{"id":438501,"date":"2026-01-26T12:10:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T12:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/438501\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T12:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T12:10:14","slug":"best-of-the-2026-pga-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/438501\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of the 2026 PGA Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Golf Is Thriving<\/p>\n

If last week\u2019s PGA Show is any indication, the golf business is booming.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t that many years ago that I wrote about the impending death of the show [read that HERE<\/a>], but for 2026 there were so many booths that some had to be set up in the hall.\u00a0 The Plugged In Golf team walked the miles of aisles to bring you the best new products and more.<\/p>\n

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Biggest Trend: Ecosystems<\/p>\n

Golf is a high tech game.\u00a0 From rangefinders and GPS devices to simulators and motion capture systems, technology was all over the show floor.\u00a0 And the biggest theme of the year is making all your technology work together.\u00a0 Two examples stand out.\u00a0 First, Shot Scope\u2019s new LM1 launch monitor will work with their app to provide even more game improvement and strategy data.\u00a0 Second is Bushnell and Foresight working together to put your launch monitor data into your rangefinder.\u00a0 And this is just the start, for both these companies and the industry as a whole.<\/p>\n

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Best of the Show<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a regular reader, you know the deal.\u00a0 We don\u2019t give awards away like candy at a parade; we save our praise for the products that we\u2019re betting on to make a big impact in 2026.\u00a0 We\u2019re also limiting this to genuinely new products \u2013 new colorways, accessories, and gadgets fall under the Cool & Interesting umbrella.<\/p>\n

Shot Scope LM1 Launch Monitor<\/p>\n

Priced at just $199, the Shot Scope LM1 is a launch monitor that every golfer can afford.\u00a0 Offering five key metrics \u2013 club speed, ball speed, smash factor, carry distance, and total distance \u2013 it\u2019s built to work together with the Shot Scope app to help you practice more effectively and improve your on-course decision making.\u00a0 You can also use it for speed training, and it sets up fast enough for use during a round.<\/p>\n

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TRUE Linkswear Antigravity Shoes<\/p>\n

Pebax is a highly cushioned, featherlight material that\u2019s finally making its way into golf shoes thanks to TRUE.\u00a0 The Antigravity line is going to include several models so you can walk in comfort in every environment and on every occasion.\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to get these on my feet.<\/p>\n

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Bettinardi BB Series<\/p>\n

The 2026 Bettinardi BB Series does almost everything I could ask for.\u00a0 It shows the brand committing to their identity \u2013 high end, one-piece, milled putters.\u00a0 It\u2019s a comprehensive line with something for everyone.\u00a0 It features a performance element that\u2019s genuinely new for them.\u00a0 And it simplifies their overall lineup, making things more straightforward for the customer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had this line in hand for a couple weeks already \u2013 find my BB1 review HERE<\/a> \u2013 and I don\u2019t think any other putter maker is going to be able to put out a better series.<\/p>\n

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Prong Putting Trainer<\/p>\n

One of my favorite putting trainers has been reborn!\u00a0 Longtime readers will remember the Putting Fork [review HERE<\/a>] which is still the high water mark for simplicity and effectiveness.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the Putting Fork has been extinct, available only to a lucky few who find one on eBay, for several years.\u00a0 For 2026, the IP is back in a new improved form \u2013 Prong.\u00a0 Be on the lookout for a full review later this year.<\/p>\n

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Garmin G82<\/p>\n

The Garmin G80 was a truly unique product, combining a top shelf GPS with a launch monitor [review HERE<\/a>].\u00a0 This cult favorite is getting an update in 2026 with the G82.\u00a0 With a brilliant 5\u2033 touch screen, Garmin\u2019s industry-leading GPS, and strong, essential launch monitor functions, this might be one device that does almost everything you need.<\/p>\n

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Best Booth: PXG<\/p>\n

This was PXG\u2019s first PGA Show, but you\u2019d never guess from the quality of their booth.\u00a0 The reason we named this the best booth can be summed up in one word: taste.\u00a0 This booth was big enough to demonstrate that PXG is a major player, but it wasn\u2019t cavernous.\u00a0 Every square foot was being used, but it wasn\u2019t crowded.\u00a0 They showed off all their clubs and gear without the repetition some brands need to fill their overly-large footprints.\u00a0 There were giveaways for everyone who walked through.\u00a0 You could roll their putters or hit the new clubs on two simulators.\u00a0 And, perhaps best of all, they had a holographic display where Dr. Bob Parsons and others made live appearances throughout the show.<\/p>\n

