Garmin releases three new GPS products for 2021Improved battery lifeApproach S42 GPS $299.99 – Approach S12 GPS $199.99 – Approach G12 GPS $149.99

Garmin’s Dynamic Trio

Today Garmin announced new additions to its popular Approach series of GPS golf products – the Approach S42 smartwatch, the Approach S12 watch, and the Approach G12 GPS rangefinder.

All three products come with more than 42,000 preloaded courses, more than enough courses to explore in a lifetime. The new Approach lineup offers exemplary battery life and supports connectivity with Garmin’s very own club tracking sensor via the Garmin golf app.

“Garmin brings technology to the forefront with the new Approach product line to help golfers play their best game while staying competitive and connected within the golfing community,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “From smartwatches to GPS rangefinders, our latest Approach devices will also equip novice and veteran golfers alike with precision, style and attention to detail on every swing.”

Three of a kind

The Approach S42, Approach S12, and Approach G12 share a host of features to benefit golfers of every skill level:

With the Approach S42, golf with style and rely on smartwatch capabilities to easily transition on and off the course. Avid players can rely on the easy-to-use Approach S12 and focus on a practical golf watch solution designed to obtain key yardages to the green, hazards, doglegs and more. And with the Approach G12, players can glance at golf data like distances to the green, from a compact GPS rangefinder that clips on to their pocket or golf bag.

Golf with style

The lightweight Approach S42 offers an easy-to-read 1.2-inch color touchscreen display with a sleek design that easily transitions from a daily timepiece to a comprehensive golf watch. Once on the course, golfers can rely on a loaded feature set that includes the AutoShot round analyzer to track and auto-record shot distances. Golfers can wear the smartwatch in and out of the golf course and peruse smart notifications3 and activity tracking features that include steps, sleep, calories, vibration alerts, move bar and built-in sport profiles. Whether golfers are looking for style points or sportiness, switching bands is easy with the Approach S42’s quick release bands. Enjoy more time on the links thanks to the Approach S42’s versatile battery life that lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode, and up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.

Tiger Woods has signed a long-term partnership with the company behind the PGA Tour 2K video game series, returning the 15-time major champion to an industry he once dominated.

Cobra KING Cobra Wedges offer Snakebite Groove TechnologyStandard (variable) and ONE Length options are availableRetail price is $149

The COBRA KING COBRA wedge brings everything you’d expect from a new offering in the category. The name is new. The updated KING COBRA script logo is a throwback that speaks to the company’s tradition of innovation. The cosmetics are also new. There’s a lot going on. It’s probably a good thing there’s no tungsten—every millimeter of the back cavity might be covered.

Subtle, it’s not.

As a brand, COBRA is invariably going to lean towards the bold. And so, here you go.

There is, of course, also the requisite technology story.

Wilson Staff Buckingham Putter – Key Takeaways:

The new Wilson Staff Buckingham copped Best Value in yesterday’s MGS Most Wanted Mallet testing.The Buckingham is a Spider clone: high MOI with a counter-balanced grip.It sells for $99. Presale is underway now and it will hit retail April 6.

Before you start, yes, the new Wilson Staff Buckingham putter is pretty much a copy of the TaylorMade Spider. But there are two things to consider.

First, pretty much every serious and even not-so-serious putter maker has their own version of the Spider. Clearly, there’s enough wiggle room patent-wise to allow anyone with the wherewithal to make the shape to go ahead and make the shape.

Second, and we can’t stress this one enough, is this: Yeah, it’s a copy. So what?

This $99 gem finished fifth overall in MyGolfSpy’s 2021 Most Wanted Mallet Putter testing and easily cruised to the Best Value title. So, do you want to sink more putts per dollar or do you want originality?

Wilson Buckingham Putter: The Bargain Brigade

It’s a great time to be a golfer on a budget, isn’t it? The direct-to-consumer pipeline is the best combination of value and performance this side of Costco. And companies such as Wilson Staff, Tommy Armour, Cleveland and even Costco can get you into a new, high-performing putter at a relative bargain price.

I have been to every Japan Golf Fair since 2001, except for this year and the last due to Covid.  Back in the day, the JGF fair was held at Tokyo Big Site in Odaiba; over the years, the show became smaller, with fewer exhibitors eventually being relocated to a smaller venue at the Pacifico event center Yokohama.

Last year the JGF show was cancelled just a month before the scheduled event was held, but gladly, this year they went ahead with the golf show despite a greatly reduced exhibitor list and far fewer attendees.  At this moment, Japan is unfortunately not allowing American’s and many others into their country, and this has prevented us from taking part this year as an exhibitor for our brands as well as the press to cover the show.

It’s not all that bad, as if there was any year not to attend, it would be this one.  It was a tiny show, last month, I reviewed the site plan and exhibitor list and was surprised to see how small the event would be; I’m talking less than a dozen known brands on the list.  That aside I congratulate any brand that decided to put its products on display during this challenging time.   Shoutout to Fujikura, Dunlop Sports, NS Pro, Yonex, Ping, Crazy, Takumi, Callaway/Odyssey and Mizuno to name the most popular brands that were in attendance.  Both SEVEN and KYOEI had plans to have a booth but I was not able to get a special Visa to enter the country.  In hindsight, I’m glad we did not attend as it was the smallest show ever.

We hired a photographer to cover the show for a day and were surprised to see so few new releases and especially a lack of the exciting JDM Maniac brands we have known to love.  At the same time, outside of this show, our favorite brands are pumping out new and exciting products.

