Equipment
Poulter leaves Cobra-Puma Golf
Long-time Cobra Golf staffer Ian Poulter has split with the equipment brand.
I can officially say i am No longer a @cobragolf or @PUMAGolf endorsed player. I will let you know my New endorsement partners very soon.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
I have had 8 good years with @cobragolf & @PUMAGolf but it’s time to move on. Very exciting new Chapter.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
At the time, there’s no word on where the 38-year-old might land, but a move to Cobra’s former parent company Titleist would be the most seamless. He currently uses the company’s Pro V1X golf ball and Vokey wedges.
Poulter also tweeted in August that he had participated in the shooting of a Titleist golf ball commercial, presumably to air in 2015. That indicates that he will not sign with an equipment company that would require him to switch golf balls.
Just finished the #Titleist golf ball commercial up here in Boston. Always good fun with Team #Titleisthttp://t.co/El2z6pJwCM
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) August 26, 2014
A tweet from Oct. 15 shows just how much Poults likes the 2015 Titleist ProV1X, which golfers will learn more about at January’s PGA Merchandise show.
The New @titlesit golf ball is superb. Feels softer around the green, Solid off the tee. It’s worth grabbing a sleeve to try folks.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Cooper
Oct 20, 2014 at 9:33 pm
My sources say it’s gonna be Wilson boys and girls. They are big in Europe, he can play Titleist and wear his own clothes. Plus they need someone to replace Padraig.
Cooper
Oct 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm
I meant just the Titleist ball
Dan
Oct 21, 2014 at 5:42 am
We must share the same source. Announcement should be today
Matt
Oct 21, 2014 at 11:49 am
he is announcing at noon on Twitter.
ND Hickman
Oct 19, 2014 at 4:00 pm
I hope it’s Ping.
Gustavo
Oct 18, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I will go out on a limb and agree with Mike and say Srixon/Cleveland. They are a brand on the rise and could use a Euro name like Poults
roxald
Oct 19, 2014 at 9:22 am
I say he’s joining McIlroy at Nike.
Ponjo
Oct 18, 2014 at 2:10 am
Pouter needs to stop being a clothes horse and get some practice in.
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Tom
Oct 17, 2014 at 10:28 am
Poulter should go back to playing full time in Europe so he can win an event
Dan
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:46 am
Wilson Staff – You’ve heard it here first (from the grape vine)
Waqar
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:14 pm
Ping is Bubba territory, he is trying to sell titliest balls so it’s titliest I would assume unless he is sending them a message. He plays odessey putters, so it could be callaway too. Callaway is the most profitable golf manufacturer these days. I think it will be callaway.
Scooter McGavin
Oct 16, 2014 at 1:36 pm
As much as Ping could use a good staffer, and I would like to see him on Ping, my guess would be that he goes with someone with deep pockets like Nike, Taylormade, or Callaway to a lesser extent. Maybe I’m just cynical, but that’s my guess.
Tyler
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:52 pm
I think he would make a good addition to the Mizuno staff. He and Luke Donald are great brand ambassadors
bradford
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:45 pm
I actually like that idea most…
:-p
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:50 pm
At least Mizuno has that cool blue driver! Poults need color! :-p
ams165
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
To many bloody brit’s.
It would look like the euro tour…
He has his own clothes.
Maybe Scratch???
Tittylist
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I thought I was on the TaylorMade website with all the TM ads taking up 1/2 the page. Perhaps Poulter can join TM as well like golfwrx!
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 11:59 am
News flash, he signs with the highest bidder, period!
Kris
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:57 am
Rick Young from Score Golf here in Canada seems to think he’s going back to TMAG. I was thinking Titleist myself, but he would be a logical pickup for TM.
bradford
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:36 pm
TM only staffs long hitters, not sure he would align well.
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Really, so when did Brian Harman become a long hitter or Justin leonard or Ken Duke or YE Yang or Scott Verplank or… well you get my point!
steve
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:53 am
I don’t blame him. Cobra/Puma pushes the Fowler image on the clubs and clothing. Did Poulter even exist to them.
He will go to the highest bidder, but I don’t see them lining up to sign him. He is coming off a bad season, doesn’t hit the driver far and is trying to push his clothing line. If your a equipment company Poulter is going to add little to nothing in sales. Doe’s anyone wonder or care what driver he plays or any equipment?
