Equipment

WRX Spotlight: Ping Moonlite

Published

5 years ago

May 16, 2019

Dear stand bag,

I love you, I really do. I appreciate all of your features; your wide top, 9 pockets, and your ability to so easily fit on a riding or push cart when needed. But sometimes I need a break, sometimes it feels like even after a whole day spent together we really didn’t get the opportunity to know each other. You do a great job carrying my clubs, but depending on the day & course some of those clubs didn’t even get to enjoy a single swing – they were literally just along for the ride. That’s why I want to let you know that we’re going to have to take a break once & a while, you know, for me to get back to my roots. Sorry stand, it’s not you, it’s me.

I just got a Ping Moonlite.

Dramatic, and silly? YES. Honest? You bet!

Weighing in at around two pounds with a double strap, and with enough room for 14 clubs, the Moonlite is a walker’s dream bag. Even at its small streamlined size, the Moonlite is no pushover — in fact, the main strap on the bag is designed to stand up and make it easier to pick it up and get back on your shoulder (Ping thinks of everything). Unlike many of the minimalist bags on the market Ping’s focus is on technology, problem solving, and ease of use – which is essentially their entire design ethos anyway. Everything you need and nothing to weigh it down.

Not to take away from other minimalist bags on the market but coming in at only $100 its also far and away the best value you’re going to find. Not to say other minimalist bags from specialty manufacturers don’t offer something both functional and unique – because they do! But it’s a bit like comparing a well designed extremely functional nylon backpack to a Gucci bag, they hold the same stuff but send two very different messages. When talking about function, features, technology, and value, the Ping is the king of that category — and it’s not even close.

Speaking to the features the MoonLite has a nice list of them to make carrying a breeze

2 Way Top
4 Pockets
10L pocket volume
Ergonomic straps
Water-resistant valuables / phone pouch
Ball, apparel, & water bottle pockets
Holds 14 clubs ( with standard and midsized grips easily )
Water-resistant belly to keep clubs and grips dry on wet dewy mornings

Water-resistant Valuables pouch

Main storage pocket with extra divider

Secondary strap mechanism – engaged

Secondary Strap removed in seconds – it’s that easy.

My personal stance is that given the opportunity, I would use this bag as my “gamer,” but thanks to some shoulder issues that flare up from time to time (thanks a lot, hockey), I split between the Moonlite and a normal structured stand bag for my push cart (official #PUSHCARTMAFIA team member). The Moonlite easily holds 14 clubs and a few extra shafts (strictly for WRX testing purposes), but I primarily use it when carrying nine clubs or fewer during the afternoon rounds or when I know I’m headed to a shorter course. I like the water-resistant pocket and the easy-to-use system to convert the bag to single strap. As a walker and someone that has a big appreciation for minimalist golf and the <14 clubs movement, this is truly what I want in a “Sunday” style carry bag.

Your Reaction?

LIKE117
LEGIT2
WOW1
LOL3
IDHT0
FLOP3
OB1
SHANK13

Equipment

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

Published

12 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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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!

Your Reaction?