While it is clear that Nike is making the biggest reduction in staff numbers in company history, with approximately 1,750 people losing their jobs, the sportswear giant has not confirmed how its golf operations will be affected specifically.

There is no doubt that some retailers are experiencing some of the toughest trading conditions in living memory. We are seeing businesses slashing prices to attract whatever trade they can and there are empty shop units everywhere.

The uncertainty surrounding MacGregor Golf seems to have come to an end, as the American company has been sold to Texas-based Golfsmith International.

Adidas, the German sportswear company and arch rival to Nike, has announced an astonishing 97% drop in its pre-tax profits from the first quarter of 2009 to £4.43 million, although the group's TaylorMade-Adidas golf business is apparently still growing, in Europe at least.

PowaKaddy has extended its range of accessories for its new Freeway II electric trolley by offering golfers a holder designed specifically for the SkyCaddie GPS rangefinder.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. SGB Golf is publishing an exclusive series of country summaries from the report, the second of which, here, covers Portugal.

Assessing the cost-effectiveness of participation at trade shows is a difficult exercise, especially when orders can turn up months, even years, after the show. Nevertheless, if there's an opportunity to shave something off the initial costs, a slightly warmer feeling comes over the exhibitor when the time comes for that assessment.

King of the tee

T-King Golf, which claims to be Europe's largest supplier of printed tees, has reported year on year growth despite the economic downturn. "In 2008 [we invested] heavily in print technology and plant, enabling us to offer better service and unique printed tee products such as Zero Friction," says director Glen Witheford. "We also launched to the rest of Europe at Munich in October and have added many customers since then ... [we have] the flexibility to supply 1,000 or 1 million tees. Our emphasis, as always, is on customer service, quality and reliability."

www.t-kinggolf.com

How did you come up with the 2Thumb concept in the first place?

In 2004 I was looking for a way to ensure the putter head went back as straight as it possibly could, with as little rotation as possible. Having consulted engineers, it became clear that the wider the grip, the less clubhead rotation there would be and that the clubhead would remain more in line with the shoulders. Such a grip was not on the market so I made it myself.

Never Compromise is the American brand that's mantra is to ‘Never make excuses' and ‘Never stop pursuing perfection', and, more than likely, golfers will Never have seen see anything quite like their new NCX-Ray putters, which begin shipping on June 15.

In the latest initiative of the PGAs of Europe's ‘Working Together' programme, a new online Partners Brochure featuring its 15 business partners and sponsors has been launched.

This is the first time the PGAs of Europe has created an online brochure, and utilising modern flip technology, the brochure is an ideal platform for the association's partner companies to showcase their products and services. 

Like the Great White Shark himself, Greg Norman Collection continues to prove as each year goes by that class really is permanent.

Managing director Rod Brown describes Motocaddy as "innovative", he says the company likes to "keep things fresh" and that "we always have our foot on the accelerator". It is easier to make such claims than it is to live up to them, but if Motocaddy's summer launch of the eagerly-anticipated S5 GPS matches its billing, Brown's confidence will be justified.

Motocaddy has been dragged into the fall-out from a new local rule recommended to clubs by the R&A, which is intended to limit the use of distance measuring devices in competition.

Cobra says its Hotter 9 Points technology is better than ever in its King Cobra S9-1 drivers, with the result being improved clubface efficiency, so better performance from off-centre strikes. The clubs also benefit from internal frequency tuning, with the intention of giving golfers a ‘satisfying combination of sound and power'. Ian Poulter plays the S9-1F on Tour, while Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas play the S9-1 Pro.

The Ben Sayers Benny comes in a bullet shape with a deep and low rear weight chamber and strategically positioned weight bars to promote the ideal, high launch angle, high MOI and low ball spin. The driver comes with either the Grafalloy Prolaunch Red Mid Kick Point shaft or the Aldila NV, and also with Golf Pride Multi-compound decade grips. All models are designed for right-handed men.

Following the success of its original, premium Rapture range, Ping's Rapture V2 features a 460cc titanium clubhead with tungsten weights located near the heel and toe. The clubhead has a low centre of gravity in order to produce a high launch angle and low spin rate, with a high MOI. The club will is available in lofts of 9°, 10.5°, 12° and 13.5°.

The Monster XLS comes in Standard, Tour and Draw models, and has a clubface that is 16% larger than its XLS predecessor. Cleveland also claims that by lowering the crown, the centre of gravity has also been lowered, to produce the only face-centred sweet spot in golf.

