Equipment

Kirkland Signature Golf Balls are… back?!

Published

7 years ago

Mar 3, 2017

Until they sold out of stores, Costco’s Kirkland Signature Golf Balls had the most buzz of any golf ball maybe ever, and they had GolfWRX members going CRAZY. It’s easy to see why; the 4-piece urethane golf balls were selling for only $30 per two dozen, roughly one third of the price of comparable products on the market.

It appears that a new “Kirkland Signature Performance One” golf ball has popped up on the USGA conforming list, updated on March 1.

Screen Shot 2017-03-02 at 4.17.31 PM

Based on information presented by the USGA, there are two Kirkland Signature models on the list — “Performance One” and “Tour Performance” — manufactured by SM Global LLC based in Seoul, Korea. The original Kirkland Signature golf balls were stamped “Tour Performance,” but a new “Performance One” is now on the list. According to the USGA conforming list, the Performance One will have a 4-layer construction and 360 dimples just like the original Costco ball.

KirklandGolfBalls

So, does this mean the Kirkland Signature golf balls will be back in stores? And how much will they sell for? What exactly is different about the new balls? For now, the future is uncertain, but this could be a good sign for fans of the Costco golf balls.

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Kirkland Signature Golf Balls.

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45 Comments

rory

Jul 12, 2017 at 1:01 pm

COSTCO always raises they’re prices over time as product becomes more popular….but we all just keep buying so I would bet a million$$$$ prices will be higher and if not right away they will soon be $20/doz not $15/doz

Reply Report comment
Gorden

Mar 29, 2017 at 8:12 pm

The company that made balls for Taylormade in South Korea may have been replaced by a company in Taiwan…could not find any thing on the web about this..if so that South Korea company is free to make as many balls as Costco can sell?????

Reply Report comment
Frank

Mar 10, 2017 at 6:19 pm

I’m wearing pants and a collared shirt. What’s your point? Have fun with your Top Flite XLs!

Reply Report comment
Bert

Mar 6, 2017 at 8:41 am

I’m confused, the new replacement ball has been tested by the USGA and is on the Conforming List but is exactly the same as the one they previously sold. Was that ball on the Conforming List and if yes, why would an exact ball need to be tested? Oh it’s just a name change, then if that’s correct why aren’t they on the shelves? Sorry I’m always a skeptic.

Reply Report comment
Tony Rich

Mar 4, 2017 at 10:07 am

My 09 Vokey will outperform any of your new wedges.
I will take any $10 wedge from the used bag with square grooves and skin circles around your ball…smizzlle.

Reply Report comment
- Brian
  
  Mar 4, 2017 at 1:30 pm
  
  It’s your story, tell it how you want
  
  Reply Report comment
Fat Perez

Mar 4, 2017 at 5:35 am

More like the clown prince.

Reply Report comment
Rocco

Mar 3, 2017 at 9:52 pm

Hey- you talking bout my RocketBallz?
Still better than anything out there!

Reply Report comment
- Frank
  
  Mar 10, 2017 at 6:17 pm
  
  Ping I-15 outperform anything else I put in my hands.
  
  Reply Report comment
Fat Perez

Mar 3, 2017 at 6:44 pm

Kirkland Signature………For the guy rocking the red “Make America Great Again” hat.

Reply Report comment
- Limmet
  
  Mar 4, 2017 at 12:44 am
  
  So, for the victorious guy then…
  
  Reply Report comment
- Joey
  
  Mar 4, 2017 at 8:12 am
  
  @fatperez this is a golf forum. No need to shove your political views onto people. ??????
  
