2024 PGA Show | Best of Show Awards

Two weeks ago, the golf world convened in Orlando, Fla., for the 71st PGA Show. More than 31,000 golf industry professionals from 89 countries and every U.S. state came together with more than 1,000 companies and brands. 

There were nearly 10 miles of golf-laden aisles inside the Orange County Convention Center. If it had some connection to the game—clubs, simulators, apparel, carts, training aids, new gadgets or anything else the mind could conjure—you could find it at the PGA Show. 

Our team scoured every aisle looking for standout products. We spend considerable time on major equipment manufacturers throughout the year so this list focuses on other innovations and technological advances. These are products that could really make a difference in the golf world moving forward. 

Here are our picks for the best new golf products from the 2024 PGA Show. 

PuttView Moving Series

The technology now available in practice putting greens is stunning. 

A leading example is PuttView’s Moving Series, a slope-changing putting green that can fit in your home or studio. It comes in three sizes (8×12 feet, 8×16 feet and 8×20 feet) and offers the ability to recreate millions of putts around the world. The slope can adjust three percent uphill/downhill and five percent from side to side. 

The PuttView technology provides a line to show the break and a trail line of where your ball rolls. A putting test helps golfers identify weaknesses and strengths, offering tips and drills to get better. It doesn’t get more comprehensive than that. 

The Moving Series retails for $44,980-$54,980.

BAL.ON

The PGA Show is awash in training aids but the BAL.ON (balance on) system really grabbed our attention. 

This teaching tool is a kit of pressure soles, smart pods and an app that measures your balance throughout your swing. Weight distribution sensors work with AI to deliver immediate feedback and swing analysis. Instructors can use the technology to explain proper weight shifts to their students; golfers can use it to understand how their balance impacts their game. 

Transferring weight from one foot to another is often imperceptible to the human eye. The BAL.ON system detects that movement, processes it and recommends how to make changes. 

The kit cost roughly $593, coming in sizes small, medium, large and extra large to match your foot size.

Foresight QuadMax

Built on the same four-camera photometric data capture technology as the Foresight GCQuad that was unveiled in 2017, the QuadMax has more features while maintaining the same compact design. 

There is a new touchscreen display where users can customize the on-screen data they want to see. There is also a speed training mode and measure and build swing speed with a club or speed training aid without hitting a ball. The QuadMax is easier to carry than the GCQuad and also boasts 15 percent more battery capacity. 

This is Foresight’s new flagship launch monitor—it will be available for purchase this month.

Shot Scope Pro ZR

Arriving at retail this month, the Shot Scope Pro ZR is a sharp-looking rangefinder with a DuraShield Hardshell that gives a solid metal feel. It could reset market expectations for what you can expect out of a $300 rangefinder. 

Notable in this rangefinder is the premium optics package with a new LCD display and the ability to hit targets up to 1,500 yards. The firing mechanism locks in immediately with a target-lock vibration and improved stabilization. It’s a durable rangefinder that can withstand bumps and different weather conditions. 

At $299.99, it’s a premium rangefinder at a lower price than many other top-tier products on the market.

Uneekor Eye Mini Lite

Uneekor is one of the launch monitor brands hoping to combine professional quality with a reasonable price. 

You’ve probably heard of the Uneekor Eye Mini, a portable launch monitor that retails for $4,500. Now there is the Eye Mini Lite, a $2,749 model that promises accurate ball and club data. It lacks the touchscreen functionality and iOS connection features (PC only) but gets golfers in the door for high-quality launch monitor data. 

Available at retail this March, the Eye Mini Lite is a comprehensive practice and golf simulation experience with virtually zero setup necessary.

Net Return Simulator Hitting Series

Hitting nets and simulators are nothing new, but this offering from Net Return combines the two into an efficient product. 

Assembly takes no more than 20 minutes and doesn’t require any tools. The net features a white screen and padded frame that reduces bounce-back while safely returning the ball to the golfer. Golfers can hook up their simulators (sold separately) to the Net Return, essentially creating a moveable at-home simulator space at a more reasonable price. 

The Net Return Simulator Series comes in three sizes: eight feet wide ($1,995), 10 feet wide ($2,495) and 12 feet wide ($2,995).

