Equipment

What make cult golf clubs so great?

Published

5 years ago

Mar 7, 2019

As golf equipment nerds, myself included, it’s always fun to have the great debates like what is the “best ________ ever made?” This could be a putter, wedges, irons, bag, fairway woods (a highly contested one), or a driver.

But what really makes these clubs “the best”? Why do we love them, and what gives them their cult followings? Beyond the emotional connection, what are the factors or technology actually makes these clubs so great?

One of the key ingredients to the “cult” club is when they were released and how technology advanced during that time. Think of the first time you saw or heard someone hit a Titleist 983K; it looked massive, but combined with the modern golf ball, it was considered a game changer for both the tour pro and amateur alike. The shape, the sound, the jump in technology — all of these lead to it being one of the most popular drivers ever made from Titleist and it was produced back in 2005.

I want this to be an ongoing discussion, but to start, let’s break down three of the most famous cult clubs of the last 20 years.

TaylorMade V-Steel fairway woods

Released in the early 2000s, this club was everywhere! It could be found on the PGA Tour — in TaylorMade and non-TaylorMade staffers bags alike (I’m sure it helps that TM was spending big money on Tour during this period), but as a kid who was working big box golf retail, at the time, these were hot. Speaking of Tour, TaylorMade had at least three options available for Tour: standard paint break, the HFS (happy face steel — named for its very rounded sole and leading edge), and the VS II.

From a retail perspective what made this club great was a number of factors

It was introduced in an era when you could still buy a fairway wood with either steel or graphite shafts, I remember that it was usually $25-$30 extra for the graphite. This gave a lot of options to a big variety of players that wanted new tech and for the hold outs that still wanted steel. This helped with mass appeal.
The shape: It’s a simple thing but very important. The V-Steel had a small rounded profile that better players loved, while it was still shallow enough that average players could hit off of the deck. The shape of the sole was also vital for turf interaction and when you combine the sole and the profile together it made the 5 and 7-woods a delight to hit out of the rough.
We can’t underestimate the value of the glued hosel. The first adjustable fairway (by my recollection and research) was the R9, and compared to drivers during the same time period, fairway woods never saw that same advancement in technology and ball speed. This resulted in players keeping these for a long period of time and so began their reign as a cult favorite.

Even up until three years ago, one of the best scratch players I knew still had one of these 4-woods in the bag. He used it like a 5-wood because it didn’t quite have the “pop” like the new stuff, but you knew when he pulled it out it was going to be good. The exact purpose of the go-to fairway wood.

The original ad was another beauty of the era

Ping Eye 2+ wedges

The Updated XG version had all the same design advantages

Going all the way back to 1982, Ping Eye 2s were a complete game changer. Karsten Solheim started with investment casting and was the very first to bring that method of manufacturing to the golf industry. Speaking to the longevity of the design, you can still buy the modern version of the Ping design with the Glide 2.0 ES wedges, not to mention other homages to the design in the Callaway PM, the TaylorMade High Toe, and the loved-or-loathed (I LOVED IT !) Nike Toe Sweep. So, what makes it work so well?

The offset and hosel design: Although it looks like it has a bunch of offset, if you look at the shaft to leading edge relationship its only about half a shaft. When you look at where the hosel enters the head it enters at the face and does not flow directly into the leading edge, add that to the to thin heel dimensions and when you open the face, the bounce moves back from the shaft, and it makes it easy to get through the turf without digging.
The face shape: One word BIG…big and beautiful. The High Toe (wink wink) allowed for more face to be exposed when you opened it. This, combined with the mass from the perimeter weighting, made it way more forgiving when you hit it high on the face — a common occurrence when you open it up…so let’s talk about opening that face and what happens to the bottom of the club.
The sole design: Taking queues from the original Wilson R90 (we’re going deep for this one) the sole is extremely rounded heel to toe but pre-worn in the middle with a touch of concave, TaylorMade ATV sole anyone? Add that rounded heel toe to the offset and what you get is a lot of bounce exposed away from the hosel and where the club initially enters the rough or sand and you have MAGIC!

