Most golfers understand shafts are designated by flex… but what is often misunderstood is how shaft flex relates to other factors not often discussed including weight and profile.
In the video, I break down some simple things to consider when its comes to steel shafts — flex, weight and bend profile — as well as why you might fit into a flex you weren’t expecting.
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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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- 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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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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Dave
Feb 25, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Hi Ryan,
I have been building and repairing clubs since the late 80s, while working at Kings Forest Golf Course. Over the years i have been fortunate enough to be educated by Tim Wishon, Oakville Golf staff… One question that i have for You is how much do you think playability is affected by putting a heavier midsize grip on a set of irons when they were originally built wuth standard size grips? Do you think i should tip weight heads to bring the swingweight up the 3 points or leave status quo? My friend is an excellent player at Heron Point and he said he did not notice the lower SW when i regripped with midsize grips.
Ryan Barath
Feb 27, 2018 at 9:12 am
Good Question Dave,
Some players will notice the counter balanced effect of the heavier grips while many will not. By adding back more weight to the head to get the swing weight back you will also soften the shafts a bit. The proof is always in the pudding, and in the case of the added weight to the butt end if the players likes the performance dont worry about swing weight.
Mario
Feb 14, 2018 at 1:53 pm
i partially disagree with what he said, for amateur golfers, weight is important to prevent injuries, few years ago with a new set of clubs, shaft 120g i got epicondylitis, in just two months, a fitter friend of mine told me to go for graphite, while another fitter told me to go for 80g steel, i follow the suggestion, and with the 80g i never got epicondylitis again
Dave
Feb 14, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Great video! Question maybe you can answer this one. I’m playing regular, KBS C-Taper lites… my ball flight is very high, would like to bring it down as I play in Florida wind.. swing speed is pretty average. Would you suggest moving to graphite stiff???? Thx
TONEY P
Feb 14, 2018 at 1:40 pm
No the graphite would give a higher flight,lite shafts help get the ball airborne easy. Try a standard weight.
Ryan Barath
Feb 27, 2018 at 9:14 am
The single biggest factor for ball flight is player dynamics. If the ball flight is too high maybe try bending your irons a bit strong first before trying a shaft change.
Best advice is to always see a fitter.
Gorden
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:28 pm
Reading about flex is one thing, best thing is to find a fitter or even a big store like PGA Superstore and just hit balls with different shafts in what ever head your interested in playing. Either work with scope or just your feelings and you will find some that feel right or feel completely wrong…you may be supersized how different shafts can feel/work for you….while playing the head you want to play…
Improving Golfer
Feb 12, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Great video! Could you do a video on CPM and how accurate shafts are in our clubs vs PROS clubs. More specifically, if you order a set of clubs from a major manufacturer, how accurate are the weight of club heads and weight and flex of shafts in what we have vs. what the pros have done. Some club fitters say they do a good job with quality control, others say its best to get CPM checked when clubs come in because a “stiff” shaft may be anywhere from 280 cpm to 305 cpm.
Joro
Feb 12, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Great information, something everyone leaves out when talking about flex. If a person wants a correct flex the weight has to be considered which is why Dyn. Gold had 5 flexes within a flex. The lightest of the dyn. golds were at 125 and the heaviest at 130 gr. which created different flex within a flex.