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SAN JOSE, Calif. - If we've learned anything over the past five years reviewing new equipment for GolfPass, it's to expect the unexpected, especially from brands outside of the "Big Four" equipment manufacturers.
Ping, Callaway, Cleveland and TaylorMade all make great products, but so do many other lesser-known brands that serve millions of golfers around the world. What really opened my eyes was reviewing Edison wedges a few years ago. I've since put three of the company's custom-built wedges in my bag permanently. They've helped my short game.
I could be saying the same thing in due time about the new Maxfli XC3 irons I've been testing lately. They haven't replaced my trusty TaylorMades yet, but that could change with a few more successful rounds.
Maxfli's return to the equipment space after 30 years has been called the "surprise of 2025" by MyGolfSpy, the popular review site. What first caught my attention from the brand - which is available for purchase at Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy - was how good their new golf balls are. I've been playing the Maxfli Tour X and Tour models almost extensively this spring on trips from Barbados to Baltusrol in New Jersey. They've performed well in any climate on different grasses. Ben Griffin's resurgence this year has been tied to the Maxfli ball winning on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2003.
Could the irons eventually climb to such lofty heights? In March, Maxfli released two forged styles that are made with 1025 carbon steel: the XC2 for better players, and the XC3 for players like me, a mid- to higher-handicap who has ping-ponged between a 7 and 15 handicap over the years. The XC3s are a little bigger with larger soles. Both look sleek and simple at address. At $999 for a seven-club set from five iron to pitching wedge, plus an A-wedge, they're more affordable than the bigger brands and definitely a better bargain. Maxfli's reentry into the equipment space could become the starter set that many new pandemic golfers need, and, to be honest, any golfer looking for a nice upgrade. - Jason Scott Deegan
Here are more product reviews from June's GolfPass Gear Report:
Reebok Club C Golf Shoes
As Reebok continues to make a larger push into golf with the help of Bryson DeChambeau, new golf shoes are dropping. The latest model is a throwback to the classics that made the brand popular in the 1980s. The Club C Golf Shoes look and feel like they could easily transition to the tennis court or walking the dog. They feel like the perfect fit as soon as you try them on, with no period to break them in necessary. The upper material is full-grain leather that is water-resistent. The rubber soles feature enough grip to keep from slipping even on dewy mornings. At the price point of $100, they're a steal.
Reebok also introduced me to the Joe Joe Tumbler, a 12-ounce drink holder and hot-and-cold beverage holder from Gordon Sinclair, and its silky-soft hoodie that will be ready to keep you warm come fall. - JSD
Heathlander golf shoes
Although we've already endorsed the new Heathlander golf shoes in a GolfPass Gear Report earlier this year, it makes perfect sense to call out this latest release - the limited-edition Red, White, and Blue golf shoes. They're a bold take, considering the company's roots in the United Kingdom. Fly the shoe's colors while celebrating the Fourth of July or to inspire future "Go U-S-A!" chants during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black this fall. Only 650 pairs are available, so get your order in today. Cost: $225 - JSD
Mission's cooling neck gaiter
As millions of golfers reel from one of the worst heat waves in recent memory, there's never been a better time to get serious about mitigating sweltering temperatures on the golf course. I live in Florida, where every year includes a six-month heat wave, and I can't believe I have only just discovered this cooling neck gaiter from Mission, which makes all kinds of cooling gear from hats to towels as well. At $16.99, the neck gaiter is lightweight and absorbent; just soak it in cold water once every six to nine holes, slip it over your head and keep it on while you play. The blood vessels in the back of your neck are close to the surface of your skin, so if you can keep that spot comfortable, the rest of your body will feel less overheated. I now consider this stretchy marvel a summer golf essential. - Tim Gavrich
ROKFORM G-ROK PRO golf cart speaker
I am not personally a golfer who always plays music on the golf course - I still like the different ambient sounds of the natural environment - but I know that many golfers do like to have a curated soundtrack to their rounds. For those golfers, the G-ROK PRO ($199) is the best cart-compatible (via an impressively strong magnetic connection) speaker I have been sent. It is solid and substantial, and produces better-quality sound than other competitors I have sampled. When it establishes a Bluetooth connection to your phone, a smattering of golf claps rings out and a male voice says "Nice pair!" - a fun pun on "Nice par." All I would ask is for you to recognize its potential to project sound a long way, and dial in the volume accordingly. -TG
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