Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge Review: PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

It wasn't that long ago that choosing a new wedge presented golfers with a conundrum of sorts.  Pick an easy to hit forgiving wedge but sacrifice feel and precision.  Or go the traditional blade route for consistency and Tour level performance, but take your bumps and bruises on mishits. 

 

Cleveland Golf however has figured out how to give you the best of both worlds, and their second generation CBX 2 wedge is both the easiest to hit wedge I've ever played from Cleveland, and also pretty darn close in overall performance to their RTX blade model wedges (and that's saying A LOT). 

Adidas Tour360 XT PrimeKnit Shoes Review: PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

What do you want in a golf shoe?  What does everyone want in a golf shoe really?  They have to be comfortable.  They have to deliver stability through your swing.  And they need to keep you rooted to the ground with reliable traction.  Anything less is simply unacceptable. 

 

Well, Adidas Tour360 XT PrimeKnit shoes checks off all those boxes and even gives you substantially more.  You can read my full review here, where I go deeper into what makes these shoes first class.  But I will say here again that in each of the performance categories referred to above, the Tour360XT PrimeKnit is absolutely superlative. 

Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Grips Review: PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

There's an expression in life that says you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I'm not sure the folks at Golf Pride grips buy into that.  More than 80-percent of players on Tour use Golf Pride grips, and they aren't even endorsed to do so. 

 

Of all Golf Pride grips, their Tour Velvet is the most popular.  And this year all four majors were won by Tour Velvet grips.  Tour Velvet 360 is the latest model in this blue-ribbon line, and I've learned also their finest. 

Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Balls & Tour Performance Knit Pom Pom Winter Hat Review: PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

The name really says it all.  Titleist.  It's a standard of excellence.  And the Pro V1 and ProV1x are used by more players on Tour, around more courses everyday, and pretty much at one point or another by everyone who's ever picked up a golf club. 

 

The 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x aren't marketed as distance balls, but they still deliver really great distance off the tee and with your irons.  And perhaps the most impressive thing about both of these balls is how consistent they are in performance and feel.  They're just superb for short game control.  And if we're being honest, only a handful of ball manufacturers at most can make that claim. 

6th Annual PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway: Adidas, Bridgestone, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Galvin Green, Mitsubishi, Mizuno, Titleist, Wilson and More!

It's that time of the year again for my annual PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway, and the festivities should be more exciting than ever! 

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My PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway starts one week from today!‬ _____ Release the Kringle! 🎅 ____ ‬#pgapappas12daysofchristmas #12daysofchristmas #golfgiveaway #releasethekringle #golfcourselife #clevelandgolf #pumagolf #adidasgolf golfequipment #mitsubishigolfshafts #golfirons #golfreview #golfdriver #wilsongolf #golfer #golf #golfers #golfing #golfshot #golfswing #golfaddict #titleist #nothingfeelslikeamizuno #galvingreen #pgapappas #golfcoursephotography #golflife #golfislife #golfclubs #golfgods #golfcourse

A post shared by Pete Pappas (@pgapappas) on Dec 7, 2019 at 3:49pm PST

Everything we're giving away this year you've already have heard me talk about or review as tops for 2019, and includes gear and equipment from Adidas, Bridgestone, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, CRU, Galvin Green, Golf Pride, Mitsubishi, Mizuno, PUMA, Titleist, Wilson, and more! 

2019 Play With Pete Invitational at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island

Last year the first Play with Pete Invitational was amazing fun for everyone involved.  The historic South Course at Oakland Hills was the host in October, and it was a day of great memories, even greater friendships, and golf memories that will be cherished forever. 

 

This year, the 2019 Play with Pete Invitational comes a little later in the calendar year, and pretty much kicks off my 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway.  And again three people were chosen from twitter and Instagram to join me, this time on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. 

Srixon Cleveland Golf XXIO Introduces Two New Golf Shoe Models by ASICS: GEL-COURSE Duo BOA and GEL-COURSE Glide

Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO has announced two brand new golf footwear models in partnership with ASICS North America, the GEL-COURSE Glide and GEL-COURSE Duo BOA. 

