If you play a lot of golf, you’ve probably have been fitted for at least one or all of your golf clubs in your bag. But the one thing lacking in the customization of golf clubs, is the ability to choose the color, paint, text, etc. That type of personalization is usually reserved for the Tour Pros. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could build your own custom wedges, where you could select the paint fill color, customize the text, along with loft, lie, grind, and grips? All of the above is possible now with MyCustomWedge.com from Cleveland Golf.

My Custom Wedge from Cleveland Golf allows you pimp out your wedges, just like you can customize your SB Dunks on NikeiD. For example, you can choose the paint fill, create custom text, add a pattern to the sole, as well as your basics like loft, lie, and grips. All this for $199. And for a few extra bucks you can select your favorite college team logo branded shaft. What are you waiting for? Go a customize your wedge now and add a little flair to your short game and your bag!

www.MyCustomWedge.com

Belly and long putters are getting a lot of attention by OEMs, after numerous players switched to the longer putters or won using them in 2011. Most OEMs only offer select models in the belly and long lengths, but Heavy Putter is offering all its models in belly and long lengths for an up-charge of $59.

What’s cool about them is that because the heads are already weighted heavier than traditional putters, each model in the collection (of which there are numerous versions) can be converted.

To learn more about getting a belly or long putter visit www.boccierigolf.com

The mechanics of putting has many factors that influence the outcome of your putt: stroke type, impact angle, and tempo. If you want to get those measured, you could go and get a putter fitting with your local golf professional or club fitter. This is the traditional approach and may not be an option for some golfers, who don’t have time or the means to do so.

Wouldn’t it be great if a golfer could analyze his/her stroke type, impact angle, and tempo without getting a putter fitting? That’s what the Ping is trying to do with its free iPING app for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch (4th generation). The iPING app works in conjunction with a Ping cradle ($30 MSRP), which holds the iPhone or iPod Touch onto the putter shaft, below the grip. Watch this video of Ping’s PGA Tour Manager Matt Rollins walk Hunter Mahan through using the iPING app.

About the iPING App

The iPING app analyzes and displays you consistency onscreen using the three criteria: stroke type (determined by how much the putter face rotates during the forward stroke); impact angle (the putter’s face angle at impact, relative to address); and tempo (a measure of the duration of the backswing relative to the forward swing).

The app works by computing consistency over a series of five putts where your stroke type, impact angle and tempo are measured, displayed and stored for every putt in that session. Your consistency scores are averaged over time to build a Putting Handicap (PHcp). As you improve your consistency, you’ll see your PHcp come down.

iPING Fit

The iPING Fit feature matches you with the PING putter models that fit your stroke type. Matching your putter to your stroke type is the key to greater consistency and lower scores.

Download the iPING app

Have you ever wondered if World Series Champion Pitcher, Matt Cain could step onto 1^st tee at Augusta and drive the ball 300 yards down the middle of the fairway?  Or if Juan Pierre’s skill on the bases transitions into his golf swing?  How about if the precision Rockies 1^st baseman, Todd Helton, displays in the batter’s box carries over into his iron play?

Watch these two videos as Mizuno Golf Master Instructor Dr. Gary Wiren puts his teaching skills to a unique new test, analyzing the swings of San Francisco Giants Starting Pitcher Matt Cain and Relief Pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, and see how well their skills transfer from the baseball diamond to the golf course.

Want to see more Major League Baseball Players? Visit mizunochallenge.com and take part in the JPX-800 Swing to Win Challenge for a chance to win one of eight hundred prizes including the grand prize – a dream foursome with a guest and PGA Tour stars Luke Donald and Jonathan Byrd.

Make sure to “like” the Mizuno Golf North America on facebook.

About Dr. Gary Wiren

Mizuno Golf Master Instructor Dr. Gary Wiren is a golf educator, a Master member of the Professional Golfers Association of America and a former national PGA staff director. Dr. Wiren is also one of only three people to be inducted into both the PGA Hall of Fame and World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

mizunochallenge.com

A couple of days ago, TaylorMade Golf introduced the next generation of adjustable face drivers with the R11 and R11 TP. One of the big differences in the R11 from the R9 is the Adjustable Sole Plate Technology(ASP)- that allows you to adjust the face angle independent of loft.  But what makes the R11 so unique from all the other drivers is it’s white matte finish.

