Greg Norman and TaylorMade have been in discussions about the Australian golfer playing TaylorMade clubs on his return to the Masters, April 9-12.

Just in time for Spring 2009, Cobra Golf has introduced the King Cobra SZ irons, or ‘Sweet Zone' irons, to give them their full name. The clubheads have been given a sleek, low profile and a shortened hosel to push the centre of gravity deep and further back, while the wide sole and heel-toe weighting are designed to maximise the clubs' moment of inertia.

PowaKaddy has launched a new trolley bag line for 2009, the Deluxe II.

Since its inception in 2001, TGI Golf's annual Suppliers Survey - the results of which have recently been published - has become an eagerly anticipated event and a useful benchmarking exercise for the golf retail industry.

Perhaps the difference needed for Retief Goosen to win on the PGA Tour for the first time in four years was the fact he wore a golf shirt made partly from bamboo charcoal.

Bushnell Outdoor Products, a company best known in golf for its laser rangefinders, has entered the GPS market with the launch of the Yardage Pro.

PrideSports, the manufacturer of Softspikes cleats, has launched the ClubGrip, a ‘grip wrap' for golf clubs made in the style of a racket grip.

Sonocaddie has launched the V100 GPS, to complement its existing, larger V300 handheld system.

If you look in Chambers Dictionary - the one all genuine crossword-solvers should use - you will find its definition of a recession is, "a slight temporary decline in a country's trade", whereas a depression is, "a condition of reduced trade activity and prosperity". Not a lot to worry about then, is there? It'll all be over quite soon.

For Autumn/Winter 2009, Ping Collection is introducing a completely new range of waterproofs for men and women.

The Golf Foundation, which operates in England, Scotland and Wales to grow the sport in schools, clubs and communities, enjoyed a record year of growth in 2008. For the first time the golf charity trained more than 1,000 volunteers and 3,000 teachers in England alone.

The PGA's Teacher of the Year Martin Hall has installed the Explanar Golf Training System at his academy at the Ibis Golf and Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Performance coach Jamie Edwards - and SGB Golf contributor - has published his first book, Mental Ketchup: the source of peak performance. The book is available at the Trained Brain website and at www.amazon.co.uk, and it contains bare-knuckle thought provokers such as: "Excuses are the crutches of the untalented".

Cleatskins are compression moulded rubber shells that instantly convert golf shoes into street shoes, and they are coming to Europe.

Brand Fusion helps Duchess of York

Brand Fusion has donated Go Junior Web clubs to a children's charitable programme led by the Duchess of York. Over 200 children have been given the opportunity to try golf as part of ‘From the Heart with Fergie'.

There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the acquisition of Ashworth Europe by TaylorMade adidas Golf, so let me start by explaining what happened as far as I see it. Ashworth was a publicly owned company, and shareholder pressure lead senior US management to embark on a strategic plan to grow the business substantially. This included aggressive sales targets and infrastructure investment. A series of projects designed to support the forecasted growth caused major operational issues, which distracted the primary focus from product development and the customer. This coincided with the global downturn, and ultimately the company was in an unsustainable position - sales could not support the cost structure.

Orka Golf is establishing itself as hardware custom-fit specialists, and from April the company's offering will extend to putters with the launch of its SGS (Short Game Specialists) ‘boutique brand'.

As Middle-Eastern nation Jordan looks to develop its sporting and tourism attractions, the country's Golf Federation hopes to achieve a major breakthrough by establishing Jordan's first ever grass golf course.

A new programme has been introduced under the PGAs of Europe's education policy, designed to train national tutors and assessors to a new and improved European Standard across the member countries.

These are busy times at PowaKaddy Group Limited. Not content with launching the very latest version of their iconic Freeway microband, the market leading electric trolley company has also added a third premium brand to its portfolio in the UK. PowaKaddy Group has secured the UK & Ireland distribution rights for the world renowned Bag Boy push cart, travel cover and golf bag products.

St Patrick's Day celebrations for Cork-based Premium Golf Brands (PGB) went off with some extra zip and zeal this year, as Europe's largest golf apparel distributor had just been announced as the global licensee for Calvin Klein Golf.

SGB Golf talked to Michael Morton about the brand's growth in the UK and some very exciting developments on the other side of the world.

You have added four new putters to your Signature range with Gel. Is the key new feature the shaft?

We have basically taken our putters a stage further. All four new models have been fitted with True Temper shafts that have a low torque point. If the putter head twists as it makes contact with the ball there is a loss of energy. So what I have created are putters that will minimise the twist. The aluminium insert allows more weight to be positioned at the heel and toe, which I have done with tungsten weights, and the low torque shaft also helps. We have made the inserts a fraction thicker to provide a softer strike and therefore more feel for the golfer, and the shaft's anti-vibration properties enhance the softer feel.

