Equipment

PUMA's Zero Limits shoe a 'tuxedo equivalent' to regular golf shoes
May 9, 2013 - 9:42am
TJ Auclair's picture
PUMA's Zero Limits
PUMA
PUMA's Zero Limits golf shoe.

 

PUMA has long been known as one of the younger, flashier apparel and footwear lines in golf. Look no further than PUMA endorser/posterboy Rickie Fowler, who is routinely the easiest player to pick out on any golf course.
 
Along with its colorful and bold offerings, PUMA also offers some fantastic gear for those seeking a more refinded look without sacrificing the comfort they've come to expect from PUMA.
 
That's where the Zero Limits shoe comes into the picture, which PUMA calls, "the regular golf shoe's fancy tuxedo equivalent."
 
Offered in a black-white-cherry tomato or white-black-PUMA silver scheme, these shoes are perfect to wear with both shorts and slacks.
 
Here is the description of the new PUMA Zero Limits:
 
The footwear choice that'll impress even the snooty golf club members. All luxe, premium leathers, the Zero Limits -- which keeps things classy in a refined black and white palette -- is the regular golf shoe's fancy tuxedo equivalent. There's some pretty cool tech to it, too: the shoe's TPU forefoot and heel are connected by a carbon fiber shank in the shoe's DUO FLHT Chassis, which provides stability for the golfer yet still allows for torsional movement. Grippiness comes in with 14 replaceable S2Quill spikes along with molded S2QuillTec spikes. And then there's the cushioning, the breathability, the waterproof-iness... we'll stop there. Let's be honest -- we had you at snooty golf club, didn't we.
 
Features:
- Luxe, premium leather upper
- 14 replaceable S2Quill spikes for maximum grip, paired with directionally molded S2QuillTec spikes for added green-friendly traction
- DUO FLHT Chassis, featuring TPU in the forefoot and heel connected by a carbon fiber DUO FLHT XRS Shank for optimum power, leverage, and control
- Decoupled heel construction with flex grooves for shock absorption and a smooth heel-to-toe transition
- Compression molded EVA cushioning in the forefoot and heel, with strategically-placed EverFoam cushioning at the heel for a comfortable fit
- Breathable OrthoLite sockliner for optimum fit and comfort
- stormCELL designation for highly functional, durable materials with waterproofing guaranteed for two years
- PINS (Performance INsert System by Pride) technology for a lower-to-the-ground construction that provides more immediate response for a more consistent swing
- Men's performance last to accommodate a wide variety of golfers
- Lace closure for a snug fit
- PUMA Formstrip at lateral and medial sides
- PUMA Cat Logo at tongue, forefoot, and heel
 
The PUMA Zero Limits golf shoes retail for right around $200. To learn more about the Zero Limits shoes and all of PUMA's other golf offerings, click here.
 
Follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter, @tj_auclair.
PUMA's Zero Limits shoe a 'tuxedo equivalent' to regular golf shoes
Bushnell Tour Z6 Wingman Pack benefits Folds of Honor Foundation
May 8, 2013 - 11:30pm
John Holmes's picture
Bushnell Tour Z6 Wingman Pack
Courtesy of Bushnell Golf
The Bushnell Tour Z6 allows golfers to instantaneously zero in on flags up to 450 yards away, with up to 18-inch accuracy.

The 2013 Tour Z6 Wingman Pack is Bushnell's newest golf laser rangefinder. It's also the latest Bushnell product whose sales benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.

"Building off the great success of the original Patriot Pack, we are ecstatic to provide consumers with this Tour Z6 Wingman Pack and are pleased to add another product to the mix that will support Major Rooney's incredible foundation," said Phil Gyori, managing director for North America. "For as long as consumers continue to look for ways to support the Folds of Honor Foundation and gravitate to Bushnell's industry-leading products, we'll be privileged to be a partner and support the foundation."

Extra-small but extra-powerful, the Tour Z6 is Bushnell’s most technically advanced rangefinder, which allows golfers to instantaneously zero in on flags up to 450 yards away, with up to 18-inch accuracy. Featuring 6x magnification (objects appear 6 times closer) through a premium lens coatings for superb optical quality and adjustable diopter setting, the Tour Z6 includes Vivid Display Technology (VDT) for clear sighting in all lighting conditions.

