The 2023 season is spooling up but, before we get totally immersed in all the new releases, the MyGolfSpy staff took some time to reflect on 2022 and imagine what’s ahead for the coming year in all things golf.
Before you read on, go ahead and drop your 2023 golf predictions in the comments. We’re curious!
Starting With “Most Wanted” …
- Our hard-goods expert, Jon Howard, predicts COBRA will struggle to place in the top five in any Most Wanted test in 2023.
- Phillip Bishop is betting all three of Titleist’s latest TSR drivers will place within the top 10 for Most Wanted Driver of 2023. He thinks one of them will take the top spot.
- Bennett Green’s confidence in L.A.B. putters this year is unmatched. It took a little convincing but she thinks they’re pushing the envelope just enough for her. Mallet putters beware.
- Phillip Lien believes the PING i230 irons have a strong chance to win Most Wanted testing.
On the TOUR …
- “Rory completes the career Grand Slam at Augusta,” says John Barba, “which will only further piss off Greg Norman.” Barba goes on to predict 2023 will bring in Norman’s rumored replacement as CEO of LIV. “The new LIV CEO will be able to facilitate peace talks with PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.”
- Another confident vote for Rory winning the Masters comes from Tony Covey.
- Phillip Lien is all-in on Patrick Cantlay taking the 2023 FedEx Cup.
- Along with yet another nod to Rory winning the green jacket, Bishop is positive Rickie Fowler will join LIV.
- Barba predicts OEMs will begin to pull their sponsorships from LIV players, citing technicalities in contracts that require PGA TOUR appearances.
- Howard predicts LIV players will be included in OWGR rankings by mid-2023.
- Note: Five staff members are on board for Rory taking Augusta!
Moving on to Equipment Companies …
- Barba believes Callaway has something in the pipeline—footwear.
- The personal launch monitor market will continue to expand.
- Covey is convinced TopGolf Callaway Golf Company will make yet another acquisition. “Impact not on the scale of Topgolf but probably bigger than Jack Wolfskin, which is admittedly a super-low bar.”
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Barba says Srixon will move into fourth place in the golf ball market after years of flip-flopping with Bridgestone.
- If you’re looking for emerging brands, Canadians support their own so it’s no surprise Rick Young predicts you’ll hear more from Blacksmith Putters this year.
- Putter connoisseur Dave Wolfe believes Odyssey-Toulon will cut into Scotty Cameron’s milled putter market share.
- As the game moves indoors and to other condensed formats, you should expect to hear more from LinksDAO, Puttery and the Tiger Woods-backed Popstroke.
As for the Longshots …
- Courses will begin offering six-hole rounds to fix slow play, says Wolfe. Will it fix the problem? Hardly, but it’s worth a shot.
What Do You Think?
What are your predictions for the world of golf in 2023?
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Dr Tee
2 weeks ago1. for sure Titleist will have several offerings in the top 10 drivers, and we haven’t even seen the widespread release of TSR 1 !
2. 6 hole rounds will just shorten the time from tee to 19th hole but not speed play. Great for late evening twilight rounds though–I’ve done this for years after work.
3. Agree that the secret to faster play is using the correct tee–let’s empower the starter to mandate a player’s tee on the basis of handicap or observation of first hole tee shot !!
4. Popstroke is going to be a mega-hit !
Rob
2 weeks agoSlow play is a complex issue. There is no one reason for it so there is no one fix for it. Shorter rounds (6 holes) addresses none of the reasons for slow play. I like the idea to get more people into the game. But it won’t fix slow play.
Barry
2 weeks agoCobra fanboy here so why does John Howard think Cobra will struggle to achieve any top 5s in most wanted? I was looking forward to aerojet
MattF
2 weeks agoCallaway will be top of the heap with drivers. Everything I’ve heard from people that have actually played with it is that it will blow pretty much everyone else out of the water.
Mike
2 weeks agoPlease please PLEASE, NO 6 hole rates. If you don’t have 2 (or maybe 2:15 hrs) to play 9 holes, find another sport. And I guarantee, after finishing their 6 holes, numerous folks will say, what the heck! Let’s just play the last 3 holes in.
Just like Mick Jagger says, “you can’t always get what you want”. So sorry, if you only have an hour and a half, odds are you’re not going to be able to play much golf on the course that day. Instead, go to the range. Practice your short game. Take a lesson.
