PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – For more than 20 years, veteran golf writer/broadcaster Tony Leodora has concluded an exhausting week of research in advance of the PGA Show in Orlando, qualified the candidates, then announced “Tony’s Top Ten” – a list of products that caught his eye during golf’s business extravaganza.
This year – with the help of new Traveling Golfer Managing Partner Jeff Gilder and Director of Sales Brian Stefan — the search required walking the miles of aisles at the mammoth Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, plus canvassing the more traditional avenues of e-mails, text messages and phone calls for products that debuted outside the convention center walls.
Fortunately, the search produced an extremely strong list of Top Ten products, as manufacturers continue to take advantage of the golf boom to launch a number of innovative items.
“Whether companies debuted their new products at the PGA Show or on their own, it was great to see renewed enthusiasm in the golf industry,” said Leodora, who started attending the PGA Show in 1992. “They recognized the new passion players have found for the game of golf and responded with some eye-popping products.”
Tony’s Top Ten
Aero Swing – This new training aid is starting to make its way into mainstream golf. It first it was the favorite tool of the long drive crowd. In fact, 60 percent of all competitive long drive participants use the Aero Swing. Through the use of a series of “pineapples” at the end of the club, wind resistance is created. Daily use of the Aero Swing increases swing speed and distance.
Bridgestone – A leader in the golf ball wars of recent years, Bridgestone’s new e9 Long Drive is a new product in the distance performance category. This new model in Bridgestone’s line is all about ball speed and aerodynamics. The core gets firmer as it goes toward the outer region, which creates higher initial ball speed.
Copper Tech gloves – Copper Tech president Lloyd Cohn never does anything halfway. But at this year’s show he debuted a new half-glove that gives even greater uses for his pain-relief product. Players who use the Copper Tech glove while playing golf, now can use the half-glove during typing or sleeping – and for a lower cost than a full glove.
Embraced – There isn’t a golfer out there that does not have a variety of aches and pains, especially in the arms and feet. The new Embraced CBD-Charged Compression Systems uses proven CBD in a variety of compression sleeves and socks for long-term application of this pain relief formula, along with a few other helpful ingredients.
Makefield Putters – The putter market is about as competitive as any in the golf industry. So, when a putter comes along that stands above the crowd, people take notice. That’s exactly what is happening with the new Makefield Putter, a putter that incorporates many of the individual technological advances found in other putters … in one product. Plus, Makefield Putters can be completely customized for the needs of each golfer.
Skoni Golf Shoes – Casual style and comfort is the company mantra of the new Skoni golf shoe. Designed with today’s segment of young, casual and fun-loving golfers in mind, this line of shoes literally took the PGA Show by storm. They are available in both men’s and ladies’ styles … and it certainly doesn’t hurt that all models are priced under $100.
Tee M Up – Greenkeepers, the Philadelphia-based manufacturing company, has produced a number of successful golf accessories over the years, most notably the Four Yards More tee. Now, they have gone one step further with the new Tee M Up golf tee. The Tee M Up is used as a tool for the installation of a standard or a polymer performance golf tee. It guarantees the same height every time, while keeping the golf tee square to the ground.
Stride Follow Me Bag – The Zero Friction company has made its mark for years in the golf accessory business, now it steps out with an innovative new product. The Stride Follow Me Bag is the marriage of a standard golf bag and an electronic trolley, all in one. Take the bag out of the car, pop on two front wheels, release the back wheel, hook a remote control to your belt and the Stride will follow the golfer wherever they go.
Tour Edge Exotics C723 and E723 Drivers – Tour Edge Golf, the company that continually gains market share in the highly competitive equipment market, took the lead from two years of successful driver launches (721 Series and 722 Series) and eclipsed their efforts with the new Tour Edge Exotics C723 (skilled players) and E723 (average players) drivers. How did they do it? By packing more technology into these drivers than can be found anywhere else. These drivers have close to 5,000 head adjustments available.
360 Bands and 360 Grip – Resistance training is part of the preparation for many sports, but resistance bands have become increasingly popular in golf circles in recent years. 360 Bands always have been popular because of the golf grip integrated into the bands but the new 360 Grip trains the opening and closing of the golfers’ hands.
The “Tony’s Top Ten” list debuts in early February on the GolfTalk Live podcast show, which can be heard on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google, TuneIn and Radio.com or at www.golftalklive.net.
In March there will be further exposure of the “Top Ten List” when it is featured on the award-winning Traveling Golfer television show. The show has won national awards nine straight years in judging by the International Network of Golf. The Traveling Golfer airs on NBC Sports, the new WingDing Network and the Fun Roads Network, as well as online through a number of websites, and at www.travelinggolfer.tv.
Product reviews from “Tony’s Top Ten” also will appear in upcoming issues Golf Central Magazine and Golf Pennsylvania/Golf Northeast Magazine.
For more information about the Traveling Golfer television show go to www.travelinggolfer.tv. For more information about the GolfTalk Live podcast, go to www.golftalklive.net. Or call TL Golf Services at (610) 721-8186
