PGA Component Review Saturday

PGA Trade Show Review
"LIVE" FROM SUNNY ORLANDO

Saturday January 27, 1996
Final Recap later this week.

Return to clubhouse
Friday January 26 review

I had another busy day at the show today. One of the highlights was watching a demonstration by 1995 Long Drive Champion Sean Fister on a Dead Solid Golf Simulator. The simulator measures clubhead speed, shows the path of the club, and has excellent screen graphics of various golf courses. Sean warmed up with a 126 mph practice swing and his best drive was 133 mph and went 409 yards-in the fairway! Sean said the secret is to keep your hands behind the ball, to have your back shoulder lower than your front, and a relaxed take-a-way before "pulling the trigger". Sean uses a shaft by Harrison Sports, I think it was an ultralight 2.5 (they are his sponsor). Check yesterday's report for details on the Harrison line of shafts.

Shafts

Easton Golf Shafts are made of an aluminum alloy and they announced a revamped A70 alloy shaft with sleek new graphics and a lower price point. They were able to reduce manufacturing costs by $3 per shaft and will be passing along savings to their customer. This price puts them in direct competition with high-end steel shafts currently on the market. The A70 is made from a 7000 series alloy used in aerospace applications and boasts phenomenal strength and light weight. The A70 's tapered design transmits shock energy down the tube, dissipating impact and creating the feel Easton is famous for. Easton shafts are sold through distributers. Their phone number is
818-782-6445.

Precision Composites announced a new Titanium Boron Graphite shaft, the Mach 22. The new design and materials offer greater shock-dampening response and kinetic energy loading and increased dynamic ball impact response. The Hybrid Composite system commingle several advanced materials results in a balanced ratio of stiffness, torque, weight and resonance response or "feel" According to the company the shaft offers the dampening qualities of graphite, coupled with the resonance properties of intermetallics transmit precise control feedback superior to graphite or steel alone. Precision Shafts can be ordered direct and they can be reached at 800-422-3838.

Graman Graphite Shafts introduced the Triple Flexpoint System (TFS) graphite shaft. The system is based on the age old concept of throwing a ball: "the better the wrist action, the faster the throw. The shafts' wrist action, or "flexpoint releases", translate to greater acceleration in clubhead speed, as well as greater resistance to the twisting normally associated with off center hits. The three distinct flexpoints harness and increase the power of a golfer's normal swing. The shaft has very nice graphics, weigh 87-90 grams and a torque of 3 degrees. Graman shafts are distributed by
Ash & Rose and their number is 800-473-3164.

Grafalloy announced a new UltraLite series the Classic Lite, the AttackLite, and the ProLite.
The AttackLite featuring greater torsional resistance and stiffness and is the ideal choice for stronger players. The AttackLite is also now available in an iron shaft-the industry's first ultralite shaft for irons. The AttackLite comes in A, R, and S flexes and weigh 56, 58 and 60 grams with 4.5 degree torque. The ProLite features a lower trajectory profile and the shaft has become the most popular graphite driver shaft on Tour. The ProLite is specifically designed for today's popular oversize titanium woods and combines the distance advantage of lighter weight with the stiffness, torsional rigidity, and durability features required by the game's best players. The ProLite comes in R, S, and X flexes and weigh 58, 60, and 64 grams with a torque of 3.5 degrees. The shafts are sold through distributers and the company's phone number is 619-562-1020.

Grips

Tacki-Mac introduces four new grips for 1996 that are specially formulated for a maximum tacky feel. The 66T has an external rib design that gives it a cord feel, superior traction and a new ultra tacky feel. The 108P is a tour texture perforated non-slip rough texture grip that offers superior traction in all playing conditions. The 108 has all the features of the 108P without the perforations. The 105 B is Tacki-mac's replacement grip for Taylor-Made's Bubble Shaft. The unique feature of this grip is that it does not need a grip starter tool for application. Call 800-634-1062 for a list of distributors.

Griptec grips are used by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. The Tour Cord Series have innovative cord grips that combine the soft feel of a wrap and cord for beter control and feel in both full and half-cord. The Pro Wrap Series is Griptec's flagship line that use space-age compounds and classic stylng that result in a grip that won't lose its natural tackiness, crack or harden. Tour Series Putter Grips provides a shape and style preferred by most players and come in a smooth wrap, smooth midsize smoot standard and a pistol wrap. Call them at 800-853-GRIP to order direct.

Mint Grip Co. grips come in a diamond wrap and smooth wrap, a perforated wrap and an oversize perforated wrap. They announce a new grip that is semi-smooth and ultra-tacky. The Mint Grip is a players grip designed by former golf professionals and a leading grip manufacturer. Call them at 800-524-1241 to order direct.

TacFlo has developed a line of grips made of Silicone rubber. Their new grip for 1996 is the Black Gold Dust which is a silicone rubber and cork combination that is 30% lighter and retains it's tack when wet or dirty. The tackiness is an inherent part of the silicone and not just a surface coating or dripping method. The TacFlow grips also come in very unique colors that can set your custom clubs apart. No two grips colors are the same and are a mixture of blue, gold, light blue, green and pink.
Call the company at 800-833-8429 to order direct (min order 200 grips) or order from Golfsmith.

Avon Golf Grips announced a new grip that translates their extensive experience in racing tire technology into performance on the golf course. The Duratrax series features a buffed design with an angular, non-slip pattern wrap on top and longitudinal lines on the backside that were popularized with the Nexus line. Duratrax offers the ultimate in durability and all-weather traction and the half wrap/half line exterior compliments all club designs. Their number is 800-33-GRIPS for a list of distributors.

Tools and Machinery

Grip Rip offers the most efficient, safe and economical way to remove golf club grips. The Grip Rip removes grips in seconds and can be used on steel or graphite shafts-will not damage the shaft.
You insert the grip into the tube until the bottom of the grip reaches the cutting blade and simply pull back on the grip with a steady but swift motion. You then grab the bottom of the grip and pull of the club. (I use the Grip Rip and it is an excellent system, ed.) The company also introduced the new Fast Cat Regripping Systems that are guaranteed to speed up and ease your regripping operation. The systems include the Grip Rip, and Speed Clamp, and Grip Loc Grip Adhesive. The adhesive eliminates the need for expensive 2-way tape. Also included is a Tape Dispenser and detachable tray. There is a Transportable unit, a Floor Mount unit and a Bench Top Model. Call 800-215-9743 to order direct.

Ferrules

The Bohning Company manufactures ferrules, rings, and assemblies. The trend for 1996 is toward shorter ferrules and the have produced new Iron and Metalwood Ferrules in 1/2" and 1/4" lengths. Their new taper tip iron ferrule for taper tip iron shafts (#29T) and barrel-hosel ferrules (#25-B-28B) allow you to give barreled hosel clubs a finished look. The ferrule also allows the use of a graphite shaft in a barreled hosel.
Bohning has an amazing variety of ferrules and they will custom color ferrules to your specs. (min. order required). For more information or to order direct call them at 800-253-0136.