 

These two models are available at authorized golf shops and golf specialty retailers across North America, as well as online at Srixon.com/ASICS. 

Miura x LinkSoul Color Theory Irons Reimagines Blades with a Minimalist Approach

Miura Golf has announced a collaboration with lifestyle company LinkSoul that's sure to please golfers with a discerning eye for sleek, no-frills golf clubs. 

 

The Miura x LinkSoul Color Theory Irons set is a rare collection incorporating the classic look of famed Miura blades with color-coded labels and the trimmed Miura stamp along the sole. 

True Temper Acquires Aerotech Golf

If you follow my blog and social media you already know what I think of Aerotech Golf shafts.  Their SteelFiber i and fc series shafts are unlike any other on the market.  And despite not having a heavy presence on professional Tours, Aerotech has piled up the victories, achieving professional win number 100 earlier this year. 

In fact, Aerotech has won more professional tournaments than any other graphite iron shaft.  So the news of True Temper adding Aerotech to it's stable of already extremely popular shafts makes a lot of sense. 

 

True Temper shafts dominate professional Tours, being used by 70-percent of PGA Tour players.  And purchasing Aerotech is an opportunity to strengthen its reputation as the industry leader in iron shaft innovation and manufacturing. 

Scotty Cameron Introduces New Phantom X 12.5 Putter

Scotty Cameron has added a new model to the 2019 Phantom X family, the Phantom X 12.5 to meet the needs of players seeking a stable mallet with more toe flow and a new alignment option. 

 

Phantom X 12.5 joins a cohesive Phantom X family that now includes 10 modern mallet designs built around five different head styles.  Featuring a low-bend shaft configuration and a tour-inspired single milled sight line, Phantom X 12.5 is built around the family's flagship model, the high-MOI Phantom X 12. 

Callaway Golf Announces Multi-Year Participation Agreement Beginning with the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show

Callaway Golf Company has announced a new multi-year participation agreement beginning with the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show, January 21st to 24th, in Orlando, Fla. 

 

Callaway, which will return to the international golf industry event for the 37th consecutive year, plans to showcase its comprehensive portfolio of global brands, inclusive of its newest golf clubs, golf balls, golf and lifestyle bags, golf and lifestyle apparel, and other accessories.

Adidas Golf Reveals Limited Edition Street Culture Apparel for the Course

Adidas Golf is is combining sport and street culture once again, but this time through iconic and versatile products built with the golfer in mind. 

 

The limited edition capsule Collection Ø will push boundaries on the definition of what performance apparel can look like on the golf course. 

Galvin Green UpCycle Edition Preview

Galvin Green is enhancing its environmental credentials by introducing a collection of golf wear crafted using high-performance fabric that remains from the production of its comprehensive core range. 

 

Presented as the UpCycle Edition, the collection involves a relatively small number of garments for men and women from a brand that has specialized in offering many sought-after limited editions in the past and sources most of its fabric from suppliers registered under the eco-friendly Bluesign scheme. 

SIK Golf Captures 10th Tour Victory with Win at The Mayakoba Golf Classic

SIK Golf captured its tenth PGA TOUR victory and fourth this year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic held at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Mexico this past weekend. 

 

Using a SIK Pro C-Series putter, Brendon Todd the winner drained a gutty par putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory and his second straight PGA Tour title.  Todd won the Bermuda Championship in his previous start just two weeks earlier. 

Cobra Golf SPEEDZONE Irons: A New Level of Performance in Variable and One Length Irons

Cobra Golf is introducing new KING SPEEDZONE irons that deliver ultra-low CG and increased ball speed thanks to the brand's first ever carbon fiber topline. 

 

To deliver the fastest, best performing irons, Cobra engineers took inspiration from design attributes of the fastest cars in the world, focusing its energies on five unique zones of performance to deliver two new sets of irons that provide the optimum blend of distance, consistency and forgiveness. 

Seeding and Validation for the New Titleist SM8 Wedges Begins this Week

This week at the PGA Tour's RSM Classic, the new Vokey Design SM8 wedges will be made available to tour players for the first time. 

