Equipment
New Year New Gear
by SCOTT KRAMER
The calendar has flipped to a new year , but that doesn ’ t mean you need a complete overhaul of your golf equipment . It may be more effective to make gradual minor adjustments , in the form of a fresh putter , driver or grip at first . Or maybe a new jacket , shoes or bag will help kick off your golf season . Check out these options to help boost your game in 2024 .
ODYSSEY 〉〉 AI-ONE AND AI-ONE MILLED PUTTERS
Callaway officials claim that the average 15-handicapper three-putts 3.3 times per round . That ’ s why they set out to create a putter face that would make long putts end up closer to the hole and short putts sinkable more often . They tapped their supercomputer and its artificial intelligence technology that they ’ ve been using to create their drivers and applied it to the new Odyssey Ai-One and Ai-One Milled putters . In this instance , they created an advanced version of the popular White Hot putter insert that yields more consistent ball speeds across the face , even on off-center hits . Multi-material construction helps minimize ball speed losses on mis-hits , effectively enlarging the sweet spot . In fact , the company claims that with Ai-One , putts finish 21 percent closer to the hole on average than a typical non-inserted putter . $ 300 Ai-One ; $ 450 Ai-One Milled , callawaygolf . com
SUPERSTROKE 〉〉 PANTHEON BAGS
Perhaps best known for its heavenly soft putter grips that are popular among Tour pros and amateurs alike , SuperStroke has ventured out and now sells luxe Pantheon cart , hybrid and stand bags . Each is available in all-black or all-white models . Made of a high-end matte PU for durable performance , the bags showcase meticulously designed features that serve useful purposes — like expertly arranged roomy pockets , ergonomic design , waterproof outer shells and zippers , and sturdy stitching . The 6.6- pound cart bag features a 14-way top , waterproof valuables and garment pockets , two convenient magnetic pockets for quick and secure access , an umbrella holder , magnetic RF pocket , towel ring , conveniently placed pen and tee sleeves , and rain hood . The 7.05-pound hybrid bag sports a six-way top with full-length club dividers . And the 5.85-pound synthetic leather stand bag has a four-way top with full-length club dividers . It also has heavy-duty fiberglass legs that can handle any terrain . $ 349- $ 399 , superstrokeusa . com
40 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2024 vsga . org