Wanna speed up the round? Swallow your ego & PLAY FROM THE CORRECT TEES!!! At my course, I see many players who would struggle to legitimately break 100 from the tees I now play at (6,150 yds) nonchalantly walk back to the 6,550 tees and play from there. When I see folks hitting long irons & fairway woods into most of the par 4’s, it’s painfully obvious (to me at least) they’re playing tees that are too challenging for them.
Dr Tee
5 days agoDude-maybe you work from home, but I’m an MD first responder and sometimes can’t get from the hospital to the course in time for 9 holes before pitch darkness. A short 5 or 6 hole loop fills the bill. Get real !
Samuel Rainey
2 weeks agoBennett, I agree with you on the LAB putter I bought my first one 3/27/16. And couldn’t believe how well it worked. I remember commenting back then when I first discovered MyGolfSpy. If you were going to test the Directed Force Putter. Only reply I received was it definitely looked different. Since then I believe most have gotten over the shocking looks and believe Bill Presse the inventor on its science. First Harry your former resident Pro golfer moved to it. Then I heard one of the No Putts Given podcasts that everyone on staff had been gaming it. At the time Bennet they said you weren’t a convert yet. Glad to see you have come around. It is hard to get used to the Branding iron looks but it sure performs great. Anyway glad it is finally getting recognized just hope my playing partners don’t follow suit. I like taking their money lol.
Thomas Brokl
2 weeks agoMinor spelling error: concers should be spelled concurs
*Another confident vote for Rory winning the Masters comes from Tony Covey and concers on the disappearance of Norman.
Monty
2 weeks agoRory….meh…and I predict golf club prices will continue to go up. There 2023 in a nutshell.
MarkM
2 weeks ago2023 will be more of the same in the world of golf.
Everybody must get fit even though there are no significant changes in equipment.
Rust doesnt increase spin.
Prices will continue to increase.
Golfers will continue to search for the “magic” driver, putter, etc that will turn there game around.
The incessant PGA vs. LIV noise will continue.
Players that don’t take lessons or practice will have unrealistic expectations.
And lastly, golf will continue to be the most diabolical, tantalizing, infuriating addiction known to man with a few moments of glorious exultation thrown in to keep you coming back for more.
Plumbob
2 weeks agoLV golfers fill the top 3 positions at the 2023 Masters,
Ping lead best drivers
LAB out performs all other mallets
Cobra irons finish in top 5 for player irons
Courses close more in 2023 than in any other previous year
Scottie S, becomes number one golfer and wins 2 majors
Green fees increase on average by 10%
HAC
2 weeks agoSeven and nine woods continue to get more popular. More golfers replace 5 and 6 irons with hybrids or nine woods.
Phil Wi[[iams
2 weeks agoI have used Vice golf balls for the last 5 years.. I would like to see more of the balls reviewed by MGS, particularly the new Vice Pro Zero. I really like that you an unbiased source of product in formation for us poor souls muddling through the equipment quagmire. Thank you.
Gerry T
2 weeks agoI will still be playing Cobra irons in 2023. Between the F9s and Speedzones, I will find the confidence in my game that was seriously lacking. I look to add a Cobra Speedzone or F9 sand wedge to my arsenal! Go, Cobra, go!
Just a heads up…I shot a 25 on July 26th on the North Course par 22…not too bad for Cobra irons eh? Another 25 on the South course and I would have 6 over par for 12 holes and 9 over par for 18. 75 on a par 66 round would basically put me where I could only dream of before. Good luck with your Wilson irons or Taylor.Made!
Mike
2 weeks agoI really like Cobra, bought the Radspeed driver in 2021 & this past year’s 3W. May eventually look at their hybrids also. They make good clubs, not sure why they don’t get the love that some other brands do (maybe because then hopefully somebody advertising?). But I’ve always felt Cobra’s are hidden gems.
Ted
2 weeks agoRory will never win at Augusta, it’s in his head, he wants it so bad he can’t relax and play
Mark M
2 weeks agoOEMs: Longer! More forgiving!
MGS: Hold my beer.
Looking forward to all the Most Wanted testing showing what we call the truth.
