Every summer, at our family get-together, there have to be garden games - they're more important than the BBQ.

We’ve had break-a-plate, badminton, skittles, Molkky, darts, Cornhole (my personal favorite) … the list goes on - and I normally win them all.

This year, with the annual party coming on the back of The Open at Royal Birkdale, I was keen to get the whole family playing some form of golf - so the search began.

It didn't take long before I came across the “ultimate backyard golf game”.

It seemed like BucketGolf was everywhere, so I messaged my dad and told him to stop worrying about the hosepipe ban - we would not be needing the garden to look like Augusta.

Would I regret dropping the traditional putting competition from the itinerary in favor of an untested golf game?

BucketGolf says its mission is “to bring families and friends together through competitive fun”, and one of the most appealing aspects of the game was the fact that it looked very playable - big buckets for holes, large clubheads and huge plastic balls.

And it looked like a lot of fun, perfect for what I had in mind, and suitable for golfers and non-golfers, as well as little ones.

Just before The Open got underway at Royal Birkdale, I took delivery of the BucketGolf 6 Hole Bundle - and I headed straight out to my garden.

First impressions? Excited. This ‘bundle’ included six buckets, six flagsticks, six plastic balls and six tee boxes) - plus four clubs, which is plenty enough (you can order more/less as well as left-handed ones).

Everything looked well made, and the carry bag was a nice addition, making it easy to pop into the boot of the car and keep all the items neatly stored together in one place.

Onto the set-up. The fact that it’s easy to assemble was also a big plus. Erecting the gazebo earlier in the day had been rather complicated, so this was a relief.

The six-hole course was laid out in less than 10 minutes, swinging around a basketball stand, over and between vegetable patches, a hobbit house, and a well.

So, shortly after lunch, it was time for some golf.

After just a few minutes, it was clear that I’d made the game too difficult; although the buckets are very wide, it’s still quite a skill to land one in even from close range.

However, what’s good about BucketGolf is that you can make up your own rules. There are ways to make it easier, and you can invent your own scoring system: one for hitting the bucket, five for landing a ball in it, for example (this kept the kids interested).

The clubs are excellent. Even if you’re a beginner, the oversized heads make it easy to get the ball in the air (most of the time), and they’re very robust, able to withstand poor strikes and the odd temper tantrum.

At the risk of sounding like I took the game way too seriously (I did), you can actually get a good amount of draw and slice spin on your shots; the clubs might not be Vokey wedges, but you can have some fun shaping shots and opening the face to get a bit more height (I told you I took it seriously).

The flagsticks, which poke through a small hole in the bucket into the ground, are a nice touch, too, although this is not so easy to do when the ground is rock hard - so don't try and force them in or they are likely to break.

Meanwhile, the numbers on the tee markers and buckets elevate the experience and give it just enough of a ‘serious’ competition feel.

As for the custom balls, which are designed to fly between 10-40 yards, they do deviate in the wind, which is no surprise given the holes - something which actually adds to the fun in blustery conditions.

I realize I'm going to sound like a wet blanket here, but I lost my enthusiasm after about 30 minutes - although this might say more about me than the game itself.

I found myself wondering whether I could squeeze nine holes in after the party, and whether it would be more fun to play with actual golf balls (it is, but it’s neither safe nor in the spirit of the game).

However, long after the party was over, I was back out in the garden playing against my brother - this time for a lot longer and with something on the line (again, it might say more about me that we had to have a wager).

My overriding feeling is that BucketGolf just lacks a bit of an X factor, some kind of feature that makes it more engaging.

That said, the fact that I have had it out a few times since the party suggests that it does have an addictive quality (I'm currently actually using the buckets and flags for chipping practice with proper balls).

And I should stress that because I love the ‘real thing’ so much, playing any other version - and I include going to the range and playing on a golf simulator in this - never really gets the juices flowing in quite the same way.

I probably sound like a killjoy, so I’ll put my fun hat on and say this: as golf games for the garden go, for occasions that get everyone involved for some outdoor fun, it’s a well-thought-out and well-made product.

Is it worth $230 (£174.99)? I think this is quite pricey. BucketGolf fans, of which there are many out there, might disagree, for it can provide hours of fun.

For me, Cornhole is still hard to beat.

One golf item I never thought I would review in my 30-plus years in the industry is a golf strap. Yes, I’ve talked about strap systems in individual golf bag reviews. But as a stand-alone item? No. In fact, I’m a little surprised that someone actually thought of a smart strap and thought there might be a market for it.

But Stitch Golf, a premium brand that pushes the envelope a bit, is banking that there’s a niche market of golfers who will gravitate to this concept.

“This isn’t just a strap; it’s a game-changing experience,” said Brad King, CEO of Stitch Golf. “We saw an opportunity to integrate smart tech into the most overlooked part of a golfer’s gear, and we took it to a whole new level. What no one else has, now everybody is going to want.”

I’m not sure everybody will want it, but I tried it. And you know what? The new Stitch Golf Link Strap with embedded technology from Bushnell Golf makes more sense than I thought it would. And there are definitely golfers out there who love to have the latest and greatest and will take a look at this.

The Stitch Link Golf Strap is a new addition to the company’s MIY (Make it Yours) concept, where you can personalize various components of the SL2 golf bag, like the body, the saddle, and the strap. These three elements can be changed out, and come in different color combinations.

Now there’s a new strap you can add if you have a Stitch bag already, and it comes with two pieces of technology – a Bushnell Wingman Speaker and a magnetically attached Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope Handheld GPS. The new strap ($350) is specially designed to accommodate them. For those who have another carry bag brand, Stitch is planning to offer adapters soon.

Bushnell, of course, sells these items separately for those who aren’t interested in embedding them in a strap, and they work very well. The GPS can be carried in your pocket, for example, or magnetically placed on a cart rail or hooked to a golf bag. The speaker can also be hooked to a golf bag or placed on a golf cart. As of publication, the Bushnell speaker and GPS are on sale on the Bushnell website for $80 and $130, respectively, if you bought them separately.

If you always ride, this smart strap probably doesn't make sense for you.

I actually don’t carry too much (I usually use a push cart when I walk), but for this review, I did both. While it’s pretty cool on a push cart, to get the full effect of this concept, carrying is the way to go.

My first impression when I hooked up everything and started carrying this bag was how comfortable the strap was. In fact, I actually had a round where I had a caddie, and he remarked how cool he thought the concept was and how good the strap was, too.

That’s probably due to the construction of the strap, which is made with Stitch’s signature "Touring Fabric,” and has thicker padding than its regular straps, so it could embed the Bushnell products. The straps are also very light, and you definitely don’t feel the speaker and the rangefinder while carrying clubs.

But here’s why I really liked this concept. While I don’t usually listen to music on the course, having that speaker right behind me when carrying does a couple of things. First, it sounds great, because it’s a pretty decent little speaker, and it’s close to you as you walk with the bag. Secondly, because it’s close to you, you can keep the volume down, which means it’s unlikely to bother other players. I found that unless they got close to me, or we were on the tee, they couldn’t hear the classic rock or jazz (and sometimes spa music I play to help calm me down) I was playing through the speaker.

Secondly, where the GPS is located means that every time you put the bag down, there it is, right in front of you. You don’t have to pull it out of your pocket. Of course, the GPS could also be clipped to the bag, but having it in the strap is cooler.

Also, it doesn’t appear there’s any reason to be worried about these devices falling out of the strap as you walk. Not only do the devices fit snugly into the cavities of the strap, but the magnets also work on the strap.

As for ease of use, the Wingman speaker pairs easily with a smartphone via Bluetooth. The controls on the speaker aren't very accessible when in the strap, but you can control everything with your phone anyway. You can also get audible distances with the Wingman.

The Phantom 3 Slope GPS has a touchscreen for all its displays. Plus, unlike some best golf GPS devices, once you turn it on, it figures out where you are and what hole you're on, so it’s pretty automatic. One of the cool features – as the name states – is that it can give you slope-compensated distances much like an optical rangefinder.

We ask a lot of a golf travel cover. It needs to be robust enough to protect our clubs, but also easy to manoeuvre through airports as we travel to our destination. They also need to carry more than just our clubs, too. Golf shoes, towels and toiletries often find their way into these bags, so they need to have extra space too. Ogio's new Renegade travel cover was built to try and fulfil all these criteria, all while offering a stylish solution to travelling with your golf clubs.

Though only available in black and green (a more subdued colour palette for a company that prides itself in louder styles and patterns), I love the way the Renegade looks. It looks rugged and ready to travel. The exterior is made from a recycled, but ultra-rugged, 1680D ballistic polyester. Though hopefully you won't have to dodge any ballistic fire on your way to play golf, I can assure you this material is ultra-durable and no amount of bashing as it makes its way through baggage claim will cause it to perish.

On the interior, 600D abrasion panels keep your golf bag from absorbing too much shock, while extra padding on the top half of the bag offers protection for the most prone area of your golf bag. On the bottom of the bag is what Ogio calls SLED, basically a large plastic area that increases durability on the lower part of the bag when it is dragged about. This is a really good feature to include, as I've seen plenty of travel covers start to perish on the bottom half after a few too many trips dragged across harsh surfaces. This bag is as rugged as it looks, and is certainly built for as much abuse as baggage handles can throw at it!

The protection is bolstered by some pretty heavy-duty strapping inside and outside. Interior compression straps allow you to strap your bag down to avoid as much movement as possible, while two outer straps support this as well as offer two places to grab the bag from as you take it from the baggage carousel, alongside two dedicated grab handles at either end of the cover.

One of the more unique elements of the Renegade is its large wheels. I love the way they have been designed to look like the alloy wheel of a pickup truck or other off-road vehicle, but they serve a genuine purpose, too. The large surface area of both wheels means there is very little resistance, and it pulls along the ground a lot easier than the smaller wheels on the Sun Mountain Kube and Big Max Traveller I've tested in recent years. Nothing will ever beat the Sun Mountain Club Glider for ease of use, but the Renegade is certainly one of the best travel covers that isn't the Glider to pull along.

While it lacks much in the way of interior zip pockets, there are two exterior zipped pockets that can hold a pair of shoes each, and they can be padlocked if you want to put anything more valuable in there. My journey with the Renegade was a very pleasant one. I left it at baggage check-in with every confidence that my clubs and belongings would be protected, and I returned home confident that the Renegade could be used trip after trip. Add to this the useful features like grab handles and extra strapping, and this is one of the best golf travel covers I've tested.

If I'm going away for a brief golf trip, be it one or two nights, I always end up putting everything I need with me in a generic gym bag and hauling it into the back of my car. Inevitably, with all the various golf accessories I bring with me, pencils, golf balls, gloves and rangefinders get lost in and amongst my clothes in the same bag.

Clearly the folks at Enpi were fed up with this solution for weekend golf getaways and have thus designed the Travel Caddy, a golf-specific piece of luggage ideal for keeping everything organised for those brief golf trips.

It's built from Oxford Polyester, which, while not the most premium of materials, is certainly a durable one that won't wear or rip in any hurry. That it's fully waterproof is also a nice touch if you're heading up for a trip to one of the damper parts of the world - I'm looking at you, Scotland.

At the bottom of the bag is space for two pairs of shoes. Though I only used it to pack spikeless golf shoes in, there is more than enough room to fit two pairs of spiked shoes in. As a plucky size 8, my shoes fit in easily, but I can assure you there is plenty of room if your feet are on the longer end of the spectrum than mine. It's great to have a dedicated area for shoes separate from the rest, as it keeps mud, grass and any other golf course debris well away from the rest of your belongings.

At the top of the bag are two sections. The top of the bag is home to three mesh zippered pockets as well as dedicated space to hold pencils, pens and tees. I used these mesh pockets to pack my glove, golf balls and a rangefinder, but these can be used for anything you need.

The other half of the bag is where things start to get clever. Velcro dividers allow you to somewhat customise the space to create up to five separate compartments. Here I put golf polos, trousers, a cap and some suncream for the trip. In total, the bag has 35 litres of storage, which I found was plenty for a two-night trip. Ultimately, you'll likely need another bag for non-golf clothing for the trip, but this entirely depends on how light you travel.

Good as the travel caddy was for a weekend, I've actually found myself using it more as a boot tidy. I'm a criminal for distributing gloves, balls, tees, suncream and any other golf-related detritus in the boot of my car. Inevitably, with this habit, stuff gets lost, and the back of my car becomes a mess. Being a relatively compact bag, the ENPI sits nicely in my boot and allows me to store a couple of pairs of shoes, gloves, pencils, suncream and any other golf-related gubbins. That it is as useful when you're not travelling as when you are makes the investment seem all the more worthwhile for this clever little bag.

If you're a frequent traveller on short golf trips, there really is no other golf-specific travel bag quite like it. Perfect for a two or three-day getaway, the Enpi Travel Caddy is a cleverly built, surprisingly spacious and durable travel companion. Of course, this bag can be used for any sport or type of trip, too, making it all the more versatile.

As your only point of connection with the club, your glove is an underrated piece of equipment. The wrong fit or one that’s worn out can cause issues with control, not to mention being uncomfortable to wear and opening yourself up to annoying, persistent blisters.

Bionic is a brand that has focused on enhancing a golfer’s experience through its glove technology, and its latest product is the Relaxgrip 2.0 DX, following on from the StableGrip 2.0 glove we also enjoyed in testing. The DX refers to the addition of the dual expansion zone which allows it to adjust to any length or width of thumb. Getting the right size of glove is critical, which is why Bionic offers everything from small to XXXL in standard and cadet (short thumb) sizing, right or left handed.

Slide the correct size of this particular glove on, like I did recently when I put it to the test, and the feeling is certainly unusual initially compared to the best golf gloves. The anatomical pads in the palm and fingers are said to promote a lighter grip pressure and I would agree in that I felt like I didn’t need to apply as much pressure or tension to keep a solid hold of the club. Remember that the shaping of these pads is not designed to offer assistance in how to hold the club correctly (perhaps leave that to the Me And My Golf True Grip glove), more to reduce hand fatigue and possibly increase the leverage you’re able to create.

You soon get used to the different feeling versus a traditional glove and I could see how using a glove like this would feel better for some golfers who are hyper sensitive in this area - but I don’t think I’ll be making the switch permanently. That said, where this glove really excels is in the fit and durability.

The mesh sections on the knuckles and fingers ensure you have just the right amount of movement while maintaining that snug, skin-hugging fit you need. This is helped by the pre-curved fingers, which just makes it feel more comfortable. The palm is made of a highly durable material, so where traditional cabretta leather gloves would show wear after less than a handful of rounds, the Bionic Relaxgrip 2.0 DX Glove just keeps on going round after round. For under $20, you’re getting a lot of glove for your money here.

