Expanded access through PGA TOUR Superstore’s leading retail experience makes it easier for more golfers to discover PXG club technology and get properly fit.

ATLANTA, GA and SCOTTSDALE, AZ – PXG, a global leader in golf research and development, and PGA TOUR Superstore, the country’s premier golf retailer, today announced the launch of PXG’s high-performance equipment in select locations and online at pgatoursuperstore.com. This initial rollout marks the beginning of a nationwide expansion that significantly increases access to PXG’s acclaimed custom-fit clubs through a major national golf retailer in the United States.

It also reflects the evolution of modern golf retail, where custom fitting has become integral to the equipment experience.For PXG, the expansion is a strategic step to meet golfers where they are, making it easier to discover the brand and experience its technology firsthand. For PGA TOUR Superstore, the offerings reinforce the brand’s commitment to deliver an unmatched assortment of the industry’s most innovative equipment and world-class fitting experiences.

“At PXG, we’ve always believed our equipment performs best when it’s properly fitted,” said Brad Schweigert, Chief Operating Officer at PXG. “This collaboration allows us to introduce more golfers to PXG in a thoughtful way, meeting them where they already shop while maintaining our commitment to a high-performance, custom-fit experience. PGA TOUR Superstore has done a great job building an environment centered around fitting and player improvement, making them a natural partner to help bring PXG technology to more players.”

“Adding PXG to our assortment enhances our premium offerings and gives our customers access to one of the most innovative brands in golf,” said Troy Rice, CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “We are always focused on delivering the best equipment and experience possible, and this launch reflects that commitment.”

Through this expansion, golfers can experience PXG’s latest club technology supported by PGA TOUR Superstore’s expert fitting services. Fitted clubs will be built-by-hand to the player’s unique specifications, ensuring PXG’s “no compromises” philosophy is delivered through PGA TOUR Superstore’s premier retail environment.

Launching today, select PGA TOUR Superstore locations will carry PXG golf clubs, golf bags, golf balls, and hats, supported by in-store expertise and fitting services designed to ensure every golfer is matched with the right equipment for their game. By year’s end, PXG is expected to have a presence in all PGA TOUR Superstore locations.

 About PGA TOUR Superstore

PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop Inc., a subsidiary of AMB Sports + Entertainment and is headquartered in metro-Atlanta. As the PGA TOUR’s exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner in North America, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise as card-carrying PGA TOUR pros. All stores are staffed with teaching professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, and large putting greens. There is also an in-house club making and repair facility. Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men’s, women’s and juniors’ apparel and footwear for golf and tennis. For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.com

About PXG

Founded by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed golf nut Bob Parsons, PXG embodies his belief that every new product – from clubs to apparel – should be markedly better. Every innovation should noticeably improve your performance. And every moment of impact should elevate your enjoyment.

Today, PXG offers a complete lineup of both right- and left-handed golf clubs, including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters, engineered to be custom fit and built to every golfer’s unique specification. The company also designs and delivers high-performance golf apparel, and accessories.

PXG’s professional staff includes Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Eric Cole, Patrick Fishburn, Jake Knapp, David Lipsky, Marco Penge, Aldrich Potgieter, Chad Ramey, Mason Andersen, Christian Banke, Paul Barjon, Sebastian Cappelen, Patrick Cover, Cristobal Del Solar, Keven Dougherty, Joey Garber, Ryan McCormick, Henrik Norlander, Augusto Nunez, Nathan Petronzio, Garrett Reband, Shad Tuten, Celine Boutier, Olivia Cowan, Minji Kang, Megan Khang, Auston Kim, Christina Kim, Gina Kim, Mina Kreiter, Kaitlin Milligan, and Linnea Storm. For more information, visit www.PXG.com

Contact:

Megan Mahoney, PGA TOUR Superstore, mmahoney@pgatss.com

Leela Brennan, PXG, press@pxg.com

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SAN DIEGO, CA– Sunday Golf, the only golf bag brand with a lifetime warranty, has officially released their new Ryder 14 stand bag for golfers who prioritize organization and lightweight carry with full-length dividers. Designed with a 14-way top and full-length dividers for each compartment, the bag marks Sunday Golf’s first 14-way top stand bag that the company is retailing on their site.

