It's almost time for the new golf season, so the internal rumblings of "Should I replace my driver?" and "Is it time for a new bag?" might be upon you. Some of the biggest names in golf have already made early introductions for the 2006 golf season, and some of the equipment may be a perfect fit in helping you celebrate a new year on the course.

Any player who has ever wrestled with clubs when attempting to pull them from the golf bag will find Bag Boy's new NXO Revolver Cart Bag an interesting option. A first-of-its-kind, the NXO Revolver features an innovative revolving top. The entire center tube component rotates
360 degrees. It features a raised, molded notch that allows golfers to easily twist the bag's inner storage compartment for quick access to each club.

The NXO also incorporates Bag Boy's patented Grip-Lok Technology, which further augments easy club access while locking the clubs in place and protecting clubheads and shafts from banging together in the bag. Grip-Lok Technology utilizes 14 individual club sleeves and a new Shaft Lock System. Even when turned upside down, the clubs in the bag will not move.

Other bag features include two cooler pockets, an oversized easy-access ball pocket, expandable side apparel pockets, a fur-lined valuables pocket, two putter clips and Bag Boy's
exclusive Strap-Lok System. The strap was designed to help prevent the bag from twisting when on a walking or riding cart.

Strides in modern-day golf club technology have revolved around geometry. Cavity-back irons, the Bubble Shaft, low-profile woods and hybrid clubs were all innovations based on geometry. Nike's SasQuatch (SQ) driver is the latest leap forward in golf equipment and is also a geometry story.

Combining PowerBow and Max Back Center of Gravity (CG) technologies, Nike's club guru, Tom Stites, produced a lower, deeper CG without the use of weights. Stites altered the shape
of the clubhead to achieve enhanced performance. To understand what Stites did, imagine a rubber ball and a seesaw.

First, envision the act of pressing down on a rubber ball. When compressed, the ball's circumference bows, pushing mass outward. As if he squished the driver head, Stites increased the clubhead footprint, its outline, backward from the face.

This PowerBow, the visual cue to the geometry, adds a trailing volume of mass for added power and control without overstepping the United States Golf Association's (USGA) 460cc legal driver clubhead size limit. The PowerBow moves the CG back, low and deep in the driver to promote a higher launch angle, lower spin and longer distance.

To visualize how the PowerBow geometry works, consider a seesaw. The farther back or outward a person sits on a seesaw, the higher the person on the other end is lifted in the air.

The SasQuatch also boasts a face of layered, yet tightly compressed titanium called NexTi, which is proprietary to Nike. NexTi generates a hotter response and greater consistency.

Additional advantages of the combination of geometry and physics in the SQ driver are forgiveness from an increased moment of inertia (MOI or resistance to twisting), distance as a result of a wider, taller sweet spot and accuracy via a CG positioned backward that makes squaring the clubface easier.

Maruman Golf's latest high-performance driver, the Majesty Prestigio FV-R, also boasts unique technology. It features titanium altered on the nanoscale combined with comprehensive use of Fullerene, which consists of carbon-cage molecules found to exist in interstellar dust and in some geological formations on Earth.

The driver integrates a super-strong, thin titanium face with a Fullerene titanium body constructed by high-precision welding and ultra-sonic peening, which is an advanced process that achieves greater strength than material alterations or heat treatments.

The Fullerene titanium increases material strength by 20 percent, greatly reduces energy loss at impact and enhances COR (coefficient of restitution or spring-like effect) by 0.025. The driver is also assembled with Maruman's all-new Fullerene shaft that is lightweight and provides high sensitivity and strength.

Majesty Prestigio FV-R woods come with a five-year warranty against excessive damage or structural failure during normal use. When you consider this driver, be prepared for the price tag. The technology may be unlike any other, but the price tag is too. The driver retails for $2,000.

When Tour Edge Golf launched its high-end Exotics brand with the introduction of the Exotics fairway woods, it hit a home run. The technology and performance of the clubs proved the brand could compete at the highest levels. The new Exotics driver has also proven its mettle on the PGA Tour.

The driver incorporates an ultra-light crown, even lighter than many composite crowns, which
allows more weight to be placed in the sole. This lowers the CG and increases the MOI for exceptional forgiveness. The crown is attached to the titanium head using Exotics - no-weld,
chemical-bonding process called Combo-Brazing. Eliminating welding also allows for the deeper, lower CG and smooth, consistent feel.

