Golf News: 16 January 2024

Golf News 16 January 2024

In golf news this week are items from Cleveland Golf, Cobra, PXG, Srixon, Ahead, and Alphard.

• Golf News 16 January 2024
• Cleveland Golf Creates Unique System to Combat Common Long-Game Woes with All-New HALO XL Woods
• Cobra Golf Introduces All New Darkspeed Variable and One Length Irons
• Go Far, Get Close With Cleveland Golf’s ZIp Core XL and Halo XL Full Face Irons
• ZipCore XL Irons
• HALO XL Full-Face Irons
• Cobra Introduces New Darkspeed Metal Woods
• New PXG Black Ops Golf Clubs Are a Complete And Total Victory in Woods Engineering
• Unlock Tour-Level Performance With Srixon’s Q-STAR TOUR Series
• Performance And Versatility Highlight Ahead’s Fall 2024 Headwear Collection
• Alphard Golf set to unveil its latest product innovation the Cybercart at the 2024 PGA Merchandise Show

Cleveland Golf Creates Unique System to Combat Common Long-Game Woes with All-New HALO XL Woods

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Jan. 8, 2024 – Whether it’s long Irons, Fairway Woods, Hybrids, or something else entirely, avid golfers are keeping long-game clubs in the bag that often hurt their scores. That’s exactly why CLEVELAND GOLF® created a simpler, easier way to reduce disastrous long-game shots with the all-new HALO XL Woods.

After taking a deep dive into the data on common long-game challenges among avid golfers, Cleveland Golf created an easier way for golfers to achieve long-game success by offering three unique HALO XL models, along with an extended lineup of lofts. These variety of options are designed to not only help players avoid long game challenges, but also eliminate the guesswork players can often encounter when picking long game clubs.  

Long-game inconsistencies are rather common among avid golfers. Partnering with Arccos, golf’s largest and most comprehensive shot database, Cleveland Golf discovered golfers with handicaps between 10 and 25 rely on long-game clubs at least 37% of the time on par-4 approach shots. That’s nearly double compared to lower handicaps.

Arccos data also shows that mishits with 4i-6i likely all travel within 7 yards of each other on average. Plus, 85% of avid golfers still carry a 5-Iron, so it’s no wonder avid golfers often struggle to solve their issues with those clubs.

So, how do golfers combat this data and make the changes necessary to get their long-games back on track? HALO XL Woods are designed to help reframe these inconsistencies among avid golfers by providing multiple, more forgiving options for every long-game club in the bag.

To learn more about Cleveland Golf’s HALO XL Woods, or take the online fitting quiz, visit HALOXL.com.

Cobra Golf Introduces All New Darkspeed Variable and One Length Irons

COBRA GOLF^® INTRODUCES ALL NEW DARKSPEED^TM VARIABLE AND ONE LENGTH IRONS DESIGNED FOR UNPARALLELED DISTANCE AND FEEL 

A new hollow body construction is inspired by metalwood designs to unlock maximum distance

CARLSBAD, CA. (January 11, 2024)— COBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today introduced the new DARKSPEED^TM Irons, designed to provide the ultimate combination of speed, distance, and feel. The new irons feature an all-new hollow body construction filled with feel enhancing foam, as well as re-engineered PWR-BRIDGE™ and PWRSHELL™ technologies to create COBRA’s longest, best feeling game improvement iron to date. 

Taking cues from metalwood designs, a new hollow body construction creates a thinner and more responsive clubhead structure that unlocks up to 25% more face flection for faster ball speeds and longer distance. To achieve enhanced sound and feel, the hollow body of the new DARKSPEED irons is injected with foam microspheres, which expand to fill the internal cavity. Once injected the foam supports the PWR-BRIDGE weight while also providing vibration-dampening properties for a soft feel and pleasing sound. For optimized performance through the set, the DARKSPEED irons feature a progressive TECFLO™ construction that transitions from a full hollow design with PWR-BRIDGE and PWRSHELL in the 4-7 irons, to full hollow body with no face insert in the 8-PW, to a half hollow design in the GW-SW. 

The new DARKSPEED Irons are available in both Variable and ONE Length options, allowing players to choose between a traditional setup or a ONE Length configuration. The DARKSPEED Variable Length irons are available in a 4-PW set composition (RH Steel Stiff and Reg – $999) or 5-GW (RH/LH; Steel Stiff – $999), as well as a graphite combo set in 5H, 6-GW (RH/LH; Graphite Reg and Lite – $1099).  Each steel option comes standard with premium aftermarket KBS® Tour Lite 105g shafts (reg & stiff) and Lamkin® Crossline grips. The stock graphite offering is an aftermarket KBS® PGI (85 – Stiff flex; 75 – Regular flex; 65 – Lite flex, 55 in Ladies flex). A DARKSPEED Women’s graphite combo set is also available (RH only; $1099), and features a set makeup of 5H, 6H, 7-PW, SW.

