By Scott Kramer

And I have a feeling many more people feel the same way. After all, I know the use of cars became relatively useless when the pandemic began. Everything was closed, so there were really not many reasons to drive. Thus, there was an uptick in sales of personal transportation devices, such as electric scooters and bicycles. Then as lockdowns began lifting and people tried to avoid public transportation, sales of these alternative transportation vehicles accelerated even further, according to public reports. Plus, they let people get out and experience some fresh air without having to hop in the car. And they’re awesome for running short-range errands.

Riding it at first took a learning curve. The throttle is so responsive that I initially kept jerking the machine forward. But after maybe a half-hour on it, I figured out how to subtly get the machine moving much more smoothly. Braking posed a similar challenge: Using the given handbrake can be jolting. So I’ve resorted now to just coasting to slow down, wherever possible. And if I need to brake by hand, it’s kind of second-nature at this point.

The ride is so smooth that I’ve several times caught myself gliding at 25+ mph. Which frankly is a little faster than I feel comfortable. But it just sort of happens so gradually-yet-quickly, I’ve been unaware of the actual speed until I’m maxing out.

The machine is well-built and appointed. It has a bell, which is throwback cool. The telescoping main bar adjusts to people of pretty much any height. The blue-glowing odometer has several modes, and is well lit to display in bright sunshine or dark night. The handlebars even fold inward if you’re stowing the scooter, then lock into place when you’re using it.

If I could only buy this or an e-bike — and because this model sells for $1,000 and e-bikes can commonly be twice-to-thrice that price, that may be the exact choice some people have — I might well opt for this. But I also love my e-bike. So thankfully I don’t have to choose. While both have merit, the EcoReco makes a mighty strong case for e-scooters.

By Barry Lotz

Holy Shaft!

15+ yards on mishits, 25-40 yards on center hits = $1200?

The Seven Dreamers Laboratories Golf Shaft is the innovator of the worlds most advanced and expensive golf-club shaft.

Their USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is “Autoclaving”. Autoclaving is traditionally used in manufacturing high-precision carbon products and helps the carbon fiber retain its quality without adding “unnecessary resin and paint or polishing and grinding”. FYI, most shafts are oven-baked.

The autoclaving process is traditionally used for manufacturing high-precision carbon products, including those utilized in the building of satellites and aircraft.

This pioneering approach helps the carbon fiber retain 100 percent of its quality and eliminates common practices used by other manufacturers, including grinding or polishing to achieve weight and flex specifications, as well as adding 3-5 grams of useless paint weight to the structure.

The surface condition of the shaft is perfect – no broken fibers, no fiber tears and no fiber bullets. The resulting design provides golfers with incredibly smooth feel and near-perfect transfer of energy for more distance with tighter shot dispersion.

Gone are the fancy paint color schemes found in most all other shafts that help TV viewers identify brands. This has a pure carbon fiber look with only the serial number and “Seven Dreamers” monogram.

The company offers 28 different bend profiles, ranging from 40 grams to 80 grams, which they identified as the most common bend through thousands of club fittings. However, it is imperative that a customer, to find the correct shaft, will need to be custom fitted at a Seven Dreamers authorized dealer: Seven Dreamers sells its products through select retailers, club fitters and “high-profile” green-grass shops. The shafts debuted in Japan in 2014, and have been endorsed by Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, who won 94 times on the Japan Tour.

Our testing group, those who had slower speed swings specifically and average drives of 165 to 175 yards, used the J-50, 40 R High Launch in the new XXIO driver. Overall, every tester was enthralled with the shafts’ performance. On their missed hits, they averaged 15 yards further and center hits increased their distance from 25 -40 yards over their existing drives! They all agreed that the shaft gave them a better and smoother feeling than their current shafts, and they loved the ball flight as well!

