F2 Broadcast Network (fka FTWB)

[papaH]

Muel-FBNI Now Has F2 Logo On Three Golf Bags...

Two on the Regular PGATOUR with Paul Goydos and Brian Gay...

One on the PGA BUY.COM TOUR with Pat Bates...

This is a great marketing tool that should open many doors...

This article explains the technology involved the the new golf bags on the tour today...

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High-tech materials, re-engineered designs make up today's golf bags

April 20, 2001

By Ted Johnson
GolfWeb Columnist

If you want to win a bet with a Mr. Know-It-All golf fanatic, pose this question: Which industry has had the longest history and greatest impact on the equipment we use today?

The Hoofer2 is more than a bag. (Provided to SportsLine)

Most will answer "aerospace," since that's where materials like titanium were commonly used before they appeared in clubs. But a large argument can be made that no industry has had a greater impact on golf than backpacking.

High-tech materials and re-engineered designs aimed at providing comfort while we walk have been the forces behind a remarkable transformation that dates back at least 20 years.

No longer do people use those leather carry bags popular a generation ago. This is a high-tech, stand-bag era.

This bag is more than a bag. It's a small closet, refreshment stand and equipment store -- capable of standing on its own and weighing a fraction of what the leather trunks of days past did.

"The customer is looking for a bag that enhances the golf experience," said Jackie Perrin, the vice president of marketing at Belding Sports, makers of the innovative NXT Golf carry bag. "It has to be comfortable to carry while it lessens the burden to them.

"It has to be functional -- from how the clubs are arranged in the bag to how it balances on the back. Finally, a bag has to have features golfers want and can use, so overall it makes golf more enjoyable."

The latest generation of carry bags offers more than just less weight and increased durability. Today's top models have water bottle pockets, neoprene ball holders, webbed pockets for gloves, fur-lined pockets for valuables and sunglasses and, of course, room for clubs.

"And attitude," said Ogio spokesperson Kelly Mooney. "Lots of attitude."

Belding's NXT Gold Series uses "quad shock" bindings to hinge the double shoulder straps to the bag. These bindings absorb shock that comes when the bag rises and falls with the golfer's stride. Less bouncing means less strain on the shoulders.

"Gellycomb" inserts in the straps make them even more shock absorbent. Belding added "tri-glide" adjustments that rest on the straps near the golfer's chest. They allow for adjustments during walking and when the bag is ready to come off, they can be used to pop the straps loose. The bag comes off with a minimum of wiggle.

It comes with nine pockets, a bottom that serves as a "foot" to prevent slipping on uneven lies and legs that can be secured when the bag goes onto a cart or in a car trunk -- all in a package that weighs six pounds empty. It retails for $137.

Ogio, a company that made its name in luggage and backpacking gear, is credited with developing the "putter port." This is a slot designed to hold just a putter, thereby protecting it from banging against other clubs.

Ogio's Dolby bags weigh just 5.75 pounds each. They have self-healing zippers on the five pockets and a triple triangle, adjustable double strap for a personalized fit. The new three-point stand kicks out easily -- no fussing to make it stand securely.

The "Gator-Link" nylon resists tearing and, per Ogio's style, it has a luminescent quality -- the attitude Mooney was talking about. The Dolby retails for $175.

For all the attention that Ping gets for its fast-selling I3 irons and TiSI drivers, neither are industry leaders. But it does lead in stand bags.

"We do such a great job getting bags to kids," said Ping spokesman Pete Samuel. He estimated that out of the 282 players in last year's NCAA men's and women's Division I golf championships, 278 players used Ping bags.

Ping works its marketing magic to provide bags to colleges, true. "But other companies try as well," Samuel said. "And they all use our bag."

The Hoofer2 is the big brother of the original Hoofer, which debuted five years ago. One reason it may be popular among college and high school golfers is that two apparel pockets make it easy to pack anything from rainsuits to textbooks.

Rather than nylon, Ping uses polypropylene, which accounts for its durability and resistance to fading. No more tugging clubs out, no more jamming them back in -- the large hoof-shaped bottom is sloped for easy club removal. The dual straps are standard, but they can be adapted for single strap use.

"We've always designed our bags for the serious golfer," Samuel said. "And we seem to get them at an early age, and that makes keeping them a lot easier."

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