Weighing six pounds and boasting 8 pockets, the bag continues Sunday Golf’s now classic tradition of highly functional, versatile and easy-to-carry golf bags. The Ryder 14 also includes staple features that are on existing Sunday Golf bags, including the frosty pocket, external tee and glove holder, velour-lined valuables pocket and smell-proof pocket.

“Over the past year we’ve had countless customers ask for our Ryder bag in a 14-way top,” said Ronan Galvin, CEO and Co-Founder at Sunday Golf. “The Ryder 14 is a next generation bag that gives our customers exactly what they want – the same features they love in our classic Ryder bag but in a 14-way top for more club organization. This bag is built specifically for the people while staying true to our roots – and we love how it turned out.”

Sunday Golf first burst onto the scene in 2020 with the Par 3 Loma bag and have since made a name for themselves with a full lineup of lightweight golf bags. The company’s Ranger bag was recently recognized by MyGolfSpy as the 2026 Staff Pick for Stand Bag of the Year and the company has done previous bag collaborations with 7-Eleven, Whataburger and Sierra Madre.

The Ryder 14 bag will initially be available in Matte Black and Midnight Green colors at select retailers. The bag retails for $269 and will be on sale at Sundaygolf.com in Ma

About Sunday Golf

Sunday Golf is on a mission to make golf more fun and accessible for everyone. Known for its lightweight golf bags at a quality price point, the brand has grown into a beloved name for golfers who value quality, style, and a laid-back approach to the game. From their signature lightweight bags to clever accessories, Sunday Golf is on a mission to make golf more approachable and enjoyable for everyone.

CONTACT
Camden Wicker
Sunday Golf
support@sundaygolf.com
(619) 631-5551

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Some golfers can admit to the fact that the main reason they are a high handicapper is because of bunkers.

If it’s still taking you more than one swing to get out of the bunker, it’s time to make a change in your game. Not all high handicappers can stick the ball close to the pin, but getting out of the bunker in one swing needs to happen every time.

Here are the best bunker drills you can use to increase confidence and performance and hit your target score.

1. Big Backswing Drill

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One of my favorite drills for teaching high handicappers to get out of the bunker in one shot is the big backswing drill. When players hit their shots into green side bunkers, they often fear their ability to get the ball out of the sand.

With this fear comes a lack of confidence, which brings about a swing that includes some deceleration.

If you want to hit a good bunker shot, you must have plenty of acceleration and a big enough backswing. In addition, the finish should be high and complete.

How To Do The Big Backswing Drill

The big backswing drill is truly a simple drill that you can do in any greenside practice bunker. Take a few golf balls and your favorite current sand wedge down to the bunker. Put the golf balls in a spot in the center of the bunker, not on a slope.

Ensure that your setup is perfect and you are lined up toward your target.

Instead of taking a small backswing and trying to lift the ball out, take a big backswing and hit about an inch behind the ball. Continue that backswing speed through impact and get to a higher finish.

The first few times you do this, it may feel a bit awkward and inconsistent.

More than anything else, amateurs need to learn the mental side of playing these greenside bunker shots.

Learning to take these big swings with an open face and hit the sand behind the ball will only help you become a better player around the greens.

2. Line In The Sand Drill

Perhaps the most common bunker drill for high handicap golfers is the line in the sand drill.

The idea behind this drill is to teach players what the weight distribution, set up and overall mechanics of a greenside bunker shot look like.

Keep in mind this is not a drill for the fairway bunkers.

All you will need is a practice bunker, your wedge, and a few golf balls for this drill.

How To Do The Line in The Sand Bunker Drill

Find a practice bunker where you can work without any other golfer nearby. Setup with a golf ball in the sand and then draw a line back from that golf ball that extends a few feet. This is going to be your practice line.

Setup to this line as if it were the golf ball. You should have a slightly open face, and the ball should be a bit forward or center, closer to your lead leg.

In addition, it makes sense to have a little extra weight on the left side. Don’t exaggerate this feeling as it could end up in delofting your wedge. Simply put about 60% of the weight on the left leg.