In this video, Brad Syslo from TaylorMade Performance Lab at Olympia Fields Country Club walks through all the features of the new R11 driver.

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Mini-Lightning Review of the R11 Driver

I have to be honest, I thought aesthetically a white driver is cool, but not very practical and just some marketing gimmick to sell more golf clubs.  But after seeing the TaylorMade R11 driver in person, I was blown away how the white matte finish provides zero glare. When you address the ball (watch the video or look at the photos) you’ll notice how easy it is to tell at address if the clubface is open or closed. The black clubface also provides a lot of contrast making it super easy to aim the R11 at your intended target.

The shape of the driver of address is very pleasing to the eye, and looks more like a 460cc head, but is only 440cc clubhead. The white color crown tricks your eyes into thinking it is larger. Adjusting the sole plate or ASP is really simple with the torque wrench, which can also be used to adjust the moveable weights and Flight Control Technology. The Fujikura Blur shaft is truly a work of art with its contrasting matte black triangle pattern and provides just the right amount of flex and feel.

I can’t speak to performance aspects of the R11 driver, because I was only able to hit it indoors at the TaylorMade Performance Lab. What I can tell you, is it produces a great sound at impact and feels great. I’ll have an in-depth review of the R11 driver at a later date, when I can play it in real world playing conditions. So check back soon!

Special thanks to TaylorMade Golf and Brad Syslo from the TaylorMade Performance Lab at Olympia Fields Country Club.

The TaylorMade R11 and R11 TP driver hit stores February 4, 2011.

It may be cold outside and golf might be the last thing on your mind, but right now is great time to stock up and buy equipment. Here are our picks for golf clubs and golf balls for the golfer in your life.

Bridgestone Tour B330-RXS Golf Balls

The Bridgestone Tour B330-RX are a great golf ball for amateur golfers who want distance off the tee, but have slow swing speeds. The only problem with the RX is that it doesn’t produce as much spin as the softer B330 and 330-S series of golf balls. Problem solved with the RXS, which take everything we love about the RX and give it more spin and enhanced feel around the greens. www.bridgestonegolf.com $42 per dozen

Srixon Z-Star Tour Yellow Golf Balls

Losing your tee shot on a bright sunny day can be a time waster when your looking for your ball, especially if it didn’t land in the fairway. The solution-pick up a dozen of the Srixon Z-Star Tour Yellow golf balls and say goodbye to losing your ball in the sun or the rough. The Z-Star Tour Yellow, has all the same performance features of the Z-Star, but in an easy to see yellow color. This ball is no joke and Jim Furyk did score a hole-in-one during this years Masters in the par 3  tournament.  Srixon Z-STAR Tour Yellow $39.99 per dozen

Ping Tour-S Wedges

These amazing wedges from Ping have already won a Major this year, and we absolutely love them for the amount of spin and feel they produce. Plus if you get the Rustique finish, they’ll end up turning black to provide even more spin. You can’t go wrong buying these wedges. www.ping.com $119

TaylorMade Rossa Corza Ghost Putter

This putter brought several victories for Justin Rose on TOUR this season and was put in the bag in some of the best players in the world. Why? Because this mallet putter is so easy to line up your putts and roll them down the intended line with ease. Put the Rossa Corza Ghost putter in your favorite golfer’s bag and they’ll be thanking you every time they roll a putt in for birdie. Rossa Corza Ghost Putter $159

Oh, you shouldn’t have

Cobra ZL Driver Limited Edition White Driver

Only 500 of the Limited Edition ZL Drivers are available globally, and each is individually marked with a production serial number. The Limited Edition ZL Driver utilizes advanced multi-material construction and Adjustable Flight Technology and is paired with a high performance Fujikura Motore Speeder shaft. The lucky person who gets one this Holiday season will be the envy of all of his/her friends on the course! www.cobragolf.com $625

