Category: Equipment

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Equipment

TaylorMade Launches the Latest Iteration of the Acclaimed P 790 Irons

TaylorMade announces the all-new P·790, with each iron individually designed to perform exactly how golfers need it. (Source: TaylorMade)
TaylorMade announces the all-new P·790, with each iron individually designed to perform exactly how golfers need it. (Source: TaylorMade)

TaylorMade Golf’s P·Series irons each have their own unique artistry that positions them among the highest-performing irons in the marketplace. Recently TaylorMade announced the all-new P·790, with each iron individually designed to perform exactly how golfers need it. With precision mass optimisation in each iron, tungsten weighting and SpeedFoamTM Air, every individual iron has a unique internal structure. This AI-optimised construction is engineered to create an unrivaled blend of distance, forgiveness and accuracy. “P 790 is a collision of art and engineering. The allure lies not only in the clean design and visual appeal, but also in the high-performance machine that lives within. It’s the total package, an ideal blend of external elegance and internal power”, says Matt Bovee, the Director of Product Creation Irons.

FLTD CG-Technology for consistent performance

For the first time, P·790 features FLTD CGTM, a strategic design that positions the centre of gravity (CG) lowest in long irons and progressively shifts it higher throughout the set. This intuitive design concept allows for easier launch and more forgiveness in the long irons, while the shorter, weaker lofted irons are designed to control ball flight and optimise spin. In the long irons (3-4), CG has been shifted almost a millimeter lower compared to previous generations, while CG starts to creep up as you go through the set. Overall, there is a linear trend from low-to-high giving the golfer spin exactly where they need it to promote accuracy, control and consistency from top to bottom.

It’s what’s inside that counts

The internal structure of every P·790 iron was uniquely designed with AI-driven mass optimisation, ensuring every gram of weight was strategically placed to deliver the best possible result with that specific iron. The most notable visual difference from one iron to the next is the sound stabilisation bar, which sits above the tungsten weight framework. Located in the three through seven irons, each bar is uniquely shaped and positioned to individually optimise feel and performance by controlling the amount of unsupported space between the internal structure and the topline of the club. The design minimises unwanted vibrations at impact and ensures that every iron creates a premium forged feel with optimal CG placement. In the long irons, the sound stabilisation bar moves more toward the centre of the club while the tungsten weight frame is positioned nearer to the sole. Mass distribution is specifically arranged to lower the centre of gravity, making it easier to launch the golf ball high with low-lofted irons. Compared to prior generations of P·790 irons, a larger face opening gave engineers more space to push tungsten weights farther towards the toe. In conjunction with a thick-thin back wall that creates additional mass savings, this new construction allows for a shift in mass that’s designed to produce more consistency throughout the set. Moving weight lower and towards the perimeter of the club further allowed engineers to design for improved forgiveness and control CG positioning. Within the scoring clubs (8-PW), CG progressively shifts higher for more control, better spin properties and enhanced accuracy.

Refined Aesthetics and proven technologies

P·790 irons have always been revered for their clean and minimalistic appearance, and the latest model upholds that history. A band of tour satin scratch bisects the pearl satin chrome finish to create premium appeal. With refined aesthetics, P·790 irons seamlessly blend with P·770 irons in a combo set to create a unified look throughout the bag. The 2023 P·790 irons still feature SpeedFoamTM Air, which is 69 percent less dense than the original SpeedFoam. A forged 4140 high speed face creates a hollow body construction that houses the internal technology and sustains a premium feel. A staple of TaylorMade designs, the Thru-Slot Speed PocketTM works in unison with unique internals constructions to expand the sweet spot while also protecting ball speeds on low face strikes. P·790 irons include machined grooves for precision craftsmanship, a characteristic that is paramount throughout the P·Series lineup. P·790 features a pearl satin scratch finish and tour satin stripe that runs down the middle of the club, with a sharp tonality on the polishing.

