Month: March 2018

Fenix XCell Release Kiradech Masters Collection

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Major season is upon us (as I’ve previously written). Next week, is the first major of the season for the PGA Tour. It’ll be “Masters Week” and when it’s Masters Week life is just a little better. The sun shines brighter and the birds chirp more. Even the sky seems to be a brighter blue.

I also enjoy this time of the year because the apparel companies give us a sneak peek at the scripting of what their athletes will be wearing each day of the tournament. In this release shared by Joe Wieczorek of The Media Group Fenix XCell gives us a look at what Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be wearing as he strolls the fairways of Augusta National.

Please see the press release below.

 

Fenix XCell Release Kiradech Masters Collection

 

(March 28, 2018) – On April 5th, Thai superstar Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be making his first appearance at the Masters as a Fenix XCell Ambassador, and to honor the achievement, the Bangkok-based company have released a Limited Edition Masters Collection.

The collection features just three shirts, all of which will be worn by Aphibarnrat at Augusta, with their popular Thailand flag shirt completing his wardrobe for the four-day event.

The shirts were designed using a combination of Masters Green, white and gold, and have been produced with premium stretch fabric, preferred by Aphibarnrat for its comfort and performance. They also come with a specially made hangtag in the shape of Kiradech’s cartoon logo.

Whilst two of the shirts were produced in units of 500, one shirt – picked out by the Thai as his favorite and his choice for Masters Sunday – has only been produced in 50 units, and will come with a book encased with a letter and a photo, signed by the World #29 himself.

 

script
The collection, released on pre-order via Fenix XCell’s social media accounts last week, are now available for immediate delivery and can be purchased via their website – www.fenixxcell.com – or by contacting james@fenixxcell.com.
To see Fenix XCell’s new Spring/Summer 2018 Collection, the Kiradech Masters Collection, accessories and more, visit the website at http://www.fenixxcell.com.

 

 

© Copyright 2018 The Media Group, Inc.  All rights reserved.

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Major Season

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Finally… it’s that time of the year. An already exciting 2018 TOUR season on the LPGA and PGA TOUR respectively has just gotten a whole lot more exciting. it’s time for the first major of the year. While everybody and their uncle are talking about what could be next week… let’s not look too far forward into the future. Instead let’s discuss this week.

It just seems like the majority of golf fans often think of the first major of the year being that little tournament that takes place down in Augusta, Georgia. The home of pimento and cheese sandwiches, Magnolia Lane, azaleas and a land where everything is meticulous and green. But The Masters isn’t the first major of the year. That honour belongs to the ANA Inspiration of the LPGA Tour.

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Photo Credit: LPGA

Out in the Californian desert in Rancho Mirage, California lies the stunning Mission Hills Country Club. While the facility houses 54-holes of golf its the Dinah Shore Tournament Course that hosts the years first major. All of the best female golfers in the world descend on the Palm Springs area to play in the annual tournament that was founded in 1972 by entertainer Dinah Shore. The course is home to the popular landmark “Poppies Pond” and was named after former tournament director Terry Wilcox in 2006 (his grandchildren called him “Poppie”). Since 1994, it’s been a tradition for the winner to unceremoniously jump into the pond although the first time that it happened was in 1988.

The list of winner’s of the tournament formerly known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore and Kraft Nabisco among others is a list of superstars from the LPGA Tour. Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, last week’s winner Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome (twice), Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb (twice), Juli Inkster, Dottie Pepper and Annika Sorenstam (three times) are some of the names to have won the event. Interestingly enough the legendary Se Ri Pak never won this tournament.

plunge

Photo Credit: LPGA

The field this week seems more star-studded than usual and I really don’t know what I’m basing that on. If you look at results of tournaments thus far in 2018 on the LPGA Tour the year has been full of amazing results. Laura Davies electrified with a sensational finish at age 54 two weeks ago. Major winners Anna Nordqvist, Lydia Ko and Canadian Brooke Henderson could be poised to take the leap into the pond come Sunday. Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie, Lexi Thompson, and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanagarn have definitely shown signs of brilliance and could be there. But then you have the Korda sister’s (Jessica and Nelly) who look like a “watered-down” LPGA version of the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) with the way that they’ve played thus far in 2018.

brooke

Photo Credit: LPGA

The action in the desert is going to be fun, exciting and make for very compelling television Sunday evening. We’ve already seen an Ace from Iceland’s Olafia Kristinsdottir. Especially, if the scoring is similar to what’s current at the time of writing. There are 15 players within 3 strokes of the lead as the first round is being played/finished. Just because The Master’s is next week doesn’t mean that you have to sulk because these girls are good. If you haven’t followed the LPGA Tour do yourself a favor and take some time to watch this tournament. Buckle up because the Sunday finish will be as exciting as any other major the guys play.

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TaylorMade Golf Company Introduces P790 UDI

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Length, control and an ability to produce golf shots with surgical precision. These are the thoughts that come to mind when you think of driving irons. Officially, this week is the first Major of the year (LPGA – ANA Inspiration). Looking forward to next week’s trip down Magnolia Lane there is a bevvy of TaylorMade Golf athletes that could slide on the “Green Jacket”.