The Tour Z6 comes with a two-year warranty. And long with the rangefinder itself, the Wingman Pack includes a limited-edition Bushnell Golf/FHF embroidered microfiber golf towel, premium carrying case and battery for a suggested retail price of $399.

Earlier this year, Bushnell unveiled two new Patriot Packs featuring the Tour v3 and Tour v3 Slope rangefinders. The all-new Patriot Packs come equipped with a Tour v3 or Tour v3 Slope, Bushnell and FHF bag tag, protective carrying case and exclusive Bushnell Golf and FHF-branded golf tees with a suggested retail price of $299 (Tour v3) and $399 (Tour v3 Slope). 

Founded by Maj. Dan Rooney in 2007, the Folds of Honor Foundation provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of service members disabled or killed during U.S. military service. Rooney, a former F-16 pilot who served three tours in Iraq, founded Folds of Honor Foundation to ensure that families of fallen service men and women are never left behind.

In addition to the contribution, Bushnell has partnered with country music star Craig Morgan on a donation download program benefitting the Folds of Honor. A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Morgan wrote and dedicated a song titled "What Matters Most" to the heroes Folds of Honor Foundation supports. The track, a tribute to the millions of service men and women who defend America's freedom, parallels the stories of so many who have lost loved ones on the field of battle. For each download of "What Matters Most," Bushnell will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to the Folds of Honor.

To learn more about Folds of Honor, visit www.foldsofhonor.org. For more information on Bushnell, visit www.bushnellgolf.com.

 
Bushnell Tour Z6 Wingman Pack benefits Folds of Honor Foundation
Oakley's golf-specific, G30 Iridium lens perfect for the course
May 7, 2013 - 9:17am
TJ Auclair's picture
Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ, G30 Iridium
Oakley
The Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ, G30 Iridium golf-specific sunglasses are perfect for enhancing the details of a golf course.

 

Most of the sunglasses worn by players on the PGA Tour are made by Oakley. And it's not just because the glasses look cool. Believe it or not, they can help your game.
 
Oakley's G30 Iridium lens promises to provide more detail, more definition and more depth perception so you can analyze the slope and see the smallest variations in grass grain.
 
Here's what Oakley has to say about the glasses, which are offered in the Flak Jacket XLJ style in the colors Polished Black and Polished White:
 
You’ll have the performance of razor-sharp vision that helps you avoid the bunkers and the rough, along with balanced light transmission that lets you read every nuance of the green and precisely gauge ball speed. World-class golfers consider Oakley eyewear to be essential equipment, so if you really want to improve your game, don’t stop at the right club. Get the right lens: Oakley G30 Iridium.
 
The golf environment challenges your vision in very specific ways. We engineered the G30 Iridium lens with precisely balanced light transmission to give you the best possible clarity, contrast and depth perception on the course. For us, lens tints are a science and an art, and every aspect of G30™ Iridium® was designed to maximize your vision for the game.
 
Think you know where the pin is? If you’re looking through ordinary sunglass lenses, you’re probably wrong. Inferior lenses can magnify what you see and fool your brain into thinking the hole is shifted from its true position. They can also corrupt clarity, and with all the eye fatigue, you may as well add a penalty stroke to every hole. We solved those problems with High Definition Optics (HDO).
 
Oakley HDO is a collection of patented technologies that ensure precise, accurate vision with razor-sharp clarity. We developed HDO for the world’s best athletes and for action sports where visual fidelity is the difference between going home with a medal and going home with a body cast. With HDO, you’ll see everything exactly where it is, and you’ll get the added benefits of unrivaled impact resistance and 100% UV filtering.
 
Oakley G30 Iridium is also available in a premium HDPolarized version that eliminates 99% of reflected glare.
 
The Flak Jacket XLJ frames provide superior comfort and -- aside from the enhanced details of the course you'll no doubt enjoy -- you won't even know you're wearing sunglasses.
 
To learn more aboout the Flak Jacket XLJ and the G30 Iridium lens, which retail for $150, click here.
 
Follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter, @tj_auclair.
Oakley's golf-specific, G30 Iridium lens perfect for the course
Cobra to release red, white and blue AMP Cell driver
May 6, 2013 - 4:42pm
John Holmes's picture
Cobra AMP Cell Pro driver
Courtesy of Cobra Golf
The red, white and blue Cobra AMP Cell Pro drivers will come complete with all the features found in the regular AMP Cell Pro drivers – most significantly Cobra's MyFly Technology.

With the U.S. Open coming up fast, Cobra has unveiled plans to release a limited edition of its AMP Cell Pro driver decked out in red, white and blue. 

The tri-colored drivers will be available on June 1, but only 600 will be made. Each will be marked with a '1 of 600' decal on the sole for authenticity. 

''We love driving excitement around our brand with limited edition products,'' said Cobra Director of Product Marketing Jose Miraflor. ''The golfing community is so patriotic, especially around the U.S. Open. We felt it was the perfect time to introduce a limited edition color to our AMP Cell Pro Driver line.'' 

The patriotic powersticks will come complete with all the features found in the regular AMP Cell Pro drivers – most significantly Cobra's MyFly Technology, which allows golfers to optimize their distance and trajectory by selecting among several lofts with a simple wrench. 

Cobra's E9 Face Technology with dual roll provides an elliptical face shape with a canted bulge and roll that improves both distance and accuracy on mis-hits from heel to toe and above and below the centerline. Advanced Material Placement and Cell technology work together to enable a 12 percent larger face for faster ball speeds and more stability, even on mis-hits. 

The Cell band, which wraps around the crown, shows golfers where the bulk of the head's weight is distributed and helps position the Center of Gravity for the kind of ball flight low handicappers prefer.

The red, white and blue driver is available in Stiff and Regular flexes and features an Aldila RIP Phenom shaft. The grip, headcover and even the wrench match the head's patriotic color scheme. The driver carries a suggested retail price of $499.

For more information, visit www.cobra.com or see the Cobra brand pages on PGA.com.

 

 

 
Cobra to release red, white and blue AMP Cell driver
Nike Verdana club set for women is light and fast
May 2, 2013 - 11:25pm
John Holmes's picture
Nike Verdana women's golf clubs
Courtesy of Nike Golf
The Nike Verdana set of women's golf clubs is a "total game solution" that includes 11 lightweight clubs that takes distance gapping, trajectory and spin profiles into account.

Designed from the grip down, the new Verdana line is the lightest women's set Nike Golf has ever produced. 

Nike describes the Verdana set as a "total game solution" that includes 11 clubs: a driver, 3-wood, three hybrids, 7-iron through pitching wedge, sand wedge and putter, along with a matching carry bag. This full-set design takes distance gapping, trajectory and spin profiles into account, producing a set engineered just for women.

"The set was designed specifically for female athletes looking to maximize distance and control," said Tom Stites, Nike's director of club product creation. "With this ultralight set, slower swing speeds can now gain more distance without sacrificing control the course demands."

The Verdana driver features a full-sized 460cc head with additional loft for higher trajectory. The 18-degree 3-wood features a low center of gravity in a large-breadth profile for more forgiveness and easier ball striking. 

The hybrids – a 4-hybrid with 24 degrees of loft, a 5-hybrid with 27 degrees of loft and a 6-hybrid with 30-degrees of loft – feature wide soles and deeper iron-like faces with a slight offset. These characteristics, Nike explains, allow more forgiveness from a variety of angles and lies.

The irons and wedges include a wider sole design and larger face profiles to help improve contact. The faces also are of variable thickness, which helps to improve shots even when mis-hit. And the Verdana putter is a classically shaped blade with a 33-inch shaft.

The Nike Verdana carry bag boasts a lightweight ergonomic design for ease of use, even weight distribution and improved comfort. The bag is designed to be used on a cart but includes a stand and dual straps for easy carrying.

The clubs are available in standard and petite (minus 1 inch) lengths, and are available now. They carry a street price of $899.99 per set.

For more information on Nike Golf clubs, visit www.nike.com or see the Nike Golf brand pages on pga.com.

