It was hardly a surprise when the king of the khakis, Bonobos, launched a new golf-specific clothing line called Maide. For those of you who have not heard of Bonobos (is there anyone?), you know that they make a pretty straightforward pair of trousers. Known for the flat front and straight cut, the original Bonobos would easily make a great pair of golf pants in their own right but I think many of us want to have “golf-specific” pants. Hence the Maide brand has just enough “golf” details to qualify for “golf pants” but retain the appealing aspects of Bonobos.

Aside from the details, which we will get into later, what I really like about Maide is they are just solid clothes. Nothing too fancy in either the pants or the shirt, but perfect for looking good while not sticking out. I think the fact that Bonobos has years of experience with this style made it super easy for them to just change some of the material and add a few bells and whistles and boom!, a new line of clothing.

Okay, bells and whistles. First, the pants are made of 100% performance polyester which gives them a bit of stretch and a little water resistance. They also added a zipper at the cuff, a really cool snap, a sticky liner inside the waistband and heavy stitching on the trousers. Finally, they added a mock scorecard that indicates the length and waist size lest you forget they are for golf.

Taken as a whole, the Maide trouser harkens back to the “golden age of golf” with simple lines and straight leg cut. Even most of the colors are basic (khaki, white, blue and grey). They do, however, also offer a bright green and red version as well. All of which can be ordered with specific waist and length dimensions.

Maide’s goal was to create a traditional line of apparel that is forward fashion. To me, that means the cut is basic but with a more athletic cut and improved materials. Interestingly, the Maide Berwick polo has a cotton pique look but in actuality it is 51% cotton 49% poly which means it will do well in the heat but not have that sheer look that many of us are not crazy about. Again, a traditional look but by shortening the arms and smaller collar, they have updated it for a sportier, more hip audience.

The end result is a really easy to wear, sharp looking traditional golf outfit that comes across as slightly cooler than most. In addition to the Highland pants and Berwick polo, Maide also offers shorts and sweaters. While we did not personally see these items, it would appear that the Barton shorts are just a sawed-off version of the pants. The sweaters, on the other hand, range from traditional solids to striped cardigans, allowing you to add some personality to the solid shirts and pants.

You can see the whole line of the new Maide golf attire on their website.

After the age of the white golf clubs, there came… red? Over the past year or so, Nike has has gotten a lot of really good press on their new Covert line with the Tour Hybrids making Golf Digest’s 2013 Hot List Gold. So, when we received the 3 and 4 hybrids for this review, the expectations were pretty high.

Ok, let’s dive into the tech stuff to see what makes these hybrids unique.

First off, the face is more flexible than last years award-winning VR_S model with a 45% larger hotzone. What this means is you get more distance even with mis-hits when the ball comes across the face. The science behind this magic lies in the sole cavity where, like on a cavity back iron, Nike has moved the weight around to the heel and toe for stability and forgiveness. This movement of weight translates to straighter, longer shots. Notably, the Tour model has less offset, lower trajectory and more flexibility in its settings so the face angles can be set independent of the lofts with the removal of one screw.

Over the years, golf companies have really improved the club adjustment process and the Covert is no exception. The Nike Hybrid is amazingly simple to adjust and lightning fast. Simply take out the one screw and turn the adjustment to the desired loft and face angle then replace the screw – that’s it. All in all, the hybrids have 4 degrees of loft and 3 face-angle settings so the 4 hybrids can very easily cover your 5 wood through your 5 iron depending on what you need in your bag.

Visually, the clubs are good-looking with that deep rich red color. In terms of feel, upon picking up the club for the first time, I did notice it seemed heavier than I expected. Prior to hitting the club, I recalled that some reviews mentioned the ball felt a bit dead coming off the face so I was curious to see if I had the same reaction. While  there is a certain “thud” to contact, and a lack of spring, there was no lack of distance. In fact, I found the ball flight to be quite penetrating and very controllable off of a variety of lies, including punch shots and half swings.

After a little work at the range, I was very comfortable swinging the club and quickly began to use it for a variety of shots during any given round. Specifically, it is easy to draw or fade and with the adjustments I could create more or less distance depending on where I wanted it to fit with my set.

Beyond your basic shots, the hybrid is also very useful for some specialty shots. For example, I have used it to punch out of the woods, escape from deep rough or even bump a ball from just off of the green.

While I am not a huge fan of adjustable drivers, the adjustable hybrid makes a ton of sense. First, it allows you to fill in distance holes in your set even when those gaps change. With 4 different lofts it takes the perfection out of trying to decide exactly which hybrid you need. Just change the loft as your needs change.

To learn more about the Nike Covert Hybrid you can visit the Nike Website.

It’s that time of year again. Another Masters is in the record books which means it is time to clean out the bag, polish the clubs and get ready for the new season. This year we have a fresh batch of goodies perfect for making your rounds more enjoyable and assuring that you will not come to play ill-prepared. Below is a list of must haves to put in your golf bag.

