| When it comes to purchasing your next golf shirt, the Performance Apparel Rankings, (P.A.R.), will be your best guide this year, to purchasing the hottest trends and technology in men’s golf apparel. But ladies, don’t feel left out, although this ranking concentrates only on men’s apparel, our ladies ranking this summer, will rank complete outfits for you! With a panel of judges consisting of three male golfers, panel members (high, mid and low handicap golfers) “wear tested” all twenty-three submissions. Rankings were based on the following criteria: style, design, fit, fabric, “hand,” comfort, “cool” factor, cross over appeal, value, luxury, and Tour presence. Each shirt tested was divided into three categories; Classic, Hybrid and Tech apparel. Entries were each evaluated on 10-point scale, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest, with the possible amount of points being 100. So before we “reveal” the results, we at Golf Fitness Magazine, would like to thank all of the apparel companies that submitted entries. As a company, you put yourself “out there” to be compared on a national platform and that in itself deserves a top ranking! In addition to that we would like to congratulate the winners of The 2008 Annual Golf Fitness Magazine Performance Apparel Rankings, P.A.R. and can’t wait until next year! | |
CLASSICAll cotton, with set-in sleeve design. The Classic was the staple of the golf business until performance apparel entered the golf apparel scene a decade ago.1st Tehama – (Double Mercerized Pima Cotton). The combination of a great feel of the fabric, classic design and great price made Tehama the surprise winner. Nancy Haley has been at the helm of this Hollywood induced effort and creates a great collection season after season. —Score 94 2nd Marbas – (160 2/2 Black Label). The 160 2/2 ply remains the luxury standard in the industry. Very strong overall showing in all three categories. —Score 93 3rd Fairway & Greene –(100% Mercerized Cotton). Fairway & Greene is a staple at the finest pro shops nationwide. The shirt they made available for a Fashion taping at East Lake in Atlanta was a classic in cut, finish and appearance. —Score 91 4th Ashworth –(EZ tech cotton). The EZ tech cotton was the best of the “basic” cotton shirts in this category. We liked the additional features. Would like to see the finish be smoother. —Score 81 5th Callaway- (Golf sport 100% combed cotton). A good basic cotton shirt, but needs a better finish. —Score 80 6th Ahead – (Authentics). A strong contender in the other two categories needs a better classic cotton shirt with a better fabric finish. The fabric softened up after being laundered. —Sctore 77 7th Nick Price – (Collection-Black Combo). Although the fabric was a very nice quality, the horizontal striped design in Orange, Purple, Turquoise and Red was a little “loud” for our panel, however, everyone has different tastes for color design. —Score 74 |  |
HYBRIDHybrid apparel - is comprised of a combination of cotton and synthetic and introduces styling & design from both the classic and tech categories.1st Ahead –(Acare Arid™). This fabric had the feel and wear of a classic shirt and the performance benefits of a TECH shirt. Ahead makes the best cut raglan sleeve in the business and is a worthy Hybrid champion. —Score 94 2nd Ashworth –(Performance EZ Tech Cotton). It was SO close to a tie between Ahead and Ashworth, but the fabric of this one, felt a little too much like tech on a shirt that was great all the way around. —Score 93 3rd Marbas- (Green Label). A strong entry from the Italian luxury brand. Dryarn is a tremendous new fabric with amazing perspiration expulsion rates. When it comes to fabric innovation, there is nobody better. —Score 91 4th Tehama –(Hang’em dry™). A nice “hand” and subtle diamond shaped design and great fit made for a solid entry. —Score 90 5th Callaway – (Big Bertha C-tech™). We liked the horizontal design with the same fabric and vertical striped design. Nice fit. —Score 89 6th Fairway & Greene- (Performance). The horizontal knitted tone on tone was very attractive, a perennial classic brand. —Score 88 7th Nick Price– (Cool-Luxe™). Nice fabric with a multi-colored horizontal design. The opposite knitting technique on the back of the collar got our attention. — Score 88 |    |
TECHTECH apparel is created 100% from synthetic fabric and can have a percentage inclusive of any stretch fiber and introduce raglan sleeve design for more performance.The TECH shirts have come such a long way in such a short time. It was very tough to pick a winner in this most improved category. #1 Dunning –(Interface FX pique™ Stitch Panel Polo) What a tremendous shirt! Great fit, contrast stitching on the raglan sleeve, superior “hand” and weight on the fabric and ... so cool to wear with jeans! Contrasting side panels and such freedom of movement swinging the golf club. Zach Johnson has put Dunning in the spotlight and deservingly so. —Score 97 #2 Nike & adidas –(TW Platinum Fit Dry, Climacool™) . Tied for second in this extremely close category, were adidas and Nike. This was too close to call. adidas’ multi-color, perforated fabric and contrast stitching was great. The difference was the regular knit collar. Nike’s new TW Platinum blew us away with its futuristic look...Golf 2020 anyone? The understated swoosh on the buttons only, looked very classy. Although this shirt was awesome, we felt it would have placed first if not for the absence of a performance enhanced sleeve design style and fit. —Score 96 #3 Ashworth –(Weather Systems). The fabric had all of us talking. Silky smooth with very cool perforation. Should be a contender for the TECH title next year. —Score 95 #4 Greg Norman –(Playdry®). A wonderful gusset raglan sleeve, which creates a great freedom of movement. Great colors and a nice “hand”. —Score 94 Marbas – (Silver Label). Tied for 4th with the Greg Norman Playdry, the Dryarn will prove itself to be a TECH front runner. Anxious to see how the buyers respond to such a great innovation. Surprisingly strong first entry in TECH.—Score 94 |   |
| #5 Izod G – (Carbon technology) For the young and the restless, great bright colors with solid tech benefits. —Score 93 Ahead: Nice fabric, obviously the best raglan sleeve ... contending in all three categories next year? — Score 93 #6 Callaway (X series DRYSPORT™) Good fabrics, nice finish-a tie between these two, would love to see raglan sleeves instead of set-in sleeves. —Score 92 Tehama –(Hang’em dry™) —Score 92 #7 Jack Nicklaus –(Performance 18). A nice fabric and nice finish, but cut too generous and a set-in sleeve. A very nice alternative for the traditional golfer purchasing their first TECH shirt. —Score 89 | |
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