Every year I look forward to the pilgrimage to the golf mecca that the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando becomes. This ray of golfing sunshine in my bleak snow-covered Wisconsin January gives me hope to hold out until spring. With every possible golf gadget, club, toy, shirt and gimmick on display, this is truly a golfer’s paradise.
I found myself this year busier than ever visiting some of my favorite brands that I have reviewed over the years and scouting for new exciting opportunities to write about. After wandering its endless aisles I compiled a list of a few of my favorite finds from this year’s show.
New Tech
Break7eventy - A new startup that has developed sole inserts for your shoes to help read green undulation and break. Seeing the technology in person was wild and I can’t wait for these to come out in the spring. I spent time talking with the inventor, Sam, and I found out he came up with the idea after a poor back nine during a round when he was on target to break the 70 mark. I jokingly told him I am glad he didn’t because the product that spawned from his defeat looks to be awesome. Stay tuned for a future in-depth review on these!
Lemerle – A computer and a putter walk into a bar… Nine months later you have the Lemerle! This smart putter may finally help you diagnose just exactly what is happening with your short game. A connected app ensures all your putt data is easily accessible and tracked throughout your round. This has been deemed compliant on and off the course but the computer insert is swappable if you choose. I was impressed with the great feel of the putter to boot.
SkyGolf – GameTraX 360 and Super Tags are going to bring an impressive amount of data to your game. I found the application user interface and ease of use when testing the products really made these stand out amongst competitors. Something I have not seen before in golf club tags is the calibration of club head and the ability to use the tag for practice putting. These are launching soon and are definitely worth a look.
Check out SkyGolf’s impressive suite of tech products on their website
Cool Gadgets
Zero Friction – The Stride from Zero Friction has been teased for the last several years but is finally ready for release this spring. This cart bag is truly a “cart bag”. Built-in motors and a removable battery allow you to snap on some wheels and you have a fully functional electric cart. The Stride looked simple enough to transform and operate but only an on-course test will tell. If you are in the market for a cart or bag this season keep this on your radar!
Topped It – A relatively simple invention but useful nonetheless, “The Baller” is a bag- or cart-attachable ball dispenser. A magnetic top closure and elastic bottom allow you to easily add or dispense balls as you need them. I can see this product being really useful when heading to the practice green or as a nice bag attachment for a small stand bag. Gone are the days of prolonging embarrassment as you dig around in your golf bag for a new ball.
PuttOUT – The new “Air Break” system from PuttOUT may be a winter practice game changer for many. This portable, highly customizable putting green allows you to adjust the contour of the green using small air bladders. If you find yourself struggling on breaking putts or need some more practice reading greens this device is going to help. I was so impressed with how easy it was to adjust the slope and even more impressed with how small and light of a footprint it has. This will be released sometime in the summer.
GimmePro – This ball shagger will finally replace that faded and ripped shag bag in the garage. A slim design and retractable handle allows this 24-ball holder to fit easily into the side of your bag for convenience. The best part in my opinion: The adjustable height handle so I can finally put my kids to work cleaning up my practice balls!
JetoGolf – The JetoPutt is a magnetic putter training aide that will fit on any putter and create a small gate right around the sweet spot. This will immediately tell you if you are not striking putts in the middle of the face. After trying this at the show I know I have a ton of work to do. This is such a simple device but could have huge impact on your game.
Small Businesses To Watch
I always like to take some time to chat with people who are just getting their businesses up and running. These folks are the Steve Jobs of the golf industry, starting with a dream in their garage and hoping for it to take off.
Astral Putters – As a man with a basement full of putters I can attest to my constant tinkering and quest for that silver bullet to fix my game. What caught my attention with Astral is their unique system that allows players to adjust the hosel on the club. Altering the hosel impacts the lie angle, toe hang and shaft offset. This putter looks to be the holy grail for club tinkerers and could be just the solution you are looking for to get thru a season with “1” putter.
Bear The Palm – This clothing brand is focused on an often overlooked sector in golf, children. High-quality materials, no tags and fun prints all make for a collection that was quite impressive. Started by Lindsey Leech and named for her sons Palmer and Bear this company is worth watching and grabbing some perfect polos and gear for the golfing kids in your life.
Signing off for 2024
I could type forever on the great products and companies I saw at the show but will contain myself. Keep an eye out this year for more in-depth reviews on some of these companies and more as the team at WiscoGolfAddict.com continues to hunt for the coolest golf products, courses and happenings.
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