Accessories – Bunkers Paradise

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Golf bags have grown to be more than just a vessel for a few clubs, balls, and tees. They are now as vital a piece of equipment as anything that goes in it. Players now have a need for extra storage and lightweight materials in order to optimize the delicate balance of capacity vs. total weight. Nike has been evolving year by year in the golf accessories department and have not held back with the carry bags they have produced. The new Nike Air Sport Carry Bag allows golfers to have the best of both organization and versatility. From Nikeinc.com:

The Nike Air Sport carry bag allows athletes to stay organized with an eight-way, three-full length divider system for maximum club visibility. The bag features nine functional pockets including a water-resistant fleece-lined valuables pocket, insulated cooler pocket, quick access drawstring pocket, full-length apparel pocket and scorecard/pencil pocket, offering plenty of storage space for everything an athlete needs during a round. The Nike Air Sport Carry bag is available in nine colorways that coordinate with hues featured in Nike Golf’s Spring 2014 apparel line. Additional features include:

Integrated GPS loop, pen sleeve and glove patch

Custom grip leg end caps

Logo cresting compatible

Matching rain hood included

I have taken the the Air Sport carry bag through the paces and the results are excellent. How does it look? The Air Sport carry bag looks tremendous. The stylish, yet minimalist, patterns provide just enough accent to the bag without taking away any attention to the perfectly placed compartments and features. The color matching of the swoosh, zippers, stand legs and oval accents in the shoulder straps provide an excellent contrast to the solid base color of the bag itself.

How does it feel? This bag is light! With a full set of clubs and about a dozen balls I felt as if I was truly missing equipment. Weight distribution was very well thought out and well executed. If I had to pick at anything on the Nike Air Sport it would be the width of the shoulder straps. I completely understand reducing the amount of materials used wherever possible but it felt as if there could have been a bit more surface area on the shoulders to provide just a little bit more on the side of comfort. This by no means made the bag uncomfortable but it would have made it a 10 rather than a 9. How does it perform? The Nike Air Sport has performed beautifully in all facets. This is truly a golfers bag. The materials are of the highest quality and can easily handle the bumps and bruises of life on/off the course. The stand legs are very solid and have not shown any signs of wear.

Final Thoughts: I am truly impressed by the Air Sport. Nike really paid attention to the details that really make a difference to a golfer. Features like the velcro patch for quickly attaching your glove, the fleece-lined valubles pocket, and the quick access drawstring pocket put this bag at the top of its class. You can find more information at Nikeinc.com. The Air Sport is priced at $149.

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In mid October of 2000 at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas, the first ProV1 golf balls were put into play on TOUR and have been dominating ever since. Titleist Golf balls have been around for many years now and are considered by many to be the best on the market. Ever since that day in Las Vegas, golfers scour golf courses across the country looking for lost Titleist ProV1 golf balls in bushes, thick rough and sand traps. There are even Memes that have been created to describe ones feelings after losing a coveted ProV1 golf ball. Thanks to Titleist and their ability to personalize golf balls, you now have a way to make sure you can identify your ball out there without having to make silly markings all over your golf ball.

We talked with Titleist about how their custom personalization of golf balls work. After a few brief minutes it was obvious that anyone can do it and it's a very inexpensive way to give a great gift to a loved one or even to yourself. Titleist offers numerous ways you can customize your golf balls. You can do a simple imprint or even throw logos on there. As you can see from the screen shots below from there WEBSITE, there are multiple options. If you get your photo on a ball and no one can claim it's there ball.

With so many options available, we had to make an order to see what the final products really looked like. Our order was placed and with 5 business days we had our custom Bunkers Paradise Golf balls. We put our Twitter handle on the ball along with the #14, since 2014 is going to be the year that Bunkers Paradise takes the golf world by storm. (see what we did there?) As you can see from the photo below, our customized Titleist ProV1 golf balls came out looking amazing.

So if you are looking for that last minute Christmas gift for the Golfer in your family, this might just be the perfect gift. One other thing I wanted to make sure to mention is that not only can you customize your golf ball, but you can also customize the packaging comes in, which is great for events. Here is a sample below.

For more information and to purchase your customized Titleist ProV1 golf balls head over to their website HERE.

We have all heard the term 'drive for show, putt for dough'. No one can argue that you can lower your score by putting better, but what about chip shots, sand shots and flop shots? If you could perfect these types of shots, your putting would improve without a doubt because your ball will be sitting closer to that ever elusive hole. Why putt from 25-50 feet away when you could be putting from 5-10 feet away? The Perfect Pitch Golf Mat is here to help you accomplish that. From Perfect Pitch Golf Mats:

Drop 3-5 strokes from your short game

Learn the correct way to set your feet, golf ball, and distance from the ball for chip, pitch, sand, and flop shots
These key fundamentals are difference between a sub-par short game and a great short game
After a few weeks of practicing with the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat you will have a better short game and shoot lower scores

So the big question here is does it work? In this review of the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat, I hope to explain to you why I think it's a solid tool for many golfers and not only beginners.

Looks:

We always start in our reviews here at Bunkers Paradise on how an item looks. There is a reason for that. Humans are visual people and the way something looks, even first glance, makes a huge impression on what our final thoughts are going to be. You can from the photo above that you have a good looking product on your hands. The mat has solid markings to make it easy to follow the step by step process of hitting different types of pitch shots, which I'll explain later.

Performance/Feel:

Let's first start with how the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat works. As you can see in the photos there are different colored markings. Each colored marking correlates with a certain type of golf shot, whether it be a flop shot, a pitch or a chip shot. The Perfect Pitch Mat makes training and even learning how to hit these shots extremely simple. The mat comes with a guide to show you where to place your feet and the golf ball. For example: Chip Shots - Position the outside of your feet on the red feet markers. Position your toes up to the white line, then place the ball on the red dot most comfortable for you. The guide also even gives you tips further. Continuing with the Chip Shots - Set up with 60-70% of your weight on the front foot, your hands should be ahead of the ball at impact and lower rolling shot is easier to control than a lofted shot.

So for someone who isn't quite sure how they should set up for a particular shot or even how to swing, the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat explains it all. The Perfect Pitch Mat also has set up examples for Pitch shots, Sands shots and Flop shots. Each come with tips and how to set up properly. I walked myself through each and every set up they offered and followed their instructions 100% to see if would help my game improve. After an hour on the mat, I was amazed at how much help it was. Even if you are a seasoned golfer, there is nothing wrong with going back to the basics and having a tool to force you to "do it right". With the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat, you are forced to place the ball exactly where it should be for certain shots. The other great thing is that you can take it anywhere with you even to the golf range. It's lightweight and durable so taking it places is simple. I took mine to my local football field, laid it down on the goal line of the end zone and began working from 10 yard shots to 100 yards pitches. The only thing I have against the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat is that it's a mat. I know that makes no sense at all, but I just don't like hitting off mats just like most of you. But..... for being a mat that is lightweight, it truly is durable and felt as good as a mat can feel.

Final Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat. I truly believe that beginners and experiences golfers can utilize it to improve their game or just brush up on their game. For more information or to purchase a Perfect Pitch Golf Mat click HERE. You can also follow Perfect Pitch on Twitter HERE.

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At some point we all have hit a shot that comes up 20 yards short, threw down another and ended up 10 feet from the pin. Then your playing partner says, “that 2nd Guy is good!” Well, this is how 2nd Guy Golf got its name. Former Major League Pitcher, Russ Ortiz and his partner LJ Richardson came up with the idea of a golf clothing line that gives back. The proceeds from every men’s shirt and accessory sold goes to the “Feed My Starving Children” charity. This charity is an organization that ships hand-packed meals to malnourished children in nearly 70 countries all over the world.