 

 
Nike Verdana club set for women is light and fast
Padraig Harrington switches to long putter
May 2, 2013 - 2:30pm
John Holmes's picture
Padraig Harrington
Getty Images
Padraig Harrington used a regulation-length putter as recently as the Masters, but put a long model into play on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Few people tinker with their games more than Padraig Harrington – this is the guy, after all, who won three majors and then decided to rebuild his swing. And this year, of course, he has begun to wear eyeglasses on the course.

On Thursday, though, Harrington did something few would have expected – he used a long putter in the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

Why is this a big deal? Here's the scoop from Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press:

Padraig Harrington will try anything that makes him play better golf, even a method of putting he believes should be outlawed. 
 
Despite his support of a proposed rule that would ban anchored strokes, Harrington switched to the belly putter Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship. It didn't appear to help him much -- he made only one birdie in a round of 80 -- but he plans to stick with it. 
 
"I took it out last week, and mechanically, everything I do with my putting stroke is better with the belly putter than without it," he said. 
 
Harrington is a "Working for Golf" ambassador for the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which along with the U.S. Golf Association proposed the new rule last November that would ban the anchored stroke. [The PGA of America and the PGA Tour have spoken out against the proposed rule.] A final ruling is expected by the end of the month. 
 
Switching to the belly putter hasn't changed Harrington's mind. He still thinks it should be banned. Then again, this is an Irishman who wears glasses even though he has 20/20 vision. 
 
Harrington, though, was quick to point out that it's within the rules at the moment, and will be until 2016 even if the governing bodies adopt the proposed rule on anchoring. 
 
"If something is going to help me for the next three years, I'm going to use it," he said. "It's the same as the box grooves. It's hurt me deeply having the box grooves banned, but I knew it wasn't for the good of my game. It was the good of their game." 
 
Harrington has only one official win since the last of his three majors in the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. He has struggled mightily with his putting, and in recent months has been using "SAM PuttLab," which analyzes 28 parameters of the putting stroke. 
 
"I've been working on that for a good while, and my putting stroke has been coming around," Harrington said. "I was bored last Monday and I was like, `Oh, I wonder what that looks like.' And I was surprised to see everything was better. In terms of mechanics, it was a far better stroke." 
 
He used the belly putter in his pro-am round Wednesday and said it went great. 
 
"It wasn't very good today, but I will use it again tomorrow, no doubt," he said. "I just wasn't quite as comfortable, which I kind of knew was coming. The grip of my normal putter is open and the grip of this is square, so I'm not quite used to it yet. There was a bit of resetting when I was over the ball, which, obviously I prefer not to have. But that's just familiarity. It will be interesting to give it another go tomorrow." 
 
Four of the last six major champions have used an anchored putting stroke, starting with Keegan Bradley at the 2011 PGA Championship and the most recent Adam Scott at the Masters, using his broom-handled putter. 
 
Harrington compared the anchored stroke to the change in box grooves, or square grooves, in the 5-iron through wedges. Changes to the dimensions of those grooves went into effect in 2012, and the Irishman said it affected his game. He believes it has cost him at least one shot per round because he hasn't adjusted to the change.
 
Harrington said last year after the British Open -- won by Ernie Els, who used a belly putter -- that he hoped the R&A didn't wait until he was 50 to outlaw anchoring. 
 
Now, he might be on borrowed time. The 41-year-old figures he'll be more competitive before 2016 than after the ban might take effect. 
 
"It's not such a big issue," he said. "But then again, I might use it for the next three years. As I said, I have no problem using something within the rules of the game. If somebody wants to give me a couple of shots handicap, I'll take that, too." 
 
No one was more surprised than Harrington that he went to the belly putter. He messed around with it in recent years and never liked how it felt. Only when he saw the results from his putting analysis did he decide it was worth a shot. 
 
"That encouraged me to get over the `I don't like the feel of this' because I accelerate better, and I do so many things better with it," he said. "Before it was a feel thing. Now I'm saying, `Well, I can get through the feel thing.' If it's going to be a better putting stroke, why not?" 
 
 
Padraig Harrington switches to long putter
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