 

This marks the start of Titleist's tour seeding and validation process for the next generation Vokey Design models, the most played wedges on tour since 2004 and counting.  It is the PGA Tour's longest-running golf club success story. 

Cobra Golf SPEEDZONE Drivers Preview: Cobra's Fastest, Most Technologically Advanced Driver Family

Cobra Golf has introduced its new SPEEDZONE Drivers, the company's fastest and most powerful drivers to date. 

 

Taking inspiration from design attributes of the fastest cars in the world, COBRA optimized six unique zones of performance to deliver unrivaled speed and distance in two new drivers, the KING SPEEDZONE and the KING SPEEDZONE XTREME. 

Cobra Golf F-MAX Airspeed Woods, Hybrids, and Irons Preview: Lightweight, Forgiving, and Easy to Hit

Cobra Golf has announced its newest iteration of its popular F-MAX franchise, including the company’s lightest, most forgiving, and easiest to hit drivers, woods, hybrids, and irons in their history.  

 

The new F-MAX AIRSPEED drivers and fairways deliver a new level of lightweight performance, maximizing clubhead speed, distance and forgiveness for players with moderate swing speeds.  While the F-MAX AIRSPEED irons and combo sets deliver a lighter overall club weight, added forgiveness and ease of use over their predecessors. 

Cobra Golf Signed Major Champion Jason Dufner to Multi-year Partnership

COBRA Golf announced the newest member to its tour team, five-time PGA TOUR winner and Major Champion, Jason Dufner.  

 

The brand signed Dufner to a multi-year partnership that will see the 2013 PGA Championship winner on the course with COBRA clubs and a COBRA bag. 

Bettinardi Golf Unveils Next Gen BB Series and Inovai Putters

Bettinardi Golf has announced the Next Generation 2020 BB Series and INOVAI 6.0 putters from master club maker Robert J. Bettinardi and Sam Bettinardi. 

 

Following another successful year on tour with six professional victories, Bettinardi Golf has taken direct input from the world's best golfers, expanded R&D, and introduced new milling techniques from their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility just outside of Chicago, IL, to bring amateur golfers the advanced 2020 lineup. 

Tour Edge Staff Player Scott McCarron Captures 2019 Charles Schwab Cup

Three victories.  Three runner-up finishes.  14 Top 10 finishes.  Over $2.5 million dollars in prize money earned. 

 

It was an incredible season for Tour Edge staff professional Scott McCarron.  He had been the No. 1 ranked player on the PGA Tour Champions since his first win of the season in April. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Shafts Score First and Second Place Finishes at LPGA Swinging Skirts

Aerotech SteelFiber shafts claimed first and second place finishes last week at the Taiwan Swinging Skirts on the LPGA. 

 

Nelly Korda played SteelFiber i80 shafts in her irons to defend her 2018 title, while Minjee Lee finished runner-up and also used SteelFiber i80 shafts. 

Bag Boy Unveils New Shield Bag

Bag Boy is thrilled to unveil its newest bag, the Shield cart bag.  The Shield's most compelling element is its unique hard-shell bag design. 

 

The Shield cart bag is a brand-new bag with a modern twist.  The Shield utilizes its exclusive hard ABS finish to highlight its new classic, sleek design from top to bottom.  Aside from being a captivating bag, it's also practical.  The hard ABS shell serves as a protective armor for precious valuables inside the bag. 

SIK Golf Captures Third Victory of 2019 at the Bermuda Championship

SIK Golf captured its eighth PGA TOUR victory and third this year at the Bermuda Championship this past weekend. 

 

Using a SIK Pro C-Series putter, Brendon Todd shot 62 and recorded seven straight birdies on the front-9 to capture the second PGA TOUR victory of his career.  Todd ranked 1st in Birdies (with 27), and 3rd in Putts per Greens in Regulation for the tournament. 

