Photos: Jim Herity

The gotta-have-it equipment golfers are talking about (or soon will be) ....
Golf Digest

USGA

Perhaps the most overdue correction included in the U.S. Golf Association's recently announced list of changes to the Decisions on the Rules of Golf is a provision allowing for the use of distance-measuring devices. The devices, like those used in golf carts with GPS capabilities, in handheld GPS devices such as those from SkyGolf, in laser-based range finders like those from Bushnell and others, or in reflector-based devices like those from Laser Link, have been around for several years.

"Change in golf comes slowly," says Joe Messner, CEO of Bushnell. "But are we really giving players anything they didn't already have?"

The change takes effect in January, and SkyGolf CEO Richard Edmondson says it could be a real boost to golf's growth.

"This decision was made for the good of the game. One of the big deterrents to growth has been lack of time. These devices will speed up play," he says, adding that his company's research shows a 25-minute improvement per nine holes in pace of play.

PUTTERS

ODySSEY made a big splash on the senior tour in the early 1990s with its little black stronomic insert Dual Force putters that, according to company estimates, resulted in sales of 3 million putters. The insert is back, bigger and, designers say, firm yet more resilient than its predecessor. The new insert in the Dual Force 2 (far left) occupies much of the face, and because it's five times lighter than steel, allows weight to be redistributed on the perimeter ($100, odysseygolf.com).

BALLS

Golf balls the rest of us can afford still are sporting plenty of new technology. There are revamped designs of the popular PINNACLE Exception and the NIKE MoJo, and there are two new options from BRIDGESTONE, the e5 and e6. The e5 features a urethane cover and is designed to spin more to help players who launch it too low. The e6 features an inner mantle designed to reduce side spin on tee shots ($25, bridgestonegolf.com).

SIGNINGS

Michelle Wie's professional career began with a full Nike bag of equipment: Nike SasQuatch Tour driver (8.5 loft), Nike SasQuatch fairway wood (15 degrees), Nike Forged Blades (2-iron through pitching wedge), Nike Forged wedges (56, 60), Nike Oz prototype putter and Nike One Platinum ball.

The Buzz List

Our ranking of the best-selling, most talked-about products, based on research of sales at Golf World Business' 100 Best Shops and other sources.

WOODS: PING G5, TAYLORMADE r5 dual, CLEVELAND Launcher Comp, CALLAWAY Fusion FT-3, COBRA SZ.

BALLS: TITLEIST Pro V1/V1x, CALLAWAY HX Tour/HX Tour 56, NIKE One Platinum.

IRONS: CALLAWAY X-18, TAYLORMADE rac OS, PING G2/G5, COBRA 3400 I X/H, MIZUNO MP-60.

HYBRIDS: COBRA Baffler, CALLAWAY Heavenwood, TAYLORMADE Rescue, TOUR EDGE Bazooka JMax Ironwood.

OTHER: TITLEIST/Vokey wedges, CLEVELAND CG10 wedges, ODYSSEY 2-Ball putters, TAYLORMADE Monza Corza putter, TITLEIST/Scotty Cameron putters.

THREE TO TRY: Be the first on your block to take one of these for a spin: NIKE SasQuatch driver, FOOTJOY GF:II shoes, ADAMS Idea a2/a2 OS irons.