PGA Trade Show Review
"LIVE" FROM SUNNY ORLANDO
January 26 &27 at 8p.m.

Friday January 26, 1996
Saturday January 27, 1996

We'll report live from the PGA show Friday and Saturday night by 8.pm.
on the hot new clubmaking products. Watch for a recap later in the week.
Weather (for all you snow birds) 73 degrees, partly sunny and breezy
Pool Temperature: The pool was a strange color of green so I didn't check.
Return to clubhouse

43rd PGA Merchnandise Show
Where: Orange County Convention Center
When: Friday-Monday
Size: 750,000 square of floor space, up from 350,000 last year
1,130 exhibitors, up from 794 last year
Largest: Titleist/Footjoy with 14,000 square feet
Attendees: 40,000 buyers from 70 countries

I spent the day wandering around the convention center and made it to about a quarter of the exhibitors with clubmaking products. The large equipment companies had elaborate displays and it was truly amazing the variety of products for golfers.

The theme from the component manufacturer's was bigger is better and bigger and lighter is nirvana and Clubmaker-Online readers are the first to know abut several of the new components.

The internet was also very hot with interesting displays from PGA/IBM (http://www.pgaonline.com) and new pages from Golf Magazine http://www.golfonline.com) drawing a lot of attention from the major media. I'm working on reciprocal links with both companies which should bring a lot of visitors.

If you call or order from any of these companies please tell them you saw their product on Clubmaker-Online.

Here are some of the most interesting products I found today (I'll file another report Saturday) by category:

Shafts

Rapport Composites: Rapport has always been very responsive to clubmakers and they introduced three very exciting new shafts. The Cirrus is an ultralight wood model that weighs in at 48 grams, has a low flex point and 5 degree torque and comes in a four swingspeed levels at 70, 80, 90, and 100 MP (maximum power flex). The three stiffer flexes come in stone grey metallic and the lowest flex is a deep sky blue.
They also introduced The Wasp. According to the company the Wasp is a unique combination of graphite material and process technology and the figure-8 geometry virtually eliminates shock for enhanced feel. The shaft has a medium flex point, 3.5 degree torque and the wood r & s flex weigh in at 98 grams and is seamless and filament wound. The shaft has unique look as it tapers down about half way down the shaft. The figure eight geometry dampens shock and focuses strain energy in the shaft tip for distance and control. Call Norman at 800-783-0196 for more information.

Harrison Sports: I talked to the President of Harrison Sports as he was preparing to announce a new shaft and Clubmaker-Online scooped the world! The company is introducing The Big Bang. The Big Bang shaft has a displacement that is 35% larger than standard and maintains an ultra light weight by using a large tube/thin wall design that will certainly cause a "Big Bang" in the marketplace. The Big Bang is a low torque high performance shaft. They hadn't introduced the shaft so I wasn't able to check out the colors/graphics or get the price.
The 1995 Long Drive Champion uses a Harrison Pro 2.5 Xtra shaft and the company has been involved in ultra-light shaft production for 8 years. According to the President of Harrison, they were one of the few shaft companies that didn't jump on the tour weight bandwagen.
Call 800-347-4646 for more information and tell them you heard about them on Clubmaker-Online.

Titan Golf makes putter shafts that can be ordered in a variety of colors and fades and I have used them on putters and they offer good performance at excellent prices. They also will pad print and do special order colors. Call them at 800-358-6525 They also introduced a junior putter shaft and a shaft extender that is grooved and fits all graphite and steel shafts .610 to .580.

Vertebrex Golf introduced an interesting line of shafts that uses a stabilizer that is based on the use of stored energy within the golf shaft. The stabilizer is inserted inside the grip area of the shaft and releases the full potential of graphite. Vertebrex Golf Shafts generate more clubhead speed with increased stability and comply with the Rules of Golf. The company also plans on offering a factory retro-fitting program to install the Vertebrex Stabilizer into existing finished clubs. Call them at
800-554-0134 tell them you heard about them on Clubmaker-Online.