Tiger Woods WITB What's In The Bag: The Golf Equipment Woods Used to Win the 2019 Zozo Championship

History.  Tiger Woods incredible career reached a new milestone in Japan this week when he won the Zozo Championship and his 82nd career PGA Tour victory, tying him with Sam Snead for the all-time lead. 

 

The 43-year old Woods took less time than Snead to achieve this feat, who was 52 when he won for the final time.  Woods return to Japan also marked his return from another knee surgery, which the 15-time major champion called the most challenging surgical comeback of his career. 

Tiger Trusts Bridgestone Golf Engineering On Journey To Most Ever Career PGA Tour Wins

Tiger Woods authored another page in the annals of golf history this weekend, as he used his Bridgestone TOUR B XS ball to earn his 82nd PGA TOUR victory, tying him with Sam Snead for the most all-time, at the TOUR's first ever official event to be contested in Japan.  

 

Remarkably, Woods' win at the Zozo Championship means he's achieved his 82 wins in 66 fewer starts than it took Snead.  Woods' first win of the new season also gives Bridgestone its first of the 2019-20 wraparound schedule, as Bridgestone looks to continue the incredible success and momentum it achieved last season. 

Mitsubishi Golf Continues Winning Ways on PGA and European Tour

If you follow along with my weekly PGA Tour winner's WITB, you'll notice Mistubishi and Aldila shafts have been on a victory streak that pretty much is complete domination.  But there's even more to be impressed about this than meets the eye. 

 

First, of course is that Mitsubishi and Aldila are winning so frequently and consistently.  It's almost freakish.  Second, these players are not endorsed by Mitsubishi or Aldila, they're choosing to play these shafts without any monetary incentive.  And finally, and maybe most significant, Mitsubishi and Aldila shafts actually play a significant role in the outcome of events. 

SkyCaddie SX400 Handheld GPS Rangefinder Preview: Powerful Features in More Compact Size

SkyGolf has released the new SkyCaddie SX400, designed to give golfers the same great features found in their popular SX500 model in a more compact size.  With a full high-definition 4-inch touch screen driven by an ultra-fast multi-core processor, the SkyCaddie SX400 joins the SX500 to deliver the most powerful way to measure yardage while providing the very "best view" in golf. 

 

Last year, SkyGolf introduced the 20th anniversary limited edition SX500, with the fastest processor, best battery life and the largest and most vivid display in the industry.  And some players on the European Seniors Staysure Tour said they no longer needed their laser or even yardage books as the SX500 provides all the information they need in a faster and easier way so they can focus on playing their best golf. 

Callaway Golf Super Hybrid Preview: The Power of a Fairway Wood Now Lives in a Hybrid

Callaway Golf has set a performance milestone in the hybrid category of clubs by designing a new Super Hybrid that delivers the power of a fairway wood. 

 

To achieve this kind of power, Callaway designed the Super Hybrid with an all titanium body instead of steel used in many hybrids. 

Aerotech Golf Gener8 Graphite Iron Shafts Preview: A New Level of Consistency in Lightweight Shafts

Aerotech Golf is releasing new graphite irons shafts named Gener8, which are specifically designed for mid-to-high handicappers looking for longer, higher, and more consistent ball flights. 

 

Featuring a unique Seamless Filament Wound (SFW) Core Technology with a higher elastic composite micro-fiber outer veil, Gener8 graphite iron shafts deliver maximum distance and ultimate control. 

Adidas Golf Tour360 XT Primeknit Shoes Review: King of the Course in Lightweight Comfort and Performance

Knit golf shoes are growing in popularity, but questions naturally arise about their performance in wet weather and stability compared to traditional leather shoes. 

 

I've played multiple rounds now in the new Adidas Golf Tour 360 XT Primeknit shoes, probably walking a good 25,000 yards in them.  And these are indisputably the best in their class, even rivaling performance in a non-knit golf shoe. 

SIK Golf Captures 7th PGA Tour Victory in Last Two Years

SIK Golf captured its seventh victory on the PGA Tour this past weekend at the Houston Open when Lanto Griffin broke through for his first career Tour win. 

