Equipment
PING G20 PRODUCT LAUNCH–WOODS
Anybody who’s been on this board for any amount of time tends to get a feel for what clubs garner the most buzz and, more importantly, what clubs live up to that hype. For the last two years PING’s G15 driver and irons have been in a class few others can claim. Recognizing this, PING followed the same formula to make improvements on an already incredible club.
Now, in the G20 series, PING decided to reemphasize the concept of having a complete set design. They wanted to do away with the idea of having a favorite club that just seems to fit your swing really well by matching the entire set to your swing. This is not a new concept, even to PING, but with the advanced technologies they have available, and their long history of designing clubs from an understanding of engineering and physics, they have matched these sets from top to bottom by examining and matching system mass, MOI about the hosel axis, CG position of the clubhead, etc., to synchronize the natural head rotation or delivery of the club. This provides fitters the flexibility to fit for trajectory and distance gapping without having to worry about having golfers adjust their swing to different clubs.
DRIVER
For the G20 Driver, PING utilized the high balance point shaft technology first employed in the G15, and took it a little further. By using a counterbalanced shaft, there were able to add more weight to the head, lighten the shaft, and keep the system mass and swingweight the same. This allowed PING to add more mass to the head which delivers more energy to the ball. The G15 added 5 grams to their standard G10 headweight and the G20 added another 2, yielding a current driver headweight of 203 grams. Testing shows that this concept adds distance and forgiveness as you're not slowing the clubhead during the swing and you're increasing inertia from the increased head mass.
In verifying this concept, PING tested clubs of otherwise same specifications, including shaft specs (swingweight, stiffness, torque, kick point, etc.), only changing the total system mass from 270, 286, and 304 grams between the three. They discovered that clubhead and ball speeds were not statistically significantly faster in any of the system weights, but distance and forgiveness were best with the heavier setup. Additionally, real world testing showed that there are benefits in having a more natural progression from your driver as per the complete set design outlined above as golfers don’t have to fight their swing going from a superlight driver to a heavier fairway or iron.
While not surprising, one point that bears mentioning deals with the G20‘s standard shaft length of 45.75 inches (and D3 swingweight). While this seems overly-long, especially to the GolfWRX membership where 45” seems to be the preference, it’s actually the standard length PING has stayed with since the TiSI. When the USGA published their standard for measuring, PING was using a 56º sole plate and measuring to the end of the ungripped shaft. When the standard of measurement required a 60º sole plate and measurement to the end of a gripped club, PING opted to change their published lengths rather than shorten what they’ve been doing. They also discovered through player testing that golfers can handle this length with no significant drawbacks on the course and without forcing golfers to fight their swing.
In the G20 driver, PING was able to lower and move weight even further back to optimize trajectory. Bubba's long because he launches 16º at 1800 RPM. And SlingMan is able to launch it even higher with lower spin to reach even farther distances–so there's still lots of distance to be gamed through trajectory optimization without even touching ball speed.
For the G20 driver, PING changed the material to Ti811 from Ti64: they are both very similar in terms of strength and elongation, but Ti811 is slightly lighter and less dense, so they can utilize more volume to mess with the thickness variances to better optimize CG and inertia. A larger head profile increases inertia, especially along the horizontal AND vertical axises and PING was able to increase the face area over the G15. The G20 is constructed from a cast body with the variable thickness sheet face. This allows to take weight away from some areas and add elsewhere and requires only one weld.
Driver testing between the G15 and G20 on PingMan and Player testing showed distance increases, and tighter dispersion across the board for swing speeds (spin rates were close between the two with some overlaps depending on several factors).
FAIRWAYS
In the G20 PING made a fairway that was easy to get up in the air through center of gravity and trajectory optimization. Made club deeper front to back to move the CG even lower and to the back. By increasing the dynamic launch angle, they were able to strengthened the standard loft of the 3 wood back to 15º. The 4 wood is same length as the 3, so it’s basically a higher lofted 3 wood. PING has found it to work even better with over 60% of golfers getting more optimal performance out of 4 wood in player testing. In fact, Bubba plays a 4 wood.
Often times, when companies make improvements, they’re usually on the smaller scale. Such is true in the vertical axis of the fairway where PING was able to improved MOI for heel-to-toe hits by 4%. HOWEVER, PING increased the MOI on the vertical axis by 25%, making it significantly more forgiving on high and low mishits. This is especially important as it seems overly easy to hit a fairway thin (just me?).
So golfers can expect less distance loss on fairway mishits in the G20, and slightly increased overall distance as the launch conditions have been optimized. Across the board, in both player and PingMan testing, the G20 fairways produced higher ball speeds because they were able to slightly lower the spin and increase the launch angle despite strengthening the standard loft resulting in longer distances…again–especially on mishits.
HYBRID
Not going to lie: this was the club I was least interested in going in, especially after seeing it was going to resemble the G15. However, after listening to the presentation and, more importantly, hitting it, it is the club I’m most excited for!
When PING designed the G15 hybrid, they took a 3 iron face profile and built around that. Taking Karsten Solheim’s original concept in incorporating offset, they were able to greatly increase launch angle without raising spin. Additionally, the design of the club increases the moment of inertia by 50% over the standard design. This provides significantly more forgiveness, tighter dispersion, and less twisting from mishits. And again, the offset increases the dynamic launch without increasing spin, especially on high and low mishits because of the high MOI, giving significantly more distance control and less variance between flushed shots and mishits.
Based on feedback of the G15, PING made adjustments in the G20 hybrid to appeal to more people. One complaint was that the club appeared too upright, especially in conjunction with the higher toe, so PING shortened the club from heel-to-toe, moving the CG in a bit, allowing them to bend the lie angle flatter by 2º. This also reduced the toe-down droop seen at higher swing speeds. Despite this move, they were able to keep the same MOI. PING also increased the versatility of the club by increasing the heel-toe sole curvature.
One point of interest is that complaints of the G20 by actual owners of that club were minimal. The voiced complaints were overwhelmingly made by people who never bothered to hit the club…myself included. At demo days, the feedback from golfers who actually hit the club was very positive. PING is hoping that the changes made will get more people to pick it up and give it a try. In test results, the G20 hybrid performed very similarly to the G15. Same goes for player testing. However, player perceptions were drastically improved.
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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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Maurice Yuen
Nov 4, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Dear Sir,
What is the difference between TFC 330D & 169D?
Thanks.