Equipment
Galvin Green releases Gore-Tex C-Knit Backer Collection
Galvin Green, a Swedish company that makes high-end golf outerwear, has unveiled a new Gore-Tex C-Knit Backer Collection that was worn by the 2016 European Ryder Cup team and will again be worn by Team Europe in 2018.
The line uses the company’s new three-layer technology, which is made in Japan and is noteworthy for its light weight, breathability and waterproofing. And as we noted in our 2015 feature on Galvin Green, its outerwear is made with the specific needs of golfers in mind.
“C-Knit Backer represents the next generation of golf rainwear and another ‘first’ for Galvin Green as the pioneering brand in the waterproofs sector,” said Christian Nilsson, CEO/Managing Director of Galvin Green. “A revolutionary fabric technology has been integrated into garments designed for golfers by golfers to offer maximum protection from the elements, while being amazingly lightweight and stylish at the same time.”
The Backer Collection features the company’s Argon full-zip ($695) and Aldrin half-zip ($660) jackets, and Arn pants ($680) to complete the outfit.
The jackets have “ergonomic” high collars for extra weather resistance and comfort, rubberized zipped cuffs, waterproof zippers and adjustable waist width. The pants have elastic waistbands for a comfortable fit and back openings for easy pocket access. The jackets and pants are made from a rubber-like neoprene material that’s made to repel water.
Galvin Green apparel is available at TrendyGolfUSA.com and other high-end retailers.
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Whats in the Bag
Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)
- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
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 timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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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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Sebastian
Mar 17, 2017 at 7:46 am
Maybe you better should spend some serious money for the best raingear than for the next 500,- shaft which you can not handle…
Or a “Tour only” putter 😉
Galvin Green makes the absolute best raingear in my opinion.
Ian
Mar 6, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I think Galvin Green has avoided the U.S. market knowing that endless advertising is needed in markets that are immature (use the dictionary for the real definition of that word and you’ll understand). Perhaps when it rains in the U.S. guys sit around indoors drinking Miller Lite so rain gear isn’t ever needed. Though the GG gear works in cold climates too so it’s not just about wet weather but as a niche manufacturer they’ve racked up 25 years in the business without needing to bother with the U.S. and they’re not going to go for sub-prime just to add a few sales; leave that to the ubiquitous Nike and Under Armour brands.
George
Mar 5, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Well, GG apparently is so good, you can spend hours in the gallery sitting on wet grass while it’s raining and your butt actually stays dry under those pants. A feat not many other companies can do except with vulcanized rubber b/c the water is still pressed through the fabric.
But in the US, noone’s going to pay that kind of money for rain gear. It’s not as if they would play in the rain anyway. Or walk….
Spencer Wong
Mar 4, 2017 at 9:39 pm
Yup. Prices are a non-starter for me BUT I have managed to find pieces on sale. Managed to grab two jackets and a pair of August pants (all gore-tex – not the the new c-knit stuff) for about $150 cdn each piece. Well worth it as it performs so ridiculously well. The C-knit gear is nice but I’ll wait and hunt for deals.
Pedro
Mar 4, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Galvin Green is the best in the business. I just picked up the Argon at my club and it blows anything else away. C Knit is the real deal, other big time outerwear companies have used this material like Patagonia, Arc Teryx. Nice to have it in a golf specific product finally and looks better than anything else on the market. Well done Galvin Green!
Golfguy
Mar 4, 2017 at 9:59 am
It will look great in the clubhouse while you’re having a beer because it’s too miserable to play.
Mark
Mar 4, 2017 at 4:22 am
When Galvin launched in the UK they were a bit more expensive than other makers but their quality and performance justified the premium. Now they are just taking the mick. We have a rule…if you need a full GG suit on it is too wet to play.
Jonnythec
Mar 3, 2017 at 7:52 pm
There gear is in golftown where it collects dust cause no one is gonna pay that much. Seen a dude grimace at the price tag of a pair of pants he was looking at…too funny.
Tony
Mar 3, 2017 at 2:29 pm
And of course they give it to the pros for free! Too many other choices to spend $1400 on a jacket and pants!
Pat
Mar 2, 2017 at 9:52 pm
Brian, all Galvin jackets are tape sealed and made in Sweden. Read up on their website, there are tons of technical features built in to the Galvin line-up.
Brian
Mar 3, 2017 at 2:12 pm
That being the case, none of what you stated justifies the cost of $700 USD for a Gore-Tex golf jacket.
setter02
Mar 2, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Lol at those who say no brand recognition, sad you’ve never heard of their gear (been up here north of the border for 10+ years). Pricey for sure, very nice stuff, but you can find other gear at better value (as mentioned Sunice (only top end) and I’ll add ZR to that, tho harder to find). Clothing is also very nice, but not meant for typical N/A body types unless you are malnourished!
Jonnythec
Mar 2, 2017 at 5:01 pm
They are crazy to think they can charge that much in N.A. There is no brand recognition here and $1000 for jacket and pants is ridiculous. They won’t be around very long.
Phil
Mar 2, 2017 at 9:25 pm
Too late… Founded in 1990 and still operational
C
Mar 2, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Only if it’s signed by Bob Parsons.
carl spackler
Mar 2, 2017 at 3:27 pm
I’ll stick with the sunice gore tex jacket and pants that I paid $400 for the set
cgasucks
Mar 2, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Holy crap…a pair of pants that is almost $700? It better have a built in urinal at that price.
Brian
Mar 2, 2017 at 2:07 pm
$695 for a golf shell? That’s more than I paid for an Arc’teryx Gore-tex Pro-Shell ski jacket that has a LOT more technical features; seam taped, helmet compatible hood, powder skirt, and asymmetrical zipper to name a few. On top of that, my Arc’Teryx was made in North America and I would bet dollars to donuts this will be made Galvin Green gear will be made in Asia somewhere.