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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



A fresh approach to jumpstart 'New Golf'

A self-appointed 'czar of golf' tosses out some ideas to jumpstart growth of the game.

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The Achie Awards return: Masters, Round 2

For his seemingly never-ending youth, Masters prowess and, yes, flexibility, Fred Couples comes up first on Friday's installment of the Achie Awards.

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The annual Achie Awards: Masters Round 1

Phil Mickelson was the recipient of two first-round awards from James Achenbach. One was admirable, the other dubious.

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Achenbach: In defense of the Rules of Golf

Graeme McDowell should have been penalized two strokes on Thursday, plain and simple.

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Toy Box Notes: Dufner relies on Titleist

Toy Box Notes: Jason Dufner's driver helped seal his Byron Nelson victory.

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Toy Box Notes: Kuchar wins with mixed bag

There is plenty to be learned from Matt Kuchar’s set makeup at The Players.

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Aldila's RIP collection has something for everyone

Aldila's RIP collection includes some of the most recognizable graphite shafts on the PGA Tour, and its family of five gives plenty of options for every golfer.

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TaylorMade introduces new ATV wedge

TaylorMade's new ATV wedge has one job: To be able to be expertly used from tight lies, heavy grass or sand - or a true all-terrain wedge.

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Na undeserving of vicious heckling at Players

No athlete in no sport deserves the lampooning experienced by Kevin Na from hecklers in the gallery at The Players Championship. James Achenbach

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Toy Box Notes: Fowler carries mixed bag to victory

Rickie Fowler earned his long-awaited first PGA Tour victory with an assorted bag of clubs.

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Toy Box Notes: Dufner carries all Titleist to 1st title

First-time winner Jason Dufner carried 14 Titleist clubs and used a Titleist ball during his Zurich Classic of New Orleans victory.

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McLean closes namesake academy at PGA West

Teaching professional Jim McLean abruptly closed on April 30 his namesake academy at PGA West Golf Club after 16 years of operation.

A fresh approach to jumpstart 'New Golf'

A self-appointed 'czar of golf' tosses out some ideas to jumpstart growth of the game.

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Fitting philosophy: Mix your sets

Mizuno's Dick Lyons has one simple philosophy on club fitting: "We don't fit by gender, age or handicap. We fit by how you swing the golf club. If mixing the clubs is the best fit, that's what we do."

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Bubba exemplifies importance of club-fitting

James Achenbach: There is not a better example of customized, personalized fitting than Masters champion Bubba Watson.

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Toy Box Notes: Pettersson likes more driver spin

With all the talk about high launch and low spin with today’s drivers, RBC Heritage winner Carl Pettersson has a different point of view.

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Ping to market limited number of pink drivers

Even before Bubba Watson won the Masters with a pink Ping driver, there was demand for the club. Soon a limited number will be available to the public, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

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Toy Box Notes: Ping finishes 1-2 at Augusta

The Masters playoff matched two longtime Ping staff players – Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.

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Achenbach: Augusta National is Lefty's house

James Achenbach: On this Easter Sunday, fans were skipping church for a more tantalizing form of athletic worship at Augusta National. This is the Church of Phil.

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The Achie Awards: The Masters, Round 3

Matt Kuchar might be four shots off the lead in Augusta, but that doesn't mean he can't earn an Achie Award for Mr. Popularity.

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Enso represents new frontier in club fitting

Golf club fitting has come a long, long way from the days of trial and error. But in today's era of launch monitors and swing analyzers, the Enso from Fujikua represents the new frontier.

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The Achie Awards return: Masters, Round 2

For his seemingly never-ending youth, Masters prowess and, yes, flexibility, Fred Couples comes up first on Friday's installment of the Achie Awards.

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The annual Achie Awards: Masters Round 1

Phil Mickelson was the recipient of two first-round awards from James Achenbach. One was admirable, the other dubious.

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Achenbach: Big Three recapture Masters glory

James Achenbach: The Big Three not only kickstarted the Masters on Thursday but continue to recapture true Masters glory.

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Handing out Tuesday's Masters awards

Ready for a laugh or two? Our Jim Achenbach hands out his daily awards, with a special tip of the cap to Keegan Bradley and Lee Westwood for some laugh-out-loud moments.

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Toy Box: Mahan wins two titles with Ping

Toy Box notes: Hunter Mahan won for the second time in 2012 at the Shell Houston Open. He won with the same Ping clubs he had in his bag for his victory at the WGC-Accenture Match Play in February.

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2012 Masters: The Monday awards go to . . .

Jim Achenbach: The Masters is all about tradition. Continuing an honored tradition that started, well, last year, here are Monday’s award winners from the Masters.

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Ping to introduce adjustable belly putter

Ping is about to become the first major golf equipment manufacturer to introduce an adjustable-length belly putter. It will be called the Nome 405 Belly.

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Toy Box: Tiger wins with all Nike

Toy Box notes: At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods carried all Nike clubs in his first PGA Tour victory since 2009.

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Forged irons: Something for everyone

Forged irons have made a dramatic comeback. Only a few years ago, most irons were made of investment-cast stainless steel. Now we see forged irons in the club lineup of every major club manufacturer.

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The Grip Master spreads the leather love

Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and Jarrod Lyle still use leather grips, once something that the bulk of players did. The Grip Master is trying to lead the comeback.

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Toy Box: Donald wins with new Mizuno sticks

When Luke Donald won Sunday at the Transitions Championship to regain the No. 1 world ranking, he was carrying 12 clubs that were new to his bag this year. This is the player who won two money titles in 2011, but that didn’t stop him from making wholesale changes in his bag.

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Variety abounds in choosing your grips

Grip Month: It is often said the grip is the only part of the golf club actually touched by golfers. Consequently, feeling comfortable with a grip is crucial. This is accomplished by finding the proper size and style of grip.

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Toy Box Notes: A TaylorMade victory for Rose

Justin Rose captured his fourth PGA Tour victory, with a come-from-behind win over Bubba Watson at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. He did it with a bag heavy in TaylorMade gear.

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Toy Box: McIlroy wins with Titleist gear

Rory McIlroy credited his short game for clinching his victory at the Honda Classic. He relied upon his Titleist Vokey Design SM4 wedges (46, 54 and 60 degree) to convert 20 of 24 up-and-down-opportunities.

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Mitsubishi introduces Kuro Kage on Tour

Mitsubishi Rayon introduced the Kuro Kage at the Northern Trust Open to join the Fubuki K as shafts used on the PGA Tour.

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