16 minute read
Puetz Golf - In The Bag
PRODUCT REVIEWS AND EQUIPMENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
PGA Show 2025 hit parade: Gear up with the latest golf tech
BY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR
Golf season is here, although many of you might have logged a few rounds already, as the weather has bordered on clement at times since our last issue came out in December.
February had several bluebird days in the mid-to-high 40s, which is about as good as we in the Pacific Northwest can hope for. Though courses were quite wet, thanks to unevaporated rain and snow, but at least they were open. This being our first issue of the year (happy new-ish year by the way), coming a couple of months after the PGA Show in Orlando, we can confirm partner Puetz Golf is awash with cool new gear.
The increase in demand for golf since Covid has remained, and the continued influx of talented, highly qualified product designers creating impressive equipment has as well. The fact that they’re developing incredible high-tech gadgets such as simulators, launch monitors, and shot-tracking, distance-measuring devices, means the golf business is enjoying a period of good health. Indeed, the PGA of America and Reed Exhibitions claimed the 2025 PGA Show was the biggest since the halcyon days of 2009, with 33,000 attendees from 94 countries and all 50 states, plus over 1,100 exhibitors. That’s a significant boost to an industry now worth $102 billion.
With that being the case, Puetz Golf is busier than ever, and they can’t wait to show you all the new products for 2025 that launched at the show. It’s a great time to grab some new items for your bag (or even a new bag) to help make this a memorable year.
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1 • L.A.B. GOLF
DF3, OZ.1 & MEZZ.1
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $449.99 stock, $599.99 custom
Through watching golf on TV and reading equipment news, you’ve probably become aware of an unconventional putter manufacturer making some innovative, center-shafted clubs that perform very differently to more familiar putters. To fully understand what L.A.B. (Lie, Angle, Balance) putters can do, it’s probably best if you visit the company’s website (labgolf.com) and watch the Revealer video starring CEO Sam Hahn. In a nutshell, the face of L.A.B. putters remain square to the arc of your stroke without any conscious effort from you. L.A.B. says all you have to do is read the putt correctly, make your normal stroke, and you will deliver a square putter face at impact. “You’ll feel our putters wanting to guide themselves on the correct path on the way back and through.” A number of PGA Tour players have discovered the physics works for them. Most notably, perhaps, are Lucas Glover and Adam Scott. Glover, whose career has been resurrected largely thanks to his switch to a L.A.B. putter, has risen from 194th to 45th in strokes gained since 2022-23. The most popular model the company makes is the DF3 (launched in January 2024) which, L.A.B. says, stays square by itself. “It’s irrationally forgiving on mishits.” Other models include the OZ.1 (late 2024) which was designed in collaboration with Scott, and the MEZZ.1 (summer 2022) with which Glover has enjoyed so much success. Another interesting aspect of L.A.B. putters is the Press Grip, which automatically keeps your hands ahead of the putter face.
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2 • GARMIN
S44, S50 & G20 Solar
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $299.99 S44, $399.99 S50, $299.99 G20 Solar
We’ve featured Garmin several times, as their products’ levels of technology and quality continue to impress. Its huge range of offerings (including 15 smartwatches) is also remarkable and ensures there’s a device with the exact range of features and styles for everyone. The Approach S44, launched at the PGA Show in January, features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display on which you can clearly see the yardages even in bright sunlight. You get access to 43,000 courses and get distances to greens, hazards and doglegs. The battery last 15 hours in GPS mode and the PinPointer feature guides you even on blind approach shots. The Hazard view gives you the precise location of bunkers and water, and Playslike Distance adjusts yardages based on elevation changes. CT1 and CT10 club sensors (sold separately) track your shots, giving you a data-driven breakdown of your performance, so you can analyze your strengths and weaknesses. You can keep track of your score and upload rounds to the Garmin Golf app. The Approach S50 (also launched in Orlando) has all the same features as the S44 but comes with a heart rate monitor and a blood oxygen tracker. The Approach G20 Solar is a handheld GPS device, which gives you unlimited battery life in sunny conditions, or up to 30 rounds without solar charging. The G20 is also compatible with the CT1 or CT10 shot tracker sensors. With a Garmin Golf membership, you’ll get enhanced full-color CourseView maps, green contour data, and Touch Targeting for exact distance to any point.
