Archive for the ‘2008 PGA Merchandise Show’ Category

Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fairway Wood - Interview with Bob Ochoa

The new Exotics XCG Fairway wood from Tour Edge golf. Featured on the 2008 Golf Digest Hot List, the new fairway wood is ideal for mid to low handicaps. In this video we talk to Bob Ochoa from Tour Edge to get an hands on look at the new XCG Fairway wood.

2008 Sonartec Tri-brid - Interview with Brandon Delgado

Brandon Delgado gives DemoDayFinder a first glimpse at the upcoming new Hybrid from Sonartec Golf. With only 5 models in the world, Sonartec brought along one of the upcoming clubs to the 2008 PGA Show, and we were there to get a hands on look at this new club. Featured on the 2008 Golf Digest Hot list, this looks like yet another winner in the hybrid category for Sonartec.

The half mile circle of a demo day

If you’ve ever been to a demo day, you probably know what to expect. They’ll let you swing the new clubs, analysis your swing, and give you recommendations on what would work best for you. It’s always been this authors opinion that any time you get to swing a club is a good thing, and demo days allow you to try before you buy allowing you a more informed buying decision.

It was my first visit to the demo day that proceeds the opening of the PGA Merchandise Show. I had expected something on a larger scale than your typical single or even multiple manufacturer demo day that you often will visit. No, this was something different from the outset when we walked to the shuttle to take us to the range at Orange County National Golf Club and Lodge.

The crowd at the gate checking in was massive, a wall of people trying to get their badges and hit the latest gear. We were there early, and yet there was the crowd. As media, we were allowed in without much trouble, a quick scan of our badges and we were in the door. This was an event specifically geared and only open to PGA Golf professionals and invited guests, so we felt privlaged to get to see what has to be the biggest demo day I’ve ever seen.

A half mile in circumference circle, with booth after booth of the latest clubs and analysis equipment. Clubs pros and guests hit drive after drive into the center of the abyss, with golf recover vehicle’s roaming the open ground collecting balls as fast as they were struck. Questions flew almost as quickly as the balls into the range, with pros and guests alike asking all matter of questions to the club designers and sales staff at each booth. “Can I try this in a stiffer shaft and can you put this grip on it,” asked one pro. Within minutes the task was done and he was driving again, noting the difference in his swing to the sales rep.

It was a day of sales and trials for sure. You could talk to your share of sales reps, which would be very happy giving you the breakdown and pitch, but at the same time, you could also talk to many of the people who designed the very club you were holding. It was no sales pitch with them; it was just the nitty gritty details of how they designed that club. It was grand.

It was a scene of chaos mixed with beauty. Over 6,000 people attended the demo day, and by midday the pace was quickening. The weather appeared to be turning, as the winds begin to blow and it appeared rain would not be far off. From the driving range to green, people tried, banged, and bought their share of gear, not to mention took home their share of freebies as well.

After eight hours, the day was done. To see a full array of the equipment, hitting, and other curiosities of the demo day, check out our Flickr pool of images from that day.

Interview: Author Christina Ricci

She achieved a five handicap in five years. Her current USGA handicap index is 6.1 as she works on some swing changes. She graduated from Boston University, started her own branding firm, and also found the time to win the 2007 and 2006 Florida State Amateur Championship Handicap Flight 4-day Match Play event. When she saw that there wasn’t a book that offered an on-course,
friendly, full-color appeal tailored for women, she not only decided to take on the project, but did the concept, production and design of the book herself.

Author Christina Ricci’s book “A Girl’s On-Course Survival Guide to Golf” is the culmination of that effort. It’s an insightful read, filled with solid fundamentals that women entering the game (and most men for that matter) should seek to learn. The book is well written and laid out, with descriptive photographs and text to help you understand a wide range of topics from grips and uphill slope shots, to golf etiquette to bad shot fixes. Key points that you should remember are highlighted with icons, and the book has a polished feel that many books don’t have until their 5th or 6th edition.

While this book won’t replace the pro at your club (the book makes very sure to point this out at the beginning) it will improve your learning of the fundamentals, and can be used on the course and at home.

I had an opportunity to speak with Christina and discuss what the beginning women’s golfer should know and why she decided to write this book.

JR: Tell me about a solid fundamental that most women golfers should know.

CR: Setup as it relates to the legs. A lot of women don’t have a solid base from which to turn to create the leverage for the down swing. So I like to focus on the hips, the legs, making sure the feet are grounded, making sure your ball position is correct. If your setup is correct, then you can just basically turn and fire. That is number one.

JR: Why did you decide to write this book?

CR: I wrote this book because I needed this book when I was learning. I immersed myself in the game for five years. I took hundreds and hundreds of lessons. spent countless hours on the range. I would help my mother and her friends on the course, she was a beginner golfer, and they started to improve, and I thought maybe I can help other women. I have a design and marketing background so this book was right up my alley. So I produced the book, and said this is fantastic, this is my path, golf is my passion and I’m able to give a voice to it. I feel fortunate that I can help women all over the world play better golf and have more fun.

JR: Do you think more women are coming to the game?

CR: Oh yes, the market is exploding. Not just here in the US, but also Asia. In Korea alone there are four million golfers, and 30% of them are women, it’s phenomenal. I think this book is in the right place at the right time. It’s exciting!

“A Girl’s On-Course Survival Guide to Golf” is available for pre-order now. For more fundementals, tips, and other information about the book, please visit the author’s site. Christina was kind enough to give us a signed copy of her book, which we’ll be giving away to one lucky reader in the first week of February. Stay tuned!