Once you have your grip, stance, and set up in place, start taking swings where you do not hit a ball. Instead, you make a perpendicular line across impact with your wedge.

If you do this right, your line in the sand will look like a stack of lowercase “t’s.” This shows the club going into the sand before the line and coming out after the line. A quick session of this will ensure your mindset is right for the next bunker your ball ends up in.

My favorite way to do this drill is to take three swings using the line and then hit one ball. Continue this pattern until it starts to work!

3. Variation of Golf Clubs

The sand wedge is the club selection of choice for most golfers looking to get out of a hazard. However, it should not be the only club that you use. Different clubs have loft and spin characteristics that can help you manage the lie and the location of the pin.

The most common clubs to consider using out of the bunker include:

• Sand Wedge: best overall, typically around 56 degrees of loft, good ball flight, and mid to high spin.
• Lob Wedge: perfect for high lofted shots when the pin is too close, and there isn’t much room to work with.
• Gap Wedge or Approach Wedge: best for the longer greenside bunker shots where you can’t open the face quite as much.
• Pitching Wedge: when there is no lip on the bunker, and you have to go across the green, the pitching can get the trick done.
• Putter: yes, some golfers use a putter out of a greenside bunker. Make sure the lip is lower and the sand is more compact.

You have quite a few tools in your bag to get a golf ball out of a bunker, and learning these may help this part of the game feel a little less overwhelming.

How To Use Variation In Club Choice Drill

Find a practice bunker where you can vary the distance you have to the pin. Take three or four golf clubs with you into the bunker. It’s always best to vary the shots you hit, so it is more like golf course conditions.

I recommend taking three shots with the lob wedge, three with the sand wedge, three with the approach wedge, etc.

Repeat this process until you feel as though you have more than one solution for hitting out of a bunker.

When a player feels stuck with just one shot, it brings up a lack of confidence. Eliminate this by giving yourself more than one tool.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

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When asked to name the best locations for golf in the U.S., golf obsessives might point to resort towns like Palm Desert, Hilton Head, or Naples, or perhaps to bigger cities packed with courses like Scottsdale or Las Vegas. Many serious golfers dream of playing their way through the dozens of courses that each of these locales offer. But while few communities can stack up against the bounty of top courses in these golf-loving cities, golfers can still find excellent places to play throughout the country.

Having golf-friendly locations throughout the U.S. is important for generating and maintaining widespread interest in the sport—and lately, this interest has been growing quickly. Golf experienced a nationwide increase in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and hasn’t slowed down since. According to the National Golf Foundation, rounds played in 2021 were up 5% over 2020 and 19% over the three-year average from 2017 to 2019. A record 3.2 million people played for the first time in 2021.

This increase in popularity has come despite the costs associated with golf, which can be a major barrier to entry, from equipment to greens fees to club dues. Golf can already be an expensive hobby, but recent data suggests that costs are also rising. Membership fees and dues are up by more than 40% in the last 15 years, while greens and guest fees are up by nearly 25% over the same span. Even the cost of a beer or lunch at the snack bar after a round is getting more expensive, as costs from food and beverage sales are up by more than a third since 2006.

Beyond cost, however, a number of other local conditions can affect how easy it is for people to keep up with their golf hobby. A person who lives in an area that is not accommodating for golfers will be far less likely to try out or stick with the sport.

DID YOU KNOW?

You can’t swing a golf club correctly without the proper golf grip. Check out these eight simple steps to a better golf grip.

Above anything, golfers need a place to play, and not every part of the U.S. offers equal access to golf courses and country clubs. The number of courses in a state is often correlated with its population, but some states punch above their weight on this measure. For example, Michigan ranks 4th in the number of courses but just 10th in population, while neighboring Wisconsin has the 10th-highest number of courses despite being 20th in population. Of all states, Florida boasts the most courses, a figure that outpaces more populous states like California and Texas.

Having a high number of courses is just one factor that indicates how welcoming a location is for golf enthusiasts. Arguably, weather is the single most important factor in making golf more enjoyable for longer portions of the year, with temperate, dry climates being preferable to places that are too hot, cold, wet, or windy. When it comes to weather, it’s the Southwest and West Coast that are most conducive to golfing year round. California and Arizona take the top spots, followed by New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada.

