Golf Industry Booming! 2026 PGA Show: Simulators Steal the Spotlight, Apparel and Bags See Innovation
January 20-23, the 2026 PGA Show was held in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The show was unprecedentedly grand, mirroring the current boom in the golf industry. Open to suppliers, golf professionals, teaching pros, and journalists, the exhibition floor spanned 100,000 square meters with over 1,000 exhibitors, even spilling beyond the main hall.
During the event, the venue was packed with more than 30,000 visitors from nearly 90 countries and all U.S. states, including over 6,000 golf professionals and more than 1,000 buyers from 800+ golf facilities and retailers.
Technology and simulator companies occupied the center of the exhibition hall, showcasing the latest indoor golf experiences.
Golfzon's CityGolf booth blended virtual and reality: after a player hits the ball, the simulator screen rises to reveal a real hole for putting.
TruGolf's oversized simulator, composed of four screens, delivered a seamless, clear visual experience. Its technology emphasized accuracy and responsiveness, offering realistic ball flight, detailed shot data, and smooth course rendering.
Toptracer's Toptracer Go technology provided swing distance data simply by scanning a QR code; Rapsodo brought the upgraded CLM Pro overhead launch monitor, featuring a new six-camera setup; Shot Scope released the LM1 portable launch monitor, slightly smaller than an iPad, priced at just $199; booths from TrackMan, Foresight, Full Swing and other brands were also packed with visitors eager to try them.
Above: Toptracer Go
Above: Shot Scope LM1 Portable Launch Monitor
Artificial intelligence permeated every aspect, from club design and simulator algorithms to course operations and data analysis.
ProTee demonstrated AI-based swing data detection; Uneekor launched the new AI training platform AIMY, which uniquely focuses on one training issue at a time and uses an intuitive conversational interface to provide personalized improvement paths for golfers. AIMY is scheduled for official release in the second half of 2026.
Golf clubs remained one of the most watched areas: Callaway launched the Quantum series woods and irons, along with the Odyssey Ai-Dual putter line; Titleist introduced the Vokey SM11 wedges and updates to Pro V1 Left Dot, AVX, Tour Soft, Velocity, and other balls.
PING's new G440 K driver focuses on higher MOI through weight reduction in the sole, crown, and hosel; PXG made its official debut at the PGA Show, with the GEN8 0311 irons and Lightning Max driver emphasizing both performance and design.
In the apparel zone, major golf clothing brands like adidas, Nike, Under Armour, and lululemon continued to push forward, while emerging brands drew inspiration from fashion, art, and daily life, making golf more accessible: Public Drip fused golf wear with New York street style, Seamus Golf added American denim elements, Tilley Sport featured a fresh and sweet style, and Fore All exuded sunny, casual charm.
Above: (Left) Public Drip, (Right) Seamus Golf
Above: (Left) Tilley Sport, (Right) Fore All
In golf bags, major brands continued to push boundaries in style and performance: Sunday Golf's Ryder 14 stand bag, designed to be lightweight yet full-sized, weighs only 4.9 lbs.
Penfold Golf's Heritage Duffel bag blends century-old British tradition with advanced functionality, made from British Millerain waxed canvas.
Hudson Sutler's Featherlite golf bag is designed for weekend golf trips, embracing minimalism and emphasizing American craftsmanship; most of the brand's bags are handmade in their New Jersey factory.
Golf shoe innovation focused on dual improvements in performance and comfort: FootJoy launched the new Pro/SL golf shoe, featuring a new outsole for maximum traction and 29% lighter than the previous generation.
True Linkswear's new Antigravity shoe uses Pebax super foam midsoles from running shoes for golf footwear. This foam is approximately 50% lighter than traditional EVA while providing about 30% energy return.
｜Image source: Official brand accounts, PGA website