ORLANDO, Fla. -- The 54th PGA Merchandise Show that concluded last weekend at the Orange County Convention Center was not only stocked full with equipment being introduced by the major manufacturers, the show also presented a display venue for all types of new ideas. From heavy putters, to RadarGolf balls, to putter towels, super long tees and more, there was aisle after aisle of interesting items to see and try.
Some introductions, for sure, won't be around a year from now. Others may click with golfers and hit the big time.
"The PGA Show is not just about seeing what's new from Nike, Callaway, Wilson, Top-Flite and the other big companies," said Ed Several, show director. "It's also a showcase for just about everything that's golf-related. It could be brand new ideas in equipment technology, or software systems for use in pro and retail shops, or the latest in fashion colors and styles."
The five-day show, which was not open to the public, featured a 200,000 square-foot indoor Equipment Testing Center and occupied more than 700,000 square feet of space overall. There were several business conference sessions, educational seminars and awards programs, along with booths attracting more than 1,200 exhibitors and 45,000-plus attendees.
Here's a selected look at some new products outside the mainstream aisles.
BIONIC GLOVE
Designed by a well-known orthopedic hand surgeon, Dr. Jim Kleinert, the benignly controversial Bionic Golf Glove is an offshoot of the Louisville Slugger division of Hillerich & Bradsby, the company that also makes baseball equipment, PowerBilt golf clubs and TPS hockey gear. The golf glove contains patented anatomical technology, and joins a lineup of Bionic gloves geared for driving, gardening, heavy duty work, fine dress and equestrian use.
Blessed with the Arthritis Foundation's Ease-of-Use Commendation, Bionic gloves promise beneficial shock absorption, less stress, a firm grip and durability. The technology was first developed for hockey gloves, then baseball gloves and mitts.
Made of cabretta leathers, the Bionic glove contains strategic anatomical relief pads for thumb, fingers and palm. It promotes natural hand closure by catering to various "motion" and "web" zones.
|
|
| The Bionic Golf Glove received the Arthritis Foundation's Ease-of-Use Commendation. |
The glove's controversy stems from it being ruled non-conforming to the Rules of Golf by the U.S. Golf Association, primarily due to its shaping of the palm. H&B actually took the unusual step of submitting the glove for approval -- many gloves by other companies are never submitted -- because it does want the "conforming" seal for use in tournament and handicap play.
"We believe all golfers can benefit from this technology, and we took great care to design the glove for USGA approval," said Paul Clark, Bionic division president.
According to an H&B representative, the company planned to meet this week with the USGA and lodge an appeal in a bid to get the Bionic glove ruled "conforming." Should the appeal fail, the company said it would consider legal action.
RADARGOLF BALL
Based in Roseville, Calif., RadarGolf has produced both a ballfinding technology and a ball to help golfers locate errant or hard-to-find shots, literally, in a matter of seconds.
The primary device is called a RadarGolf HandHeld, complete with LCD display and audio tone. The RadarGolf balls are equipped with microchips so that the HandHeld, using radio frequency technology, can locate the ball in the rough, in the woods, or maybe in the fairway but just under a pile of leaves in the fall.
Eventually, the company would like to license its microchip technology to major ball manufacturers while it would continue to sell the HandHeld devices. In the meantime, it is offering the RadarGolf System -- the HandHeld and a dozen very credible looking balls (made by Fantom) -- for $249, beginning in June. Replacement balls are priced at $39 per dozen, although as company rep Guy Peters said, "With RadarGolf, you won't be losing any balls."
HEAVY PUTTER
Three new Heavy Putter models were on display by this fledgling manufacturer which is based in South Salem, N.Y.
Weighing a whopping 450 to 550 grams, which is 90 percent more than standard putters, Heavy Putters combine heavy-mass putterheads with a Weight Management System consisting of heavy upper-shaft insert and interchangeable tip weights to create a balance point 75 percent higher than conventional putters.
What does that mean to golfers? The promise is greater stability and a consistent swing path and speed.
The three new putter models: A3, a blade-style head with a heel mounted, double-bend shaft; B1, mallet-style head with center-mounted shaft; B3, mallet-style head with heel-mounted, double-bend shaft.
Suggested retail price is $239 each.
SUNBUSTER GLASSES
Developed by the makers of the GustBuster umbrella, SunBuster is a new type of lens -- also adaptable for prescription glass wearers -- designed to enhance reading putts.
"The PuttReaders lens is a byproduct of what we call 'ColorScience,' " said Steven Asman, SunBuster president. "Special lens colors are scientifically designed to achieve specific vision perception. In the case of PuttReaders, it is designed to reduce the amount of the color green … [and] allows the brain to perceive colors like brown, yellow and red which define the grain, undulations and contours of a green."
Lightweight and available in two stylish frame models, and several color patterns, suggested retail price for the SunBuster glasses is $90. The company is based in Farmingdale, N.Y.
PROLENGTH-MAX TEES
Pride Sports, based in Burnham, Maine, and the world's leading producer of golf tees, introduced its 4-inch ProLength-Max tee, the longest allowed under UGSA rules.
Already making tees in seven lengths, ProLength-Max is designed to meet the growing use of large-headed drivers.
"While the long golf tee phenomenon has surpassed our expectations, we never thought it would take us to the legal 4-inch limit," said Leo Kahl, Pride director of marketing. "Tour players. .. now demand longer tees for their drivers and have pushed us to deliver a 4-inch model."
Other popular lengths in the Pride portfolio include the standard 2 1/8-inch Shortee, 2¾-inch ProLength and 3¼-inch ProLength-Plus.
Suggested retail price for a 50-pack of the new four-inch ProLength-Max tees is $4.99.
PUTTER TOWEL
Made by Devant Sport Towels, which is based in Monroe, N.C., the Putter Towel features a functional clip that snaps onto a putter shaft for use on or around the green. The towel is meant to complement the golf bag towel, not replace it, and can be left on the putter when not in use.
It can also be clipped onto an iron shaft for use from tee to green, to help provide a resting place for irons or wedges, and keep them clean and free from grass clippings or morning dew.
Made of heavyweight velour terry, and featuring two ply yarns and double shearing, the towel is 10 x 16 inches in color patterns of khaki/khaki, navy/khaki, black/red and hunter/khaki. Suggested retail price is $10.
"Golfers always need a towel around the greens, but they don't like to hang it from their pocket or continually throw it to the ground," said Devant president Rick Sheppard.
Still, you should remove the towel before putting.