The driver's SP700 power-producing, forged beta-titanium face is inserted into the club using laser bonding, which eliminates weld material associated with traditional and plasma welding. This results in significantly improved rebound characteristics.

The driver also features two precision-crafted, strategically positioned, fixed tungsten screws to provide an optimum balance between driver forgiveness and power. The positioning of weight is crucial in creating the most favorable CG angle for optimum energy transfer from club to ball. Three high-end shaft choices are available.

For the first time in PING's 46-year history, the company simultaneously launched a complete
lineup of products under one name - G5. The G5 irons are the latest cavity-back design from the company that innovated cavity-back technology in 1969.

The deeper, parallel cavity design widens the sole and expands the perimeter weighting to make the G5 PING's most forgiving iron to date. The pull direction of the cavity is parallel to the ground rather than perpendicular to the face, moving more mass toward the back of the clubhead. This results in a straighter ball flight due to a higher MOI and a mid-high ball flight due to the CG being moved away from the face. Off-center shots fly straighter, and distance loss is decreased.

Feel is improved through a larger, thinner Custom Tuning Port (CTP). The expanded port is positioned closer to the face to ensure consistency and a solid, pleasing feel. The port's perimeter creates a larger surface area against the clubface to help stabilize the face while improving feel and sound. The multiple-section leading edge radius improves ground impact for better ball impact.

Titleist entered the blended iron set segment for the first time with the introduction of two 735.CM designs. The irons are focused on skilled players and Titleist loyalists seeking a combination of shot control, maneuverability and playability in one iron set. The Forged 735.CM irons offer continuity in performance and aesthetics with a fluid transition from cavity-back long irons to muscle-back short irons. Progressive blade heights, blade lengths, offset, topline, CG and MOI allow each club to perform to tour-level standards for every shot required.

The 735.CM irons are available in two different alloys - forged 410 stainless steel and chrome-plated forged 1025 mild carbon steel. The forged 410 stainless-steel versions provide
a soft, solid feel with a rich, non-glare satin finish and offer a wider range of custom options. Forged 1025 mild carbon steel, the primary choice of tour players, provides a soft, solid feel with a traditional, bright, chrome-plated finish for a classic appearance.

Cleveland Golf continues to raise the bar on wedge design with the introduction of the CG11 wedge, the company's latest offering made from CMM metal. Like the CG10 wedges, the CG11s offer players exceptional feel in a wedge that is versatile and dependable. While both wedges have similar spin and ball-flight characteristics, the new CG11 wedges boast extra stability and forgiveness. The design of the CG11, combined with the benefits of CMM metal, make it the most technologically advanced wedge ever from Cleveland.

When compared with the CG10 wedge, the new CG11 wedge features a slightly larger sole that is wider toward the heel and toe and narrower in the center. Weight is also redistributed to
the perimeter of the clubhead, creating a unique stability chamber. This helps golfers maintain clubhead stability through impact, even on off-center hits.

The name of TaylorMade's r7 CGB MAX irons conveys a lot about the company's newest introduction for players seeking power, distance, forgiveness, playability and ease-of-use performance. CGB stands for center-of-gravity back, a reference to the low and deep CG position that contributes to launch conditions that promote added distance and control. MAX eludes to maximum COR, COR zone, clubhead speed, ball speed and forgiveness.

Distance enhancements are the result of the thin, strong clubface, which is created separately from the clubhead using TaylorMade's Pull-Face method of construction. The clubface boasts a large, unsupported area that helps produce a high COR for an iron. This promotes faster ball speed for increased distance.

Pull-Face construction also allowed TaylorMade to incorporate its Inverted Cone Technology, which was first used in its drivers, into the iron design. The inverted cone is milled directly into the rear side of the clubface and changes the way the clubface behaves at impact. It increases the size of the club's COR zone, allowing a larger area of the clubface to deliver a higher degree of ball speed.

Pull-Face construction also allowed milling of the front and back of the clubface so grooves can be created to exacting specifications and the clubface can be milled perfectly flat.

A hollow topline permitted 17 grams of weight, via permanent tungsten cartridges, to be redistributed into the lower-rear portion of the clubhead at the toe and heel. Combined with the wide sole, the weight shift moved the CG location to a low, deep, back position for easy launch and power.