Since its introduction in Japan in 2014, and the US in 2017, Seven Dreamers has gained a large and loyal following among the most discerning and affluent golfers. The ultra-premium, custom-fit shafts, which start at $1,200 each (J Global Design series), have been adopted by members of Cypress Point Golf Club, Riviera Country Club, Oakmont Country Club, Seminole Golf Club, San Francisco Golf and Country Club, Southern Highlands, TPC of Boston and hundreds of other golf and country clubs.

For those who must have their very own custom shaft built for them personally, this can be arranged for $2500 and a visit to their Tokyo studios.

“Much like fine-quality, bespoke suits, our shafts are designed to complement the user by perfectly reacting to his or her unique swing profile,” says Shin Sakane, President and CEO of Seven Dreamers. “No other manufacturer in the world has the resources or manufacturing knowledge to create the superior shafts our labs produce.”

Iron, hybrid and putter shafts are also available for the market.

www.sevendreamers.com

Sacks Parente Series 54 Mallet Putters

As it is written and said,” Drive for show and putt for dough”. Not really, here you need the dough to purchase this putter! This putter is for anybody who wants to play better.

At the 2019 PGA Show in January, this company’s booth was consistently busy. There, the Sacks Parente Golf Company, builders of exceptional putters that defy convention, introduced its innovative new Series 54 mallet putter.

The Series 54 features Sacks Parente’s patented Ultra Low Balance Point (ULBP) technology that lowers the balance point along the shaft between the sole and a point not more than 5 inches above the sole, causing the putter head to square and release at impact, delivering exceptional rollout and accuracy. Sure, there was resistance to the pricing, but when one considers what a driver cost these days and how often one uses a driver compared to a putter, rationalizing became a subject of conversation.

The ULBP feature is also available in the Series 39 Blade and the Series 18 Cavity putters by Sacks Parente.

This putter performed unbelievably well for our testing group at Torrey Pines and Desert Willow in Palm Desert. It achieved rave reviews. I personally sunk 18 out of 20 putts which I primarily attribute to the putter head squaring and releasing at impact without any manipulation on my part.

The Series 54 is available in both a Players Edition ($600) and a Tour Edition ($1200) and features a perfectly flat crown that starts low at the back of the putter and ramps up to the full height of the face to optically eliminate mis-alignment. To further aid alignment, the putter is available with either a Striped Crown (SC) or a Vernier Acuity (VA) crown to help the eyes follow to the target and visually simulate a track to it.

Multiple stripes have a history of making visual alignment easier. The SC is designed to help the eyes follow the ramped shape towards the intended target, enabling golfers to line up putts more consistently and make more putts.

The VA model was designed for golfers who don’t find the striped crown beneficial. Vernier Acuity is defined as the ability to see dis-alignment between two lines. This is enhanced when the outside lines are of a different color from the inside line and having outside lines slightly thinner than the inside line. Simply put, the Vernier Acuity system will help some players maintain focus on the center target line and make it easier for them to aim, resulting in more putts made.

Strategically placed tungsten weighting in the Series 54 head creates an extremely high MOI and moves the center of gravity towards the face to counter the detrimental result of gear effect present in other mallet putters. The exceptional weighting and alignment systems will enable golfers to accurately line up and make more putts. In addition, the Series 54 hosel position is offered in center shaft or heel shaft locations. What is very noticeable is that the shaft is very close to the face as possible. 65% of the weight of the putter is in the first third going from front to back.

A variety of hosel types are available to meet every golfer’s need. In many models, hosels are replaceable and adjustable for lie angles. The loft is 3.2°

Sacks Parente uses a standard head weight of 350-360 grams (350g without the neck, 11-12 grams with the neck) and has focused on technologically advanced shaft and grip design to solidify their ULBP. Sacks Parente shafts have been engineered from the ground up to meet specifications never before contemplated in a putter shaft. These carbon fiber shafts weigh between 30-35 grams, are extremely stiff, and transmit a feel not achievable with steel. Carbon fiber shafts, such as the Olympic shaft used, cost more than most current putters cost themselves. Achieving this level of performance at less than 1/3 the weight of a typical steel shaft is an engineering marvel.