 

Using a SIK Flo putter, Griffin dropped a 33-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th hole to grab a one stroke lead, and then sank a clutch six-foot putt on the final hole for the win, making it seven victories on Tour for SIK in the last two years. 

Golf's Sweet Spot is Generation G: The Most Vital Age Group for the Golf Industry

Are you familiar with Generation G?  If you work in the golf business, you should be. 

 

Some in the golf industry look at the wave of retiring Baby Boomers as an economic windfall, while others expect a sharp falloff in business after they're gone.  Millennials have garnered plenty of attention too, and many of the industry's development programs are focused on juniors.  But the real sweet spot for golf businesses?  That's the Golf Generation, or Gen G. 

National Golf Foundation Reports More than 7.5 Million U.S. Golfers Bought at Least One New Club Last Year: How Old Are Your Golf Clubs?

Equipment manufacturers release their newest lines of clubs almost every year, from from drivers and putters to iron sets and wedges. 

 

And the National Golf Foundation reported that almost one-third of the approximately 24 million U.S. golfers bought at least one brand new club in the past year. 

The oldest average club(s) in a golfer's bag are their irons (5 years), followed by their putter (4.5 years), and then driver (4 years).  Did you buy a new club in the past year?  And what's the oldest club(s) in your bag?

National Golf Foundation Reports 4 Million U.S. Golfers Took Lessons Last Year: Representing Almost 17 Percent of the Overall Participation Base

The positives of an improving golfer are plentiful .  Most notably, they express increased comfort and confidence, while playing more frequently and spending more money on the game. 

 

And according to a report by the National Golf Foundation, the quest to get better led more than four million golfers to take lessons last year in the U.S., a figure that represents almost 17-percent of the overall participation base. 

Golf Datatech Reports August 2019 Rounds of Golf Played Up Compared to Last Year

The National Golf Foundation and Datatech Golf have reported that rounds of golf for August 2019 were up 3.5-percent compared to the same period last year, although the increase is attributable at least in part to more favorable weather conditions than a year ago. 

 

While the August increase brought the year-to-date rounds-played total up, it's now flat compared to the first three quarters of 2018, which overall was a down year.  The total rounds-played number dipped to 434 million last year after hovering around 460 million the previous five years, a decline caused in part by the third-wettest year for the continental U.S. dating back to 1895. 

COBRA Golf T-RAIL Iron Hybrid Preview: Baffler Rail Technology Used to Design COBRA's First All Hollow Iron-Hybrid Set

Cobra Golf is releasing their first all-hollow iron-hybrid set called T-RAIL (Transitional Rail) to take super game improvement clubs to the next level.  T-RAIL combines the forgiveness of a COBRA Baffler hybrid with the precision of an iron in a one-of-a-kind set of clubs that are designed for anyone looking for a better game. 

 

The COBRA T-RAIL irons fuse a hollow, hybrid shape with an iron face and topline, creating an iron-hybrid design that delivers the perfect blend of distance, forgiveness and accuracy.  A hollow body construction creates a lower, deeper CG than traditional cavity-back iron designs allow and makes getting the ball airborne and on the desired target line easier than ever before. 

Next Gen COBRA Golf KING Forged Tec Irons Preview: A Powerful Combination of Accuracy, Feel, Distance, and Forgiveness

COBRA Golf is releasing its next generation 2020 KING Forged TEC irons featuring a traditional muscle-back shape with a hollow design for softer feel and improved power. 

 

Available in a variable or ONE Length set make-up, the new gen KING Forged Tex irons fuse a classic look with modern, cutting-edge face, finish and feel technologies, to provide golfers with the ideal balance of precision and distance. 

Mitsubishi and Aldila Shafts Pick Up Two More Victories on the PGA and European Tours

Mitsubishi and Aldila golf shafts picked up two victories on the PGA Tour and European Tour this weekend when Lanto Griffin won the Houston Open, and Bernd Wiesberger won the Italian Open. 

Griffin's maiden victory on Tour moved him to number 1 in the FedExCup Playoffs and Wiesberger's win moved him to number 1 in the Race to Dubai. 

