Equipment
Fling Golf: A new take on traditional golf (2019 PGA Show)
Welcome to Fling Golf, a cross between lacrosse and golf, which describes itself as “The Future Of The Fairway.” GolfWRX learned about this innovative take on our age-old game at the PGA Show’s Demo Day.
So, what the heck is Fling Golf? The game itself can be played on any golf course, but instead of hitting the golf ball with a traditional golf club, players use a “New Swarm FlingStick”, which you use to hurl the ball and shape every shot from tee to hole.
Before we go into the details on the FlingStick, let’s take a quick look at how Fling Golf works.
As previously noted, any golf course can be used to play the game, yet unlike traditional golf, there is no need for a cart, as one FlingStick is all you need. A standard golf ball is all that’s required to accompany the FlingStick, and concerning distance, according to the company, you’ll be knocking it out there 100 yards within five minutes of using your FlingStick, while with practice, 250+ yards is on the table.
Who knows, maybe in 20 years there’ll be a debate in Fling Golf over whether or not the ball needs to be rolled back.
@FlingGolf is different! What do you think? pic.twitter.com/rFnxKaWbxM
— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) January 22, 2019
A baseball grip to hurl your shots is recommended, as is taking a few steps (Think Happy Gilmore) to get the most out of your swing. The scoring system in FlingGolf is the same as traditional golf, while players receive a 1-stroke penalty if your ball lands in a bunker or water hazard, if it’s out-of-bounds, or if you lose it.
The FlingStick
The FlingStick features a grip and shaft much like a regular golf club. The difference is in the head, which features both “The Channel” and “The FlingNotch”.
The Channel is what you’ll be using from off the tee and for approach shots, while it’s also the area of the head that you use for touch shots around the green.
The FlingNotch is your trusty partner on the greens. With the ball in the notch on the side of the FlingStick head, you then push or pull the ball, depending on your preference, towards the hole.
There are three different FlingSticks currently on offer – The Launch, The Stinger and The Ballistick. Prices for the FlingStick’s range from $109-169 and are available to purchase at FlingGolf.com.
And if you’re wondering about the rules, well, refer to this handy guide.
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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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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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Nagah
Jan 25, 2019 at 1:10 am
Can you fling it 330 yards ?
Funkaholic
Jan 24, 2019 at 9:28 am
This is stupid, I hope it dies faster than disk golf
TONEY P
Jan 23, 2019 at 11:38 am
It’s a good idea, golf courses will benefit from New people being exposed to options of using facilities. And it will nice to have an option other than golf ?.
Steve Maultsby
Jan 23, 2019 at 10:11 am
Make shaft collapsible and longer— nice ball retriever !
daniel e bratlie
Jan 23, 2019 at 9:56 am
A course in the Lake Degray State park has had this for a few years. A great way to get new golfers into the sport, and get more revenue for courses. I played it and it was fun, but the better part is, I golfed while the wife and daughter played Fling golf along side me. That part is AMAZING. I can def see this picking up steam, if nothing more than the reasons I mentioned.
Blade Junkie
Jan 23, 2019 at 9:13 am
Hardly new … the YouTube channel for this has been live since 2014 …. and they have a grand total of 74 subscribers … LOL
Tom
Jan 23, 2019 at 12:15 am
Boy, those look great for flinging my dog’s poop over the fence…
Fergie
Jan 23, 2019 at 12:04 am
At least the rule book is easy to memorize.
Dumb ideas
Jan 22, 2019 at 10:46 pm
Get rid!
We already have Jai Alai.
Don’t need this
Cm
Jan 22, 2019 at 8:14 pm
Dumb da dumb dumb dumb
Cdub
Jan 22, 2019 at 7:57 pm
Never!! Horrid idea.
1
Jan 22, 2019 at 7:50 pm
NOPE!