In our recent conversation with PURE Grips PGA Tour rep Mike Biviano, we asked him to describe the ways he's seen technological innovations impact the game of golf. As someone who’s been in the golf equipment industry for nearly thirty years, Mike had some highly educated thoughts. 

First and foremost, Mike says there have been plenty of innovations that have made a difference in performance. "Over the last couple of years the golf ball in general has really improved everybody... what they’re doing with aerodynamics is just amazing."

Also adding to improved play: "When you fit someone properly (right length, lie and shaft to fit their body) you immediately see scores come down."

Of course, the improvements in equipment technology haven’t just affected our play. It’s affected golf course design as well, pushing some of the game’s heralded courses to modify or risk obsolescence.

"If you look at some of these classic golf courses – these courses were designed a hundred years ago ... they had golf balls that had feathers in them and wooden drivers... now that you have better athletes and better equipment, we’ve taken away some of these golf courses or we’ve tricked them up."

But Mike says the sport is working to keep up, creating new golf courses that can challenge even the best players. “The newer courses like Whistling Straits, Sand Hills, Dismal River, they were meant to be played at 7,500 yards and the equipment gives you that little bit of an edge that makes them playable.”

So, while the equipment is getting better, the golf courses are getting more difficult. It’s all part of golf’s tradition of being a gentleman’s game where the playing field is level and the best golfer will win. But, as Mike says, that’s not going to stop players from seeking out the best new technology they can find. Which, not coincidentally, is exactly why we invented PURE Grips – to give golfers a whole new advantage.

In our next post, we’ll move away from the equipment and share with you some stories from Mike’s time out on the tour.