PlayKleen Golf Towel:

Lets start with a fresh golf towel. This years pick is PlayKleen golf towels. These towels are super absorbent and feature what is called FlexTEK technology. I have no idea what that means, but I do know that they work great. The one thing I really noticed about the PlayKleen towel is they feel much lighter than others. With that said, they will absorb a ton of water so you can wet one side without it dripping all over your bag. That way you can properly clean your clubs after taking a nasty divot. See the PlayKleen website.

Photoball Marker:

If you are still using a penny or the marker on your golf glove, it is time to step up your game. A ball marker is a great way to show a little personality and have some fun. We recently discovered Photo Ball Markers . . . the process is stupid simple. Just upload a photograph or logo and, boom!, you have your very own custom ball marker. We went for a logo, but feel free to add a picture of your sweetheart if you are of the romantic nature. Visit the Photo Ball Marker website.

Applachian Leather Works yardage / scorecard book

What is one thing that every pro on tour has but barely any other golfer has (besides a super model girlfriend)? That’s right, a badass yardage book. I have long been on a hunt for a cool yardage book but the only ones in the stores are super cheesy. Recently, I found these guys who make yardage books by hand with a variety of leathers and colored stitching. With tons of options, you can create your one of a kind yardage book that will be sure to garner lots of oohs and ahhs. No yardage book, no problem, just pop in a scorecard. Visit the Appalachian Leather website.

Real Steak Jerky:

Speaking of prepared, who amongst us has not got the case of the munchies while on the third hole? Fear not, put some Real Steak Jerky in your bag and never be left wanting. Honestly, this is the best jerky I have ever had. These guys sent us a bunch and it may have been the only time the three bloggers came to blows over who would get to keep the most. The stuff rules . . . P.S., they make Turkey Jerky too! See the Real Steak Jerky website

NUUN

Now that spring is in full swing, we all know you need to stay hydrated (especially during the heat of the summer). I am one of those folks who enjoys a little flavor with my water but most of the sports drinks have tons of sugar. NUUN makes these really cool tablets you can drop into a jug of water that have all kinds of electrolytes and such. Basically all the good stuff without the sugar. Plus, you can just throw a box of them in your bag so you are always prepared. See the NUUN Website

Tritan Series of Tumblers

Ahh, the tumbler. That little wonder cup that keep cold drinks cold! Forget about refilling that plastic bottle, these little guys are much better and as we all know “everything is better with a logo”. Whether you bring your “cup of joe to the course” or a “little nip”, the Tritan Series of Tumbler is perfect for your beverage of choice. Plus they will fit perfectly in the golf cart cup holder. You can see all of the option for Tritan Series of Tumblers on their website. NOTE: These are for retail sale only with 24 piece minimum. For order info contact Lfbiddinger@williamsindustries.com

Champ Spikes and Fly Tees

I always carry extra cleats in my bag just in case one pops out or I realize they have been whittled down to nubs. For me, Champs are far and away the best cleat around. They are made to fit just about any shoe and are quite durable. As for the tees, I used to go through boatloads of wooden tees believing that plastic tees were for old men. So either I was wrong or I am in fact an old man because I now swear by them. I now only use one or two per round. Be warned though, not all plastic tees are made the same. The two reasons I prefer the Champ Fly Tees are 1) they last and 2) it is easy to put your ball on them (something not all plastic tees have in common). Champ spikes and tees can be found on their website.

Bonus: Ecco white belt

No, it has nothing to do with your golf bag, but everyone should have a cool white belt. I don’t care how many people say you have to be under 30 to wear one, I think they makes nearly every outfit look just a little sharper. The new Ecco belt is understated but classy. Pick one up and be a player. Ecco belts can be seen on their website. 

That’s the 2013 list. Good luck and have a great season

Rocketbladez Review:

A year ago I reviewed the Taylormade Burner 2.0.  Honestly, I loved the Burner 2.0’s and they remain a great seller for Taylormade. I actually wonder if  Taylormade wishes Burner 2.0’s were not so sweet because it makes it much harder to come up with a compelling reason to upgrade. Still, who am I to pass up a chance to check out the new RocketBladez technology.

After the huge success of the Rocketballz, Taylormade decided to take that same technology and put it smack dab in the middle of the irons. Taylormade calls it the speed pocket and you can see it on the 3 iron through the 7 iron.

I have been playing with the RocketBladez for nearly three months now and have zero complaints. They share many of the same characteristics of the Burner 2.0. In terms of distance, the RocketBladez  are similar to the Burner 2.0, which tend to fly farther than most other irons. However, I think the the Bladez are slightly more forgiving. Specifically, I was never a fan of the Burner 2.0 four iron, but with the RocketBladez, I love it.

The biggest difference for me is the ball fight. I find that a well struck ball has a really nice piercing trajectory, more so than with the Burner 2.0. The RocketBladez just seem to go a bit higher and come off more true.

