Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Most overrated/underrated equipment in golf”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from orangeology who asks fellow members to share what they feel are the most underrated and overrated pieces of equipment currently in the sport. Our members divulge, with word one representing overrated, and word two underrated.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire thread and have your say at the link below.
- cliffhanger: “Forgiveness / Having high lofted wedges.
- Christen_The_Sloop: “Practice / Play. Bridgestone golf equipment – that stuff is underrated
- Bubb: “Scotty Cameron putters / Titleist TS2 drivers and fairway woods.
- smithy23: “Major OEMs / Srixon Irons”
- Kevinz: “Most underrated is the motorised caddies, saves at least two shots per round. Most overrated is the driver shaft, not a whole lot of difference distance wise.”
Entire Thread: “Most overrated/underrated equipment in golf”
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Paulina Gretzky opens up on receiving death threats following DJ’s move to LIV Golf
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)
Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here. Driver: TaylorMade...
WITB Time Machine: Jordan Spieth’s winning WITB, 2022 RBC Heritage
At the 2022 RBC Heritage Jordan Spieth defeated Patrick Cantlay on the first playoff hole after nearly holing his greenside...
Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)
Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...
Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)
Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...
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Tully
Jul 23, 2019 at 10:14 pm
Overrated Tiger Woods
Overrated Taylor Made
Underrated – Everything else…
Hank Haney
Jul 24, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Your ignorance is overwhelming.
s
Jul 13, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Over – $300+ shafts
Under – MP-37
Alfredo Smith
Jul 10, 2019 at 4:42 pm
UnderRated, PXG
OverRated PXG criticism and all the hate, LOL
kevin moran
Jul 15, 2019 at 9:32 pm
Very True. Spot on. Expensive? Yep. Excellent? Yep. I cannot afford a Ferrari, but I can appreciate the excellence of the vehicle. I don’t hate the company for making a premium product.
N D Boondocks
Jul 8, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Most over-rated – how far guys claim they can hit their driver
Most under-rated – how far most guys claim the other guy hits his driver
Yomomma
Jul 5, 2019 at 9:18 am
Vokey/the umbrella.
Eric Grafton
Jul 4, 2019 at 7:28 am
Overrated, most instructors. They all “think” they know what they’re doing..but only teach what worked for THEM at ONE moment in time. Go to 10 different instructors, and you’ll get 9 different ways of doing the same thing. They don’t take into consideration all physical limitations and physical differences of everyone they’re teaching.
These instructors also include those “fitting” someone into a $500 driver. PLEASE!!….they are doing this sport and industry a disservice. Nothing is funnier than watching a guy in our league FINALLY get a hold of one at 280+, (with his $500 driver) and proceed to duff the next shot, or turn a great drive into a triple bogie because he doesn’t know how to USE HIS WEDGE or PUTT.
All they do by selling that driver is ultimately frustrate people into not wanting to play and spend more on golf, because that driver didn’t turn them into a 9 from playing off a 25.
d
Jul 8, 2019 at 12:52 pm
nobody forces anyone to buy anything…..fitting is nothing more than intelligently reducing the possibilities while testing to what you hit best….you can fit yourself if you had more time and all the equipment possibilities laying around. but you dont…
if someone wants to hit 280 with their one good drive instead of 250 then so be it….
i think fitting on irons as or more important than driver…
geohogan
Jul 1, 2019 at 10:59 am
Alignment sticks so overrated.
We stand on our legs…legs are attached to the heels of our feet, so why
do golf instructors lay alignment stick across our toes?
Our alignment is to the quadrant of the ball we intend to impact, not the target line. So why do golf instructors have alignment sticks along target line
as if we intend to impact the back of the ball. its no wonder 95 of golfers slice the ball.
We sweep the inside quadrant of the ball with the heel of the clubface. The design of the golf club ensures the clubface squares to the ball.
Never will happen as long as we misuse alignment sticks
Alex
Jun 30, 2019 at 12:23 pm
I think pure shafts make a ton of sense. At very least it gives you less to worry about/ be upset about when you aren’t hitting it well.
geohogan
Jul 1, 2019 at 11:08 am
Golf shafts, off the shelf are worth about $10.
Imperfect is an understatement. Very overrated.
Pureing a cheap shaft is like, “lipstick on a pig”.
There are shafts that are mostly perfectly round and symmetrical due to
the manufacturing process. eg Nunchuk Xi at $50
Dan
Jun 30, 2019 at 4:04 am
Overrated-PXG, Jumbo Maxx grips, anything that promises distance for seniors and ladies, low compression balls for everyone, chippers, pro-v 1’s price, and most of all puring shafts. No real players do it. Look at all the pro’s , all the shaft logos are down in the same spot, not 1 pured. Huge scam to add cost. You trust the $200+ shafts preformance but not how they want it installed? Plus the shaft doesn’t flex in a straight line anyway. It goes toe up and back to toe down and through. Most amateurs can’t make the same swing twice anyway and the ones that can don’t pure them. If you adjust the driver weighting it affects the way the cluhead releases which if it worked you’d need the shaft repured after every adjustment. Totall BS scam.
James Awad
Jun 29, 2019 at 6:59 pm
Titleist & Cameron. Most over rated everything
Underrated? FOURTEEN, Brigestone irons, Srixon irons, Tour Edge proline Wilson proline & Mizuno metal woods – even the hardcore Miz guys won’t even demon them ‘gotta have Titleist driver’????????????
John
Jun 29, 2019 at 5:19 pm
See More putters are so underrated. Such quality !!!
Srixon Irons… or is the word out now?