Looks:

The shirt that was tested was the 2nd Guy Golf Performance shirt. It was a beautiful red color with black and white stripes with a nice three button placket and a self collar. The sizes run a little large and aren’t as form fitting for my liking, but overall a good-looking shirt. There are a total of four colors to choose from. Lime Green, Neon Yellow, White and the Red that was tested.

Feel:

The shirt felt great. It was soft and very comfortable and did not restrict my swing at all. I had no complaints with the feel of this shirt.

Performance:

This is where the shirt really shines. It’s called the Performance shirt for a reason. It is made of 100% polyester with moisture wicking and antimicrobial technology. It wicks the sweat away and I didn’t get the stinky pits I do with some other shirts.

Final Thoughts:

2nd Guy Golf has a great thing going on here. Not only do they have a great product, but they are giving people a 2nd chance at life. Website: HERE Facebook: HERE Twitter: HERE

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Press Release: Carlsbad, CALIF. (January 6, 2014) – adidas Golf, an industry leader in innovation, technology and performance footwear, has announced the release of the next generation of adizero golf footwear, highlighted by the radically new adizero one. To sustain the astounding success realized by adizero Tour in 2013, adidas Golf designers were challenged with taking the next step in the evolution of the franchise; to develop a lighter shoe that pushed innovation to the next level while delivering maximum performance and tour-level traction. The result is adizero one, a visually appealing design that tips the scales at less than 10 ounces, 10% lighter than the adizero Tour. With adizero one, adidas Golf has taken adizero footwear to a new level of light, delivering more stability than ever before in the lightest cleated performance golf shoe the company has ever created.

“When I first saw the adizero one, I couldn’t wait to get them on my feet,” said Jason Day, adidas Golf tour staff professional since 2006. “With the low profile design, I can really feel the ground beneath my feet and the power generated from my swing is definitely noticeable. I’m excited to wear these on tour.”

While traditional golf shoe construction requires the stitching of multiple layers, adidas golf designers pushed the limits of engineering to create a new, ultra-light one-piece fused upper that bonds together five layers to deliver a consistent glove-like fit on the foot.

To further reduce weight while increasing stability, a lighter and thinner seven-cleat performance outsole (formerly 10 in the adizero Tour) was developed which measures 20% wider than adizero Tour. For superior on-course performance, designers combined valuable tour player feedback with biomechanical analysis to strategically locate the seven cleats, highlighted by a revolutionary and proprietary center cleat utilizing CenTraXion™ technology to provide ultimate grip while maintaining superlative stability throughout the swing.

“We’re constantly looking to test the boundaries of engineering to design and develop equipment that helps golfers perform at their peak,” said Masun Denison, Director, Global Product Marketing, Footwear at adidas Golf. “adizero one is a perfect example of our relentless pursuit of innovation to consistently create the best-performing footwear in golf.”

Available January 23, adizero one will be available in four colorways at launch and three additional colorways on May 1 at an MSRP of $180 USD. For women, adidas Golf has designed the adizero Tour II, utilizing many of the same design and fabrication elements as the adizero one in a streamlined, six-spike configuration with thintech low-profile technology to improve traction and stability. Available January 23, the women’s adizero Tour II is available in three colorways at an MSRP of $120 USD. Also available for both men and women on January 23 is adizero sport II, made with ultra-lightweight performance mesh upper now featuring proprietary climaproof protection and a two-year waterproof warranty. The shoe also features a new SPRINTFRAME™ outsole with spikeless puremotion technology for enhanced flexibility and comfort with swing plane traction for increased grip and stability. adizero sport II is available in five colorways for men at an MSRP of $130 USD and six colorways for women at an MSRP of $110 USD.

For more information or to view the entire adizero footwear collection, visit adidasgolf.com.

### About the adidas Group The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the core brands: adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade, Rockport and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 46,000 employees and generated sales of over €14.9 billion in 2012. About TaylorMade-adidas Golf Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company sells golf clubs, balls, clothing and accessories under the TaylorMade, adidas Golf, Adams and Ashworth brands. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company posted 2012 sales of over €1.3 billion.

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So you may be asking yourself "Why is a golf blogger doing a review on sunglasses?" Well, recently my brother had sent me a text and pic about these sunglasses he picked up at a golf course down in Florida and was raving about the quality. I decided to take a look at www.tifosioptics.com and came across the Duro Gloss Black model that just so happened to have an interchangeable lens called the "GT" (Golf/Tennis). The "GT" lens is advertised as being able to assist in picking up a golf ball in flight easier as well as reading terrain more efficiently. Consider my interest piqued. From www.tifosioptics.com:

Made of Grilamid TR-90, a homopolyamide nylon characterized by an extremely high alternative bending strength, low density, and high resistance to chemical and UV damage. Hydrophilic rubber ear and nose pieces for a no-slip fit. Adjustable nose pieces for custom fit. Vented lenses improve air circulation, prevent fogging.

Tifosi was kind enough to send over the Duro Gloss Black package for us to test and here is how they did. How does it look? The Duro's don't skimp on badassery. They have a very stylish and rugged look to them that almost feeds a level of confidence. These sunglasses look meant for either a sporty or industrial environment. I really like the look of the Duro's. I think they are perfect for my personality (sporty, comfortable, and down to business) but I have to emphasize that you have to take into consideration the glasses to head size ratio. While my wife and others have said they look good on me, I can't help but get the feeling they are just a tad too big for my face/head size.

How does it feel? This is surprisingly a big factor for me. I really can't stand sunglasses that either feel lob sided, falls off my head, or have very uncomfortable arms and nose piece. The Duro was all positive marks in these categories. The Duro's sport a light-weight frame structured with two solid arms (with a rubber back half for grip on my head) and a rubber nose piece that has yet to slip and feels absolutely tailored for my face. These are possibly the most comfortable sunglasses I have ever worn. How do they perform? In the general sense of the purpose of sunglasses, the Duro's perform on par. They conform to my face nicely, have air vents in the upper corner of the lenses to help with fogging, and they make shiny things less shiny. When it comes to the "GT" lens I can honestly say that the ball was easily tracked after it took off. Was it noticeably better than standard sunglasses? Maybe 10-20% better. The noticeable functionality behind the "GT" lens was in green reading. I actually did have an easier time seeing little nuances in the greens than with normal sunglasses (or none at all). Final Thoughts: I really like the Tifosi Duro Gloss Black sunglasses. I have been wearing them for about a month and have no plans on stopping. The overall package is high quality and I love the interchangeable lenses to fit different situations. While the $59.99 price tag is exceptional for this kind of quality, I really do wish the polarized lenses that can be purchased separately were a bit cheaper ($69.99). You can find more information about the Tifosi line of sunglasses at www.tifosioptics.com.

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I first met Mike Gener, Owner of Routine Golf Gear on Twitter @routinegolfgear and quickly became intrigued by his line of golf apparel and gear. I liked the simple clean look and the logo was eye popping. Soon after we hosted our first Bunkers Paradise Charity Golf Tournament. Routine Golf Gear stepped up big time and donated several items for the tournament's raffle for prizes in helping us raise money for the Special Olympics. Mike then contacted me and asked if Bunkers Paradise would be interested in reviewing their polo shirts and of course we said yes. We review anything and everything golf here at Bunkers Paradise, regardless if you are a start up company or a well know major company. So Mike sent over a couple of his Polos to test out. There are a lot of golf apparel companies out there that make quality golf shirts for decent prices, so the competition is tough. I was interested in seeing how the Routine Golf Gear shirts would stand up to the competition.

Looks/Feel:

All three designs in the men's polo section from Routine Golf Gear are made from 100% Polyester. They are available in black, white and purple. (photos below) All three shirts a great looking shirts with bright bold colors. Some polyester shirts can feel cheap and come apart in the wash, but these shirts are quality looking and feel great.

