playing 10 clubs, including driver, using a Honma bag, and having Honma on both sides of his cap. 

Inspirational Golf Quotes to Help You Ring in the New Year

The New Year is a time for reflection, it’s a time for love, and it’s a time for hope.  And I wanted to share some of my favorite inspirational golf quotes from the game’s greatest figures to help you say goodbye to the old year and ring in the new. 

 

Some quotes will make you smile, others will make you think. Some muse on the beauty of our game, while others are among the wisest you might ever hear in your life.  I appreciate all of you, and wish you the best possible 2019.  Happy New Year! 

Miura Golf Now Offers Fully Assembled Custom Clubs Direct to Consumers

For the first time in its illustrious history, legendary club maker Miura Golf will sell fully assembled golf clubs directly from their website at miuragolf.com. 

 

Through an intuitive custom design interface, you can build an entire set of eight to ten handcrafted irons, wedges and putters that can be custom designed for dexterity, flexibility, and feel. 

Crazy Golf Rules You Won’t Believe Existed

When Bryson DeChambeau announced earlier this year he would take advantage of one of the new rules of golf and leave the flagstick in while putting, some traditionalists called the new rule sacrilegious.  Still others praised it for its practical, common sense approach. 

 

Whichever side you take, the modernized rules of golf have come a long way from the antiquated and rigid rules applications in the past.  And as you’re about to see, some of these rules were just absolute and unbridled madness (and by the way the rules below are spelled, capitalized, and written in their original form). 

TPT Golf Shaft Review - A Star is Born

TPT Golf had their "hello world" moment at the PGA Merchandise Show in 2017, when they first introduced their high performance shafts to market.  Since then, TPT shafts have won multiple times on every major professional Tour.  Justin Rose, Jason Day, and Bryson DeChambeau picked up big wins using TPT shafts.  And Masters champion Patrick Reed hit every fairway the first time he put his TPT shaft into play. 

 

In a very short period of time, TPT experienced significant worldwide success, and momentum was growing stronger.  So I scheduled a TPT fitting earlier this year at Club Champion to see for myself if these shafts can also deliver for amateur golfers like you and me.  And I discovered the answer is a resounding YES. 

Bridgestone Golf Returns to PGA Merchandise Show in 2019 after Winningest Year in Team History

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And after time away from the PGA Merchandise Show, Bridgestone Golf is returning to Orlando in January on the heels of their winningest year in team history.  I'm saving all the details about their newest products for The Show, but can tell you now that Bridgestone will have you extremely intrigued and excited for 2019. 

 

Bridgestone's Tour team had more victories in 2018 than in any previous calendar year in company history.  They also had more wins per Tour team member than any other golf ball company.  This isn't hype, just fact.  And of the eight PGA Tour wins picked up by Bridgestone's four staff players, the most exciting may have been Tiger Woods return to the winner's circle at the season-ending TOUR Championship. 

Titleist Hybrid 5 Bag Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

If you've never been excited about your golf bag, now is probably a great time to start.  Titleist's new Hybrid 5 bag is new for 2019, and as the name suggests, can be used as a stand bag, a carry bag, or a cart bag.  And no matter how you choose to use it, it's going to give you reliable and spectacular performance. 

 

All the official details about the new Hybrid 5 will probably be announced around the time of the PGA Merchandise Show in January.  But since I'm giving this bag away for the final day of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway, I'm sharing some insights about the Hybrid 5 that I believe will make it not only one of Titleist's most popular bags of the season, but also maybe of all-time. 

Titleist TS2 Fairway Wood Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

This one's easy for me to say.  The Titleist TS2 fairway wood is the longest, most accurate, and most forgiving wood I have ever played from Titleist.  Ever since putting it in my bag, the TS2 has been a distance machine that devours fairways with hulking power and speed. 

 

I haven't carried more than a couple Titleist clubs in my bag since the 913 D series (when I played the driver, fairway wood, and hybrids).  Titleist released some great equipment since, but I wasn't completely blown away by the new stuff or felt an upgrade would significantly improve my game.  The TS series changed all that, and the TS2 wood is phenomenal on multiple levels. 

