Top 5 Things from Day 2 of the 2024 PGA Show
Day 1 was Demo Day at the PGA Show in Orlando. Day 2 is when we get to learn about new golf tech from brands like GolfTEC, Rapsodo, Bushnell, and more! And PlayBetter golf writer Marc has the scoop on the goods!
PGA SHOW VIDEO: Marc Interviews Brad from SkyTrak About Improvement Software in the Works!
The PGA Show is back, baby! In a big, big way!
Hurt by the pandemic and the resulting hangover, the show, by any longtimer’s estimation, slumped considerably in the past few years.
But not this year.
Not by a longshot.
Fueled in large part by the continuous advancements in golf technology and specifically golf launch monitors, traffic is booming. The exhibit halls are jam packed. There’s action around every corner. And the PGA Show is once again the Super Bowl of the golf industry.
There are just shy of 1,000 exhibitors here! Tech, clubs, agronomy, hospitality, travel, fashion — all of that and so, so much more is here in vast abundance. Some of these booths are like small cities in size and with the populations to match. Not even our multi-person crew can possibly scratch the surface of all that’s on display here.
That said, here are a handful of our favorite things we saw today, including what we think are some of the most exciting product announcements. We’ll be hard at it again first thing tomorrow morning, so stop back for a look at even more of what we think is worth your attention.
1 – FlightScope Grabs Early Headlines with the Announcement of the Mevo Plus Limited Edition AND Super Cool Software Additions
We had an early tip-off that FlightScope had big news to share, but their announcement of the Mevo+ Limited Edition and accompanying software exceeded expectations. The Limited Edition, possibly available only through the first quarter of 2024, includes a new front panel and color scheme and comes preloaded with the Mevo+ Pro Package and Face Impact Location software and an exclusive iOS/PC E6 Connect package with 12 top simulator golf courses. It offers an overall budget savings and incredible stroke-saving opportunities.
But then there's the new software innovations like FlightScope Badger AI, Shot Tracer, Environmental Optimizer, Planing Tool, and Swing Trainer that all combine to radically enhance the Mevo+ user experience.
The Shot Tracer feature, which interfaces with the unit’s multi-camera capability, drastically improves ease of the Mevo Plus’ alignment, long considered a pain point for many users.
2 – Accurate Rapsodo MLM2PRO Spin Rates No Longer Limited to Callaway Golf Balls
Rapsodo just announced a partnership with Titleist that introduces the RPT dot pattern to the Pro V1 and Pro V1X golf balls, allowing players who prefer those balls to get accurate spin data with the Rapsod MLM2PRO. This lean towards a more ball-agnostic unit opens up more possibilities for more users who want to practice with the same ball they play.
Rapsodo also unveiled R-Speed, a new swing speed training feature that tracks clubhead speed and provides video feedback without the need for hitting a golf ball.
Furthermore, the recently launched R-Cloud web platform offers MLM and MLM2PRO users enhanced access to their data and videos on PCs or tablets, with customizable data display options.
3 – SkyTrak Promises Major Software Upgrades in 2024
They’re still a bit hush on specifics, but SkyTrak is rolling out significant fun and gamification improvements to what was already a pretty awesome app experience. More games, challenges, and range settings are right now being tested at parent-company GolfTEC locations and will be available to SkyTrak+ users later this year. There’s even the hint of potential gambling features being included. More details to come.
4 – Bushnell: All They Do Is Win
Long the leaders in the spaces of rangefinders, hand-held GPS devices, and bluetooth golf speakers, Bushnell announced their latest and greatest golf tech updates.
The Phantom 3 GPS unit, for $149, replaces the Phantom 2 and adds slope compensated distances to the mix of information, something Bushnell Golf has never included in a hand-held GPS.
The Wingman 2 speaker, also at $149, is loaded with upgrades including:
- Better sound quality
- A much stronger magnetic mount
- A new battery life indicator light
- More than 4 hours of battery life improvement
- Updated remote control functionality
- Much more
And the Pro X3+ rangefinder now includes wind speed and direction information, a significant upgrade for golfers looking for pinpoint accuracy that accounts for conditions.
5 – There’s Fiberbuilt Golf Mats and Then There’s Everyone Else
Fiberbuilt is making the best, most durable, most realistic synthetic golf mats in the industry, and it’s not even close. These mats are so superior to the competition that it’s actually a bit embarrassing for everyone else. We already knew they were the leaders in this space, but visiting with their R&D and engineering experts was a true revelation.
You may think you hate hitting off of mats. But in reality, what you hate is hitting off of bad mats. Fiberbuilt has a line of products that mimic natural turf conditions and that produce golf launch monitor data that’s actually lifelike in its accuracy.
Fiberbuilt has invested so much into their products that they are the preferred choice of pretty much every top-end golf facility, and with the golf launch monitor space now booming, they’re in more and more private homes.
Don’t overlook the importance of the correct hitting surface choice if you’re building your dream golf simulator setup. There is a massive difference between Fiberbuilt and everyone else.
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.