At an average weight of 30 grams, Sacks Parente grips are less than half the weight of typical grips found in today’s market. These unique grips are designed and engineered to enable the ULBP technology and to also meet the SPG specific requirements for feel and comfort. They come in three variations, to meet every golfer’s unique grip style.

ww.sacksparente.com

XXIO Prime Driver

XXIO, pronounced ZEK-si-oh, is not only one of the bestselling drivers in Japan, but has gained a strong foothold in the States since their introduction about 7 years ago. Ernie Els is the brand ambassador and the”Big Easy’s” seemingly slow, but powerful swing encapsulates and aligns with the XXIO brand.

Inbee Park also uses XXIO. The XXIO series has been number one in annual sales in Japan for 18 years since it first debuted.

This 460cc niche driver is highly favored by the male baby boomer and fits, according to Chuck Thiry VP of XXIO’s North America headquarters, almost all women. This driver performs exceptionally well for those golfers, like myself, who really do swing slower (below 90 mph) and for Thiry, the phrase ”easy does it” translates into high-end sales for well-heeled golfers. I personally have gained between 10-15 yards with the XXIO Prime!

Not only will you own one of the most expensive drivers on the market, but you will increase your distance with the XXIO Prime Driver. XXIO is renowned for their use of luxurious materials and quality products.

Amateur golfers, especially the ego centric and well-heeled players usually have very simple tastes in life – only the best!

With their Japanese counter parts spending up to $70,000.00 for a set of custom clubs (Honma), these three products should not have a problem finding buyers. As long as the user gets golf lessons, these products will improve their golf game.

This driver is, for lack of a better word, an absolutely awesome driver in many aspects, but specifically for a player with a moderate speed swing and an open checkbook.

The 252 gram driver includes a 36-gram shaft and a standard 46.5 inch shaft. The 460 cc Prime driver produces high-launching shots that produce excellent distance and balls tend to fly straighter. The Prime is one of those few drivers that produces the sensation of swinging itself. This super feeling comes from the club’s special SP-1000 Graphite shaft.

Additionally, the hosel has been shifted 2 millimeters closer and 2 degrees more upright creating a more rectangular appearance.

The SP-900 shaft, aka the engine of the club, is a TORAYCA T1100G Carbon and NANOALLOY Resin shaft which allows the tip section of the shaft to be extremely soft, which results in the clubhead being able to remain square just at the moment of impact. This effect is so powerful that it can reduce or even eliminate your slice after just one swing.

The powerful Forged Super TIX Plus Winged Cup-face, with 8-2 titanium, is forged from exotic titanium and maraging steel. Married together, the face expands the size of the high COR (Coefficient of Restitution) area in the heel and toe for a wider sweet spot, where you can expect exemplary distance performance. Combined with the new Sole Channel Structure, which allows for better face flexibility at impact – especially in the lower face – the new XXIO PRIME driver provides increased forgiveness to promote faster, more consistent ball speed. The 6-gram weight in the back of the sole helps lower the center of gravity which encourages a higher launch angle and more spin.

The Prime is extremely light weight compared to other drivers. The driver imbues the user with the feeling of confidence at address, together with the feeling you are swinging faster and easier. Shots fly off the face, and as the golf pundits and coaches always say, lighter clubs are faster clubs.

Having personally used the XXIO “X” driver predominantly in 2018, switching to the Prime model, has kept my drives straighter and longer, especially with the Seven Dreamers shaft installed. This is not a knock on the standard shaft, rather just another option to be considered.

The driver is available in both a 10.5° and 11.5° in both a regular and stiff regular flex only. Currently, only right-handed models are available. XXIO Prime officially launches March 1, 2019.

Prime golf balls are also available for $47.99 per dozen.

$849.99                      www.xxiousa.com

Bottom Line: these products truly perform exceptionally well and will improve your golf game to a higher level.

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association, and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. 

