Equipment
Wilson adds to Duo golf ball lineup with Duo Urethane
Chicago-based Wilson Staff has expanded its Duo line of golf balls with the new Duo Urethane. The 3-piece Duo Urethane (55 compression) joins the 2-piece Duo (29 compression) and the 3-piece Duo Spin (35 compression) in Wilson’s lineup.
“We have been working on a low compression solution for urethane since we first released the original DUO to the marketplace,” said Frank Simonutti, Wilson’s Global Director of Innovation-Golf Balls. “Our testing has consistently shown that the majority of golfers, regardless of handicap, prefer a softer feeling golf ball. As the industry trend is toward softer feel balls, we remain committed to providing the softest feeling golf ball in all product categories.”
Marketed as “the World’s Softest Urethane Golf Ball,” the Duo Urethane ($37.99) reportedly feels soft and spins enough for better players. It bridges the price gap between the company’s 4-piece FG Tour golf balls ($44.99) and the company’s 3-piece Duo Spin golf balls ($27.99).
Aside from price and compression, a measure of a golf ball’s “squish-ability” under force, the biggest difference between the Duo Spin and the Duo Urethane is the new ball’s premium cast urethane cover, which is the same cover formulation that is used on the company’s FG Tour golf ball. The cast urethane cover, along with its firmer compression, will help the Duo Urethane produce more short-game than the Duo Spin golf ball, which uses a surlyn cover.
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- Wilson’s C200 irons are full of holes, and that’s by design
- Wilson PMP wedges: What you need to know
- Our review of Wilson’s FG Tour V4 irons.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Stillboard
Jan 9, 2016 at 1:57 pm
The Duo Spin is a 3-piece ball, not a 2-piece as stated in the article.
8thehardway
Jan 7, 2016 at 9:36 am
The Duo Urethane looks like the Chrome Soft without the Truvis technology option.
Vintage1976
Jan 5, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Yes, yes, and yes. Nice stuff coming out from W/S this year!