Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau testing an unreleased Ping Forged iron
Tony Finau was spotted at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills testing an unreleased, unknown Ping utility iron.
What is the iron? If you check out this GolfWRX forum thread, members are saying its Ping’s new i500 iron, which is unconfirmed and strictly rumor.
What do we know about the iron? Nothing, aside from what we can see in the photos. They’re forged, they have a section in the toe that’s been milled out, and there’s a screw in the toe, likely showing that it has a hollow body construction, ala the Ping G700.
We’ll update you with more information as soon it becomes available. Until then, enjoy the images below.
Check out more photos of the Ping iron, and join the discussion/speculation here.
Check out more photos of the Ping iron, and join the discussion/speculation here.
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Whats in the Bag
Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)
- Chesson Hadley what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)
Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5
- The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!
3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X
Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
View this post on Instagram
I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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Tommy
Jul 1, 2018 at 12:49 am
If this one is a hit and they take lots of business away from the P790/0311T/TMB, we’ll then be able to know that golfers buy clubs based on their looks….but we already know that, and this is one GREAT looking club for a GI design. Best ever, by a mile. If it performs, it’ll be in a lot of bags.
MD
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:37 am
Thank goodness they have a look better players wont mind gaming. The G700’s look like bazookas
HDTVMAN
Jun 13, 2018 at 9:35 pm
My G700’s are incredible. Two guy’s in my group today want me to fit them to a set. Long, high flying, and forgiving.
Jay
Jun 13, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Those look sweet. I already have them though, mine just have p790 on them. Maybe that is the part that was removed from the face.
Matt
Jun 13, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Are yours forged and come with a 3iron
Doug
Jun 13, 2018 at 11:26 am
It is the PING I500. It follows the industry trend being a distance iron with jacked up lofts.
The I210 and I500 are supposed to be out in July.
gif
Jun 13, 2018 at 1:07 am
Orgamsic feeel jello-filled hollow irons… only for frustrated gearheadbaters.
Travis
Jun 12, 2018 at 7:05 pm
That offset though…
Geohogan
Jun 12, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Agree, too much offset. Otherwise reminds of TMB 716, with tungsten weights and bore thru tapered shaft plug, that can be drilled out and more weight can be added. TMB is a very neat design IMO, too bad that technology makes them so expensive.
Tim Armington
Jun 13, 2018 at 3:03 am
You are joking when you say too much offset arent you?
Geohogan
Jun 13, 2018 at 5:39 pm
No joking. If leading edge isnt in line with the left side of the shaft, its too much offset.
Geohogan
Jun 13, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Ben Hogan called it onset.
Painter33
Jun 14, 2018 at 8:28 am
Agree; however, I’ll reserve that judgement until I see the specs. Maybe the long irons have much more offset than the mid and short irons, per usual. I’ll compare them to my S55s that I’m loving.
DL
Jun 12, 2018 at 6:22 pm
It’s the new i500 and its amazing. I’ve hit it and can confirm it’s really good.
The dude
Jun 12, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Fake forge……….oh wait, I already said that.
Billymo
Jun 12, 2018 at 6:29 pm
What?
The Dude
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Fake forge……
John
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:27 pm
Could be a masked PXG due to his contract..
Wslice
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Except for the the PING stamp on the hosel.
Ryan
Jun 12, 2018 at 3:36 pm
And different screw type, and ping lettering for the 3.