Tiger Woods returns to the cover of a golf video game... but not one from EA like in years past. Instead, the 15-time major winner sits on the front cover of 2K Sports' latest addition to the golf video game market. With a brand new swing system, three licensed major championships and almost 30 licensed courses, have 2K set a new standard for golf video games? I gave it a go to find out.

Gameplay

Nailing the gameplay in a golf video game is difficult - developers want to find that sweet spot between arcade-like fun and realistic, difficult gameplay to represent the sport itself. In my opinion, 2K have done just that.

As a pretty experienced gamer, especially within the sports and golf video game sectors, I like a challenge. I want realistic offline gameplay that challenges me without being too over the top. The best compliment I can give this game in that regard is the number of different options you have in terms of tweaking the difficulty to your liking. Gone are the days of easy, medium and hard difficulty options, instead replaced by the option to tweak around a dozen different settings to tailor the game to your wants and needs.

In terms of the gameplay itself, the new Evo Swing mechanic might be the most realistic system I've ever used in a golf game. EvoSwing compliments the player's own rhythm and dexterity to better simulate the feeling of swinging a golf club when using Swing Stick and provides a real challenge to those who seek it. Those who want an easier, more laid back experience can opt for the new Perfect Swing difficulty setting, which reduces the material impact of external factors on your swing. This allows newer players to familiarize themselves with the complexity of the sport and the game mechanics without worrying about the intricacies of the golf swing.

I don't love the new system when it comes to short game, however. It felt very clunky and hard to judge, with pitch and chip shots feeling like a guessing game for the most part. A lot of the time, if I trusted the shot my caddy told me to play I'd end up rolling off the green or finishing nowhere near the hole during my MyCAREER play, but that could well be a skill issue on my end! Nevertheless, the short game mechanics will take me a while to get used to.

Game modes

I'll begin with MyCAREER, the game mode I tend to play the most in sports video games. Players can choose to start their journey in Q-School, on the Korn Ferry Tour, or by jumping directly onto the PGA TOUR if they want to skip the grind of the mini tours.

The word I would use to describe MyCAREER is vast - there was a lot to unpack, which is a good thing! However, I did notice a few frustrating features.

I'll begin with the good - licensing is always difficult to get in golf games, so for 2K to manage to acquire three of the four major championship is a welcome addition. The PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and the Open Championship are all included alongside a fully licensed PGA Tour season that features the FedEx Cup. As a player who loves realism, this is fantastic, although The Masters does feel like a big miss.

Like the difficulty settings, MyCAREER is extremely customizable. The player creator is by far the most in-depth 2K have ever added to a golf game, a welcome addition compared to what lacked in previous years. You can also whizz through your career at your own pace - play as little as 4 holes per round and simulate the rest or play four full rounds and embrace the long grind of a PGA Tour season.

It's not all perfect however. The 'rivals' feature, in which a PGA Tour players challenges you to beat them during a tournament, feels a bit forced and unfulfilling. The lack of up-to-date equipment and clothing is also disappointing, with most of the gear available on launch at least one year old if not older.

Arguably my biggest gripe is one that has, in my opinion, plagued 2K golf games in the past - the leaderboards. In my first three tournaments Andrew Novak won by nine shots, Tiger Woods won by eleven shots and Xander Schauffele won by 12 shots. Very rarely do you see bunched leaderboards on a Sunday or even a Friday for that matter which really has a negative effect on the realism in my opinion.

The wonderful course creator returns, allowing players to create the weirdest and whackiest courses they can and share with the world and will doubt prove an enjoyable feature like it has in previous games.

Golfers and courses

29 courses are included with the game at launch, most notably the PLAYERS course at TPC Sawgrass, the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club and The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club. More are on the way as well, with 2K stating St Andrews will be one addition in the coming months. 2K also include a handful of created courses, some of which are a lot more enjoyable than others but provide a good if not frustrating test.

2K have really up their game in terms of the graphics on offer here too. Pebble Beach in particular looks especially pretty and I loved the presentation of Royal Portrush and Torrey Pines. I would argue it still lags ever so slightly behind EA Sports' PGA Tour which was released two years ago, but the wide gap between previous 2K and EA Sports games has shrunk significantly.

The number of playable professionals is underwhelming, with only eleven to choose from. Pleasingly, there some of both the best male and female players in the world included including Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Lydia Ko, Tom Kim, Brooke Henderson, and more. Tiger Woods also being the highest rated player in the game at 99 overall is as eyebrow raising as it is unsurprising considering he's on the cover of the game. The female players also feature in your PGA Tour MyCAREER simulations - I battled against Rose Zhang down the stretch for the PLAYERS Championship for example, which felt a bit... weird?

Verdict

It's far from perfect, but I'd comfortably say that this is 2K's most complete golf game and an effort well worth competing against EA's PGA Tour game from two years ago at the pinnacle of the genre.

The overall experience from EA's offering might be a little more well-rounded, but it's hard to argue that 2K's new swing mechanics have now set the standard for golf gameplay, even with the slightly chunky short game features. MyCAREER is dense, boasting some cracking features and some more anti-climatic ones, but it will no doubt give this game a long shelf life for the golf nut who wants to get lost in multiple seasons of pro golf. For those gamers on the fence about the new 2K game, I'd say it's worth the investment.

PGA TOUR 2K25 is rated PEGI 3 and will be available for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam and releases on 28th February, with players who order the Deluxe or Legend Edition receiving the PGA TOUR 2K23 base game (digital version only) and seven days early access, allowing them to play the game beginning Friday, February 21, 2025.

Few brands do affordable, versatile sunglasses better than Tifosi and the Swank is yet another example in a long list of impressive pair we’ve enjoyed wearing on and off the golf course. For just £55 you get scratch resistance and shatterproof polarised lenses, housed in a sturdy yet lightweight frame.

The biggest compliment I could pay to the Swank sunnies, much like the best golf sunglasses, is that I didn’t notice I was wearing them - such is the lightweight comfort on offer and clarity through the lenses. This is enhanced by the fact they stay firmly in position due to the anti-bounce textured coating on the arms and the hydrophilic rubber used on the nose pads, which means the amount of grip increases the more you sweat.

There’s no question the styling means these sunglasses can be worn seamlessly off the course for almost any occasion. I tried the blackout frame with the blue lenses but there’s also a grey and see-through green available if you want something different.

I’ve always found wraparound designs slightly better for golf, like on the Tifosi Veloce Interchangeable sunglasses, because you don’t get those gaps in your view when looking to the side as you tend to do in golf, perhaps when glancing at your target stood over the ball. But I didn’t experience any obvious distractions or niggly frustrations with the Swank when playing in them and trying to execute an important shot.

The lenses are excellent - they do a great job of dulling down your view on a bright day while still letting through all the detail you need, like the subtle contours on a green. The lack of a more solid, protective carry case is a little disappointing as someone with a tendency to often sit on fragile items accidentally, but I suppose at this price point something has to give. They do some with a soft drawstring pouch, which you can also use to clean the lenses without risk of scratching them.

Overall, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Swank sunglasses - they’re suitable for casual players as well as serious golfers looking to protect their eyes on outings on the links from UVA and UVB rays. You'll likely find yourself wearing them as much away from the course as you do on it.

Mobile phones have only recently become accepted for on-course use over the past couple of years, they are now so functional when it comes to use when on the golf course. Whether it’s through live-scoring apps, acting as a GPS device or to tell your significant other you only have a few holes left when you’ve just made the turn, having easy access to your mobile has become so important and that’s why I wanted to get my hands on the Stripebird Golf magnetic phone holder.

I’ve tested a couple of golf mounts in the past as well as some of the best golf gadgets and have found they don’t tend to be overly sturdy and dislodge fairly easily when taking your buggy over rough terrain. However, this very practical, yet extremely simple in design phone holder from Stripebird is designed with the help of dual Neodymium N52 magnet plates which are known as some of the strongest rare-earth magnets and to my delight, didn’t budge at all when taken along on a bumpy ride. In fact, the magnets are so strong it was a little challenging to take the holder off from my buggy once it had a good hold.

One thing worth noting is that golf carts aren't used as often in the UK as in the US and there was no way of actually attaching this device to my electric trolley without purchasing the additional ‘golf hub’ from the brands website which is a plate that slides onto your golf bag and then will attract the magnet on the phone holder. The phone holder itself will attach to your irons if you really wanted your phone on display when using a golf trolley, but I feel it looked messy and was fearful of what damage the metal block could do to my other irons while rattling around.

That said, even if you didn’t require your phone to be accessible at all times, the Stripebird phone holder was handy for attaching to an iron in my bag when on the driving range and wanting to record my swing. One screw simply opens the clamp and allows any model of phone to slot inside to then be tightened up again. The Stripebird magnetic phone clamp is also available in eight different colors, so you can add a personal touch to your newest golf accessory.

Overall I found this device to be pretty handy, especially for when I’m in the mood to practice or when I play in a cart. I can have my phone at arms length while hooked up to one of the best golf speakers so my friends and I can enjoy some music on the golf course for the more casual rounds and using one of the best GPS apps to navigate my way around a course I haven’t visited before. At $34 this phone holder represents great value for money and offers great multi-use functionality.

If there is one piece of golf equipment that often gets looked past and should be paid more attention - it’s the golf glove. Acting as your ‘second skin’ having the right golf glove on your hand is crucial to ensure you have the best grip and feel of the golf club. Slip the TaylorMade Tour Preferred Flex golf glove on for the first time and you will only be asking yourself why you hadn’t done so sooner.

Like many of the best golf gloves, the TaylorMade Tour Preferred Flex golf glove is made from AAA Cabretta leather which offers a buttery soft feel from the moment your hand enters the glove and complete awareness of your hand placement on your grip.

Nothing annoys me more than inconsistent sizing in a golf glove but there was no such issue when it came to the Tour Preferred Flex golf glove. TaylorMade’s sizing is very consistent and so there was no surprise the medium-large sized glove I ordered fitted perfectly. While I had concerns the premium leather would stretch over time and become too large for me, that hasn’t been the case after two rounds of golf and this glove has proven it has superb durability due to very little wear, just some staining from my grips that are due a clean!

The fit of the Tour Preferred Flex golf glove is made even comfortable due to 4-way nylon stretch insert, that molds perfectly over your knuckles throughout the golf swing and I feel actually offers a more comfortable feel over some full leather gloves with no extra materials. The moisture management on this glove is superb thanks to a moisture wicking wristband that is comfortable and picks up any perspiration on a hotter day. There is also increased air-flow thanks to ventilation holes on both the rear and palm of the glove, the latter I thought may have an impact on durability and while this doesn’t seem to be the case so far, time will tell.

I feel as though the TaylorMade Tour Preferred golf glove offers superb all-round performance and the fact it comes to retail at $19/£15 means you are getting superb value for money when compared to some other premium leather gloves.

For more buying advice on gloves, check out our guides on the best golf rain gloves or best winter golf gloves.

Beaver Golf originates from Germany and is adding a splash of color to your golf attire through its bold and unique glove designs, all while having sustainability at the very heart of the brand. Beaver Golf is on a mission to change the world with its golf gloves. Specifically, the brand uses no plastic in the packaging process and makes sure they use no harmful substances in the making of its gloves, including non allergenic substances. 

As someone who plays the majority of their golf in the UK where the weather can change in an instance, having a top quality golf glove that can handle all weather conditions is key and that’s why I was excited to try the Beaver Golf All Season Ultra golf glove. This glove is made from AAA Cabretta leather, which is as thin and soft as any of the best golf gloves on the market, and is available in seven different colors. 

This glove felt great when my hands when on the club and was so thin it provided excellent feel. While I wasn’t sure about the ‘Cognac Brown’ colorway at first and I’m sure it won’t be to everyone's taste, it did grow on me as the round progressed and I really liked the cool beaver logo sported on the Velcro closure tab.

These gloves are made with what Beaver Golf calls ‘2nd skin fit’ meaning that this glove is designed to fit snugly straight away and should be comfortable right out of the packaging. The small holes on the glove allow for increased air flow and unusually are found on the palm side of the glove as well as the rear. While I feel this would certainly help with keeping your hands cool, I can’t help but feel this may reduce the durability of the glove and make it easier to rip - but only time will tell on this, no such damage so far.

The innovative rain technology from Beaver is what really makes this glove unique and allows this glove to perform well in all weather conditions, hence the name. While I was testing this glove on a rare sunny day in the UK spring, it managed moisture very well meaning my hands never once felt sweaty. I got caught in one rain shower and the glove performed no differently when I reluctantly stood out from my golf umbrella into the rain to take my shot. While the leather on this glove is on par with some of the best FootJoy gloves, Beaver Golf still recommends rotating between gloves on wetter or hotter days to help maximise the lifespan of each glove you own.

Retailing at €24 per glove, the price is towards the premium end of the spectrum, but with the rain technology, quality of leather and unique color options, I feel they represent very good value for money.

Having a glove that not only fits right but feels extremely comfortable to wear when on the golf course is of utmost importance given it’s what connects your clubs to your hands during the golf swing. FootJoy is definitely viewed as one of the industry leaders when it comes to golf gloves and the FootJoy Pure Touch golf glove is the brand's top-tier offering, sitting just above the impressive StaSof golf glove.

The FootJoy Pure Touch Limited glove is made out of the finest Cabretta leather which is what gives it its silk-like feel. While the thin leather used on this glove may deteriorate slightly quicker than some of the other best FootJoy gloves, the feel when you slide it on your hand for the first time is exceptional. The durability is somewhat enhanced by using proprietary leather preparation techniques. The tailored construction and moisture wicking elastics help with managing perspiration and therefore making this glove last longer than other gloves we have tried in similar conditions.

While this glove does deal well with moisture management, I could see how it could deteriorate quite quickly on wetter days and so having one of the best golf rain gloves handy in your bag would be advised in case inclement weather were to roll in.

While I often have to try on multiple gloves as the sizing fluctuates a good amount even with some of the best golf gloves, that was not an issue with the Pure Touch Limited. All three gloves in my order fitted perfectly and slid on my hand as if it were just another layer of skin. I think that speaks volumes about the quality control that takes place during the manufacturing process and why it’s the choice of many of the game's best players, including current world number 5 Wyndham Clark.

