Equipment
WRX Spotted: Ping Glide 3.0, Glide 3.0 Eye2 wedges
Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and in the case of the golf world, we had been hearing rumblings of a new Ping Glide series for a while (since the introduction of the Blueprint irons, at least).
This week, at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, we now have an idea of exactly what’s coming with the beginning of Glide 3.0 wedges tour seeding.
Like a lot of initial releases, we don’t have the full tech breakdown, but I’ll make a few assumptions
- Material: Based on the popularity of the i210s and the feel they offer golfers (so soft), the new Glide 3.0s are made from the same steel and utilize the same 50-percent softer Elastomer CTP.
- Hydropearl 3.0? A finish designed to repel water and greatly improve consistency from the rough and wet conditions, its been working on irons and why stop there?
- COG Shifting: Looking at the cavity, Ping engineers have been playing with a LOT of mass around this head. That is one of the cool things about wedges is, beyond the putter, they are the heaviest heads in the set. More mass equals more COG relocation. It’s noticeable in the comparison below.
- Sole grinds: This is where Ping continues to step up there game in the wedge category. And like previous families of wedges, there appears to be a lot of options in design. We should see some TS options in the bags for players at the Open Championship if it’s dry and firm.
Beyond grind options, we also have totally different head options with a Glide 3.0 Eye2. Let’s be honest, this makes a TON of sense since other companies have been borrowing design traits from the Eye2 for the last couple years for their wedges. Why wouldn’t Ping utilize its own already popular design and update it for modern turf conditions?
We will have to wait and see how close we are to what the tech specs will be but like with most things Ping, the release to tour is usually a tell-tale sign that you should be seeing these in store, on shelves and ready to pre-order very soon.
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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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Travisty
Jul 16, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Does this mean the iBlade’s are coming out with an update soon??
Tony Load
Jul 13, 2019 at 8:24 am
Took a big sh*t this morning!
James Sinclair
Jul 12, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Iam curious to see how many lofts they come out with the 3.0 eye 2 head
Beau
Jun 27, 2019 at 10:22 pm
Really reminds me of the ISI nickels. Happy to see them go back to this sort of design.
Jame223
Jun 26, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Can’t believe they haven’t remade the eye 2 irons with added modern day technology. Would be a gold mine.
Dan W
Jul 9, 2019 at 3:36 am
Ping will still make a set of Eye 2 irons if you want. They are a bit more expensive than the current irons but are available. Call Pings customer service. If you have an old set just give them the serial number on the hosel and they’ll duplicate them, or you can order a set custom. I think they’re $180 per iron.
Alex
Jun 26, 2019 at 7:43 am
Pings PM grind.
Darrin Lygrisse
Jun 26, 2019 at 3:16 pm
So being that Phil had Callaway copy his old Ping wedge to make the PM grind I would say you have it backwards. How about Callaways Eye2 grind?
Bro
Jun 26, 2019 at 9:12 pm
That sole profile sucks
Travisty
Jul 16, 2019 at 1:31 pm
So many people have no idea when it comes to golf clubs. Phil had Callaway copy his old Eye2 wedge when it was deemed non-conforming. Ping was the original that was copied.
DaveyD
Jun 25, 2019 at 9:42 pm
That Eye2 wedge is the Oyster’s Ice Skates.
Thomas A
Jun 26, 2019 at 11:05 am
Is that good or bad?
Funkaholic
Oct 15, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Yes
jon
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:20 pm
ive got all ping clubs except a PM lob wedge, they nearly got me with that eye2 wedge then they forgot to put the grooves all the way out to the toe.
HDTVMAN
Jun 26, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Exactly! I am all Ping except for my Callaway 54° & 58° 2.0 PM Grind’s which just replaced my original PM Grind’s. So many sand & lob shots hit out on the toe, and having the grooves extended is a savior. The angled grove in groove and second bounce on wide open shots is the “Cats Meow”! TM’s “Hi-Toe” is a copy and cannot be compared to the original PM wedges. If Ping extended the grooves they would go in my bag when they go on sale in August.
Doug
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:48 pm
Eye2 = Swiss Army Knife