Callaway Mack Daddy 4 Wedge Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

Let's get something out of the way right off the bat.  You're never going to hit a full blooded flop shot like Phil Mickelson.  Mickelson wields the lob wedge like it's a magic wand, and those impossible floppers he hits are pretty much genius level stuff. 

 

The good news is you can use the same lob wedge Lefty uses, and the Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedge will make just about anyone's short game formidable.  And if you have the imagination, it might even turn you into a mini maestro around the greens. 

Aldila Rogue Silver 130 MSI Shaft Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

Looking for a shaft that tames your swing, wins your heart, and puts confidence back into game from the tee box?  The new Aldila Rogue Silver 130 MSI shaft will do that and more.  Club twirls are in its DNA. 

 

The Rogue line has been extremely popular on Tour for years now, and it's won multiple major championships and countless other tournaments.  So when Aldila announced earlier this year it was upgrading the Rogue, it got people's attention.  And I can tell you right away, the Rogue Silver 130 is a golf engineering gift to mankind. 

CRU Golf Classic GRAND Collection Headcover Review (in Hand Waxed Black Italian Leather) - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

CRU Golf is a pioneering custom headcover manufacturer with a reputation for uncompromising perfection and quality.  From brilliant and traditional designs, to unpretentious, minimalist styles, CRU's handcrafted, unique leather headcovers are always attractive and highly prized.  And their Classic GRAND Collection is one of my favorites. 

 

The Classic GRAND Collection headcovers are the first styles CRU ever designed, and you can immediately see from the quality of these masterpieces that everything for CRU starts and ends with attention to detail.  You're not going to find more luxurious leather unless you travel to the world's most famous leather markets like Florence or Barcelona. 

Mitsubishi Diamana DF Shaft Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

If you followed the PGA and European Tours this year you'll know that Mitsubishi golf shafts had a dominating season.  Mitsubishi won total driver counts, total shaft counts, first place finishes, and second place finishes week-in and week-out. 

 

It wasn't uncommon to see entire leaderboards filled with Mitsubishi shafts, and at some events almost half the field was playing one.  That's not just dominating, that's ridiculously dominating.  One of these Mitsubishi juggernauts was always a Diamana shaft, and the DF-Series might be the most deadly. 

Cleveland Golf RTX-4 Gap Wedge Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

It's golfing gospel: The key to lower scores is a good short game.  Some 60 to 65 percent of all shots come from 120-yards and in, making your gap wedge the single most important club in your bag.  Cleveland Golf's RTX-4 is the culmination of 30 years of iconic wedge design, and as you might expect with that kind of pedigree, the RTX-4 are masterful in trajectory control, versatility, and feel. 

 

I already wrote a full review on the Cleveland RTX-4 wedges here, and you can read about all the specific reasons why I believe these wedges will make you downright dangerous when you're taking aim at pins.  I won't go into all the details here again, but will just say that the RTX-4 will conjure up some magical shots that leave your playing partners in awe. 

Callaway Golf Rogue Fairway Wood Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

Here's the situation.  You're in the fairway on a dogleg par-5, and can hit your second shot with a wedge or mid-iron 125 to 150 yards to the right fairway.  You'll leave yourself with an easy, short approach to the green.  And probably give yourself a good look at birdie. 

 

Or?  You can pull your Callaway Rogue fairway wood from the bag and fire straight at the pin with nothing but water between you and the green for 200 yards.  Oh yeah, and the pin is tucked up front.  Guess what choice I made?  Grinning.  Nodding.  Yep, every time. 

Wilson Golf FG Tour PMP Gap Wedge (Oil Can) Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

The Wilson FG Tour PMP wedge is a club that legitimately gets better with time, like a fine wine.  I've had at least one in my bag for the last two years, and this year almost 20 players on the PGA and European Tours trusted PMP wedges to help them score. 

 

PMP is not a new 2018 release (although Wilson put out a new RAW finish version this year).  But that just goes to show you that sometimes you don't need the newest to have the greatest.  It's sort of like don't fix what isn't broken, and PMP is a wedge that will pretty much do everything you ask of it and more. 