The largest steel iron clubhead created by TaylorMade, the r7 CGB MAX has a high MOI and large hitting area for stability on mishits. Increased swing speeds are the result of the ultra-light steel or graphite shafts available in the irons

Bridgestone unveiled a pair of golf balls, the e5 and e6, that allow players to optimize the trajectory and distance of tee shots while maintaining soft feel and control around the greens. Designed for players who tend to slice or hook shots, the e6 reduces excess sidespin to provide straighter ball flight and maximize distance. The ball features an unusual urethane-cover, two-piece construction with a low-compression core. The Soft Kinetic Energy Core delivers better feel on all shots and optimum launch angle off the tee for maximum carry. The Linear Velocity Inner Layer generates high resilience and reduces excess sidespin for straighter shots.

Players who tend to produce a lower trajectory shot off the tee or want more height from tee shots should opt for the e5. The construction combines a high-energy core and a urethane cover. The e5 increases the spin rate to the optimum level for higher ball flight to maximize distance. The Large Kinetic Energy Core also generates higher initial velocity for explosive launch. The grip-and-grab urethane cover allows for optimized spin off the driver as well as superb backspin for approach shots that stop on the green.

Bite Golf also unveiled an industry first. It combined the comfort and innovation the company is famous for with the No. 1 traction outsole in the world, Vibram, to create a new footwear category - the hybrid golf shoe.

Bite's Golf Travel hybrid series offers consumers unique footwear that provides optimal traction and durability for walking on a variety of surfaces, including turf, mud, hardpan and asphalt. Bite's proprietary outsole is made of a Vibram Trek rubber compound, which is the same material used on the world's finest mountaineering boots.

In addition, the exclusive Vibram outsole design provides secure, confident traction during all phases of the golf swing, as lugs are strategically designed for stability and prevention of grass build-up and green indentation.

Two styles are available to fit different lifestyle functions. The Golf Explorer is a classic shoe style made of full-grain leather that transitions well from the boardroom to the first tee and everywhere in between. Dress it up or down, or wear it to dinner. The Golf Traveler is a perfect style for quick golf getaways when you're packing light. It';s an ultra-comfortable, saddle-style shoe that travels light.

Sun Mountain continues to innovate in the apparel segment with its 2006 lineup of performance outerwear. Included are several garments that feature stretchable fabrics for a slimmer, tailored fit while still allowing the golfer to make an unencumbered, full golf swing.

The Thermal collection includes the men's Rainier and women's Shasta garments. The Rainier is a full-zip fleece jacket constructed from 300-weight, non-pilling, stretchable fleece. The ultra-comfortable jacket smartly features articulated elbows with flexible Lycra panels and sections of reverse fleece with contrasting colors. It also includes a zip-through collar and drawstring waist.

The women's Shasta is 100-percent reverse fleece with contrasting stitching. It features the same stretchable, non-pilling fabric. Both are available in four color combinations.

United Sports Technologies' (UST) Frequency Filtered Putter Shaft combines shaft and balancing technology for improved performance. The shaft is the result of a joint venture between UST and Balance Certified, which is known for its tour-proven Pro-Balance shaft-weighting system. The partnership's goal was to design a shaft system that significantly improved a player's ability to perceive or feel exactly where ball impact occurs on the putterface. This feedback is important to a player';s ability to quickly identify the putter's sweet spot, strike the ball on the sweet spot and improve putting consistency.

UST likens the technology to high-end stereo equipment. A good sound system filters out static and leaves listeners only with the sounds meant to be heard. Many different types of vibrations occur when a putt is struck. Like static, some vibrations are always present but don't provide useful feedback. The Frequency Filtered shaft filters out those vibrations, leaving only the vibrations that provide feedback about how the putt was struck.

Karakal Grips is also focused on feel and function. The company's new TripleMax (TMAX) triple-density grip incorporates three distinct materials. The first is the rubber stabilizer core. It's the firmest of the three materials and keeps the grip stable during the swing, eliminating torque in the grip. Two outer layers are incorporated into the design, one in the upper section and one in the lower section of the grip.

The XJP material makes up the widest section of the overwrap and is the firmer of the two outer layers. It provides the firmness needed for the top hand in controlling the swing. The narrower control ring, the bottom portion of the grip, is made of Karakal's X-tack material. It's very tacky and soft to maximize play by securing the grip comfortably in the hands during all weather conditions. It also acts as the shock absorber for comfort.

