Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Best fairway woods of 2019?”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from pollock21, who opens the discussion concerning what are the best fairway woods of the latest releases. On the lookout for a new fairway wood, pollock21 asks for fellow members feedback on the new editions, and our members provide it in spades.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- chadly643: “I did some initial testing of all the main available options last weekend. They are all very close in terms of performance. Ballspeeds were all identical. Ping was definitely the highest flight. I disliked the Ping shape, however. Srixon was the best looking option and felt really good. The winner for me, however, was f9. Those rails really do offer something useful that the others don’t have. In all honesty, all the big manufacturers have a great option this year. You can’t make a mistake with any of them. It comes down purely to preference on looks and feel.”
- JustinM: “The epic flash SZ fairways are great. I replaced my PXGs for these both 15 and 18 degrees. The head is small, and the face is tall if that makes sense. I’ve tested them all and a clear winner.”
- Sh00terMcGavin: “I’m going to go with TEE CBX for best fairway. I will say that the Epic Flash sz does look mighty appealing to hit. Guys on TXG were raving about the ballspeeds it was producing for a fairway wood.”
- Honman: “I’ve hit most of this year’s fairways, flash sub zero was by far the best on ball speed, and I like the feel. PXG was a good number two. G410 felt the most forgiving by a long way, but I couldn’t control the spin, and they didn’t have the LST to try. I think that would be a good head for me. In a separate session, I’ve hit the ST190 and was putting a good flight on that, dialled down to 14 and really liked the feel. The TaylorMade fairways both want to go really high this year.”
Entire Thread: “Best fairway woods of 2019”
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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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Tom54
Mar 18, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Don’t know about most of the readers but the 3 wood is probably my least important club in my bag. Rarely hit it off the tee, cause if I need 3 wood distance I’ll choke down on a driver. Will try to reach par 5s if the distance is just right otherwise I’m laying up with an iron or a hybrid which are so much easier to hit than a 3 wood. Have a older model M2 3 wood which suits me just fine.
Jack Nash
Mar 20, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Got rid of my 3W and started using a 4W. Works out great. Easier to hit and same distant. More workable too.
John C.
Mar 18, 2019 at 1:31 pm
I tried all the big guys, Titleist, Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, Cobra, and PXG. It wasn’t even close, Callaway’s EpicFlashSZ fairway woods are crazy long. I was able to hit them high off the deck as well.
HDTVMAN
Mar 18, 2019 at 1:04 pm
I am so sick of “spin” it drives me crazy. Players, most have never had a sub 80 round, come into our store and hit ball after ball, standing there looking at the spin! Spin has it’s place, but it’s mostly created with your swing & ball contact, and it changes on every shot! When I was visiting a major manufacturer and learning about their new products in Carlsbad, their master fitter, who fits many of the pros, said just be concerned with distance and dispersion. “Don’t worry about spin”.
Timmer9
Mar 18, 2019 at 1:31 pm
When I got fitted last year, the spin numbers went in one ear and out the other. As a low ball hitter I wanted a higher trajectory and hopefully a little more distance. Mission accomplished!
Brad
Mar 17, 2019 at 6:15 pm
The Cobra F9 fairway wood is the best I’ve tested in a long, long time. Very impressive performance with fantastic sound and feel a well.