TaylorMade has made a summer launch of the R9 460, to complement the R9 which came out at the beginning of 2009. The R9 460 has a larger head than the original R9, with a lower and deeper centre of gravity, with a view to providing golfers with greater MOI. The club's face angle can be altered via a bolt in the sole of the clubhead.

Titleist claims its new 909 series is its most comprehensive range of drivers to date. The 909 DComp is a 460cc, multi-material driver with a deep face and pear-shaped clubhead that is designed to produce a high launch angle with low to mid spin. The 909 D2 is also 460cc, and it is designed for a mid-launch angle, while the 440cc 909 D3 is geared for a mid launch angle and low spin.

SQ DYMO STR8-FIT is the name of Nike's new family of drivers (just in case, the last bit is pronounced ‘straight fit'). The DYMO STR8-FIT and DYMO² STR8-FIT offer golfers eight options to alter the clubface, with three possible ‘closed' positions, two ‘neutral' positions and three ‘open' settings.

The ML3 features the brand's Dual Point Technology, which aligns the centre of gravity with the ‘optimal face flex point' for maximum trampoline effect. Nicklaus promises that its micro welding also delivers an ultra-durable construction and half the weight of traditional welding. Fujikura shafts are standard.

The Concept is a 460cc square-headed ‘Forged Titanium Matrix' driver, which is designed with a view to increasing the MOI and therefore reducing twisting at impact with the ball. The men's model comes with a loft of 11° while the women's is 13°, and the driver is fitted with a regular flex, low-torque shaft. And no, we have not lost a digit from the recommended retail price, below.

Callaway's Diablo features ‘hyperbolic face technology', which means that the hyperbolic shaping of the clubface thickness is designed to give the club a larger sweetspot and improve the potency of off-centre strikes. The club comes in two clubhead models: Draw and Neutral.

The J33R is built with a 460cc titanium clubhead, with an ultra thin crown wall section and tungsten weight in the club's tailing edge, to pull the centre of gravity low and deep, and to maximise the MOI. Fitted with the Aldila VS Proto 65 shaft and Golf Pride grip, the J33R comes in lofts of 8.5° 9.5°, 10.5° and 12°.

The Smooth has a 460cc clubhead and features ‘variable face geometry', which is designed to deliver higher ball speeds across a larger area of the clubface. The Smooth also comes with ‘progressive internal weight distribution', so the higher the loft of the model, the further back the clubhead weight is pushed, to maximise stability.

The MX-700 driver has been built with a rolled Ti9 plasma welded face, which has been designed to add ball speed for strikes across the clubface, giving golfers greater consistency. The clubhead has a very low centre of gravity to encourage low spin strikes and a high ball flight.

The Exotics XCG-V features a ‘V-shaped' titanium clubface and body, or ‘cup-face', an ultra-light magnesium crown and a heavier, high-density steel sole plate, and the three elements are brazed together for permanent bonding without welding. Tour Edge promises that the result is a larger clubface ‘hot zone' and great stability through impact.

MD Golf's Superstrong drivers come in three models: a standard shape for the competitive player, which is best suited to shot shaping; the offset model designed for golfers battling a slice; and the square head for golfers looking to maximise MOI. The drivers come fitted with Proforce 65 or UST Ultraflex shafts, and with UST's new multi-compound grip.

The C3 driver from Go is designed for the beginner or improving golfer. The forged, 460cc clubhead is made from a 7075 alloy and comes with 10°, 12° or 14° lofts for right-handed men, and in 12° for left-handers. The C3 is fitted with Fuko graphite shafts or True Temper steel shafts, and the ladies' model comes with either 12° or 14° lofts.

The new Viper XT features a bullet-shaped clubhead and contoured crown, to produce a low centre of gravity and high MOI. The CNC-milled clubface has been designed to provide fast ball speeds from all areas and the club comes with a screw weight at the rear of the sole that is interchangeable to alter launch angle.

The stretch bullet head shape of the Innovator X ensures its centre of gravity is low and deep, with a view to making the club as stable as possible through impact and to maximise forgiveness from off-centre strikes. The club comes with a pair of inter-changeable weights, which are designed to alter launch angle by up to 3°.

If the official Benross jingle is ‘Bringing Performance Within Reach', the unofficial one seems to be What Economic Crisis? In these times of a market slowdown, it appears the brand just can't bring new product to market fast enough.