So let’s talk tech. Taylormade research showed that the majority of amateur mishits occurred below the sweet spot of conventional irons, which is usually located at the center of the face (specifically around the 3rd groove). Hence, they wanted to design a club that allowed for greater forgiveness in this area. What Taylormade found was that by incorporating the slot technology used in their woods, the irons are able to provide more spring, forgiveness and consistent distance off the face.

In the case of the RocketBladez, they added a cool polymer from 3M in the slot that keeps out dirt and debris, but doesn’t dampen the spring-like effect of the ultra-thin face of the club. In short, the slot technology coupled with the inverted cone design on the back of the club gives the irons a longer, higher shot trajectory that also turns out to be more consistent over a wider area of the face.  Let’s see…longer, higher, straighter and more consistent – can I have seconds?

As for looks, the RocketBladez are quite appealing with the use of some subtle color on the back of the club. While they do not stand out with screaming flash, they are unique enough to get compliments from other players. Even though it may be hard to justify an upgrade from the Burner 2.0, they are certainly worthy of a hard look if your set is becoming dated. Not only are these clubs perfect for mid-handicappers, they have the workability required for scratch golfers as there are a number of pros who play basically the stock version of the club.

You can check out all of the specs and learn more on the Taylormade website.

 
TaylorMade Pre-owned Iron Sets from TaylorMadeGolfPreOwned.com
 

Salty Grip Review: About 5 years ago I started to notice guys on tour with large over-sized putter grips. Notably, KJ Choi was one of the biggest names to go all in with a really mongo grip. Looking to capture some of that magic, I too moved to a mid-sized grip but as it turned out, it was shortlived as I ended up swapping out putters and was too cheap to replace the stock grip.

Then recently, I read a great article on MyGolfSpy that “kinda proved” that grip size is a big part of putting success and that over-sized grips tend to perform better for most golfers. Coincidentally, around that same time, I learned of a company called Salty Grips who makes an over-sized cork putter grip. So with the stars aligned, it was inevitable that I review the Salty Grips.

Inspired by the old fishing poles of our/my youth, Salty Grips are made from cork harvested in Portugal and then finished locally in Virginia. Out of the gate, the Salty Grip feels very different than your typical rubber grip. Primarily, the Salty Grip is smoother as they do not have a manmade texture. For me, this means it feels very soft in my hands and promotes a light touch. The other difference is of course is the way they look. Salty Grips look like nothing else I have seen on the golf course. So much so that I regularly get comments and questions about the grip, which never happens with other grips.

Since the putter tends to be the most personal piece of equipment and the one we have the most pride in, adding a grip that is completly unique makes total sense. Additionally, unlike other grips, the Salty Grip gets better with age.

Yup, better with age, which is exactly opposite of every other grip I have owned which wears down and ends up capturing all kinds of grime from constant use. Salty Grips, on the other hand, gain character as the cork ages. Better still, you can always take a piece of  200 grit sandpaper if you ever want to clean them up a bit or add a touch of  texture.

As for installation, Salty Grips can be installed using basically the same method as other grips. The only difference is that you cannot man-handle the grip since they are made from cork. Once installed, the grips are as snug as any other grip and should last basically forever.

Salty Grips can be purchased on their website for about $35 and customized for about $10 more.

Don’t miss a chance to win your own Salty Grip

The Footjoy website says “M Project is unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Footjoy” That my friends, could not be more true. So true that I had to double check the tag to make sure this is in fact the same Footjoy that has been around since . . . well since forever.

Chances are if you’ve played golf for any length of time you have owned at least one pair of Footjoys. Despite all of the hoopla around new companies, these guys still command around 40% market share (at least). Don’t believe me? –  the next time you play golf, look around and see how many saddle DryJoys you spot – yup, nearly every other guy has a pair.

Personally, I have owned many pairs of Footjoy shoes over the years and I’ve enjoyed their stability, longevity and waterproofness (not sure if that is a word but it’s true). Therefore, I was very curious to see how the M Project matched up feature-wise versus the more familiar styles. First off, the M Project is waterproof and comes with a 2 year guarantee. Check 1. Stability wise, the leather M Project are quite structured despite the minimalist styling. Check 2.

Where you really notice the difference between these and any other Footjoy (beyond the over-stitching and ribbons) is the low profile. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I walk most of my rounds so I was interested to see if the M Project would be as comfortable as the other Footjoys I have worn.Suffice it to say, Footjoy knows feet and comfort. Despite my somewhat nagging back problems, I found these shoes to be a great walking shoe as they provide plenty of cushion. Additionally, I really like the feel that the low profile affords.

Note that Footjoy offers a cleated version of the M Project as well and while it is slightly elevated, they claim that is the lowest profile cleat in the industry. For the purpose of this review I figured we would go Full Monty and check out the most “alt version” offered. Anyhow, I have worn enough spikeless golf shoes to know that they can provide provide plenty of traction and this was also the case in the M Project.

