Ping’s New Forged Anser Irons Being Released in Japan

Looming Wedge Rules Create Key Dates for Golfers

Readers of The Shop know that the USGA has recently made some sweeping changes to the rules governing grooves in clubs with a loft of 25 or more. In a nutshell, the governing body of the game in the United States, Canada and Mexico has decided that the grooves on these clubs must be made smaller in volume and have edges that are less sharp. (If you are interested in reading the USGA's announcement regarding the rule changes, click here .) However, the rules kick in for different players at different times. Here are the keys dates: JANUARY 1, 2010 All products submitted to the USGA for approval must contain the new, conforming grooves. PGA Tour players, and golfers who try to qualify for PGA Tour events, will need to use equipment that has the new grooves starting on this date. Golfers who compete in the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open will need to use clubs with the new grooves as well. However, the USGA has ruled that golfers may use the older, non-conforming grooves at local qualifying tournaments for these events. At the sectional qualifying level, the new conforming grooves must be used. JANUARY 1, 2011 This is a key date for weekend players because manufacturers will have to stop making and shipping clubs that contain the larger, sharper grooves. This is why we've been reporting on so many new wedges recently; companies are scrambling to get high-spin clubs into the marketplace while they still can. Still, it's important to note that retailers will be able to sell any clubs they have in stock, even those with nonconforming grooves. Amateur players who value spin may want to stock up before this date. Once supplies are gone, that's it. JANUARY 1, 2014 All USGA and R&A championships will require competitors to use the newer, conforming grooves. JANUARY 1, 2020 The USGA has said that it will evaluate the effects of the groove rules no sooner than this date. JANUARY 1, 2024 As things stand now, this is the date when the vast majority of the world's golfers will have to start using the new grooves. Before this date, golfers will be free to play with the older, larger grooves, even in rounds used for handicap purposes.

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Looming Wedge Rules Create Key Dates for Golfers

Acushnet wins new trial in Titleist ProV1 patent case

In a new development in the long-running patent dispute between Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist, and Callaway over the ProV1 golf ball, a court of appeals today granted Acushnet's request for a new trial. The press release from Acushnet is below:

TaylorMade Opens New Performance Lab Outside Boston

TaylorMade Golf plans to open its sixth Performance Lab in the United States on April 27 at The International , a 36-hole resort and golf facility about 45 minutes outside Boston. TaylorMade's Performance Labs are the company's most high-end custom-fitting facilities. They're also very high tech. Fitting technicians place 34 reflective markers on specific areas of a customer's body, as well as on the shaft and head of the club, and then capture all the movements of the swing using six high-speed cameras. After inputting that data into a computer, a three-dimensional swing video is created. Advanced tools like these, once only available to the pros, allow instructors and club fitters to fully understand how the player's golf swing works. From there, the team can make instruction and equipment recommendations. After going through this swing analysis, TaylorMade can build demo clubs on site. Finished, custom-made equipment can be shipped to your home in about 48 hours. The other five locations in the United States are at 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. TaylorMade also has Performance Labs in South Africa, Spain and Dubai. For more information, go to tmplabs.com .

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TaylorMade Opens New Performance Lab Outside Boston

Scotty Cameron Masters commemorative headcovers sell out in one day

AUGUSTA, Ga. Scotty Cameron, Titleist's putter design guru, has been selling t-shirts, hats, ball markers and other accessories for years. To commemorate this season's first major championship, he made a unique headcover, themed ” Augusta Georgia Sweet Nectar of Golf .” All 2,009 headcovers were made in the United States from brown leather, foam and shearling wool. Over 90,000 stitches were made to create the pink and white flowers and the Cameron logo. When I asked Cameron if he had one for each Titleist player in this week's Masters, he told me he didn't bring any. All but a handful were made available on scottycameron.com , and they sold out, at $116 each, in about a day. The few that remain will likely be given to VIPs like Davis Love, who collects Cameron headcovers, but Cameron said no more will be made. You can see a video of the headcover being created here .

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Scotty Cameron Masters commemorative headcovers sell out in one day

Golf in India and Malaysia, and legendary instructor Gary Wiren on hitting better approach shots

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week . In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren – director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World – about golf in India. “India is an emerging country in regards to the economy,” Wiren says. “As in any country with strong economic growth, you’re going to see more popularity in golf. It’s always been a game to those who had some leisure, first of all, and could afford to play the game.” Continuing in the golf travel vein, TravelGolf.com’s Brandon Tucker reports on his recent visit to the World Amateur Inter-team Golf Championship in Malaysia. “Maybe in the United States you haven’t heard about the event very much, but on the other side of the world it’s actually a pretty popular event, they’ve been doing it for 15 years now,” Tucker says. Finally, Wiren explains why amateur golfers usually short their approaches to the green. This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages and Florida Golf and Travel .

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Golf in India and Malaysia, and legendary instructor Gary Wiren on hitting better approach shots

Top golf deals in Arizona, keeping your back healthy, and Frank Thomas on his new book, "Dear Frank"

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week . In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to WorldGolf.com’s Mike Bailey about great off-season golf in Arizona . “Greens fees are definitely on the higher end, but I think there are some bargains now,” Bailey says. “If you look hard enough, I think you can find something right now.” Golf can be tough on the back. Dr. Chris Garner , a Myrtle Beach-area chiropractor (www.grandstrandchiropractic.com), gives a few tips for keeping your back healthy. “Golf can be a very strenuous sport to the body, in particular to the spine,” Garner says. “I give all of my golfers the booklet of golf stretches. Yoga and massage therapy can also be very good for golfers.” Noted golf equipment guru Frank Thomas talks about his new book, “Dear Frank.” “I’ve been answering questions for the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and for our own Web site for the last four years,” Thomas says. “We selected 100 of the best and put them into a book.” This podcast is supported by Walter’s Golf in Las Vegas and San Diego Golf Central .

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Top golf deals in Arizona, keeping your back healthy, and Frank Thomas on his new book, "Dear Frank"

Get a grip with Gary Wiren, PGA Tour and Ian’s Friends Foundation join forces, and La Quinta Resort in California

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week . In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren , director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World , about perfecting your golf grip. “Why do people slice more than people hook?” asks Wiren. “Well, first of all, it starts with the grip. Ben Hogan said it: ‘Good golf starts with a good grip.’” Phil Yagoda, founder of Ian’s Friends Foundation , talks about the foundation’s work with the PGA Tour to raise money for pediatric tumor research. Mike Bailey says playing golf at the famed La Quinta Resort in southern California is well worth the expense. “I don’t know if there’s a better place,” Bailey says. “If you can scrape [the money] together, if you’re a golfer, this is one of the places you should treat yourself to before you leave this golfing life.” This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages and Florida Golf and Travel .

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Get a grip with Gary Wiren, PGA Tour and Ian’s Friends Foundation join forces, and La Quinta Resort in California