Golf Workout Program combined these and other factors to evaluate the best states and cities for golfers. At the state level, well-known golf destinations like Arizona, California, and Florida ranked highly, boosted by good weather, plenty of courses, and frequent professional events. But perhaps surprisingly, some of the top states in this composite score are small Midwestern locations like Michigan and South Dakota, both of which regularly host professional events and have high concentrations of courses relative to their small populations. Similar trends hold at the local level, where cities in Arizona, California, and Florida stand out. But there are plenty of other locations outside of these golf-centric states that should be on any golfer’s radar.

TRENDING

The time spent on a beautiful golf course helps make golf one of the best hobbies for getting outside and staying active—and it’s never too late to learn how to play. Check out our ultimate step-by-step guide on how to play golf for beginners.

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, and the PGA Tour. To determine the best locations for golfers, researchers at Golf Workout Program calculated a composite score based on local weather (mild temperatures and low precipitation), total PGA Tour events in the past five years, golf courses and country clubs per capita, and sporting goods stores per capita. Only areas in the contiguous United States were considered for the analysis.

Here are the best U.S. metropolitan areas for golfers.

The Best Large U.S. Metros for Golfers

15. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA

• Composite score: 57.1
• Weather score: 49.0
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 9
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 1.9
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 4.1

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There’s nothing more rewarding than stepping up to the tee box and knowing that you are going to launch the ball down the middle of the fairway. If you’re trying to get more distance (who isn’t?), you need to know these three key factors to hitting longer golf drives.

14. Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI

• Composite score: 59.8
• Weather score: 40.4
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 5
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 4.1
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 7.3

13. Richmond, VA

• Composite score: 61.4
• Weather score: 44.9
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 5
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 3.3
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.1

12. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

• Composite score: 62.1
• Weather score: 63.6
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 11
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 1.4
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 4.2

11. Raleigh-Cary, NC

• Composite score: 62.5
• Weather score: 48.1
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 5
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.7
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.2

10. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

• Composite score: 62.7
• Weather score: 50.8
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 8
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.1
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 6.6

9. St. Louis, MO-IL

• Composite score: 64.6
• Weather score: 47.2
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 3
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 3.4
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.3

8. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

• Composite score: 68.1
• Weather score: 56.2
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 12
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.2
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 6.1

7. Jacksonville, FL

• Composite score: 69.1
• Weather score: 59.7
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 7
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.3
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 6.4

6. Rochester, NY

• Composite score: 70.0
• Weather score: 46.0
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 1
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 5.7
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.9

5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

• Composite score: 70.4
• Weather score: 97.5
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 9
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 1.1
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 4.7

GIVE IT A TRY

For many golfers, the draw remains an unattainable goal. You’ve done all the research, practiced the drills, but it just isn’t happening. Fortunately, we’ve nailed down the 8 proven steps that will finally teach you how to hit a draw.

4. Tulsa, OK

• Composite score: 72.3
• Weather score: 52.9
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 2
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 3.6
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 6.2

3. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

• Composite score: 72.4
• Weather score: 83.6
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 10
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.1
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 3.8

2. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

• Composite score: 79.0
• Weather score: 79.5
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 12
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.9
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.1

1. Tucson, AZ

• Composite score: 79.4
• Weather score: 84.3
• Total PGA Tour events in the last 5 years: 5
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100k residents: 2.9
• Sporting goods stores per 100k residents: 5.8

Detailed Findings & Methodology

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns, NOAA’s National Centers for Environment Information, and the PGA Tour’s Tournament Schedule. To determine the best locations for golfers, researchers at Golf Workout Program calculated a composite score based on the following factors and weights:

• Local weather (40%)
• Total PGA Tour events in the past five years (30%)
• Golf courses and country clubs per 100,000 residents (25%)
• Sporting goods stores per 100,000 residents (5%)

The weather score is also a composite measure that optimizes for both mild temperatures and low precipitation. In the event of a tie, the location with more golf courses and country clubs per capita was ranked higher. To improve relevance, only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 residents were included. Additionally, metros were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (100,000–349,999), midsize (350,000–999,999), and large (1,000,000 or more). Only areas in the contiguous United States were considered for the analysis.