He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers”, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf” which is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His latest book,” The Right Mind for Golf”, released last year, is now in its 6th printing. 

In addition, Dr. Lotz works with 14 PGA Tour players on their mental and putting games. He also writes for numerous golf magazines ( LA Times -Golf Living, Golf Tips Magazine, Golf Champion Magazine, Inside Golf Canada, British Columbia Golf, to name a few) and specializes specifically in golf equipment (putter addict) and golf travel.

He can be reached at www.pgtaa.com or  [email protected]

The Most Interesting Products at the 2019 PGA Show

Soon to be in Stores and in your Bags

Part 1

This year’s show was the busiest and most well-attended PGA Show I have been to in the last five years. It was interesting to see how the economics of the Show has changed. Especially, as to how previous long-time exhibitors, particularly the smaller vendors, do not have booths anymore but attend the Show to meet and greet their customers. Many exhibitors are sharing booth space, as the cost of exhibiting has skyrocketed. Taylormade Golf did not exhibit this year.

Many of the exhibitors should not be there, simply because their products will never gain traction, are gimmicks, and the owners do not understand that markets create businesses, businesses don’t create markets.

It’s really a great time to be a golfer! The technology, just over the past few years, has changed radically. The key point is that with all the new products, whether balls, irons, drivers, shoes, putters or wedges, you can and must be custom fitted. Take advantage of all the new technology and products heretofore non-existent, and improve your enjoyment and lower your scores.

Drivers today still lead the demand for equipment sales. Now you can find the right shaft and decide what it is exactly what you want out of a driver in terms of dispersion, sound, feel, shot pattern, draw or fade tendency. Seek and ye shall find.

The stars, aka busiest booths of the Show this year, were most definitely Callaway, Titleist, PING, Cobra Tour Edge and the Garmin booth.

I was one of the more than 1,000 media from some 23 countries that reported from the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show.

Every visit to the PGA Show is exciting, exhilarating and really exhausting. There simply is no way that one person can cover all the exhibits, visit with companies and their sales representatives, which in most cases are the owners, in 3 days!

Every year I am asked by my readership what were the best products that caught my attention. The following 3 products, in my opinion, simply stood, head and shoulders above their peers!

As I love to sink putts and know my distances, putters, and distance measurement devices are my raison d’être.

Sacks & Parente Series 54 VA ULBP Mallet Putter – $1200.00 Tour Edition $600.00 Players edition

Both Steve Sacks and Richard Parente know golf. Their experience in the golf business is exceptional.

I know of no other putter, past or present, that features patented Ultra-Low Balance Point (ULBP) technology which is defined as a balance point 5″ or less from the sole of the putter. This balance point causes the putter head to square and release at impact, delivering exceptional rollout and accuracy, enabling you to make more putts.

The Series 54 is available in both a Players Edition and a Tour Edition and features a perfectly flat crown that starts low at the back of the putter and ramps up to the full height of the face to optically eliminating misalignment.

Strategically placed tungsten weighting creates an extremely high MOI and moves the center of gravity towards the face to counter the detrimental result of gear effect present in other mallet putters.

Suffice to say, there is a lot more to discuss — especially the accuracy, feel, alignment, shaft component and the two model options available. Wow! What a putter!

www.sacksparente.com

Garmin Approach G80 Premium Golf GPS with an Integrated Launch Monitor and Radar.

This unit tracks clubhead speed, ball speed, smash factor, swing tempo and estimated distance. It features a 3.5” sunlight-readable touchscreen display and slim design with quick button access to radar.

One of its best features is the practice and game modes which allow you to test your skills and work to improve your game.

It also has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 15 hours with GPS.

$499.99      www.garmin.com

Garmin S10 – K.I.S.S. Keep It Superbly Simple.

You get the distances you need expeditiously and keep your rhythm flowing relative to the speed of play. Extremely user friendly. The battery is long-lasting and the price is $146.36 on Amazon.