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Performance:

This is always tough to write about on apparel reviews because it's not like a golf club where you can see distance, spin etc. It really is all about that feel and if the clothing allows free movement for you conduct your swing. With the shirts being from 100% polyester there is no issues with freedom of movement during your swing. The shirt lays down comfortably when not swinging and moves and stretches well enough for you to do your thing on the course. You really can wear this shirt on and off the course. I have used my shirts several times and have had no issues with washing, a light heat dry and then hang it up after. The shirt still looks great and feels great.

Not only does Routine Golf Gear have great Polos but they sell a variety of other golf gear as well, including this "On the Dance Floor" T-Shirt. You can also find beanies, hats and ball markers. Go check them out at www.routinegolfgear.com

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by Stephen Davis

August 10, 2013

Follow us on Twitter @DrTeethGolf @Bunkerspgolf

Follow Stephen on YouTube HERE

I wanted to do a review where I had the opportunity to check out some of the main lightweight carry bags from different manufacturers with the ultimate goal of finding which ones were great and why. To do this properly, I decided that it would be best to do this as a relatively long term project. Each bag was used for a minimum of 10 rounds and the pictures you see are after they were tested.

PING Hoofer

MSRP- $190

Grade- A-

Weight- 5.2 lbs

The PING Hoofer was one of the best all around bags I tested. The build quality is great and it is very comfortable to carry, despite it being one of the heaviest bags I tested. There is a pocket for everything imaginable.

Pros:

Excellent build quality

Great structure

Comfortable shoulder pads

Strap sliders and EZ Strap system make carrying comfortable

Good stand mechanism

A bunch of pockets for everything you could want

Six-way top

Water pocket is easily accessible while carrying

Towel hook

Hard plastic grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

One of the heavier bags tested

No separate hook for rangefinder

Could use a little more cushioning where the bag contacts the back

More info on the PING Hoofer can be found HERE

OGIO Nimbus

MSRP- $190

Grade- A-

Weight- 4.2 lbs

The Nimbus is a great bag and very lightweight. The separate putter well is a big bonus on this bag, especially in its weight class. There does seem to be extra fabric on this bag, giving it a baggy appearance, but the bag works so well that it is quickly forgotten.

Pros:

Very lightweight

7-way top

Separate putter compartment

Comfortable shoulder pads

Good stand mechanism

Wide base on legs add stability

A pocket for everything you need, but none that you don’t

Towel strap

Pocket designated for rangefinder

Water pocket accessible while carrying

Rubber grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

Legs have a tendency to droop while carrying

Seems to be extra fabric on bag, creating a slightly baggy look

No separate hook for rangefinder

More info on the OGIO Nimbus can be found HERE

TRUE Tour Stand Bag

MSRP- $150

Grade- A-

Weight- 4.1 lbs

True Linkswear is a brand for the walking golfer, and if that is you, then this is your bag. It is a no nonsense bag, comfortable and very lightweight. This bag was made for those who think that 18 holes is just a good warm up.

Pros:

Very lightweight

Comfortable shoulder pads

Good stand mechanism

Very thin profile make it very easy to carry

Compact top compartment keeps the putter from falling down into the divider.

Towel hook

Separate hook for rangefinder

Water pocket accessible while carrying

Rubber grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

Could use a separate valuables pocket

Could use a little more cushioning where the bag contacts the back

Straps tend to get twisted more than other bags tested

More info on the True Tour Bag can be found HERE

Sun Mountain KG:2

MSRP- $210

Grade- B+

Weight- 4.7 lbs

The KG:2 had one of the best stand mechanisms tested. It is a really solid bag, that is comfortable and looks slick too. I didn’t like how easy it was to lose your putter down the top divider. Other than that, this is a very good bag.

Pros:

Comfortable shoulder pads

One of the best stand mechanisms tested

Wide base on legs add stability

A pocket for everything you need, but none that you don’t

Towel hook

Water pocket accessible while carrying

Rubber grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

No separate putter compartment

Large compartment for woods and putter, so putter tends to fall down into the divider.

Seems to be extra fabric on bag, creating a slightly baggy look

No separate hook for rangefinder

More info on the SunMountain KG:2 can be found HERE

PING 4 Series

MSRP- $150

Grade- B

Weight- 4.3 lbs

The little brother to the Hoofer, the 4 Series is a very solid offering from PING. It has all of the great build quality of the Hoofer and less weight. The fact that my putter kept falling down the top compartment and the placement of the water bottle pocket are the only reason this isn’t rated as highly as its sibling.

Pros:

Excellent build quality

Great structure

Comfortable shoulder pads

Strap sliders and EZ Strap system make carrying comfortable

Good stand mechanism

A pocket for everything you need, but none that you don’t

Towel hook

Hard plastic grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

No separate putter compartment

Large compartment for woods and putter, so putter tends to fall down a bit into the divider.

Water pocket is inaccessible while carrying

No separate hook for rangefinder

Could use a little more cushioning where the bag contacts the back

More info on the PING 4 Series can be found HERE

Nike Vapor X

MSRP- $180

Grade- D

Weight- 4.2 lbs

This is the only bag I reviewed that I can’t recommend. The Vapor X has a lot going for it, it is crazy lightweight and has all the right pockets, dividers and straps. It has a separate hook for your towel and your rangefinder and a putter well. HOWEVER, this bag wore out in less than 10 rounds and that is just not acceptable.

Pros:

Very lightweight

Good stand mechanism

Comfortable straps

Straps make for easy one shoulder or two shoulder carrying

Excellent organization

Separate putter compartment

Towel hoop

Separate rangefinder loop

Cons:

Bag dividers wore out within 10 rounds

Water pocket is odd depth, so water bottles are prone to fall out

More info on the Nike Vapor X can be found HERE

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Overland Park, KS, January 10, 2014 – Bushnell Outdoor Products, makers of the #1 laser rangefinder on the PGA Tour, today introduced its smallest, most technically advanced golf laser rangefinder – the Tour Z6 JOLT. With its ultra-compact size and increased power, the Tour Z6 JOLT has been engineered with new JOLT Technology and 2^nd Generation E.S.P. (Extreme. Speed. Precision) technologies.

“At Bushnell, we continue to pride ourselves on offering advanced technologies to enhance our already industry-leading rangefinding products,” said Scott Peterson, Product Manager at Bushnell. “It is so important for golfers to get fast, precise yardages, and the Tour Z6 JOLT delivers this critical information to the golfer faster and more accurately than any other laser rangefinder.”

Continuing the trend of evolving precision through industry-leading technologies, Bushnell Golf is proud to introduce JOLT Technology in the new Tour Z6 JOLT. When the golfer aims the Tour Z6 JOLT at the flag, JOLT Technology will provide short vibrating bursts to reinforce that Bushnell’s advanced PinSeeker technology has isolated the target and locked onto the flag. The vibrating bursts provided by JOLT Technology will now eliminate any and all doubt and assure the golfer they have the exact distance to the flag.