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Donger
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:03 am
Callaway – he can still play the Pro VX – just like the rest of the callaway guys
Wally K
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:49 am
Mizuno would be sweet.
cheesehead42
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:46 am
The real question is who will be his shoe supplier?
Kyle Gordon
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:48 am
I believe that poults will play a full set of titleist equipment
Kyle
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:46 am
I think that poulter will move to titleist golf and play a full bag of titleist equipment
Buck
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm
I agree, titelist makes sense
Andy
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:51 am
Easy, he will go to Titleist! He has played the ball for many years and used to wear the shoes. He also plays their wedges.
Tyler
Oct 18, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Yes, I agree he’ll go to Titleist. I think Titleist needs someone with more flash. I think Titleist is starting to become more of an “old man’s” brand due to low innovation, a more bland color palette and a higher price point. I’m not bashing Titleist. I love Titleist and I’m not a flashy guy so I actually prefer all of the above mentioned “old man’s” attributes. However, you do limited your market by not having some flash. All the other guys (even Ping, turbulators anyone?) are pumping up the color and flash. This would make sense for Titleist. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised to see Titleist bring in Poulter’s line of clothes as their own just as they did with Bob Vokey and Scotty Cameron. The FJ clothing line could use some of Poulter’s touch.
Jim
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:42 am
I agree with ping being where he goes he will most likely bag the i25 driver and wood line and i would guess the older anser iron line and wedges i would also guess an anser blade or the ketsch putter and he can keep playing his pro v1x ball. If this is where he goes .
Joel
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:26 am
Imagine if he went to callaway…. stenson and poulter both on one staff team. I love poulter, I just hope he lands somewere with clubs that work for him and not somewere just for the pay day.
chris
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:05 am
I think Nike. He can still sell his clothes, but in Europe only.
Todd Turner
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:08 pm
FJ
Charlie
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:44 pm
If he wants to win majors, he should sign with PING.
Nigel
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:19 am
PING haven’t really won many majors in recent years to warrant that statement. Especially compared to the other brands
Matt2814
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:03 am
Didn’t Bubba Watson (PING STAFF PLAYER) win the masters last year??
Oosty
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:58 pm
And what about Oosthuizen? Duh.
Tom
Oct 17, 2014 at 10:26 am
Angel Cabrera
Enrique
Oct 19, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Are you on crack? PING owns majors. 3 masters wins in 5 years. Add Open Championship with Oosthuizen and taking the fedex cup this year counts as much as a major – especially the way Horschel attacked it.
Mikec
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:01 am
I am a PING guy, but this is over the top.
I think that Rory has proved that it is talent not equipment.
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 11:56 am
+1
Enrique
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:31 pm
If he goes Callaway I’m giving my clubs to the local First Tee chapter.
Pat
Oct 17, 2014 at 6:29 pm
I’ll be right behind you, haha.
Dakota
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:09 pm
My gut instinct is telling me he is going to Mizuno.
Todd Turner
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Go back to the FJ Icon!
sgniwder99
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:47 am
Seriously. Those Puma shoes looked weird with the stuff he wears.
Mark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:27 pm
Who cares indeed. Puma made a huge mistake in buying Cobra in the first place. Poulter isn’t that big a name so I predict a move to Srixon or Mizuno.
HoHoHo
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:17 pm
You’re a clueless redneck
ams165
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:02 pm
+1
Only his mouth is big.
When was the last PGA event he won?????
His claim to fame is his mouth, ryder cup in 2012 and his clothes logo that like a phallic symbol….
Martin
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Who cares.
Jeremy
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:53 pm
People who read golf blogs, I’d imagine.
Very constructive comment.
Billy
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:42 pm
You do, you just commented.
Rich
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:17 am
SHUT UP!
nikkyd
Oct 15, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Who on earth would buy that pasty teabags tartan textiles. Good god.
Desmond
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:04 pm
If you’ve ever worn it, you’d find it’s high quality tartan textiles…
dr bloor
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:26 am
Because they don’t limit their golf wear to colors that go with Keystone Light cans?
dko
Oct 16, 2014 at 10:56 am
I would and I have. They are actually really good.
Jason
Oct 15, 2014 at 8:30 pm
I hope he signs with Ping.
Mike Hopkins
Oct 20, 2014 at 10:37 am
He loves titleist golf and will never leave their equip. Just like me.. smart move Poults…………………….
Mike Hopkins
Oct 20, 2014 at 10:40 am
Fj as well
‘