The all-new P·790 irons are available for pre-order on August 8, 2023, with sets hitting the shelves on September 1, 2023. They sell for £172 or €220 per iron for the steel version and £200 or €257 for the graphite version. P·790 irons are offered in 3-PW, AW (RH/LH) with True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (S) and Dynamic Gold 95 (R) steel shafts and Mitsubishi MMT 75S, 65R and 55A graphite shafts. P·790 irons come equipped with Golf Pride’s Z Grip +2.

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Equipment

Duca Del Cosma signs women’s golf superstar Georgia Hall

Duca del Cosma, the premium Italian golf fashion brand, has signed top ranked women’s superstar Georgia Hall. (Source: Duca Del Cosma)

Duca del Cosma, the premium Italian golf fashion brand, has signed top ranked women’s superstar Georgia Hall to wear its latest Pro Spike shoes on a global basis from this month. The British Major winner and European Solheim Cup star will make her first appearance in Duca del Cosma shoes at the AIG Women’s Open on 9 August at Walton Heath, attempting to become the first home golfer to win the prestigious title on two occasions.

Georgia Hall: A Trailblazer in Golf, Embracing Duca del Cosma

When capturing her first Major in 2018 at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, she became the first player to shoot four sub-70 rounds in the tournament’s brand that offers the widest selection of golf shoes for male and female golfers on the market, also embraces her fourth consecutive appearance as a stalwart of Europe’s Solheim Cup team in Spain this September. She has an impressive record in the event with eight wins, including four straight victories in the 2019 competition. The eight-time Tour winner picked up another professional title recently at the Aramco Team Series – London, when she led Team Hall to victory. “I love everything about the Duca del Cosma brand – from the quality of design and comfort of the shoes to the storyline behind the Italian styling and craftsmanship,” said Georgia. “I want to win more Majors and Solheim Cup matches, so being able to wear the best shoes on offer for women golfers can only help me in my quest and I’m excited to represent the brand.

”Commenting on the signing, Frank van Wezel, Chairman of Duca del Cosma, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Georgia to the Duca family and are confident that she will add a great deal to the profile and appeal of the brand, as we offer even greater choices of styles and colours in our women’s collections of golf shoes and boots. Her standing in the women’s game and ambition to add more titles to her name make Georgia the perfect ambassador for the Duca del Cosma brand,” he added.

Duca del Cosma Welcomes Georgia Hall: A Perfect Fit for the Brand

Georgia will be showcasing the signature AVANTI Pro Spike shoes as part of the Women’s Pro Collection introduced earlier this year. Developed for professional golfers to wear over long periods of play, the lightweight, waterproof shoes feature an elegant white design and striking red outsoles with soft spikes, plus technology that delivers maximum stability during the swing. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of a Tour season, the super stable AVANTI shoes enable Georgia Hall to walk close to an estimated 2.5 million steps in comfort during her busy golfing schedule each year.

The holder of an MBE, Georgia became a British golf sensation when she was the first player to hold both British Girls’ and Ladies’ Amateur titles at just 17 years old. Turning professional in 2014, she worked at her game consistently with unwavering dedication and was rewarded with a place on the 2017 Solheim Cup team at the age of 21 and played in all four matches. She joins a team of other Duca del Cosma brand ambassadors, including six-time DP World Tour winner Joost Luiten, emerging Dutch star Daan Huizing and fellow LPGA golfer Kelly Tan.

Duca del Cosma sells premium Italian-designed shoes in 40 different countries across the world and operates from its own subsidiaries in The Netherlands (HQ), United States, UK and South Africa. Each shoe is handcrafted in Portugal using the finest materials available to deliver unrivalled performance, all-day comfort and a super stable fit.

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Equipment

Famous Sun Mountain Golf Brand gets a Makeover

The sun mountain C130 & DIVA cart bags (foto: sun mountain)
The sun mountain C130 & DIVA cart bags (foto: sun mountain)

Sun Mountain, the authentic golf bag, golf cart, travel gear and outerwear company behind many of the game’s most successful product innovations over the past four decades, has undergone a radical brand makeover designed to boost its global growth in coming years.

The new-look Sun Mountain follows the acquisition of the famous company in March last year by the Los Angeles-based Solace Capital Partners private equity firm and the adoption of an ambitious three-year strategic plan intended to maximise the brand’s full sales potential.