Also new to the Tour Z6 JOLT is 2^nd generation E.S.P (Extreme. Speed. Precision) Technology. 2^nd Generation E.S.P. provides yardages five times faster and more accurately than ever before. Not only has the acquisition speed been increased to a lightning fast level, 2^nd Generation E.S.P. provides 1Ž2 yard accuracy from 5-125 yards, and the distance is displayed to 1/10^th of a yard. Having more accurate laser distances enables the golfer to strategize and hit every approach shot with confidence. The ultra-compact Tour Z6 JOLT also features Vivid Display Technology. Created specifically for Bushnell’s premium rangefinders, this optical enhancement improves contrast, clarity and light transmission dramatically for enhanced use. The brightness of the digital readout information has also been increased, providing rapid and positive yardage acquisition in all lighting conditions. It is simply the best heads-up projection display on the market. As with all Bushnell rangefinders, the Tour Z6 JOLT provides instantaneous measurements in yards and meters with incredible accuracy to any target on the course. The Tour Z6 JOLT boasts 5-1,300 yards ranging performance, including 450+ yards to the flag and is legal for tournament play (all Bushnell laser rangefinder models, except the Bushnell Pro X7 Slope and Bushnell Tour v3 Slope, are legal to use when USGA rule 14-3/.05 is in effect). Product features include:

PinSeeker with JOLT Technology
Accurate to 1Ž2 Yard
5-1,300 yards ranging performance (450+ yards to a flag)
Vivid Display Technology (VDT) for all lighting conditions
2^nd Generation E.S.P. (Extreme. Speed. Precision.)
6x Magnification (objects appear 6 times closer)
Premium lens coatings for superb optical quality
Rubber armored metal housing
Posi-Thread Battery Door
Waterproof
3-Volt Battery and Premium Carry Case included

The Tour Z6 JOLT will be available at Bushnell retailers nationwide beginning in February, with a retail price of $399. Bushnell, the #1 choice of professional golfers, offers a full range of rangefinders, which continue to change and improve the way golfers assess distances, ultimately improving performance. For more information on the Bushnell family of rangefinders, visit the company’s website at www.bushnellgolf.com. To obtain images of the Tour Z6, please go to www.bushnellgolfpr.com. Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell(R), Final Approach(R), Tasco(R), Serengeti(R), Bolle(R), Uncle Mike’s Law Enforcement(R), Millett(R), Stoney Point(R), Hoppe’s(R), Uncle Mike’s(R), Simmons(R), Butler Creek(R), Cébé(R) and Night Optics brand names. For information about any of these brands or products, please contact the Public Relations Department at (913) 752-3426.

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Putting: The average player takes approximately 2/3rds of his/her total shots from less than 100 feet from the hole. If you keep this in mind, isn’t it clear that you will not be able to score well without putting fairly well? If it is so important to scoring and a very large part of the total number of shots you take on the course, it makes perfect sense that one should be practicing his/her putting more often than not. Taking it a step further, putting can be practiced without ever leaving your home. The Puttist came to the Bunkers Paradise testing center recently and I was excited to take a gander at a very unique way to practice your putting. I am a firm believe that having a solid and consistent putting stroke is essential to lowering your scores. The putter is the one that drops the ball in the hole, is it not? So let’s get to practice our putting and STOP THE 3-PUTTS! Take note too that The Puttist was a Finalist for New Product of the Year at the 2012 PGA Show!!

What is Behind the PUTTIST?

Uses digital sensor technology to measure putting distance & accuracy
Allows you to adjust green speed to Slow, Average or Fast
Has guides on the putting mat help you align your stroke
Enables you to practice 6- to 45-foot putts in a 5-foot space
Trains your muscle memory to consistently hit putts of any distance
Makes training fun with four skill games
Displays your PUTTIST game scores for you to measure improvement
Is exceptionally portable so you can take it anywhere

http://youtu.be/qDifsnZDFws

The Puttist is really a great way to practice your putting away from the course and even on the putting green at your nearest local practice putting green. It allows you to not just putt into a cup, but there are several training ‘games’ that you play to keep you sharp with immediate feedback that is spot on every time. So you will enjoy both a normal mode (putting with immediate feedback for 6 to 45ft putts and a game mode that allows you to really check in with an array of putt).

All of the PUTTIST Games are based on the reality of Putting that "a short putt is a failed putt." PUTTIST is designed to recognize a successful putt as one that reaches the target distance or exceeds the target distance by not more than 2 feet. The actual putting distance will be displayed on the LED display and both LED lights will flash to indicate a successful, straight putt. The LED display will disappear downwards for a putt which is too short and upwards for a putt which is too long.

LOOK/FEEL The Puttist may look a little scary, but it is not at all. The Puttist has a very well made carpet type putting surface that when it is securely placed on a flat surface it putts like a real green. Even when you brush our hand across the surface, I am amazed at how real it feels. There are other products out there, but this one feels the absolute best. When you place your ball on the mat, you will see many numbers, arrows, lines and a box at the target in. In can look and feel a little overwhelming, but trust me, every detailed line/arrow/number is there for a reason and will assist in eliminating the horrid 3-putt. Once you understand the reasons behind each marking, it becomes like riding a bike and the look and feel is second nature. Overall the look and feel is in perfect balance and outstanding no matter where you place the Puttist. I am impressed with the realness of each putt I take and the true roll you will get on each stroke. PERFORMANCE The performance of the Puttist is spot on when it is securely fixed to a flat surface. Simply put, when you secure your Puttist, you will get the best most accurate natural roll with each stroke. What is great is the Puttist includes a carpet fixture to secure the mat in your carpet without damaging it as well as a reusable non-slip pad to ensure the mat will not move during your practice putting sessions. This was very helpful for me since my pups like to chase the golf ball I stroke and end up ‘pushing off’ matt and running away with the ball…the putting mat stayed perfectly in place. The Puttist is extremely easy to set up and roll up and store—nothing easier. It is quite portable too. It comes in a box for protection upon arriving at your home, but I found a little duffle bag of mine to carry it around to the course, my office and Bunkers Paradise’s testing center. What I found in the main body (the digital indicator box) was a fairly simple feedback that once you read the instructions you are quick to understand what the numbers, flashing lines and letters mean. The small manual explains what every mode and feedback means and is easy to digest after a once through. You will need to read the short manual so you get the most out of the Puttist—no worries, it’s an easy read and a good resource to keep with your Puttist. The power button on the back of the main body doubles as power and mode conversion allowing you to toggle between all the games you can play to improve your putting. Again, once you understand the different games that assist in ‘killing 3-putts’, it is easy to switch between games without the need for the manual. One really cool thing is you can adjust the stimpmeter! WHaaaat?! Yes, there is a Green Speed Setting that allows you to select the green speed you need: Fast , Average and Slow. Now you don’t find a practicing putting mat that can offer that, can you? Awesome! Overall, the performance is amazing in that over a couple of days in the Bunkers Paradise testing center and using every mode available to test my putting skills, I was able to go out and can a few long putts and stood up to every putt that was 30ft and it with confidence. Never a 3-putt in my round and only had 30 putts for the day in 18 holes. One last thing I like and can see as extremely useful is the ball position (the spot where the Puttist has you place your ball) and the markings left and right of the ball…really give me incredible feedback where my feet are located in relation to the ball. In other words, I can see exactly where the ball is positioned with my feel—great feedback!

Final Thoughts The Puttist is really an amazing product to improve your putting. The plethora of challenging games allows you to know exactly where you stand in putting skills and what you need to work on to eliminate 3-putts. Its ease of use is very important to me and most golfers as we want instant feedback with something that we don’t need 5 Doctorates to understand. You will need to read the simple manual, but it won’t take but a moment and you’ll be ready to get your putting in shape. Finally, the roll you receive from the Puttist is almost as though you are on the green and it will allow you switch between green speeds settings so you will be ready for fast and slow greens! So, I am hooked and I love putting in my home and office when the weather outside is less than ideal. It also gives me a little break and a fun one at that. Oh, and my almost 4 year old loves it and has been practicing her putting as well. Well done Puttist. 'keep smiling and always believe'

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SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton announced today that its Golf Pride grips division would unveil its innovative new CP2™ line of grips at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show. CP2 grips, defined by their Comfort, Control and Performance attributes, are the softest performance grips in Golf Pride history. New proprietary Control Core™ technology allows for a softer feel without compromising performance.