  Reply Report comment
chip

Mar 3, 2017 at 2:11 pm

They forgot to mention the 3rd ball

zing! I know, I know…

Reply Report comment
TR1PTIK

Mar 3, 2017 at 11:54 am

My club fitter gave me a Ksig to try. I haven’t even messed with it. I’ll eventually check it out when the season is in full swing, but I don’t get all the hype. I’ll still order 5 dozen Vice Pros or Pro +s at the beginning of every season. Not enough incentive for me to bother with Costco or the possible variability of the Ksig. Think about it. If they are in fact overruns of another product and they don’t have their own engineers and such to ensure quality and consistency – who’s to say the ball you played last month will be the same as the ball you play next month?

Reply Report comment
- KillerPenguin
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 1:25 pm
  
  Because it’s a urethane ball that costs $1.25 a piece. I’m a budget golfer with a bazillion handicap who plays 12 year old irons acquired second hand and am a Costco member so I’m exactly the person who will line up to buy this. At that price, and at my level of skill, I’m willing to roll the dice on consistency between balls. My consistency in squaring the club face at impact is a much bigger issue than the quality of the ball I hit.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - TR1PTIK
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 2:07 pm
    
    So at your skill level and consistency, why do you feel the need to hit a urethane ball? Why not just buy the Wilson Fly for $5/15?
    
    Just playing the devil’s advocate here. No offense. I just think the type of players that truly need that level of playability should also be thinking in terms of consistency and quality. With plenty of other players in the market and so many unknowns (currently) about the development of Ksisgs, why all the fanfare? I absolutely agree that the Titleist premium needs to die and other OEMs seem to recognize that (new Z-Stars @ $39.99/dz and similar pricing from Callaway).
    
    Reply Report comment
  - ABLE
    
    Mar 4, 2017 at 9:03 am
    
    I’m with TR1PTIK on this one. If you’re a high handicapper (I can relate, I shoot over 100) then a four-layer urethane ball is a novelty and you really could be playing with used balls. If hitting consistently is your biggest problem, the quality differences between a Noodle, Velocity, Chrome, RocketBallz, Pro V1 and a used ball will be indecipherable. The only difference I can tell between a Velocity and a Noodle or Nike is that my wallet gets lighter when I hit a Titleist into the bush.
    
    Reply Report comment
Hifade

Mar 3, 2017 at 11:39 am

I’ll bet these new balls are completely different, but Costco is trying to capitalize on the original demand. The first run were balls manufactured with Taylormade cores that TM had left over and unloaded to Costco (like selling scraps). When they were gone…..they were gone. I highly doubt this new version is constructed with the same components.

Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 3:28 pm
  
  were in the heck did that info come from
  
  Reply Report comment
  - OingoBoingo
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 4:08 pm
    
    I’m thinking the same place as unicorns and faeries as it’s pure fiction and speculation.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dr Troy
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 9:38 pm
    
    Hifade is right. That info was relayed on the golf channel during a special clip on the craze for the Ksig…Its not fiction or speculation.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Dr Troy
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 9:43 pm
  
  Hifade is right. That info was relayed on the golf channel during a special clip on the craze for the Ksig…Its not fiction or speculation.
  
  Reply Report comment
DC1

Mar 3, 2017 at 10:50 am

Maybe there will be a softer version, and a firmer version…like prov1 and x?

Reply Report comment
- ABLE
  
  Mar 4, 2017 at 8:58 am
  
  Probably not. Costco has a tendency to market a single product that goes after the market leader, rather than having four versions. Kirkland isn’t known for its variety within the brand.
  
  Reply Report comment
Josh

Mar 3, 2017 at 10:30 am

Most urethane covered balls are made by big OEM’s in America by American workers. These balls are made in Korea. If you buy these balls, but complain about jobs being lost overseas, you are a HYPOCRITE.

Reply Report comment
- setter02
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 7:55 pm
  
  Super happy that you play clubs that were 100% manufactured in N/A, wear shoes that were made here, use gloves that were also made here, clothing, sunglasses, electronic devices, etc… I mean, I wouldn’t want to call you a hypoc…
  
  Reply Report comment
Donald Quiote

Mar 3, 2017 at 10:28 am

I cant wait till these are on sale in the BST for $70 a dozen.

