HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2024

PXG Allan Putter

The putter is probably the one golf club that can be the most loved, or the most hated club in one’s bag. To say putters have come a long way over the last twenty to thirty years is a huge understatement. The latest technology to hit the flatstick market is called Zero Balance putters. If you are familiar with most putters they usually fall into a face-balanced model or a toe-hang design. Face balance design is for players who take it straight back and then straight through, whereas toe hang is for players who have an arc in their stroke.

PXG has unveiled a new putter that is catching a lot of eyes, as well as the bottom of the cup. Their Allan Putter features Zero-Torque Balance Technology, which essentially means that it works for any type of putter you might be, whether you take it straight back and straight through, or an arc stroke. This breakthrough in the game is not only smart, but it gives you peace of mind. Which in the game of golf is HUGE!

The new PXG Allan Putter puts the laws of physics to work for you with Zero Torque Balance Technology that keeps your putter face square and on target. It is amazingly effective for players of all abilities and all stroke types. Packaged in an eye-catching design with incredible balance and alignment characteristics, and the back-saving Pick-Up Pocket which scoops up the ball without having to bend down.

I highly recommend going through the fitting process to make sure the specs blend properly with your stroke. Joe Sherman a Master Fitter at the PXG Chicago West store in Oak Brook, Illinois took me through the interesting 45-minute process. To further customize your putting experience, the Allan Putter comes with adjustable weights. Starting at a standard 375 grams, you can easily adjust the weight to as high as 395 grams or as low as 360 grams to find the perfect balance for your stroke. With the help of TrackMan the data was gathered, plus we both looked at the way the ball rolled and determined that a 34-inch model with standard weights and a Pistol Grip was the answer.

Key Features:

Zero Torque Balance Technology: Reduces the twisting of the putter face during the stroke, promoting more consistent, square impacts.

S-hosel Design: Aligns the shaft above the center of gravity, further enhancing stability and reducing the tendency for the putter face to open or close during the stroke.

Pyramid Face Pattern: A uniquely milled face pattern designed to improve the interaction between the putter and the ball, providing better distance control and a smoother roll.

Pick Up Pocket: A thoughtful design feature that allows golfers to pick up the ball easily without bending over. For more on the Allan Putter go to PXG.com

TAKOMO Irons 101

One of the great aspects of golf is trying new equipment to see not only what’s out there but perhaps also to help you score better. And let’s face it, golf prices are going up and up across all parameters of the game. Usually, paying less means getting less when it comes to getting new sticks.

 Takomo Golf, a new upstart company from Finland is taking on major manufacturers with high-quality clubs that are delivered at a sensible, reasonable price. I know golf doesn’t exactly come to mind when one thinks of the country of Finland, but many are aware that our sport is growing exponentially. According to www.top100golfcourses.com, there are 125 courses in Finland, and around 140,000 affiliated Finnish golfers. Remarkably, the Nordic  country has the 10th highest number of registered golfers in Europe.

Now back to the clubs. When you first take notice of Takomo’s Iron 101’s you can’t help but notice a smooth carbon steel finish and genuine craftsmanship. Hey, half of the battle is if the the club looks good to you, and it sets up well at address. It eases the mind when you look down there and say yeah these are solid clubs that can help my game. No doubt these beauties stand out over many other iron manufacturers with a clean, fresh style, and at an attractive price of $449 for 4-PW. It’s nice to know you’re not going to break the bank, and that of course, makes the wife happy!

As an 8-handicap player I’ve been thinking for a year that it’s time to upgrade my irons. My previous blades are from a well-known manufacturer but the top line on the clubs chimed, “there’s a 15+ handicapper.” One of my buddies even referred to them as “shovels!” That light-hearted abuse helped me wake up a bit and take a serious gander at a more classic look like the Takomo Iron 101’s. Get dialed in with these sticks that produce insane forgiveness off the heel and toe. Don’t be afraid to go pin hunting! With six different styles of KBS Tour shafts to choose from you simply can’t go wrong. These puppies are sleek and smooth with a FEEL that is REAL!

The company also offers three additional Iron models for a variety of players, plus Fairway Woods, a Utility Iron and a Driver (which is currently sold out). For more info on their entire line, go check out TakomoGolf.com

Go the DISTANCE with Shot Scope
Best gifts and deals for golfers this holiday season

The V5 debuts for players of all levels offering unprecedented distance measuring with pinpoint accuracy from anywhere on the golf course, while capturing data on every shot and delivering golfers instant feedback to better understand their game for optimal performance. In fact, with V5, golfers have access to over 100 game improving statistics, including Strokes Gained and Handicap Benchmarking, for use on over 36,000 preloaded golf courses worldwide. The newest addition to Shot Scope’s award-winning V Series, the V5 joins the popular and customizable G5 GPS watch and the premium touchscreen X5 performance tracking watch, providing an extensive range and choice of products for golfers.

USWING SUNGLASSES

Scottie Scheffler, the #1 Player in the World started working with the first-of-its-kind product just weeks before winning four PGA Tour events, including the Masters, which catapulted him to the top of the world rankings. The GOLFFOREVER Swing Trainer embodies three golf training tools in one and is a key piece of equipment used in the 4.9 App Store-rated GOLFFOREVER app, which delivers users personalized video workout and recovery plans from PGA Tour doctors and trainers. It’s an asymmetrical resistance training bar that builds strength and mobility for your swing at home. It’s a premium exercise band with handles and two resistance options for versatile training and stretching. It’s also a heavy warmup club optimized to a D3 Swing Weight that promotes thoracic mobility to loosen up at the course properly. Like every piece of equipment used in the app, the Swing Trainer comes to life with hundreds of step-by-step pre-round warm-ups, stretching routines, strength workouts and pain-relief protocols. https://golfforever.com/swing-training-system/ 

SRIXON’S GAMER

Want to be a big game hunter like Brooks Koepka? Then you should look at Srixon’s ZX5 LS Mk II driver. The man who loves to compete and conquer in major championships has split fairways with this club all year long including winning the PGA Championship this past May. Srixon’s Rebound Frame is the key technology as it has two flex zones, while most other drivers have just one. This helps elevate the COR for increased ball speed leading to more distance. The clean and traditional clubhead is driven by several great factory shafts that you can choose from. us.dunlopsports.com/Srixon

BLUE TEES - THE PLAYER

Award-winning producer of golf rangefinders and accessories, Blue Tees Golf, presents the Player, a portable, magnetic, and wireless speaker engineered to deliver a deep rich audio experience on and off the course.

The design team’s objective was to develop the best sounding speaker, so they focused on the acoustics of the Player. They engineered and designed the speaker with smart audio technology which delivers premium audio, powerful connectivity, and an immersive sound experience on and off the course. An innovative 360 sound element provides the same sound quality from any angle. The Player can also be paired with multiple speakers at the same time, including home devices like Echo or Alexa.

For more information, visit www.blueteesgolf.com