The PGA Show 2026 didn’t ease us in – it grabbed us by the lanyard and dropped us straight into a whirlwind of innovation, conversations and miles logged on the show floor. From the moment Paul, Troy and Brian stepped into the Orange County Convention Center, it was clear this year was all about smarter tech, bolder ideas and a renewed energy across the golf industry. We talked gear, walked booths, tested what’s next and picked up more than a few surprises along the way.
This is your front-row seat to our PGA Show 2026 experience – the standout moments, the tech that impressed us and the trends that had everyone buzzing. Read on for our recaps, insights and a few honest takes from the floor and rounds of golf.
Troy’s 2026 PGA Show Experience: A Week of Wonderful New Tech
If golf had a playground, the PGA Show is it – where aisle 300 felt like Willy Wonka’s factory for fairways and every booth was whispering, “You need this in your bag.” From smart clubs that geek out on your swing more than your best friend ever did to tech that makes your rangefinder blush, this year’s show served up gear with the kind of personality that makes even the most stoic golfer crack a grin. Whether you’re chasing distance, dialing precision, or just accessories that make your cart look like it’s ready for launch, we saw enough cool innovations to fill a Ryder Cup team’s luggage – and then some. Buckle up, because this year’s roundup of interesting products is as packed as the driving range on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Blue Tees
Blue Tees has stepped up the game for golfers of all levels this year with its latest technology coming this spring. An all new rangefinder, The Captain combines app integrated GPS yardages to add precision to your game. Further rounding out Blue Tees‘ portfolio on the practice side, a budget-friendly launch monitor delivers useful data like ball speed, carry distance and smash factor, giving players actionable insights without the typical high price tag.
Free Baller
At this point, my kids and I don’t play golf so much as we forage for it. Our rounds routinely turn into a family-friendly scavenger hunt through woods, weeds and the occasional “are we even allowed to be back here?” zone. I’ll hit one, the kids will fan out like trained search-and-rescue pros and somehow we still come back with 3 or 300 balls that definitely aren’t mine. Enter the Free Baller – the product that might help speed up those searches. The product is based on a proprietary flashlight that makes golf balls glow for easy spotting in the woods. Paired up with an arm length grabber, the Free Baller might just be a ball hunter’s dream. I am curious to try it outside the confines of a convention hall and see if it can really step up my scavenging game!
Void
I have a long, storied history of putter commitment issues. Every round starts with optimism – this is the one. Blade, mallet, face insert, no insert… I’ve tried them all, even switching mid-round, fully convinced that switching putters on the 9th green is the secret. But then I rolled a few with Void Golf, and the noise stopped. Void’s “Gravity Drive” face insert promises to deliver consistent distance even with off-center strikes. I was able to try two of their putters during a round after the show and loved the performance. The stroke felt natural, the roll was pure and I didn’t immediately blame the putter for my bad read. Bold claim, I know – but Void might finally be the one that stays in the bag.
Stitch
Stitch golf bags paired with integrated Bushnell technology in the new Stitch Link Strap system is basically the cheat code for walking the course smarter, not harder. You get Stitch’s clean, lightweight design that feels more like premium carry luggage than a traditional golf bag, combined with Bushnell’s trusted distance tech and amazing sound baked right in – no digging through pockets or fumbling for a rangefinder mid-stride. As you walk up the fairway, yardages are right where you need them, helping you make quicker, more confident club decisions and keep your rhythm intact. It’s minimal, modern and practical golf gear at its best – less guesswork, fewer distractions and more focus on enjoying the walk and hitting the next shot.
Fun Celebrity Sightings
Part of the fun at the Show is seeing who you might bump into in the aisles, and when I say bump I mean bump. Check out Paul not even noticing bumping into Bubba Watson as he was walking around. A couple of other celebrity sightings captured below:
Brian’s 2026 PGA Show Experience: A Week of Magnificent Madness
Another year, another round of magnificent madness at the PGA Show.