While this glove does retail at a premium price point of $38/£26 there is very little that comes close to it in regards to feel and performance. The simple white leather with white stitching and black FootJoy logo really give this glove a premium and stripped back aesthetic that I think golfing traditionalists will love and the velcro enclosed packaging just adds even more class to a high quality product.

The best travel covers come in all shapes and sizes and cover a wide amount of price points. The Big Max Traveller sits somewhere towards the bottom of the price spectrum with the likes of the Sun Mountain Glider sitting well above it while something like the Macgregor VIP travel cover offering an even cheaper travel cover option. Earlier this year, we took the Big Max Traveler on a golf trip to Madeira to see how easy it was to travel with and how well it protected our clubs. 

Weighing just 3.2kg, this is a great travel cover to use if you plan to use the most of your weight allowance on the flight. There is loads of room to put shoes or clothing next to your golf bag and the very well proportioned pockets on the outside can easily fit a pair of the best golf shoes in. There's also a neat pocket (which you can see in the red zip here) that is really useful for smaller objects like a padlock or an Apple AirTag which I like to travel with. 

As well as being very well proportioned to travel with, the Traveler also comes with a unique padding system at the top of the bag. While many of you who have travelled with golf clubs before will know the ritual of stuffing clothes or towels at the top of the bag for extra protection for drivers and fairway woods, the Traveller negates the need for you to do this with its own integrated padding system. Situated at the top of the bag, it protects all sides of the tops of the clubs as your wrap it around. Coupled with the two straps integrated into the cover that allows you to strap your bag down, the Traveler really does a great job of protecting golf clubs on their travels. 

My only concerns with the Traveler are the quality of materials. There's no denying the cover's ability to protect golf clubs in transit, but there were already a few tears to fabrics on the inside of the cover after only a couple of journeys through airports. With that in mind, I'd recommend those go on multiple golf trips every year go for something a little more substantial like the Sun Mountain Kube or Motocaddy Flightsafe to name two. However, if you're traveling with your clubs once or twice a year, the Big Max Traveler represents an excellent value travel cover that is lightweight, well proportioned and with ample protection for golf clubs. While the RRP is £150, I've seen it readily available online for much less than that and the £120 or so you should be able to pick it up for represents one of the best value travel covers available right now. 

It's no secret that putting is the area where you can save the most shots in the quickest timespan. If you can hole more putts, you're going to take less strokes - it's that simple. 

One way to do that is by investing in one of the best putting mats but, even here, you can be looking at hundreds of dollars for the pleasure. That's where the PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Golf Putting Mat comes in, as it provides golfers with the option of a home set up for a fraction of the cost of other mats on the market.

Firstly, you don't just get a putting mat that measures 200cm (6.5ft) x 30cm (1ft), but you also get a regulation sized cup (which is on a raised section), PGA Tour target flag, two slats that act as a ball returner, a golf ball alignment tool and marker, as well as a PGA Tour Training Academy DVD that showcases various aspects of the game.

All-in-all, there's plenty there for your money and, the next big plus is how easy it is to set-up. Simply roll it out, smooth the mat over so there are no creases, put the two slats down on the turf via the Velcro and voila, you are ready to go.

So, it's easy to set up and, positively, I found the ball rolled superbly on a range of different flat surfaces. Unfortunately, the weather in England is dreadful at the moment, so I wasn't able to test it outside, but on carpet, wooden flooring and smooth tiling, it rolled exceptionally well. As long as there's no debris on the mat itself, it produced consistent roll after consistent roll.

Now, though, we come to the first negative, which is that the putting mat didn't have any alignment lines or aids. If you look at the Pure 2 Improve Putting Mat or the more expensive Perfect Practice Putting Mat, you will see an array of lines to help the putting stroke and start line. You could argue that, because the PGA Tour Mat doesn't have these, it provides a more authentic feel of what it's like on the course but, to that, I say the whole point of a putting mat is to hone and practice your stroke in a relaxed environment.

One positive I did find from the lack of alignment aids on the mat, though, is that it draws your focus on the hole a lot more. Surrounding the raised hole is a bunker and water hazard which, although it doesn't sound much, did narrow my focus onto a smaller target, something which is a great putting tip for those who struggle. What's more, I did find it useful in the sense of working out whether an alignment line on the golf ball was effective, something that I can take out on the golf course.

Admittedly, you could also purchase one of the best putting aids to help with your stroke. However, overall, I think this particular type of putting mat is designed for the new golfer, or even the younger golfer. Personally, I think it's a great way of introducing kids to putting as you can make fun games out of it by trying to avoid the bunker and water around the hole.

The PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Golf Putting Mat is a very good performer and, if you store it correctly, you should get a long-life out of it. One thing to mention, if you roll it up or fold it poorly, it will be difficult to un-crease, but if you keep it in good condition, it does provide a useful aid that will help your game.

As mentioned, it will likely be more suited towards the younger demographic but, if you want an item that can increase the enjoyment of your practice, then this is a viable option that won't break the bank.

Holing more putts is the fastest way to lowering your scores so investing in one of the best putting mats is a good decision golfers can make. We tested the Pure 2 Improve Perfect Stroke Golf Putting Mat to see if it could be beneficial for your game, with the mat coming it at a very reasonable price.

It measures 275cm x 30cm so is plenty long enough to roll some putts, with three distinct markers at seven, five and three feet away from its blacked-out hole marker. There's a number of lines to help you with your alignment and stroke, and therefore become a better putter. I quickly discovered that my putter was aiming to the right and that I had a fairly momental alignment issue - so it's these kind of simple, basics that a mat like this can help with.

Once rolled out, it feels very well made, albeit it does occasionally kink up in places, and seems to attract fluff that can be difficult to vacuum out. It's nice and thin, which ensures that it rolls at a good speed but I struggled to find a flat floor in my apartment on both laminate and carpet.

If you're purchasing the Pure 2 Improve mat, make sure you have a perfectly flat floor that you can place this 2.75m mat down on and you'll certainly find it very useful if you're looking to improve your putting from close range.

It doesn't feature a hole or a ball retrieving mechanism, so I'd also recommend purchasing some kind of aftermarket hole. I used it with the PuttOut trainer, which definitely helped with my aim and not having to keep running after my golf ball.

If you don't have an aftermarket hole, it is still useful to work on your distance control to try and stop the ball inside the hole section.

Overall, for the price it is a good product as long as you have enough room to use it on a flat floor and consider purchasing some kind of aftermarket hole. I also used the Perfect Practice Putting mat, which comes with two holes in a raised section and a useful ball returning mechanism. I'd use that over the Pure 2 Improve mat but it does come in at over three-times the price.

If you're looking for a good golf mat, the Pure 2 Improve Perfect Stroke Golf Putting Mat is certainly a product that can identify some flaws in your putting stroke and help you with your alignment, stroke and distance control - and they're things that will make you a better golfer.

It's been a few years since Golf Pride has made any waves in the putter grip world. Its last launch was the impressive Pro Only line but the brand is back in 2024 with the Reverse Taper range. This aptly-named trio of grips is designed with a slimmer upper half and wider lower section to help anchor the top hand for stability and reduce tension in the lower hand for smooth acceleration through the stroke. Additionally, the Reverse Taper prevents micro-levers in the stroke, helping golfers to not flip their wrists at impact. We tested them in sunny Spain over a couple of rounds to really put them through their paces.

Our first impressions of this grip were of comfort and quality. Clearly much thought has gone into not only the specific shape of the grips, but the weight and texture too. The Reverse Taper grips are constructed using polyurethane to deliver the right softness, texture and weight (that doesn’t exceed 70g in any model) that enables more consistency and confidence in golfers’ hands. The feel is soft, yet responsive with unique circular-shaped traction elements to help each hand control speed.

The grips are eye catching and have visual cues in the form of red markings and textures to help with consistent finger placement regardless of how a player likes to grip their putter. Despite there being multiple sizes, the weight of each model maintains a balanced ‘sweet spot’ so golfers can sense the putter head throughout the stroke.

Reverse Taper is available in two sizes (medium and large) in three unique shapes. The Round will be universally popular for all hand gripping techniques and this was the one we gravitated towards. It features a traditionally round upper section that tapers into a wider lower section. The Pistol shape will help golfers lock in their upper hand - this could really help golfers that use the left-below-right grip gain a more comfortable hold. Then there’s the Flat shape which is slightly more oval in the upper section aimed at golfers that employ a palm-to-palm style of putting stroke.

In testing, it really didn’t take long to get used to holing putts with the Reverse Taper grip. In fact, its effect was immediate and in a positive way. Even though we enjoyed the feel of our original putter grip, over time we leaned toward favoring the Reverse Taper. 

Like the best putter grips, it felt super comfortable in the hands, and really seemed to soften our grip and particularly our bottom hand. It felt tacky but not excessively so and actually did calm our hands during the stroke, which is particularly important from short range. Reduced tension in the hands and elbows also leads to a more consistent stroke. 

For us, this meant that more putts were rolling up to that ‘bin lid’ target around the hole from mid and long range. We only tested the Reverse Taper in a medium size but for those of you with large hands or that really want to take all wrists out of the stroke, there is a larger option worth considering.

Whether you find the best golf speakers a down right offensive new piece of technology or a fun new golf gadget (I'm in the latter of the two camps, FYI) there's no denying there is an increasing popularity for music on the golf course and a couple of golf brands have latched onto this. 'Why should I buy a golf specific Bluetooth speaker over a standard one?' I hear you ask. Well, one look at the amount of features on the latest Blue Tees Player+ speaker and you'll quickly see why. 

Blue Tees is a relatively young brand, but has already given us some of the best golf gadgets like the Series 3 Max laser rangefinder and the original Player Magnetic speaker. The list of features on the Player+ speak to exactly why you might want to invest in a golf specific device. Integrated GPS showing you yardage to the green and hazards, a shot measuring device, score tracker, audible feedback and a touchscreen display are all features no standard Bluetooth speaker can boast. So if you're looking to use a speaker primarily for you and your friends to enjoy on the course, I think a golf specific device is a way to go forward. 

I'll start by talking about the quality of sound. While I'm no expert on sound, I can compare it directly to the Bushnell Wingman View speaker I tested a few months ago. To me, the Player+ had a much deeper, bass filled sound than the Bushnell could produce. This is likely thanks to the two subwoofers installed into the Player+, technology the Bushnell device simply doesn't have. While there is only a speaker installed on one half of the device, it offers an impressive 360° sound, which will mean the sound carries well between your fourball out on course. 

One big technical advantage it has over the Bushnell Wingman View is the touchscreen display. As much as I enjoyed the Wingman View, I always felt the screen was a touch rudimentary for a device in this day and age. The responsive touchscreen on the Player+ speaker not only makes the speaker look more modern, but really enhances the overall user experience. You can scroll quickly between the main GPS distance view through all of the many screens like time and date, a music screen, dynamic hazards, driving distances and your score display. It's a much more rounded experience than with the Wingman that requires you to interact with your phone much less to access information. 

You require a smartphone to link up the Player+ speaker to the outside world, and its from your phone where you'll connect the device, play your music and cast the GPS yardages from. Over 40,000 courses are pre-downloaded onto the Blue Tees app, an app which allows you to unlock more features and insights such as full hole mapping, detailed green view and a full hole flyover. From my testing, the yardages were pretty accurate - what you'd expect accuracy-wise from the phone's GPS - while being a couple of yards out from the laser rangefinder yardages I was comparing them against. 

The Player+, much like the Wingman, comes with a large built-in magent running across the side, something of a must-have feature of any golf speaker or golf GPS device for that matter. This means you can easily and confidently attach it to the side of a golf cart or even the side of an electric golf trolley for convenient storage and use. Due to the weight of the product, I can't foresee anyone using this product when they're walking the golf course, and this is where devices like the Bushnell Wingman Mini come into their own. 

At this price, it's not that much more expensive than a good quality standard Bluetooth speaker. Considering this can be used on and off the golf course to equally good effect, it seems a sound investment if you're a golfer in the market for a new speaker. For me, it just pips out the Wingman View thanks to the superior sound and more modern touchscreen, but we are expecting a new version of the Wingman view to drop soon, so it'll be interesting to see what upgrades Bushnell brings to compete with this excellent Blue Tees offering. 

Speakers on golf courses are fantastic. That is a strongly held opinion mine and if you think the opposite, I think you've strayed onto the wrong part of the internet. Here in the UK, I feel like I'm on a one-man mission to get more people in the UK to enjoy what the best golf speakers can bring to the game in the right scenario. Golf speakers have become increasingly popular in the US, and manufacturers have rightly clocked on to this trend to deliver some more golf specific speakers to the market. Why wouldn't you just go and buy a standard Bluetooth speaker? Well, I think the Wingman Mini has a lot of answers to that question. 

The Bushnell Wingman Mini is one of three Bluetooth speakers in the Bushenll range - alongside the Wingman View and standard Wingman - and is aimed mostly at those who carry their clubs on the golf course. Those who primarily use a cart or electric trolley will be much better served by the Wingman View in my opinion, but its overall weight makes it highly unsuitable for those who carry. That's where the Mini comes into its own as it delivers all the same perks of a Bushnell speaker in a pint-sized package. 

It weighs just 6oz in total compared to the 23oz Wingman View - a significant difference - and its more compact shape fits easily into the palm of your hand. It also comes with a carabiner clip that allows it to attach to the accessory hook on your bag as well as Bushnell's Bite magnet technology which will allow it to cling tightly to any magnetic surface - especially useful for those who do opt to use it on a cart or electric trolley. 

We're no audiophiles here at Golf Monthly, but we can tell a good speaker from a bad one. For its size, the Wingman Mini delivers a really clear sound that carries well on the golf course. It means your fourball will be able to enjoy the music without interfering with golfers walking up the adjacent hole.

Like its sister products, it comes with GPS capabilities when connected to the free Bushnell app. While it lacks the screen the Wingman View offers, the Mini does have the ability to read out the distances to the front, middle and back of the green. It's effectively casting the data from the Bushnell app, which you can also use as a companion to show aerial views of the hole and keep track of your scoring. The speaker will also announce you onto the hole when you arrive at the next tee box by saying the number and yardage - a neat touch. 

The size and weight of the Wingman View GPS speaker means you're never going to use it if you're carrying your clubs. With that in mind, the Wingman Mini delivers perfectly on the brief of delivering high-quality audio and GPS capabilities in a smaller package. Bushnell has done a great job is differentiating its products from standard Bluetooth speakers to make them a genuinely useful and highly enjoyable golf accessory that I think a lot more golfers should be using. 

The best golf speakers are still something of a foreign golf accessory here in the UK. As much as I've tried to persuade people that music on the golf course is a good idea that doesn't interrupt other people's games, it often falls on deaf ears. 