Footjoy claims its new SYNR-G shoes provide ‘the seamless fusion of tremendous stability properties and exquisite styling'. Engineered to support Tour-level swing speeds, the SYNR-Gs feature a G-Force stability frame and a perforated alloy midfoot stability bridge, while ‘Memory Foam' inside the shoe should give golfers a perfectly snug fit, unique to every foot.

Complementing the DryJoys membrane-free waterproof full-grain leather upper, the new models boast ‘stability PODS technology'. Seven individual stability pods are surrounded by Optiflex zones, which should combine to provide golfers with optimum traction and flexibility.

A new product award winner at Golf Europe 2008 in Munich, Hi-Tec's Pure Power WPi is the first ever golf shoe to benefit from ‘ion-mask' nano-technology. The non-toxic, eco-friendly process works at molecular level to repel liquids and dirt from the shoe's surface, so while the shoe is 100% waterproof, it also remains 100% breathable. From May 2009, the Pure Power WPi will be available in White/Silver and White/Cobalt.

Key to Etonic's Stabilizer is the company's PowerPlay Outsole System, which is designed to provide golfers with the traction and control of steel spikes, which thereby enables golfers to maintain better balance, stability and power ‘from the ground up'. The Stabilizer also features full-grain leather uppers and analine leather linings for extra comfort

According to adidas, its new Tour360 Sport provides the golfer with a new level of fit and versatility. The shoe comes with the previously established ‘360Wrap support system', that encircles the foot on the outside of the shoe for stability and leverage, but the Tour360 Sport also features a mesh-based upper construction called ‘50/50 Protect', which combines a water-resistant TPU shield on the lower half with a lightweight and breathable air-mesh top half.

Ecco has updated its Classic GTX for Spring. A new dual-density sole features soft TPU in the flex areas, with an extremely hard TPU in the grip and traction zones, while a new three-piece insole unit has been designed to provide excellent cushioning and temperature control. The shoe is available in White/Black, Coffee/Black, and Black/Black.

Stuburt's H-Lite offers undeniable value for money. The shoe is made from a lightweight soft-touch leather combination upper, and comes with an EVA sock liner and a shock-absorbing heel-pad. A bellow's tongue enhances water resistance while the shoe's Driback membrane system is designed of offer water resistance while remaining breathable.

Puma claims to produce the lightest Tour-grade performance golf shoe available. With its stripped-back, ‘seamless' design, less materials are used to make the Swing Crown GTX than in other golf shoes, while it is TPU reinforced for strong support. The Swing Crown GTX features Puma's Smart Quill technology, which consists of a system of quills on the sole rather than spikes, which are strategically positioned to provide ‘ultimate traction'.

The Classic shoe from Snake Eyes Custom comes in the traditional saddle style, yet with a top strip on the upper for a clean, contemporary finish and durability. The sole is a two-part construction with a rubber outsole and a softer EVA midsole to give the golfer flexibility and comfort. The shoe comes with a 12-month waterproof guarantee against penetration through the uppers and sole, and it is available in Black, Brown and White/Black.

The new Tour Dry from Longridge is made with a full leather upper, a breathable, water-resistant membrane and a cushion-moulded EVA midsole. Tour-proven Champ Stinger Spikes gives the shoe excellent traction, and it comes in Black or White and in half sizes between 7 and 12.

Nike says it worked closely with Tiger on this shoe, which combines full-grain leather with ‘Ballistic Mesh' technology. The mesh is lighter and more durable than leather, and Nike says it will also resist stretching, to provide superior support than that of leather. The breathable mesh has a Dupont coating for stain and water resistance, and the shoe features a 100% waterproof yet breathable Sympatex membrane.

Callaway says it has engineered this shoe with the same materials used in American football, soccer and basketball, with a view to providing premium athletic performance. The low-profile shoe comes with a TPU outsole, fibre-glass sole and a flexible EVA midsole, and the soft leather uppers are both breathable and waterproof. The Hyberbolic X comes in White/Hyper Blue and White/Graphite.

Pringle's Autumn Winter 2009 range features a sweater that will cost the consumer £49; but there was a time when a Pringle jumper would have set you back as much as a brand new set of clubs.

The ‘next generation' Pro V1 and Pro V1x have a lot to live up to. Titleist says the new models have more durable covers than their predecessors, made from urethane elastomer, and by increasing the size of the core and decreasing the width of the ionomeric casing layer, the Pro V1's ball speed and ‘drop-and-stop' performance should also be increased. The four-piece Pro V1x also has a redesigned ionomeric casing.

Another long-standing Titleist success to be updated, the two-piece PTS Carry now comes with a 252-dimple cover, which is designed for a higher lift, and hence greater distance, to help golfers with a lower launch. The large 1.595" low-density, soft polybutadiene core is designed to provide greater distance, while the soft, surlyn cover should encourage spin and greenside control.

The Tour B330-RX, Tour B330 and Tour B330-S represent a three-pronged attack on the premium ball market by Bridgestone this year. The Tour B330-RX is designed for low handicappers who do not have Tour-level swing speed, but want Tour-level response for their short game. The ball features a very soft ‘gradational compression core' and Bridgestone claims it is the softest multi-layer ball on the market.