The bounce moving back as you open the face – brilliant design

Mizuno MP-33 irons

Could we call these “the blades to end all blades?” Maybe, maybe not — that’s up for debate, which is what makes this game so much fun. BUT if you paid any attention to the tour before tee up money became a big thing, these were the irons that took Mizuno to the top. A simple muscleback design and subdued branding, these are the definition of “clean.” But what really makes them work:

The classic shaping and clean lines made these a favorite. We can’t underestimate the fact that when these were introduced there was a big transition occurring on Tour, and it was also around the time Tommy Armour 845s were introduced, and along with Ping, you were starting to see more cavity back irons show up in the bags of the world’s best.
The 33 was considered a fairly easy to hit blade compared to the iron it replaced in the MP-14. With this “easy to hit” factor, players that were on the fence for blades move into them easier. Everyone remembers their first blade!
Grain Flow Forged – Oh yes! This patented process of keeping the initial piece of raw steel in a solid yet very hot form during the entire process created unmatched feel and essentially coined the “Mizuno feel” identity.

This is just the beginning of this series looking back on classic cult clubs. Please use the comment section or add your favorites to the thread: Talking Cult Classic Clubs. Hopefully, I can break down the most popular models from a historical technology standpoint, and we can have a fun discussion!

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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.

46 Comments

CJ Werley

Apr 12, 2019 at 3:26 am

This topic cannot be discussed without mentioning the King Cobra 14* 3-Wood. IMO that was one of the hottest wood around in the mid-90s.

There was no more popular club in the early 90s than the TaylorMade Burner Plus 9.5* (“Tour Preferred”), which arguably moved the dial more than any driver up until the Great Big Bertha.

The 975D driver and their shortlived 681 irons were Titleist’s crème de la crème designs. The fact they rolled out during the same timeframe is no coincidence (google Terry McCabe).

Also, though not a club, per the definition; “one of the key ingredients to the “cult” is when they were released and how technology advanced during that time,” I believe there’s a strong argument for FJ DryJoys to be included in this mix. Up until that point, golf shoes were either garbage (Mizuno shoes lasted a week) or $500.

NOT ON THIS LIST:

Cleveland VAS 972s
Ping Zing 2s
The Bubble
The Bubble Grip
The Bubble Headcover

Reply Report comment
Dustin

Mar 21, 2019 at 1:13 pm

Tommy Armour 845’s.
Callaway Warbird S2H2’s.
The original GBB.
The Zebra Putter.
The Odyssey 2-ball.

Reply Report comment
G March

Mar 20, 2019 at 10:53 pm

I have to admit that I am biased. I have a set of MP33’s and while the “best” I always debatable, I’m happy to see that you chose those as the “the blades”.

Reply Report comment
Ken

Mar 18, 2019 at 10:07 pm

OMG, how could you miss the GBB driver? I was a marshal on the 18th tee box at Dye’s Valley Course during a Senior Tour Pro Am NFL event, when Jim Dent pulled it out, something from outer space. He bombed one down the fairway, then I asked him what the heck was that club? He handed me the club, I made a few practice swings then he handed me a ball to tee up. I swatted it long and straight, thanked him and told him I loved it. The next day I had a new Great Big Bertha in my bag and probably helped sell 200 of them at my club.

Reply Report comment
Joe Taylor

Mar 17, 2019 at 4:59 pm

I have nearly worn the “S” off my old Ping sw.

Reply Report comment
- Michael Cooper
  
  Mar 24, 2019 at 11:33 pm
  
  Hey Joe. Have to ask since the guy I most associate with Ping irons was named Joe Taylor – from Burroughs/Burbank golf team days…is that you? Joe was the best high school golfer I ever knew.
  
  For the rest, I use Ping Zing Beryllium irons still today a couple times a week.
  
  Reply Report comment
Frank

Mar 16, 2019 at 8:55 am

Now approaching my 80th birthday I have gone retro. Ping Eye 2+ wedges with new shafts and grips. Goes nicely with my Ping B60 putter except when the putter misbehaves then out comes my Rossie putter. Sometimes putters need a timeout.

Reply Report comment
- JAMES Walter
  
  Mar 29, 2019 at 5:49 pm
  
  I watched JNicklas use the blade TArmour…so I did for forty years, then some crud stole my 1966 staff irons and a1940ish Sandy Andy wedge. I’m 75 now and have shot my age with some used twenty-year old Rams like TWatson used a beat up rocketbalz driver and cobra seven metal and 13 degee metal at my 6200 yard coarse, I play the blues(I still feel like I can) I’d like to thank the thief.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve Meek

Mar 9, 2019 at 12:39 am

Anyone remember Sonartec Fairway woods and hybrids. They were fantastic clubs, really easy to hit, and really long in their day. Interesting story as well, look up Peter Pocklington (Edmonton Oilers owner)

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Mar 9, 2019 at 9:21 pm
  
  Seems like trouble followed Peter wherever he went.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Vansmack73
  
  Mar 14, 2019 at 12:24 am
  
  I loved mp 33 and still have a set. But remember mp9 and mp 7. Both were sweet with more offset that makes today’s blades look onset
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike

Mar 8, 2019 at 9:46 pm

Ping Eye 2 3-wood. Most accurate club I’ve ever used to this day, shot mid 70’s in high school w it in early 90’s, ZZ Lite shaft, exceptional performers.

