There are, literally, hundreds of equipment manufacturers out there. Most of them operate under the popular radar of big names, hoping to cultivate a following for their particular driver or putter, or whatever it is that will help us score and enjoy golf more.
Some of these entrepreneurial enterprises bear taking a look at. Although, it remains a bit amazing that they proliferate to such a seemingly crowded extent.
It doesnt take all that much to get into the golf equipment business, observed Mark King, president of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Anyone with a machine shop at home can become a putter maker. And anyone who gets three investors together with a couple million dollars -- investors who want to say they are in the business -- can become an equipment company.
Often, new equipment or accessories are borne of technological innovation. Simply, someone thinks they have a better idea, and have followed up by bringing it to market. As stated, some of this stuff merits a look-see.
Heres a closer look at a selection of products.
PENNEAGLE
Founded in 2002 by engineer/designer and company president Tim Durnin, Penneagle specializes in making several lines of unique putters that received high praise in testing among various groups of players assembled by GolfWeb.
The keys to Penneagles putters are an oppositional weight system (OWS) and strategic alignment guides.
Sold primarily at off-course retail locations, Penneagle currently offers its Palisade putter in TPD.3V and TPD.4 versions, with other models called Atherton and Highland scheduled for production this fall.
To achieve the OWS factor, Palisade putters have 10 strategically located inserts, including high-density tungsten inserts on the heel and toe for greater stability and control. Theres also a tungsten backweight on the center sole of the flange to create a low center of gravity and a high moment of inertia (stability). A low-density polyurethane mid-sole insert maximizes weight distribution while a lightweight aluminum face insert distributes weight to the three OWS perimeter points and provides a soft feel for increased feedback.
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| Penneagle's Palisade putters won praise from GolfWeb testers. |
In demo sessions, GolfWeb testers praised the Palisade putters -- TPD.3V is heel-shafted, TPD.4 is near center-shafted -- for their luxurious looks, solid feel at impact and roll of the ball off the face.
