John VanDerLaan

John VanDerLaan is the founder and managing editor of Golf Gear Advisor and the parent company Vanco Digital Inc. With over 15 years of experience in golf equipment testing, SEO-driven content publishing, and outdoor sports media, John brings a practical, player-first perspective to every gear review the site publishes. John tests clubs the way serious golfers use them — across multiple 18-hole rounds under real course conditions, and on professional launch monitors including Trackman and GCQuad. His reviews cover drivers, irons, putters, wedges, training aids, and accessories from every major manufacturer. Beyond the equipment side, John spent over two decades coaching his sons, John Jr. and Michael VanDerLaan, from age two through their careers as elite competitive golfers. Both sons won the NCAA Division II Individual National Championship in successive years (2018 and 2019) — a feat no other sibling pair has achieved. John Jr. is currently a PGA Tour player, and Michael is a golf teaching professional. John is an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and is available to the media as a source on golf equipment trends, gear selection for amateur golfers, and youth golf development. Connect with him on Linkedin.

LAZRUS Zero Torque Putter Review

This is our Lazrus Zero Torque Putter Review after extensive testing on the practice green and several 18 hole rounds of golf at San Carlos Golf Club here in Southwest Florida. The specific model that I tested is the Lazrus Laz2.5 zero torque putter and here’s what I found:: Read more

Taylormade Qi Max Irons Review

Author Testing The Taylormade Qi Max Irons On The Golf Course

This is our Taylormade QI max Irons Review after extensive testing on a Trackman launch monitor and multiple 18 hole rounds of golf at several course here in Southwest Florida: Read more

Titleist T350 Irons Review: Distance & Forgiveness

Titleist T350 Irons In The Author's Golf Bag

If you’ve been searching for maximum forgiveness without sacrificing the look and feel of a serious golf club, the Titleist T350 irons deserve your attention. We have put these irons to the test and here’s what we found:: Read more

TaylorMade Qi4D Driver Review

I tested the Taylormade Qi4D driver over several 18 hole rounds of golf here in Naples and Fort Myers Florida. I then tested the driver on the GCQuad launch monitor at The Golf Guys, in Bonita Springs, where I compared it to the Callaway Quantum Max driver, the Titleist GT2 and GTS drivers, and the Ping G440. Here’s what I found: Read more

I Tested Every L.A.B. Golf Putter (Which Is Best?)

I tested all of the L.A.B. Golf putters over numerous 18 hole rounds of golf at multiple golf courses in Naples and Fort Myers Florida to find the one that consistently performed the best. Here’s what I found: Read more

Pinemeadow PGX Offset Driver Review

In this Pinemeadow PGX Offset Driver Review, I will share my experience with this budget driver, along with the benefits and drawbacks, so that you can decide if it is the best driver for your game. Here’s what I found: Read more

Tour Striker Smart Ball Review

I got together with PGA Tour player John VanDerLaan on the range to find out why he uses the Tour Striker Smart Ball, what it helps him with, and where this training aid comes up short. Here’s what I found: Read more

Titleist GTS Driver Review: Distance First Performance Tested

Titleist GTS Driver Review Featured Image

In this Titleist GTS Driver review, I will share my experience with this hot new driver, along with the benefits and drawbacks, so that you can decide if it is the best driver for your game. Here’s what we found: Read more

Wilson Infinite Buckingham Putter Review

This Wilson Infinite Buckingham putter review breaks down why this high-MOI design continues to dominate value conversations among serious golfers. Here’s what we found: Read more

Mileseey GeneSonic Pro Review: Is This the Smartest Golf GPS Speaker of 2026?

In this Mileseey GeneSonic Pro review, we’ll break down whether this $299 all-in-one system lives up to its ambitious promise. Here’s what we found: Read more