“We’re now in a position to drive the brand forward as never before and offer golfers an even greater choice of products in those categories where Sun Mountain is often the clear market leader or leading innovator,” said CEO/President Ed Kowachek, who has been with the company for 38 years. “Our aim has always been to provide golfers with game-changing gear that just keeps getting better and we’re on track to deliver more of the same in the years ahead.

“Thanks to an expanded in-house design team, golfers and our retail partners across Europe and Scandinavia can look forward to seeing even more new lines reflecting the quality of our functional Ahead of Time designs, high-end materials and manufacturing attention to detail in a wider selection of options,” he added.

Sun Mountain has been the #1 or #2 golf bag brand in the U.S. since 2007, with the record-breaking C-130 cart bag currently the top-selling model. First to introduce a bag with an integrated stand mechanism, its pioneering Eclipse model became a record seller.

It was also the first brand to launch a fully waterproof bag that became known in Europe as the H2NO, followed by other notable landmarks such as the E-Z Fit Dual Strap System a decade ago, the 14-way club divider and the Eco-Lite bags made using fabric from 25 recycled plastic bottles released in 2019.

H2NO Litespeed stand bag

The award-winning travel gear includes the ultra-manoeuvrable ClubGlider range and the compact Kube carrier that are market-leading club transport bags; while the trendsetting   3-wheeled push carts feature the popular Speed Cart V1R and PX3 models, plus a host of accessories; and the golfing outerwear range designed to extend the playing season for men and women includes the most technically advanced and stylish jackets, pants and pullovers.

For more details of the Sun Mountain ranges, visit https://www.brandfusion.co.uk/ourbrands/sun-mountain.

Text: Sun Mountain

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Brands Equipment

Callaway Golf and Jon Rahm announce long-term partnership extension

Today Callaway Golf, one of the industry’s leaders in golf equipment design, performance, and innovation, and Jon Rahm, one of the best players in the world, announced a new long-term partnership extension.

Rahm joined Callaway in 2021 and earned his first major championship win at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which moved him to Number One in the World Golf Rankings. He won three more times in 2022 and has continued his remarkable run of form this season. Jon leads the PGA TOUR with four wins in 2023, highlighted by his second major championship in April at Augusta, where he delivered a masterful performance to secure the Green Jacket.

Jon Rahm also on the road with Callaway in 2024

Rahm will continue to play a full bag of Callaway and Odyssey equipment, wear Callaway headwear, TravisMathew apparel and footwear, and support Topgolf’s global golf entertainment venue business. Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG) will leverage this partnership towards the Company’s strategic goal of strengthening its position as the leader in golf equipment globally, as well as its leadership positions across the modern golf ecosystem.

“I’m so happy to continue this incredible relationship with Callaway and I truly have played the best golf of my career with their equipment,” Rahm said in a provided statement. “From the driver to the golf ball, they continue to set the bar higher with every new product line, and I’m looking forward to many more great years with their team.”

“We’re so proud to have Jon on our staff, and we couldn’t be more excited about this extension of our long-term partnership,” said Topgolf Callaway Brands President & CEO, Chip Brewer. “Jon is an amazing talent, and he’s driven to be one of the very best to ever play the game. Equally important, he is a man of strong integrity and a brand ambassador who shares our passion for making a positive impact on our global sport. It’s a pleasure to work with him, and we look forward to focusing our considerable resources on his continued success.”

This extension includes an equity position for Rahm in Topgolf Callaway Brands, a position that both aligns the Company’s interests and demonstrates Jon’s confidence in the strategic direction of the Modern Golf family of TCB Corp Brands.