The CP2 line will be available in two models, CP2 Pro™ (Red) and CP2 Wrap™ (Blue), to accommodate players with two distinctly different texture preferences. The CP2 Pro offers a straight, texture grip pattern, while the CP2 Wrap is designed for those golfers who appreciate the softness of a comfort grip delivered in a classic wrap design. Both CP2 models are 31% softer than any other grip in the Golf Pride line and feature the company’s proprietary new Control Core technology; a 2.5” inner control core stabilizer. Located at the top of the grip where the greatest amount of swing pressure is received, the Control Core reduces torque by 41% compared to the same grip without the core. A straighter taper in the lower section encourages even hand pressure for a more stable and consistent swing.

“Consumer testing validation was instrumental in the performance development of the CP2 line,” stated Brandon Sowell, global sales and marketing manager for Golf Pride. “As soon as players took a swing, they could feel the Control Core benefits. Players commented that the fantastic feel and control immediately transferred to a high level of confidence as they stepped up to the ball. The innovation in the CP2 grips delivers softer feel with the control and durability that golfers expect from Golf Pride.”

The CP2 line features three sizes, standard, midsize and jumbo, with a street price of $6.99, $7.49 and $7.99, respectively, and will be available through golf specialty stores and green-grass retailers beginning March 2014. For more information on the CP2 models and the entire 2014 Golf Pride product line, www.golfpride.com.

Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on six continents. The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GolfPride.

birdie box

Hot off the press from BirdieBox: BirdieBox – a discovery shopping service created specifically to satisfy the needs of the golf community – has officially launched, allowing golfers to enjoy a curated box of premium golf, lifestyle and nutritional items delivered to their doorstep every month. Removing all the hassle from shopping and adding an element of “gift euphoria,” BirdieBox uses the personal preferences of each subscriber as the basis for every delivery. The items include a selection of the hottest products from major brands – plus the current issue of Golf Digest – all packaged in a stylish gift box. Offered in one-, three-, six- and 12-month options, subscriptions range from $41.65 to $44.95 per month. Retail value of each delivery is $100 or more. To provide gift-givers with a can’t-miss option, BirdieBox also prepares specialty boxes commemorating golf’s major championships, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. The items are carefully selected by the company’s team of golf retail experts and boast double the retail value of a standard subscription box.

“We’re taking a shopping practice that has literally revolutionized other categories and bringing it to passionate golfers who can’t get enough of the cool products that help them look, feel and play better,” says BirdieBox Founder and CEO Keith Bolognese. “With some of the game’s biggest brands already on board, our business is teed up for quick and sustainable growth.”

Beyond individuals, BirdieBox is an entirely new way to source an unforgettable gift for corporate, charity or country club events. A team of experts will work within a set budget to create a truly unforgettable package. Adorned with a logo of the customer’s choice, each finely-appointed, custom-curated assortment is hand-selected to precisely match designated preferences and impress guests. To celebrate its premiere, BirdieBox is currently running a promotion on its website – www.BirdieBox.com. Visitors who register to receive information from the company are entered to win a two-person, expenses-paid, two-night stay in New York City. This will include a private ferry ride from Manhattan to play golf at the heralded Bayonne Golf Club, ranked as one of the “Best Modern Courses” by Golfweek.

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By Stephen Davis When you arrive at the Fujikura studios in Vista, CA, it is a very unassuming building. It gives no hints at the incredible innovation and technology that lies within its doors. What is inside this building is the Headquarters of one of the largest and most successful shaft companies on the planet. This is where they make many of their prototype shafts and where their Fit-On Studio is located. The Fit-On Studio is open to the general public and the incredibly knowledgeable fitters at Fujikura, with over 30 years of experience, will give you the fitting experience of a lifetime. When I went to Fujikura, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Pat McCoy, who has been with Fujikura for over 13 years and is one of the pioneers in composite technologies. McCoy is one of the most interesting people I have had the good fortune to speak with and not only has a wealth of knowledge about golf equipment, but has some seriously great stories of his life in the business. When I asked McCoy how he got involved in the business, he took me back to the mid 80s when he was working as a club pro at the Quarry in La Quinta. He found that he had a knack for helping people improve their games by fitting their equipment to them and their swings (this was a very new idea back then). It wasn’t long before companies took notice and his first gig in the shaft industry was with Composites Dynamics and then on to Penley (which while he worked for them became the #1 shaft on tour). Fujikura quickly took notice and hasn’t let go since. McCoy was instrumental in the development of the Fit-On Studio. The idea evolved from the need to have a place where they could test out prototypes and then be able to quantify what is going on when they make certain changes in different aspects of the shaft. From this need the Fit-On Studio was born. What is the Fit-On Studio and how does it differ from other fitting experiences? This is exactly what I wanted to share with you, because what Fujikura is doing is truly amazing. When you enter the Fit-On hitting bay it is an incredible site. Seriously, unlike any other fitting studio I have ever seen. Not only do they have a TrackMan set up (anyone who has ever used Trackman knows the incredible amount of data it produces, but they also have a ForeSight launch monitor (okay now they are just bragging).

But the real kicker and what sets this studio apart is the 3D motion cameras they have set up all around the room, which Fujikura refers to as Enso (Japanese for Circle). Enso consists of 10 cameras that have the ability to shoot at over 1600 frames per second (seriously!?!?) and are calibrated to detect 7 small little reflective spheres that are strategically placed on the golf club. Once that information is received, the Enso system then put all of that data together to show exactly how the club and shaft reacts throughout your entire swing.

According to McCoy, this represents a dynamic shift from the way clubs have been fit for years. Up until now the fitter looked at the golfer’s swing to fit them for equipment (ie swing speed, etc), “with Enso we can make club fitting a dynamic process that looks at your swing and exactly how the equipment is reacting to your swing. We can take someone and have them hit a bunch of shots. We can quantify exactly what the shaft is doing. We can see if the clubface is consistently 4* open and we can give you a shaft that will help rotate the head closed and get that clubface square at impact and have you hitting straight shots consistently.” Now, most people who know me know that having a hitting bay in my house is a dream of mine. So when I saw this setup I said “I’ll take it!” To which I was informed that the technology in that room costs about DOUBLE the average home price in America! The people at Fujikura take this seriously! But, before you start thinking that this is just another one of those things in golf that only the cool kids get to enjoy, think again. The Fit-On Studio is open to the public and a driver fitting will run you $100, which considering you will be getting the most state of the art fitting in the world, isn’t half bad. If you do decide to make the trip to San Diego to go through a fitting, know that the mat that you are hitting off, is the same one that Major champions have hit off and the fitting you are about to experience is the same in which they experience as well. And don’t worry about them not having the specific club head that you need. The Fit-On Studio comes equipped with the coolest Craftsman tool chest They have the worlds coolest Craftsman tool chest, but instead of finding different tools, when you open up a drawer you will see different heads from every OEM out there. Add to that the seemingly endless bagfull of shafts and you pretty much have every equipment junkies paradise. Maybe it was fitting that I was going to Disneyland the next day, because I was able to inform the people at Disney that the day before I really was at the Happiest Place on Earth.

First thing they do for the fitting is measure the club, the face, the lie, the swing weight, the frequency and everything about the club. Then they have you hit some shots with your club. Then they will give you a shaft that is lighter and one that is heavier, one that is stiffer in one section and another that is more flexible in a different section. They change as many variables as they think prudent and in the end they may find that the data shows that you might be better served with a shorter, heavier shaft, or a lighter, longer shaft. They can prove what works and why, whether that be shorter and heavier or lighter and longer, whatever it might be and they can show you with data why it works.

This has lead to many new prototypes, which they will walk back into the factory and create. “Often it is our touring pros that are the driving force behind a new shaft. They will come in with a specific need and because of the data we have collected we know exactly how to create what they want. Furyk was in a while back and we ended up creating a counterbalanced shaft to his specifications. That same shaft can now be purchased by anyone. It is very amazing how much technology has changed the industry.”

