Equipment

Magna is back and bringing oversized with it!

Published

5 years ago

Feb 9, 2019

Are you a hardcore golfer looking for multi-piece ball offering tour-level distance and spin around the greens? Well this ball isn’t for YOU, and thats ok.

BUT…

If you’re a casual, fair-weather, lower-swing-speed, higher-handicap, out-for-some-fun kind of golfer, who is looking to hit more fairways, and greens, or if you want something that feels nice and soft, along with being a great value from a premium ball company…

Callaway might have just created your new favorite ball: the Callaway Supersoft Magna!

Many people might remember the Magna name thank to TopFlite, but other than sharing a name (Callaway purchased TopFlite and Spalding brands years ago) this Magna is a whole new beast.

Built from the ground up, utilizing technology and materials from the SuperSoft line, the New Magna is soft-feeling, low-compression, low-spin, two-piece ball thats easier to get airborne, thanks to its large size (1.72″ vs a standard 1.68″) and higher center of gravity.

Similar to the way more people get enjoyment playing softball than “hardball” baseball, since that larger ball instills a bit more confidence to make contact, has a higher moment of inertia, and is inherently easier to hit.

BUT a larger ball means it’s worse in the wind right?

Callaway looked to solve that problem by re-engineering the Magna’s HEX Aerodynamics cover design, to help eliminate the extra drag created by the larger surface. They by no means claim that it has the wind piercing capabilities of a ChromeSoft, but the “Magna Player” should actually seeing improved distance thanks to the lower spin and straighter flight.

Available in both white and yellow (sorry, no Truvis yet) the Magna comes in at a very reasonable $22.99 a dozen, and could be a big (shall we say, “oversized”) hit (couldn’t resist) with the target golfer.

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Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

32 Comments

Magna Watcher

Feb 17, 2019 at 7:10 am

Anyone play these yet? Are they easier to hit?

Reply Report comment
Safe Hans

Feb 12, 2019 at 7:56 am

How can a sphere have a higher centre of gravity??

Reply Report comment
Steve Cantwell

Feb 11, 2019 at 4:28 pm

Being a traditionalist, I don’t much care for the idea of a larger golf ball. However, being a realist, this seems like a pretty good idea. It’s not as if another player is taking money out of my pocket.

Reply Report comment
Joey5Picks

Feb 11, 2019 at 12:18 am

“…easier to get airborne, thanks to its large size (1.72? vs a standard 1.68?) and higher center of gravity.”

So the center of gravity is .02″ higher (half the difference in the diameter, about 1/2mm)? I don’t see how that will make it easier to get airborne.

Reply Report comment
- joe
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 7:27 pm
  
  golf is a game of 0.inches!
  
  Reply Report comment
George Bush 3

Feb 10, 2019 at 9:51 pm

I really do not like black people.

Reply Report comment
Shank Haney

Feb 10, 2019 at 8:37 pm

My hosels will be definitely be seeing more action.

Reply Report comment
Brad

Feb 10, 2019 at 7:59 pm

This ball won’t go as far as a traditional ball for a decent player, nor would it give any advantages to them whatsoever. On the other hand, it would be easier for Junior or beginning player to hit and get in the air, making it a little less likely they would quit the game out of frustration.

How about the whiners keep playing their balata ball, 1950’s irons and persimmon woods and let the rest enjoy the game. Oh, wait I’ll bet none of the whiners have ANY problem using a 460cc titanium driver, super-juiced irons, and a super-low spin ball to make the game easier for them to play…so never mind.

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Bruce

Feb 10, 2019 at 7:14 pm

I bought some yesterday and I’m excited about trying them whenever the weather clears up. They’re noticeably bigger even my girlfriend that doesn’t play could tell they were much larger than a typical golf ball. When I addressed the ball with a wedge it just gave you confidence. I’m only worried that you might loose some distance cause they also feel much lighter than a standard ball. I can see how hitting a fairway wood off the deck would give you huge benefits it’s almost as the ball is teed up.

