PGA Show Spotlight: The 10 Most Impressive Finds for Golfers
Golf Clubs
As its name suggests, the Cobra Darkspeed LS Driver is defined by a highly aerodynamic design. Instead of just the crown, the entire clubhead is streamlined, giving it a bullet-like appearance and making it as aerodynamic as possible at all positions during the swing—not just when the clubface is square to the target. The power bridge is cast in titanium and positioned so the center of gravity is low (for reduced spin) and as far forward as possible (for speed). $550; cobragolf.com
The Mizuno ST-Max 230 Fairway Wood features an expanded Cortech Chamber positioned close to the clubface, which allows the face to flex and return energy to the ball, improving ball speeds on shots hit almost anywhere on the face. A speed bevel at the leading edge promotes better turf interaction and the face itself is crafted from forged titanium called Ti-LFS, which means it’s lighter, stronger, and faster than previous generations. Thus, golfers can trust the club to increase shot distance, produce a higher-launching shot, and gain more forgiveness because of the larger club head. $300; mizunogolf.com
Inspired by the way a Ping Anser putter stays perfectly on plane (tour pros occasionally turn it sideways and putt with the toe), company founder Nakul Sood created the Incred Golf RFB Putter, a patented, center-shafted, face-down club that’s designed with the weight positioned forward (in front of the shaft), which allows it to act like a natural pendulum. The placement of that weight also keeps a player’s hands slightly ahead of the putter head, replicating the benefits of a forward press without requiring golfers to adjust their technique. From $400; incred.golf
Shoes & Fashion Accessories
The UA Drive Pro Golf Shoes are out to prove that what golfers have on their feet is just as important as the club in their hands. Through a partnership with a world-renowned golf biochemist, sports apparel company Under Armour has created a spiked shoe with a unique lockdown lacing system that supports the foot in all directions during the golf swing. It also boasts a directional traction system created in tandem with Softspikes engineers that allows players to maximize ground force reactions. The result: purer contact with the ball, not to mention better distance and accuracy. $170; underarmour.com
Performance sunglass lenses for golf are nothing new. Where Uswing Sunglasses differentiate themselves is their ability to focus golfers’ vision and keep them calm, through a specialized grayish-green tint similar to that of the glasses worn by airplane pilots. Uswing’s glasses utilize an anti-collision polycarbonate material, offer UV400 protection, and block out the majority of distracting blue light. And they weigh only 21 grams, which means they’ll never interfere with your swing. From $400; uswingeyewear.com
Digital Accessories
When Bushnell launched its Pro X3 rangefinder in the fall of 2022, the laser-aided device stood out for its “elements” setting that could provide adjusted distances that not only accounted for changes in elevation but also utilized a pressure sensor to incorporate altitude, temperature, and barometric pressure. The latest update to that device brings in one more natural element. When users connect the device to the company’s mobile app, the Bushnell Pro X3+ displays wind speed and direction, which it gathers from the closest weather station to the course. Even more impressive, those wind measurements are updated every minute. $600; bushnellgolf.com
Many amateurs struggle to bring their better swings from the driving range onto the course, and often don’t know how their swings change while they’re playing. The GameTraX 360 provides the data to explain all of that. Incorporating SkyGolf’s new SuperTags—sensors that attach to the butt end of every club—as well as the brand’s SkyCaddie rangefinder, the app-driven product automatically tracks club data for every swing on the course, allowing golfers to not only track their shots from tee to green but to understand where and how certain swings broke down. skygolf.com
Training Aid
The handiwork of Dylan Horowitz, a 20-year-old collegiate golfer who created a makeshift version of the device when he was 16, the Kavooa Pro training aid allows golfers to work on key areas of the golf swing, fixing common mistakes along the way. Atop an adjustable tripod base, two lateral arms can be positioned in several unique ways to help you in stabilizing the head through your swing to minimize lateral movement (and improve ball striking) and—the most common flaw—correcting transitions so you don’t come “over the top” as you start your downswing. $130; kavooagolf.com
Pushcart
The lightweight, three-wheeled Alphard Golf CyberCart is revolutionizing the pushcart industry by way of an upgrade kit ($1,000) that allows users to swap out the cart’s rear wheels for the Hong Kong–based company’s Club Booster V2. Essentially a transaxle with motors built into the wheels and a battery and electronic components set into the body, the upgrade turns the pushcart into a remote-controlled, motorized version. And thanks to motors in the wheels, the electrified CyberCart can fold down into a compact size for easy storage—something other motorized carts cannot do. From $300; alphardgolf.com
Simulator
The latest prototype simulator from South Korea’s Golf VX doesn’t yet have a name, but it’s certain to attract attention when it launches in the United States late this year. Featuring a swing plate powered by eight, independent motors, the forthcoming simulator can contort its hitting mat into more than 19,000 different positions, better replicating the uneven terrain of a real golf course. The future model also features an overhead projector that displays all the measurable data from the previous swing and shot onto the mat in front of the golfer, making it easy to analyze the metrics of the last shot in preparation for the next one. Over $50,000; golfvx.com