In short, these have been really enjoyable shoes to review. I found them to provide a stable base to hit from, sensitivity to the ground and sufficient padding to walk 18 holes. Toss in a wide variety of styles, colors, materials, sole versions, and the pedigree of Footjoy and you’ve got all you need from a golf shoe. The Footjoy M Project have a street price around $130 so they won’t break the bank either.

You can see the whole line of Footjoy products on their website.

Putting is a facet of the game that is too often neglected by amateurs. Yes it’s true, practicing five foot putts is not as stimulating as hammering the driver, but if you really want to takes some strokes off your scores the best thing you can do is become a better putter.

Even though I would like to believe that I practice putting as much as the other parts of my game, it just isn’t true. That’s about to change thanks to the Little Murph from Truline Greens.

Truline Greens offers indoor/outdoor putting greens that finally bring realistic putting to the home. A quick setup, superb functionality and the ability to now practice inside makes this a perfect training aide.

The Truline Big Murph and Little Murph are Made in the USA, come in two standard sizes and are offered in two different green speeds. Specifically, the sizes are:

• Big Murph: 12’ long x 5’6” wide
• Little Murph: 10’ long x 4’ wide

Speed wise, you can get amateur speed (10 on the Stimpmeter) or  TourSpeed (12  on the Stimpmeter).

Moreover, Truline can customize the size and even add your logo.

There were two things that impressed me right out the gate. First was the fact that from the time it took me to open the box to actually putting was about 20 seconds. I thought for sure that after being packaged and rolled up in the box that there was going to be some break-in time needed. Not the case at all, from the time it took me to unroll it, flip it, grab my putter and step on the green to putt it was good to go.

What else impressed me was the quality; the craftsmanship of the Little Murph is outstanding. This isn’t one of those $29.95 putting strips you’ll find at Target or In Flight Magazine. You know the ones I’m talking about, the 1’ wide 6’ long pieces of fabric that has the cheesy ball return. Nope, Truline has developed a world class putting green that I bet even the greenskeepers at Augusta would awe over.

The Little Murph dimensions are perfect for my situation and anyone with a hallway or medium-sized room. Not everyone has an area of the house where they can set up a permanent “indoor” putting green. The ability to quickly roll up the Little Murph, place it back in the box and store it in a hall closet makes it perfect for a quick putting session.

Without a doubt the best feature of the Truline putting greens are the greens themselves. I’ve putted on quite a few synthetic surfaces in my time and the Truline is hands down the best I have ever used. The ball rolls absolutely flawlessly. How real you ask? Real enough for you to channel your inner Camillio.

You will notice that the last 3.5’ of the Little Murph has a small incline, provided by a foam backing, which allows the ball to “drop” into the cup. The cup itself is set back 17” from the back edge allowing you to go at the cup aggressively to practice getting the ball to the hole.  A backstop is provided in the event you get a little too pumped up and really let one go. There’s no need to worry about wear either, the turf handles the traffic walking to and from the cup to retrieve your balls without any adversity, even the foam backed area near the cup.

Truline also includes two rubber tubes, each in a different diameter which you can use to add break to your putts (yup, you can add break!). They also include some distance markers so you can measure out a 5’ putt, mark it and always know you’re hitting from five feet. The straight putt on the Truline alone makes it completely worth the investment, but the added feature to be able to create different breaks for your practice sessions and mark off a specific distance has been an added bonus.

I use the word investment for a reason. The Big Murph and Little Murph retail for $429 and $329 for the Tour speed versions, $409 and $309 for the amateur versions. That’s a lot of cash to be dishing out on just one area of your game improvement. On the other hand, if you struggle with the flat stick and you’re committed to improving I can highly recommend a Truline Green. After only using the Little Murph for only 7 days, I went out and recorded just 14 putts over 9 holes. I can’t say that was entirely due to the Little Murph but I know practicing those pesky six footers at home made them a lot less nervewracking on the course.

Since that time, I have continued to really enjoy practicing with the Truline Green and have seen my putting confidence and accuracy improve each week.

You can view the full product line on the Truline Greens Web site

Loudmouth Golf, never one to shy away from a challenge, has just announced that they are entering the brave world of golf apps. What do Loudmouth and golf apps have in common? That is exactly the question I posed to Loudmouth top brass, Larry Jackson and Woody. Interestingly, the answer is primarily rooted the fact that both of these men live in Northern California where start-up technology is a fabric of the economy. Having lived in the Bay Area during the Dotcom craze, I can totally understand how it is nearly impossible to not at least swim in the shallow end.

Yup, I’m listening..you said you are making some kind of dating app..