Reply Report comment
golf-doug

Mar 8, 2019 at 1:56 pm

who can forget the Pittsburg persimeon spoon (2-1/2) fairway metalwood and the trusty Hogan sand wedge with the huge bounce…..wow

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Mar 8, 2019 at 9:47 pm
  
  Or the Cleek!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Don
  
  Mar 17, 2019 at 7:29 pm
  
  I still use the Hogan Sure Out sand wedge with the monster bounce….cuts through anything and feels better than any other SW I’ve ever hit. I also use the VSteel 3 and 5 woods….bought a backup set a few years ago before they disappeared entirely. And as I type this I feel like an old geezer!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Michael Alonso

Mar 8, 2019 at 1:07 pm

While I’ve tried a few different fairway woods, I keep going back to my V Steel 3w. It’s the most consistent club in my bag.

Reply Report comment
Tom54

Mar 8, 2019 at 1:01 pm

Mizuno mp 29s were an awesome iron too. One of the best blades ever.Also the biggest big bertha driver was great too.So many great clubs were made back in the days. Remember back then,whatever was out was considered the best that was offered. That is today’s claim as well. Only time will tell as to which clubs today will be tomorrow’s must have collectibles. Would like to know from readers what club that is recently out do they think will still be in their bag 5-6 years from now. For me,it’s the putters that you latch on to that you always come back to. I agree with Robert about the old Wilson 8802 and Arnold Palmer cause I have em both. Something very nostalgic about bringing those out every once in a while.

Reply Report comment
dtrain

Mar 8, 2019 at 12:56 pm

Early Ping Putters, manganese bronze specifically.
Cleveland 588 wedges
MacGregor VIP irons were this way for many years.
Wilson R90 SW as well.

Reply Report comment
Ken s

Mar 8, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Another reason irons ( such as eye two ) were great is because this was just before golf companies made the lofts less and less and the length of clubs longer and longer. This wS the worst thing to happen to all recreational golfers! They did this so the golfer hits his 8 iron longer as well has other irons. A big mistake! No wonder so many golfers loved those ping eye 2. If many still had them I bet they would be scoring better then today’s irons .

Reply Report comment
- OM18V
  
  Mar 8, 2019 at 10:11 pm
  
  Old guy started with eye 2 a few years ago. Callaway XR OS improved my scores.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Andrew
  
  Mar 11, 2019 at 6:30 pm
  
  And here comes “that guy”, completely oblivious/ignorant to the science behind why they’ve changed the lofts. Those darn whippersnappers would birdie every hole if they went back to persimmons with hickory shafts.
  
  Reply Report comment
Back in my day

Mar 8, 2019 at 10:52 am

Titleist 905R reigned supreme. Forgiving (460). Long (max C.O.R.). Accurate (bore-thru design). Anti-Left (flat lie angle, neutral weighting). Looks (sexy, clean classic pear shape). Sound (solid, dynamic crack) Value (great shaft options– V2,NV,Speeder,Ys-6+)

Honestly I could play it today and still hit bombs.

Reply Report comment
- Ken
  
  Mar 18, 2019 at 10:18 pm
  
  Have one in the garage. Got me thinking? Will go to the range and test it against my M2
  
  Reply Report comment
- MBU
  
  Apr 1, 2019 at 4:28 am
  
  I have a 905S, (400cc) in my bag permanently. Ive been through most of the newer drivers, but I hit this better and sweeter than any of them. It has a 77g Speeder shaft…
  Some of it is down to loving the look of the head, but really, ive complete trust in it, and middle for middle it is the same length as the newer ones i had, AND i hit it out of the middle much more often.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Anton
  
  Apr 8, 2019 at 7:29 pm
  
  Still play this with original diamana Blueboard 83. Cannot find a better driver.
  