Better materials and automated processes have also changed much about the way shafts are made. It used to be the sheets of graphite were cut by hand, in fact, pretty much everything was done by hand. Now, everything is made and done to exacting specifications and everything is tested to make sure that it meets standards.

So, my question to McCoy was how has the improved materials and processes and the information they have obtained from Enso changed the way they are designing shafts. Lets take their most popular line on tour, the Speeder line-up, and their most recent shaft that has been received with rave reviews, the Fuel. McCoy informed me that what they found when analyzing the data with the Speeder is that it eliminated some of the droop that occurs when loading the shaft. He says that “this is what makes the Speeder such a stable shaft.” With the Fuel what they found was that the club head stayed square longer through the impact area, effectively lessening the dynamic loft when it contacts the ball. On off center hits they saw that there was less deflection of the clubhead, which resulted in straighter shots even with less than ideal contact. “What is really amazing” states McCoy “is we aren’t just saying this. We have the proof!”

If you would like to learn more about the different Fujikura shafts, the Fit-On Studio or to schedule a fitting you can do so at fujikuragolf.com.

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What is the most important part of your game? Let me ask that a different way. What should be the most important part of your game? I would have to say it's putting. If you can one or two putt from anywhere on a green you will lower your scores astronomically. The folks over at Perfect Pitch Golf understand that so created the Putter Cube. Perfect Pitch understands that everyone wants to be a better putter, but they just don't know how to make that happen. In order to be a great putter you have to have a solid stroke that delivers the putter face square to the golf ball every single time.

Here’s how it works:

Attach the Putter Cube to the grip using the Velcro Strap
Position your wrist against the Putter Cube
Hit puts keeping the wrist against the Putter Cube

Pretty simple if you ask me. So Perfect pitch sent over the Putter Cube for me to try out. The best part about the Putter Cube is that it's small. Something you can easily just toss into your golf bag. It won't take up much room and you can keep it there for those quick trips to your local putting green for a five minute practice session. I actually did that twice as I was driving by my local course. As you can see in the photos, it's a simple training aid that doesn't take rocket science to put together or figure out how to use it. Hey not all golfers are the smartest people in the world.

Performance:

The idea behind the Putter Cube is create a one-piece putting stroke that doesn't allow you to break your wrist angle during the stroke. I quickly found out that I slightly breaking my wrist, which surprised me. I thought for sure that I kept my wrists locked with an even pendulum motion. I noticed that my forearm and putter shaft were forced to be on the same angle, which is key. It felt a bit robotic at first, but once I got the feel it began to feel more natural. Let's be honest, a robot putting actually is a good thing. After several stokes using the Putter Cube, I took it off to see if I could emulate the exact stroke while using it. I was able to maintain that feel of how my wrist and shaft angle were supposed to be aligned. Like I mentioned before, I was never a "scoop" or "drag" putter prior to using the Putter Cube. I always have tried to maintain a locked wrist to create an even pendulum stroke. But the Putter Cube makes you do it, not just in your head, but physically as well.

Overall:

We all want to be a better putter out on the course and now you have something that can help you attain that goal. Fundamentals are key to any sport especially golf. So why not take it back to the basic fundamentals. Like I mentioned before, I feel that I'm a pretty good putter with consistency in my putting stroke, but after using the Putter Cube I realized that I could use more help in this area. For More information on the Putter Cube click HERE.

NM1 7 balls (1)

Chromax Golf (www.chromaxgolf.com), the original metallic golf ball manufacturer, announces a new and improved version of their first high visibility golf ball, the M1x (first launched in 2007), on Wednesday, January 22nd 2014 at the PGA Show in Orlando. Available in 7 colors (pink, gold, silver, green, purple, blue and orange), the patented coating is brighter and more reflective, providing an added advantage for golfers who look for an easier to see, responsive golf ball. The same 75 compression ball also boasts a larger core, enhancing distance.

Last year, Chromax announced the 90 compression Distance ball in green and gold. Designed for golfers with lower handicaps and faster swings, they are adding silver to the mix which will also be announced at the PGA show. Both the new M1x and the silver Distance balls will be available February 1st, 2014. Attendees of the PGA show will have an opportunity to test the new balls at the Chromax booth #2017 in the Orange County, Orlando Convention Center, Jan. 22-24.

Chromax Golf is located at 3468 Sunshine Canyon Drive in Boulder, Colo., 80302. Chromax manufactures the M1x (75 compression), the M2x (85 compression) and the Distance (90 compression) golf balls. All Chromax golf balls conform to USGA and R&A rules. All styles have a patented florescent reflective layer under a clear translucent cover. The balls are produced in easy-to-track colors that offer enhanced visibility and performance. For more information visit www.chromaxgolf.com or call (303) 219-0868

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It's a beautiful day out and you are heading to the practice range for a little one on one time with yourself and your clubs. You are thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice to know my swing speed and ball speed this lovely day? I am out here all alone enjoying the fresh air and sun and would love to get some immediate and accurate feedback. "Or maybe this: "What a chilly, cold and snowy day but I am heading down to my basement to hit balls into a net with me, myself and I but would be stoked if I could just get a hint as to how I am actually swinging." Well, guess what, you can get immediate feedback in the palm of your hand with the New Voice Caddie (VC) Swing Caddie (SC)100 Launch Monitor. Voice Caddie continues to wow the golfing world with amazing technology and the SC100 is another tool for the golfer to keep track on their success on the course or while practicing. We at Bunkers Paradise are so fortunate to have such a great relationship with Voice Caddie. They sent us their newest family member, the SC100, so we could put it through our vigorous testing and believe me, we gave it everything we had to see what this portable little one could do.

Let's take a closer look at the SC100 Lauch Monitor from Voice Caddie: SC100 Launch Monitor Specs

Dimension	5.89 x 81.4 x 27.5 "
Weight	206 g (6.86 oz)
Color availability	Black, White/Green
Display	4" LCD
Sensor	Doppler radar sensor
Frequency	K band 24 Ghz
Battery Type	Alkaline Battery (AAA x 4 each)
Battery life	Up to 20 hours
Accuracy	+/- 3% (ball speed), +/-% (carry distance)
Measuring range	30 - 302 yards
Positioning	1 to 1.5 m (40 to 60") directly behind the ball
Operating temp	-10° - 50°C (14 - 122°F)

The Swing Caddie (SC100) Launch Monitor is a stand alone device (No Smartphone app needed) that gives the golfer immediate feedback via an LCD Display screen measuring carry distance, swing speed, ball speed, and Smash Factor. It also provides the player 3 modes from which to utilize for more precise and accurate feedback: Target Mode, Random Mode and Practice Mode. SC100 is easy to use and comes with a remote control. It is also very compact is size and weight and it comes with a carry case for safe storage in your golf bag, briefcase, purse...etc. Finally, you can see the stats for each club along with shot count and time display. Looks like they thought of everything from a needs perspective.

LOOK/FEEL When you get down to the nitty-gritty of an accurate device that gives you immediate feedback to improve overall results, the golfer wants it to me portable and easy to handle. The SC100 provides a very portable sleek design that the golfer will love. As a matter of fact, while the SC100 was being tested on the course, numerous other golfers were very intrigued and after a quick tutorial, they were sold on the look, feel and performance. One golfer by the name Kenneth said to me:

Where have you been all my life! <the monitor, not me> The look is easy on the eyes and feels good because it sits in the palm of my hand. I love the idea that I don't have to schedule an expensive appointment to achieve all the stats this little gem gives me.

