Golf Equipment & Accessories: What’s New for 2022

The PGA Show, held last month in Orlando, Florida, is the Super Bowl of golf merchandise expositions. And while Covid trimmed attendance at this year’s event, the roll-out of new products continued unabated. Here are a few noteworthy favorites.

Golf balls

Are you a bogey shooter or higher? Maybe you don’t need to play the high-priced Titleist Pro VI. After all, they’re designed for professionals and low handicappers who can max out the ball’s unique properties. For the rest of us, Titleist has just introduced two new re-designed golf balls —TruFeel and Velocity. Both balls emphasize increased distance without sacrificing feel and playability. TruFeel has a low-compression core, a thinner cover and a soft feel for improved control. It generates low spin for optimized distance. Velocity has a higher-compression core and a reformulated cover, which combine to make this version the longest traveling Velocity ball yet. Both balls are currently available in white only until October, when more color options will become available. Trufeel retails for $25 per dozen, or roughly half the cost of a dozen Pro V1s. Velocity retails for $30 per dozen. https://www.titleist.com/explore-golf-balls/

Putters

Odyssey Golf putters from the 2022 Tri-Hot 5K, Eleven Series and White Hot OG collections are fitted with a distinctive candy red Stroke Lab shaft. The shafts are lighter than the standard steel, which allows for versatile weight distribution, according to the company. In this case, the weight is moved to the club’s putter head and grip end. The result is greater stability and (hopefully) better performance. From $269.99. https://www.odysseygolf.com/families/

Wedges

PXG has introduced the next installment of its fully milled wedge, the 0311 Sugar Daddy II. This update expands the line to two sole grinds and 14 loft bounce options. The heads are initially forged larger than the finished size from 8620 carbon steel and then 100% milled down to the final shape for more precise sole grinds, bounce angles and shape consistency. The two sole grinds, available at each even-degree loft from 50 to 62 degrees, include a versatile C-shaped grind with heel and toe relief and a wider, more forgiving shape. Available in Chrome and Xtreme Dark. Price: $499. https://www.pxg.com/en-us

Drivers

The new TaylorMade line of Stealth, Stealth Plus and Stealth HD Carbonwood drivers signals a shift in clubhead materials from titanium to carbon. The key component of the new drivers is what the company calls a 60x Carbon Twist Face, essentially 60 super-thin layers of carbon sheets strategically arranged for better energy transfer, faster ball speeds and more forgiveness across a large area of the face. The layering allowed engineers to create a face that is just 26 grams–40% lighter than a same-size titanium face–but larger than its predecessors. The weight savings from the 60x Carbon Twist Face led to the creation of a 10-gram sliding weight that enables golfers to shift mass on the sole to achieve the desired shot shape and ball flight. From $579.99. https://www.taylormadegolf.com/

Golf Shoes

For the past 76 seasons, the most-played shoes on the PGA Tour have been FootJoy. With a stable of offerings that range from the classic-looking Premiere Series to the athletic HyperFlex, that streak is likely to continue. The new FootJoy Fuel golf shoes, available for both men and women, combine traction elements with comfort technologies and a sporty sneaker style. With a rounded toe and a full fit across the forefoot and instep, the Fuel was designed to be comfortable right out of the box. In addition, FootJoy added a new compound called StratoLite foam in the midsole to provide lightweight cushioning. Scores of small traction studs in the sole and a Power Stabilizer in the forefoot provide a more-stable platform for the full swing. Not that it rains much in Loreto, but the shoes have a synthetic leather upper and carry a one-year waterproof warranty. Both the men’s and women’s Fuel are available in a laced version as well as a laceless BOA system that allows golfers to turn a small dial behind their heel to tighten the shoe and create a customized fit. Price: Men’s: $129.99 (laced) / $159.99 (BOA). Women’s: $119.99 (laced) / $149.99 (BOA). https://www.footjoy.com/

Apparel

Lyle & Scott, the longtime Scottish-based apparel company, is making a push to have its presence felt more in the U.S. The brand’s High Summer 22 collection has a bit of everything for everyone or, as Chris Somerton, head of golf at Lyle & Scott, says, “The classic, the rebel, the wannabe pro, can all proudly choose Lyle & Scott.” In particular, the firm’s archive-inspired designs take direct inspiration from the Lyle & Scott design library, combining past textures with embroidery details to create The Gregor capsule. This exclusive selection taps the brand’s history to create iconic styles for the modern golfer. https://row.lyleandscott.com/golfwear.list

Gummies

Yep, there are CBD gummies for golf. Golf Gummies, infused with Vitamin B12 (neurological function) and green tea (antioxidants), contain 10 MG of hemp extract per gummie. This full spectrum CBD carries hundreds of cannabinoids, which can sharpen mental clarity, reduce post-round soreness and quicken recovery time. According to the manufacturer, “It’s time to clear your head of life’s noise and find balance. Gummies are here to sort you out.” Golf Gummies are lab tested and contain less than 0.3% THC to ensure there are no undesired effects. Made in the U.S.A. Cost: $39.99 for a 20-pack. Lemon-key lime flavor. https://golfgummies.com/