So here is what we are gonna do, same as last year TourSpecGolf will post the boatload of product coverage from the hottest JDM boutique brands.  I went ahead and ordered many of the newest products and will post them here on the blog and on social starting this week.  It’s the least we can do for the brands we support and have always stood by us.

Gary Woodland, Scott Piercy and Doc Redman have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing them to withdraw from this week's Honda Classic.

Marion Hollins: Women’s Golf Pioneer

March 15, 2021

Photos by Julian P. Graham 

Marion Hollins, who was inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame in 2012, was a pioneer for women’s golf.

In 1921, Hollins, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022, won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Eleven years later, she captained the inaugural USA Curtis Cup squad.

When the time comes, Hollins will be the 40th female to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and the seventh for golf development.

NCGA Member/Former WGANC Director Evelyn Hayes Turns 100!

March 15, 2021

By Dianna Stein

 

On March 24, NCGA member Evelyn Hayes of Butte Creek Country Club will turn 100 years old. She’s had quite a journey in golf.

Evelyn’s longtime work and dedication to the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California, which is now a part of the NCGA, can only be met with a thank you from others who have benefited from all of the events and effectiveness in women’s golf that the organization provides.

Our Job is Your Game

The most comprehensive mallet putter test of 2021 is complete. The results may surprise you.

At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased and objective testing so you can make more confident purchasing decisions. Our 2021 Most Wanted Mallet test is an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for insight before their next fitting.

As always, we don’t want you to spend a dollar unless what you’re buying outperforms what’s in your bag.

If you’re in the market for a new putter, this test is for you.

Introducing the Docus Reloaded + Iron! While it looks like a blade, it really isn’t; the new Docus Reloaded+ is actually a 2 piece hollow structure design similar to what many large OEMs now offer for those who seek a sleek look yet also need more distance and forgiveness.

Its body is made of Forged S20C, while the face is stainless 455 steel; this is a popular material combo that adds more forgiveness and distance.  The SUS455 face is hotter with more rebound for higher ball speeds; it is also more forgiving as the sweet spot is expanded with a hollow body.  

It’s the Docus brand’s entry into the hollow body segment and is actually made at the same factory as many other larger OEMs.  So who is this really for?  Holding it in hand and cross-referencing with the specs, I would have to say it’s still a semi players club yet has many of the attributes a game improvement club may have.  The player, in a sense that it has a very minimal offset or as known in Japan, a higher FP (face progression),  the #9 has virtually no offset while the PW actually has onset.  The lofts are also jacked, with the PW coming in at 42*.  This is the main reason that the Reloaded+ is offered in a base set of 6-PW with an optional #5, whereas usually, 5-PW is the base offering.

Hitting impressions,  I could not hit the new Reloaded+ iron in an actual round of golf, but I was able to hit it off the grass at a range and in a swing cage.    It does not feel like a blade at all; I must keep going back to that as many of our clients may see it as a forgiving blade-style option.   Hollow body irons such as these or the many that have hit the market recently are really about forgiveness and distance; they lack workability, feel and compared to a classic muscle back design, they are less accurate.   The feel is noticeably hollow at impact yet still somewhat soft.  It’s hard to describe.  I would cross-shop these with The ONOFF Kuro Forged iron and some of PXG’s Taylormade’s new multi-piece hollow cavity designs.  While the focus lacks the TPU on the inside, it does feature an adjustable toe and heel weight, which helps dial in the specs.

The new Docus Reloaded+ iron is now shipping at TourSpecGolf, and you can purchase (here) 

Justin Thomas found his game at TPC Sawgrass. And sure, he needed a good bounce at the last hole, but he got it and walked away with the PGA Tour's biggest prize.

Justin Thomas rallied from three shots behind with bold play to close with a 4-under 68 and outlast Lee Westwood at The Players Championship on Sunday.

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France's Antoine Rozner sealed victory at the Qatar Masters with a 60 foot putt on the last to win his second European Tour title.

He is one of the more accomplished players in golf. But he doesn't have a major. Nor does he have a win the size of the Players. With his fiancée at his side, Westwood heads into Sunday with his eyes on a missing prize.

Lee Westwood's two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau sets up a rematch from last week in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

No. 1-ranked Dustin Johnson said Saturday he will not participate in the men's Olympic golf tournament in Tokyo this summer, citing a preference to focus on PGA Tour events.

The Players, which Woods won twice, put the pin in the same spot it was in 20 years ago on the famed island green at the par-3 17th. It also added the date and Woods' initials.

A hook is often considered the “better player” miss but that is small consolation if you are watching the ball sail OB.

While swing mechanics are always going to play the biggest role, modern driver designs can help keep the ball in play and in the fairway more often.

Prescriptions for Fighting a Hook

Unlike some of the drivers featured in the Best Driver For A Slice 2021 article, very few clubs these days are built with a fade bias locked in. Instead, the prescription for keeping the ball from going left (for right-handers) often involves some combination of:

An open faceA flatter lie angleMore weight towards the toe

Before the advent of adjustable drivers, golfers would either have to custom build or manipulate drivers to achieve these conditions. Now, however, the best drivers for fighting a hook offer some combination of these settings. It may take some experimentation (or a proper fitting) but with a little effort and fine-tuning you should be able to achieve the desired results.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the best drivers for fighting a hook in 2021.