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Apparel Equipment Highlights Tours

Team Galvin Green Four-Ball heads to Hoylake in style

Galvin Green, the premium hi-tech apparel brand, has scripted striking outfits for four of its leading Tour ambassadors taking part in The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool this week, including three players on the cusp of making Europe’s Ryder Cup team in September.
They are led by Englishman Jordan Smith – fresh from a strong showing at the Genesis Scottish Open where he finished in a tie for 12 th. Two-time DP World Tour winner Jordan currently occupies 12 th place in the European Ryder Cup standings, followed by former Ryder Cup star Dane Thorbjørn Olesen in 15 th and Sweden’s Alexander Björk in 20 th spot. They will be joined by England’s Laurie Canter, one of the LIV Golf trailblazers.
Here are the colourful, high-performance garments that the four are set to wear as they take on the challenging Hoylake links, in addition to the market-leading Galvin Green outerwear and mid-layers they might need.

The Open Championship 2023: The looks of Galvin Green

Jordan Smith will step on the first tee on Thursday wearing the bold MADDEN short-sleeve shirt featuring a free-flowing wave print in the Navy/White colourway along with the matching NOAH trousers in Navy. Smith’s full-line up of performance-driven designs include:
The MAXIMUS shirt inspired by a still, calm ocean in Sharkskin and NOAH pants in Black; the tri-tone MO shirt offering a contemporary look in the Cool Grey/White/Navy colourway and navy NOAH trousers; MADDEN shirt in the refreshing Cool Grey/White colourway with matching NOAH trousers in Sharkskin.

(Photo: Galvin Green)


Thorbjørn Olesen, winner of the Thailand Classic earlier this year, will be looking to elevate his season with a strong showing at Royal Liverpool wearing the following outfits:
The distinctive MARKOS shirt in a gleaming water-themed print to deliver a supremely eye-catching look paired with the NOAH trousers in the Ensign Blue/Navy and Navy colourways respectively; MADDEN design in the bright Blue/White option and NOAH in White; the MAXIMUS in Sharkskin and NOAH pants in Black; plus the MO shirt in the vibrant Cool Grey/White/Sunny Lime colour and NOAH in Sharkskin.

(Photo: Galvin Green)

Alexander Björk, who has played in Galvin Green apparel since turning Professional in 2009, will sport a selection of athletic looks that include:
The MARKOS shirt in a mesmerising Navy/Orange colourway paired with the NOAH trousers in Navy for a super stylish appearance; vivid MO shirt in Black/White/Sharkskin and black NOAH trousers; distinctively bright MANOLO shirt in a fun print of small lighthouses and tee pegs, along with the NOAH trousers in Sharkskin; plus the MADDEN style in a super vibrant Orange/White colour complemented by the contrasting NOAH trousers in Navy.

(Photo: Galvin Green)

Laurie Canter, who successfully booked his place at the 151 st Open through winning the Final Qualifying event at Royal Porthcawl in challenging conditions, will wear the following outfits:
The MARKOS shirt in Blue/Navy and matching NOAH pants in Navy; MALCOLM shirt in a stylish Black/Sharkskin/Red colour combination that is inspired by the natural beauty of coastal golfing venues and NIXON trousers in Black; trendy MICO shirt designed to project a bird’s eye view of the ocean from above and NIXON pants in Sharkskin; as well as the MADDEN in Navy/White and matching NOAH trousers in Navy.

(Photo: Galvin Green)


“We’ve assembled these top-quality outfits to ensure our Tour Ambassadors look the part and perform at their best on the biggest stage,” said Conor Petters, Marketing Manager UK & Ireland. “Wearing our hi-tech clothes will hopefully give our players the edge to play at their peak and help secure a Ryder Cup spot further down the line in some cases,” he added.
All VENTIL8 PLUS shirts and trousers provide excellent moisture transportation properties and breathability to keep the body dry, while offering UV 20+ protection in warmer temperatures. Easy to maintain, the garments also dry quickly and without the need to iron. To explore the Galvin Green looks that will be worn at Hoylake, visit www.galvingreen.com.

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Equipment

Sun Mountain brightens up its travel bag range for 2023

Travelcover and travelbags from Sun Mountain. (Photo: Sun Mountain)
Travelcover and travelbags from Sun Mountain. (Photo: Sun Mountain)

Sun Mountain, the market leader in premium golf bags, has added a splash of colour to its bestselling Club Glider Meridian and updated
Kube travel covers to offer even more choice across its popular golf
luggage range aimed at making travel a seamlessly easy task.

