By Ross MacDonald, Equipment Editor
Here we are, well into fall, and the golf world is still abuzz. Many courses are so busy, in fact, that they’re squeezing in extra tee times between regular times. And the feeding frenzy for times shows no signs of abating until courses officially close or the snow flies.
The floodgates have opened, a far cry from those days of yore (okay, a couple of years ago) when we were bemoaning slow equipment sales, too much white space on tee sheets, and declining membership sales.
As pandemic restrictions loosened, golfers of all stripes, from newcomers to seasoned diehards, flocked to courses. Tee times became a precious commodity, online booking systems were overwhelmed, membership sales flourished, and private club waiting lists spiked. Depending on how you looked at it, it was either the best of times, or, if you couldn’t get a tee time, a case of ‘be careful what you wish for.’
Indeed, the golf business wasn’t quite ready to handle the surge in pretty much everything the game had to offer. Walking was one of the few activities left standing last spring after COVID-19 put a halt to pretty much everything else. And when golf courses were allowed to operate under certain restrictions, walkers became an especially important target market for the golf industry.
The futility of trying to buy a push cart was pretty much a microcosm of how the demand for golf equipment was outracing supply, a situation exacerbated by supply chain glitches originating in Asia. As many golfers abandoned doubling up in electric carts for the social distancing of walking on their own, push carts were suddenly a hot commodity. Trouble was, most clubs had a limited number available for members or guests, and retailers and their suppliers scrambled to the meet the demand. Who would have imagined it — three-wheel push carts had become an endangered specie!
Needless to say, the golf business is still trying to catch its breath, and 2022 promises to be another banner one. While supply chain challenges will continue to be somewhat of a concern in the immediate future, the projected consumer demand for equipment has companies excited about what’s ahead.
Let’s have a closer look at what should be hot in the coming year.
Srixon irons are showing up in more and more bags these days, with players of all levels finding something to their liking. The forged ZX5 and ZX7 cavity-back irons are both a couple of eye catchers, each packed with the latest Srixon technology. The ZX7 is a one-piece forged cavity back designed for better players. With its compact shape, slim topline, and narrow sole, the blade-like ZX7 gets the highest grade in the looks department. The ZX5’s multi-piece construction is a great fit for players looking for more distance and forgiveness. Its look at address belies the fact it’s a game-improvement iron.
Cleveland called on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create the MainFrame technology that drives their XL Launcher and Launcher XL Halo irons. This variable thickness pattern on the back of each iron maximizes COR and ball speed for more distance. Grooves, channels and cavities work together to increase face flex at impact and promote distance, launch and accuracy, regardless of where a shot is hit on the face. The streamlined look of the XL Launcher cleverly conceals the game-improvement technology that’s inside. With their hybrid-style design, the XL Halo irons provide even more of a game-improvement advantage.
Besides its exciting new Milled Grind 3 wedges and P·790 irons, TaylorMade’s flagship TP5 and TP5x balls, along with the TP5 pix and TP5x pix versions, will continue to be the choice for many players. The P·790 has an ‘intelligent sweet spot,’ the result of head reconstruction that lowered the sweet spot on the face to better capture common strike points. The Raw Face technology on the Milled Grind 3 wedge produces the most aggressive spin of any TaylorMade wedge to date.
Other key products in the TaylorMade lineup include: the Hi-Toe Raw wedge, which features a face that rusts over time to produce even more spin and control; P770 irons, designed for better players who want the extra pop that fast-face technology delivers, but in a smaller package; the P7MC iron, a forged design for the very best ball-strikers with a muscle cavity for great feel and feedback; and the P7MB iron, a forged muscleback blade designed for the world’s best ball strikers.
What’s hot at Tour Edge is exactly that — their Hot Launch series, which features the E522 and C522 lines, both of which come in drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, iron-woods and wedges. The company has incorporated aspects of their ever-popular Exotics line — the choice of a growing number of tour professionals — into the 522 series. ‘E’ is for Extreme Spec, super game-improvement clubs with exceptionally low center of gravity (CG), shallow clubfaces, more offset and shorter shaft lengths — all in an effort to allow players to easily get the ball in the air. ‘C’ is for Competition Spec, game-improvement designs, which have classic shapes and sit square at address. They have a high moment of inertia (MOI) for added forgiveness, but with the technology to launch the ball with more speed. Both the E522 and C522 metals feature 42 diamond shapes of varied thickness behind the face to enhance and widen the sweet spot. ES522 woods also have Control Length shafts, designed to improve accuracy, increase smash factor and create more contact in the center of the face.
Honma might seem like the new kid on the block, but this Japanese company has been making the world’s most beautifully crafted clubs for over 50 years. They take a unique holistic approach to club design, with both the head and shaft synergized during the development process to maximize performance. The company offers something for players of all abilities, including its premium BERES range of products. Offered in 2, 3, 4, and 5-Star Grades, BERES provides progressive layers of lightweight performance and luxury for players with a smoother tempo. The T // World range offers Tour-validated, performance-forward drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, forged irons and tour wedges that will meet the demands of the advanced player with the tightest of tolerances.