Both Larry and Woody admitted that they have been noodling the idea of getting into the mobile world for a while now but it was not until they were approached about a scoring app “turned on its head” that they were able to settle on a platform. As expected, the Loudmouth app is nothing like any other I have seen Nearly every other app I have used has been designed to mimic the scorecard. Conversely, the Loudmouth app has zero to do with a scorecard primarily because it was designed by folks who don’t even play golf. So with no mental boundaries, they conceived of a framework that is more intuitive and user friendly than others on the market. Big icons and numbers have replaced small key pads and digital numbers. Now you can simply click the fairway if you strike it down the middle or click the sand trap when you land on the beach.

On a personal note, if you are like my fellow blogger Matt, and have never kept your stats, you are making a big mistake. There is no better way to improve your scoring than understanding your game. Without an actual transcript of the important scoring metrics, your mind tends to block out or over exagerate certain aspects of your game. It is only by seeing hard numbers that you are able to pin point areas of true weakness which allows you to put the proper focus on your practice time.

In terms of functionality, the app is preloaded with courses, keeps score and tracks stats. All of which are available online and to share amongst friends. The big draw, and tie-in is that you get to compete against other Loudmouth fans across the globe and earn points which can be used for discounts or other promotions. The app is free and will be released on April 3rd, 2013 and will run exclusively on the iPhone. Currently, it does not include GPS technology but Larry has expressed interest in adding that functionality in the future.

In a world of “shades of grey”, it is refreshing to see Loudmouth splash some color.

I’m starting to feel like I’m the unwitting subject of Extreme Makeover: Golf Edition. This latest episode has me stepping even further out of my comfort zone with the True Linkswear Chukka – a golf shoe that looks like a normal cool shoe, has small nubs instead of spikes, and can only be worn with pants. Oh snap!

We are all aware by now that Adam and True Linkswear have been dating for a few months (the cheesy Facebook photos were a bit much), but I always figured the True Linkswear approach was not up to snuff for my aching feet. Simply put, True Linkswear goes with the super low-profile look . . . easy on the eyes but no way they would provide enough cushion and support for THIS GUY. My other “concern”, if it even registers on the worry scale, is that the small nubs would be inferior in some way to traditional soft spikes or more aggressive sole patterns. I’ll address these two items below:

1. The True Linkswear Chukka does NOT have as much support and cushion as my running shoe, of course, so I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I would go Xmas shopping in them. I would say they probably have a bit less cushion going on than other golf shoes that I’ve worn as well, but when it comes to this comparison, I think everyone would notice the difference but only my high-maintenance dogs would be bummed over it. What the Chukka does bring to the table in terms of feel, however, is kind of a laid-back casual vibe. I promise I’m not being seduced by looks here – the shoe simply does not feel as tight as any other golf shoe, no matter how hard you pull on the laces. It’s a wide sole, the sides are not as structured, and overall they make you feel like you’re gonna go play 18 in the Dominican Republic with Jason Dufner and Tommy Chong. Or shoot, maybe you’ll play 12 and get distracted, or 27 . . . who cares, you’re stoned.

So the dork in me did have some overall concerns when rocking the Chukkas on my first official round. It was winter, I hadn’t played much, the course was sweet – it was no time to mess around with comfort issues. What I noticed immediately is that the low-profile aspect of the Chukkas provides a really cool “feel the earth” deal, which is something Adam had alluded to during his courtship. It took about 2 holes for me to realize the genius of this concept. What I once saw as a drawback – the fact that there wasn’t enough protection between me and my living room hardwood – suddenly became a positive. Grass and dirt are generally soft, and hopefully that’s what you spend most of your time on during a round. So now I’m walking around on little green pillows, feeling laid back, wondering if Tommy Chong plays golf.

2. I’ll keep this brief. The nubs are fine! I’m convinced that as long as you don’t wear loafers or spray PAM on your soles, you’re going to get enough grip out of any damn shoe you wear on the course. I think the whole “grip” thing is not unlike the great dandruff scare of the 1980’s. Sure, use Head & Shoulders if it makes you feel better (it certainly doesn’t make you smell better), but c’mon, there’s no such thing as dandruff. So let the record show, this is the last sentence I will ever write about golf shoe spikes/nubs/traction. It’s a non-issue as long as some company doesn’t haul out Teflon soles.

Nuuuubbbbbbs.

You might disagree, but I’m thinking these suckers can only be worn with pants. So what I’ve stumbled into is my “winter shoe”, which is so pretentious I will have to go for a brisk walk on the nearest driving range after I finish this post. In fact, I think my dad just punched me in the face from 8 states away. Nevertheless, when the weather calls for pants, I will be sporting the True Linkswear Chukka. The feel is unique, cool, and I’m hoping the laid-back karma will creep into my swing tempo as well.

You can see the whole line of True Linkswear on their website.

I have long suspected that European apparel companies have an inherent advantage when it comes to designing clothes meant for cooler temperatures. The fact is, their weather can be politely described as “not so good”. It makes sense then that Scandanavian based Cross Golf has become very good at making clothes that are well suited to windy, wet, and rapidly changing temperatures.