  Reply Report comment
marty

Mar 7, 2019 at 8:17 pm

Srixon i302 irons, forged, feel like butta, rifled shafts. Brilliant

Reply Report comment
M

Mar 7, 2019 at 6:38 pm

If Mizuno re-released the 33’s I’d buy them in a heartbeat.

Reply Report comment
Mike

Mar 7, 2019 at 4:57 pm

I found MP 33’s at local box store in good to very good condition, original grips and all, all standard specs, all for $99! And yes, I grabbed them immediately.
On that note, the Bridgestone J33 blades are NICER!!!!!!!

Reply Report comment
- Mizzyman
  
  Mar 7, 2019 at 5:24 pm
  
  Yea but MP-33 are conforming to 2010 grooves rules but J33 are not!
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeff Young

Mar 7, 2019 at 2:49 pm

I have the long wedge and still take it out for a spin
The “33” are the grail of amazing irons. To pretty to hit
I would like to add the titleist 975d driver and woods to the list.
FW came in steel

Reply Report comment
Bret Rogerson

Mar 7, 2019 at 2:38 pm

What make writer check spelling of title?

Reply Report comment
Mather Hewison

Mar 7, 2019 at 11:31 am

I have powerbuilt tps irons from 1986 have tried everything made since and they are still the best irons i have ever had and started playing golf in 1964. I used to play wilson staff for years and loved them. But its not the clubs its the guy swinging them.

Reply Report comment
Golf Legend

Mar 7, 2019 at 11:12 am

I have Ben Hogan Edge CFT irons and Ben Hogan CFT 3h and 2h all reshafted with Project X flighted 6.0 steel and Golf Pride GP2 grips.
Winning bets against dudes with new $1000.00+ iron sets.
Ben Hogan spirit baby!!!
Golf Legend Out!!

Reply Report comment
- Mizzyman
  
  Mar 7, 2019 at 5:22 pm
  
  Yea but MP-33 are conforming to 2010 grooves rules but J33 are not!
  
  Reply Report comment
- david chilman
  
  Mar 8, 2019 at 12:54 pm
  
  I am still playing 1956 Hogan’s with dynamic gold shafts . Great heads, and the 8 iron had not been changed as later. Given to me by pro playing Hogan irons in development. Before marketing. He was using Izet woods, as did Hogan I think. One of the real classics along with McGregor.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Ken
  
  Mar 18, 2019 at 10:29 pm
  
  Good call on the re-shaft. I went to a club fitter and found my stiff shafts were senior fle on my Edge irons, they we far out of spec. Re-shafted them and became the 1993 club champ at my club
  
  Reply Report comment
TheBrad

Mar 7, 2019 at 11:05 am

Don’t forget the original Ping Anser 2. You can buy them used for around $30 or $40 and they’re still incredible.

Reply Report comment
- Kelly Fitzgerald
  
  Mar 7, 2019 at 12:41 pm
  
  I have a ping cushin I bout in 1976 and still use it to this day. Love it
  
  Reply Report comment
Robert

Mar 7, 2019 at 10:41 am

Wilson blade putters – the 8802 and the Arnold Palmer (originals – not copies).

Reply Report comment
Eric Larson

Mar 7, 2019 at 10:23 am

Titleist 975d a lot of people were using it. It was the best looking driver to date and was deep off of the tee.

Reply Report comment
Lynn J Osburn

Mar 7, 2019 at 9:30 am

The beryllium pings we’re a brake through also. I play isi beryllium with Graphite shafts, ez on the hands and very forgiving.

Reply Report comment
- Kevin Link
  
  Mar 7, 2019 at 11:26 am
  
  The beryliium Pings were in the bag of the best amatuer in my hometown. He was unbeatable and hit a repeatable high soft fade with them. Awesome sticks….
  
  Reply Report comment
Woody

Mar 7, 2019 at 8:33 am

You are missing Ping putters. They revolutionize putting and their designs are used by every manufacturer. Also, Callaway big Bertha irons, first cast irons I do believe.

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Mar 7, 2019 at 10:16 am
  
  Cast irons were around long before the Big Bertha. Karsten was casting Ping irons in 1968, and I don’t know for sure if they were the very first.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Steve P
    
    Mar 12, 2019 at 11:50 am
    
    I believe Confidence Golf was the first to make a cast iron.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Larry Eveler
  
  Mar 8, 2019 at 10:03 am
  
  Thank you. I was wondering why Callaway wasn’t mentioned. Big Bertha War Bird woods ruled for a long time. I liked them much better than Talormade.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

4 hours 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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