2putttom
Aug 5, 2019 at 12:19 pm
yep, SRIXON quality words out.
joro
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Under rated, Wilson Golf, quality and lower cost. Over rated, all those that have to spend Millions to convince us that their product is the best and in many cases it is nothing but Bull+++T. And included in the Over Rated krap is those self promoting “GURU Teachers. Does the teacher make the player or does the player make the teacher.
Equipment and teachers are both over rated.
THETadersalad
Jun 29, 2019 at 8:08 am
Over rated – variable length irons
under rated – single length irons
T
Jun 29, 2019 at 2:27 am
460 cc drivers. Complexly under rated and misunderstood.
Who wants to go back to 150cc Persimmons?
Rich
Jun 28, 2019 at 10:04 pm
Overrated? Any irons that promise more distance. That’s jive. They offer more distance by strengthening lofts, making the shafts longer, and keeping the number the same. You don’t want more distance. You want predictable distance and precise gapping.
Any woods that promise anything other than more accuracy. Woods are already limited in length, size, MOI and COR. You simply cannot make a wood hit it farther. But you CAN continue to use exotic materials to move weight out to the perimeter to make them more forgiving, and you CAN make them wonderfully adjustable so they can be fit with precision.
PXG? Maybe. Forget price; are they better clubs? If so, then “overrated” isn’t the right adjective. They may not be worth the price, but if they’re really better, they’re not overrated. But are they really better? If not, they’re overrated.
Blades. Sorry, but those are about ego, not performance. They don’t perform better. But people who play this game for a living can it the sweet spot so precisely that perimeter weighting wouldn’t help them anyway. But for the vast majority of golfers, they’re a detriment to their games.
Anything that creates a distinction without a different. The TM SLDR driver, for example. Or the Twist Face–does it really make a difference?
I hit a driver about 245 carry. I carry an 8-iron about 160. If you offer me more distance than that, I’ll pass. (It probably comes from tricks with trade-offs anyway.) But if you offer me more accurate clubs–even if they’re shorter–I’m listening.
geohogan
Jul 4, 2019 at 7:48 am
@ Rich
Heavier clubheads, with mass further from centerline of the shaft(flywheel)
will increase forces that cause droop, kick and twisting. These are all causes of less consistency and loss of accuracy.
ie larger clubheads are often over rated as more accurate, if and when paired with cheap off the shelf golf shafts, that cannot withstand increased forces causing droop, kick and twisting.
Simms
Jul 12, 2019 at 2:47 am
Do think for one minute a major OEM is going to spend up words of $300,000 to develop a driver head and then put it on a shaft it will not work with, even if the shaft cost $10 it will work with the driver head….sure the highest level player is looking at inches and a high end shaft maybe be 5 yards longer of 3% more on line, but by far the average player maybe a 10 or more is going to be fine with tne OEM standard shaft.
JC
Jul 4, 2019 at 7:55 am
You should be carrying your driver 280+ if you carry 8 iron 160.
Michael Constantine
Jul 6, 2019 at 8:43 am
I carry my driver 275 plus and my 8 iron 155 at most. I don’t think driver and iron swings equate in some amateurs such as myself. I’m a fairly strong guy who played baseball all my life. Swinging a driver is like riding a bike for me. Swinging anything less than a 6 iron feels awkward to me and I struggle the further I go down the line from 8-Lob on full shots. So to say if you carry an 8 iron 160 means you carry a driver 280 isn’t always the case.
Bob Johnson
Jul 8, 2019 at 3:58 pm
JC – I could not agree more…
Rich
Jul 8, 2019 at 6:00 pm
I might be conservative with the driver carry estimate. But I definitely don’t carry it 280.
RP
Jul 9, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Why? Do you know his driver and iron specs?
RGL
Jul 25, 2019 at 1:02 am
RP….It points to a lack of efficiency with the driver. A lot of people struggle with that…myself included but am working on it. Typically with amateurs the gapping narrows and efficiency drops as you move to your long irons and woods. Driver carry average for me is 250 which is up from 235. My driver was only about 10yds longer than my 3 wood at that time. 3 wood carry is at 235 now and 8 iron carry is stable at 150. Ideal goal for me is 265-270 carry with a driver. Confident I’ll be there by end of the year as I usually get 2 or 3 out there at that distance in a round now.
Madeline Morgan
Jun 28, 2019 at 8:47 pm
Scotty Cameron/Evnroll
Distance Compression Dude
Jun 28, 2019 at 12:48 pm
GX7 Hot Metal, Vixa V12, Square Strike Wedge, C3i Wedge, Hammer Driver
All overrated and hot garbage.
MIKE
Jul 9, 2019 at 3:12 pm
You have to yell when you hit the Hammer driver or else it doesn’t perform well. Just like the infomercial. LOL
dj
Jun 28, 2019 at 11:49 am
Pured shafts! Overrated!
James Awad
Jun 29, 2019 at 6:54 pm
No. Proven a thousand times on Trackman & high speed HD video at our place. We don’t build any high end irons or install a driver shaft without doing it. It absolutely works
Dan
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:43 pm
I’ve heard Puring is a must and it’s complete BS. I understand each shaft has a spine and the concept makes perfect sense but people who know a lot more than me don’t think it matters.
Dan W
Jul 25, 2019 at 3:44 am
Look up how high end graphite shafts are made. They don’t have spines. The layers are overlapping. And btw spining shafts find a strong and weak side of the shaft. Either way puring shaft is total BS. I don’t care what someone proves the preformance says otherwise.
David Lehmann
Jun 28, 2019 at 11:21 am
PXG!! PXG!!! PXG!!!
David Lehmann
Jun 28, 2019 at 11:22 am
Sorry Overrated!
David Lehmann
Jun 28, 2019 at 2:20 pm
And Way overpriced!!
2putttom
Aug 5, 2019 at 12:20 pm
same sales philosophy as Cameron