Personally, I think it looks way cool. It really looks a lot like an Iphone...just slightly bigger. The corners are rounded and it really isn't boxy or bulky by any stretch of the imagination. It totally sits right in your hand so you can review your stats while drinking a cup of water, hanging in your golf cart or chilling at the range. Love the portability! PERFORMANCE The SC100 Launch Monitor by Voice Caddie is spot on with regards to giving the golfer immediate stats on the swing speed, carry distance, and ball speed. I was able to compare SC100 Launch Monitor's accuracy with a very large and expensive machine (no names) and with my very keen insight to my own swing. Being a former LPGA Tour player has given me through the years a very close look at my swing and all the stats that surround it. With that being said, the SC100 was dead on my swing speed, carry distance and ball speed. What is Smash Factor and why do we want to know about it? Smash Factor is a very clever way to gauge how efficiently and effectively you are compressing the golf ball at impact. It measures your ball speed divided by your clubhead speed. The higher the number, the more power your have coming into the golf ball. Bubba Watson's Smash Factor is 1.52. The average amateur is around 1.20--this will give you a little reference point. As far as the Smash Factor goes with regard to overall performance, I would have to say it looked pretty dead on when I really thought about it. I really have never looked at that in the past, but going forward I plan to as I see the benefits for the overall success of the golfer's swing. Another key point to include in the performance aspect of the SC100 is the 'minimalist effect' . It looks simple and minimal and gives the golfer stats that are 'minimalist' and very simple and easy to digest and apply to the next swing or session. I look at it this way; too much information can lead to 'frozen brain' and the inability to even take the club back. The SC100 is minimal in the feedback and I understood exactly what it was displaying. PROS/CONS The PROS around the SC100 are easy: simple to use, portable, ability to review previous club's stats, and accurate when placed within the suggested areas behind your swing (around 4-5 feet). The cost is also a pro--you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get these kind of accurate stats on your swing. CONS: It may not come with directions, but they are easy to read online and very understandable. I really didn't need any directions to set it up, however, I did have difficulty getting the first few swings registered. I realized it was too far behind me...easy fix, no problems. I am also still getting a better understanding around the different modes: Practice, Target and Random. These I had to go online and get a better understanding, but once I did, it was very easy to implement. http://youtu.be/RTWVKlgzyEc Final Thoughts The golf marketplace is exploding with various kinds of 'launch monitors', but the SC100 Launch Monitor by Voice Caddie is really unique in its portability, ease of use and overall accuracy. With the affordability and stand alone feature, you really can' t go wrong with the SC100. I found it was within about a yard of what I thought my swing was creating with regard to carry distance, so I give it a thumbs up in that category. As for the rest of the stats you receive, you will find them easy to understand and implement into your overall practice routine, or even a quick change out on the course. The SC100 Launch Monitor will be released in March 2014 from what I understand to be around $250 (give or take). <Please don't quote me on that price as we all know that until the product is released into the marketplace, the price point can change.> 'keep smiling and always believe'

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I remember being a small child on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa Claus to come down my chimney. Santa was going to bring me a G.I. Joe Command Center to so I could defeat Cobra and his crew. It was one of the most anticipated Christmas gifts I ever wanted as a child. I had forgotten what that feeling was like until I met Stephen Hopkins over at UFO Tour Golf. UFO Tour Golf Mission:

Our mission at UFO Tour Golf is to give you unparalleled visual promotion by using only the finest golf products in the world. Just as with our friends that we have made over the years, we believe in building relationships. We look forward to building our next relationship with you. We believe when we deliver a product it should be about you, not us. To that end, we can remain virtually unidentified while creating a visual masterpiece for you. We like to say that we help you “get identified!” To bring this product to the United States market, UFO Tour Golf has partnered with Jstewart Golf to offer creative, custom, quality golf products for corporate marketing, tour, club and teaching professionals, golf teams or simply individuals, who want to make a statement and stand out from the crowd. We provide you the unique ability to make you just one bag at an affordable price! Jstewart Golf was established in 2008 by professional golfer, James Stewart. Many of the players on the PGA Tour, European & Asian Tours have personalized bags made by JStewart Golf. Whether we deliver one bag to an individual or 1000 bags to a brand or corporate sponsor, we share a commitment to unparalleled quality, value and service. These ideals bring fun and exciting products to golfers everywhere!

I had been looking to make a custom Bunkers Paradise golf bag for quite some time. After looking at several custom golf bag manufactures, I decided to approach UFO Tour Golf. When I first met Stephen I immediately noticed that he and his team were very professional and courteous. In any business that is very important. After numerous talks about what I was looking for, Stephen assured me that UFO Tour Golf was exactly what I was looking for. Stephen showed me several samples of their past work and current projects, which impressed me right away. One of their main clients is John Daly, who has one of the most unique and fun golf bags on the PGA Tour. With the confidence that Stephen and his crew would make the most amazing golf bag for Bunkers Paradise the project began.

First steps where to select a golf bag. From this screen shot you can see there are numerous options, styles and looks. I decided to have a bit of fun with the process and let our fans decide which bag we would go with. After several votes on our Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram the final selection was made to create the third selection below, the JS18R.

Phase 1: Order/Design

Phase 2: Embroidery Proofs

After selecting the bag, Stephen and his crew went to work. After a week or so, I was sent over some leather samples to look at for approval. I was excited to see the computer generated sample, but when I saw the actual leather samples in person my excitement level went up several notches. As you can see from the samples below, the embroidery is amazing!

Phase 3: Confirmation Photos of Completed Bag for Shipment

So this is obviously one of the best parts of the process. I received photos of the final product and was in shock of how good it looked. It's one thing to see a computer generated photo, but it is completely different looking such a beautiful bag in a photo. Below are the photos they sent me for confirmation and approval. After taking one look at the bag, I had no hesitation. I absolutely loved it. I might be a little biased on the design and logo, but I thought it looked amazing.

Now on to what I like to call the Christmas Phase: The arrival of your bag.

So this is the part where I got to be a kid again. Stephen sent me over an email letting me know the bag had been shipped. I couldn't wait for it to arrive in the mail. I happened to be out of the office when it arrived and was notified of it's arrival. I stopped what I was doing and headed back to the office. I ordered everyone to leave the box alone because I wanted to open it. Ha.... what a kid. I opened up the box and it truly was like Christmas morning all over again. The bag was even better looking in person. It had beautiful stitching, vibrant colors and quality leather. From top to bottom the bag was spectacular.

Final Product:

We selected the JS18R Model because we wanted a larger staff carry bag. As you can see in the photos it comes with multiple pockets from small to large to fit all your golf equipment. It also comes with a cover for your clubs for traveling. We were able to send over our logo and have it put onto our bag and not lose one ounce of perfection in the design. Our logo is not a simple logo when you break it down. The golf ball has dimples and they were able to create the dimples with amazing embroidery technology. Absolutely amazing in my opinion. Take a look at the photo below to see what I'm talking about.

Ok, so I lied earlier in the article when I said the best part was having it arrive at your doorstep. The best part is when you take your custom bag to the golf course for the first time. The Bunkers Paradise bag represents exactly what our company and website it all about, which is having fun. The colors are bright and fun, which reflect who we are. So when it was time to take my new baby to the golf course I decided it would fly with me to Florida and make it's first appearance at TPC Sawgrass. Yes I spoil my bag. I thought it was only appropriate to introduce our new UFO Tour Golf bag at a big venue like TPC Sawgrass. Here are some photos with our Bunkers Paradise bag at TPC Sawgrass.

