Showcasing The 2011 PGA Golf Show
When they say everything in the States is bigger they were obviously talking about the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, host to the annual PGA Golf Show. The world of golf descends into the centre for 3 days of buying, meetings, display, education, seminars and everything to do with golf.
Ahead of the show is The Demo Day which is held on a 72 acre circular driving range at a country club just outside of Orlando, where all the equipment companies set up and buyers and golf show attendees can hit balls out into the driving range. All the big companies were there but a lot of interest was focused on the new Taylor Made R11 and Superfast 2.0. There were some interesting irons from Fourteen Golf and a huge blow up dimpled tent from Cobra which was more about the DJ playing music inside rather than the new clubs on display. From dedicated short game areas to putting greens full of every putter imaginable there was no shortage of things to see and try. I spent about 4 hours rambling around the range and took advantage of all the golf trick shows, Tour player ball hitting demos and great customer feedback from the US guys hitting balls and when I filled my boots with all the information I headed back to get ready for the main event.
The first day of the show kicked off at 8am with PGA Tour player Matt Kuchar hitting a ball from the front door of the convention centre out into the crowd. The usual suspects were set up with huge stands in full force with an obvious muscle flexing amongst the big boys or whose stand is bigger.
Golf Brands at the PGA Golf Show
Titleist had one of the biggest stands at the show with 14 foot pyramids of golf balls and every single piece of the range from clubs to FJ shoes. The new 910 driver, fairway woods and hybrids were on display but the iron range stays the same for this year. The Scotty Cameron putter display got lots of attention as did the new Pro V1 ball. For such a large stand there wasn’t lots of business being done but rather just an air of quiet but confident.
Callaway had the whole family of Razr products on show with the new Octane drivers and the dart Odyssey putters they had a really nice display with a full size Lamborghini car in the middle of the stand to highlight the joint technological collaboration between the two companies in developing forged composite, which is what the drivers are made of. Callaway look like they are getting back on track with their products and after a very positive meeting with the head guys I am very hopeful for their future.
TaylorMade Golf had by all accounts the biggest area at the show with their own stand complete with not only Adidas, Ashworth and Taylor Made showrooms and order areas but also a clubhouse and deck that overlooked their own indoor driving range.
Cleveland Golf Srixon are the real company on the move with a very neat range of products in the CG16 irons and wedges and XL, SL and TL drivers. The new fairway woods and Mashie hybrid tops off some great new products from this firmly focused brand. There is also the introduction of the super new shaft from Miyazaki which comes under their umbrella and is the first shaft to have a code to decipher what flex you are, a truly innovative product and the hottest thing in shaft technology. Follow that with the new Never Compromise putter which has been resurrected by Adam Sheldon to become one of the best new putter designs in the world. Wrap all this up with their recent golden boy signing; our very own Graeme McDowell and you have a company on the crest of a wave.
Ping had a stand that seemed to be more about promoting their n-flight fitting technology and custom fitting and yet less about their clubs. Ping amaze me at how much money and effort they put into the promoting the whole fitting process and yet they only offer two steel shafts for their irons and a handful of shafts for their woods. Their philosophy is a bit like the old Henry Ford saying, “You can have any colour you like as long as it’s black”
Cobra were all about being and looking cool with vibrant colours and big pictures of Ricky Barnes and Ian Poulter everywhere. They even had DJ’s on the stand with mixing decks blasting out the latest tunes and
definitely stole the award for “too cool for school”. However there was barely a club in sight on their stand and maybe in an attempt to look good they forgot about what they should be trying to sell.
Wilson did not have a stand at the show and nor did Mizuno or funnily enough Nike. I did speak with the guys from Wilson as they had a room just off the main hall which was set up for meetings and a showroom. I am pleased to report that we have put together a deal with Wilson which will see some exciting plans for 2011. The lack of exposure for Nike sent a clear message that they are struggling with the brand and with the falling of their brand hero from World #1 it looks like the swoosh could be in a spot of bother.
Shafts & Grips at the PGA Golf Show
Aldila had very little new on the stand except for a variation on the RIP shaft and for all intent and purposes they seem focused on developing their brand with own branded shafts for the Titleist, Taylor Made and Callaway’s of this world.
Golf Pride were a busy hive of activity and had a new grip to launch called the VDR which has a triple compound material for more grip and better dampening. It feels like a cross between a cord grip and a tour velvet.
Oban Shafts launched the new Kiyoshi shaft and are holding true to their policy of not selling out to the big brands and are staying true to quality shafts supplied to proper club makers and people who want the best shaft for the golfer.
I met a great guy called Tom Akigami from Elite grips who has a super putter grip that has a kind of finger weight that slides down inside the shaft butt and allows the weight to be adjusted up and down the shaft to counter balance the club and aid with putter balance.
Training Aids at the PGA Golf Show
Perfect Golf Labs Putting unit and swing guide had one of the best little stands at the show and I take my hat off to the guys who have a swing guide machine that beats the Explanar and also a putting trainer that is by far the best putting training device I have ever seen.
Flightscope take the award for jaw dropping technology with their new X2 launch monitor that uses doplar radar to track your ball flight through a wireless box that sits on the ground behind the hit and then transports a number of screens showing every aspect of the ball flight through wirelessly to an iPad that you hold in your hand. Cool is not the word.
I came across a super alignment aid to help with swing path teaching aid. The T2Hole is endorsed by the great teacher Denis Pugh and took my award for best swing guide at the show
Clothing and Accessories at the PGA Golf Show
Hirzl have a new glove on the market and by all accounts it is one of the most innovative products to hit the glove market in years, Imagine a glove that has great grip, is soft and fits great and lasts 20 times longer. Makes sense? I though so.
Bridgestone balls are all about fitting the ball to the player and while others are attempting to corner this innovative idea of having a ball that suits you and your ball flight requirements, Bridgestone have the whole process nailed down. We are working on a ball testing guide here at ForeGolf and we will be launching it soon to our customers and readers.
Under Armour looks to be the new big clothing brand set to light the world on fire with its new line of innovative fabrics and modern designs. They are well known for their outstanding under garments for warming and cooling properties. They also do a great range of golf trousers and are the ones to watch.
Within the new innovator section there was a small company with the best idea of the show. Big Wigz have driver head decals that stick on the top of the driver heads. You can choose from a wide range of different stock designs or simply upload your favourite picture or design that the guys will print off and ship to you. You then heat your driver head and stick the vinyl decal onto the head and voila, a cool looking driver.
Druh belts were well represented by Hurdy, the man who runs this cool belt company. For all things for around your waist these boys own it with some great designs and wicked buckles.
Trion Z had some cool new magnetic pads that stick inside your shoes and help to stimulate blood flow and act as a “super” orthotic that helps with muscle pain and fatigue. These guys look after Rory McIlroy with all his well known bracelets and this is their latest offering.
The last stand where I bumped into someone I knew was at Galway Bay Apparel where my good mate Mark Murphy from Waterville showed me all the benefits of a functional all weather waterproof trouser. He should know all about extreme weather coming from the bottom of Kerry and the pants he was demonstrating did tick all the boxes of a cross between a waterproof trouser and a normal pant.
The PGA show in Orlando was both exhausting and exhilarating but it is where the season starts as far as golf is concerned and it’s where everyone and everything to do with golf is, all at the same time. If it’s not at the show it’s not worth talking about.
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