I first ran into Cross Golf at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show but it was not until February 2013 that I actually got to put their gear to the test. Seeing that the conditions in North Carolina throughout February and March are pretty similar to the best of weather in the Old Country, I figured it made for a good testing environment. Specifically, we will review the Cross Golf Pro Jacket, Vitas Pants and Yannick Polo.

Let’s start with the Vitas trousers since I think there is a dearth of solid pants on the market. The first thing I noticed when I put on the Vitas Pants was they were extremely light, slick and breezy. Because they are made with a polyamide/elastane poplin they are incredibly easy to care for and are perfect for even warm temperatures.

While not waterproof, they are extremely water resistant (I have held them under a stream of water for over 5 minutes and not had them leak). You can see from the below picture how the water just runs off the material. Great news for when you get caught in a rain shower. Not surprisingly, the Vitas Pants have a much slimmer European cut which I think is better looking for the athletic/thin build. In terms of care, these guys are a simple wash, dry and wear. Super easy and always look great.

The Pro Jacket is again a perfect example of technology made for changing weather. Cross Golf uses FTX technology which is made to be waterproof yet breathable. I actually had no idea the jacket was waterproof for a long time because it does not feel like a rain jacket and I have primarily been wearing it during windy and cold conditions. Additionally, because of the breathability, the Pro Jacket it works really well over just a shirt on warm breezy conditions or covering a sweater when temperatures are in the low 40’s.

Even though the Pro Jacket is really light, because of the tall collar, taped zipper and velcro arms, you have the ability to lock out all of the elements to stay warm even in harsh wind, cold and even rain.

Lastly, we took a look at the Cross Golf polo. First note – they run small, a full size by my estimation. Made from performance material, the polos are very light and progressively cut with short arms and small collars. Like the rest of the Cross Golf line, the Polos are very well made and easy to care for. While maybe not as impressive as the jacket and trousers, the polo holds its own.

As I have written before, one of the perks to the blog is the opportunity to check out gear I would otherwise never get to. Going back to the 2012 PGA Show, I was pretty sure I would like the Cross Golf apparel line in terms of looks but what I was super impressed with was the construction and versatility. The Pro Jacket can be worn in temperatures for the 40’s to the 60’s and double as a rain jacket. The Vitas Pants are so comfortable and easy to care for that they will be your “go to” golf pants.

You can see the whole line of Cross Golf on their website.

Rock Solid. This is how I would describe the Nike Lunar Control golf shoes. They are not barefoot, street, retro or progressive, but they are also not boring or traditionalist. I think they basically split the difference right down the middle and fall into the category of damn fine golf shoes.

Since I have mostly given up spiked golf shoes except for when I do a review, I tend to approach the situation with some negative bias. However, in the case of the Lunar Control, I have kind of fallen in love with them. The support is awesome, they are super light, and while they are not minimalist, they do not seem bulky or raised far above the ground. What I really noticed is that I never notice them which is a pretty good indicator of how comfortable they are.

Admittedly, I have a tendency to bash the big brands mostly because I root for the little guy, but the reality is that Nike knows a thing or two about making shoes. Lets face it, the swoosh is worn by nearly all of the greatest athletes in the world so it is no shocker that the the Lunar Control can be seen any given Sunday on the feet of a ton of PGA players.

Style wise, the Nike Lunar Control is slightly athletic looking but also reasonably traditional (unless you get the red trimmed pair like I have). One of the accent colors you will notice on the shoe is the red lines that go across the middle and through the Nike logo. These are what is called “Flywire” and it is the source of the support. Essentially, it is the way Nike has been able to make the shoe super supportive without adding extra weight. Again, this is not their first rodeo.

One of the reasons I have gone away from cleats is that they tend to wear down way too quickly. Nike partially solved this problem by adding surrounding hard barriers which protects the removable cleats. Basically, you get additional traction and increased lifespan on the removable spikes.

Over the past month or so I have worn the Lunar Control exclusively in part because it is still winter, cold and wet. Not only have I found them to be extremely comfortable but they are also 100% waterproof (and easy to clean). The sole is made of hard plastic which gives you a solid base, and while it does not have the flexibility of a street shoe, it is not overly stiff with some give in the toe area making it a very walker-friendly choice.

While I am sure to go back to my spikeless cleats more often in the summer, I expect the Lunar Control will be on a regular rotation. This pro level shoe is simply too good to keep on the shelf.

You can see this line of shoes on the Nike website.

Every three months there seems to be a big technology breakthrough with drivers, but with golf carts, big changes are rare. Remember how long it took for us to figure out that push carts were way better than pull carts? Fortunately, companies are back in the lab working on the next revolution for the push cart beyond adding additional gizmos.