Having played golf in the US a number of times with a speaker in tow, it opened my eyes to the joys of playing music when on the golf course. Golf manufacturers have cottoned on to this trend too and have since introduced speakers to the market that do a lot more than just play music. This Bushnell Wingman View combines all the power of a Bluetooth speaker with Bushnell's market-leading GPS. Why shouldn't I just buy a normal Bluetooth speaker and take it out with me? This review hopes to answer exactly that question. 

I'm not going to confess to being much of an audiophile, but I can tell a bad speaker from a good one on a basic level. I can confirm that the Wingman View's sound quality carries really well on the golf course, the bass has plenty of depth to it and ultimately every member of your fourball will be able to enjoy the music on tee boxes and around greens. Such is the quality, I've been using it in my house as much as I have out on the course. Obviously, I don't need the GPS at home (I know the exact yardage from my desk to the kitchen) but such is the quality of the speaker, it's replaced the other (admittedly cheap) Bluetooth speaker. 

With the sound quality covered, let's talk about what helps differentiate the Wingman View from any standard Bluetooth speaker. The main difference is the built-in GPS, which is all visible from the LCD screen built into the side of the speaker. It gets all of its data from the free Bushnell app which, when linked to the speaker, effectively casts all the information from your phone to the speaker. Bushnell has one of the best golf apps out there so you can also use it for an aerial view of the hole as well as keeping your score. 

The Wingman View comes with a small detachable remote in the top of the device that allows you to control the device from afar. The remote lets you turn the volume up or down, change the song, and announce the yardages to the front, middle and back of the green. This is a superb addition that doesn't mean you have to be trawling back and forth to the cart to get the info and is yet another addition that allows the Wingman View to stand out from any conventional speaker. Via the app, you can also add custom walk-on messages that can be activated via the remote. Either use the text-to-speech function in the app or record a message with your own voice to annoy, distract, or cheer on your fourball as you see fit. 

One other really practical addition to the Wingman View is Bushnell's Bite technology. This is basically a very large magnet that covers most of the surface area on one side of the speaker allowing it to firmly attach to any magnetic surface, most importantly the frame of a golf cart. This is one of the big differences between why you'd go for the Wingman View over a conventional speaker. 

The Wingman View is certainly on the heavier side when compared to a generic Bluetooth speaker, that's likely down to the additions of the screen and magnet, but that won't be a problem if you're using a ride-on cart or electric trolley. If you're looking for a quality golf speaker for a carry bag, the Bushnell Wingman Mini offers a pint-sized golf speaker with GPS. 

All in all, I can barely fault the Wingman View and I have seriously enjoyed using it on to broadcast my fantastic taste in music at home and on the golf course. I'll admit that While it's on the heavy side and the LCD screen is somewhat rudimentary for a 2023 product, I can't fault it on sound, practicality and the straight-up joy it brings on the course. The only thing stopping it from getting a full 5-star is the fact this is the only golf speaker I've ever tested. I don't want to go in too hot too early, so I'm looking forward to testing the Blue Tees Players+ speaker in the near future to compare the two. 

Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor Review

We recently got our hands on the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor, which retails at £549 - a snip compared to many other launch monitors out there like the Foresight Sports GCQuad and SkyTrak. So how did it perform in practice and does it represent good value for golfers looking to get the perfect home golf set up? We took it to the range to see what it had to offer.

Watch Joel Tadman test the Rapsodo MLM up against the Foresight Sports GC2

The Rapsodo MLM works in unison with the free Rapsodo app on your iOS smartphone indoors or outdoors. 

Once you have set up an account and logged in, rest your phone in the front slot of the unit and position it approx. six feet behind the ball. The lines on the screen and the GPS overhead view will help you align it correctly and select your hitting direction for optimal accuracy.

The Rapsodo MLM has a clever feature where you hold the club in front of your phone's camera and it will automatically record the club you're hitting.

I would be lying if I said this feature worked 100% of the time, but it certainly picked up the majority of my clubs. Even if it does miss the odd reading, you can input it manually very easily. 

Once you’ve selected your club and started hitting shots, the Rapsodo MLM captures video of you hitting and displays shot tracer-style graphics on the screen, which we found to be accurate most of the time, as well as certain key data points like ball speed, launch angle and carry distance.

Although navigating through the app on a small screen is a little bit fiddly, the graphics are genuinely impressive and the data matched up very well with what we were accustomed to, with subtle differences in strike creating corresponding changes in launch and carry distance.

The shot library feature displays your completed session in a very easy-to-digest grid format, which includes an overhead dispersion graph. There were a few anomalies that were easily discounted, and it would be nice to able to see our spin numbers, but the information on offer is more than enough to form valid opinions about your club and swing performance.

The Rapsodo MLM is only compatible with the iPhone 7 and beyond and the iPad 2017 and up in outdoor mode, and iPhone 8 and up and iPad pro in net mode, which will leave Android users left wanting. It should be noted, that the new Rapsodo MLM II device is now compatible with android, so there are now options if you're not an Apple convert! 

It’s compact size and lightweight design make it easily portable in the carry case. It fits easily inside any compartment of my golf bag and the case even has a handy clip to be able to attach to your golf bag. 

The Rapsodo MLM is a really good option in the portable launch monitor category at this price point. Whilst more expensive units may remove some of the anomaly readings, the level and accuracy of data received was more than sufficient to improve the quality of our practice.

Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover Review

Modern travel covers now come in all different shapes and sizes, all with the goal of safely transporting your golf clubs on their journey through baggage handling for your golf trip. Much innovation has been seen in this area of the market and the new Sun Mountain Kube travel cover is evidence of that. It is a uniquely designed cover that offers hard shell casing around key areas of the cover, all while folding up to a pint-sized cube shape for easy storage at home and on holiday. I took it on four flights across Europe to test out this system for myself. Most importantly, could it do the basics right and keep my golf clubs protected on my travels? 

Folded up, the Kube has dimensions of just 23cm x 33cm x 38cm - barely making a mark wherever you have the space to store your travel bags. I found it especially useful in a hotel room, where standard travel covers can often take up much of the floor space while you're trying to enjoy your trip. The only other travel bag to offer such a fantastic way of storage is the Motocaddy Flightsafe travel cover which is slightly larger and heavier in its execution. 

The handy byproduct of this unique system is the extra padding it provides when the bag is in use. The hard-case shell expands to the top and bottom end of the bag, giving robust protection, especially to the top end of the bag where protection is needed the most. There are also two internal and two external compression straps that tightly hold down your bag to stop it from moving around whilst on its travels. On the four flights I've used the Kube on so far, my clubs have come back perfectly intact with everything placed in the bag remaining exactly where I put it before departure. 

I think my favorite thing about the Kube aside from the way it folds away is how lightweight it is. Coming in at just 3.08kg (6.8lbs) it leaves you with so much weight to add to the bag. Compared to the Ram Fx travel cover, which weighs in at 4.08kg (9lbs), you'll be able to take more away with you in the Kube. Most airlines will allow a golf bag to be no more than 20kg - it can be up to 23kg on some airlines - and you certainly want to make the most of that booked baggage. The lightweight nature of the Kube allows for this and I was able to pack - alongside a full set of golf clubs - three pairs of golf shoes, my golf clothes for the trip, and a toiletries bag. All told this was exactly 20kg on one flight I took earlier this year, leaving me an extra 3kg on the more generous airline. It negates the need to book an extra checked bag for trips and it'll save you money booking more baggage in the long run. It's worth noting I'm not a light traveler either...

The only thing the Kube was lacking for me was some extra pockets. There are two small internal pockets that I used to carry belts and dirty washing, but in truth, they're not very large. This leaves things like golf shoes, caps, toiletries, or whatever else you pack next to your clubs, freely floating around inside. Some travel covers like the Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian, Ram FX and Macgregor VIP II travel cover also feature outer pockets for more organized storage, something the Kube lacks. Whether you want to store things in external pockets on a travel cover is another topic entirely. 

Overall I really enjoyed my experience of traveling with the Kube. Its unique storage functionality is incredibly useful but, most importantly, it does the basics right by keeping golf clubs well protected. Those who like to travel as close to the weight limit as possible will deeply appreciate the extra weight you can pack into it thanks to the lightweight design and I fully expect to be racking up plenty more air miles with the Kube in tow. 

Using some of the best distance measuring devices is a sure way of improving your game and reducing your handicap. Whether you’re trying to find a way of hitting it closer to the pin or avoiding hazards surrounding the fairway, using one of the best golf GPS apps will help you navigate the golf course, especially ones you aren't familiar with. The Quad Lock golf kit allows golfers who use a trolley to have easy access to their mobile phone and golf apps while strolling the fairways.

There are so many apps that can be downloaded to your phone to enhance your golfing experience, whether it’s as simple as a digital scorecard, an app to track your stats or one that allows you to record your swing. What can be frustrating is having a phone in your pocket while playing or having to keep retrieving it from a pocket in your golf bag, but that’s where the Quad Lock golf kit comes in handy. The mount takes no assembling and is ready to strap on to your golf trolley in a matter of seconds, before locking your phone on to the mount via the cleverly designed twist-lock. 

When purchasing your Quad Lock golf kit, you will receive a universal mount, as well as the option to select a phone case that fits your make and model of phone. While there is no extra charge for the standard case, there is the option to upgrade to the MAG case for $7/£5 which is slightly thinner and lighter and comes equipped with protective EVA foam lining.

While this device is said to fit any trolley, cart or buggy, I would take this with a slight pinch of salt I ran into a problem straight away with my Motocaddy electric trolley. The Velcro strap that ties the Quad Lock mount to your cart or trolley is very strong, although should definitely be a little larger, as I really struggled to find a part of my trolley where the strap would fit. I did manage to attach it to the very end of the handle, where it is at its thinnest although this wasn’t an ideal location as it was not centered and made it awkward to then place my left hand on the trolley after my phone was mounted.

One of the additional Quad Lock accessories I tested with the Mount and case was the Quad Lock poncho, which can be purchased for $25/£19. This is an additional waterproof case that slides over the top of your MAG case and protects your phone when exposed to the elements. While I love the idea of this case, it was fairly hard to put on and take off, although admittedly it has to fit fairly tight in order to do its job correctly.

Aside from the strap of the device needing to be a little larger, I thought the Quad Lock mount served its purpose very well and should be considered one of the best golf accessories on the market. It didn’t once look like falling off although it's worth mentioning the Velcro tab was brand new and may deteriorate over time - something to keep an eye on. The device allows you to have your phone set in both portrait and landscape, handy for the scorecard feature I was using it for, but also for filming your golf swing. The quick release tab also meant retracting your phone from the mount was very straightforward and came in particularly handy when packing my trolley away at the end of the round. The mount and standard case has an RRP of $55/£40, which seems good value given how useful a golf gadget it is.

Skins Golf Tour Edition Glove Review

One brand looking to shake up the category with its eye-catching designs is Skins Golf. It offers nine AAA cabretta leather gloves that are predominantly Tour white but have colourful patterns and prints at the cuff and the sides of the fingers to add a flash of personality and flair. These include Peace and Love, Casino Royale and the Moon Golf Tour Edition we tested on the course.

The best golf gloves have to fit well - snug and tight like a second skin, but not restrictive. I typically wear a Medium and this glove fitted well although the thumb felt a millimetre or two short than I’d have liked. The elasticated section across the knuckles ensures there isn’t any excess material on show. When you slide it on for the first time, you can feel the softness of the leather - it even has that amazing smell when you take it out of the packet for the first time. Clearly, the quality is high and the attention to detail is vigourous.

That soft feel translates into a tacky hold on the club’s grip, which certainly helps you maintain control as you swing. Most importantly, it’s comfortable. This comes down to the premium feel of the leather, the small perforation holes on the fingers that allow perspiration to escape, and the flexibility within the fit courtesy of the stretchy fabric that lines each finger. This allows the glove to accommodate different finger sizes while also enabling Skins to add its signature design to other parts of the glove.

Testing so far has shown this glove to be fairly resilient for a leather option, much like the FootJoy StaSof glove. It strikes a good balance between not being too soft and offering a decent level of durability. After one practice session and full round, it was beginning to show minor wear marks at one part of the palm, so not too bad. It likely won’t be as robust as a synthetic or all-weather glove, but it won’t be too far off if you look after it. Skins provide a resealable pouch for the glove and will even plant a tree for every glove sold to leave a positive impact on the environment. Buying two and rotating them could be one way to maximise the lifespan of your glove, you could also pair it with a stylish Skins Golf hoodie or quarter zip mid layer.

 Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover Review

Motocaddy is well known for making some of the best electric golf trolleys and, more recently, golf bags, accessories and even laser rangefinders in the Pro 3000. This year, the British brand has come to market with the Flightsafe travel cover that it claims to ‘provide unrivalled protection’ for your clubs as they make their way through the hustle and bustle of an airport. 

The best aspect of this bag is the size. Motocaddy has resisted the temptation to make it too big. In my experience it is very easy to make a golf club travel bag too big and as a result, very cumbersome. This one is certainly big enough to carry everything you need for a golf holiday, including a large golf stand bag, some golf shoes and apparel, but it is light and fairly compact. Combine that with the clever six-wheel design on the base, and manoeuvring this one around the airport was very simple. 

The Flightsafe cover is made of an extra padded black nylon and features a reinforced club cover, so your clubs and bag should arrive unscathed. There is a fairly large external pocket at the bottom of the bag that is big enough to store a few extra or shoes. In addition, there are both internal and external straps that do a good job of holding your clubs tightly to the bag. 

The extra storage bag that comes with this case is an interesting extra. I can see that, for those with minimal storage space at home, this would be extremely helpful. It is designed so that the cover itself folds down into a small cube shape to fit into the small black case you can see in the image above. This makes a big difference to the amount of space you need to store it. The convenient storage box that comes with the case also doubles up as the extra hood cover when travelling for an additional layer of protection for exposed clubheads.

There’s no doubt you’ll find more eye-catching flight bags on the market. However, this has a simple, understated but premium look that I liked. When you combine that with the sturdy feel of the bag, this is an excellent option for any travelling golfer and so is worth its place in our 2023 Editor's Choice. The Motocaddy Flightsafe comes to retail at £199, a price we think is worth paying to make sure your clubs arrive safely, providing the airline doesn't lose it altogether.

