Equipment
Spotted: A new Odyssey “Stroke Lab Three” prototype putter
Correction: This story originally reported this putter was in Patrick Reed’s bag. After further investigation, it was not.
Spotted at the 2018 Tour Championship at East Lake was an Odyssey Stroke Lab Three prototype putter. The putter appears to have a milled head and Odyssey’s familiar White Hot Microhinge face insert.
Stroke Lab may be a familiar name for some who know the Stroke Lab putters from around 2017. Mostly only available in the Japan Domestic Market (JDM), the Stroke Lab putters weighed heavier in the head — about 15 grams — and lighter in the shaft (about 29 grams), according to descriptions from True Spec Golf.
Is this a sign of things to come from Odyssey, or just a one-off? It would seem given the familiar name that it’s more the former than the latter, but only time will tell. What do you think about the Stroke Lab Three putter? Do you think it will be available in America at some point?
- LIKE276
- LEGIT28
- WOW16
- LOL10
- IDHT6
- FLOP10
- OB5
- SHANK60
Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
- LIKE25
- LEGIT2
- WOW1
- LOL4
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB3
- SHANK2
Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
- LIKE24
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB1
- SHANK3
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty
Barry Boyd
Oct 7, 2018 at 5:32 pm
There hasn’t been a putter made in the last 25 years that I’ve found that gives you a real “pop” at impact…you want some “pop”, pick up a used Cleveland Ken Giannini putter. Wouldn’t trade mine for the world.
TM
Oct 5, 2018 at 2:38 pm
What’s with the TM driver colorway?
Walt Pendleton
Sep 21, 2018 at 11:14 am
Putters with softer insert can be taken too far causing a player to loose feel on longer putts. For me these softer inserts are harder to match ball speed with alignment on putts running over 10 on the stimp. Secondly, I don’t like the “dead hit” feeling at impact…it makes me feel like I missed the sweet spot on the putt, reducing feedback and therefore control on ball speed around the cup. Give me feel at impact thank you!
Tom54
Sep 19, 2018 at 5:51 pm
I have a #7 odyssey with the micro hinge insert and I was wondering if anyone other than myself thinks it’s almost too soft. Most of the time it seems like I have to hit it harder. It’s definitely a soft feel. I definitely like the grey/black color scheme
Tucsonsean
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Ping gets ripped off again–it looks like the old Ping Specify putter from the last decade, except with a few too many ‘bells and whistles.’
NormW
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Putter reviews should always include a view of the top of the putter. That’s what you see when you use it.
adan
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Looks like my #6 Odyssey with a different paint job. Not crazy about inserts. Prefer milled face.
rolf
Sep 18, 2018 at 11:51 pm
Odyssey Stroke Lab Three Putt putters?
D Mack
Sep 18, 2018 at 8:46 pm
This micro hinge insert is much better feeling than the original version. Glad to see it in different head selections. Could be good.
Tom
Sep 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm
WOW!!! so different from anything else ever introduced, amazing!!!
gunmetal
Sep 18, 2018 at 8:46 am
Liked it until I saw the face.
uhgolfguy1
Sep 17, 2018 at 10:52 pm
Oh how the Ping Anser 4 has evolved over the decades. Lots of new bells and whistles but still the classic anser head shape.
Bart Broesamle
Sep 18, 2018 at 3:04 pm
The same old comment.Every blade style heal/toe weighted putter from hear to eternity will be a copy of a Ping.So,should we all get rid of our other putters and just play Ping because they were the first. That means all football players should go back to leather helments and we should go back to crank telephones.
Tucsonsean
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Sounds like someone who paid too much for a Scotty Cameron.
Barkley Charles
Sep 17, 2018 at 10:18 pm
I hope so! I like what I see.
xox
Sep 18, 2018 at 2:39 pm
This has got to be the stupidest putter design with it’s silly face that tries to ‘hinge’ on to the ball. It should be banned from golf.
gunmetal
Sep 27, 2018 at 12:28 am
It’s just marketing fluff man. Don’t get too hot over it.