Hot New Products - Ogio Nexos Stand Bag

As we start to digest all the new products and equipment that we saw at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show this week, a few stand out. While we’ll be writing more about our favorite products from the show in the coming weeks, we thought we’d let you know about one that’ll certainly make the list - the Ogio Nexos Stand Bag.

New for 2008, the Nexos Stand Bag won’t be available until April but we managed to get up close and personal with one of the prototypes. Not only that, but Chad Robinson from Ogio International gave us a full product tour. Check out the video below.

Cool features
As you can see in the video, this bag offers a plethora of useful and innovative features. The “Hoode” system is a great idea for keeping your clubs dry while maintaining easy access. The waterproof “Isolation Chamber” also clearly has the real-world golfer in mind, one that often gets stuck in less than idyllic weather conditions. The pocket on the lower end of the bag with a clear plastic window to house a GPS device is ingenious and overcomes a common flaw with other bag designs - namely maintaining signal coverage in between shots.

What we think:
This bag has clearly been thought out from top to bottom. Rather than producing a new product that offers just one or two new features, Ogio has really pushed out the envelope and developed a truly innovative product with its end users in mind. I don’t think i’ve ever seen a bag that offers so much, let alone from a stand bag. This is clearly going to be one of the hottest bags for 2008, and we can’t wait to give our clubs are new, luxurious, and innovative new home.

2008 PGA Merchandise Show: Day 1 Summary

As we have mentioned in previous posts, this is our first PGA Merchandise show and after Day 1, all we can say is “Wow!”. Talked about kids in a candy store! You’ll be happy to hear that we certainly indulged ourselves and met some great people, saw some seriously cool new products, and gathered a ton of info that we’ll be working through over the coming weeks.

What you can expect?

• Interviews with Ping, Mizuno, Nicklaus Golf, Srixon, Wilson, Adams golf, MacGregor, Cleveland and probably a few others i’m forgetting;
• Info on some of the coolest new products launching this season such as the new Ogio Nexos stand bag, golf club cleaning solution from Fiz Golf, and other new products;
• A whole new schedule of Demo Days from all the leading manufacturers;
• Plus, a new look to the site

Check out our post from yesterday’s Demo Day on the new Nickent 4DX Evolver Driver, and our new Kyte.tv video channel.

If you’re at the event and want to meet up for a chat, drop us a comment, we’d love to meet some of our readers.

New 2008 Nickent 4DX Evolver - Video & First Look

Our first report from the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show, and what a show it’s been so far. At today’s Demo Day, held at the Orange County National Golf Club & Lodge - site of last year’s Q-school, we got our hands on what we think could be the club of the year, the new Nickent 4DX Evolver. Check out our interview with Jason Moloney, Direct of Marketing for Nickent Golf, and see just how cool this new driver is.

The new Nickent 4DX Evolver could be the next paradigm shift in golf club technology. Launching for 2008, the 4DX Evolver is the first club on the market to feature ‘Interchangeable Shaft Technology’ allowing golfers to switch shafts in seconds.

So what?
Since first launched by Taylormade Golf in the 1st Generation R7 driver, adjustable weight technology has enabled golfers the world over to help straighten out draws and slices but placing more weight at the toe or heel. But allowing golfers to swap out a driver’s shaft in a matter of seconds, the 4DX Evolver can become a custom club that will evolve with both changes in swing, and changes in playing conditions. If you’re currently feel like a regular flex is best, but later find that a stiff would be a better fit - no problem, change them out in under 10 seconds. Windy day? Switch out the shaft for a stiff tip and generate a low and penetrating ball flight to maximize distance and control. Genius!

The Ultimate Social Club?
Picture this: Your playing a casual round with your buddies. On the first par 4 you take out your new 4DX Evolver, fitted with your preferred stiff flex mid-kick shaft, crush it down the middle 20 yards, the ball waving as it flies past your nearest rival. They realize that this is not due to some new swing, but your new driver. However, they all play regular flex, and immediately assume there’s no point in trying it. But, before they go green with envy, you pull out a spare regular shaft you happen to have in your bag, 10 seconds later, hey presto, you’ve now made some new friends!

Alternatively, find a guy who’s playing the new 4DX Evolver, swap out his shaft for a ladies one while he takes a leak, and quietly try to hold back the laughter!

Lastly, if anyone decides that they no longer like the club, they shouldn’t have any problem selling it. All anyone needs to buy is the head and then they can fit whatever shaft you they like. But that’s “if” someone decides they don’t like it. We don’t think there’s much chance of that.

Available Spring 2008 - www.nickentgolf.com/evolve

Check back soon for Demo Day info!

PGA Merchandise Show 2008

Just a short note to let everyone know that we’ll be reporting from the 2008 PGA Merchandise show in Orlando over the next few days. We’re off tonight and looking forward to seeing all the latest and greatest equipment on offer. Needless to say, you’ll hear about it first here on DDF.

There’s going to be a few celebrities in attendance also - Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Paula Creamer, Annika Sorenstam and more. If you have any questions you’ve always wanted to ask these guys, now might be your chance. Drop us a comment, and we’ll let you know their response!

Also, watch this space. When we return, DDF is getting a facelift, and we’ll be adding some new features as well as loads of new content. So as they say on that other, old fashioned medium - “don’t change that channel”.

Finally, if you’re also attending, or want us to cover something in particular, just drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll go from there.