August Noble

August Noble was first introduced to golf at 7 years old. In 2013 he started seriously working on his game and was able to reduce his handicap from 19 to 3.4 in less than two years. He’s been helping other golfers do the same ever since. Current Handicap: 4

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Explosive Launch and Distance-Driven Design Inspire Confidence and Fun

Link to High-Res Imagery

COVINGTON, Ga. – Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, today introduced the new BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball, which is aimed at young players who need a lower compression, easier-launching option for their developing swings and bodies.

Designed in conjunction with U.S. Kids Golf, the new BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball features an extremely low compression core to better match junior swing speeds and a dimple design that promotes a high launch, maximizing carry distance and sustained flight performance. The BOOM IT JUNIOR works for a variety of clubhead speeds but is specifically aimed at maximizing performance for developing players by optimizing their developing swing speed and skill level.

“We take Ball Fitting very seriously and with junior golf seeing more than 50 percent growth since 2019, it makes perfect sense for us to create a ball to meet their needs,” said Bridgestone president Dan Murphy. “Our R&D team focused on the needs of junior players that require more speed and easier launch, and they knocked it out of the park. I am confident junior players will have more fun playing the BOOM IT JUNIOR because it is specifically designed to fit their game.”

BOOM IT JUNIOR was created in partnership with U.S. Kids Golf, which was founded in 1996 to bring more fun into the game of golf for children. The program trains coaches, develops kid-friendly programs and organizes more than 2,000 tournaments each year for junior golfers. A portion of the proceeds of each BOOM IT JUNIOR purchase benefits the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.

“We’re proud of this ball and the fact that it addresses the needs of junior players to build a foundation of confidence in their game,” said Adam Rehberg, senior marketing manager of golf balls at Bridgestone Golf. “As the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf, we strive to not only design and manufacture the best golf balls on the market but also fit as many players as possible to the right golf ball for them. With BOOM IT JUNIOR, we can now serve an even wider segment of players, staying true to our commitment to fit every golfer properly.”

BOOM IT JUNIOR also features Bridgestone’s MindSet graphic, which was developed by Jason Day and performance coach Jason Goldsmith to work with a process that separates analytical thoughts from athletic performance. MindSet is a simple three-step sequence; Identify, Visualize and Focus, which aligns with the visual cue on the golf ball to help players make decisions, connect to the target and commit fully to execution. Learning the MindSet sequence early in one’s career will establish great habits for a lifetime of consistent golf. In 2026, Bridgestone staffers Jason Day, Chris Gotterup, Kurt Kitayama and Boo Weekly will all compete using TOUR B models with MindSet.

“We were proud to work alongside the Bridgestone team to help create BOOM IT JUNIOR from the ground up, specifically engineered to provide young golfers with the distance, feel, and performance they need to enjoy every round,” said Dan Van Horn, president and founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “BOOM IT JUNIOR is a golf ball that meets the mission of U.S. Kids Golf by supporting the growth of and a true love of the game.”

Look for the BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball ($22.99/dozen) to be available online and at retail on March 27. To learn more about the BOOM IT golf ball or place an order, please visit bridgestonegolf.com.

About Bridgestone Golf

Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over four million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection, OTTO Autonomous Ball Fitting, and its V-FIT Video Ball Fitting.  The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Kurt Kitayama, Harry Hall, Jason Day, and Chris Gotterup.  Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information:  bridgestonegolf.com.

Media Contact:

Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

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Continuing its focus on engineering irons to fit the needs of all skill levels, PING has launched the i240 irons.

A players-style design that combines shot-making precision with score-saving forgiveness. The i240 iron is now available for custom fittings at authorised PING retailers around the world.

“The new i240 irons are engineered to appeal to a wide range of skill levels,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President.

“They provide precision and control with a great feel, so they technically fit into the ‘players iron’ category.

But they also offer the MOI and higher launch of a game-improvement iron. We’ve designed it with more of a true cavity-back look to inform golfers of its forgiveness properties.

They are a great solution for avid players who like the look, feel and performance of a blade-style iron but can also benefit from added forgiveness when they aren’t as precise with their ball striking.