Nike SQ Machspeed Irons

You want Tour-level distance, but you don’t have the swing speed to produce it-what to do? You get yourself a set of Nike Golf’s SQ Machspeed Irons. The Machspeed Irons, are great set of game improvement irons that will add distance to your game and boost your confidence. Even if you can’t bomb it down the fairway like the guys and gals on TOUR, you’ll be glad to have these in your bag. www.nikegolf.com $839

Nike Golf "Oven" Fitting Bay

Last week during the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Nike Golf invited a bunch of bloggers to its Research and Development facility the “Oven,”  to learn about how Nike Golf develops its golf equipment and works with their sports marketing athletes.  I covered the “Oven” last year when they had a media event , but this time around I wanted to learn more about how Nike Golf does its club fitting for its athletes and consumers.

In this video, Nike Golf “Oven” Fort Worth Facility Host- Matt Plumb, answers questions about how Nike Golf  approaches golf club fitting, why it’s important to look at the divot during club fitting, why it’s important to get custom fitted, getting fitted for the right golf ball, the impact of club fitting for consumers and Tour players, and who should get custom fit.

Special thanks to Nike Golf and Matt Plumb!

www.nikegolf.com

aboutGolf is known for making the best golf simulators on the market today and now they are taking launch monitors to a whole new level with two new products: aG Studio indoor launch monitor and aG Mobile indoor/outdoor launch monitor.

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What is 3Trak?
Launch monitors have been around for a while, but aboutGolf has taken the same technology used in its PGA Tour Simulators called 3Trak and applied it to its new line of launch monitors designed for golf instruction, club fitting, and club sales.

3Trak launch monitors use three-dimensional, high-speed photography to provide unyielding dynamic performance. The most accurate data in the industry from the only technology to directly measure spin and spin axis. The 3Trak simulator tracking technology makes no assumptions or calculations…it simply measures ball performance — on EVERY plane. So how you hit the ball in the simulator is how you hit on the golf course.

aG Mobile Launch Monitor
The aG Mobile is a lightweight portable unit that can be used both indoors and outdoors, which is great for golf lessons and club fittings. Utilizing the same 3Trak technology of the PGA Tour Simulators and Perform Software, your golf instructor now has access to multiple dashboard views, live ball flight and data manipulation options.

You’ll now have access to information like clubhead speed, ball speed, vertical and horizontal launch angles, spin, carry distance, total yards, and more. 3Trak doesn’t use a special golf ball to gather this data, the high-speed cameras get this data by photographing a white line sticker that’s affixed to the top of your golf club.

The early release model of the aG Mobile I saw, required you to hook up the launch monitor to a PC to run the software. In a future version, all you’ll need is a monitor, because the Perform Software will be running on the aG Mobile unit. Also the updated model of the aG Mobile unit will have a smaller footprint, than the one pictured. This will make it very easy for outdoor lessons and providing instant feedback.

aG Studio Launch Monitor
The aG Studio is designed for fixed indoor installations and mounted above the golfer as an integrated part of a performance bay. If you watch the Golf Fix on the Golf Channel, you may have noticed aG Studio on the set.

aG Studio uses the same software and technology like aG Mobile and provides the same ball and club data too, but in an indoor setting only. Taking performance data and turning it into actionable feedback with reliable data, will make your golf lessons more insightful and effective.

I’m really impressed by how aboutGolf continues to evolve its product line and put reliable data in the hands of teachers, fitters, and golfers.

Visit aboutGolf.com for more information.

I reviewed the TaylorMade Performance Labs at Olympia Fields last year and now TaylorMade Performance Labs, the premier custom golf club fitting company, announced the opening of its sixth U.S. location at The International in Boston. Beginning April 27, TaylorMade Performance Lab’s certified professionals will fit men, women and junior golfers of all ages and abilities to a custom set of TaylorMade® golf clubs using an exclusive technology previously available only to Tour professionals, called Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade (MAT-T).

“After visiting The International and seeing the fabulous golf courses and great facilities, I knew we had to bring our exclusive fitting system there,” said Herb Meistrich, President and CEO of TaylorMade Performance Labs. “The International is steeped in tradition and we know golfers from the Northeast will take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy an unparalleled custom fitting experience at a world class facility.  With our tour-proven technology developed by TaylorMade, we are confident that we can improve the scores and enjoyment of golfers of all ages and abilities by fitting them into the perfect set of custom golf clubs.”

