Equipment

New Titleist TS hybrids, U-Series utilities landing on Tour (updated with in-hand photos)

Published

5 years ago

May 27, 2019

We just got word from Titleist: at this week’s Memorial Tournament, the company will begin the “seeding” process of the new TS Series hybrids and the U-Series utility driving irons.

Hybrids

For Titleist, the beginning of the tour seeding process is one of the final steps in getting new products ready to go to market, and based off what we have for images and based on typical products cycles from the company, these could be closer to retail release than we think.

It appears for Titleist that the 800 series branding for the hybrids is going the way of the dodo and being replaced with the TS moniker like the already-available woods to remain consistent in the line. If the numbers and supplied pictures are any indication, the TS2 will be higher launching and slightly larger vs. the TS3 hybrid, which looks quite a bit more compact front to back and also seems to have Titleist’s SureFit CG to fine-tune ball flight. Both feature the TourFit hosel for further adjustability.

Since the current images of the new hybrids already have the head covers and are taken with shafts (HZRDUS Smoke hybrid), I am quite comfortable making the assumption that the stock shafts for retail will be the Smoke followed by the full array of custom options Titleist is known for. We all know that OEMs and their staff players have the ability to do a LOT of in-house testing away from the prying eyes (and lenses of GolfWRX), so for these to be at this point with covers and the whole bit, I am also confident that after seeing these in players bags this week at Muirfeild a full release by mid-summer is only a formality.

Many more photos of the new irons and hybrids in the forums.

Utilities

Already being teased on Titleist.com, the new U-Series utility irons will be the replacement for the current 718s which as always are some of the most popular on tour.

Notice any similarities to anything else?

Bueller, Bueller…..

I’m seeing a LOT of similar design characteristics from the Concept series CP-01 in these new utilities.

This is exciting since the Concept series was introduced by Titleist to test and prove “proof of concept”…see how they did that…with new technologies and materials. If you weren’t aware of what that means for the Concept line this is from Titleist:

“Visually articulated with equal imagination, to produce the world’s most satisfying ball-striking experience. With an ultra-thin face – measured and remeasured to ensure perfect uniformity – made possible through the use of a rare, super strong alloy never before used in club manufacturing.”

Whatever super strong alloy is being used in the Concepts seem to be making its way into these new utilities on tour this week. What does this mean for the consumer from a design standpoint? Most likely more discretionary weight saved from the face to move around the head, that equals higher MOI. Also with new materials, it would allow engineers to stretch the area of “maximum performance” from a ball speed perspective to a larger area of the face.

Will I be right about new materials being used in the Utility? I guess we will find out soon enough, but either way we’ll bring you more pictures when we have them.

Many more photos of the new irons and hybrids in the forums.

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Equipment

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

Published

5 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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