[caption id="attachment_28046" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

Fits perfectly onto golf carts[/caption] [caption id="attachment_28049" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

17th at TPC Sawgrass[/caption]

Final Thoughts:

Working with UFO Tour Golf has been a blast! From the beginning design process to getting the bag shipped was extremely smooth and easy. The best part about working with UFO Tour Golf was when the bag finally arrived at my doorstep. I could not believe how beautiful the final product looked. In this case, pictures really can’t do it justice. Thank you to everyone at the UFO Tour for your hard work and for making the most beautiful Bunkers Paradise bag. Note: UFO Tour Golf also has some other great products that they offer like gloves, towels, shoe bags, umbrellas and they also offer promotional items for all you companies out there. Go check out UFO Tour Golf, you won't be disappointed I promise. Here is a fun video we made about our trip to TPC Sawgrass with a few special appearances from out Bunkers Paradise Staff bag. http://youtu.be/edeDb51anxM

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One of our favorite things to do here at Bunkers Paradise is give things away. The folks at Sidekick Golf have a great product called the Sidekick Golf Caddy that we want to get into your hands. You can read all about the Sidekick Golf Caddy in the Bunkers Paradise review HERE. How to play: --All you have to do is post a picture on twitter and/or Facebook of your 3 favorite clubs that you think would be used often with the Sidekick Golf Caddy. Be sure to follow @SidekickCaddy and tag them and @BunkersPgolf in the post. -- Example: "Check out my sweet stix! *picture link* @SidekickCaddy @Bunkerspgolf" The most creative picture will win! The contest opens February 17, 2014 and will end at 12pm PST on February 19th, 2014. We will announce a winner shortly after. Be sure to jump on our forums HERE to talk about the contest and the Sidekick Caddy! Good Luck!

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Go-Go Caddy is a quick-release, detachable mount and rack that allows riders to carry their golf clubs to their favorite course. Attached to the sissy-bar mounts, the rack angles back over the bike for perfect balance so the rider does not even know the clubs are there. In addition, with 4 mounting points and 2 locking points, your clubs are safe and secure and you never have to worry about the clubs falling out or losing your favorite driver. What is more is that hunters can carry their guns in a hard case to the shooting range, musicians can haul their guitar to their next gig or rehearsal, and scuba divers can carry their oxygen tank to the ocean and all the while going in style by riding your Hog! $375-Retail * $19.95 Shipping in the continental U.S. Special rates for buying in bulk! www.gogocaddy.com Patent No. 6,938,806 Go-Go Caddy P.O. Box 23302 Mint Hill, NC 28227 704-519-5330 *Go-Go Caddy has been seen in Cycle World, Motorcyclist (website), Avid Golfer, RV Golfer (website), Cycle Matters, Carolina Golfer, Golf Illustrated, Golf Digest, Golf Fitness, Motorcycle News Network, and Hogg Trader.

01_150204-58252

In golf, just about every part of your body is used in the swing and it all starts at your feet. Keeping a stable base is essential to success in this game and ECCO golf has made a pair of shoes that are not only geared to your game, but your every day life. The ECCO Mens Street EVO One golf shoes are a new hybrid golf/street shoe that may be more practical than you think. From ECCO.com:

Taking both comfort and performance to new levels, the evolution of ECCO's best-selling golf shoe continues with the Street Evo One. This stylish, performance based men’s golf shoe features Hydromax™ technology, flexible light weight construction and a low profile for greater stability, feel and power. It’s the complete shoe for the complete golfer.

Uppers made of rich leather
Hydromax treated leather
Performance textile toe cup
Additional laces included
Outsole provides 800 traction angles for excellent on course grip
ECCO-Dynamic Traction System® (E-DTS®) Hybrid Technology

How does it look? The EVO One is a good looking shoe, depending on which angle you are looking at. From the top they look very nice with a classic hole and seam pattern that will make you think you are wearing a nice pair of dress shoes. From the side, however, there is a bit more of a bulky look. The contrast of the black leather into the red support structure that runs from mid foot and wraps around the heel, is a bit off-putting as it takes away from the sleek look of the shoe. On top of that, the larger sole height and grey contrasted color transforms the shoe from sexy, to nearly orthopedic. Yes, I know that these are golf shoes first and fashion accessories second but I feel that if there was a little more blend in the top and bottom sections of the shoe, it would be a bit more appealing to look at. Regardless, I still think these shoes are very nice looking and work well off the course in a casual environment as well.

How does it feel? These shoes surprisingly feel great in just about all aspects. The insole is very comfortable and can easily hold up to lots of walking without losing its cushiness. I have a bit of a wider foot and the EVO One did a tremendous job accommodating without feeling like I was wearing a clown shoe. I only have two small things I wish were different about the feel. The weight is just a tad on the heavier side but nothing unmanageable. There was also a slight amount of rubbing on the upper heel (closer to my achilles) as the day went by. This could have been caused by the socks I was wearing but I wanted to mention it any way.

How does it perform? Surprisingly, the performance of the EVO One was my favorite part of this review. I was simply astounded by the amount of grip and stability I had while taking full swings. The traction spikes on the sole of the shoe really felt as if they were individually grabbing the turf below my feet. I didn't have any slipping at all in dry conditions and minimal slipping on wet grass. To compliment the grip, the shoe fit so well that I simply felt as if my feet themselves were latching into the ground.

Final Thoughts: I have been rather skeptical about "hybrid" shoes on the market that boast a more casual look and ability to wear them in every day life. The ECCO Street EVO One golf shoe has completely changed my mind. I not only felt 100% confident on the course but have found myself wearing them more often than not outside of golf. Yes, I would be a little more pleased with a better color scheme and blend but overall, these shoes are sure to get a lot of action in the upcoming months. As a side note, these shoes have also doubled as snow boots lately and have given me some serious traction in very icy conditions. I know that is an odd thing to put in a review but it really is a testament to the amount of grip they provide. You can find more information about the ECCO Street EVO One golf shoes click HERE.

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by Stephen Davis

August 10, 2013

Follow us on Twitter @DrTeethGolf @Bunkerspgolf

Follow Stephen on YouTube HERE

PING Hoofer

MSRP- $190

Grade- A-

Weight- 5.2 lbs

The PING Hoofer was one of the best all around bags I tested. The build quality is great and it is very comfortable to carry, despite it being one of the heaviest bags I tested. There is a pocket for everything imaginable.

Pros:

Excellent build quality

Great structure

Comfortable shoulder pads

Strap sliders and EZ Strap system make carrying comfortable

Good stand mechanism

A bunch of pockets for everything you could want

Six-way top

Water pocket is easily accessible while carrying

Towel hook

Hard plastic grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

One of the heavier bags tested

No separate hook for rangefinder

Could use a little more cushioning where the bag contacts the back

More info on the PING Hoofer can be found HERE

OGIO Nimbus

MSRP- $190

Grade- A-

Weight- 4.2 lbs

The Nimbus is a great bag and very lightweight. The separate putter well is a big bonus on this bag, especially in its weight class. There does seem to be extra fabric on this bag, giving it a baggy appearance, but the bag works so well that it is quickly forgotten.

Pros:

Very lightweight

7-way top

Separate putter compartment

Comfortable shoulder pads

Good stand mechanism

Wide base on legs add stability

A pocket for everything you need, but none that you don’t

Towel strap

Pocket designated for rangefinder

Water pocket accessible while carrying

Rubber grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

Legs have a tendency to droop while carrying

Seems to be extra fabric on bag, creating a slightly baggy look

No separate hook for rangefinder

More info on the OGIO Nimbus can be found HERE

TRUE Tour Stand Bag

MSRP- $150

Grade- A-

Weight- 4.1 lbs

True Linkswear is a brand for the walking golfer, and if that is you, then this is your bag. It is a no nonsense bag, comfortable and very lightweight. This bag was made for those who think that 18 holes is just a good warm up.

Pros:

Very lightweight

Comfortable shoulder pads

Good stand mechanism

Very thin profile make it very easy to carry

Compact top compartment keeps the putter from falling down into the divider.

Towel hook

Separate hook for rangefinder

Water pocket accessible while carrying

Rubber grip allows for easy standing and lifting

Cons:

Could use a separate valuables pocket

Could use a little more cushioning where the bag contacts the back

Straps tend to get twisted more than other bags tested

More info on the True Tour Bag can be found HERE

Sun Mountain KG:2

MSRP- $210

Grade- B+