AJ Technologies manufacturers a line of shafts that are very popular on the Tour. The shafts are composed of metal filaments encased in a special lightweight resin and high modulus fiber matrix. The AJ Tech's Duratron shaft series averages under 50 grams at 44 1/2 inches with torque between 2.8 and 3.3. The company also claims greater kick and increased rebound off the club face due to less deformation at impact resulting in longer and straighter drives. The company also has a special package price when you order 12 you get the 13th shaft at no cost. Call for details. Ask for Lon Fugate at 800-683-8254. Check these shafts out.

Grips

Kelmac Grips are used by British Open Champion John Daly and the company tells me that
"When Daly is rippin' it's Kelmac he's grippin'". The company is very responsive to clubmakers and they are introducing a new Ruff Wrap grip at this years' show. The Ruff Wrap is a rough traction wrap grip with a soft tacky feel for all weather conditions. It has a great feel with the properties of cord and the soft feel of rubber. They also have two new lightweight grips the Tour Select Light and a Wrap grip. The company is also selling a 4 pack or 8 pack grip kit that is complete with tape and instructions. The company President is a great guy and I'd highly recommend this company to Clubmaker-Online readers. Call 800-321-7281 to order direct.

Winn Grips introduced a new radical lightweight grip made of a fabric underlayer interlocked with an advanced polymer vertical pore overlayer. The grips weigh about 31 grams and have an excellent feel. They are being used on a new driver being introduced by Goldwin Golf. The company also claims they absorb about 65% more shock than the leading brands. They are installed without solvents over an underlisting and then tightly wrapped. They have an adhesive backing which holds them tightly in place. Regripping is done without tools or mess. Call them at 800 854-7676.

Tools & Machinery

Mitchell Golf Equipment Company (formerly Centre Golf) introduced several new products at the show for clubmakers. The new Steelclub Irons Angle Machine is designed to measure and bend right and left hand irons. The newly patented machine features a precision measuring gauge and a stationary clamping fixture that allows the operator to quickly and accurately measure and bend forged, 431 and 17-4 cast iron heads. The machine fills the need for the small clubmaker for quick and accurate adjustment of iron sets. They also sell woods and iron bending machines and a putter bending machine. as well as a full line of manufacturing, fitting and repair equipment tools and supplies. They sell an excellent shaft cutting board to organize and mark an entire set of clubs. Call them at 800-437-1314 and mention you saw them on Clubmaker-Online.

Universal Tape Company sells a tape, non toxic tape activator , and gripping station that just might save you time and money. The company manufactures tape and when they began developing their combination of grip tape and non-toxic tape activator they talked to a lot of grippers and saw ways to improve the gripping process. The EnviroGrip Solution sets up in about 20 minutes and the tape comes in huge rolls of 2"X500 yards. The Gripping Station has an optional laser for accurate alignment and it looks like the company has thought of everything to increase production. Call them at 800-922-0108.

Components

Dynacraft had a large presence at the show and introduced new club heads that would be worth looking at. The CopperHead Irons come in mens, ladies, senior and left handed versions and are a mid size head that should be very playable and have matching Copperhead Woods that have upright lies and a sharp copper color scheme. The Tour Caliber head is a forged cavity back/ mid size that is aimed at better players and the Plus Mid Size iron is 10% larger than their standard Plus head which is the most forgiving clubhead they design.
They also have a new Titanium Driver at 285cc in right hand only and 250cc right hand. They both feature a V-Sole for use as a fairway driver. They have an excellent line of woods, irons, putters, shafts and machinery and an excellent customer service staff. Call them at 800-321-4833.

Middleground Golf introduced a new Persimmon Wood clubhead with a insert made of a diamond/silicon nitride insert made by Norton Diamond Film (they have a site at www.ioa.com/home/golf/). The insert is the hardest man made material and is designed for players with swingspeeds of 60-90 mph. The company claims the ball releases off the clubhead face faster improving accuracy. Call them at 800-635-3098 for more information. Middleground also sells a complete line of persimmon wood heads and putter heads.

Publications/Associations

The Professional Clubmakers Society announced that they will be sponsoring Moira Dunn on the LPGA, we'll follow her progress on the tour and cheer her on from cyberspace.

Golf Product News will be producing two Component Directories in 1996. The directories will come out in March and July. Contact Tim DiNoia at 201-796-6031.

PGA Trade Show Review "LIVE" FROM SUNNY ORLANDO January 26 &27 at 8p.m.