Equipment
Bettinardi unveils all-new Hexperimental ‘Baby Ben’ prototype at this week’s BMW Championship
Bettinardi has unveiled its new Hexperimental high MOI putter based on the original ‘Baby Ben’.
The Bettinardi ‘Baby Ben’ mallet putter was a flat-stick played by Jim Furyk when he won the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields CC.
Furyk’s win at the 2003 U.S. Open was the first time he had the Bettinardi putter in the bag, and speaking following his victory that week where he excelled on the greens, Furyk told media members:
“I gave it a try and was in there working with Bob’s rep all week, just making little adjustments, making adjustments, getting the line and loft. And I felt like I was real comfortable with it and I putted very well with it this week. I made some key putts and some great putts.”
As the tour returns to the site of that victory, Bettinardi has re-engineered the putter from the ground up with this 2020 all-new, super high MOI prototype on show at this week’s BMW Championship.
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Whats in the Bag
Kevin Chappell WITB 2024 (April)
- Kevin Chappell what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Cobra King LTDx Prototype (21.5 degrees @20.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: Srixon ZX (3), Cobra King CB (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (52-08F, 56-10S), Cobra Snakebite (60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron SB-2, Scotty Cameron TourType TG6.2
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion Flatso 1.0
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Kevin Chappell’s clubs here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Axis1 prototype broomstick putter
We have seen an uptick in longer putters out on the professional tours with players gravitating toward either counterbalanced or broomstick styles. As a refresher, A “broomstick” putter is a long putter that is usually built to a length that goes up to your chest. If you have seen Adam Scott putt in a tournament recently, he uses what is classified as a broomstick putter.
Axis1 might not be the most common brand in the world of putters but they have been around a while, most notably in Justin Rose’s bag.
Axis1 is known for a putter that doesn’t look traditional but a design is used to get the center of gravity to the center of the club face, aligned with the shaft. This technology keeps the face aligned with the ball throughout the stroke. More traditional putters rotate around the shaft axis, which doesn’t align with the center of the putter, making it easier for the putter face to not be square to the target at impact.
This week at the Valero Texas Open, we spotted a prototype Axis1 putter in a long broomstick version. The head shape looks very similar to the current Axis1 Tour-HM putter that the company currently makes, which is a more squared-off mid-mallet. The prototype looks to have a similar multi-material head with a 304 stainless steel face mated to a composite back. Twin site lines run together, on the topline and on the flange, to create a longer line for aligning the putter. The steel face has a fairly shallow milling to it, and the flowing heel hosel connects to the aggressive shaft bend.
A matching black shaft is installed, and at the grip end is Super Stroke’s Zenergy Tour 1.0 two-piece in white and black. No word on if or when this will come to retail yet.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/4/24): Mint set of TaylorMade Qi 10 irons
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 Mint set of TaylorMade Qi 10 irons.
From the seller: (@ch1985): “Mint set of TaylorMade qi 10 irons 5-PW, AW (used 1 round and some range balls) with factory stiff steel shaft – $925 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Mint set of TaylorMade Qi 10 irons
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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Matt Aamold
Aug 26, 2020 at 9:33 pm
Great! Now bring back the heel shafted Country Club Putter please.
Osnola Kinnard
Aug 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm
I have an original Baby Ben, and my wife hijacked it from me. I have used the same putter for almost 15 years now, and this is the first thing I have seen that has me thinking my current putter could be replaced. What’s old is new again, and I can’t wait to try it!!!
Ryan K
Aug 26, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Can’t believe my eyes! After searching for a reasonably priced backup in good condition and 1 week after settling on a BB54 proto…THIS! Been using mine since 2004! Bettinardi please send me one, with the T alignment and honeycomb face.. or the headcover at least!
No one
Aug 25, 2020 at 6:08 pm
“Hey guys, how close can we get to a Directed Force Putter without getting sued?”
Steve
Aug 26, 2020 at 8:44 am
Just don’t say in your online ads that “It’s not your fault that you suck as a putter.”
Doug Ferreri
Aug 26, 2020 at 8:54 am
Actually tis is a remake of the Bettinardi Baby Ben introduced in 2003 for the Ben Hogan Company. Furyck used it to win the 2003 U S Open.
STEVE
Aug 26, 2020 at 9:10 am
You’re right, Doug — I forgot about that. That Baby Ben had a silver head with black alignment aids if I recall it correctly. I had forgotten that it was a Bnardi putter, however.