Cobra KING F8 Driver Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

I played the Cobra KING F8 driver on some pretty tough courses this year.  If you don't hit the fairways on tracks like Harbour Town and Oakland Hills your hurt will be endless.  On other courses like Firestone South and Shinnecock Hills distance off the tee is always going to be your best friend. 

 

No matter what course I stepped onto this season, the F8 gave me complete confidence that I could hit the ball as far and as accurately as I needed to.  Sure I hit some shots that were blooper reel material, but for combined distance, accuracy, and forgiveness, the F8 was still one of my top-3 drivers of the year.  And in one of those rare instances in golf, I can honestly say the F8 made me a better overall driver of the ball.

Titleist Players 4 Golf Stand Bag Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

I used to be that dude who had to play with a staff bag because well, I thought it looked insanely cool.  And then the day came when I played a course that only allowed walking, and lugging around that full size bag over my shoulder made me realize I'm definitely not Kratos from Gods of War.  It was time for a stand bag. 

 

The Titleist Players 4 checked off all the boxes in what I was looking for in a stand bag.  It was lightweight, and turned out to be season long durable.  It had plenty of pocket space (and you'd be surprised how many companies miss the boat on this one), giving it ample storage room.  And most importantly, it was very comfortable to carry.  Overall, you'll be hard pressed to find a stand bag that's better looking or more functional than the Players 4. 

Cleveland Golf RTX-4 Sand Wedge Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

Golf is a frustrating game.  Always has been, always will be.  From tee to green, the variety of unpleasant shots we're forced to hit and ridiculous lies we're compelled to escape from can be downright traumatic.  And the bunker shot might be the most menacing of all.  Unless you're hitting the new Cleveland Golf RTX-4 sand wedge. 

 

More golfers have probably sworn off golf from the bunkers than any other location on the course.  It's not just escaping them to favorable locations that's so maddening, it can just  be escaping them period.  The RTX-4 makes it easy to dominate from the sand thanks to incredible spin, intelligent sole grinds, and exceptional balance and weighting.  Oh yeah, and they're also pretty versatile from the fairway and rough. 

5th Annual PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway: Aldila, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, CRU, Mitsubishi, Srixon, Titleist, Wilson, and More!

It's time again for my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway, and it's going to be wilder and bigger than ever friends.  That's because this year has been wilder and bigger than ever, and I have you to thank for that.  We have equipment and gear from Aldila, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, CRU Golf, Mitsubishi, Srixon, Titleist, Wilson, and more! 

 

Before we get into the details on how to enter and what you can win, and even before I recap some highlights of the year for you like I do every year, first I want to say thank you. 

Go Big or Go Home: COBRA PUMA Expanding Presence at 2019 PGA Merchandise Show

Cobra PUMA Golf will have its largest presence ever at a PGA Merchandise Show this upcoming January in Orlando, and you better believe it's more than just chest puffing. 

 

Riding an incredible wave of momentum over the last three years, and have expanded their industry footprint with some absolutely fantastic clubs and cutting edge technologies, Cobra PUMA is looking to keep its foot on the gas and make 2019 perhaps one of the most significant in company history. 

A Legend Returns: 2019 Callaway Golf Big Bertha Irons and Hybrids Preview

The Big Bertha name has always been synonymous with innovation, technology, and fun.  And this epic name might be pushing the boundaries of what's possible to such an extent that it could transform an entire category of golf clubs. 

 

Callaway Golf will be releasing their next generation Big Bertha irons and hybrids as soon as the calendar flips to January, and if you're a player looking for maximum distance, launch, and forgiveness all in one package, these easy-to-hit clubs promise to meet your every single need. 

Fast and Furious: Cobra KING F9 Speedback Driver Preview

Last year the Cobra Golf's KING F8 driver was all about accuracy with the first CNC milled face in a driver.  This year however, Cobra is all about distance.  And the new KING F9 Speedback drivers promise to launch high, spin low, and provide never before seen speeds from a Cobra driver. 