The Tour i and Tour iX are four-piece balls that feature Callaway's new ‘intertia technology', which is designed to reduce spin when the ball is struck by the driver, yet to also enhance feel. The HEX aerodynamics have been updated and the balls come with a new and softer thermoset urethane cover. While the Tour i is intended to offer ‘unmatched greenside control', Callaway hopes the Tour iX will be the longest ball on Tour.

TaylorMade has a pair of three-piece ‘Tour Preferred' balls, Red and Black, which the company says are used by over 120 Tour players around the world. The Black version has a 360-dimple pattern that encourages a mid-to-high ball flight, whereas the dimple design on the Red is designed to promote a mid-to-low flight. Both balls are built with TaylorMade's Low-Drag Performance aerodynamics, with a view to gaining maximum distance from off-centre hits.

Having enjoyed great success with its two-piece balls in recent years, Srixon has leapt into the three-piece market with its Z-Star and Z-Star X, new for 2009. The 104-compression Z-Star X is designed to provide ‘Tour performance' characteristics such as explosive distance and high spin around the greens, whereas the 90-compression Z-Star is designed to provide ‘optimum distance, spin control and soft feel' for the mid-to-low handicapper.

A golf ball with a name that sounds like it should be a black-and-white horror flick, Top Flite says on the box that The Freak is ‘nasty long'. Playing at a golf course near you, the ball's name is derived from the fact it features ‘Dimple-in-Dimple aerodynamics. This is supposed to maintain spin in flight, so the ball should hold its line better, while also reducing drag, to maximise driving distance.

One golf's premier brands of the 1960s and 1970s, Penfold launched a revival last year by introducing a 21st century version of the Heart ball that was used by James Bond in his famous golf match against Goldfinger in the 1967 film. The ‘collector set' of 12 was only available online last year, with a donation made to the British Heart Foundation for every sale.

Carrying on the strong traditions of the Precept Lady series, Precept claims the Lady iQ 180 is the softest golf ball on the market. Designed for slower swing speeds, the ball has a super-soft core featuring patented Gradational Compression Technology for added distance, while the soft ionomer cover is designed to reduce side-spin for a straighter ball flight.

The Pro Cyber is a three-piece golf ball that heads a new range from Nassau. The line also features the Tri Cyber, with a titanium-blended core designed to provide feel and added distance, and the Cyber, QX and Plus models, meaning all golfers can find a Nassau ball suited to their game. Nassau's logo programme offers balls that are imprinted before the final coat is applied to the outer cover, to ensure logos do not rub off.

Pink Ribbon's two-piece Titanium ball promises distance and soft feel for the woman golfer, and it stands out with an RRP of £11.95 for a dozen. Not only does Pink Ribbon provide excellent value for money, but from every £11.95 purchase just over £1 will go to breast cancer research and support.

A 2008 Retail Audit from Sports Marketing Surveys shows that the AD333 was the UK's best-selling two-piece golf ball. Its Energetic Gradient Growth core is designed to provide excellent ball speed, and to enable golfers with moderate swing speeds to maximise driving distance. The Pana-Tetra blended cover encourages a high launch angle and low spin from the driver, while maintaining its softness for greenside control.

The name may be ‘One', but there are actually three of them. Nike's One Tour is a four-piece ball designed with accomplished players in mind. A progressive density core is encased in a polymer ‘power transfer layer', with an inner cover and seamless urethane outer cover with a 378-dimple design. The three-piece One Tour D is designed for golfers with moderate-to-high swing speeds while the One Vapor is intended for lower speeds.

Pinnacle has built the Platinum Feel with a soft and thin cover around a larger core, with a view to providing both long distance and soft feel. Platinum Feel is supported by the FX Long at a lower price point, which has a high-velocity 1.565" core for reaching long distances in a straight line.

The soft high-velocity core of the Tour Deep is designed for great distance combined with soft feel, and the ball's feel is enhanced by an ‘ultra-thin' urethane cover that Ben Hogan promises is both soft and durable. The ball also comes with deep simples, which should encourage a stable ball flight with reduced drag.

The Noodle+ Lady is designed to provide women golfers with a high trajectory for greater distance, while still providing a ‘velvety' feel around the greens. The two-piece ball is also distinct with its ‘diamond-shine' iothane cover.

First introduced at the 2007 PGA Show, Chromax balls have been gaining in popularity since, particularly with women golfers in the US and Japan. The balls come in six colours, and with two finish options beneath the clear cover: metallic or sparkle. The USGA-approved two-piece, titanium-core balls come with a soft compression of 75, with a firmer 90 compression set to follow later this year.

The practise of swing weighting clubs has been around since the 1920's, but it is still very much a grey area to many golf professionals and golfers alike. Here is a definition in simplest terms: swing weight is the balance of a club, according to its weight distribution over its playing length. By matching the balance point of different clubs, swing weighting is the closest we can get to providing a universal feel throughout a set.