The 2013 PGA Championship is in the books, and the conclusion of the year’s final major tournament warns the eager golfer that summer is running out — leaving any extra rounds on the links to the mercy of autumn weather.
Still, the golf gear manufacturers out there know that the playing season in the U.S. runs year round out west and down south — and into late autumn up north and out east. So, they keep the golf goodies coming.
Mizuno recently unveiled additions to its wet or cold weather gear lineup. That’s the RetroFlex Pro glove to the left there. WIth a price point of $14.99, the RetroFlex feels broken in out of the box.
Mizuno’s hottest apparel this time of the year is literally the warmest. The Flex Sweater ($129) sets you up all toasty while the Hyper Rainsuit ($179.99 for the jacket and $149.99 for the pants) keeps you dry.
Finishing on top, the Cable Knit Bobble cap above $24 would keep Bob and Doug McKenzie happy in the tee box. If you want to keep a brim on your skull, the $30 Phantom Cap and Kanji Cap for $22 should do the trick.
On the club side, Adams is introducing the Tight Lies Fairway Wood. For $249, the new club is a resurrected version of a classic option many players favored over a two or three iron off a good lie. This Tight Lies promises to be the “easiest-to-hit fairway wood” with a low-profile, upside-down head, tri-level sole design.
If a gadget is more your speed, $149 will get you a SwingByte – the sensor and app-based tool designed to improve your golf swing. Both iOS and Android friendly, the SwingByte offers instant and accurate swing feedback, interactive 3D swing graphics, a 4-hour rechargeable battery, Bluetooth connectivity and easy operation.
You attach the Swingbyte sensor to any golf club below the grip. Your swing then registers vibration, impact, angle and other swing factors. You can review all of the factors on your device with full 3-D rendering of your swing and data (with readouts on Club Head Speed, Club Face and Club Path angles).
Back in the world of clubs and everything that might carry them, TaylorMade offers autumnal golfers the PureLite Stand Bag for $179.99. For that money, you get a lightweight, 4.9 lb. blend of Zip-off ball pockets, redesigned shoulder straps, anti-split stand system, air flow hip pad system, seven total pockets, velour-lined valuables pocket, insulated cooler sleeve, umbrella cord Bottom trunk handle and a removable ball pocket for customization.
If you’d like to stick something in that bag, TaylorMade suggests the SLDR Driver for about $400. The manufacturer insists the SLDR will help you hit longer and straighter drives with a high launch angle, lower spin-rate and faster ball speed.
The SLDR balance represents a reinvention of movable weight, making the driver more effective and easier to use. Movable weight shifts the club head’s center of gravity far enough to promote a side-to-side trajectory change of up to 30 yards.