Axis1 Umbra Putter Review: The putter is perhaps the most personal piece of golf equipment any golfer owns, which is why preferences vary so widely. With that said, I think Bob Rotella is correct in his assessment that we should approach putting like we were a kid and not overthink the whole process. Unfortunately, we grow old, miss too many putts and begin to question everything – including our flat stick. This is exactly why having trust in your putter is so important. If you trust your putter, you make a more confident stroke and utilize your natural hand-eye coordination.

Confidence in your putter starts with how it feels in your hands and how natural your stroke is. The Axis1 putter is designed to have the center of gravity at the exact place where you are meant to hit the ball. This means that the putter is incredibly well-balanced and won’t spin right or left when you pick it up. Axis1 was not the first company to believe balance was critical to a putter’s design, but they updated the materials with space-age precision and attention to detail.

I played my first round with the Umbra putter without ever hitting it on a practice green or in a store. For some reason, Adam likes to spring new equipment on us just before we tee off. So, after negotiating the funky head cover that protects all the science in the putter head, the first thing I did was spin it in my hand to feel how it moved. My first thought was  ‘man, this feels so natural.’ Interestingly, this was a common first impression for a few of my buddies who also remarked on its exceptional balance.

Axis1 Umbra is labeled as a mallet design but it is really very different than most traditional mallets. I would say it is more of a cross between a blade and a mallet. In the end, I don’t care what it is called as long as it putts well. One design feature it does share with many mallets is the alignment aid on top. These are called  ‘L-frame alignment sight lines’ that are reminiscent of a two-ball putter. Conversely the length of the blade and the feel of the ball off the face are reminiscent of a toe and heel-weighted blade putter. A bit of the best of both worlds.

One aspect that did take a little getting used to was the counter-weight in the heel that comes forward from the face (see the bent shaft near the blade). At first, I found myself not making a full stoke because I was not comfortable really putting through the line because I was worried about the shaft hitting the ball. However, with a little practice, I didn’t even see the counterweight. In terms of impact, the face of the putter is smooth although it sounds a little pingy when you hit it. However, I stopped noticing that after a round or two. Moreover, we have been told that there is an Umbra version that has a damper insert to mute the sound if you prefer a deeper sound off of the face.

As I mentioned, I played my first round with the Axis1 without ever practicing with it. Despite that fact, I made a couple of birdie putts from the fringe and was a few strokes below my handicap in my first round using it. Since that time, I’ve spent a decent more time practicing with it and have grown to trust that the ball will go exactly where I’m looking.  and I mean, really go where I’m looking.

The Axis1 comes with a Wynn AVS slightly oversized-grip that feels great. My distance control has been really good even though it’s a different swing-weight than my normal putter (I tested the 350g and there is a slightly heavier 400g for faster greens) and I am comfortable using it on both fast and slow greens alike. While clearly not a scientific test, I feel like I have hit more short-to-mid length putts right in the dead center than I can remember for a while.

These putters are $300 at your normal outlets, and if you consider what you are shelling out for your new driver, and how much more you hit this club during a round, it’s not that hard to figure out. This may just be the club that has you playing with the exuberance of a kid again as you watch those putts roll right in the center of the hole.

You can see the whole line of Axis1 putters on their website.

Every once in a while a product comes along that begs the question, “Seriously, why doesn’t every golfer own these?” Over the past two years, we have had the chance to review some really fine golf gloves, but when it comes to dealing with rain, we have been absolutely blown away by the performance of the MacWet gloves by Glenmuir.

Adam was introduced to these gloves at the 2012 PGA trade show, where he learned that the design origins came from horse jockeys. If you can imagine being 90 lb on a 1200 lb animal going 40 mph through the rain, you can understand why they have been manufactured to have Spider Man-like grip.

So after the tales of superhero grip, I was anxious to see how they would work in my mortal hands. My first outing with the MacWet gloves came on a 45 degree, overcast day in North Carolina. Yeah, I know we don’t have anything to complain about; but 45 degrees, and muddy with wind and a chance of rain will keep a lot of Baptists and golfers at home. The pair I received was the Micromesh which has a mesh back to aid on circulation on warmer days but you can also get the Climatec gloves which are fleece-lined, water-resistant and windproof.

Since the gloves come in a pair, I started off playing several holes with them on both hands, and left them on for chipping and putting. Right off, I noticed that my feel and touch were not bothered by the gloves. Since it was not raining this day, grip was also not an issue, but I had other plans in mind to test that aspect of the gloves.

After several holes, I realized that it was time to ‘take the plunge’ and try out this ‘Aquatec’ fabric that does all the magic for all-weather grip and wicking. Forget waiting for rain, I just walked up and buried my hands in a pond that sits in front of an uphill par three. Dry no more, the gloves were totally soaked – game on!

Fortunately, I had hit the green with my tee ball, so I walked up and looked over the 20-foot putt and drained it with soaking wet hands… no slip on the putter, and still plenty of feel. I was slightly nervous when I walked over to the tee box with my driver since I was about to swing at full speed with soaking wet gloves. To my delight I proceeded to blast a drive down the middle with zero slippage or hint of losing control of the club.