Bushnell Pro X3+

Rangefinders get more impressive with each passing year. 

The new Bushnell Pro X3+ builds on a trusted and accurate rangefinder to add this feature: showing golfers the wind speed/direction within the display when they are connected to the Bushnell app. 

Golfers will get everything else they did with the previous Pro X3 model, including slope with compensated distances, being able to measure flags at 600-plus yards and a 7x magnification. 

You can find the new Pro X3+ at retail this spring for $599.99.

Team 8E GPS Earbuds

You’ve heard of hitting balls on the range while wearing earbuds. Now there is a product specifically designed to bring that experience to the course. 

Designed for solo play, the Team 8 GPS earbuds allow golfers to listen to music on the course while also receiving GPS readings of distances. A single tap of the right earbud gives an audio reading of distance to the front, center and back of the green. Two taps provide distance to the nearest hazard. One long tap allows you to measure your shot distance. Tap once on the left earbud to pause the music.

Pretty straightforward. Do you want to listen to music on the course and/or avoid having to look at a screen for yardages? This could be the solution. 

You can find the Team 8 GPS earbuds at retail for $99.99.

PING G430 MAX 10k Driver

The one golf club award we wanted to give out was for the new PING 10K driver. 

Given the brand’s longer release cycles, we were surprised that PING launched a new driver in 2024. An extension of the G430 line, the new 10K references the “moment of inertia value” that exceeds 10,000. You can read more about that here, but this new offering from PING pushes forgiveness to cheat code territory. 

This year figures to be the “Year of Straight” where accuracy trumps distance gains in driver design. It’s tough to find a driver that embodies that more than the PING G430 MAX 10K. 

You can have one for $599.99.

CaddyTalk Minimi

No, this isn’t Austin Powers—we’re talking about a “Minimi” in golf. 

One of the smallest laser rangefinders you will find, the CaddyTalk Minimi weighs less than five ounces (including a battery) and easily fits into a pocket. It is less than five inches tall and only about two inches wide, so this is a tiny rangefinder. 

Its small size doesn’t detract from its features. The Minimi recommends distance based on slope, temperature, altitude and humidity, even accounting for the average golfer’s launch angle and shot height when calculating it all. 

You can buy the CaddyTalk Minimi in black or white for $279.99.

Under Armour Phantom Golf Shoes

The new Under Armour Phantom golf shoes put high priority on comfort in an effort to give golfers a shoe that goes well beyond the course. 

There is a thick cushion to reduce impact, a lightweight knit upper and directional rubber studs on the sole for traction. The breathable sockliner adds to the support and comfort level. It’s an interesting marriage of comfort, flexibility and stability. Of all the shoes we saw in Orlando, this model really stood out for its sharp, modern design. 

The shoes come in white, black and two shades of gray for $140.

Unknown Golf app

Traditional paper scorecards have a place in the game but a growing number of golfers want to electronically track their score and stats in relation to friends. 

The Unknown Golf app fills that void in an intriguing way. Not only can golfers use the app as a scorecard but they can add friends and build in challenges/bets that account for handicap. If there are any bets between players, the app will automatically calculate the proper payouts and make everyone whole in real time. And if you want to run a multi-round tournament among a large group of players, the app can coordinate that as well. 

There are other apps that allow golfers to track their scores, handicap and stats. However, the Unknown Golf app matches that capability with being an all-in-one platform for organizing games, matches and tournaments. Users can generate leaderboards based on any format. 

It is $4.99 per month for individual players and has custom pricing for groups/clubs.

Spylt caffeinated milk

We are ending this “Best in Show” series with … chocolate milk? 

Well, not exactly the chocolate milk you remember. Spylt caffeinated chocolate milk is a new-fangled protein drink with 60 milligrams of caffeine and 20 grams of protein. Describing itself as “sweet but not too sweet,” it contains just one gram of sugar and is lactose free. Despite that, the drink is thick, chocolatey and delicious. 

So what is the golf application? This could be a coffee replacement, a post-workout drink or a mid-round pick-me-up. 

The drink is sold out as of this writing, but typically retails for $40 per dozen (11 oz. per drink).

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