2018 PGA Merchandise Show Review
Each year we venture south to Orlando for one of the golf industry’s biggest event, the PGA Merchandise Show. This is a spectacle that features more than 1 million square feet of vendors showing the latest and greatest products to hit the market for the coming season. This year’s show did not disappoint, and we made it home very excited about 2018! Here are a few highlights that really struck our entire team.
Adidas Golf: 2017 was dominated for Adidas by the sale of TaylorMade. This left many questioning Adidas’ commitment to golf. However, their presence at the PGA Merchandise Show put those fears to rest. This booth was one of the most impressive of all the apparel vendors. Their upcoming shoe and apparel launches are really looking good and we think that Adidas stands to grow a great deal in 2018. Make sure you try on a pair of their Tour360 Flyknit shoes when they hit our shelves in late February.
Cobra Golf: All that we can say is, “Wow!” From CNC milled faces on their upcoming F8 drivers to out-of-this-world technology offered by the inclusion of Arccos units, this company has really stepped up their game. One thing that stood out even more was one of their newest irons. Last year we all felt that Cobra’s Forged Tec irons were overlooked by many as it performed at the top of its class. This year you will get another chance as they are launching this product in a PVD Black finish that both looks amazing and really performs well. Make sure you try this one as our fitting tools hit the Cluboratory!
Titleist: The Titleist booth is always one of the busiest at the PGA Merchandise Show. They anchor the hard goods side of the convention center and this year they did not disappoint. We are excited about the launch of the new Vokey SM7 wedges. Improved centers of gravity and a new grind highlight this product launch. One other launch that is highly anticipated will be the introduction of their new Tour Soft ball franchise. This will replace the NXT series of golf balls and inject some life into a category that many think Titleist has overlooked far too long. Expect the performance of high-end tour balls without the price tag.
Volvik: Talk about a colorful booth! Each day of the show this booth was humming with activity and excitement as long drive competitors roamed around their area reinforcing that the rest of us are mere mortals. Although last year we were disappointed in their ability to deliver product, we are confident they will win your business back. They have updated their line of Vivid golf balls to include new colors as well as a urethane cover option and a lighter weight ball designed specifically for slower clubhead speeds. Expect these balls to catch your eye with their vibrant matte finishes when they hit the shelves in February. Another highlight is a new technology that puts the power of GPS into a glove under $50 while still offering accuracy comparable to some of the most expensive GPS and Rangefinder units on the market! We are excited to put these on sale in both of our stores in April.
Swing Caddie: For a while now we have used this launch monitor in our Cluboratory for fittings as we have found it to be reliable and very accurate when compared to even some of the most expensive launch monitors on the market. Well, now you can purchase your own for less than $300! These units are currently available in our Michigan location and will arrive in our Cincinnati store soon.