There’s really no other way to describe it. The scene at this year’s exhibition hall was bristling with a manic energy I’ve never seen, even at past PGA Shows – thousands of golf enthusiasts and industry minds hustling, connecting and soaking in everything the game has to offer, with every product, niche and new idea put forth for all to see.
This was my third show and I embraced the chaos this time around, sparking up conversation with everyone I came across and living in the moment to deepen my appreciation for and connection to the game.
At the end of the day, though, I gravitated towards the expansive wellness-related section of the show, in reflection of the greatest obstacle I now face in my golfing journey – age.
As I continue to progress deeper into my 40’s, everything hurts now. Wrist, knees, feet, neck – you name it, something is always flaring up, especially when I get back on the course after a long hiatus.
Beating balls at the range is no longer the path to golf success – for me, I need to bring my best self to the course, both physically and mentally, to have a chance to take down the youngsters (I’m looking at you, Troy!).
After a couple hours of touring the wellness booths at the show, here are the two products that stood out the most.
InnerLoop Sports
Believe it or not, there’s science behind being a headcase on the golf course. How well do you respond mentally to bad shots? How do you handle success? I think most of us middling golfers would say “poorly” to both of these questions, but how can you translate that into meaningful insights on your mental game?
In the Inventors Section, I had the pleasure to speak with sports psychologist Trevor Tillin who’s cooked up a tasty-looking solution to psychological woes on the course – an AI-based program that tracks what you say during a round and translates it into actionable steps to shore up your mental approach.
He walked me through the process – it’s as simple as downloading an app, wearing a small microphone during the round and uploading the voice data afterwards.
Then, in seconds, the algorithm will produce specific observations on your mental state during the round. Things like number of positive statements, number of cusses uttered and other audible cues are tallied and translated into a mental scorecard for the round, along with action items to improve your psychological fortitude.
While my attitude on the course has improved leaps-and-bounds over my junior golf days (when I really was a headcase), there’s much more I can do to bring my best mindset to a round.
After “Coach Trev” hooked me up with a microphone, adapter and instructions on using the app, I can’t wait to put my mind to the test on the course this spring.
Backbridge
This season, I’m putting renewed focus into an area of the body that hasn’t plagued me in the past but will only become more challenging in the years to come – the back.
After two long days to start this year’s trip – first a whole day walking at Streamsong followed by Day 1 of stalking the exhibition hall – my lower back was aching on Thursday morning. Right on cue I came across Backbridge, a promising solution for back recovery and spinal mobility, very much open for testing on the exhibition floor. It pulled me right in with the allure of laying down for a couple minutes.
Dr. Todd Sinnett first sat me down assessed my spinal mobility with a series of basic moves. Then, I laid down for two minutes and he inserted the “Backbridge” below my lower torso while I stretched my arms back.
The Backbridge is a cushion that pushes your spine into an arched position, offsetting the hunched-over posture natural to standing or sitting at a desk for many hours at a time. With five levels of progression available that increase the arching posture as you feel more comfortable, it promises not only faster recovery but increased mobility.
It only took a couple minutes of back-bridging to feel like a 30-something again, and when I was done I retook the mobility test and scored better across the board. Most importantly, I felt fresh and energized again, ready to tackle Day 2 at the show with zest.
I’m already sold – Backbridge is going to become part of my wellness routine this year. The process is simple – simply “Backbridge” for two minutes twice per day, and progress to higher levels as comfort and mobility increase.
Paul’s 2026 PGA Show Experience: A Week That Feels Like a Reunion
Every year I leave the PGA Merchandise Show feeling a little more grounded in why I do this. The golf is incredible, the access is special and the content opportunities are endless – but what really stands out now is how much the week feels like a reunion. What started in 2018 as a wide-eyed walk through the Orange County Convention Center has slowly turned into a few days spent catching up with friends, sharing ideas and being reminded just how connected the golf industry truly is.