Detailed descriptions of the aforementioned products will be covered separately and in-depth in Part 2 of this article.

www.garmin.com

There were many other products deservous of acknowledgment, such as those below, and will be covered in a separate article/s.

For clubs, the theme was lighter, faster, more carbon usage and adjustability in clubs. PING’s new G410 Plus www.ping.com , Callaway’s EPIC Flash, Mizuno’s ST190 – www.mizunousa.com, Bridgestone’s TOUR B XW-1 wedges – www.bridgestonegolf.com , Cobra’s King F9 Speedback – www.cobragolf.com, Tour Edge Exotics CBX woods and hybrids, plus Exotics EXS clubs –  www.touredge.com , XXIO Prime 9 driver – www.xxiousa.com , and Titleist TS2 and TSR 3, www.titleist.com , drew the largest audiences.

For balls, Callaway’s new BIGGER Supersoft Magna and ERC Soft models, stood out, as did Titleist’s new 2019-2020 Pro V1 series. The March introduction of a yellow Pro V1, as used by Bubba Watson this week at the Waste management Tournament, is highly anticipated, simply because a yellow golf ball is gaining traction amongst senior golfers who say they can see a yellow ball more easily than a white ball. Bridgestone’s new e12 series of balls will suit slower swinging golfers. Mizuno will enter the golf ball arena with their balls being manufactured by the same factory that produced Nike’s balls.

Digitally speaking, there were a plethora of products from booking services, teaching apps, and measurement systems abounding. As I am not a proponent of using a cell phone on the golf course primarily because it slows down play significantly, my favorite “tech” products are listed below.

For clothing, FootJoy products, www.footjoy.com, is the only place one needed to visit at the Show. They simply produce the best full range of products for the golfer. A newcomer to the scene, Jack Grace, www.jackgraceusa.com, introduced swappable saddles, which allows you to match your shoes to every look you have. And they are extremely comfortable. Women are really going to appreciate these saddle swappables. New Balance still offers the best golf shoes for wide feet – www.newbalance.com. Check out their Striker series.

As for accessories and other useful products, Daphne’s head covers – www.daphnesheadcovers.com  1^St Tee PLUS Energy Bars and Think Jerky, are perennially the most consistent products in this domain.   1^St   Tee is also a platinum sponsor for The First Tee, whereby 1^st last year donated $30,000.00 to 1^st Tee. www.golfenergybar.com. Their beef jerky is to die for! Their Turkey Jerky is delicious. They simply make the best energy bars and jerky. 1^st Tee is the distributor for Think Jerky.

As for Training & Swing Aids, Garmin’s Approach G80, www.garmin.com, the Inside Striker –  www.insidestriker.com, and Swedge Golf training Aid – www.avidgolfusa.com , will all improve your game. If you want to know where exactly on the club you are striking the ball, Strike Spray – www.strikespray.com, provides a coating that can handle from 6-8 swings and cleans up easily.

For shafts, Graphite Designs booth and hitting bay were constantly full. Their new Tour AD VR – designed to “Vanquish all Rivals”, really does! www.prochoicegolfshafts.com.  The Tour AD VR shafts are available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S and X flex, 70g S and X flex and 80g S and X flex. It’s hard to find a better shaft.

Also, Callaway FITS Shaft Analyzer garnered a lot of attention. The FITS is designed to provide the best shaft options for a golfer in just 3-5 swings, using the company’s new Callaway FITS app, www.callawaygolf.com/callawayfits. Look for this type of technology to proliferate rapidly. Arccos- www.arccosgolf.com, Shot Scope V2 – www.shotscope.com  and Blast Motion www.blastmotion.com are starting to appear in manufacturer’s grips and recommendations.

As for putters, new and outstanding introductions came from, in addition to Scotty Cameron, Bettinardi, PING, Odyssey, L.A.B. Golf, but none as good as Sacks& Parente’s Series 54 mallets.