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3 • VOICE CADDIE
SC4 Pro Launch Monitor
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $599.99
The evolution of launch monitors has transformed the way regular golfers practice. Our demand for the information they provide, combined with fast-improving technology, has resulted in portable devices that cost about one-fiftieth of the game’s first launch monitors, which were seen on PGA Tour driving ranges and at prominent golf schools, but seldom elsewhere. The SC100, launched in 2014, Voice Caddie was one of the earliest manufacturers to introduce personal units. Now meet the SC4 Pro (an SC4 update), which provides pretty much everything the game’s first launch monitors did. Designed for seamless use both indoors and out, the device is powered by the Voice Caddie-developed ProMetrics engine and is described as a “cutting-edge, proprietary, machine-learning algorithm.” It provides extremely precise ball and clubhead data from your swing to the resulting ball flight. Based in Seoul, South Korea, Voice Caddie says the SC4 gives you all the data you want. That includes swing speed, ball speed, dispersion, shot apex, spin rate, launch angle, smash factor and launch direction, all while providing instant, spoken data readings for each shot, so there’s no need to check the screen. It sets up quickly and is easy to operate, allowing you to practice in the garage, backyard, or golf course. When paired with the new Voice Caddie S app (which has replaced MySwingCaddie) you get the 3D driving range to show your ball-flight. You can also pair the SC4Pro with E6 Connect to gain access to five E6 courses, so it provides simulator capability as well.
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4 • RAPSODO
MLM2PRO
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $699.99
Founded in Singapore in 2010, Rapsodo continues to grow in popularity. The company released its first personal launch monitor — the MLM (Mobile Launch Monitor) — in 2019. That device paired doppler-radar technology with an iPhone or iPad camera to provide instant video replay and a shot tracer. With over five years between the MLM’s launch and the updated version — the MLM2Pro — you’d expect some significant upgrades. Sure enough, the MLM2Pro not only looks completely different than its predecessor, but also boasts cool features like Impact Vision (which uses a high-speed impact vision camera at 240 frames per second) to give you slow-motion GIFs that focus on impact and initial ball flight. You can therefore see where on the face you struck the ball, whether it’s heel, center, or toe. A second camera gives you Shot Vision. That’s down-the-line, slow-motion video of your swing, which you can pair with a phone or tablet to get an additional video angle such as face-on. It also pairs with your phone to give you a virtual practice range and 30,000 simulated courses. Six important swing and ball-flight metrics (ball-speed, launch direction, clubhead speed, launch angle, spin rate and spin axis) are measured, rather than calculated. This distinction yields a significantly more accurate way to provide data, down to within one percent of the accuracy of much more expensive units. Purchase the separately sold, Callaway-designed, Rapsodo Precision Technology golf balls to get the most accurate reading of your spin rate.
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5 • PAYNTR
X 001F & Eighty-Seven SC
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $159.99 X 001F, $219.99 Eighty-Seven SC
Payntr was founded by former Yorkshire cricketer David Paynter. You might recall the story of David’s great grandfather, Eddie Paynter, who discharged himself from a Brisbane hospital in 1932 despite a severe bout of tonsilitis, washed down a couple of aspirin with champagne, and returned to the field of play to help England beat Australia in an important test match. So, naturally, the company set out making cricket shoes. However, since the release of its first golf shoe in 2022, the company has quickly established a strong reputation in that space. Its spikeless X 001 F features an upper made of Clarino, a synthetic leather microfiber produced in Japan that is widely used by shoe manufacturers. The water-impermeable upper is treated with a superhydrophobic solution called “NeverWet,” and the ORTHOLITE footbed and PMX (Performance Multiplied) foam in the midsole make it a very comfortable shoe. A lightweight, graphite propulsion plate delivers maximum energy return, helping golfers to push powerfully off the ground. The seven-layer Eighty-Seven SC was created alongside PGA Tour player Jason Day, launching earlier this year to rave reviews, and quickly selling out on the company’s website. The Clarino Trivela microfiber upper combines with the ARIAPRENE tongue to provide maximum stability and lightweight, breathable support. Completely waterproof, the Eighty-Seven SC features the Fast Twist insert system with seven SoftSpikes cleats. The PMXNitro+ Footbed delivers lightweight cushioning, while the PMXNitro+ Midsole provides maximum energy return.