Reply Report comment
Garry Pierce

Mar 3, 2017 at 9:43 am

I doubt the price will change much. Think like a retailer. They have these products called advertisement loss leaders. Laymen’s term. Gets people in the door, to spend more money. Costco found out people were buying more than a couple dozen balls. Costco is one of the best at getting people to spend money.

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MT

Mar 3, 2017 at 9:16 am

People are talking about which overruns these will be not understanding where golf balls are made, how golf balls are made, and the background of the golf balls history.. This isn’t history class so I won’t get into all that business, but for those that think there is that big of a difference in a golf ball…… Welcome to never never land

Reply Report comment
- Joey5Picks
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 12:46 pm
  
  Excellent point.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Peter Pan
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 1:05 pm
  
  Big difference. Titleist doesn’t spend millions on R&D for nothing. They make better golf balls. Choppers may not know the difference but tour professionals do. It all depends whats most important. A somewhat better ball or saving $$$.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 1:23 pm
    
    Lol…titleist doesn’t spend millions on ball R&D, they spend millions putting those balls in the hands of pros to fleece ship like you out of $50 for a dozen.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Frank Cruz
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 1:12 pm
  
  Fully agree!
  
  Reply Report comment
Golfguy

Mar 3, 2017 at 9:16 am

Might not be the same ball as before. Depends on whether they could get their hands on the same components. I thought they were out of the Taylormade cores.

Reply Report comment
chris b

Mar 3, 2017 at 8:51 am

Let the hype begin! Wonder which overrun this will be?

Reply Report comment
Dat

Mar 3, 2017 at 8:43 am

If they produce these for a full season, Titleist will go out of business.

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 12:23 pm
  
  ….yup that’ll happen…lol
  
  Reply Report comment
Brian Connellan

Mar 3, 2017 at 8:37 am

My guess is that Taylor Made felt “Tour Performance” was too close to “Tour Preferred” so they had to relabel it. Hopefully the ball itself is the same

Reply Report comment
- DING DING DING!
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 1:02 pm
  
  I think you nailed it.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronny
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 8:29 pm
    
    The fact we are seeing the words Kirkland and Tour on the golf ball seems like a stretch. Next up-Kirkland Tour irons.
    All so wrong on so many levels.
    
    Reply Report comment
LaBraeGolfer

Mar 3, 2017 at 8:26 am

I have a feeling they are going to sell the comparable ball for a lot more and then the ball that is the same price as the old one will be a two piece distance ball. I hope I am wrong, I would like to try them if I stop in while they have them.

Reply Report comment
- baba black sheep
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 9:01 am
  
  I’ll bet you’re right. Rather than just jacking the price up to where it should be on the Tour Performance ball they probably just had the manufacturer stamp Performance One on it so they can sell it for more by calling it a newer and better ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Mar 3, 2017 at 9:18 am
  
  Maybe you did not see the chart at the bottom. Both balls appear to be 4 Piece. I am not sure what the “SC” means for the Tour Performance ball. Soft Compression maybe?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Lopey
    
    Mar 3, 2017 at 10:24 am
    
    SC means Solid Core.
    
    They aren’t going to jack up the price. They’ll make them membership only and use it to sell memberships. They do this with a lot of products. Sell them at cost and make no profit but use them as leaders to sell memberships.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Jim
      
      Mar 3, 2017 at 11:45 pm
      
      …So far, they seem to be pretty smart with their other offerings. They aren’t losing money on these, and they made the entry at a time when the “regular” golf market was generally depressed….Dick’s eliminating the PGA pros & shrinking the sqft in golf, Nike quit…I doubt they’re looking to jump in much beyond this and risk mission creep….just like when NIKE SWORE TO US – absolutely swore they’d “never end up like Top Flite”. “We’re just going to have these two premium balls (DD & TW) one mid-price and one soft”… keep it simple and they’ll do fine.
      
      Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

8 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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