Equipment
Spotted: Bettinardi prototype putters
Updated: June 10, 10:20 a.m.
We spotted new Bettinardi prototype putters on Tuesday at the 2015 FedEx St. Jude Classic, which were built based on feedback from PGA Tour players.
The BB Zero model prototypes use milled, mild carbon steel for a softer feel than the standard DASS Tour offering, according to a Bettinardi representative.
The Innovai 2.0 prototypes use a high-MOI, winged-style head shape that Tour players have been asking for. It’s a bi-metal design, made from both 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum and double-aged stainless steel — a combination said to provide proper weight distribution and to enhance acoustics.
Check out the photos below, and join the discussion about the prototypes in our forums.
BB Zero Tour
Golden Torch finish
Black Chrome finish
BB Zero prototype
Innovai 2.0 prototypes
See more photos and join the discussion about the Bettinardi prototypes in our forums.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.
We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.
From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.
“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.
TaylorMade P-UDI 3-iron – 20°
TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron – 22°
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
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- Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Joaquin Niemann names 3 PGA Tour events he’d love to play each year ‘in a perfect world’
Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)
Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here. Driver: TaylorMade...
WITB Time Machine: Jordan Spieth’s winning WITB, 2022 RBC Heritage
At the 2022 RBC Heritage Jordan Spieth defeated Patrick Cantlay on the first playoff hole after nearly holing his greenside...
Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)
Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...
Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)
Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...
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Eric Johnson
Nov 7, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Did anyone read the text above the pics?!!?!?!? The description of the innovai makes it clear that they clearly state that the entire point of the putter is to create a putter that “copies” a style of putter to please their tour players looking for a Bettinardi with a wing-style head shape? Also, checking a dictionary makes it pretty clear that when using the word prototype it doesn’t mean that you’re claiming that you invented something – instead a prototype is an early version of a product that you’re considering manufacturing. Kinda like Toyota has prototypes – it sure doesn’t mean they invented the car. It has nothing to with a claim on the “design.”
Jeff*
Jun 22, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Bettenardi going to call it a WGW Versa #7 too? I mean I know they all copied the Ping guy, but come on, Odyssey will totally win the lawsuit.
TT X
Jun 20, 2015 at 6:19 pm
If a putter being machined=fewer putts I’m fairly sure every golfer playing for a living would be using one. There is nothing wrong with machining, it is a more costly process but that has nothing to do with it being a better performing club. I appreciate the putter creators that really make an effort to design something unique. Unfortunately the tour players are paid so much to go through the Darrell Survey with a particular companies putter it doesn’t allow much opportunity for the smaller designer who really is trying to do something original to get any exposure.
Brendon
Jun 19, 2015 at 6:51 am
I bought the Odyssey 7,not interested in copies
Steve
Jun 13, 2015 at 9:51 am
The rating system is askewed on this site. 102 likes, 65 shanks rates the heart icon? 61% shouldnt be rated love, maybe legit. In my book 61% is a fail
Statute
Jun 12, 2015 at 4:24 am
What’s the statute of limitation on Copyrights? How it been that long for the #7 Odyssey style to have lost its copyright on the design?
Dan
Jun 11, 2015 at 1:31 pm
A lot of comments on not being original – that is fair, but every putter company has an anser style putter – it is simply demanded by the market, so I do not understand the criticism in that ‘anser’ regard. What would a putter company be without some anser style head shapes 🙂
Milan
Jun 10, 2015 at 6:07 pm
while I can see most pov that these are imitation designs imo that is where the similarity ends. Improved craftsmanship and innovative engineering are what makes these unique and utterly magnificent putting devices. Riddle me this: would you rather have a hand made forge Samurai sword or a machine made, stamped one? Even if they looked identical?
Rando
Jun 10, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Bettinardi putters are hardly hand made. They are very much machine made. They make a design on a computer screen, then feed it into a computerized cnc mill, then press a button and watch hundreds of identical putters pop out.
Cnc milling is the opposite of hand craftsmanship. It’s about uniformity and machine precision. The only thing a company like bettinardi can offer is design. This is just a cop out. Odyssey can and does make milled putters. They can make a milled version of this putter too and it will be no different from bettinardi’s version.
Dan
Jun 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm
“press a button and watch hundreds of identical putters pop out”.
This is anything but the truth with CNC milling. Just because the machine has numeric control does not mean you can simply press a button and it cuts out an entire putter miraculously and efficiently. It takes experience, you could have access to Bettinardi’s shop and software and press all the buttons you want and hundreds of putters will not come out with no human effort. I would guess the amount of time a human was interacting with each putter exceeds the amount of time the machine took to cut it.
Ultimately, CNC milling does not mean there is no hand craftsmanship is all I am saying. I make putters myself; I wish so badly it was as easy as you say!
Joe
Jun 11, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Actually it’s exactly the truth. CNC milling is pushing a button and the machine Mills the shape beneath a plexiglass shroud.
You can say that there is human interaction in everything – even modern automotive robot assembly line. But alas the cars do just pop out. There is no “samurai sword” ancient craftsman hocus locus in these new Betti putters. They are CAD designed and CNC milled. Done. Next. And I’ll take the Odyssey #7. Bettinardi painful looks like heck.