G-Tech Heated Hand Warmer Sport 3.0 Pouch Review

If you’re a golfer who looks to play all year round no matter the temperature or weather, firstly we applaud you, but secondly we want to bring the G-Tech Heated Hand Warmer pouch to your attention. This is one of the best golf accessories we have seen this year thanks to its clever design and capability of warming you up on the coldest of days on the links.

The G-Tech Heated Hand Warmer Sport will be worn by the European Ryder Cup team as they look to take back the trophy from the U.S team at the Marco Simone Golf Club, Rome in September, that is if the weather is on the cooler side on those early morning tee times.

The Sport 3.0 hand warmer is designed from an advanced water resistant material as well as featuring waterproof zippers, all helping your hands stay dry and warm while battling the elements. The battery is small and slides in neatly inside a zipped section once connected using a small cable. The Sport 3.0 heated up very quickly after turning on, taking only a few seconds, which is imperative to warm your hands up from the car to the first tee on those colder days. There are three different levels of heat that can be controlled to provide the user complete comfort.

The G-Tech Heated Hand Warmer feels and looks premium, with a choice of eight colorways, it’s very easy to match one of these to your outfits and other winter accessories. The Sport 3.0 hand warmer is comfortable and easy to adjust through the straps and can be spun round behind you to not get in the way while making a swing. While the product is very lightweight, we would also be tempted to just unclip between shots for those who can’t get comfortable, much the same as taking off a set of golf mitts.

Overall the G-Tech Heated Hand Warmer Sport 3.0 would be a superb addition to cold golfing days outfit, alongside some of the best golf sweaters, mid layers, as well as the best golf rain pants to ensure ultimate performance and comfort. The only qualm we had was that the product is shipped with a US plug socket, so if ordering outside of the US, you will need a plus converter in order to charge the Sport 3.0 hand warmer.

 G/FORE Delta Force Camo Glove Review

If you’re someone who likes to wear something a little different or stand out on the course, the G/FORE Delta Force Camo glove may just be the accessory you have been missing. This is a glove that will not only help you have more feel and help you play better, but look good while doing so. Having a good golf glove is one of the best golf accessories you can purchase and so you will reap the rewards of good golf by choosing a glove such as the Delta Force Camo.

The Design And Fit

This stylish glove offering from G/FORE is made from AA Cabretta leather which all the best golf gloves are made from. It’s a thinner, softer leather that provides the golfer with the ultimate feel on the grip, often resulting in better shots. The Delta Force Camo glove has a really smart embossed rubber G/FORE logo on the Velcro tab, that ensures a quality fit, essential to help you play your best golf.

The G/FORE Delta Force Camo glove comes up slightly larger than the traditional G/FORE glove and so if you’re thinking of placing an order for one of these, we recommend ordering a size down to ensure the glove hugs the hands appropriately and there is no slipping when gripping the club.

Looks and Availability

While the G/FORE Delta Force camo glove may not be for everyone, we love it as it adds a touch of colour and is something slightly unique. Whether it is because of its unique colorway the Delta Force Camo glove is only available for a right handed golfer, fitting on the left hand and comes to retail at £25.

Me And My Golf True Grip Glove Review

Piers Ward and Andy Proudman do the common sense very well and this advanced microfibre glove falls into that category. It's hard to over-emphasise the importance of a consistent grip with even the tour golfers slipping into some bad habits and this glove is fantastic at giving you a neutral grip with some outstanding feedback features.

There are three blue silicone areas that will tell you that you've got a consistent grip on the club. Across the base of the left-hand fingers – this is just for right-handed golfers – is a blue channel which is crucial to sit the club in the right place, at the bottom of the fingers. There is a dual knuckle silicone spot on top of the glove, which will be visible when you look down on the ball, and an arrow tip which should point to your right shoulder. 

So, basically, all the fundamentals that you've heard for years but with three key and visible checkpoints to ensure that things haven't slipped and you've become too weak or strong. If you're starting out or are aware that your grip is a weakness then this should be a must-buy as it's the perfect accompaniment to a trip to the range where you can hit some balls without fear of going back to those old habits. It keeps things in the right slot and engrains the right feelings.

What Ward and Proudman do really well with all of their products is put together some handy videos, via a QR code, which walk you through each element. There's a genuine effort to make things work for you and a real value for money. 

Here there are three videos; how to form a consistent grip, the big faults of a slice and a hook and, finally, grip pressure. The glove actually conforms to the Rules of Golf so there's no reason why you wouldn't play a few rounds to get yourself into some improved habits. Given the tacky texture of the glove it's on the smallish side but is stretchy so order to your usual sizing.

We also think this is a great present too, whether it is for yourself or for the golfer in your life. But for more gift ideas for birthdays, Christmas and so on, check out our guide on the best golf gifts.

BRD X1 Grip Review

Golf grips are very much a personal choice. Some players like cord, some like firm, while others prefer a softer feel. I’ve personally come to love the Tour Wraps from Golf Pride. They’re pretty durable, and as long as you keep them clean, they have a tacky feel, whether I’m wearing a glove or not.

Recently, however, I got to try the new X1 grips from BRD Grips, and I can honestly report that they are unlike any other grip I’ve ever tried. The X1s come to us from a start-up company based in Florence, Italy. Led by the family business’ young founder, Alessandro Guazzini, the grips were painstakingly developed, with dozens of versions before the final product was unveiled recently. They call it “Pure Feel Technology,” which was arrived upon after years of research.

It’s actually the second grip that BRD Grips (originally named Birdie Golf) has brought to market. Its first grip, the B1, is a cord grip that I haven’t tried, but it doesn’t look to have nearly the technological innovation of the X1. This new grip features a unique two-layer contruction, with the transparent outer layer bonded to an inner polymer core. The top layer external diameter is 27 mm (1.06 inches), while the bottom layer external diameter is 17.5 mm (.069 inches).

The construction is designed to provide soft feel, shock absorption, torsion resistance and tackiness. It was actually that last trait that I first noticed (other than the large B-R-D imprinted under the transparent layer on the top of the grip) when I put them on a few of my clubs. Especially when using a glove, the grip just seemed to bond with my hand, providing a very secure feeling throughout the swing and at impact, which is something all the best golf grips offer.

In terms of whether the grip is soft or firm, it definitely seemed somewhere in between. Compared to the Golf Pride CPX grip, for example, the BRD X1 felt much firmer to me. But it definitely seems softer than Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet. 

The X1-Grip is clearly designed to attract a different demographic of golfers, perhaps younger players who like this bold look and unique feel. It’s also among the most expensive grips on the market, at $15.99 each. The price, for many, would bring up the question of durability. I’ve had issues making it though one season with other soft grips. But, of course, I haven't been able to test these grips for durability by using them just for a couple of rounds and a practice session. With that being said, though, Guazzini recommended that if you play often, you should change the X1-Grips once a year. 

For now, the X1 is only offered in standard size, but the company does plan to make other sizes soon as well as a putter grip. The X1 standard is slightly larger than most other grip companies’ standard size, so it does almost have a mid-size feel to it. 

These grips are best when installed using an air compressor. With that method, you can put them on in a matter of seconds. Not all shops offer that kind of installation, of course. I had my samples installed at PGA Tour Superstore, which used grip tape and solvent. But the air compressor method is a really cool option.

BRD also doesn’t recommend building this grip up with multiple layers of tape. Apparently, because of the two-layer construction, they don’t do well when stretched out by extra tape. And like all grips, cleaning with soap and water is recommended to prolong its life and promote its tacky feel. 

Oceantee Premium Bamboo Tees Review

We all want to do our bit, however small, for the environment and golf is offering an increasing number of sustainable choices across footwear, apparel and tees. Oceantee is striving to promote sustainability within golf and its products showcase innovative processes, textiles and materials that do not impact the environment. Individually, a plastic tee is but a small item; collectively, we golfers have distributed vast numbers of them around our countryside and coastline for many years and Oceantee is our chance to put an end to that via a sustainably sourced, environmentally-friendly alternative.

The tees are available in packs of long, short, mixed or two lengths of castle, all made from extremely durable bamboo - the Mosu bamboo used is two times stronger than the average bamboo species and 4-5x stronger than hardwood. In short, if you don’t lose them, they should last you a long time. All the bamboo comes from a carefully managed 100-hectare reserve in China’s Jiangxi province, which is subject to strict Forestry Logging Permits. The tees are then imported in bulk via sea freight and packed in FSC-certified packaging sourced from a manufacturer in Hertfordshire. No plastic is used at any stage of the supply chain.  The tees are also supplied in FSC certified, recyclable matchboxes.

These tees certainly seem to be more robust that a typical wooden tee - good luck to anyone trying to snap them with their fingers. They certainly seem to last longer than expected. Where in a typical round I'd get through 4-5 wooden tees, I only need between 2-3 of the Oceantee version. The larger castle tee is the ideal size for the driver, perfect for use on mats during the winter.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the tees are now painted in white to make them easier to spot on the ground based on customer feedback. The white paint is, of course, entirely environmentally friendly. The paint uses a water-based carrier and biodegradable pigment. It is also solvent and lead free. 

We are all increasingly aware of the damage caused to the environment and marine wildlife by our use and careless disposal of plastic over many decades, so Oceantee’s initiative should be supported as much as possible. They work as well as any other tee and the variety of size options should suit all golfers.

Oceantee has recently made its first donation to 1% for the Planet, a global organization that exists to ensure the future of our planet. The majority of the donation, which represents one percent of the company’s turnover, has been allocated to Oceantee’s long-term charity partner the Marine Conservation Society, contributing towards its mission to recover the health of the ocean. So it appears that Oceantee is the right choice from both a performance perspective and a moral one.

FootJoy StaSof 2023 Glove Review

FootJoy views the humble golf glove as an extension of your equipment, which makes sense given it is the thing that connects your clubs to your hands when you make a full swing. The StaSof has been an incredibly popular franchise for over 35 years both at retail and on tour, sitting in the premium space just underneath the super-soft Pure Touch and below the HyperFLX in terms of price point and performance.

Its popularity comes from the combination of feel, traction with a hint of durability added into the mix. It’s made from a premium cabretta leather which provides that soft, supple feel and is treated in a way that helps it maintain these desirable properties for longer. Sliding on a correctly sized 2023 StaSof glove for the first time is an immensely satisfying experience. You want it to feel snug, like a second skin, but there’s now enough flexibility to take your grip comfortably thanks to the Powernet mesh section at the back - a narrow black strip that also helps with comfort and breathability.

The way this glove locks in the club into your hand is amazing, there’s no opportunity for it to move around unless you significantly loosen your grip. This really allows you to swing with confidence, knowing your hold is secure. But the thing that makes the StaSof such one of the best golf gloves and one of the most versatile options is the way it confidently handles different weather conditions. The moisture management on offer ensures on hot days, you won’t lose control of the club, partly down to the All-climate grip and exclusive APL leather used on the palm. On wet days, you might want to switch to a FootJoy Rain glove, although the StaSof performs admirably in a light passing shower.

This is a leather glove, so it won’t last as long or be as hard wearing as a synthetic glove, but the Stasof certainly has a decent level of robustness to it. If well looked after, it should perform to a suitable level for over 10 rounds, maybe more if you don’t use it to practice or warm up with too. Either way, the 2023 StaSof is comfortably among the best FootJoy golf gloves so if you can, treat yourself - you won't regret it.

If you decide to buy one of these amazing FootJoy gloves, first look at one of our FootJoy promo codes. 

Some golfers might not be too familiar with Vessel as a golf brand - but they should be. As well as making luxury luggage and tennis bags, the Californian company is redefining the golf bag business. I've become a lot more familiar with the brand since I started using the G/FORE Daytona Plus carry bag, which was designed in collaboration with Vessel. This is a golf bag that oozes premium quality and fine attention to detail - and it's a similar case with the Vessel PrimeX Plus backpack; it's a super premium backpack that looks very smart.

Given that my job involves a fair bit of travel, I rely on a decent bag/backpack - and this is perfect for business travel. What I particularly like about the PrimeX Plus is that I can get my laptop (it has its own tech compartment with two velour-lined padded sleeves for a 16" MacBook Pro) and enough clothing in for a trip lasting a few days. Anytime I can avoid checking in luggage at an airport, I'm happy. In fact, this bag is carry-on approved for most airlines. 

The large main compartment, meanwhile, features two slip pockets and a zip pocket. Other features that warrant a mention include a magnetic accessory pocket with hook lock and internal organisation, a detachable, expandable storage pouch, and a trolley sleeve for easy portability during travel. 

I've also used this bag for when I go to the gym. Not everyone will want to do that, but, to emphasise, this is really quite a roomy backpack. Even when it's full, it somehow manages not to feel too heavy, a quality that is shared by Vessel golf bags. The brand does a very good job of getting the balance in this regard spot on. And if, like me, you do have a tendency to pack quite a bit, then the padded ergonomic shoulder straps take a lot of the strain off your back. 

If you want exact numbers, these are as follows: Capacity 36.5 liters; dimensions 13.5" L x 7.5" D x 22" H. Too big? Vessel also does a PrimeX backpack and Signature Plus backpack, both of which are smaller.

The main material used is a premium synthetic leather, which is known for its durability and weather resistance. It's also easy to wipe and keep clean, so if you do travel a lot you needn't worry about it getting dirty or permanently scuffed/stained. 

 TecTecTec Team8 GPS Speaker Review

The TecTecTec Team8 GPS speaker is a small, lightweight speaker that adds a little fun to your weekend round with your buddies. The Team8 speaker works through Bluetooth connection. To make sure you get the most out of this GPS speaker, you will need to download the free TecTecTec GPS golf app and activate your device by the serial code on the product instruction manual. I can honestly say that setting up and connecting this speaker was one of the easiest, stress free experiences I have had with golf technology and it worked from the first attempt. In order to stay connected you just have to be within 15 yards of the speaker with your phone.

The Team8 speaker turns on via a hold of the power button on the speaker, where a blue light will appear. The same button is held until the speaker sounds and the light disappears to signal it’s now off. The sound quality was superb, up there with the very best golf speakers in this regard, and can get surprisingly loud for such a small device. The volume is easily adjusted using either the buttons on the side of the speaker or via your chosen music streaming service on your smartphone.

Once the app is downloaded and connected to your speaker, you can head to the course and use a nearby search to find the course you are playing and begin your round. The app displays yardages to the front, middle and back of greens and while you may not be looking at your phone on the course, a quick press of the button that looks like a flag, will have the speaker momentarily mute the music and read out the yardages to the different segments of the green.