Sun Mountain: New colors and exciting designs

Sun Mountain designers have also upgraded the hardwearing protective shell on the compactfolding Kube bag to provide a more striking modern look. Offering a great option for golfers with limited storage space at home, the latest colourways include Sand/Camouflage; Concord/Plum/Violet; Spruce/Harbour/Ochre; Navy/Blue/Cadet and Steel/Black/Rush Red.

“The Sun Mountain travel covers for this season will appeal to all travelling golfers looking for a high-quality and long-lasting product that really stands out from the crowd.”, said Nigel Freemantle, Managing Director of Brand Fusion International, the exclusive distributor of the brand in Europe. “The premium golf luggage bags have become world reknowned for making travel so much easier and these colourful designs elevate the latest range to another level.”,he added.

The ClubGlider from Sun Mountain

Providing exceptional manoeuvrability from leaving the front door to arriving at the final destination, the Club Glider Meridian is constructed from robust ballistic-style nylon and dense foam padding to deliver added protection and keep belongings safe.

The pioneering design features pivoting caster wheels and an exclusive folding leg mechanism that can be extended and retracted in one easy motion to fully support the weight of the bag and eliminate excessive bending and lifting. It has an RRP of £299.

The Kube Travelcover from Sun Mountain

The Kube folds down smaller than most aircraft cabin bags (23x33x38cms) and weighs little more than 3kg. It features a rubberised pull and carry handle, easy glide wheels for seamless transportation, plus a reinforced padded club head area offers greater protection for golf clubs when travelling.


Two internal pockets allow for extra clothing or equipment to be added, while two external and two internal compression straps nothing moves around during transit. The KUBE cover has an RRP of £219.Sun Mountain 2023 Travel Bag Range – 2 Completing the collection is the Club Glider Journey (£239) made from durable 1200 denier polyester for a more lightweight build and the ClubGlider Tour (£299) model constructed in vinyl for an individual look.

For those seeking more space when travelling with a staff bag or two mid-sized stand bags, the ClubGlider Pro (£349) is a perfect option.
For more information on the Sun Mountain travel bag collection, plus golf stand and cart bags, visit www.brandfusion.co.uk.

Text: Sun Mountain

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Equipment

LPGA Launches Affordable Golf Clubs, Accessories and Shoes for Female Beginners and Juniors

Affordable LPGA Golf Equipment is now available at Walmart. (Photos: Walmart)
Affordable LPGA Golf Equipment is now available at Walmart. (Photos: Walmart)

Women’s 13-piece and eight-piece club sets and seven-piece and five-piece junior girls club sets are now available for purchase in more than 1,200 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. All club sets include an LPGA-branded golf bag. Women’s club sets start at $199, and junior club sets start at $98.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity”

Complementing the club sets, LPGA-branded apparel items, including polos, skorts, a dress and visor are also now available in select stores and on Walmart.com — providing women and girls even more accessible, stylish options to wear on and off the course. Spikeless golf shoes in both women’s and girl’s sizes round out the collection.

“These fantastic new items will make it more accessible for women and girls to play golf and enjoy the sport,” said Corey Bender, senior vice president of hardlines – Walmart U.S. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the LPGA and I’m excited to get these products in the hands of our customers as golf season gets in full swing.”

The LPGA has been a longtime supporter of programs and initiatives for female beginners and juniors. Over its more than 30-year history, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf (Girls Golf), a partnership between the LPGA Foundation and the United States Golf Association (USGA), introduces girls ages 6-17 to the game of golf, empowering them with confidence, friendships and life skills. Today, more than 500 Girls Golf sites across the country run programs that impact more than 100,000 young women each year. The LPGA Professionals, the largest membership of women golf teaching Professionals in the world, help support the LPGA Foundation’s various grassroots programs aimed at increasing the engagement of girls and women in golf and serve as industry leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, the LPGA Amateurs program offers organized playing and learning opportunities for adults of all abilities through local and association-wide events.