The new seniors' range from Benross - named Gold - consists of one driver and fairway wood, both in two lofts, an Escape in three lofts, a set of irons and a chipper. The ladies' range, called Jewel, has the same make-up but adds a putter.

Footjoy has launched its most comprehensive outerware range ever in 2009, which is split into three collections: DryJoys Tour; Sport and Performance. Highlighting the Sport Collection is the Sport Rain Jacket, which is made with an open, tailored waistband, an athletic fit, tapered storm collar and a two-year waterproof warranty.

The Rukka Rain Technology collection comprises men's and women's waterproofs suited for wear both on and off the golf course. The waterproof rain suit (pictured) from the Finnish brand comes with a breathable mesh lining, detachable hood and flexible Velcro attachments on the cuffs and hem.

New for Autumn Winter 2009, the Absolute Zero waterproof suit is both breathable and wind resistant, and it is embellished with embossed detailing translated from Ping's G10 driver. Epitomising Ping Collection's high performance ethos, the Absolute Zero is available in Black and White colour options.

Glenmuir is introducing new colours for its popular Rain Bloc Pro for Autumn Winter 2009. The long-sleeved, waterproof Pro is made with a quiet, breathable and lightweight laminated microfibre outerlayer, with an ultra-light mesh lining. The Pro comes with a three-year waterproof guarantee and in Silver, Black, Navy, Azure and Garnet (pictured).

As worn on Tour by Nick Dougherty, Tommy Hilfiger is releasing a comprehensive Sport Golf collection for Autumn Winter 2009, featuring the slim-fitting waterproof Squirrel jacket. As with all Hilfiger sportswear, the Squirrel jacket is designed for wear in and out of the sporting arena.

Peak Performance is introducing the Golf Check Jacket as part of its extensive line for Autumn Winter 2009. The athletic, flexible and unfussy Check is both waterproof and windproof, yet also breathable, and it features two zip pockets, adjustable cuffs and a zip scorecard pocket.

Sunderland has obviously had its chemistry set out, as its Tournament Suit is made from the company's exclusive Thermal13 fabric, (‘13' is taken from the periodic table), which contains dispersed, powdered aluminium, which helps to keep the body warm by reducing the conduction of thermal energy through the membrane of the suit.

The 100% waterproof Aengus jacket is constructed with taped, stitch-free seams that enable Pringle to offer a three-year technical guarantee. The breathable, stretch fabric fends off rain while also wicking moisture away from the body, and the fitted jacket comes in full-zip and half-zip options.

The new Pitch Europe from Abacus is the jacket that will be worn by the 2009 European Solheim Cup team when they travel to the United States in August. The lightweight stretch jacket is designed to ensure ideal freedom of movement, and it features laser cut detailing. The jacket is breathable and waterproof, and has a clean finish with taped seams.

ProQuip, the official supplier of rain suits to the 2010 European Ryder Cup team, says its new PqLite is a ‘feather-light rain suit with a stretchable lining that won't stretch your budget'. The jacket features a Teflon-treated outer fabric and it has an ultra-soft, stretchable and waterproof liner that enables golfers to swing unrestricted.

Galvin Green's premium, lightweight Arrow jacket features a Gore-Tex performance Shell fabric that is designed to offer exceptional waterproof protection, freedom of movement and breathability. The full-zip Arrow is part of Galvin Green's multi-layer concept and comes in Black/Gun Metal and Gun Metal/White.

Benross claims it has come up with ‘Simply the best waterproof on the market under £130' in its XTEX suit. XTEX features welded zip seams and laser cut Velcro wrist adjusters, and the waterproof, stretch fabric comes with a two-year guarantee. Designed to be lightweight and quiet, the suit comes in six colour options for men and women and it will be available from August.

It sounds like a sports car but the 3-Way Convertible is a jacket with double detachments: golfers can wear it with long sleeves, short sleeves or as a sleeveless vest. Waterproof yet breathable, the 3-Way Convertible features a storm collar, adjustable cuffs, mesh venting and it is finished with a waterproof zip.

Nike's Packable waterproof suit is designed to be breathable and windproof, and it is made from fabric that is treated with a PU laminate and seam-sealed. The jacket features adjustable cuffs and double welt pockets, while the trousers have an elasticated waistband, leg zips and an adjustable leg hem. The suit is available in Black or Midnight Fog.

No set of clubs has been expertly fitted unless the clubs have the correct loft and, in particular, lie, for each golfer's particular swing mechanics.