With the design of Augusta National and the need to hit precise shots off of the tee a need for product like a driving iron could be vital. With that said, TaylorMade Golf has introduced the new P790 UDI. Designed with the already successful P790 irons in mind the P790 UDI features a body that’s forged from 8620 Carbon Steel and utilizes TaylorMade Golf’s trademarked “SpeedFoam Technology” while the face is constructed from 4140 Carbon Steel. Overall, the P790 UDI has a medium-compact head and is said to deliver distance and playability. If a TaylorMade Golf athlete wins The Masters look for the P790 UDI to have played an integral part.

For full details, please see the press release shared below by the Marketing Manager for TaylorMade Golf Canada Nick Obritsch.

Continuing the Resounding Success of the P790 Irons, the new P790 UDI Combines Forged Construction with SpeedFoam™ Technology for Extraordinary Distance and Accuracy

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (March 29, 2018) – TaylorMade Golf, the industry leader in iron technology and innovation, announced today the extension of its globally successful P790 irons with the introduction of P790 UDI, a forged driving iron engineered with breakthrough SpeedFoam Technology for golfers seeking the forged look and feel of a players iron with increased distance and accuracy off the tee or fairway. To date, World #1 Dustin Johnson, #3 Jon Rahm as well as TaylorMade stablemates Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day have all played the P790 UDI on Tour already this season.

The most popular and successful players-distance iron in company history, P790 has seen remarkable success at both the consumer and Tour levels, with many players putting a variety of P790 irons into play in competition, opting for a forged iron that delivers remarkable distance and playability combined with preferred feel in a medium-compact head design with a thinner topline. Similar to the other irons in the set, the P790 UDI is constructed with a soft, 8620 carbon steel body combined with high-strength forged 4140 carbon steel with a wrapped-face construction in a hollow body design.

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The P790 UDI’s hollow construction is filled with TaylorMade’s proprietary SpeedFoam material, which serves a dual purpose of generating ball speed as well as the management of sound and feel. Injected into the clubhead, the low-density SpeedFoam provides the face support and damping properties that make the performance of the P790 unlike any other iron in the TaylorMade family.

The P790 UDI also features a re-engineered Inverted Cone Technology optimized for the slightly smaller face area. TaylorMade’s previous ICT had a larger, heavier profile. The new, smaller Inverted Cone in the P790 UDI allows for reduced face thickness at the edges of the face, thus increasing flexibility from heel to toe and low on the clubface, resulting in more ball speed across the entire face. For forgiveness and playability, P790 UDI features strategically placed internal metal-injection-molded (MIM) tungsten weighting for precise CG placement and higher moment of inertia (MOI).

After experiencing increasing demand from the best golfers on worldwide Tours, we’re excited to bring the Ultimate Driving Iron to golfers everywhere with the new P790 UDI. Offering SpeedFoam in a driving iron for the first time ever, the P790 UDI delivers distance and accuracy like never before seen in an iron.

Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director, Product Creation  

Specifications, Pricing & Availability

Available through custom orders starting Friday, 3/30 at $299 CDN, P790 UDI will be offered via custom order in RH only as a 2-iron (17°) with a recommended Project X’s popular HZRDUS Black shaft (85g) designed for low launch/low spin and gripped with a Golf Pride TV 360. Additionally the P790 will also be available with an extensive offering of steel and graphite (.355) options through the custom line.

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Additional specifications:

Loft: 17°

Lie: 60°

Offset: 3.2mm

Length: 40” (steel 39.25”)

Swingweight: D2

Overload Golf Announces Partnership with Cut Golf

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Here’s some food for thought. Urethane covered golf balls for less than $20 per dozen. A 3-piece Surlyn covered for less than $15 per dozen while a 2-piece Surlyn covered distance golf ball for less than $10 per dozen. That’s what Cut Golf offers golf consumers. Just because a golf ball has the stamping of a “giant” doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the “magic bullet”. The proverbial saviour of your golf game.

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While I have no experience currently with Cut Golf at those prices it would be silly for me not try test them to see what they’re all about. Recently, it was announced that Overload Golf was joining forces with Cut Golf. Please see the press release below as shared by Mary Beth Lacy of golf marketing firm Mary Beth Lacy Inc for more information on Overload Golf.

KIRKLAND, WA – Overload Golf announced a partnership with Cut Golf today. Overload Golf brings together complementary businesses, ideas, products and markets, while applying innovation from other industries to golf. The partnership includes access to Overload Golf’s extensive network, market expertise, resources and promotion of Cut Golf products.

 

Cut Golf uses high-quality materials and manufacturing techniques; relying on tracking and robotic technology, user feedback, and third-party testing to support product performance. Its golf balls have been rigorously tested to ensure quality, consistency and playability.

 

“We are attracted to companies that disrupt segments of the golf industry, Cut Golf has done well in a short period of time.” says Austin Fazio, Founder of Overload Golf. “Their approach of delivering a high-quality golf ball for a reasonable price is intriguing and will be well received in the marketplace.”

