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James Achenbach

Associate Editor / Equipment & Technology

James Achenbach has been a newspaper and magazine writer from the day he left the University of Iowa. When Charley Stine founded Golfweek in 1975, Achenbach was working for a newspaper in Sarasota, Fla., and provided stories for Charley’s new magazine. In 1991, Achenbach joined Golfweek as a senior writer and later became an associate editor. He is a self-described golf equipment junkie.
 
 • First set of clubs: Wilson irons and PowerBilt woods
• Favorite golf story: Any story about the personalities and eccentricities of ordinary golfers. The everyday golfer is the backbone of the game.
• Best golf shot seen live: The 434-yard drive hit by RE/MAX World Long Drive champ Jamie Sadlowski in the 2008 finals. There was no wind.
• Best interview: JoAnne Carner. Never has there been a Hall of Famer who was so candid, witty, emotional and freewheeling.

Recent Posts



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Achenbach: At Q-School, age is just a number

Here at PGA Tour Q-School, 50 may not be the new 30, but golf’s age equation continues to evolve.

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Q-School: Beem making a run at PGA West

Don’t look now, but here comes Rich Beem. After consecutive 72s in the first and second rounds of PGA Tour Q-School, Beem rebounded Friday with a 5-under-par 67 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West.

Perfect conditions cause Q-School scores to dive

Why are scores so low in the PGA Tour Q-School at PGA West?

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Answers: Golf's toughest quiz

Answers to James Achenbach's quiz recapping the 2011 golf season.

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Recapping 2011 with golf's toughest quiz

How closely did you pay attention to the 2011 golf season? Find out by taking James Achenbach's quiz. Answer at least 10 questions correctly to pass.

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Changes to Rules of Golf unify the world of golfers

Golfers worldwide will be on the same page with the latest edition of the Rules of Golf. In any language, these changes make sense.

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Toy Box: Stanley wins with Titleist gear

Toy Box notes: Kyle Stanley wins with a full line of Titleist gear, while Brandt Snedeker makes an unusual switch a week after winning on Tour.

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USGA, R&A to scrutinize usage of belly putters

Belly putters – and more specifically the technique of anchoring – will come under the scrutiny of the USGA and R&A. Jim Achenbach reports.

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Davis: 1 set of equipment rules for all golfers

RIP John Solheim's idea for three different golf balls. At the USGA's annual meeting, executive director Mike Davis slammed the door in the face of bifurcation.

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Inbound USGA prez Nager brings different skill set

James Achenbach: As he steps into the USGA presidency, D.C. attorney Glen Nager will make a case for increasing participation.

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Toy Box: Shafts gain in technology, exposure

At the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, golf shafts were everywhere. For golf equipment fanatics, shafts could have been proclaimed the star of the show.

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Titleist unveils four new golf balls

Titleist’s NXT Tour family represents one of golf’s most recognizable names. It should attract even more attention in 2012 with the addition of new models.

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Nike's Method putter stands out at PGA Show

Among the most eye-catching putters at the PGA Merchandise Show is Nike’s new Method Concept, a putter whose front section is flaming red and back section is midnight black.

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Golf Cart Solar shows off affordable panels

Golf Cart Solar is showing off its affordable stable of solar panels that could potentially revolutionize how golf carts are used.

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Toy Box: Wilson wins with new Ping gear

Toy Box notes: Mark Wilson won the Humana Challenge with the newest Ping clubs, while Robert Garrigus showed off a new Scotty Cameron putter.

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Nike will speed it up with new VR_S series

The letter S is for speed, and 2012 is a speed year. Nike’s new family of clubs is the VR_S. This is the updated and, we are told, speedier version of the original VR line. So Nike added an S for Speed.

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Toy Box: Wagner wins with mixed bag

Toy Box notes: Johnson Wagner wins with a truly mixed bag, while Matt Every's BlackHawk putter garners plenty of attention at the Sony Open.

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Ping's i20 clubs set to debut in February

James Achenbach: Ping’s new club family, the i20, offers the latest in a long line of distinctive-looking offerings that date to the company's founding 53 years ago.

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Q&A: Titleist tour rep Chris Tuten

Chris Tuten, a Titleist tour rep and expert club fitter, is one of the most interesting men in golf. When he talks about life on the PGA Tour, people listen.

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Adams to introduce Fast 12 drivers, fairway woods

Adams Golf soon will introduce its Speedline Fast 12 fairway woods and drivers, and as good as the drivers might be, the fairway woods are the subject of most of the pre-release conversation, says our Jim Achenbach.

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USGA: Solheim's big idea would break tradition

While John Solheim’s suggestion to create three different golf balls is not being dismissed by the U.S. Golf Association, the revolutionary plan will encounter some hazard-filled terrain as the USGA plots the future direction of the Rules of Golf.