Dan Weadock Jr, President of The International added, “With the introduction of the TaylorMade Performance Lab, The International reinforces its commitment to providing a world class golfing experience to our members, guests and the golfers around the world who come to play our two fabled courses.”

 Using motion capture technology – the same technology used to make today’s video games and movies – 34 reflective markers are placed on strategic points of the golfer’s body as well as on the shaft and head of the fitting club to capture a number of swings with the driver, iron , wedge and putter. Six special high-speed cameras detect the reflectors and display a three-dimensional computer-animated image of the customer viewable from every angle, allowing the pro to make accurate critiques and recommendations. The two and one-half hour custom fitting experience includes recommendations for a driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, putter and even the correct golf ball.

Following the swing analysis and club recommendations, demo clubs are built on-site with the customer’s correct swing specifications and the player can then validate the system’s recommendations on the driving range.

 New custom TaylorMade clubs built to recommended specifications are shipped directly to the player in as little as 48 hours.

To date, TaylorMade Performance Labs has six U.S. locations including The International: The Four Seasons Resort in North San Diego, The Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Springs, The Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago and Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA. There are also three international locations in South Africa, Spain and Dubai.

For more information and to book the ultimate club fitting experience visit  http://www.tmplabs.com

Today’s golfer has a lot of different choices available to them when they buy their golf clubs, what type of club (cavity back, blade,etc), Shaft (graphite or steel), etc. But often the most overlooked aspect of purchasing new clubs is the fitting of the golf clubs to match your swing characteristics. Last month I had the opportunity to get custom fitted at the state of the art TaylorMade Performance Lab at Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, IL (25 miles south of downtown Chicago) and experience “Golf’s Ultimate Fitting Experience”.

I’ve read about the importance of getting fitted for golf clubs and what a dramatic difference it can make in your game, but I never thought it was worth the trouble. How wrong could I go with with stock offering from any of the major golf club manufacturers?  I have an average build and height, so club length isn’t an issue. I don’t get as much distance on my shots as I would like, but this is something I’m working on with my golf instructor and not an equipment issue in my opinion. What else could I be missing from the equation? At the TaylorMade Performance Lab (TMPL), I was about to find out how wrong my assumptions were about my existing golf clubs and how much more there was to learn about my current golf swing.

The TaylorMade Performance Lab at Olympia Fields Country Club is only one of four locations in the United States, that just opened this past June. The process of the fitting takes about two hours and it covers every club in your bag, from wedges, irons, hybrids, fairway woods, driver, and putter. At the end of the fitting your given a folder with your club recommendations and CD-Rom containing all your swing data, and you have the option to purchase the custom clubs from TaylorMade based on your specs, but rest assured there is no obligation to do so.

The Fitting Process
When you first arrive at Olympia Fields Country Club, you are escorted by TaylorMade’s Master Club Fitting Professional Brad Syslo. Brad takes me through the Pro Shop and leads me upstairs to The TaylorMade Performance Lab, where I’m greeted by a huge stainless steel vault like door with the TMPL Logo. Behind the vault door is the TaylorMade Performance Lab, the nucleus of the operation where you’ll be spending part of the fitting process. The room is simply amazing!  The room is nicely appointed with sever large flat screen TV’s, an extremely comfortable leather sofa, and plethora of TaylorMade golf clubs.  The atmosphere is completely relaxed and Brad does a great job of keeping you at ease during the entire process, with his great sense of humor and relaxed demeanor.

You begin by warming up, hitting your existing golf clubs like you normally do at the range, while Brad asks you a series of questions about your golf swing and tendencies, etc. Brad also asks about what are your strong points and shortcomings in your golf swing, favorite golf ball, what you are working on with your golf instructor. During this brief warm up process you are not hooked up to any of the motion sensors or being recorded via one of the nine high speed cameras. Brad is just observing the flight path of the ball and not judging your swing. I’ll admit, I do get a bit nervous around strangers watching me swing my golf clubs, but that wasn’t the case during my fitting. I felt completely relaxed.