Part 2 of this article will encompass golf travel, apparel, and accessories that covered at least a third of the Show’s floor area. Companies such as Rovos Rail – my personal favorite, Halcyon Golf Travel, Premier Africa Excursions, adidas Golf, AHEAD, Antigua, Bobby Jones Apparel, Callaway Apparel, Cutter & Buck, Designer Gloves by Black Level, Dunning, FootJoy, Greg Norman Collection, Hook + Gaff, Peter Millar, Polo/Ralph Lauren, PUMA Golf, Summit Brands (B. Draddy, Fairway & Greene, EP NY, Zero Restriction), Turtleson, Travis Mathew, and Under Armour.

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association, and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers”, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf” which is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His latest book,” The Right Mind for Golf”, released last year, is now in its 6th printing.
He can be reached at www.pgtaa.com or [email protected]

By Barry Lotz

Top Ten Golf Products – 2018

1. 2 GG Apparel – www.2ggapparel.com
2. 18Birdies Golf App – www.18birdies.com
3. Callaway Chrome Soft  X – www.callawaygolf.com/balls     
4. Cleveland RTX-4 Wedges – www.clevelandgolf.com
5. Club Glove Travel Bags/ Scheyden Golf Glasses – www.clubglove.com  www.scheyden.com
6. Cobra King F9 Driver  & F8 One Length Irons – www.cobragolf.com
7. Odyssey O-Works EXO Seven SL Putter –  www.odysseygolf.com
8. PING Sigma 2 Tyne & Fetch putters – www.ping.com
9. Seven Dreamers Shaft – www.golf.sevendreamers/en
10. TPT Golf Shafts – www.tptgolf.com     

Each category below contained exceptional products. In addition to those products listed above, which drew the most “buzz”, we have listed below, in no general order, top brands and models in their respective categories.

Drivers:

PING G400/LST/SFT/MAX, Callaway GBB Epic/Sub Zero, Cobra F9, Titleist TS2/TS3, XXIO X, Epon AF-105, Tour Edge EXS

Fairway woods:

PING G400/SFT/Stretch 3, Callaway GBB Epic Star & Rogue, Cobra F8/F8+, Tour Edge Exotics CBX

Hybrids:

PING G400, Tour Edge Exotics, Callaway Rogue, Cobra King Oversize, XXIO X

Irons:

Callaway Rogue, PING G400, Tour Edge Hot Launch 3 Triple Combo, Cobra King F8/One Length, Titleist AP1 718, Cleveland Launcher HB, XXIO X, Epon AF-Tour CB

Wedges:

Bettinardi Golf, Callaway Mack Daddy 4, Cleveland CBX, S.I.C. Custom wedges Titlest Vokey SM7, PING Glide 2.0

Putters: This group had too many models to list from or to pick the top 5, suffice to say, there are many excellent models to choose from each of these manufacturers.

Bettinardi Golf, Scotty Cameron, SeeMore, Odyssey , Evnroll

Shafts: Stability Putting Shaft, Graphite Design Tour AD DI shafts

Golf Grips: This group had too many models to list from or to pick the top 5, suffice to say, there are many excellent models to choose from each of these manufacturers.

Garsen Grips, Golf Pride, Lamkin, SuperStroke

Golf Balls: This group had too many models to list from or to pick the top 5, suffice to say, there are many excellent models to choose from each of these manufacturers.

Snell Golf, Bridgestone, Callaway, Titleist, Vice

Golf Gloves:

Callaway, HIRZL, PING, Titleist/Footjoy

Golf Bags:

OGIO Alpha Convoy 514 Cart Bag

Golf Apparel:

Jamie Sadock, Bald Head Blues

Shoes:

Jack Grace, Footjoy, New Balance

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. Visit www/facebook.com/PGTAA to see all the latest mental strategies and equipment reviews. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers” and his previous book, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf”, updated for 2011, is still in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s best seller list. His latest book, “The Right Mind for Golf”, is now in its 7th reprint is available on Amazon and at the Torrey Pines golf course.