Cut-Golf-Ball-Blank-White-Square

Sam Uisprapassorn, Cut Golf’s founder and CEO, adds “we’re pleased to be partnering with Overload Golf and feel that its industry expertise and network will benefit our own growth and expansion.”

 

About Overload Golf
Overload golf is a team of innovators, developers, and golf industry experts with a global network, bringing together complementary businesses, technology, investors, products and markets with a unique and modern approach.

 

About Cut Golf
Cut Golf was founded from one man’s growing frustration with ridiculous costs of quality golf balls. Cut Golf consists of a group of passionate golfers who believe that high-quality performance golf balls don’t need to be expensive. Through extensive Trackman and on-course testing, Cut Golf developed its lineup with all types of golfers in mind. By pairing quality product with an efficient business model, Cut Golf offers savings without compromising performance or quality. Visit cutgolfco.com for further details.

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Indi Golf Introduces New StingRay TT Wedges Featuring Conforming Grooves With Unmatched Feel and Spin

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Alright, here’s a brand that I have to admit that I’ve never heard of until fairly recently. Although, for some reason I think I recollect seeing them at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show as part of the International Clubmaker’s Guild. I apologize if I’m mistaken. 

I did a little research about Indi Golf recently and discovered their StingRay Wedges which allows players to spin the ball onto the greens like the average TOUR player. They sounded like a fun club to use but they had one issue. They weren’t conforming to the groove rule established in 2010. That doesn’t mean much to every day recreational golfers but for those that play competitively (amateur and professional alike) it does mean something. I fall into the latter category. So admittedly, I was a little lukewarm about covering the brand when I learned about them. Maybe that sentiment was a touch too elitist… something I’m really not. I pride myself on covering as many if not more of the golf industry’s “David’s” than the “Goliath’s. Everybody really does deserve a chance and coverage.

However, things change and people change. I received a press release recently from Tracy Nackel of TEN Marketing and PR that Indi Golf was coming out with a new wedge. Introducing the new, conforming StingRay TT Wedges. These wedges boast higher spin rates (25% more on full swings), and more forgiveness by utilizing the company’s “ScoopBack” design. For more details about the new StingRay wedge and the features packed into them please see the press release below.

VISTA, CA, March 22, 2018– Indi Golf, design and manufacturer of high performance golf clubs, introduces new StingRay TT wedges featuring optimal spin, control and forgiveness. The StingRay TT conforms with the Rules of Golf and can be played in competition.

“Our new StingRay TT wedge is designed with conforming grooves, yet it still spins 25% more than competitor wedges,” said Rob Lang, General Manager, Indi Golf. “Our design team has taken our forgiving ScoopBack technology and combined it with highly engineered grooves to create the optimal wedge for golfers looking to add more backspin around the green and lower their tournament scores.”

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StingRay TT wedges have been engineered with grooves which run along the entire length of the face to optimize launch, improve control, and increase spin. This design increases spin by 25% on a full swing measured using Foresight GCQuad. “After designing our original StingRay wedges that spin 50% more than competitor wedges, our challenge was to design grooves within the Rules of Golf that would still create optimal spin and outperform the competition and we successfully achieved that goal,” added Lang.

In addition to increased spin, Indi Golf’s proprietary ScoopBack design creates maximum forgiveness by moving mass higher in the face, and toward the toe.  This optimizes the location of the club’s CG, making the head more stable on off-center contact, helping shots feel better, go straighter, spin more and end up closer to the hole.  The ScoopBack design is not a muscle back or perimeter-weighted design but is a combination that brings the player the best of both worlds.

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Other features of the StingRay TT wedges designed to improve performance include:

  • ShortHosel – Creates discretionary weight that has been position higher in the face and more towards the toe, resulting in higher performance, better feel, and more forgiveness.
  • Optimized Bounce – Allows the head to glide through the turf yielding solid contact for the grooves to grab the ball and impart maximum spin while producing ideal launch conditions.
  • LaunchControl – A lower launch and higher spin combination allows golfers to be more aggressive and reduces the influence of elements on the ball.
  • Straight Leading Edge – Makes the wedge easier to align, giving a player more confidence and resulting in more consistent shots

“Indi Golf is committed to designing quality products that will help golfers perform at their best and enjoy the game more,” continued Lang. “Our line of StingRay wedges will teach players what a great wedge game looks and feels like. We feel wedges have not been researched and put on the same technology path as woods and irons, and we want to continue to close this gap and make the wedge game something that everyone can enjoy and use to improve their game and enjoyment.”

The StingRay TT wedge is available in lofts of 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60-degrees, and conforms with the Rules of Golf. MSRP is $159.99. The StingRay TT wedge is available for pre-sale at www.indigolfclubs.com.

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About Indi Golf 

Indi Golf was the dream child of four good friends who love the sport of golf, and were lucky enough to have accomplished careers designing, engineering, and selling golf product. We respect the sport of golf and have a deep desire to grow the game by bringing its enjoyment to all walks of life. Every individual golfer connects with the  sport in their own way, and it is our goal to give golfers top-tier, quality product that will help them to not only perform at their best, but enjoy at their best!

Until The Next Tee!!