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6 • ECCO
S Casual
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $179.99
Danish shoemaker ECCO was founded by Karls Toosbuy in the town of Bredebro in 1963. By 2000, it was one of the few manufacturers in the world to own every step of its manufacturing process with tanneries in the Netherlands, Thailand, China and Indonesia. Over 98 percent of the company’s shoes are currently made in its own factories. ECCO got into the golf business in 1996 with the thinking that golfers wore stiff leather shoes that got significantly heavier in the rain. So, it set out to make the most comfortable golf shoe possible, partnering with rising Danish star Thomas Bjorn, the European Ryder Cup Captain in 2018. The company’s most newsworthy moment came in 2010 when Fred Couples wore a spikeless shoe at the Masters that looked more like a skateboard shoe than a golf shoe. It has produced dozens of highly acclaimed shoes since, partnering with numerous top golfers. Its S Casual resembles the ECCO GOLF STREET that Couples wore at Augusta National, but it benefits from 15 years’ more technology and research. It features an ECCO-TEX waterproof membrane that keeps your feet dry and comfortable. The washable Ortholite insole cushions the feet and can be removed if you require more width. ECCO FLUIDFORM likewise raises the shoe’s comfort level, while the 100 traction bars on the sole (giving 800 traction angles) help keep you stable and upright. The S Casual is available in monotone black, white, and vetiver, or saddle styles black/steel, white/saffron and white/marine.
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7 • PUMA
Ignite Elevate 2 Tour
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $149.99
Puma is the third largest sportswear manufacturer in the world. It was founded by Rudolf Dassler, whose relationship with his brother, Adi, soured in the mid-late 1940s, and caused them to close the shoe business they’d begun in 1924. While Adi created adidas, Rudolf started Puma (originally called ‘Ruda’) in 1948 on the other side of the Aurach River in Herzogenaurach, Germany. During its first three decades, the company would focus on soccer and track and field, but eventually, it expanded into other sports including basketball and motor racing. In 2010, Puma acquired Cobra Golf, and entered the golf business, establishing a successful partnership with Rickie Fowler. In addition to Fowler, PGA Tour players Max Homa, Victor Hovland and 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland are wearing the Ignite Elevate 2 this season. While its golf business remains just a fraction of Puma’s overall output, the company has made several quality golf shoes in recent years and continues to chip away at FooJtoy’s seemingly insurmountable dominance. The Ignite Elevate 2 was launched at the PGA Show in January, two years after the original Ignite Elevate was released. Its foremost feature is the Ignite foam in the midsole, which provides both comfort and energy return (your foot rebounds after making a stride) helping to make walking 18 holes easier. The “EXOSHELL” upper is completely waterproof (guaranteed for one year) and breathable. The “PWRSaddle” locks your foot in place, and “Concentric Traction,” with over 100 angular traction lugs, helps you maintain your balance.