They pack a lot of performance into one model.”

i240 TRUE CAVITY-BACK DESIGN

A more traditional cavity design signifies the perimeter-weighting benefits of the iron while maintaining a clean, players-style look.

The cavity badge and activated elastomer technology allow PING engineers to save significant weight, which is re-allocated within the clubhead to position the center of gravity (CG) lower for more distance, increased control and higher launch.

The weight savings also increase the MOI for more forgiveness, most notably in the long and mid irons.

“The i240 iron sits in the middle of our iron offerings, so it requires us to balance a variety of performance attributes that appeal to a wider range of golfers,” Solheim said. “We’re seeing tighter dispersion and higher launch throughout the set that we know all players can appreciate.

We’re also providing more distance in a way that is predictable and repeatable to ensure it meets the precise shot-making needs of the best players in the world.”

PLEASING IMPACT EXPERIENCE

The multi-material badge, which is 8.5 grams lighter than the i230 badge, is comprised of a chrome-plated ABS with carbon fibre inlay.

The activated elastomer insert supports the face, helping to provide more efficient energy transfer across the entire face and a softer feel and pleasing sound.

TOUR INSPIRED

Balancing the needs of the top players in the world while expanding the performance features to attract a wider audience of golfers required a careful approach to the overall design.

The face technology has been updated with a return to fewer and wider grooves, a request from tour pros in search of more spin from the fairway.

The engineers also maintained the player-preferred size and shape for distance and trajectory control.

The i240’s sole design is similar to previous designs, with a rounded lead edge and ample bounce to promote smooth turf interaction for clean and solid strikes.

“Meeting the needs of our tour pros and better players is important to the success of the i240 irons,” Solheim said. “We continually seek the players’ feedback.

The groove technology is a perfect example of us learning from them. They’ve reacted favorably to the new design, including the added forgiveness and higher launch, and we’re seeing more and more go into bags every week.

Their validation of this design goes a long way in giving golfers the confidence that they can also benefit from the i240 irons and shoot lower scores.”

i240 SPECIFICATIONS

Multi-material construction: 431 stainless steel body; activated elastomer insert; chrome-plated ABS cavity badge with carbon fibre inlay; high-density toe/shaft tip weights; hydropearl 2.0 finish.

AVAILABLE: 3-9, PW, UW in 10 color codes (lie angle). Black color code is standard.

LOFT OPTIONS: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec

STOCK SHAFTS: Nippon NS Pro Modus3 Tour 115 (R, S, X) & PING Alta CB Blue (SR, R, S)

OPTIONAL STOCK SHAFTS: PING AWT 3.0 (R, S, X), Nippon NS Pro Modus3 Tour 105 (R, S, X), True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 100 (R300, S300), True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), UST Recoil Dart 65 (A), 75 (R, S)

STOCK GRIP: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White-Std, Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)

PRICE: £179 per iron

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Walk into any well-stocked pro shop, and the display case does its work immediately. Polished irons lined up by brand, each promising something the one next to it can’t quite deliver.

TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Ping – names that carry real weight in the game, and price tags to match. For a golfer playing off 12 or 18, the question worth asking is whether any of that brand prestige translates to a meaningful difference on the scorecard.

The short answer is: yes, but not in the way most equipment marketing would have you believe.

The Technology Gap Has Narrowed

Modern iron engineering has come a long way. The hollow-body construction, tungsten weighting, and variable-thickness face technology that were once reserved for tour staff bags are now standard across mid-range game-improvement sets from every major manufacturer. A golfer buying from Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, or Srixon at almost any price point above the budget end of the market is getting genuine performance-grade engineering.

What that means in practice is that the gap between major brands in comparable categories has closed considerably over the past decade. The differences are real, but they are incremental – and for most mid-handicappers, the more consequential choice is iron category rather than brand name.

A cavity-back game-improvement iron from any reputable label will outperform a blade from a more prestigious one if your contact is inconsistent. Getting that category decision right matters more than which logo is stamped on the back.

