Equipment
Exotics XJ1 Fairway Woods: What you need to know
Tour Edge is best known for its fairway woods, so it makes sense that its new launch makes forward strides in the world of fairway woods. Its new Exotics XJ1 line uses a new titanium material, a surprisingly sole-heavy design for a higher launch and more forgiveness, and debuts a new shaft from Fujikura.
The entire body of the XJ1 woods is constructed from 9-1-1 titanium, which Tour Edge calls “Supermetal” due to its combination of strength and light weight (it’s 10 percent lighter than 6A4v, a popular titanium used in golf club manufacturing). With the salvaged weight from the body, Tour Edge was able to create a heavier sole, which now holds 124 grams of tungsten, or two-thirds of the heads total weight.
Specs
The tungsten sole is applied to the body using a process called combo brazing, and the face, made with SP-700 Beta titanium, is laser bonded to the body. The face uses variable thickness across its surface to maximize ball speeds, even on off-center hits.
To help slicers turn the ball over, there is also a 12-gram tungsten screw in the heel that can be interchanged with 10-, 14- or 16-gram weights.
Exotics XJ1 woods will come stock with Fujikura’s Air Speeder shaft, which weighs in at 45 grams. According to Tour Edge, it’s the first company to put that shaft into a retail launch. The fairway woods will sell for $449.99 starting on November 15 in right-hand only, and will be available in the following lofts; 3-wood (15 degrees), 4-wood (17 degrees), 5-wood (18 degrees), and 7-wood (21 degrees).
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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BK24BK
Dec 14, 2016 at 11:58 am
Anybody hit any of the XJ1 clubs?
Matt
Oct 29, 2016 at 4:16 pm
45 gram shaft, no thanks
HEBERT
Nov 1, 2016 at 4:56 am
Well … you may chosse among 180 shafts available .. No worry !
Doug A
Oct 28, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Looks pretty good. Gonna have to try it at a demo day
John
Oct 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Right hand only. What a shame. They should at least have custom order options for left hand so they wouldn’t get stuck with excess inventory. I really don’t think there is a huge difficulty flipping a right handed club around & producing a left handed model.
gw
Oct 28, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Seems like a really heavy head for the lightweight shaft.
RCM
Oct 29, 2016 at 11:19 am
The table provides total club weight, not head weight. They’re actually quite light for total club weight.
Rimjob
Oct 29, 2016 at 11:33 am
He said, FOR the lightweight shaft. Duh. Could’ve been a lighter head. But look at the size of the thing!
Desmond
Oct 28, 2016 at 11:33 am
The Fuji air speed shaft is a great idea – I am using a 45g shaft in a 4 wd, and it launches mid, and even when hit on the face a bit low or from the rough, it still gets air and ball go far.
AC
Oct 28, 2016 at 10:49 am
those are big, the 5 wood is almost identical in size to the F6 3 wood. For the off the deck, that’s just too big for player of my skill level.
Jon
Oct 28, 2016 at 10:16 am
As a matter of fact, Exotics is releasing XJ1 driver for $699.99.
http://golfweek.com/2016/09/20/tour-edge-exotics-xj1-driver/
SV
Oct 28, 2016 at 8:07 am
$450 for a fairway wood? Are you kidding me! If they make a similar driver will it cost $800? TourEdge used to be known for goods clubs at a reasonable price. I guess that is over. Seriously, with prices like this and PXG, clubs it is a wonder anyone buys clubs anymore.
Desmond
Oct 28, 2016 at 9:03 am
It is a Tour Edge Exotics – that line is premium with a premium price – has always been that way. I demoed its EX9 4wd with a Grand Bassara 39, and it was almost as long as my driver , and I hit it off the deck- and that is a steel head. Ti may go as far as your driver.
Johnjohn
Oct 28, 2016 at 10:37 am
Give it 3-4 months and price will plummet