Equipment

WRX Spotlight: 2019 Ping Hoofer Series golf bags

Published

5 years ago

Feb 8, 2019

I once told a joke to a Ping rep while at a demo day and it went along the lines of this: There are three things on this planet that will survive both an ice age and nuclear fallout: cockroaches, alligators, and an original Ping Hoofer bag.

It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but if there is one bag model that continues to push the boundaries or comfort, functionality, and durability, it’s the Ping Hoofer. It’s one of those things that if you take a moment to look up and down the range on any busy day in the middle of the summer you are almost guaranteed to spot.

The tradition of quality and functionality continues with Ping’s most recent lineup, including the 2019 Hoofer, a bag that has everything you would come to expect from Ping along with some interesting tweaks to the designs that once again show that the golf bag designers at Ping never stop trying to innovate. They have also gone above and beyond in offering some of their boldest color options to date including this “Multicam.”

One of the other highlights of the new design is the re-engineered strap system. It was always a point of contention for golfers when I used to work in big box golf retail many moons ago. The double strap system – essentially pioneered by Ping was made up of two completely separate straps that would cris-cross the golfer’s back to perfectly centre the mass of the bag, but because the straps were separate from each other many golfers not familiar with the system weren’t sure which one to grab first – leading to people choosing a different option. With the new strap connector, any possible confusion has been eliminated.

Another brilliant, although not completely new feature is hiding the rain hood in the hip/back pad on the bag — this is still a Ping exclusive in the industry and one of the absolutely smartest things I have ever seen when it comes to golf bag design.

Depending on the bag you pick in the Hoofer series, there are up to 12 pockets that do everything from holding your rangefinder to making sure you don’t lose your keys, all while being easy to access even on a cart. Speaking of carts, all versions of the bags easily sit on a standard pushcart or even fit easily on the back of a riding cart, because of the system used to optionally hold the legs in the closed position, and because of the squared-off shape of the bottom of the bag.

Whether it’s a full 14-way divided top Hoofer 14, or the more sleek and simplified Hoofer Lite, there is an option for any golfer looking for a new bag to carry or cart clubs around.

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Whats in the Bag

Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (April)

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 7, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Akshay Bhatia WITB accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)

3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X

More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.

Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees), Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X

Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split

Grips: Iomic

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.

More Akshay Bhatia WITBs

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Whats in the Bag

Michael S. Kim WITB 2024 (April)

Published

2 days ago

Apr 5, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Michael S. Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 8 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 95 X (3), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52-12F), SM10 (56-14F), WedgeWorks Proto (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

Putter: L.A.B. Link.1
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P 17

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

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Equipment

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper: Leveraging 90s nostalgia

Published

2 days ago

Apr 5, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

TaylorMade is leaning in even further to the retro vibes with the 2024 edition of its BRNR Mini Driver.

Patterned after the Carlsbad-based company’s iconic late 1990s Burner driver design, the 2024 BRNR Mini features similar copper styling and a retro version of the TaylorMade logo.

Featuring the same technology as its 2023 BRNR Mini Driver, the 2024 edition continues to play the hits that saw the unique club land in the bag of tour pros, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp.

Why play a mini driver?

In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.

Tommy Fleetwood’s endorsement of playing a mini driver

“For me, if I HAD to hit a fairway, I’m more comfortable hitting a driver than a 3-wood. I would tee the driver down, and I would hit a little cut, or a neck-y cut in the fairway. The 3-wood isn’t for that. The 3-wood, generally, is a pretty hot club that I’ll hit from 270 or 280 in the fairway on a par 5. You get some courses where a 3-wood is not always necessary. [With the BRNR] you put a normal swing on it, and I’m more comfortable hitting it straight. It’s a replacement for a 3-wood, basically.”

Pricing, specs, availability

TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper clubs will sell for $449.99 in 11.5 (RH/LH) and 13.5 (RH) degree options, and they will be available for custom orders.