RockRoller has packaged the Ernie Els Training System into a comprehensive training-aid package that includes tools to improve your swing plane and putting. The RockRoller trains the putter, hands and shoulders to move as a unit, working independently of the head and body. The Stimpdimple attaches to your putter to reinforce the proper timing and speed of a successful putt. Place a ball on the Stimpdimple as you make your putting stroke to see if your fluid motion can keep the ball in place in the dimple.

The Tempotimer straps onto the shaft of any club to hone swing plane, swing tempo and swing timing regardless of your skill level. The Tempotimer depends on centrifugal force to get your swing on plane.

For a stylish look on the course with all the benefits of 100-percent UV protection, Ion-Ray's Ionized Bio-Metal Frames are a sleek, useful accessory. Ion-Ray claims to have the only sunglasses to use an exclusive bio-metal ionization process. Perfect ergonomics also help the frames seem weightless during a round.

Accu-Length, which makes expandable-length golf clubs for junior players, has augmented its
lineup with several important offerings. A new 250cc driver leads the product introductions. The stainless-steel driver's large sweet spot makes it perfect for juniors, as does its 14-degree loft and 54-degree lie.

The driver is available in the AL2000 Series for golfers 51 to 59 inches tall and the AL3000 series for golfers 55 to 62 inches tall. The driver has the same custom fit and expandable shaft technology that are the trademark of all Accu-Length shafts. It's available in right-hand and left-hand models.

Keep it simple should be the tagline for Venus Golf's Money Club. This iron-putter hybrid club makes the art of chipping simple and produces dependable, repeatable results. With the Money Club, address the ball as you would a putt. Use a putting grip and a simple, linear back-and-forward stroke. The result is a controlled, properly launched shot that travels onto the green and runs to the pin. No worries about open stances, cocked wrists or chunked shots.

The Money Club is the same weight and length as a putter, so it feels and sets up like a putter. The upright lie angle promotes a proper setup with the eyes over the ball. Wider than a standard iron, the club also has a largersweet spot. In addition, 2 degrees of bounce enhance overspin roll, while the V-shape on the sole apex promotes a smooth stroke from rough lies. Finally, the stiff, lightweight, titanium-reinforced shaft protects against unwanted vibration and twisting.

Golfers looking for hot-faced, long-hitting fairway woods should consider Tom Wishon Golf Technology's 515GRT lineup. The fairway woods feature clubfaces designed to meet the USGA's maximum-allowed COR limit for drivers. When other designers said the 0.830 COR limit could not be reached in fairway woods, Wishon found a way.

Wishon incorporated a new ultra-high-strength steel alloy from Carpenter Specialty Materials into the fairway woods. The alloy is forged into an extraordinarily thin cup-face construction with no vertical roll radius. The high-strength alloy is strong enough to resist cave in but still thin enough to allow the ball to flex the face inward to 1/16 inch, which is the necessary flex to reach optimum COR. The cup face ensures that no welding material ends up behind the face, which can hamper face flex.

The 3- and 5-woods stand right at the driver COR limit, while the 7-wood isn't far behind with a COR of 0.824. According to Wishon, the highest COR previously achieved in a fairway wood was 0.810.

With the 515GRT, players experience higher ball speed and greater distance as a result of the increased COR, while no vertical roll radius ensures the loft is the same from top to bottom on the clubface for uncommonly consistent launch angle and flight trajectory.

AMF Golf has broken into the adjustable-weight market with the Pro Transfer mallet putter, featuring technology called the Twin Metal Momentum System. The weights allow golfers to manipulate the weight of the putter from 350 grams up to 437 grams. A headcover houses the wrench and weights for quick access and easy changes. The weights also offer an attractive sight-line to line up putts. The aluminum-polymer face provides a combination of accuracy, feel and distance control.

Despite the amazing popularity and playability of oversized putter models, Anser-style designs remain the No. 1-selling putter shape. Aserta's Vanquish putter incorporates breakthrough technology into an Anser-style design that reportedly allows the putter to perform equally to oversized and extreme heel-toe weighted offerings.

Vanquish utilizes Aserta's Inverted Mass Technology and features extreme heel-toe weighting for the first time in an Anser-style putter. Heavy silicone bronze in the body raises the putter's CG, while a lightweight aluminum sole plate allows for placement of fully encapsulated tungsten weights in the heel and toe, promoting incredible forgiveness

The Vanquish design moves the horizontal CG to the center of the putter for more forgiveness, great feel and the ability to line up the ball with the center of the clubface. Inverted Mass Technology locates the vertical CG higher for immediate end-over-end, no-skid roll.