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Ping CEO makes bold pitch over golf balls

Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim has an idea to stimulate the growth of golf and make the game more enjoyable: Create three tiers of golf balls under a plan called Ball Distance Ratings, announced Monday morning by Solheim.

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Quiros offers preview of Callaway Razr Fit driver

En route to victory at the Dubai World Championship, Alvaro Quiros wielded the new Callaway Razr Fit driver – Callaway's first fully adjustable driver sold to the public. James Achenbach

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My year in golf: James Achenbach

Enough of the USGA bashing. In 2011, the organization took definitive steps to promote the game and help assure its future growth.

Achenbach: A hang-up for smartphones

When it comes to distance measuring in golf, smartphones may not be so smart. Many smartphones contain features and functions that do not conform to the Rules of Golf.

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TaylorMade introduces new RocketBallz clubs

A year after a successful campaign with its white-headed metalwoods, TaylorMade reveals its new line of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons called RocketBallz, as well as a new R11S line.

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Achenbach: At Q-School, age is just a number

Here at PGA Tour Q-School, 50 may not be the new 30, but golf’s age equation continues to evolve.

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Toy Box Notes: Tiger’s club tweaks

Tiger Woods picked up his first victory in two years at the Chevron World Challenge using Nike equipment exclusively.

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Q-School: Janzen wants to earn way onto Tour

James Achenbach: As a two-time U.S. Open winner, Lee Janzen could whine about having to go to Q-School to earn his Tour card. But he doesn't. He wants to earn his way on Tour, even at 47.

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Q-School: Gore has new perspective on golf career

Jason Gore has lost 40 pounds because his doctor said he was a borderline diabetic. He's had shoulder surgery in the last six months. And if he doesn't earn his card at Q-School, this might be it for the teddy bear.

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Q-School: Beem making a run at PGA West

Don’t look now, but here comes Rich Beem. After consecutive 72s in the first and second rounds of PGA Tour Q-School, Beem rebounded Friday with a 5-under-par 67 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West.

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Q-School: Claxton makes a name for himself

Q-School: While the weather and tough courses created plenty of storylines on Thursday, all-around nice guy Paul Claxton saw himself vault from T-126 to T-47. Who is this guy? Our James Achenbach with the story.

Perfect conditions cause Q-School scores to dive

Why are scores so low in the PGA Tour Q-School at PGA West?

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Saunders moving out of grandpa's shadow

On a day when Boo Weekley and Ty Tryon highlighted the nasty side of Q-School, Sam Saunders showed via his mental and physical toughness that he might be ready for a PGA Tour card.

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Toy Box notes: Furyk undefeated with mixed bag

Toy Box notes: Jim Furyk undefeated with a mixed bag, while Tiger Woods adds a 2-iron at the Presidents Cup.

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Toy Box notes: Chalmers has Grace on the greens

Greg Chalmers, winner of the recent Australian Open, carries 13 Titleist clubs and a Bobby Grace putter.

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Rife Putters agrees to be sold to Innovex

Golfweek has learned that Rife Putters, largely inactive for the past year, has reached an agreement to be sold to Innovex Golf.

TaylorMade claims 6-shot victory at Industry Cup

The Industry Cup is an annual tournament showdown among golf’s biggest companies. The competition is so intense that Callaway Golf, after scoring a dramatic one-stroke victory in 2010, celebrated by running a photo of its winning team in numerous publications.

TaylorMade takes early lead at Industry Cup

Early leaders TaylorMade looking for 'redemption' at the Industry Cup, presented by Golfweek.

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Answers: Golf's toughest quiz

Answers to James Achenbach's quiz recapping the 2011 golf season.

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Recapping 2011 with golf's toughest quiz

How closely did you pay attention to the 2011 golf season? Find out by taking James Achenbach's quiz. Answer at least 10 questions correctly to pass.

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Inside the imagination of Tour Edge's David Glod

James Achenbach gives some insight into the imagination of Tour Edge founder David Glod, who has pushed the envelope once again this year with the XCG5 fairway wood.

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Toy Box: TaylorMade's Garcia goes back-to-back

Sergio Garcia has won back-to-back tournaments with a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.

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Toy Box: Donald seeks consistent feel in club shafts

When Luke Donald signed with Mizuno in 2004, he wasn’t among the top 100 players in the world. Now, after eight years with Mizuno, he is a solid No. 1 – No. 1 in the world and No. 1 on the PGA Tour money list.

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Changes to Rules of Golf unify the world of golfers

Golfers worldwide will be on the same page with the latest edition of the Rules of Golf. In any language, these changes make sense.

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