Equipment
2018 GolfWRX Holiday Gift Guide
It’s that time of year again, GolfWRX members, the moment we start filling our wish lists with the golf gear we want this holiday season.
The GolfWRX Holiday Gift Guide was created to ensure that our readers give (and hopefully receive) the very best golf gifts on the planet. These gift ideas will suit any budget, and each item was hand-picked by our staff.
This year, we’re doing something a little different with the guide. Instead of having one writers contribute to the guide, we have three distinct voices to share their opinions.
Brian Knudson: Equipment Expert, Podcast Host
The RJCP Wedge Anvil Pro: $299
I love to stamp wedges. This anvil is machined from aluminum, can handle right or left handed heads, and has magnets to lock the wedge in place. This anvil also lets you more safely stamp parts of the wedge, like the sole!
Champ 3 Bulk Hotmelt Gun: $700
If you aren’t weighting your woods and some hybrids with hotmelt, then Santa is bringing you nothing but coal! The Champ 3 is the hotmelt gun that is on every tour truck out there each week. It will last forever and offers precise amounts to dial in the swingweight of most woods and hybrids. Add some bulk hotmelt and a 3″ nozzle to complete the kit and you are ready to go!
Vessel Custom Deluxe Staff Bag: $650
I love having golf stuff that is unique and a custom golf bag is right up my alley. I wanted mine to promote a certain podcast that I am a big fan of, cough…..Two Guys Talking Golf…cough. They offer the ability to get a golf bag in just about any color you could want and I can even spice it up with my name or a logo!
Club Conex Uni-Fit: $300 (5 head, 10 shaft adapters)
I try out WAY too many clubs and shafts each year and it is a pain pulling shafts and OEM adaptors. Club Conex Uni-Fit system would allow me to use a single adaptor every shaft, but also allowing it to work with any head! And the best part is the Uni-Fit system still provides all the adjustment of loft and lie the OEM adaptor has! Perfect for gearheads like me who head to the range with multiple shafts and heads.
BB&F Ferrules: $40
Boyd Blade & Ferrule Co. make some really beautiful custom ferrules to match any style. If you want to add a little flair to your next iron build you have to check out the color combinations they have available. And with clever names like “Tealy Dan,” “Grimace,” and “Turrible Ferrule,” it makes them that much more desirable. If I don’t find 2 sets of “Sante Fe” ferrules in my stocking I will be pretty sad.
Ben Alberstadt: Editor-in-chief
TecTecTec ULT-X laser rangefinder: $249.99
TecTecTec’s most advanced model to-date, the ULT-X, continues the company’s trend of affordable rangefinders. Distance measurement within 1/2 yard up to 600 yards (and within one yard up to 1,000 yards), vibration when locking onto the flag, the ULT-X has everything you want in a rangefinder for a great price.
Big Max DRI LITE G: $199
A water-resistant full-size stand bag that belies its capacity with a weight of less than 4 ½ lbs. A 14-way divider separates the 9” top giving plenty of room for a full set of clubs. Just a great all-around stand bag, and if you buy one this holiday season, Big Max will throw in an Aqua U.V. umbrella.
ECCO Men’s GOLF LUX: $300
A deviation from the sneaker-style shoes that are omnipresent on tour these days. High-quality leather upper and lining with a micro perforated interior for breathability. Proprietary Fluidform technology, and plenty of bells and whistles, yes, but just look at these things.
Sugarloaf Social Club/Mackenzie No. 4 Sunday Bag: $698
SSC + Mackenzie + Pinehurst yields this superb handcrafted golf bag. A singular Mack bag that dovetails perfectly with a historic golf spot.
Rocket Tour Headcovers: $39 – 43
Hand-crafted and finished personally by founder Helena Stanton in Boulder, CO., Rocket Tour headcovers offer the classic knit-style design that’s been popular for decades. The hybrid cover (pictured) is particularly cool.
Johnny Wunder: Director of Original Content
Bushnell Hybrid rangefinder: $399
The industry standard, Bushnell’s new Hybrid uses both laser and GPS for optimum precision.
Set of Artisan Golf wedges: Price varies
We’ve covered Artisan’s wares extensively, so you should be familiar with Mike Taylor and company’s work. A set of wedges from the Texas-based company is like fine jewelry for the golfer on your list.
True Knit x Linksoul shoes: $148
Limited edition kicks from True Linkswear in collaboration with Linksoul, these knit shoes are designed to be worn on course or off.
Malbon Golf Shinnecock Dancing Buckets Headcover: $135
Malbon’s 2018 U.S. Open-inspired headcovers are a riff on the traditional Malbon logo –and things of beauty.
FlightScope Mevo: $499
Five words. Portable. Personal. Affordable. Launch monitor. See our review here for more info.
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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.
View this post on Instagram
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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TONEY P
Dec 3, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Over priced junk.
Evan
Dec 1, 2018 at 12:07 am
Those bags better come with iron covers, a club cleaner, cigar holder and a stroke counter for those prices. ????
Tiger Noods
Nov 29, 2018 at 6:27 am
Portable
Personal
Affordable
Launch Monitor
Four words? That’s about all you need to know about this list.
No offence to the Mevo; it kicks arse.
shawn
Nov 29, 2018 at 12:43 am
…. Holly Sonders…. ??!!!! (priceless)