“This incredible partnership with Walmart builds upon our organization’s commitment to empowering, inspiring, and transforming the lives of girls and women through the game of golf,” said Matt Chmura, LPGA Chief Marketing, Communications and Brand Officer. “We know that women comprise about a quarter of all golfers in the U.S.— and we also know there’s an opportunity to improve that ratio. By providing affordable, entry-level golf equipment, we look forward to helping even more women and girls experience the lifelong benefits of this great game.”

(text: LPGA Tour)

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Equipment Panorama

Jon Rahm hoping to follow in footsteps of greatness with custom TRAVISMATHEW Cuater shoes at PGA Championship

Jon Rahm will be wearing the TRAVISMATHEW Cuater shoe at the PGA Championship 2023. (Photo: TRAVISMATHEW)
Jon Rahm will be wearing the TRAVISMATHEW Cuater shoe at the PGA Championship 2023. (Photo: TRAVISMATHEW)

Heading to Oak Hill Country Club in good form following four PGA Tour wins in 2023, including The Masters at Augusta National in April, the Spaniard will once again be wearing a custom-painted pair of The Ringer golf shoes.

Vamos Rhambo

The shoe will be in a different colourway to the bespoke custom design white and green pair he wore at Augusta, with this week’s white design detailed with a blue and gold colour combination that pays homage to the PGA Championship logo and the word ‘Vamos’ along the outside of shoe, in reference to his “Vamos Rahmbo” tagline.

As part of his partnership with TRAVISMATHEW, Rahm will be wearing the custom Ringer shoes at Oak Hill this week as he looks to join an illustrious group of players to have won three major championships – with his first two arriving since partnering with TRAVISMATHEW in 2021, which has coincided with his rise to world number one.

Rahm sees the shoes as a gamechanger

Rahm said: “I think the game changer is the shoes I am wearing. They are a lot more comfortable. I have done some great work with the Cuater and TRAVISMATHEW team and I think it has allowed me to be a little bit more stable and up my ball speed and swing speed without being concerned. I can keep that speed up from the first tee shot on Thursday to the last one on Sunday a little bit more consistently.”

TRAVISMATHEW’s premium Cuater performance golf shoe, The Ringer delivers ultimate comfort with lightweight support, breathability, and moisture management in an attractive, waterproof style. The shoes come with layers of moulded foam for ultimate comfort to give golfers the most secure and responsive fit on the market.

Several other top professional golfers also wear Cuater footwear, including Ryder Cup hopeful Sam Burns. The five-time PGA Tour winner will be hoping to continue US dominance at the PGA Championship this week by becoming his country’s eighth consecutive winner of the tournament.
In celebration of the PGA Championship, TRAVISMATHEW is running a Cuater promotion, with anyone purchasing a pair of Cuater shoes gifted a free pair of Cuater socks.

For more information on Cuater click here.

(Text: TRAVISMATHEW)

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Equipment

Uneekor acquieres majority share in Evnroll Putters

Jey Suk (Uneekor CEO) and Guerin Rife (Picture: Uneekor)
Jey Suk (Uneekor CEO) and Guerin Rife (Picture: Uneekor)


Uneekor is delighted to announce the acquisition of a controlling interest in US-based premium putter brand Evnroll. The deal sees Creatz Inc., parent company to the South Korean golf technology company Uneekor, acquire a 70% share and controlling interest in Evnroll putters with immediate effect.

Uneekor and Evnroll at the highest level of game improvement

“We feel that Evnroll, as a 100% US milled and technology driven putter line, is a great fit for Uneekor’s precision analytics in the launch monitor space,” said Eddie Lee, chief sales andmarketing officer of Creatz Inc., “Together, Uneekor and Evnroll will represent the highest level of game improvement encompassing the full spectrum of performance-enhancing technology from tee to green.”


Evnroll Founder and Chief Designer, Guerin Rife, will retain a 30% shareholding and remain CEO, Chief Designer of the company going forward. “Our mission remains unchanged,” said Rife. “Evnroll was founded on delivering forward looking, real innovation and technology that enhances every aspect of putter design and performance.
Uneekor has the same vision for full swing analytics.”