From a golf perspective, this year set a new bar. Spending time at Winter Park 9 was a highlight – a compact, thoughtfully designed municipal course that proves great golf doesn’t need scale or spectacle to be memorable. Filming the first Orlando-based installment of Signature Golf Holes there felt especially fitting, and it’s a place I’d go out of my way to revisit. It’s fun, accessible and quietly brilliant – exactly the kind of golf that resonates with me.
Streamsong once again proved why it sits in a category of its own, highlighted by an incredibly special and intimate walking tour of the new course with David McLay Kidd. Spending time on the ground with David as he talked through routing decisions, land movement and the philosophy behind the design was a rare opportunity to slow down and really listen.
What makes this project so compelling is not just the architecture itself, but the context – adding a new DMK course at Streamsong alongside the work of Tom Doak, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and Gil Hanse makes it the only place in the world where that elite collection of architectural talents exists on one property. Following the tour, I had the opportunity to interview David, and I’m excited to edit and share his thoughts on why this course is architecturally distinct and what it means to add his unique voice to such a singular destination.
Time spent on The Chain and photographing Streamsong Black rounded out the visit, blending pure fun with world-class golf in a way Streamsong does better than anywhere else.
Some of my favorite moments each year, though, have nothing to do with traditional golf at all. Continuing our annual Pirate’s Cove mini-golf competition with Mark and our friends from Stewart Golf has become a tradition I always look forward to, and it’s become one of those meet-ups that makes the week feel complete.
The people are what truly make it special. Getting to spend time with my WiscoGolfAddict teammates Troy Giljohann and Brian Murphy is always a highlight, as is reconnecting with friends like Daryl Boe, Sam Van Galder, Andy Stromwall, Ryan and Kody from AKA Custom Lids, Noah Kortkamp from Golf Culture and the Golfer’s Anonymous podcast (we’ve recorded a number of podcasts together and it was great to hang out in person!), Robby Woodard from Golf Bestball (I loved our podcast together!), Jeff Marsh and Drew Westphal. Conversations with JT Thompson and Andy Krugler from Oliphant Golf also stood out – the kind of chats that remind me how fortunate I am to work alongside people who genuinely love and care about the game.
That sense of community extends across so many corners of the industry. From friends at KemperSports, Prestwick Group/The Club at Lac La Belle and Dream Golf to ongoing partners like Vessel, SentryWorld, Strawberry Creek and the Vibez Golf and Midwest Golfing Magazine crews I’m partnering with for the upcoming Milwaukee Golf Show (March 13-15 – get your tickets here!), the connections feel deeper each year.
The same goes for time spent with media and industry voices like Jason Lusk of GolfWeek, Al Lunsford from LINKS and Erik Matuszewski of the National Golf Foundation. Whether it was finally connecting in person for the first time or catching up in a more meaningful way than years past, those conversations felt like real steps forward. Much of that happens outside the ropes – at happy hours and casual meetups with PR and marketing groups, along with product partners like Payntr Golf, Redvanly and Bridgestone Golf, where the walls come down and the industry feels smaller, more human and genuinely connected.
One of the more unexpected highlights came at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, where I was rocking some sweet new Bad Birdie apparel (I know that was a shameless plug, but I love their gear!) and happened to meet Richard Kind. As the voice of Bing Bong in Inside Out – one of my all-time favorite movies to watch with the kids – and the recurring character, Andy, in Curb Your Enthusiasm, it was a small, joyful moment that felt oddly perfect. It’s those intersections of golf, life and family that continue to make these trips so meaningful.
At this point, the PGA Show feels less like an industry event and more like a gathering of people who genuinely enjoy spending time together. Golf has a unique way of bringing people closer, and every January I’m reminded just how fortunate I am to be part of that community – photo equipment in tow, stories to tell and friendships that keep growing year after year.
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