Equipment
Spotted: Callaway Epic Irons
Since the launch of Callaway’s GBB Epic drivers and fairway woods in January, GolfWRX Members have been talking about new Epic irons that were rumored to be in the works at Callaway…. and it seems they were on to something.
Yesterday in our forums, photos of what appear to be Callaway Epic Pro irons were posted in this thread by GolfWRX Member jlp. The photo also includes what look to be Callaway Epic hybrids (hidden underneath Callaway Epic hybrid head covers). GolfWRX Member CTRoss10 also posted what he says is an address photo of a Callaway Epic 5 iron.
We reached out to Callaway representatives, who said they’re not commenting on the Epic irons or Epic hybrids at this time.
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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.
View this post on Instagram
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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Mark Reynolds
Jun 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm
Hit these today and they felt great despite the fact that they are not forged. The ball flew and I was impressed by the distance until I checked the lofts: they were jacked. The smaller head and thinner topline is appealing but not enough to justify the $ 250 per club price tag.
I’ll be keeping my AP 2’s.
Bob Pegram
May 4, 2017 at 1:55 am
These look like they are intended to compete with M2 and/or M1 irons, not players’ clubs.
Dan
May 3, 2017 at 1:20 pm
No complaints here about product after product. Still playing my Cleveland 588 MT irons and haven’t found anything worth the performance or high cost to knock them out of the bag.
H
May 3, 2017 at 11:54 am
Not defunct
http://www.hirekogolf.com/golf-clubs/custom-golf-clubs/golf-irons.html?brand=70
joro
May 3, 2017 at 8:39 am
Hurry up and get your order in, that has got to be the answer, or as Ping says, the Anser. With a 40 degree 1 inch longer Wedge it will go like an 8 iron, wait a min. isn’t that a normal 8 Iron?
Mr Muira
May 3, 2017 at 7:36 am
Fugly.
Forsbrand
May 3, 2017 at 2:38 am
Hearing lofts have been increased by 4 degrees per iron, so that you lose yards with say six iron by 15 yards, otherwise you’d only need a ba full of irons. #seriouslylong
TexasSnowman
May 2, 2017 at 9:12 pm
enuf with lime green for heavens sake.
rebfan73
May 3, 2017 at 7:38 am
Agreed. When Nike got out of the club game, I was like “YES! No more Volt!” Then TaylorMade and Callaway took up Nike’s slack…….and it’s ALL downhill from there.
karansivi
May 2, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Remind me of Nickent irons lol
rebfan73
May 3, 2017 at 7:38 am
+1
chinchbugs
May 2, 2017 at 9:49 am
Can you say Fusion irons with new decal/badges….
H
May 2, 2017 at 3:08 am
Geez Callaway, that was subtle
thrag
May 2, 2017 at 12:30 am
I wish Calloway would go all the way and reintroduce the old Hogan Apex Edge Pro. Specs similar to Apex Pro, however, Edge is more is a middle (10-15) handicapper than a better players club like the Apex Pro. Longer toe to heel, thicker top line and slightly larger sole make it easier to hit.
H
May 2, 2017 at 3:09 am
Isn’t that what the Apex CF is? duh
Me
May 1, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Where are the Nancies bitchin about too short of product life cycles. This company now is king of new product every 6 months. The steelhead was more or less just a rebadging of a similar iron 15-20 years ago ( x-14 x16 etc). Jailbreak is laughable as a technology even the designers admit it was necessary to support the crown and body of the club with basically stringers. These pillars hold the club together.
if it was anything but that why isn’t in their fairways and hybrids, see what I mean hype. They’re now showing up on the used rack.
Epic irons where is the jailbreak?
D. Vader
May 2, 2017 at 8:49 am
It’s not taylormade, so they don’t care.
lco21
May 2, 2017 at 9:08 am
Hey! Stop with spewing the truth! We can’t handle that here and Callaway is everyone’s favorite OEM right now!
H
May 2, 2017 at 11:35 am
Not to mention the fact that it’s beyond the COR limit
DrB
May 3, 2017 at 11:38 am
COR is no longer an issue. CT is what matters.
H
May 3, 2017 at 11:55 am
Duh
alexdub
May 1, 2017 at 3:39 pm
These seem to be the obvious replacement to the XR/Pro irons that used the “facecup” technology. These Epics clearly have the facecup and the thicker top line which would support that. I think the Apex is a fantastic and successful line for Callaway, and there is no way they are getting rid of it. Pictures of new Apex MB irons (that Rory is using) have been all over the boards here and I’m sure we’ll also see those rolled out sometime this Summer/Fall.
golfraven
May 1, 2017 at 1:45 pm
So essentially those are the new APEX. Looks like that with Ben Hogan going out of business (again) the name (APEX) is also fading into the background. Just my suspicion.
Terry
May 1, 2017 at 2:50 pm
There are not replacing the Apex. And there is no relation to the rebooted Ben Hogan company.
hb
May 1, 2017 at 3:12 pm
They sold the Ben Hogan brand but kept the Apex name. Indeed I don’t see EPIC irons being a replacement of Apex series.
Minnesota golfer
May 1, 2017 at 1:43 pm
In 2014, callaway XR driver was new and great, XR wood and hybrids were new and great, XR irons were new but were mediocre game improvement irons. Is history repeating now in 2017?
setter02
May 3, 2017 at 11:23 pm
History has been repeating it self in the golf industry for many years.