The next part of the fitting process is where the fun begins and you get suited up to begin capturing your swing with the Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade (MATT), which captures every aspect of your swing in 3-D, swing data, and club recommendations. Prior to the TaylorMade Performance Lab, the motion capture technology was only available to PGA Tour professionals and movie studios, but now you can get access to the same amazing technology. In order for the nine high-speed cameras to capture your swing data, you need to put on several articles of clothing with specially reflective markers that are strategic located on your body and on the golf clubs as well. The clothing consists of hat, a vest, cumber bun, elbow straps, knee straps, shoe covers, and wrist straps. The clothing takes very little time to get used too and fits right over your existing clothes, so you don’t have to worry about restriction of movement. Once your suited up, your asked to stand tall, with your arms raised to shoulder height so the system can get an accurate measurement and scale of your body. I discovered during this setup, that my one arm was hanging slightly lower on one side.  Now your ready to begin the journey of the “Ultimate Fitting Experience”.

What does it show you?
We started out the club fitting process by fitting my irons first. Brad instructs me that I can swing my golf club once the red light flashes and I hear beep. I was little nervous about waiting for a visual and audio cue, and that it might throw off my tempo. It took very little to get used to this and actually became ingrained, almost Pavlovian like. Brad had me hit at least six to eight golf balls to get enough data for MATT analyze. After each swing of the club the MATT software renders all the data captured, along with data from a launch monitor. The results were simply amazing and extremely detailed. After one swing Brad was able to tell me exact clubhead path, In/Out Path of the club, backspin, swing speed, loft of clubhead at impact, ball position, and more. The amount of data was invaluable in understanding my swing characteristics and tendencies. For example, I learned that I have an Out to In swing and play the ball a little too far forward in my setup. This is one aspect of my golf swing I’ve been working on with my instructor.  Brad was able to explain in plain English what all the data means and gave me some valuable tips for correcting these swing flaws, its more than just a club fitting. After you complete six to eight swings MATT crunches all the data and gives it recommendations for what irons would work best for my swing.  You also get to see your swing rendered in 3-D that can be rotated and viewed from multiple angles in full motion to see what your swing is doing. This was extremely amazing and so cool to look at, and gave me such valuable insight into my swing.

The next step is where you get to try the latest equipment from TaylorMade based on the systems recommendation. It turns out, I have a slow swing swing speed (about 70 MPH), which is partly attributed to my steel shafts being too heavy. So when trying the various irons, I try out graphite shafts and light weight steel shafts. I ended up liking the lightweight steel shafts best and noticed a big difference, in how much lighter and easier to swing the TaylorMade clubs were. I never realized what a difference selecting the proper shaft makes until now. This especially rang true when getting fitted for my driver. For my driver, I thought that the stock regular flex graphite shaft was all I needed. I couldn’t believe the difference a properly fitted graphite shaft, with the correct flex and tip could make with your swing. You do this process for all of your other clubs from your wedges, hybrids, fairway woods, driver , and putter.

Once you complete the fitting inside the TaylorMade Performance Lab, you are taken outside to the driving range to validate the recommended clubs for the remainder of the two hour fitting. After this is completed, Brad gives you a folder and CD-ROM containing all the data and club recommendations from MATT to take home with you. There is an option to buy any of the clubs that were recommended during the fitting directly from TaylorMade, which includes any customizations required (length,lie, loft, shaft, grip) at no extra charge. There is no obligation to purchase any of the equipment you test during the fitting process.  I did end up getting an entire new set of clubs based on the recommendations and I will be writing a follow up post on whether my custom clubs have made a difference.

Overall, I highly recommend you get fitted at the TaylorMade Performance Lab, it’s an experience like no other and you’ll learn so much about your golf swing than you could ever imagine. It’s worth the small investment of time and money and you’ll be glad you did.

TaylorMade Performance Lab at Olympia Fields Country Clubs costs $400 for a two hour fitting.

Other TaylorMade Performance Lab Locations: Aviara Golf Academy-Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad, California; Reynolds Plantation-Ritz Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, Georgia; Grand Cypress Golf Academy at the Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Florida.