Adidas Tour 360 4.0 and Tour 360 Sport Shoe Review

The most comfortable shoes on the market? Perhaps. The lowest? Adidas says so.

Tour 360 4.0 SportThe Adidas Tour 360 is entering its fifth year and fourth version and the Tour 360 Sport its third year and second version with the new “Tour 360 4.0” and “Tour 360 4.0 Sport” models. Though the styling has remained fairly similar due to the common technology of wrapping the Adidas-style triple bands around the undersole, the shoe has come a long way in five years and has claimed its spot among the leaders in the golf footwear arena.

I’m a long-time FootJoy guy – shoes with “FJ” on them have always fit me well – and I gave a pair of the 360 4.0’s and the Sport models a try. Let’s see how the shoes fared.

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Staff Predictions: PGA Championship 2010

Golf-crazed Wisconsin and Whistling Straits host this week’s PGA Championship, with plenty of story lines, most notably the struggles of the world’s top two players.

Thrash TalkWoe is Tiger, he’s coming off his worst tournament as a professional, he’s barely going to qualify for the FedEx Cup, and he’ll likely need to be a Ryder Cup captain’s pick. He’s struggling so badly, even the bookmakers have dropped him to double digit odds to win (12-1).

Woe is Phil, he’s had a summer full of chances to take over as the world’s number one golfer, yet balky play and a bout of psoriatic arthritis have kept him in his comfortable spot of second banana. He’s got a major on his 2010 resume, but that’s really the only highlight of his season.

With the game’s elite struggling (including world number three Lee Westwood, who withdrew with a leg injury), is now the time Steve Stricker steps to the forefront, in his home state to boot? Will it be one of the upstarts such as Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa or Ricky Fowler?

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PING Expands Lineup for 2011, Part II

This week, we continue our coverage of the latest equipment from Ping.

Bag DropLast week was really only the tip of the iceberg (which I’d happily trade for the ongoing heat). The K15 and Faith Series certainly looked to be great options for players looking for something in the game improvement arena, but this week we shift gears and see the newest in PING’s offerings for low- to mid-handicap players.

After taking a look at all of these new products, it’s quite obvious that PING’s commitment to all players is taken quite seriously, as there are multiple options even for players that fall into the same category. Going by their release of a forged iron to the U.S. market, it’s also obvious that PING is listening to what players want. With that said, we’ve got a lot to cover this week, so let’s get started!

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Volume Two Hundred Forty Four

Maybe Phil doesn’t want to be #1, because he sure played like #2

Hittin' the LinksHello again golf fans and welcome to another edition of the weekly column, Hittin’ the Links. So what do you think is up with Phil Mickelson? Tiger practically handed the world’s number one spot over to him on a silver platter this weekend only to see Lefty self destruct again. Maybe Phi is just happy being number two. Only Phil knows the answer.

In this week’s HTL we begin with a look at Sergio’s vacation, then turn our attention to Tiger’s latest stellar tournament effort, and take peek at this week’s PGA Championship. Also on tap, we investigate the latest in legal battles, find out whats up with Lee Westwood, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on!

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Manufactured Drama: The Tour’s Unhealthy Obsession With “Going Low”

Without Tiger Woods in the mix, the PGA Tour needs to generate some excitement and get golf into the headlines. Cue the birdies.

Thrash TalkGoing low is all the rage, as the magic number has been achieved or threatened near weekly this summer. It was fun at first, but now it’s obscene. There’s no question the spate of birdie binges is a result of a concerted effort to inject life into the low-level Tour stops. We all know how good these guys are. How about a bit of a test tossed into their 18-hole afternoons?

As with all sports, golf’s all about the drama. When the world’s best are dueling down the stretch, that’s exciting. When they’re facing the challenge of battling themselves, holding a big lead or charging from behind, there’s a story to be told, a reason to root. But when the game is lacking any compelling story lines, what’s left? Who can make 10 birdie putts vs. who can make 11 birdie putts? It’s fake, it’s a fraud, it’s manufactured drama.

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PING Expands Lineup for 2011

Ping is the first out the gate with their announcement of a number of new lines of clubs for the upcoming product year.

Bag DropAs they ride the momentum of staffer Louis Oosthuizen’s win at the Open Championship, PING shows no signs of slowing down. Proof of that is their announcement of a a wide variety of upcoming clubs for a wide variety of players. This week, we’ll check out their new K15 line, which includes a driver, a fairway wood, and a hybrid/iron set.

PING has always had a good offering for female golfers as well, with series such as the Rhapsody set. This year is no different as they pull the covers off of their new Faith series. So with all that said, let’s quit wasting time and take a look!

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Volume Two Hundred Forty Three

Did I ever think we’d see the day where we discuss a 59 and a 57 in the same HTL? Uh, no.

Hittin' the LinksHello and good day golf fans and welcome again to Hittin’ the Links. It was yet another busy weekend for the golf spectator, Women’s British Open in the morning, Mens Senior U.S. Open, or The Greenbrier Classic in the afternoon. There’s nothing like a full day of golf coverage.

In this edition of HTL we begin with a look at Tiger’s schedule, then turn our attention to the teenager who went low, and find out when Anthony Kim is returning to the PGA Tour. Also on tap, we answer some important golf questions, look at some Middle East golf, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read On!

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My Dip Into Tournament Golf: A Whole New World

For years I’ve been playing a game called golf. Only now do I embark on something completely different: competitive golf. Boy do I have a long way to go.

Thrash TalkLast week, for the first time in a decade, I dipped my toe into a round of golf where every swing mattered, every three-foot putt had to fall, and I needed to sign my scorecard (and attest someone else’s) at the clubhouse. A week later, my head is still spinning. Yet I can’t wait to dive into more stroke-play tournaments, to feed that thirst for golf that really matters.

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Staying Cool In The Summer Heat

It’s HOT across the majority of the country, but don’t let that keep you away from the course. Though the record-breaking heat may seem overbearing, we’ve got some tips on apparel and accessories to help you beat the heat – and hopefully your playing partners!

Bag DropIn case you haven’t heard the news, it’s friggin’ hot outside! With a few exceptions, this summer has been really brutal for everyone, no matter where you live. The heat index has been so high here in south Louisiana, I’m ready to catch the next plane back to California, just to enjoy the same weather I did during the U.S. Open. Unless that’s a feasible option for you, you’re probably suffering through the oppressive beatings the sun/high temperatures/high humidity every time you step foot on the golf course. Though I can’t help you to outfit your golf cart with full blown air conditioning comparable to that of an refrigerated trailer, I may be able to give you a few tips on some equipment and apparel that might make it a little more manageable.

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