 

The driver was instrumental in both Griffin's and Wiesberger's victories.  Griffin used a Mitsubishi Kuro Kage TiNi 70 X shaft in his driver to average 324.5 yards off the tee on the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston, and found 78.6-percent of the fairways. 

Lanto Griffin WITB What's In The Bag: The Golf Equipment Griffin Used to Win the 2019 Houston Open

Lanto Griffin has toiled on various mini-tours for most of his career, broke on to the PGA Tour in 2017 only to lose his card the following year, and overcome the life-shattering loss of his father to brain cancer. 

 

So when Griffin won his first professional Tour win Sunday at the Houston Open, emotions poured out.  Griffin's fought and clawed his entire life for this moment.  And persistence is in his DNA. 

Wynn Golf Club Returns with Championship Course Designed by Tom Fazio

The only resort golf course on the Las Vegas Strip returned to Wynn Las Vegas this weekend with the grand reopening of the Wynn Golf Club. 

 

The original 18-hole championship course established in 2005 has been reimagined by legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio to give players a new golf experience from the first drive to the last putt. 

Detroit Golf Club Named 2019 Michigan Golf Course of the Year

Founded in 1899, Detroit Golf Club has evolved for over a century into a graceful, challenging and picturesque property with history and pedigree at every turn. 

 

Accolades have been many and the latest is its selection as the 2019 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA). 

Troon and True Spec Golf Enter Partnership

Troon, the leader in club management, development, and marketing, has entered into a strategic partnership with True Spec Golf, the worldwide leader in custom club fitting and building, with more than 20 studios located around the world. 

 

Through the partnership, Troon will collaborate with True Spec Golf to expand their Mobile Fit program and studios at Troon locations around the country.  True Spec Golf will offer Troon customers and members special rates and exclusive offers for club fitting and building services. 

Tour Edge Golf Launches New Bazooka 370 and Bazooka 470 Black Complete Sets

Tour Edge Golf has released their new Bazooka 370 and Bazooka 470 Black complete sets, designed as part of their "Get in the Game" products designed to be the highest quality complete sets in the game. 

 

Their purpose is to make it easier for new golfers and golfers coming back to the game to get new high-performance, game-improvement technology that will make the game easier to play.

PING Golf Offers Free Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors on Eligible Products

As part of its ongoing effort to encourage owners of PING clubs to take advantage of the numerous benefits of Arccos Golf technology, PING has announced a program providing a free set of Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors exclusively to golfers who have purchased an eligible PING club or buy one before the end of the year. 

 

More than 30 PING clubs (listed below) are eligible in the promotion that runs through December 31, 2019, while supplies last.  The promotion also includes a 90-day free trial of the Arccos Caddie app. 

Callaway Footwear Introduces Oceanside and Oceanside LX Oceanside Spikeless Golf Shoes Feature PLUSfoam Insoles

Callaway Footwear is expanding its spikeless offerings for 2020 with the introduction of the new Oceanside and Oceanside LX golf shoes. 

 

The Oceanside line combines a lightweight sports-fusion design with superb comfort and traction features, providing style, stability, and responsive cushioning in every step. 

TRUE Linkswear Launches 10 Year Limited Edition Golf Shoes

To commemorate 10 years of crafting footwear for the walking golfer, TRUE linkswear has announced the launch of a limited edition #/500 TRUE Original golf shoe. 

 

Paying homage to the TRUE Tour (T1), the first TRUE model prototyped in 2009, the OGX echoes the iconic black and white reverse saddle colorway.  The OGX includes several upgrades to the core Original model which include a Bulletproof Vegan Leather upper, reflective rope lacing, commemorative diamond pattern and 10-year anniversary detailing. 

Golf Datatech Unveils 2019 Summer Golf Product Attitude and Usage (GPAU) Study

Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry's leading independent research firm for consumer, trade and retail golf trends, has unveiled the 2019 Summer Golf Product Attitude and Usage (GPAU) Study. 

 

A bi-annual study, and the 40th edition produced by Golf Datatech, the serious golfer research report has become an in-demand resource for the golf marketing community over the past 20 years.