Milan
Jun 13, 2015 at 4:09 am
i appreciate everyone’s opinion and commentary here! To clarify, my sword analogy was a directional one, and not an actual comparison of hand made to machine made. I have worked in a machine shop for many years when I was young ( my father owned a CNC milling and lathe shop for 30 years) so I have a bit of insight of what it takes to produce this level of putter. It’s hardly push button! The putter face finishes on Bettinardis is simply miraculous. This is not easy to do just because it involves some cutting tools. And what about the deburring? The polishing? We always did that by hand in the shop and on much more simple products than a putter. I will close by stating that I love Bettinardi’s. To my eye they are beautiful and the feel is sublime. The roll mine produces is awe inspiring. The other putters or “original designs” are really great putters too. I’m sure they are. I hope everyone enjoys their putter as much as I enjoy mine!
john
Jun 14, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Well you obviously work for Bettinardi, what on earth were you guys thinking?
I actually think your #7 knock off looks fantastic, but it’s just that – a knock off. There is no ‘standard’ design that you’ve made better quality using better materials n all that, it’s a copyrighted Odyssey design. This isn’t like saying we’ve made “a car” but it’s made better – because BMW and Hyundai don’t produce exactly the same design – they’re both cars, and ones more expensive using more expensive materials, but they didn’t rip off the cheaper ones design.
It’s truly an embarrassment that your team couldn’t shave off a TINY BIT of the back part of the putter to make it SLIGHTLY different, company killing design right there.
mike tartaglia
Jun 10, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Amazing that all these putters are basically clones of the old Ping models. Use some different metals, graphics, etc. and triple the price !! I guess they feel most golfers have the money and will spend on new, flashy looking equipment. An old Ping off of E-Bay for $40 dollars will work as well as any of these flashy new productions that are ten times as much money
Beauts
Jun 10, 2015 at 3:32 pm
I just have to laugh at anybody that screams anser copy these days.
Jimmy
Jun 10, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Time to upgrade.
Ken
Jun 10, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Ho hum.
birdeez
Jun 10, 2015 at 2:33 pm
looks like the plan is to copy the design from top putters, mill the putter, and double the price.
michael
Jun 10, 2015 at 2:31 pm
What’s next a new prototype driver, steel shaft wooden head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Golfraven
Jun 10, 2015 at 2:05 pm
What can I add what has not been said already? If your money is burning a hole in your wallet, go and by a #7 clone from Bettinardi. Those look very sleak but likely come with a nice price tag. I can wait couple of years and then buy one of ebay.
Bill
Jun 10, 2015 at 1:54 pm
The best putter on the market is the Directed Force putter, lie angle balanced…
Rando
Jun 10, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Ping’s anser patent (if they had one) expired decades ago.
The odyssey clone here is absurd. They even copied the white/black thing.
I have no respect for this whatsoever. They should be ashamed. How hard is it to come up with an original putter design? I hope callaway/odyssey sues and embarasses them.
Mo
Jun 10, 2015 at 12:03 pm
they copy a 60 year old ping anser and it’s a prototype! Sorry guys, this is absurd.
Jack
Jun 10, 2015 at 7:56 am
Yawn…
Jim
Jun 10, 2015 at 7:55 am
How do all these companies get away with copying another companies putters? One looks like a Ping Anser the other like an Odyssey #7. How many companies make Anser clones anyway? Don’t understand how these specialized companies exist when you can go to any golf store and buy a Ping instead. That said, both putters are really nice looking.
Taylor
Jun 9, 2015 at 10:56 pm
At least when scotty copies designs they put their own flip on it. If you were to look down on the tank version of bettinardi without seeing the bottom, you would think it’s an odyssey.
Rodgers
Jun 10, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Yes Scotty’s own “flip” is charging $400
Bill
Jun 10, 2015 at 1:35 pm
What “flip” does Scotty put on in? The three red dots in the cavity?
Taylor
Jun 14, 2015 at 11:33 pm
At least when you look down on it you know its a scotty. They use different angles and shapes even if they are ripping of another companies design. I use a Ping putter that was $80, so I don’t really care what these do. Just making an observation.
Andy W
Jun 9, 2015 at 6:16 pm
The blade looks like Ping Anser clone, the other like a lethal weapon… Something innovative is a blade that doubles as a “surveying instrument putter.” Use that search in ebay..
snowman
Jun 9, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Yep, real innovational right…..Ping Anser (also copied by every other OEM on the planet) and Odyssey #7. ridiculous.
gorden
Jun 9, 2015 at 8:30 pm
I agree, just get in touch with the Chinese metal shop that makes them, color them a little different and shave a few grams off here and there and put what ever name you want on it…there must be about 20 stranded putter head dies that everyone uses. With that idea why would you pay over $300 for a putter that cost just under $25 to make (with the best grip and shaft)???
Fred
Jun 9, 2015 at 10:10 pm
bettinardi’s are made in the USA, brah.
gorden
Jun 10, 2015 at 12:36 am
Yes, I do have one, but it does look a lot like many of the ones made in china or Taiwan.
Matthew H.
Jun 10, 2015 at 11:28 am
And I can say I’ve used a putter that has been cast. CNC Milled only.
Brandon
Jun 9, 2015 at 5:38 pm
BB Zero Prototype sure is a nice Anser
Clowone
Jun 9, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Innovai Odyssey #7 anyone? Isnt this just a lawsuit waiting to happen?
Bill
Jun 10, 2015 at 1:38 pm
There must be some way they get around infringing on the original designs. Every mfg has an Anser clone
tim
Jun 11, 2015 at 11:35 am
Yeah, that is amazing re: the Odyssey 7. I have never seen such a blatant ripoff of a “unique” design like that. The Spider Si was very close, but looked different enough that it didn’t look like the exact same design.