Reply Report comment
- john
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 11:44 am
  
  I’m opposed to these. I get a lot of free beers betting that I can get four golf balls in my mouth at one time. I’ll only be able to manage three with these even with my teeth out.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Charlie
    
    Feb 11, 2019 at 12:41 pm
    
    Tears are pouring down my face from laughing at this too hard.
    
    Reply Report comment
Wes B

Feb 10, 2019 at 6:57 pm

I think this is awesome. I’ll use these to help my little brother gain some confidence hitting the ball!! I’m not switching from my TP5X anytime soon but they might be fun to mess around with. Really good for the game here.

Reply Report comment
Seth Riser

Feb 10, 2019 at 6:30 pm

Wow. Congrats Callaway. You just dumbed down golf.

Reply Report comment
- Craig
  
  Feb 12, 2019 at 5:27 am
  
  That’s what they have been doing since the original Big Bertha.
  
  Reply Report comment
Simms

Feb 10, 2019 at 2:23 pm

Anything golf companies can do to help speed/enjoyment of the game is super important…here in California we have golf courses closing all the time because of lack of play and cost of maintenance. And the courses still open are being held on by the play of senior golfers during the week…so anything to improve their enjoyment is a must,

Reply Report comment
- Jim Garner
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 1:07 pm
  
  I thought CA was closing them down to make homeless shelters for illegals.
  
  Reply Report comment
Magna

Feb 10, 2019 at 2:22 pm

It’s easier to find!

Reply Report comment
Chip

Feb 10, 2019 at 2:07 pm

Where the USGA/RA at on this?

Reply Report comment
- USGA/RA
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 7:21 pm
  
  1.68″ is the minimum size of a golf ball. There is no maximum.
  
  Reply Report comment
Joseph D

Feb 10, 2019 at 1:41 pm

Oh so, 460 cc drivers and oversized putting grips are ok?

Reply Report comment
- Joey5Picks
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 11:43 pm
  
  Yes
  
  Reply Report comment
Sandhills Golf

Feb 10, 2019 at 1:38 pm

What’s the big deal? If it makes a few sr’s, jr’s and lady golfers enjoy the game more or keep up better? Why not? Lot’s of baseball players use aluminum bats. I suspect with it’s intro the haters came out at that time as well.

Reply Report comment
- Adam
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 9:42 am
  
  I wish there was a way to upvote this comment! 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
- Mark
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 1:04 pm
  
  Thank you Sandhills Golf!
  
  Reply Report comment
Bob

Feb 10, 2019 at 9:05 am

Why dont we just use rubber balls so we can all hit it 400 yards and just putt .think of the money we could save on irons . Lets get real about the game .

Reply Report comment
- JP
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 1:15 pm
  
  In what way does this ball hurt the game? It’s tailored to a small minority that can’t hit it very far either way, so where do you see the problem?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Funkaholic
  
  Feb 11, 2019 at 12:19 pm
  
  If they aren’t competing with you, why do you get your panties in a wad over how another person chooses to enjoy the game?
  
  Reply Report comment
X

Feb 10, 2019 at 2:35 am

So sad.
Everybody wants to play away from the rules. And we’re selling them the drugs to fuel it.
And they wonder why there is rampant bad behavior all over the game

Reply Report comment
- scratchgolfer48069
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 5:40 am
  
  Unless something changed this year, the rules govern a minimum size and maximum weight, so I don’t think the stretches or breaks any rules.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rich Douglas
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 11:10 am
  
  The ball breaks no rules. The rules say how SMALL the ball can be, not how large. They also dictate how heavy the ball can be, but not how light.
  
  This ball conforms.
  
  Reply Report comment
- USGA/RA
  
  Feb 10, 2019 at 7:22 pm
  
  So sad.
  Everybody wants to whinge about the rules, but yet doesn’t know them.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Johnno
    
    Feb 11, 2019 at 7:19 am
    
    Agreed
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

6 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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