Their name may be synonymous with premium putters, but Bettinardi Golf is also making a name for itself with tour-quality wedges. They’ve expanded the stunning HLX 3.0 line with a limited run of their first raw wedge. A great looker with a beautiful Texas Tea finish, the wedge, which will rust over time, creates a much softer feel at impact, while also providing greater versatility, control and forgiveness on approach and greenside shots. The C-Grind is available in 50-, 52- and 54-, 56-, 58- and 60-degree lofts. The RJ-grind comes in 56, 58 and 60 degrees. The RJ-grind has two degrees more bounce, making it better suited for players with a steeper swing.
ECCO continues to put its best foot forward with the men’s and women’s BIOM Hybrid 4. It offers a modern, updated look and feel with the same reliable BIOM® NATURAL MOTION® Technology, which translates into low-to-the-ground stability, anatomical support and a glove-like fit. There are two colours for both men and women in 2022. Also new for men will be the BIOM H4 BOA. With no laces to tie, it’s easy to dial in a precision fit.
A legendary name for over 50 years when it comes to carry and stand bags, Jones Sports continues its time-honored tradition with the latest Utility Rover. The new Ripstone nylon material — made from PET, a recyclable plastic — highlights the style and functionality we’ve come to expect from Jones. It comes with single and double-strap options, six pockets to hold everything from extra clothing and a mid-round beverage to a Bluetooth speaker, and a ring to attach a rangefinder. And at only 3.5 lbs., it makes carrying easy.
Cobra always has something exciting up its sleeve, and 2022 will be no different. The company says its new lineup of Cobra clubs will defy expectations and definitely capture the attention of better players. Similarly, PUMA Golf will continue to grow and answer the needs of golfers seeking style and performance.
Mizuno continues to build its reputation for wedge and driver excellence with their new T22 wedges and ST-G 220 driver. The T22 is available in four sole grinds to match different swing characteristics and turf conditions, and the grooves, which deliver great performance in wet weather, have a longer effective lifespan. The latest edition of Mizuno’s ST-Series drivers has a deeper face, easy adjustability — up to four degrees (7-11) — and shorter lateral weight tracks that allow for two central back weights. The tracks/movable weights combination provides the flexibility for more of a draw or fade bias, or low or mid-spin.
Laser rangefinders and GPS golf watches are unofficially the 15th club for many golfers these days. And as the market grows, Garmin and GolfBuddy are taking dead aim at it with their extensive choice of measuring devices. Hot off the production line, Garmin’s Approach R10 finds the company getting into another growing market — launch monitors. It checks off all the boxes for features, and even at its market-low price point, its features compare to similar and far more expensive competitor products.
Golf Buddy has three exciting new products. The compact and sporty GB LASER lite is loaded with features that belie its cost. It’s smaller and lighter than most rangefinders on the market, yet has a 0.5-second click measure and an 800-yard range that’s accurate to within one yard. The aim W11 GPS watch is loaded with features that build on the functionality and aesthetics of the aim W10. The number one selling voice unit in golf, the GB VOICE 2 se is the golf measurement device that talks to you.
Anyone who says golf isn’t colorful has obviously never seen a Volvik ball. The company is the undisputed leader in the coloured-ball market. Their latest cover designs include MARVEL superheroes — Thor, Black Panther, Captain America, Ironman and the Hulk — and Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and 101 Dalmatians.
The ’T’ in Titleist’s T-Series irons could stand for tantalizing or technology-packed. There’s a model for everyone, including the tour-inspired T100ii, more forgiving T200ii, and the T300, which promotes maximum forgiveness and distance.
The Callaway story has been an Epic one, framed by what the company calls the ‘future of speed’ found in its Epic Max, Epic Speed and Epic MAX LS drivers. Speed, preferred ball flight, forgiveness . . . and so much more. Also look for the Apex UW to be a big seller. UW stands for utility wood — not quite a fairway, not quite a hybrid, but instead a bit of both.
Ping is arguably most famous for their putters, but much of the buzz these days is around their deep lineup of drivers and irons. One number you hear a lot is 425. The G425 MAX,
G425 LST and G425 SFT drivers and fairways offer something for all swing speeds, ball-flight preferences and forgiveness needs. The G425 irons look great, have a soft feel and produce plenty of ball speed thanks to variable face thickness.
Bridgestone continues to set the standard for making sure everyone can play a ball that optimizes performance. The Tour B X and B XS are for swing speeds over 105 mph, with the X targeted to players who want higher ball speed for maximum distance, and the XS for players wanting softer feel and maximum greenside spin. The Tour B RX and B RXS are for swing speeds under 105 mph.
Nancy Lopez Golf remains the go-to company for women looking to fill all their equipment needs in one convenient package. Lopez offers a variety of attractive Flame and Diva package sets, which include an 11-piece set (including putter) with graphite shafts, and a cart bag with matching head covers and a rain hood.
Wilson remains one of the most respected names in golf, with Major champions like Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Gary Woodland all enjoying long associations with the company. Their Staff blades are as inviting as they’ve always been, and other irons like the D9 add the typically stylish Wilson design to game-improvement irons that have a generous sweet spot and offer ample forgiveness.
