Equipment
When OEM finishes just aren’t good enough…part 1
Nike Golf has really improved upon their golf products since entering the OEM golf equipment realm. I like my Nike wedges so much, except for the chrome finish, I decided a change to their looks was in order. This past season I gamed a set of forged Nike Pro Combo Tours with a somewhat matching set of Nike Forged Tiger Woods 56 and 60 degree sand wedges. They fit right in with my iron set, and from inside 100 yards I was deadly (well for me anyway) accurate with these wedges. Yet, something was missing in the aesthetics department. For me, a chromed sand wedge is akin to golf fashion faux pas.
I was now in search of a properly finished wedge so I wandered over to the SV wedge lineup (the Victory Red line wasn’t even a rumor at the time, and even now they are the wrong finish for me), I liked the SV’s more subdued finishes, but I liked the performance of my Tiger Woods wedges more. In short, I couldn’t stand the chrome finish on these wedges. Many times this summer the bright sunlight bounced off the wedge face and right into my eyes. I don’t wear sunglasses while paying so this became quite a problem. In my mind there were two possible solutions. The first, and least attractive solution was to switch to a different brand of sand wedge. A wedge with an oil can finish more to my liking, no thank you, I really like my Nike Tiger Woods wedge line up. The second solution was to figure out a way to change the finish on my wedges. Sure, we all see the guys on the forums who bust out the blowtorch in the garage and change the finish. What I really wanted OEM looking, or better because these wedges (and me) deserve it. The finish that Nike (and other OEMs on their stuff as well) had neglected to put on there in the first place. Spend some time on the Golfwrx forums and you’ll see a ton of refinished putters, wedges and even irons, all with aftermarket finishes better than what came on the golf club originally.
Here are my wedges, removed from the shafts and ready for shipping to Black Oxide Service.
You could also get in contact with Monica at Black Oxide Service, or also known by the acronym, “BOS”. BOS can do all types of refinishes to golf clubs. They offer options for carbon steel and stainless steel as well. Just ask via e-mail and Monica will send out a super neat power point with a ton of pictures showing new finishes and various paint fill options they have completed for their discriminating customers. The possibilities are almost endless. For me it was pretty straight forward and simple, wait until winter sets in, send of fthe Nike wedge heads to BOS for a refinish more to my personal liking, have them re-do the paintfill to my specs (this was the toughest part, deciding on paint fill colors) and then wait for them to arrive back in Ohio. Stay tuned for part two of this story, we’ll see the wedges up close and refinished and then go more in depth with Black Oxide Service and what they have to offer as well. Stay tuned!
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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Rich Hetzel
Jan 14, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Here you go!
[email protected]
Nash Carr
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:04 am
oil can, i came close to going black oxide….decisions, decisions!
Doug Albers
Jan 13, 2009 at 10:21 am
So, do you have Monica’s email address?
w8liftr
Jan 10, 2009 at 11:03 am
What finish did you choose for the wedges? Looking forward to the finished product.