Anyone who has played golf in the rain knows the mental toll it can take on you. Trying to keep your clubs, grip and gloves dry can occupy a ton of your brain, leading you to lose focus. What I love about the MacWet gloves is that I never for one second had to worry about losing grip. I did not even need to dry off a grip or attempt to keep the gloves dry. I suspect they actually grip better when they are wet. Which leads me to back to my initial question: “why would you NOT have a pair of these in your bag?”

The gloves are machine-washable, and come with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. You’ll need to measure the part of your hand just below where your fingers split from the rest of your hand, in cm. This will give you your size, and they’re available via MacWet.com, Amazon UK, and other online outlets for around $40 including shipping. Do yourself a favor, and put a pair of these in your bag. The day you need them, you’ll realize it was a no-brainer.

You can learn more about MacWet golf gloves on the Glenmuir website.

TRUE Linkswear Proto Review: I don’t know about you, but I can only read how something is clearly “The Best” before I have to find out for myself. Muddling the matter further is our desire to put that prestigious label on every new widget that comes to market. Therefore, I was very excited to finally get my hands (or feet to be exact) in a pair of TRUE Linkswear shoes as they have widely been described as the most comfortable golf shoes available.

Interestingly, TRUE Linkswear has garnished a ton of praise with comparably little marketing. However, inside the world of golf, the shoes are widely considered by many players (most prominently Ryan Moore) and bloggers to be the premier golf shoe.

Not only does TRUE Linkswear market their brand differently, they just seem to think about shoes differently. Unlike many shoe companies, TRUE Linkswear does not promote added distance, shaved strokes, increased spin or game improvement. Instead, they are solely (pun intended) focused on two things: comfort and allowing the body to function naturally. And get this, they actually require their employees to play at least 18 holes of golf during the work week (umm, where do I send my application?). Beyond just being good employers, TRUE Linkswear uses this as a way to get constant feedback on how the shoes perform in the real world.

TRUE Linkswear Proto

My first impression when I opened up the box of Proto’s was “Wow, that’s a great looking shoe!” The entire design and concept is very appealing and I could instantly sense the high quality. As we all know, the casual sneaker look craze that was started a few years ago, thank you Freddie Couples, is still going strong and TRUE has done a remarkable job of capitalizing on this look. Where TRUE has exceeded everyone else by a mile, in my opinion, is comfort.

The only thing I was a little concerned about was the zero drop aspect of the shoe, but once I stuck my feet inside and started walking around in the Proto’s my worries were quickly erased.

As far as sizing goes, I spoke with a representative from TRUE and they told me that a good rule of thumb is that the TRUE’s run in sizes typical to what you would find in a FootJoy and about a half size larger than Adidas. Three Guys Blogger, Adam, who is a big TRUE fan, says he always orders his normal size or maybe a 1/2 size smaller. While the TRUE are a broad shoe, they do incorporate a memory foam heel which locks you in and prevents traditional slipping.

The very wide toe area did take a little time to get used to, but only because I’m tied into a very snug fitting running shoe every day at work. When I initially put the TRUE’s on my first thought was that it was way too big. Toes should not have that much freedom to move around. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The wider toe area allows your feet to be freer and move around more. It also gives you an amazing sense of balance, which I experienced immediately during my first practice session I had while wearing them.

A great practice session is always a good thing, and the TRUE Proto’s were fantastic, but I couldn’t wait to get out on the course to see how they handled real playing situations. As a golfer who has ALWAYS worn spikes this was going to be my first time ever playing in a shoe that was free of the twist-in spikes. Naturally I was a little apprehensive that my footing was going to be an issue, but not once did I find myself out of position, slipping or off balance on a downswing or a follow through. Sand, grass, rocks, mud – you name it – I found myself in some pretty sticky situations throughout the day, I even had to climb up the side of a dirt hill to track down a ball. The Proto’s were by far the best part of my game that day and my feet thanked me later on that night by not aching one bit. 18 holes on a tough desert course and I felt fantastic. That’s how a shoe should treat you.

The Proto’s I received came in White/Grey/Black. Other color combinations like White/Kelly/Charcoal, Black/Charcoal/Red, Black/Electric Blue and Brown/Sand/White gives the line some great versatlity. The Proto is a waterproof shoe that cleans up very nicely. A simple wipe down with a damp cloth post round then let them air dry and they’ll be good to go for your next outing. You might be more paranoid than I am about keeping your kicks clean and if that’s the case you can always add some leather conditioner to the shoe, but in my opinion it’s not a necessity.

Seeing as I have very limited experience with spike-less minimal shoes I can without a doubt say that the bar has now been set very high for me. The TRUE Proto’s have fantastic styling, amazing comfort and are now on top of my list for a must have golf shoes.

You can see the full line of products from TRUE Linkswear on their site.