This week’s PGA Show in Las Vegas is the unofficial kickoff to the 2007 equipment season. It’s right around this time every year when we start to figure out what we’ll be swinging the next year. Some companies have jumped the gun a bit… they’ve already released some new products. Some companies are just starting to give us hints as to what’s to come and others are keeping their new equipment pretty close to the vest. Let’s try to sort everything out…
TaylorMade Golf
The company has already released the R7 Draw driver and they’ve dropped some hints that they’ll continue the R7 Draw line next year. Watch for the official launch of the R7 Draw irons, fairway woods and hybrids in the very near future… probably late this week or early next week. These should be joined by a few new irons… perhaps the R7 TP and R7 Forged.
Callaway Golf
The big news here surrounds a square driver. At first this idea sounded a bit strange but it could be the rage next year. We’ve heard the name FT-5 a lot and that would make the most sense. Pictures of a “X” hybrid are making their rounds… probably a replacement for the current Heavenwood. Don’t be surprised if an X-20 iron is in the works and the X-Tour iron should get a facelift as well. Not much news out of the Hogan and Odyssey camps yet but with Odyssey’s XG line just a few months old I would be very surprised to see new putters before the spring.
Ping Golf
The Rapture line is here and it should stay here for a while. Ping isn’t one of those companies that brings out a new club every 3 months and I’d suspect these new clubs to stay “new” for at least 10-12 months. I don’t see much more from them right away… maybe a new bag or putter.
Nike Golf
You’ll be hearing a lot about SUMO next year and it will have nothing to do with big guys in diapers. The SUMO is Nike’s newest driver creation and it will hit the shelves in February. Think of it as a SQ squished into the shape of a square. It will be joined by a new SQ fairway wood and a couple of new CCI irons. We talked a bit about the CCI irons the other day… the cast one will be out in November while the forged one will come out in February. Add the Unitized putters (just released), the Ignite putters (out in October) and the new Juice golf ball (no release yet) to the mix and Nike has a very solid line!
Titleist Golf
There has been a ton of buzz around the company’s newest offerings and this excitement should carry these products into 2007. There’s been talk of a new driver but then again… it seems that people are always talking about (or hoping for) and new Titleist driver. I really like the current one and I don’t see them coming out with another full titanium one in the near future. A composite and titanium one on the other hand…
Cobra Golf
3 new irons on the way + a wood line that isn’t even a year old = not much new equipment in the next few months. Cobra Golf is in full boom mode right now… their first year back on the PGA Tour has been a huge success and I have a feeling that more PGA Tour wins will lead to more products. Most industry people and customers that I talk to agree they’ve got some catching up to do on the putter and wedge sides of things but I guess they can’t do everything in a year!
Cleveland Golf
To be honest… all is pretty quiet on the Cleveland front. A recent drop in the price of the Hibore leaves the door open for a new higher priced wood line… maybe carrying the “CG” name. As for irons… basic product life cycles say that we should see a few new additions. My guess would be a HiBore iron for the higher handicap and a CG featuring CMM for the lower handicap. We’ll keep digging here!
That’s a start. I’m working on a few more companies and I’ll see about posting some more for you tomorrow. Have a good night and we’ll talk to you soon!