Mark Scott
2 weeks agoCallaway will continue to acquire more indoor golf facilities, such as Drive Shack, PopStroke, etc. Ping woods will be in the top 2, a new Callaway Apex iron will become number one players iron, Taylormade’s carbon fiber tech will find its way into iron face in some manner, roounds played will diminish with rounds taking more and more time, golf course management in the west is going to be in danger with lack of water, 10% reduction in golf course in western US with water supplies drastically reduced, Evnroll,s adjustable hosel tech. will be copied by every other OEM,
Scott
3 weeks agoHasn’t Callaway already done footwear, Barba?
John Barba
2 weeks agoPrediction is they’ll buy someone – a reasonably well-known brand – and make a big deal of it. Adding to corporate umbrella.
Dr Tee
2 weeks agobeen there, done that–yes–one of the most comfortable shoes I ever owned were Callaways (1990’s)
Tim Yorke
3 weeks agoI am predicting a huge slow down in golf. Club costs, membership costs and people having less money will cause a huge slow down.
RT
3 weeks agoWow!!! Hopefully .it will happen quickly .. But sadly I think prices will continue to climb … higher wages people spend more, …The price of used equipment will also ..continue to rise…Golf shoes prices are crazy ,made in some small country where wages are pennies and profit is out of site …Build them and they will come and pay the price!!!!!
Scott
3 weeks agoHard to argue with this statements. Perhaps also, DTC brands will start to rise in popularity even more.
Dennis
3 weeks agoLooking for advice. Just turned 74 , 6 handicap, pretty good senior player. What set of 2022-23 irons would best fir a player looking to hit the ball higher, not play jacked up lofts and have good forgiveness. Appreciate any advice here.
regards,
Dennis
Jon
3 weeks agoHi Dennis, I’m 70 and hit the wilson D7 irons . They have plenty of loft and a sure feel, Regards, Jon
Eric
3 weeks agoSrixon zx5!
Steve S
3 weeks agoCan’t go wrong with Mizuno. Never had a bad set. They have a number of choices that are not “jacked” lofts.
MrHogan
3 weeks agoPay close attention to the most wanted irons lists, current and previous. Do your research, reviews, etc. Demo your top three choices, get fit. Good luck on your search.
Gerry T
2 weeks agoI turn 60 in July and an having the time of my life! I am gaining confidence in my irons and look forward to improving my game and handicap into my 60s. I also look to play more games as the spring and summer arrive. I would suggest the Cobra F9 irons in graphite shaft. That’s what I will be playing, as well as the Speedzone irons. I’m already playing the best golf of my life since my 30s and early 40s!
WBN
2 weeks agoLook to a shaft change to get higher loft.
Tom Hall Jr.
3 weeks agoTaylor Made and Titleist compete for best Driver.
Callaway is the #2 ball and adds market share.
Ping steps up in the iron market with its new offerings
Scotty Cameron increases his market share with premium introductions.
Short courses expand their courses as alternative golf explodes.
Tom Kim popularity grows as he wins again
Rory struggles at Masters even with a solid top 5 finish
Justin Thomas wins another Major. Tiger plays 3 majors.
Callaway makes a major acquisition, not shoes, alternative golf lifestyle market. Callaway introduces a major break through in its Driver and fairway woods. Mizuno grows its iron sales market with a cult following on tradition and consistency. .
Ricky Fowler stays with the PGA and Butch Harmon helps him becoma a contendor
TXGolfJunkie
3 weeks agoJust placed my order for the Mezz Max thanks to Dave’s review. I’m a lefty and found a right handed Mezz at the local shop. It was amazing to hit putt after putt right on line. You really do have to let it do the work. And this was all done with the opposite hand! My wife hates whoever is influencing my frequent putter purchases… Don’t worry Dave, your identity is safe… For now.
Dave Wolfe
3 weeks agoHave fun with that Mezz Max. Just remember that “frequent” can be a subjective term. 🙂
Tad
3 weeks agoFor Dennis’ question. First to be a 6 handicap at age 74 is great! I am not sure why you do not want jacked up lofts. My experience( at the similar age and handicap), I am happy to start with a 5 iron and give more room to beat those younger seniors with my chipping and pitching. For 2023 models, I am interested in the new products. I have 2021 PXG 211’s and I bought them as a trial and with increased height and jacked up lofts, I am pleased, and ready to use this model, which looks like my old Mizuno’s as my base for new new clubs.
Pat Brown
3 weeks agoBig shot at Cobra there. Wow. Their drivers have been excellent last couple of seasons. Some good stuff in here, looking forward to the new product launches as always.