The DARKSPEED family of products will begin pre-sale on January 11^th and will be available at retail and online on January 19^th, 2024. For more information, visit www.cobragolf.com.

Go Far, Get Close With Cleveland Golf’s ZIp Core XL and Halo XL Full Face Irons

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Jan. 15, 2024 – CLEVELAND GOLF® is excited to introduce the all-new ZipCore XL and HALO XL Full-Face Irons, designed to help avid golfers go big and get it close, with forgiving head designs and new technologies geared toward better golf.

To squeeze as much distance as possible out of these Irons and deliver optimal launch, Cleveland Golf used an artificial intelligence-driven process to create MainFrame – a club face and weighting combo that boosts both COR and MOI for high-powered ball speeds and more forgiveness.

ZipCore XL Irons

New ZipCore XL Irons feature Cleveland Golf’s ZipCore technology for the first time ever in an Iron. Combined with MainFrame, ZipCore XL Irons are designed to give avid golfers more power in the long Irons and more control in the short Irons.

MainFrame technology, present on ZipCore XL’s 4i-7i, helps maximize face flex and positions more mass low and deep in the clubhead for better distance and forgiveness. The unique, low-density ZipCore material in short-Irons (8i-SW) produces a more consistent launch, spin, and distance.

HydraZip face blasts, along with loft-specific grooves, help balance spin performance on every club throughout the lineup. In 4i-7i lofts, HydraZip uses a rougher face blast, with wider, flatter grooves, to help reduce unwanted spin. On the other hand, 8i-SW lofts receive a slightly smoother blast, with thinner, deeper grooves to boost spin on approach.

To help golfers enjoy crisp strikes, ZipCore XL’s V-Shaped Sole utilizes an elevated leading edge to maintain club head speed through impact, while the trailing edge relief allows for more workability and shot shaping.

HALO XL Full-Face Irons

HALO XL Full-Face Irons were inspired by a single idea: bigger is better. A larger, Hybrid-Iron profile gives these a confidence-inspiring look, and is meant to give avid golfers forgiving distance, high-launching ball flights, and straighter shots. Cleveland Golf’s XL head designs shifts more mass away from the center of the club, increasing MOI for more forgiveness than a traditional Iron shape.

HALO XL Full-Face Irons feature a striking area that’s 20% larger than the last generation. And on that larger striking area sit full-face grooves, an industry first for an Iron. These grooves help ensure consistent spin no matter where golfers strike the ball. Coupled with the addition of HydraZip face blasts, HALO XL Full-Face Irons have spin performance dialed in on every club in the lineup.

To promote reliable, consistent aim, HALO XL Full-Face Irons feature a new, two-groove alignment system. Two white grooves located at the bottom of the clubface are designed to help golfers keep the face square at address and stay centered behind the ball. The shorter, lower groove ensures correct ball position at address, while the longer groove helps square the clubhead to the target.

HALO XL Full-Face Irons use a three-sole system, each designed to fit long, mid, and short Iron swings. GlideRail in the long-Irons is designed to help long Irons sweep through the turf. Short Irons feature Cleveland Golf’s V-Shaped sole, which is designed to cut through the turf without digging. Wedges feature a three-tiered sole, which provides maximum forgiveness on pitches, chips, and bunker shots.

Both the ZipCore XL and HALO XL Full-Face Irons include a custom configured Accuracy Build. This build is meant for those looking to keep the ball in play more often, with half-inch shorter shafts and come without ActionMass CB counterbalancing.

For more information on Cleveland Golf’s new game-improvement offerings, visit us.dunlopsports.com/cleveland-golf.

Cobra Introduces New Darkspeed Metal Woods

COBRA GOLF® INTRODUCES NEW DARKSPEED TM METALWOODS BUILT WITH ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS FOR OUT OF THIS WORLD SPEED

DARKSPEED Drivers are designed with advanced technologies, space-grade materials, and the expertise of aerospace engineers to be the fastest clubs COBRA has ever produced.

Carlsbad, Calif. (January 11, 2024) – COBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today introduced its new family of DARKSPEED drivers, fairways and hybrids. The DARKSPEED^TM drivers feature groundbreaking aerodynamic shaping, a re-engineered PWR-BRIDGE™, and advanced A.I. designed PWRSHELL™ H.O.T. Face™ in three models – DARKSPEED LS, DARKSPEED X, and DARKSPEED MAX.  