What the Independent Testing Actually Shows

Independent equipment testing offers the clearest picture here. Hot list iron testing – which runs thousands of shots with launch monitors and mid-to-high handicap testers – consistently finds that performance differences between top brands in the same iron category are measurable but narrower than the price gap between them implies. Distance separations between the highest-performing game-improvement irons typically sit within a few yards of each other, and dispersion patterns from comparable models are far closer than any individual brand’s marketing suggests.

That’s not to say every iron is the same. Within categories, the spread from top to bottom is real. A mid-handicapper comparing a top-tier Titleist to a top-tier TaylorMade in the same forgiveness bracket is unlikely to notice a performance difference that meaningfully affects their scores.

Equipment cost often plays a role in equipment choices. For golfers weighing up that option, Next2NewGolf specialises in quality used clubs from the major manufacturers – a practical way to play premium brand technology without paying for the latest release cycle. Many of these clubs come from recent model years.

Golf News has covered several of the leading options directly, including a hands-on test of the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons – a premium game-improvement set that many mid-handicappers aim for. The verdict confirmed real forgiveness and distance gains over older equipment. But it also raised a question that more golfers should ask: Does accessing that engineering quality require buying at full current-season price, or is the same technology available in previous-generation form for less?

Where Brand Does Make a Real Difference

There are three areas where choosing a major brand over a budget or off-brand option makes a tangible difference for a mid-handicapper:

• Custom fitting infrastructure. Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist all operate extensive fitting networks with wide options across shaft weight, flex, length, lie, and loft. Being properly fitted with a mid-range iron from a major brand will outperform a full-price but ill-fitted set from any manufacturer. A mid-handicapper who skips fittings and buys by brand name alone is only solving half the problem.
• Manufacturing consistency. Major brands invest in quality control to guarantee that every iron in a set performs as intended. Variance in loft or lie across a cheaper set can introduce dispersion patterns that a golfer might spend months misattributing to their swing. For someone actively working to narrow their shot pattern and identify swing tendencies, that consistency matters.
• Resale value and the second-hand market. Clubs from established brands hold their value and circulate widely in excellent condition from previous model years. That creates a real opportunity – particularly for mid-handicappers whose skills are still developing and who may not yet be ready to commit to a full-price specialist set.

Where Brand Matters Less Than You Think

The driver is the club where brand allegiance is most aggressively marketed and arguably least necessary. The USGA and R&A’s Distance Insights project – an extensive research program examining equipment performance and distance across all levels of the game – has informed strict conformance limits on driver performance. Caps on the coefficient of restitution (the spring-face effect) apply to every driver on the conforming list, from every manufacturer. That ceiling means the physical performance window between a legal driver from a premium brand and a legal driver from a lesser-known one is narrower than any side-by-side marketing comparison would suggest.

For mid-handicappers, the variables that most affect driving performance are shaft flex, total weight, and fitting – not the badge on the head. A properly fitted driver from a less prominent brand will often outperform an expensive name-brand one selected on reputation or aesthetics alone.

The same thinking applies to wedges. Vokey and Cleveland dominate tour bag counts, but grind selection and loft gapping matter far more to scoring at the club level than brand loyalty. The wedge game is one area where a less-celebrated brand offering the right grind for your short-game conditions can be a better call than paying a premium for a familiar name.

To put it plainly, here’s how brand relevance actually breaks down across the bag for a mid-handicapper:

It’s also worth noting how far forgiveness technology has advanced even within the established brands themselves: the newly launched Ping G740 irons are a recent example of how aggressively major manufacturers are pushing cavity-back engineering, which reinforces the point that the technology tier is the relevant variable, not just the logo on the club.

The Case for Previous-Generation Equipment

This argument rarely gets made loudly enough in the context of mid-handicap golf: for most players in the 10-22 handicap range, a set of irons from two or three model years ago – from any of the major premium brands – represents a strong equipment choice and is often available for a fraction of the current model’s retail price.

Iron technology doesn’t advance in dramatic annual leaps. The differences between a brand’s 2022 and 2025 irons are genuine but measured – small gains in ball speed, minor improvements in face deflection, and incremental tweaks to center of gravity positioning. A mid-handicapper won’t extract the last few percentage points from those gains. What they will get is access to the same fundamental engineering quality that was already in the older club.

