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It's almost here.
Winter can feel downright looong for golfers. Fret not, spring and The Masters are less than six weeks away.
With a new golf season emerges a new round of golf-buying season. For us, we're just getting started, testing the latest golf equipment, fashion, shoes and more to help you prepare for your upcoming rounds and golf trips.
Now more than ever, e-commerce has made shopping very convenient but also very confusing. There is more of everything out there ... more styles of shoes, more clubs, more range finders, more stuff.
This is the first of our monthly GolfPass Gear Reports for 2025. Every month we work hard to inform golfers about what's out there and what brands you might not have considered using in the past. Here are our latest product reviews from the February GolfPass Gear Report:
Mini-review: PXG Secret Weapon mini-driver
In just a decade, PXG has elbowed its way into the mainstream of golf equipment thanks in large part to the passion of founder Bob Parsons, who has surrounded himself with considerable engineering talent. The latest concoction to come out of Scottsdale is part of the emerging mini-driver trend. PXG calls their new 300 cubic centimeter, 13-degree club the Secret Weapon.
Not to extend the metaphor, but the thing is a howitzer. I was fitted for it in January and have put it through its paces over several range sessions and rounds. Overall, the results have been solid, in part because I feel I fit the profile for mini-driver candidacy, since the majority of shots I typically hit with my 3 wood are off the tee. At 44 1/4 inches in length, it's a little longer than my previous 3 woods, which I especially like off the tee on shorter and/or narrower par 4s, where I would previously ratchet back to my 5 wood. I am hitting a club less into those holes with the Secret Weapon.
Making friends with it off the deck is still taking time, but I have been impressed with some of my low-on-the-face mishits, which I chalk up to the club's low center of gravity. I was fitted into a Fujikura Ventus Black shaft, which might be just a hair heady for my particular swing, but I'm not ready to give up on it just yet. All in all, for golfers who hit many more 3 woods off the tee than off the ground, a mini-driver is worth a try, and PXG's Secret Weapon is especially worth testing. PXG Secret Weapon mini-driver: $449.99. - Tim Gavrich
Are Pluto Golf shoes out-of-this-world comfort-wise?
I have sampled a broad range of golf shoes in recent years, and in general, it has been difficult for a brand that's not FootJoy or ECCO to impress me much. The long-established category leaders are leaders for reasons beyond just marketing. One exception to that rule has been Payntr, whose principals include a FootJoy alum. But I have to commend upstart brand Pluto Golf for their Pluto 1 model, which they sent me a few weeks ago.
Pluto sits squarely towards the lifestyle end of the golf shoe spectrum, where I have found more misses than hits over the years. Between their shoe's sneaker-like silhouette and a tread pattern that barely seems golf-specific, it's fair to wonder whether they are golf shoes at all. Giving the brand the benefit of the doubt, I'm content to declare the Pluto 1 the most comfortable out-of-the-box golf shoe I have tried yet - a feat made more impressive by the fact that I typically require a Wide-sized shoe, and Pluto doesn't do Wide-specific sizes. I simply went up half a size and have been satisfied with the fit of the shoe. If your golf shoe tastes put comfort at the forefront and generally run more towards the casual with a hint of a California vibe, Pluto is worth a look. Pluto 1 golf shoe: $159. - TG
MGI SureShot SlimPro rangefinder
Golf rangefinders, as a product genre, are a bit like golf balls: one brand has a big advantage over the rest. In golf balls, it's Titleist, but when it comes to measuring distances, Bushnell has sat head and shoulders above the competition for years.
But as with golf balls, there are other brands and models worth at least considering. I recently got my hands on one of them: MGI's Sureshot SlimPRO rangefinder. True to its name, it aims to differentiate from Bushnell and others by packing features like 7x magnification, target locking and even a Scan Mode where the user can get yardages to different targets as he or she scans an area, into a diminutive 145-gram package that is 40% lighter than Bushnell's flagship V6 model rangefinder.
The SlimPRO is impressively small and light - so much so, I almost found it too small and light for my taste. While the fact that it can fit in any golf cart cupholder or even one's pants pocket is an advantage, I found it a bit of a challenge to focus it on a target as my hand would wobble more than it does with a heftier rangefinder. I have stuck with my workhorse Bushnell but am content to keep the MGI Sureshot SlimPRO as a more-than-capable backup if need be. MGI Sureshot SlimPRO rangefinder: $299. - TG
New book brings Ely Callaway back to life again
Reading golf books isn't for every golfer, even if the subject is a fascinating one. The Unconquerable Game: My Life in Golf & Business, by Ely Callaway chronicles his journey from fired corporate whistle blower to wine maker and eventually golf equipment revolutionary. Ely (1919-2001) founded Callaway Golf Company out of his garage in Palm Desert, Calif., in 1982 and nurtured it to became the world’s largest golf equipment manufacturer and the first to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. But you don't have to read about Ely's life. He can tell you himself. This project - spearheaded by Callaway's son, Nicholas - features an audio book with an AI-version of Ely's voice reading to the listener. This innovative process was made possible through a collaboration between AI voice engineers, linguistics experts, voice actor Vincent Marcus and actor/comedian Fred Newman to authentically recreate Ely’s distinct Southwest Georgia accent and storytelling cadence. The audio book and 362-page hardcover book, published by Callaway Arts & Entertainment, will be released March 25. Preorders are available for $40 - Jason Scott Deegan
Lululemon golf shoes and apparel
Lululemon has recruited two of golf's most trend-worthy young players to be its ambassadors - Max Homa and Min Woo Lee. As with everything Lululemon makes, its golf polos and casual street shoes, the Cityverse Sneaker, which can be used for golf, are as comfortable as anything you'll own. The ShowZero™ technology of the golf polos eliminate the appearance of sweat on the outside, while keeping you feeling dry on the inside. Cityverse Sneakers: $138. ShowZero polo: $98 - JSD
Lululemon sportswear are way overpriced for quality. Besides Lululemon Athletica has been the target of multiple lawsuits, including a greenwashing class action, a shareholder derivative lawsuit, and a class action over sales and inventory management