A single press on that button measures the distance from shot to shot, so you and your playing partners can really see who hits the longest drive and a double press measures the distance to the closest hazard. You can also look at distances to other hazards via the app if there are multiple on a hole. I found the distances to be pretty accurate while comparing to both the Garmin Approach S62, considered one of the best golf GPS devices on the market, and my trusted Bushnell Pro XE rangefinder. However the fact the same button is used for so many functions made things a little complicated and meant I often was forgetting how many times or how long I needed to press a button to get what I was looking for.

The Team8 speaker is magnetic and will connect to carts, bag clips and the clip the device comes with allows you to clip the speaker to your trouser pocket or belt loop. By a simple tap of the power button, you will be able to answer phone calls and chat via a built-in microphone, making this one of the best golf accessories you could add to your bag. The TecTecTec Team8 speaker is charged via USB-C cable and a single charge should last up to two rounds, depending on the speed of your round of course. The Team8 speaker comes to retail at $99, so you get a lot for your money, is available in black, gray and yellow colorways.

Titleist Players Travel Cover Review

Travelling is a bit of a nuisance at the best of times but golf clubs add another layer of inconvenience to the experience. That's why it pays to ensure you have the best golf luggage to relieve some of the stress. And that's exactly what the Titleist Players Travel Cover does. Provided your clubs make it onto the plane, you can be safe in the knowledge they are secure, which is what you would expect from a brand like Titleist.

On trips down to London and abroad, I've been really happy with the protection on offer, as well as the extra storage space it provides. The main compartment is 51" x 15" x 18.5" and housed my golf bag perfectly. Inside, there is also a strap to hold your clubs in place and two zipped pockets if you need somewhere to store some of the best golf accessories you may wish to take with you.

I always favour one of the best golf stand bags when I play, but it's worth pointing out that there would be ample space for something bigger, like a cart bag for example. Another aspect that came in handy was the additional storage space. For me, it means I no longer have to cram my golf shoes into my hand luggage or cabin bag, or worry about being over the weight limit with my suitcase. 

There is a valuables pouch on the outside, which feels a little obsolete, as well as two external straps to keep everything tightly fastened, while the base is also very solid. As for the transportation, two premium skate wheels make it easy, as does the handle should you need to lift it.

It comes in black only, which is fitting for such a no-nonsense, quality product. It's certainly given me more confidence that my clubs are going to arrive in one piece, which you can't really put a price on. But if you could, it would RRP at £180, which is around $215. For that you're getting one of the best golf travel bags on the market and one that is sure to stand the test of time.

If you would like to add Titleist equipment to your bag, check out our helpful Titleist promo codes.

Tifosi Veloce Interchangeable Sunglasses Review

Quality golf sunglasses shouldn’t have to cost the earth and Tifosi is a brand that offers a whole host of high-performance styles without the premium prices. A classic example of this is the Veloce, a sporty, versatile frame that comes with three interchangeable lenses, so you can adapt the product to suit the activity or light conditions you’re facing on any given day.

The biggest compliment we could pay the Veloce is that you genuinely don’t notice you’re wearing them, a common trait among the best golf sunglasses. They weigh just 28g and feature an adjustable nose piece, which helps create a comfortable and secure fit. This is especially important in golf when movement of the frames on your face when making a swing could be the difference between a well struck shot or a destructive shank. This glasses offer minimal distractions, allowing you to fully focus on the shot in hand.

The matte black Grilamid TR-90 frames we tested felt sturdy and well made plus there’s just enough give in them to ensure they will fit a variety of face sizes. The other benefit of have a little bit of flexibility built in is that they are less likely to snap should they get accidentally knocked or sat on. Thankfully, the Veloce comes with a firm zippered carry case which stores the frame and the other lenses available.

Speaking of these, which are made of a shatterproof polycarbonate and scratch resistance, besides the Smoke lenses that come as standard there are clear and All conditions red lenses. While the Smoke lenses were good all purpose lenses, we really liked the All Conditions Red lenses for golf. The shade of brown they are seemed to enhance the contrast we could see on the greens on sunny days where without them, much of detail would get bleached out.

They’re easy to interchange to just pop them out using the technique highlighted in the instructions provided, pop the new ones in (listen for the click) and wipe over with the cleaning cloth.

Many golfers dismiss wearing sunglasses because they can’t get used to the difference in the view or they don’t feel comfortable. If this applies to you I would urge you to try the Veloce from Tifosi. With the slip-resistant rubber arms and robust nylon frame, they are comfortable, secure and will do the vital job of protecting your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays. There are even small vents in the lenses to prevent fogging - Tifosi has thought of everything. 

We also think this is a great present too, whether it is for yourself or for the golfer in your life. But for more gift ideas for birthdays, Christmas and so on, check out our guide on the best golf gifts.

SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Grip Review

It's been three years since SuperStroke has made a major renovation to its grips. Until now. Zenergy replaces the popular Traxion line that's been a pro tour staple since its debut. The new grip has a soft, tacky outer layer for extreme grip, and a firm rubber inner core for stability. It's for all skill levels and aims to help quiet your hands during a stroke, for better accuracy and responsive performance.  

Although it's available in 10 different models - including a Flatso, Wristlock and Claw -to accommodate most preferences and putting styles, we tried the pistol shape which is likely the most common grip preferred by golfers. It has an embossed ridge along the underside that guides you to a natural, repeatable hand placement and makes it easier to square the face at impact. 

The surface texture varies throughout, to help optimize feedback and comfort from the soft polyurethane outer layer. This subtly gives you confidence that the grip will stay firmly in place, in your hands. Its taper-less, parallel shaping helps minimize hand tension, as well, so you can take a more fluid stroke. 

A port in the butt allows you to add optional CounterCore weights or performance tracking sensors. It's offered in eight colorways and can personalized with name, image or custom logo, which is a really cool option to be able to take advantage of.

There are three pistol grip sizes for this model. We used the middle-sized 2.0 for testing. Like the best putter grips, it felt super comfortable in the hands, and really seem to soften the feel of putt impact. Any ball we tried seemed to make a satisfying click. Like with most new grips on the best putters, it was extra tacky and actually did calm our hands during the stroke. And less tension in the hands and elbows leads to a more consistent stroke. That means more putts sink, from shorter and longer lengths. We did not try any of the counterweights, and frankly didn't need them. It felt perfect as is.

When it comes to travel, the sheer scope of gear golfers require makes good luggage imperative. From the various outfits to shoes and the best golf waterproofs, a ‘normal’ sized suitcase can fill up pretty quickly. Taking with you a flimsy bag that isn’t big enough to carry everything you need is the mistake all golfers need to avoid.

First and foremost, Ogio’s Rig 9800 travel bag is big enough to hold everything you’ll need for an extended period of travel. In cubic inches this comes in at 7500. What this means in real life is enough storage for more than one pair of shoes and a mix of different outfits.

I recently took this bag on a golfing trip to Orlando and was pleased that, despite the size of the luggage, it was very easy to manoeuvre. The large, heady duty wheels and telescoping pull handle both work well to ensure you aren’t endlessly fighting with your bag as you make your way through the airport. What’s more, I filled this bag for my trip to Florida and the weight remained under the baggage allowance.

If you use this with one of the best golf travel bags for your clubs, you'll have ample storage room, even for an extended trip away.

Inside, the Ogio Rig 9800 has been cleverly laid out. The main compartment is huge but there’s an adjustable divider and a padded helmet compartment. Having no need for a helmet, I used this part of the bag to store the things that required more padding around them - very handy.

There are enough pockets to divide your things without there being too many and making it hard to find your things once you’ve finished travelling. Being able, for instance, to divide out shirts or golf trousers and keep them relatively flat and crease-free is one of the benefits of having a bag this size. 

The last thing to mention here is the styling. As you can see, I had the ‘sugar skulls’ colour option but there are a range of characterful alternatives as well as some more muted options. I liked the skull pattern and even had a couple of compliments on the bag while waiting to check in!

Send In The Clown is a handsomely produced self-published debut novel by Andrew Stelmack. Its subject is Moe Norman, described by the author, his fellow countryman, in his epilogue as ‘one of Canada’s greatest athletes and treasures’. It is a bold undertaking to present Moe Norman’s life in this way rather than as non-fiction biography. 

Norman was self-taught as a golfer with a swing like no other. Although never tested, it is generally thought now that he was on the autism spectrum. He was eccentric in manner, dress, speech and outlook.

He dominated Canadian amateur golf, but was ill-equipped to cope with pro tournament golf in the USA and the bullying he experienced from players there, so never made the mark in pro golf his amazingly accurate ball striking suggests he could have. He would also sometimes deliberately not win tournaments, intimidated by the thought of having to make a victor’s speech.

Stelmack writes in the epilogue that: “Wouldn’t it be nice if next time a Moe comes along, we don’t hear about him or her long after the fact? That instead, we revel in their gifts and we do it in the present. That we celebrate their eccentricities, their differences, and their unique views.”

That he feels the need to add an epilogue to explain the message of a 57-chapter work suggests the author himself was dissatisfied with his novel.

The plot follows a day in Moe Norman’s later life mainly spent mundanely on the driving range. This day is leading up to an evening event as yet unspecified to the reader. The novel is narrated by ‘Nick’, who is not at this stage introduced to the reader, but is later revealed as the compère of the evening event.

Nick ends up narrating events of the day including those that he did not witness and has no reason to know about. But then he also explains the inner thoughts of Moe Norman, to which he also would have no access. Sometimes Nick simply recounts stories of Moe Norman’s past life as though he had been present at them.

The format is such that the reader can be taken on a languid meander through various reminisces and anecdotes. Send In The Clown works well at drawing the character of Moe Norman, however it does lack the action and zip many look for in a novel.

Ram FX Golf Travel Cover Review

Traveling with golf clubs can be a stressful experience. Worrying about the condition of your precious golf clubs as they are carted through baggage handling is something that can't really be avoided when you travel with golf equipment abroad. However, a well-designed and protective golf travel bag can do a lot to assure you that your clubs will arrive at their final destination intact. 

The Ram FX golf travel cover aims to alleviate any of these stresses by providing golfers with a spacious and padded travel bag that is easy to transport from A to B. Before testing this bag, Ram wouldn't have been my first choice when it comes to travel accessories but I was pleasantly surprised when unboxing this product and how well-proportioned and well-padded all the pockets were. 

A large main compartment (131 x 38 x 38cm) houses golf clubs and features one main strap to hold your clubs down once they are packed. Although I traveled with a lightweight carry bag on this occasion, there is easily room for a large stand bag or even a cart bag depending on what you prefer to travel with. Exterior pockets include one perfectly sized for a pair of golf shoes and a similarly sized pocket I found useful for packing accessories like golf socks and belts. With so much room in the main compartment though, I found it easy to pack other belongings for my trip alongside the golf bag in the main compartment. 

The bag is made from a very sturdy ripstop fabric with extra padding across key areas where the golf clubs would be most vulnerable to knocks - I certainly felt confident that my clubs were going to be safe in this bag. A final security and protection feature is the two straps that go across the exterior of the bag to keep everything in place. For all of this, the bag does come in slightly heavier (9lbs) before you've even packed it, so maybe something like the MacGregor VIP II Premium Wheeled Travel Cover which comes in a 6lbs would be more suited to those anxious about how much weight they want to travel with. 

With an RRP in the UK of £89.99, this bag easily represents one of the best-value travel bags on the market. Apart from the branding, it is really hard to tell this apart from the travel bags made by the bigger bag manufacturers and at this price, with this many features, the Ram FX golf travel bag is a real champion in its category. 

Stitch Golf MUT Bag Review

Golf travel covers can be bulky when not in use. You have to find a place to store them, and for many that’s either in the garage or the attic. When it comes time to take a golf trip, you have to retrieve it, dust it off, and put your clubs in it. But what if you had a wheeled duffel, suitable for all your non golf trips? And what if you could convert that duffle into a golf travel cover when needed. That’s the idea behind new MUT (Multiuse Traveler) bag by the North Carolina-based, innovative golf company, Stitch Golf. 

• Buy the Stitch Golf MUT bag from Stitch Golf 

By unzipping the bottom, the MUT expands into a golf bag travel cover. It only takes a couple of minutes to get it ready, and it’s pretty quick to turn it back into a duffel. Now granted, when you use it for your golf clubs, you’re going to need another piece of luggage to replace your duffel that once housed your clothes and other travel necessities. But this isn’t designed for the golfer who flies with clubs frequently. It’s for golfers who fly occasionally for golf trips. 

I put the MUT to the test recently in a trip to Scottsdale, and found it fairly functional. There’s enough room for an average stand bag, shoes and a little outerwear. It rolls through the airport like a standard golf travel bag. And it provides adequate protection in terms of padding. It also comes standard with a torsion bar, which is a great feature to prevent shaft breakage and club damage.

The biggest drawback on this bag is that you can’t simply lay your clubs down in it and zip up the bag. You have to slide your golf bag underneath a bar that comes across the bag. That bar is necessary to convert it back into a duffle. I actually had more in my bag returning from my trip than going out, so it was a snug fit getting my golf bag back into the cover. As it turned out, it became a two-person job, as I enlisted some help from outside services at the last course I played. Next time I will not try to stuff too much in my golf bag.

I also used it as a rolling duffel for an overnight trip. The dimensions as a duffel are around 23 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches, so you could conceivably bring it as a carry-on or easily throw it in your trunk or back seat of your car for an overnighter. It’s also surprisingly not that heavy, a little over seven pounds empty, which is about the same weight as my normal carry-on suitcase. So even if you never or rarely used it as a golf bag travel cover, it makes for a pretty nifty piece of luggage for everyday use.

Again, if you fly often with your clubs, the MUT probably won’t fill your needs. But for those who don’t frequently fly with their clubs, this is a pretty clever concept.

• Buy the Stitch Golf MUT bag from Stitch Golf

The MacGregor VIP II Premium Wheeled Travel Cover can easily fit everything you need for your next golf. It comfortably takes a stand or a regular cart bag and there are retaining straps on the inside to hold it in place. I even managed to fit a tour bag in there, providing there is nothing in the ball pocket which gets squashed flat, but it goes to show how much space the MacGregor VIP II golf bag has. 

The VIP II Premium Wheeled golf bag is made from nylon which feels pretty robust. Whilst it is padded and reasonably well protected throughout, other bags seem to have a little more padding around the top section where the club heads are.

There are 3 heavy duty external bag straps to tighten the VIP II around your bag so that everything is held tight inside. When they click together they do the job well, although one of the clips on my test sample was not as snug a fit as the others.

The bag closes with a double zip that seals the main panel where the golf clubs go in and makes it very easy to pack and unpack. There is space in the zips to attach a padlock, which is not supplied, and the zip seems robust enough to handle this.