Each of the DARKSPEED drivers feature a unique aero shaping and tailored weight configuration to optimize performance for the target player for which they are designed. The DARKSPEED LS is aimed at the fastest swingers who need lower spin and more shot shaping control, and is designed with the highest rear skirt height, a higher crown peak, and a more compact address profile. Within the LS family, COBRA also offers an 8-degree model, which is an evolution of a long drive prototype head used by Kyle Berkshire. The 8-degree model features a visibly smaller and even more aerodynamic head shape, promising extreme speed for the most powerful players. The DARKSPEED X model, which is aimed at the widest range of players looking for a combination of exceptional ball speed and forgiveness, features a medium rear skirt height and streamlined shape. The DARKSPEED MAX, which is aimed at players who require the most forgiveness and/or a draw bias, features the lowest skirt height and the highest MOI of the three models. The ADVANCED AERO SHAPING found in all three drivers reduces drag and enables golfers of all abilities to achieve the fastest speed possible. 

Complementing the innovative line of DARKSPEED drivers is a full lineup of fairway metals ($429 for LS, $329 for X and MAX).  Utilizing PWR-BRIDGE weighting, PWRSHELL with H.O.T. FACE, and carbon fiber crown technologies as the DARKSPEED drivers, the new fairway metals are also available in three models to fit the full spectrum of players. All three DARKSPEED fairway metals feature MyFly8 Adjustable Loft Technology.

All COBRA DARKSPEED products will begin pre-sale on January 11th and will be available at retail and online on January 19th, 2024. For more information, visit www.cobragolf.com.

New PXG Black Ops Golf Clubs Are a Complete And Total Victory in Woods Engineering

Breakthrough Composite Construction, Face Technology, & Precision Weighting Deliver Incredible Forgiveness and Massive Distance Gains 

Scottsdale, AZ (January 11, 2024) – PXG® has released its breakthrough Black Ops^TM technology, which offers unparalleled performance without any compromises. This new range of drivers, fairways, and hybrids has been meticulously designed with custom fitting in mind, making them some of the most versatile and high-performing clubs in the industry.

PXG Black Ops Drivers deliver significant distance gains by employing a propriety high strength titanium alloy face material called AMF^TM (Advanced Material Face) Technology yielding increased ball speed for more distance. This proprietary AMF face design is further optimized with a variable thickness design that helps ensure consistent and efficient energy transfer across various impact points on the clubface. A non-uniform bulge and roll face design, refined and manufactured consistently through robotic polishing, strategically adjusts the horizontal and vertical curvatures across the face. This supports enhanced forgiveness and improves overall performance by optimizing the club’s reaction to off-center hits. 

When tested in the PXG GEN6 Driver body, the new Black Ops face delivered noticeable performance gains. Still, PXG’s engineers knew they could achieve even more significant results with a new high-strength composite body construction. Lightweight composite crown and sole inserts are manufactured from high-grade carbon fiber using a sophisticated compression molding process. This helps improve weight distribution within the clubhead to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) and push the center-of-gravity (CG) lower and further back, enhancing launch conditions to create a high launch angle and low spin rate combination produces increased distance performance, and more forgiveness. 

New PXG Black Ops Fairways and PXG Black Ops Hybrids maximize distance and deliver a tight dispersion off the tee or turf. Both introduce a high-strength, stainless steel face that is much thinner – 12.5% thinner in the fairways and 10.5% thinner in the hybrids – and more flexible than its predecessor. Coupled with a squared face design that shifts the perimeter skirt more vertical, increasing the surface area, the new face significantly boosts the forgiveness of the clubhead to deliver faster ball speeds, higher launch, and lower spin. 

The Black Ops Fairways and Hybrids crown is made entirely from high-grade carbon fiber. This lightweight material saves mass, allowing it to be redistributed low and to the clubhead’s perimeter for optimal CG positioning and added forgiveness. Mass is further adjusted to support preferred spin and bias settings with PXG’s Precision Weighting Technology. 

Unlock Tour-Level Performance With Srixon’s Q-STAR TOUR Series

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Jan. 11, 2024 – Designed to give moderate swing speed golfers a tour-level ball option that delivers maximum greenside spin, more distance, and more control, SRIXON® is introducing the all-new Q-STAR TOUR and Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE.

The Q-STAR TOUR is Srixon’s softest tour-level ball to date. It starts with the new FastLayer Core. Reformulated for a slightly higher compression rating that promotes better ball speeds off the tee, this core delivers powerful distance while maintaining a softer feel. It also reduces long-game sidespin in Woods and Irons shots for more accuracy and control.

The benefits don’t stop there. For players who enjoy world-class spin around the greens without losing control, the Q-STAR TOUR incorporates Srixon’s specialized Spin Skin coating. Spin Skin helps Q-STAR TOUR dig deep into the club faces grooves, maximizing spin for more control and stopping power on approach shots.

Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE offers the same performance benefits and technologies as the Q-STAR TOUR, but its innovative two-tone cover allows golfers to see the game in a whole new way. With a 50/50 matte urethane cover, players can easily align their shots and see the greenside spin for immediate feedback.

To help optimize both ball flight and distance, Q-STAR TOUR and Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE feature Srixon’s 338 Speed Dimple Pattern. This distinct dimple pattern increases lift and reduces drag for a more penetrating ball flight even in tough conditions.

To learn more about Srixon’s Q-STAR TOUR and Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE ball, visit us.dunlopsports.com/srixon.

Performance And Versatility Highlight Ahead’s Fall 2024 Headwear Collection

New colors, washes, rope, and bucket hats set aesthetic direction

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (January 9, 2024) – Ahead has designed a cutting-edge assortment of headwear perfect in its stylish, contemporary Fall 2024 collection, highlighted by new color washes, prints, silhouettes, and textures.

Long known for its aesthetic leadership, the company introduces athleisure styles in two new washed looks: Sonne and Matcha. The Sonne is a pigment-dyed treatment combined with lightweight fabrication in both solid and dual tones. The Matcha features a tea-stain wash, making for a worn look that otherwise would take years to achieve. It is accented with gray mesh.

Never losing sight of what’s trending, Ahead is introducing two silhouette style caps sure to grab attention:

Zurich

• Made from sustainable recycled material
• Two-in-one flat/curved visor
• Perforated laser pattern on side and back panels
• Pop of color added through a rope design
• Printed under visor

Watson

• Classic design that never goes out of style
• Stylish rope trim
• Performance fabrication

Ahead is adding a packable hat to its headwear collection. The aptly named Stash is an ideal choice, whether you’re heading out for a run or need a hat on standby. With lightweight fabrication and bendable visor, it is simple to stash anywhere. A reflective closure adds optimum safety.

“Our headwear collection always has been synonymous with great styling and fashion, amazing fits, and attention to detail,” said Scott Stone, National Sales Manager-Golf, Ahead. “We are confident our loyal, longtime fans will find that that the fashion-forward Fall 2024 offerings rise to a new level.”  Stone added that these styles are great additions for any golf shop, resort, or tournament.

For Fall 2024, Ahead is introducing what it calls the “most versatile ponytail hat in the market.” Whether showcasing the high pony or wearing it as a regular hat, the ponytail hat promises to be a popular seller. Kyla is created from the company’s Aerosphere performance fabric, while the Trixie is made from Ahead’s lightweight cotton fabric.

The new Plexus cap is an example of how adding texture can give a hat a bold look. With a mini rip stop-textured fabric, the Plexus will debut in 10 colors.

Women’s print caps available in new bucket styles. The Roxo highlights a 60’s-like floral in shades of purple, while the Groove highlights a unique swirl pattern.

Ahead will unveil its ’24 Fall headwear and apparel at the 2024 PGA Show, Jan. 23-26 in Orlando, Fla.

For further information visit aheadweb.com. To access the company’s online shop page, visit aheadusashop.com.

Alphard Golf set to unveil its latest product innovation the Cybercart at the 2024 PGA Merchandise Show

Alphard Golf, a leader in golf product innovation and design, announced today that they will be unveiling their brand new Cybercart at the 2024 PGA Merchandise Show January 23-26 in Orlando, Florida.

Alphard will be showcasing the new Cybercart at Demo Day on Tuesday, January 23^rd at Orange County National Golf Course and in BOOTH #4035 during the PGA Show at the Orlando Convention Center, Wednesday through Friday.

Alphard Golf, best known for its award-winning Club Booster V2 wheels that convert any standard pushcart into a remote-controlled motorized electric golf caddy, has once again taken pushcart design and innovation to the next level.

The new Cybercart is the only pushcart on the market that can be purchased as either a manual cart or upgraded to a motorized cart. Just add the battery pack and your manual Cybercart becomes a remote-controlled motorized caddy. Because the motors are located in the wheels, the Cybercart is one of the only motorized carts that can fold down into a compact size for easy storage and transported to and from the golf course.

Best of all, the Cybercart is Bluetooth enabled for Alphard’s app and compatible with accessories like Alphard’s Sidekick and TFS (Tether Follow Sensor) which allow your motorized golf cart to follow you on the course without a remote.

The Cybercart is loaded with features including an umbrella holder, cup/bottle holders, phone holder, storage net, lockable swivel wheel, parking brake, even a magnetic holder for your range finder or golf towel. The motorized version features a 36 Hole plug and play battery with USB-C charging port for accessories like your cell phone, a full directional remote control with LCD display, Gyroscope straight tracking technology, downhill brake control and an electronic parking brake.