The R&A’s Distance Insights research has long held that player skill remains the dominant variable in scoring performance, even as equipment has improved across the board. That’s a useful frame for any golfer reviewing their equipment budget: the biggest performance gains still come from the player, not the club.

Getting the Decision Right

Brand matters – but mainly as a shorthand for engineering investment, quality control, and access to fitting. Within the premium tier, the brand name is less important than the category, the fit, and whether the price point is justified for where your game currently sits.

A mid-handicapper playing properly fitted game-improvement irons from a two-year-old Callaway or Titleist set is in a stronger equipment position than one playing poorly fitted current-season blades from the same brands. The clubs don’t make the swing, but matching the right technology to your current game – new or used, this season or last – is where the real equipment decisions happen.

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Golf fashion has always been known for a certain look—think polos, pressed pants, and spiked shoes. But once the clubs are packed up and the scorecards are tallied, today’s young golfers are changing the game when it comes to style. Off the course, the next generation isn’t sticking to tradition—they’re mixing comfort, street style, and athletic vibes in a way that feels effortlessly cool.

So what exactly are the rising stars of golf wearing when they aren’t teeing it up? Spoiler: it’s all about sneakers, and the lineup is more varied than ever.

Classic White Sneakers: The New Neutral

If you follow any young golfers on social media, you’ve probably spotted the classic white sneaker making frequent appearances. Whether it’s a crisp pair of Air Force 1s, Stan Smiths, or simple leather kicks, these shoes go with just about everything. They’re a go-to for post-round brunch, campus life, or just hanging out with friends. The clean look keeps things fresh, while the comfort means they can handle a full day’s adventure.

Athletic Runners for Everyday Comfort

Many next-gen golfers are also big fans of running-inspired sneakers. Think Nike Air Max, Adidas Ultraboost, or New Balance 990s. These shoes blend athletic tech with streetwear appeal, offering the kind of cushioning and support that makes walking 18 holes—and then hitting the city—feel easy.

Plus, the bold colorways and techy details give off a low-key sporty vibe, perfect for those who want to signal, “Yes, I play golf—but I’m also here for the style.”

Skate Shoes: Bringing Edge to the Fairway Crowd

Here’s where things get interesting. Skating shoes like Nike SBs, Vans Old Skool, and Lakai Cambridges are showing up more and more on the feet of young golfers—especially off the course. The appeal? They’re durable, easy to wear, and carry a certain rebellious edge that’s a welcome break from the country club uniform.

Skate shoes like Nike SBs from Tactics pair perfectly with relaxed denim, joggers, or even a casual pair of tailored shorts. And the thick soles and padded collars mean all-day comfort, whether you’re at a concert or grabbing food after a round. The cross-pollination of skate culture and golf isn’t just a trend; it’s a sign that the next generation is blurring the lines between sports and style.

Retro Basketball Sneakers: Vintage Vibes Are In

Another favorite? Retro basketball sneakers. Air Jordans, Reebok Club Cs, and classic Converse Chuck Taylors are showing up in the mix. These kicks add a throwback vibe to any outfit and are great conversation starters, whether you’re at a party or just waiting for a tee time. Bonus: they’re just as comfy off the course as on.

Slides and Slip-Ons: Easy Living

Let’s not forget the ultimate post-round move: slipping into slides or laceless sneakers. Brands like Adidas, Nike, and even Birkenstock offer slide sandals or slip-on sneakers that are perfect for chilling with friends, recovering from a round, or running quick errands. They’re laid-back, practical, and have major “I’m off duty” energy.

How They’re Styling It

The best part? There are no rules. Golfers today are mixing performance fabrics with vintage tees, pairing running shoes with chinos, and rocking skate shoes with everything from hoodies to crisp button-downs. Accessories like hats, crossbody bags, and statement socks just add to the fun. It’s golf style, but reimagined for the real world.

The Bottom Line

Off the course, the next generation of golfers isn’t afraid to break from tradition. From clean white sneakers and athletic runners to classic skate shoes and retro high-tops, their style is about comfort, self-expression, and a nod to every corner of sport and street culture. Whether they’re hanging out after a round or headed downtown, these young golfers prove that you can love the game and still bring your own flavor—one pair of sneakers at a time.

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