 

Cobra is calling the F9 the King of Speed, and the most aeroficient driver they've ever made.  Of course aeroficient isn't really a word, but they're using to to explain the blend of aerodynamics and transfer of energy in the F9 drivers.  Let's take a closer look at three of the key technologies in this driver that's scheduled for release in early January 2019. 

FIRST LOOK: Cobra Golf KING F9 Speedback Driver

Some big embargo dates are lifting tomorrow in the equipment world, but today we got a sneak peak of one of the new clubs coming in 2019.  The Cobra KING F9 Speedback driver appeared on the USGA's list of conforming driver heads earlier today, and there's plenty of information there to sort through if you can't wait until tomorrow to learn all about it. 

 

I've included a picture of the new Speedback driver, as well as similar views of the F8 and F8+ drivers so you can get a better ideal of what's coming, and more particularly, how the F9 Speedback will be different. 

Double Impact: FootJoy Tour-S Dual BOA Golf Shoes Preview

The new FootJoy Tour-S Dual BOA golf shoes are everything you've come to expect from the Tour-S, with the added adjustability and responsiveness of a double BOA system. 

 

You could just as easily call this a zonal BOA system because the two BOA dials tighten the upper area of the shoe separately from the instep and heel lock.  Although a double BOA system may seem complicated or arbitrary to some, the result is a precision fit like you've never experienced before.

White Heat: Ben Hogan Golf Ft. Worth WHITE Irons Preview

Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has introduced a complimentary line of custom, hand-crafted forged irons that answer widespread golfer demand for a traditional nickel-chrome clubhead finish called the Ft. Worth WHITE Irons. 

 

These new blade-style irons join the popular Ft. Worth BLACK irons, one of Ben Hogan Golf's most successful product lines which featured a unique Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finish. 

Ricksy Business: Cobra Golf 2019 KING Forged CB & MB Irons Preview

Cobra Golf has announced a new line of players irons designed with the help on Rickie Fowler that promise buttery soft feel and unrivaled precision.  The new high performance KING Forged CB/MB progressive iron set utilizes a sleek design and tour-proven technologies that consistently deliver the workability and shot-shaping control needed to be competitive on course. 

 

The Forged CB/MB set flows from a forgiving players cavity-back (CB) shape in the 4-6 irons to a traditional muscle-back (MB) shape in the 7-PW, and is designed to deliver more playability compared to the full MB prototype set Fowler has in the bag. 

Australian Amateur Golfer Sinks Two Holes In One in Same Round

Jim Grant has been golfing for about 15 years and carries a respectable 14 handicap.  But yesterday Grant admits he was just on the course with some friends to have some fun.  And Grant took fun to an entirely new level making not one, but two hole-in-ones in the same round. 

 

The odds of making two aces in the same session are 67 million-to-one.  Not quite the 1 in 292 million offs of winning the 1.5 billion Mega Millions lottery from a few nights ago, but still pretty crazy - all things considered.  Only three golfers have recorded two holes-in-one in the same round on the PGA Tour. 

TaylorMade Golf Pulls Out of 2019 PGA Merchandise Show

TaylorMade Golf announced today it will not attend the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show, instead focusing on support for PGA professionals and other growth initiatives that CEO David Abeles believes will "create an even greater value for the game of golf." 

 

The last time a buzz-generating, anchor exhibitor pulled out of the Show (Nike Golf), it wasn’t long before they shut down their equipment business. 

Oakland Hills Country Club Play With Pete Invitational Giveaway

If you follow me on twitter and Instagram you know this weekend was the stuff of dreams come true.  I was out at historic Oakland Hills Country Club playing and reviewing the course, and on Sunday decided to surprise 3 players and invite them with me to play this hallowed ground.  Pretty sure that's never been done before, and the experience was as memorable as it gets. 

 

Some sent me their golfing resumes hoping to join, others were willing to hop on flights from Florida, California, and even another country to walk in the footsteps of Hogan, Palmer, Hagen and the biggest legends in golf.  Oakland Hills Country Club is a one of the greatest courses in the world and its history is unrivaled.