There is also an external zipped pocket for additional items, but the zips on this feel less robust and because the pocket would stick up, it would seem safer to pack everything in the main section for putting in the aeroplane hold.

Moving around the MacGregor VIP II Premium Wheeled Travel Cover was easy thanks to the built-in wheels in the base of the bag that are tucked well away so they should not get knocked off in transit. Like all two-wheel bags it’s literally a bit of a drag moving it around and I usually prefer models with additional front wheels that pop out, even if this makes them more expensive than the MacGregor bag.

There are also several well positioned handles at each end as well as in the middle of the bag, so it was easy to lift the VIP II on and off luggage carousels and in and out of car boots.

Regular travellers might wish to invest more for a golf travel bag with better padding and additional wheel options for easy movement around airports. However with an RRP of £69.99 the MacGregor VIP II Premium Wheeled Travel Cover is an excellent value for money option for a golf travel cover.

Bag Boy T-660 Travel Cover Review

One of the aspects of traveling with golf clubs I've always hated is when you have to repack your golf clubs in a travel cover. With some of them, especially older models, you feel like you're jamming your foot into a shoe that's a couple of sizes too small. You can get the shoe on, but it's going to take a lot of work.

With the Bag Boy soft travel covers by Dynamic brands, that's never a problem. That's because they have a wrap-around zipper that opens up the entire front of the travel cover. Then, you simply lay your golf bag in there and, unless it's oversized or severely overstuffed, it's pretty easy to get in and out of the bag. In fact this is a design feature we see on many of the best golf travel bags on the market.

The new Bag Boy T-660 has that feature, but it all comes in a compact package. Folded up and not in use, you can easily fit it into a small space behind the seat of your rental car when you're traveling, or put it in the corner of the trunk. Some travel covers - especially the hard covers, of course - are bulky and take up a lot of room when not in use. What's more, the T-660 also weighs less than 6 pounds, so it's easy to maneuver when not in use and you can store it on a shelf at your house or in your garage without it taking up much space.

Club protection is also adequate, which is to be expected. It's nothing like the premium Bag Boy T-2000, which has much thicker padding and even foam padding to protect the stand mechanism on stand bags. It also has a swivel handle, which makes it much easier to maneuver while in the airport.

The T-660 though, is a little less than half the price of the T-2000, which retails for around $250 so, given that, it's packed with value. It does have padding, as well as an internal compression strap to stabilize the bag during travel. It also has reinforced corners, a skid plate, skid bars, and a large front pocket at the bottom for your shoes or outerwear. It also comes with high quality inline skate wheels for smooth rolling. In short, it's everything you need in a basic golf travel cover at a great price.

You might want to consider removing your driver head when using this travel cover, but that's probably a good safety precaution for most soft covers. For anyone who doesn't fly with their golf clubs that often, this is a great choice. 

However, if you're off once a month or more flying to golf destinations with your clubs, then upgrading to the Bag Boy T-2000 or a Club Glove model might be worth your while. That being said if you want some cheaper models then take a look at our list of the best golf travel bags under $100. 

Oakley Portal X Sunglasses Review

Many will view a pair of sunglasses as a mere accessory but they do have the potential to enhance your vision in certain conditions, which can only help you play better golf.

One of the top brands in this sector of the golf market is Oakley, and one of the best golf sunglasses you can find right now is the Portal X design. A little more traditional and versatile in terms of shape with its more rounded edges, we paired them with Oakley’s Dark Prizm Golf lenses, which claim to enhance color and contrast so you can see more detail.

Some golfers don’t like wearing sunglasses for fear of them moving around on your face when you swing and thus being distracting but there was no such issues with the Portal X.

The tacky material used for the nose pads ensures a comfortable but secure fit while the special Unobtainium material on the inside of the earsocks has a similar feel and increases in grip when wet. This ensures that when you sweat, a common occurrence when playing on hot sunny days when sunglasses are required, they stay firmly in position when you swing.

Through the lenses, the purple tint dims the view and enhances the color on bright days perfectly well and when the sun is at its highest, the extra contrast is most noticeable, especially on the greens. We found the extra detail helped us pick out subtle borrows on the greens more easily.

When the sun is out but conditions aren’t overly bright, like on early mornings or evenings, you might find the tint is a little too dark, but because the Portal X sunglasses are so comfortable the chances are you’ll have forgotten you were even wearing them.

The styling is modern and versatile, to the point where you’ll probably find yourself wearing them as much off the course as you do on the course, adding even more value to your investment.

Having seen adverts for the Perfect Practice Perfect Putting Mat online we decided to buy one direct from the vendors website. The version we bought is 9ft long but there are also shorter and longer ones to choose from depending on your needs. 9ft is probably ideal for most home set ups but we would highly recommend measuring the area you are intending to use it in, as in addition to the length you will also need some width to avoid being cramped when taking your putting stance.

The putting mat essentially comes in three main parts. There is the mat itself which is attached to the raised, wooden end part with two holes of different sizes in it. There is also a wooden backstop and four wooden slats that fit together to create a channel for the ball to roll back to back the player. This channel worked really well and if you are practicing shorter putts you can remove one of the slats for even more convenience. Assembly was straight forward, taking less than a couple of minutes in total and the end result looked good.

So how did it actually test for us? Is it one of the best putting mats out there and a worthy training aid to add to your setup? Let's find out.

We tested the Perfect Practice Perfect Putting mat on two different surfaces, a tiled floor (kitchen) and a carpeted floor, to see how consistent and true the roll of the ball was. The good news is, the mat worked very well on both - as long as you are careful with how you store it and take care when unfurling it you should be able to get a smooth, consistent roll for many years. 

It is very easy to pack away and isn’t too big when the mat is rolled up, so it’s an ideal size to be packed away underneath or behind a sofa when not in use. You can then quickly take it out and set up whenever you have the urge to roll a few putts. If you do have a space where you can leave it permanently set up then all the better. As long as you have a flat surface, you can even use it outside when the weather permits.

For amateur golfers the key to productive practice is often for it to not feel like practice. If it’s fun then you’ll spend more time doing it, and we found that having the Perfect Practice Putting Mat set up in a corner of the living room was quite addictive. When you walk past it there’s a great temptation to quickly grab the putter and try to sink a couple. If you’re watching TV and the ads come on, it’s a good way to kill some time. And without it even feeling like you’re practicing, all the time you are working on your putting stroke. 

It is also an effective way to choose the best golf ball for putting with, or to get a feel for different types of putters to determine which you are more comfortable with. For example you could put a mallet putter up against a blade style putter and see which gives you better results.

There are various different lines on the mat to help with both the path of your stroke and the start line of your putts. These are the elements that really matter when it comes to consistency on the greens and finding the best putter for your stroke. Clear visual aids like these (which also help with alignment) are a great way to practice golf at home and work on any putting stroke improvements you need.

You can also set yourself challenges. If you make ten in a row from six feet on the larger hole, try to do the same with the smaller hole. We found that to be an excellent feature as when you switch from trying to make putts in the smaller hole back to the standard sized hole it feels like putting into a bucket, which is great for building confidence.  

We also liked that the far end of the mat is raised to promote a more positive stroke. The pace of the mat is certainly on the fast side without being too lively, and you get a nice true roll from it. Overall this mat tested very well indeed so it was a worthy addition to our guide on the best golf mat for this year.

For more advice on how to hole more putts, be sure to have a read of our pieces on the 32 best ever putting tips, or how to read greens. 

Henrik Stenson Torque 3.0 Sunglasses Review

These have quickly become our go-to pair because of how they strike the perfect balance of performing on the golf course while looking trendy off it. The fit is snug yet comfortable thanks to the adjustable soft-touch rubber nose pads. The lenses provide great coverage and provide excellent protection and contrast, which we really noticed testing on a bright sunny day. You could argue the large size of the lenses makes them a little bulky for use off the course, but on the course it ensures you only see what's through the lens and won't get put off by things creeping into view outside the frame.

When lining up putts, you’re able to see the subtle breaks in great detail and with exceptional clarity, genuinely assisting your putting when the sun is at its highest. The lenses are especially hard wearing too thanks to the oleophobic coating, which makes them resistant to sweat, dirt, moisture and fingerprints. The anti-reflective coating also adds to the visual experience, which is especially useful on the golf course. The last thing you want is to be lining up a critical putt only to be put off by an unwanted flash of sun glare, no such problems here thankfully.

The carry case that is included is compact and firm for ample protection when storing them while not in use. There’s even an extra nose pad included for those who prefer a smaller fit.

We enjoyed wearing these glasses so much, and felt like they gave us a genuine performance advantage out on the course versus some other options among the best golf sunglasses, that we felt compelled to include them in The Edge - a collection of leading products that provide golfers with a tangible edge over the course or their opponents. The price tag of £145 means that there's value for money to be had here given how often you'll find yourself wearing them.

According to the manufacturer, these innovative golf gloves have been selling like hotcakes in the US – approximately 30,000 a day. It’s now available in the UK and, through its copper-infused technology, promises the wearer a number of health benefits.

Engineered with the healing magnetic properties of copper, it is said to help alleviate muscle stiffness and joint pain by improving circulation and oxygenation of the muscles and joints. It is also said to speed up the recovery time of the muscles in and around the hand and wrist.

VIDEO: Watch why the Copper Tech Plus glove was included in The Edge 2022

You may be skeptical but a study conducted with 60 male and female golfers confirmed that all participants who had symptoms of hand joint pain, soreness, reduced flexibility, swelling and fatigue, experienced improvement in those symptoms during their round of golf while playing with this Copper Tech Plus glove.

I don’t suffer from any injury problems in this area personally so it’s hard to validate these claims with any certainty but even putting this technology to one side, this is an excellent golf glove. There’s a variety of non slip, woven silicone patterns that improve slip resistance and means you can keep the same control of the club while applying less tension, reducing the strain on the body and may well enable you to swing the club a little bit faster.

I also really like how well this glove fits thanks to the elasticated sections throughout that ensures one size of glove truly fits all. It’s also very capable of managing the perspiration that can build up inside the glove if you’re playing on a hot sunny day, maintaining that comfortable feeling all the way round.

The silicon spider weave technology palm technology certainly provides a tacky hold that doesn't seem to reduce in wet conditions although you can just about feel the gaps in the surface - some may prefer a completely flat surface coming into contact with the club's handle. We'd also have preferred the silicon to extend all the way to the top of the index finger.

Not only does it fit well and perform, it’s practical too, featuring a magnetic ball marker on the closure tab. Visually, you can add some personality via the 13 different color options that are available as some eye catching patterns like grey camo and the Phantom, skeleton style design.

There are various aches and pains that all golfers suffer with. Many of them we can cope with and they don’t affect our performance too much. However, the importance of a good golf grip is obvious. Quite simply, if you’re struggling with pain in your fingers and hands, your grip is going to suffer, at which point you’re going to struggle to control the club and so a glove that could help with this is worth considering. For those who struggle with distance, especially senior golfers, this could be a huge advantage.

Data analytics have always been a big deal in professional sports. From measuring how far a PGA Tour golfer can hit their driver to calculating who the fastest footballer in the Premier League is, elite athletes have access to a wealth of data that can help them reach the top of their game. That is largely down to recent advancements in sports science and technology, with GPS monitors, smart watches and heart rate sensors offering sports stars a ton of data that can help them achieve their goals. 

But while these top-level athletes have access to that data, it hasn’t always been available to your average person who wants to make a change to their lifestyle. Well, at least not until now, with the emergence of smartwatches being a game changer for people like you and I looking to stay fit, healthy and make positive adjustments to the way we live. 

That’s where the new Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro smartwatches come in and are due to go on sale in John Lewis stores on 26 August 2022. They are stylish timepieces that are more than just a workout tracker or a GPS watch. Their sleek design means they are built for everyday life but can also withstand whatever adventure you throw at them. 

Plus, if you purchase either watch at John Lewis, you’ll also be able to take advantage of some of their unique benefits, including (and for a limited time only)* a £50 Google Play Store voucher when you buy the Watch5 or a £100 Play Store voucher when you buy the Watch5 Pro. You’ll also be entitled to take advantage of John Lewis’ two-year guarantee and their in-store tech support, which is a necessary safeguard you’ll want to have if you’re planning on putting your watch through its paces.

So, whether you’re just looking to gain a few more hours of sleep each night or are trying to become a better golfer, let us walk you through how these Smartwatches can help you become the best version of yourself. 

The watch that knows you best

One of the things we love about the new Samsung Galaxy Watch5 models is that they are designed to work as the timepiece that knows you best. They tailor themselves to your body and offer personalised data and insights that can help you track your daily bodily functions. That allows you to make lifestyle changes that can improve your mental and physical wellbeing.**

Aesthetically, both Smartwatches ooze class and can be paired well with any outfit, from your gym kit to your office shirt. They feature a stunning sapphire crystal display, which is scratch-resistant and can withstand any bumps and knocks your day throws at it. But if you’re looking for something a little more robust, we recommend opting for the Watch5 Pro, which is made from a titanium casing that is more durable than the Armour Aluminum material on the Watch5.

When it comes to functionality, both are crammed with features, including their state-of-the-art sleep analysis tools that deliver daily reports on how well you slept. You can use that information to alter your nighttime routine to ensure you feel refreshed and ready to attack the day as soon as you wake up.***

The Watch5 and Watch5 Pro also feature a powerful BioActive sensor that monitors your cardiovascular health to keep your ticker in check throughout the day. You can track everything from your body fat percentage† to your blood pressure and even monitor your heart rate through a built-in ECG at the back of the Smartwatch.††

The heart monitoring tool can be very insightful for golfers if frustrations take over after a couple of bad shots on the course, or even if you’re a little nervous on the first tee. But the benefits to golfers don’t stop just there, with players able to download the intuitive SmartCaddie App to their device, which provides detailed hole maps on courses from all around the world. While a subscription to SmartCaddie does cost £76, we definitely think it's a worthwhile investment, having tested it out ourselves over multiple rounds of golf. Along with strategic hole maps, it also provides accurate distances to the hole from your lie, monitors your stock yardages with each club and has a scorecard feature, which makes scoring far easier than using a pencil and paper.

Both watches also feature a superb battery that will keep going until after you get home from the course, so there’s no need to worry about the watch running out of juice and losing your score. But when the watch eventually does run out of battery, its flash charging functionality will mean you can have it back at 50 per cent power within only 30 minutes.