Lots of simularities

“There is definitely an air of excitement around the place,” added Rife. “We’re excited for the futureand what this positive injection of resources and knowledge will do for both our businesses.” Evnroll Putters first came to the golfing world’s attention in 2016 with a range of stunning 100% US milled putters featuring Designer Guerin Rife’s ground-breaking, patented ‘SweetFace Technology’; an innovative and unique mill pattern engineered to deliver uniform performance across the entirehitting area of the putter face for unprecedented accuracy and zero dispersion.


Since then the brand has won a host of accolades, awards and elite tournaments across the globe on their way to becoming the second ranked brand in sales in the Korean putter market. Withcorporate offices in golf’s global heartland, Carlsbad, California, the acquisition will see Uneekor further expand its footprint in the US golf Market.

Optix technology from Uneekor

For more than 14 years, Uneekor has been developing and producing ground-breaking launch monitors, simulators, performance software, and accessories, passionately developed with unrivalled technologies by a team of top engineers.

Uneekor’s patented high-speed OPTIX infrared technology delivers the most advanced ball and clubhead data ever achieved. Together with their 16 million shots per day ball data they have generated a sophisticated algorithm that delivers precise unmatched ball and clubhead analytics for both indoor and outdoor fitting and practice. This technology combined with Evnroll’s expertise in fitting promise some exciting future advancements in the portable putting analysis market.

Written by Uneekor

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Equipment

TaylorMade survey: clear majority against golf ball change

TaylorMade has asked for golfers' views on the subject of the potential golf ball change. (Photo: Getty)
TaylorMade has asked for golfers' views on the subject of the potential golf ball change. (Photo: Getty)

The announcement by the USGA and R&A to introduce a Modal Local Rule (MLR), which would limit the maximum length of golf balls for elite tournaments, has found more opponents than supporters in the professional sector. TaylorMade has now surveyed almost 45,000 everyday golfers from over 100 countries on their opinion of the possible split between professional and amateur golf – and the opinion picture is quite clear.

81 per cent of respondents said they were against the proposed rule change and the division it would create between the professionals and amateurs and believed it would not be good for the game of golf. 77 per cent of respondents to the TaylorMade survey also believe that there is no need to restrict the hitting distances of the pros at all.

Will golf ball changes divide pros and amateurs?

While the R&A and USGA officials are interested in regulating only the stroke lengths for professionals, as they would otherwise “become a significant problem for the next generation” thanks to ever-improving training and equipment possibilities, as USGA boss Mike Whan points out, many people, however, fear a drifting apart of professionals and amateurs if they play different balls. Almost half (48 percent) of the respondents affirmed that it was extremely important for them to be able to play the same equipment as the pros, and only 17 percent did not attach any importance to this.

The context of this survey on the part of the equipment manufacturer Taylormade is also that the majority of the respondents are good and experienced players who have a great interest in professional golf. 87 percent of the participants stated a handicap of under 20, 33 percent even a handicap of under 10. Almost three quarters of the respondents (73 percent) played golf for more than ten years, more than half (51 percent) for more than 20 years.

The results of the survey speak for themselves. (Photo: TaylorMade)

However, almost four-fifths of the participants (79 per cent) said they mainly play golf for recreation and only one-fifth play competitive golf. Accordingly, 85 per cent of participants believe that the Modal Local Rule (if it is actually introduced) would have no impact on their own playing behaviour. Some consider the rule proposal “fair”, ” needed” and “good”. However, the overwhelming opinion in the survey is that the proposed change to golf balls is “stupid”, “unnecessary”, “ridiculous”, “wrong” and “confusing”.

TaylorMade to provide feedback to USGA and R&A

“The goal of our survey was to give golfers the opportunity to voice their opinion on this proposed ruling as we absorb the MLR and its potential effects on the everyday golfer,” David Abeles, TaylorMade CEO, said. “The overwhelming amount of responses show the passion, knowledge and care for the game our audience possesses. Each response and data point is being reviewed as we will utilize this feedback in our preparation to provide a response to the USGA and R&A.”