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Cool & Interesting<\/p>\n

Putt Buddies<\/p>\n

After a gentle introduction in 2025 with a few favorites like South Park, SpongeBob, and Barbie, Putt Buddies unveiled the full depth of their accessory universe at the 2026 PGA Show.\u00a0 Through partnerships with Warner Brothers, Mattel, Paramount, HBO, DC, and more, Putt Buddies is bringing all of your favorite pop culture icons and imagery to the course.\u00a0 From Harry Potter to Batman, Game of Thrones to Mortal Kombat, Putt Buddies covers your clubs and lets you fix your ball marks with personality.<\/p>\n

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Nippon Luxury Black Modus Shafts<\/p>\n

Nippon shafts are fixtures in the bags of numerous Plugged In Golf writers, but all those gamers are under threat in 2026\u2026by other Nippon shafts.\u00a0 The vaunted shaft maker will roll out Modus shafts in Luxury Black in two phases this year.\u00a0 Phase 1 launches in April and will cover Tour 105, Tour 120, and the Modus wedge shaft.\u00a0 Tour 110, Tour 115, and Tour 125 players will have to wait until Phase 2 in Fall of 2026.\u00a0 This will be a very limited run, so make sure to keep an eye on NSProShop.com<\/a> to get yours.<\/p>\n

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Machine Putters<\/p>\n

Putter nerds know the name Dave Billings, and those with some years in the game will remember his Machine Putters.\u00a0 The ultra-customizable brand is now back and better than ever with an intense focus on performance.\u00a0 Look for more from them as they expand their work with top fitters and their direct-to-consumer business.<\/p>\n

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PAYNTR\u2019s New Shoes & Tour Staff<\/p>\n

At their Thursday night event, PAYNTR unveiled a new shoe and new Tour Ambassadors including Min Woo Lee.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve followed my reviews, you know that I think PAYNTR is at the very top of the game when it comes to high performance shoes, and I expect to see that continue and grow in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Putt Tracking Golf Balls<\/p>\n

Two companies \u2013 Chip\u2019d and Genius \u2013 showed off golf balls that act like launch monitors for your putting.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the first time we\u2019ve seen golf balls that connect to data-collecting apps, but both of these companies have systems that make the data more functional for everyday golfers.\u00a0 Both are currently in pre-sale, and it will be interesting to see if they deliver on the promise of helping golfers shave strokes off their handicap.<\/p>\n

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TPT Pulse Putter Shafts<\/p>\n

With almost a decade of experience under their belt, TPT is using 2026 to launch a new line of super premium putter shafts.\u00a0 The Pulse family includes three models which allows golfers to choose their preferred feel.\u00a0 What separates Pulse from other putter shafts is that each \u201cflex\u201d has the same extremely low torque, so golfers don\u2019t have to choose between feel and performance.<\/p>\n

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Caddy Wrap<\/p>\n

Golfers love to personalize their clubs, but there hasn\u2019t been anything new in a long time.\u00a0 Stamping?\u00a0 Pass\u00e9.\u00a0 Fancy ferrules?\u00a0 Seen that before.\u00a0 Paint fill?\u00a0 Meh.<\/p>\n

Caddy Wrap is a new product that lets you shrink wrap designs onto your clubs\u2019 shafts.\u00a0 They offer everything from The Woody, which makes your clubs look like they\u2019re hickory shafted, to college logos like Iowa and Kansas.\u00a0 Best of all, you can install the wraps yourself using nothing but a pair of scissors, a hair dryer, and Caddy Wrap\u2019s patented box.<\/p>\n

Which products are you most interested in?
\nWhat do you want to hit, wear, or use in 2026?
\nShare your thoughts in the comments.
\n \"Matt<\/a> <\/p>\n

Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf<\/p>\n

Matt has worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking.<\/p>\n

He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.<\/p>\n

Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.<\/p>\n

\"Matt<\/a>Latest posts by Matt Saternus (see all<\/a>) \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Golf Is Thriving If last week\u2019s PGA Show is any indication, the golf business is booming.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":438502,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[64,63,755,85],"class_list":["post-438501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}