What really sweetens the deal here is that if you buy either watch at John Lewis, you can claim a £100 Google Play voucher with the Galaxy Watch5 Pro or a £50 Google Play with the Galaxy Watch5. That will enable you kit your watch out with all the best applications on the Play Store, allowing you to get the most out of your watch.

How do the watches compare to each other?

The Galaxy Watch5 Pro is the premium of the two models and is designed for the out-and-out adventurer or the keen endurance sports person looking to track their runs, swims and even triathlons. The Pro comes with a few more bells and whistles than the Galaxy Watch5 and that means it does have a higher price point at £429. But if you take advantage of Samsung’s excellent trade-in offer that is available on purchases bought before 30th September, you’ll be able to claim £100 towards the price of the Watch5 Pro and £50 to the price of the Watch5 when you trade in an eligible device.

One of the unique features of the Watch5 Pro is the new Route Workout function that allows the user to download running routes and get turn-by-turn navigational assistance through haptic vibrations on your wrist. Those alerts will tell you when to turn left or right and keep you on track toward your destination. Plus, if you’ve ever felt anxious about getting back to where you started on your run, the handy Track Back function on the Smartwatch will always lead you back to the beginning of your trip.

On the other hand, or wrist, should we say, the Watch5 is built for those who are into tracking their workouts and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle but may not require the extensive features that the Watch5 Pro offers. We should also note that it is available for pre-order at John Lewis for an outstanding price of just £269, with an added guarantee of in-store tech support. That is a bargain for a smartwatch of this calibre and is perfect for anyone new to the smartwatch market looking for a functional and stylish watch.

Style meets performance

Having tested a range of smartwatches before, we can safely say that these are two fantastic offerings from Samsung that will help you look the part wherever you wear them but also help you make daily improvements to your lifestyle.

By providing you with data on everything from how you slept, to how much energy you used up on your walk to work, the new Galaxy Smartwatches can give you tailored insights that can help you improve your health and wellbeing.††† While these watches are already an exceptional piece of kit, you can grab yourself an even better deal if you buy them at John Lewis, where you can qualify for their two-year warranty scheme, which is an essential insurance that could save you a lot of money down the line. Head down to your nearest John Lewis store or visit their online shop if you’re interested in finding out more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro.

* Purchase by 02/11/2022 to claim your voucher. Claim by visiting: www.samsungpromotions.claims/tbc within 60 days of purchase. UK/ROI. 18+ only. For full T&Cs, click here.

** Intended for general health and wellness purposes. Not a medical device.

*** Compatible smartphone required.

† Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices.

†† ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration is required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.

††† Intended for general health and wellness purposes. Not a medical device.

Bionic StableGrip 2.0 Golf Glove Review

In the interest of full disclosure, I typically don’t wear a golf glove when I play. I always have a couple in my bag, however, and the exception is during the hot, humid summer weather that golfers like me deal with on an annual basis in the Southeast. I’ve used Bionic golf gloves in the past and have always thought highly of the company’s products, so I was anxious to see what the company had to offer with its new StableGrip 2.0.

Where the StableGrip 2.0 as at its best is in terms durability. The original StableGrip golf glove was outstanding in terms of durability and the 2.0 version is even better, which is, quite frankly, remarkable given the soft, premium cabretta leather used in its construction. After wearing the glove for roughly 45 holes, using it during a couple of lengthy range sessions, and washing it twice (yes, it’s machine washable), it looked essentially new,

At a retail price of $29.99, these gloves aren’t cheap, but if there’s a longer lasting golf glove on the market I’d have to see it to believe it. And for players who burn through gloves quickly, for whatever reason, the StableGrip 2.0 has to be a serious consideration.

Also impressive about Bionic golf gloves in general, and the StableGrip 2.0 more specifically, is how they deliver precise, consistent fits. The Bionic website offers detailed fitting advice for players and I tried a Cadet ML in each of the three men’s colors available – White, Black, and Gray – and the fit with each was perfect and identical, a rarity even when it comes to the best golf gloves.

One of the new technologies in the StableGrip 2.0 that Bionic is touting is the glove’s Dual Expansion Zone Thumb, which the company says allows the glove to fit better to any size thumb, regardless of length or width. Personally, I didn’t notice this feature during use. But as mentioned, fit is a strong suit for this company and this product, and I have no doubt that golfers will be pleased in that regard.

Lastly when it comes to positives, if you’re someone who struggles with sweaty hands or is looking for a standard glove that will hold up well in wet conditions, the StableGrip 2.0 is a great option. The glove’s interior design features cloth micro-pads, which were incorporated to keep a player’s hands dry during play, and that technology scored high marks for me. It was hot and humid during all of the testing I did with the 2.0 and I never had any issues with moisture or control.

In my opinion, the lone downside when it comes to the StableGrip 2.0 is that it’s quite thick, especially when it comes to the finger padding. The 2.0 has been slightly streamlined in that regard when compared to the original. For better players, however, achieving maximum feel when hitting shots could be a challenge and a potential deterrent when it comes to this product.

That said, for newcomers to the game, or mid-to-high handicappers, the thicker construction will likely prove to be a source of comfort (already a big positive for the 2.0) and make it easier to grip the club more consistently swing after swing, which is unquestionably an underrated aspect of playing good golf.

It also should be noted that the original StableGrip was deemed non-conforming by the USGA unless the golfer had a medial issue for which the glove provided relief. When asked for clarification on the status of the 2.0, Bionic representatives offered the following response: "The StableGrip 2.0, like the 1.0, is conditionally conforming (under Rule 4.3 b) based on a player having a medical exemption." All said, I'm not sure it's really a big deal. The avid tournament player is likely to want something that provides more feel than the StableGrip 2.0 and the player who will benefit most from it is likely to be unconcerned with the USGA'a stance.

In summary, this is an outstanding golf glove. It might not score the highest marks when it comes to delivering feel during the swing, but in every other aspect it’s tremendous. As mentioned, it’s one of the more expensive options in its category, but Bionic believes its golf gloves will outlast anything else on the market and nothing about my experience with the StableGrip 2.0 would lead me to believe otherwise. If you’re struggling to find the right glove for your game, this one’s worth a serious look.

Blue Tees Player Magnetic Speaker Review

Golf speakers are a growing trend and Blue Tees is a cool, relevant brand that is the perfect fit for a golfer that enjoys pumping out tunes while riding their cart on the course. This is typically backed up by excellent performance, like we experienced on the Series 3 Max rangefinder, so I was curious to see how its speaker stacked up.

My first impression was that it is lightweight but quite big and bulky. I’ve tested other golf speakers like the Bushnell Wingman GPS and seen the Puma PopTop Bluetooth Speaker and this is ginormous in comparison. It will fit in your golf bag (just) but if you are carrying your bag, you probably don’t want it hanging off and swaying side to side as you walk. The setting up process is super easy and within seconds, music from your phone plays out. I like the 360 degree design of the speakers so you get good coverage and the 100 foot range means it will likely never shut off when you don’t want it to. There’s also an outdoor mode, although I struggled to tell the difference between that and the indoor mode and nor is there any way of telling which of the modes you’re in at any given moment.

The sound quality is pretty good, as you would expect from the best golf speakers. It’s clear enough, especially at the volume that is appropriate for the course, although some may want more bass depending on their preferred style of track. A cool feature of the Players Magnetic is that is offers Dual pairing, so if you own two speakers you can have them play the same music simultaneously from different positions - which could work across two carts in your fourball or if you’re hosting a garden party at home. 

For easier use on a cart, there’s a strong N48 magnet that attaches the speaker to the frame, which means it won’t rattle around in the storage area or worse, roll out when turning sharp corners. Our testing showed that the speaker stayed firmly in position when going over some severe bumps or turning sharply. It’s also got 12+ hours of battery life and is IPX7 waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about getting it undercover if you get caught in a passing shower. I also like the fact a microphone is built in, so if you want to take a phone call using the Players Magnetic speaker, you can.

As much as we enjoyed using this speaker and the value for money it provides, there are some improvements that could be made. For example, it could come with a carry case and, as a brand that makes one of the best laser rangefinders, could provide spoken front, middle and back distances to make it more useful to the golfer. Perhaps this will come in future iterations. But on the whole, you get a lot for your money here - notably good sound quality, a sturdy, well-made product that is easy to use. 

Puma PopTop Bluetooth Speaker Review

If you ask golfers who like music on the golf course why that is, the answer you get is almost always the same: it makes the game more fun. For that reason, it's no surprise that Puma and Cobra have partnered with Speaqua Sound to develop two Bluetooth speakers for golfers to choose from for their on-course music needs. After all, the Puma/Cobra marketing strategy has always revolved around making golf more enjoyable.

The two options available are the PopTop Bluetooth Speaker and the PopTop Mini, and they’re two very different products. I recently reviewed the PopTop Mini and was blown away by all it had to offer in such a diminutive package. Now it’s time to further explore the PopTop, which is a much larger and far more powerful option.

I tested the PopTop Bluetooth speaker over the course of a couple of rounds and also while practicing on a few occasions at Atlanta National Golf Club, where music on the golf course is fairly commonplace. What stood out first and foremost was how easy it was to set up and use the PopTop. Pairing the speaker with my phone was simple (and I can be technologically challenged), and the functionality of the device in terms of working through my playlist was equally painless.

Where the PopTop differs most from the Mini is in terms of the sheer power it provides from a volume standpoint and the added range it offers. You can crank the PopTop up if you choose and still enjoy exceptional sound quality, although I’d always suggest being respectful of others on the course when it comes to playing music.

The PopTop also has a number of additional features that enhance its value. It has a built-in bottle opener and ball marker for use, as well as an stretchable strap that allows players to attach most phones directly to the speaker during use. There’s also a metal hook available that you can use to attach the PopTop to a golf bag and the speaker’s design allows it to sit perfectly in a cup holder of a riding cart if desired.

Also noteworthy is that the PopTop offers 10 hours of battery life before needing to be charged, which is a simple process, and it’s waterproof, dust proof, and sand proof at a rating of IP45, making it also a great option to use for other outdoor activities, such as going to the beach or the pool. And I will say that in my testing my PopTop offered much better acoustics outside than it did inside, whereas the Mini was equally good in both situations.

Of course, the standard PopTop is also significantly larger and heavier than the Mini, but it’s not any larger or heavier than what you would expect from a golf speaker of this type. That said, it will add weight to the bag for walkers, as well as take up some space if you plan on storing it predominantly in your golf bag.

Overall, the PopTop Bluetooth speaker, which retails for $130, is a solid, user-friendly option for golfers to fill their on-course music needs, especially those who are looking for a powerful device from a sound standpoint. It also comes in some eye-catching colors that bring some style to the course, including bright red and a watermelon/lime green combo.

For my needs, I’d probably give the edge to the PopTop Mini based on size and indoor use, as well as its significantly lower price point. But golfers who are in the market for a Bluetooth speaker would be wise to explore both options, as they’re among the best in the category.

Puma PopTop Mini Bluetooth Speaker Review

I’m not really sure when music on the golf course became commonplace but for better or worse that’s where we are these days in the United States. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the trend initially, but more recently I’ve come to enjoy some tunes when I’m testing products for Golf Monthly or playing casual rounds, especially if I’m in charge of the playlist!

And that enjoyment has only been heightened since being sent a Puma PopTop Mini Bluetooth speaker to test. In a word, this device is amazing. Most notably, the PopTop Mini offers incredible sound quality and range in what is a stunningly compact package. Sure, you can get a louder speaker for the golf course, but what the PopTop Mini delivers at its size is plenty powerful and something to behold.

More specifically, it’s not much larger than a golf ball, which makes the PopTop Mini easy to store in a golf bag. It’s also a great option for walking, as you can attach the speaker to your bag without it being intrusive or cumbersome. And the sound quality and clarity simply blows away what will be offered by any phone.

Equally impressive is how easy the PopTop Mini is to set up and use, and I say that as someone who is about as far away from technologically savvy as one can get. It was a breeze to pair the device with my phone for use and from a functionality standpoint it’s easy to use and recharge as well. It also offers a battery life of five hours, so playing a full round with your favorite music is not an issue.

Also noteworthy is that the PopTop Mini is waterproof, dust proof, and sand proof, so it was built to withstand all of the elements it will encounter on the golf course. And I found no issues in that regard during my testing. It also features a ball marker for use during play and the back of the speaker functions as a bottle opener, so you can enjoy your favorite bottled beverages on the course as well.

Adding to its immense value is that the PopTop Mini can be much more than just a golf accessory. It’s a great option for sitting on the beach or by the pool, and I’ve used the speaker on multiple occasions when grilling on my deck or even at times when I’m writing reviews like this one (I’m listening to Under My Thumb by The Rolling Stones right now).

I tested and have been using the limited edition Arnold Palmer version of the PopTop Mini, complete with the famed umbrella logo, but it’s the same device from a functionality standpoint as the standard Mini, which is available in black and white and retails for just $40, which is an absolute steal.

To say I’ve enjoyed the PopTop Mini would be a massive understatement. I’ve loved everything about it and would rank it as one of the best golf speakers you can buy, and I would highly recommend it to any music lover as an affordable golf accessory that will provide enjoyment on and off the course.

The best golf gloves offer a superior fit and feel – it’s as simple as that. However, if you’d rather not fork out top dollar for a premium golf glove – perhaps you don’t play enough to justify the expense – then there are plenty of cheaper options available that won’t hurt your wallet.

I’m in this camp. Slipping on a brand new premium glove feels great, but I’d rather spend my $30 (approximately £25) on half a dozen premium golf balls. You can get three Wilson Staff Grip Plus gloves for the cost of one premium glove – we’re talking less than $10 if you shop around. And I have to say, two rounds in, I’m impressed.

The material isn’t winning any awards for looks – and I don’t like how it sits loosely around the wrist – but there’s no denying that the synthetic leather offers decent club control, which is aided by premium Cabretta palm and thumb inserts. Meanwhile, mesh inserts have been placed in key stress points for enhanced comfort and a better fit.

You are making a few sacrifices when you opt for a cheaper golf glove like this, compared to the Wilson Staff Model, for example, but the most important area of performance is, quite simply, its grip quality. I have no concerns in this regard, so I’ll be happy to play it until it’s time for a change. Despite one or two marks appearing after just a couple of rounds, particularly on the fingers, I think this is just going to make it look a bit dirty. I have no concerns over its durability.

I do like the ball marker on the cuff, too. Not everyone seeks this feature in a golf glove; for some it actually cheapens the product. Personally, I've always found them quite handy – it just means a little less faffing around for a ball marker in your pocket.