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8 • TRAVIS MATHEW
Daily Pro Hybrid+ 8
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $159.99
Clothing brand Travis Mathew was founded in Southern California in 2007 by former PGA Tour hopeful Travis Johnson. Fun fact: the company’s name is Travis’ first and middle names, with one “t” removed from “Matthew.” Johnson’s plan was to make golf apparel that was “elegant, sexy, and rock n’ roll.” It made its first footwear in 2017 through its sub-brand, Cuater, and three years later, seriously upped the ante with the release of four additional styles. The Moneymaker, Ringer, Wildcard and Legend promptly secured Travis Mathew’s new-found status as a serious shoemaker. The Daily Pro and Daily Pro Plus continued upon the company’s growing success, and last year, the very positively reviewed Daily Pro Hybrid arrived. Designed for both the golf course and everyday use, it may not have screamed elegant, sexy, or rock n’ roll, but its shape and knitted upper fit the SoCal vibe perfectly. This year, the Daily Pro Hybrid Plus takes the original one step further with a waterproof (one-year guarantee) synthetic upper and breathable air-mesh liner. “Whether you’re strolling through city streets or navigating a dewy golf course, these shoes provide peace of mind without compromising on style,” says the company. The low-top silhouette design means it can be worn with just about anything in your wardrobe, and its midsole foam “Sweetspot Cushioning System,” along with an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) insole, provides comfort. The polyurethane outsole (with distinctive traction lug pattern) is durable and grips the ground preventing slippage.
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9 • TRUE LINKSWEAR
True LUX G
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $174.99
These days, numerous companies offer comfortable, stable, durable golf shoes that put your father’s golf shoes to shame. Here at Cascade Golfer, we have a very soft spot for Tacoma’s TRUE Linkswear, the company founded by Ryan Moore and his brother Jason in 2009. At that time, the brand completely disrupted the golf shoe scene with a zero-drop, spikeless model that made walking the golf course a breeze. Most shoe companies have since been inspired to make their own zero-drop shoe while TRUE Linkswear has continued to carry the comfort torch. Last summer, it introduced the Lux G, which it said was “built to own the water, sand, dirt, and pretty much anything else Mother Nature throws at you.” It featured an allnew upper designed to remain comfortable, flexible, and easy to clean, while keeping your feet feeling fresh. Weighing just 11.2 ounces, the Lux G features a 6-mm heel drop. Also found in the Puetz Golf TRUE Linkswear lineup are last year’s incredibly comfortable OG Cush and the extremely durable Ripstop V2. Fast forward to 2025, where three new shoes have dropped: the Lux 2 Player, Lux 2 Maven, and OG3 Pro. The Lux 2 Player ($194.99) features a Wanderlux2 High Rebound and Low Compression Superfoam Midsole and comes with a two-year waterproof guarantee. The OG3 Pro ($194.99) is modeled on the zero-drop OG Cush, and the Lux 2 Maven ($324.99) will have the Napa leather upper, all-new carbon-fiber reaction plate, mid-sole Superfoam, and the two-year waterproof guarantee you’d expect from the company’s flagship model.
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10 • NIKE
Air Hybrid 2
PUETZ GOLF PRICE • $279.99
Nike may have stopped making club and balls in 2016 (a shame for those who had its RZN Platinum ball, VR Forged Pro Combo iron, and Vapor Fly driver in their bag at some point), but it continues to produce stylish golf apparel – worn by Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Brooks Koepka among others – and quality accessories. It could be argued Nike still does make golf equipment, though, as it offers a fine selection of bags, highlighted by the Air Hybrid 2. This stand bag, which features a detachable, anatomically correct Equaflex Max Air dual strap, facilitates both walking and carrying. With a robust aluminum frame, the 100 percent polyester Air Hybrid 2 is lightweight, despite featuring a 14-way club divider and numerous pockets, one of them insulated to keep food and beverages cold. Golfers can find that product available in six colors. The rest of the lineup includes the Air Sport 2 ($239.99), which is also made of 100 percent polyester. Available in eight colors, it has a four-way club divider, full-length apparel pocket, a ball pocket with zipoff panel so you can customize the look, and side webbing that provides convenient storage for accessories. The smaller Sport Lite ($199.99) has the anatomically correct strap, insulated food and beverage pocket, a five-way club divider, and an exterior pocket where you can store a water bottle. In addition to those three stand bags, Nike also offers the Performance Cart Bag, which features a 14-way club divider, insulated food and beverage pocket, plus utility webbing. The bag is available in eight colors.
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