Equipment
Tiger to change to a SuperStroke putter grip?
Tiger Woods was spotted practicing Wednesday at the Presidents Cup with a new putter grip on his Nike Method 001 putter, a SuperStroke Ultra Slim 1.0 that is roughly twice the size of his usual putter grip.
SuperStroke’s oversized grips have exploded in popularity on the professional tours in 2013, with Phil Mickelson and Jason Dufner using the company’s Slim 3.0 grip to win the season’s final two majors. The larger-sized grips are thought to help golfers quiet their hands and relieve tension during the stroke, which can improve consistency, particularly on short putts under pressure.
The Ultra Slim grip Woods was spotted using is considerably smaller than the grips used by Mickelson and Dufner (Woods’ grip has a 1.0-inch diameter instead of a 1.3-inch diameter). But any change is a big change for Woods, who has used the same style putter and grip for each of his 14 major championship victories.
Along with being twice as large as Woods’ usual Ping Man putter grip, the new grip is also 6 grams heavier. That will have a slight counterbalancing effect on Woods’ putter, which also can add stability to a golfer’s stroke.
Early in the 2013 PGA Tour season, Woods lead the Tour’s Strokes Gained-putting statistic by a large margin, but he finished the year ranked 22nd. While 2013 marked his best finish in the Strokes Gained-putting statistic since 2009, it’s still well off his performance in the category from 2004 to 2009, a period where he won six major championships.
From 2004 (the year the Tour began tracking Strokes Gained-putting) to 2009, Woods finished 2nd, 9th, 22nd, 3rd, 3rd and 2nd in the category. While Woods’ golf swing change under instructor Sean Foley has been the centerpiece of criticism from golf experts such as Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, many have pointed to Woods’ putting as one of his key weaknesses in major championships since he returned to the PGA Tour in 2010.
This year, Woods missed several key putts at both the Masters and British Open, where he finished T4 and T6, respectively. He has had few problems with his putter in rounds 1 and 2 of tournaments, averaging 2nd on the Tour in scoring average before the cut. But on the weekends where pressure builds, Woods’ scoring average has been much higher. He ranked 48th in round 3 scoring average this year and 93rd in round 4 scoring average.
- LIKE11
- LEGIT6
- WOW5
- LOL3
- IDHT1
- FLOP2
- OB1
- SHANK3
- Ruixin Liu what’s in the bag accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship.
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana
3-wood: Titleist TSR1 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 55 S
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Hybrid: Ping G430 (22 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Hybrid: Ping G430 (26 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Irons: Titleist T200 (6-PW), Titleist T150 (7-PW)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48-10F), WedgeWorks Proto (54-M), Miura MG-R01 (58)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95 cw (48, 54), UST Mamiya Recoil 95 (58)
Grips: Golf Pride MCC, Grip Master
More photos of Ruixin Liu’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
- Will McGirt what’s in the bag accurate as of the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
5-wood: Ping G430 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 58-09 Full)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125 Wedge
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Victory Cord
More photos of Will McGirt’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Graphite Design has been a legendary brand in the world of premium golf shafts since the company was founded in 1989. Graphite Design has had some popular shafts over the years, but they are probably most well known for the Tour AD DI that was released in 2010. Today we are talking about the newest shaft in the Graphite Design lineup, the new VF. The letters do stand for something, Victory Force, and according to Graphite Design every victory requires force! For a more in-depth review, please check out the Club Junkie podcast below or on any streaming platform. Just search “GolfWRX Radio.”
Out of the box, the VF has a very familiar look with a red handle section and a black tip section that are separated with the traditional 10 silver rings. The color combination is definitely more subtle than some of the other Tour AD shaft combinations. Graphite Design doesn’t make too many low-launching shafts, so the VF is filling that need. The VF will suit players looking for low/,id launch and low spin shaft to put in their driver or fairway wood.
The shaft profile is a firm+ handle section, it matches the stiffest handles Graphite Design shafts, with a stiff midsection, and finally a very stiff tip. Exotic materials are used along with MSI Design to maintain stability and consistency. Graphite Design uses Torayca M40X carbon fiber in the handle section to make it stiffer and enhance control of the shaft. Ultra-high modulus Torayca T1100G is used in the middle and tip section for added stability without losing that smooth feel.
I built up the VF shaft using a universal tip system that allows me to use the shaft in any driver head. The building went extremely smoothly as every Graphite Design shaft I have ever installed has a consistent tip diameter and I have never had any issues with a sloppy fit. Once the VF was cut to length and installed, the shaft has a great look that doesn’t jump out as distracting or eye-catching. If you are playing a TaylorMade Stealth 2, then the shaft blends in naturally and they look to visually be great partners!
You would expect a smooth and responsive feel from any Graphite Design shaft and you will get just that with the VF. For me the shaft was exactly as Graphite Design describes, being mid/low launch and offering a very penetrating ball flight. The Tour AD XC might launch a touch lower, but I like the feel and consistency I get from the VF just a little bit more. No matter what driver head I used, the VF seemed to offer ball flight in a similar window, slightly lower than the Fujikura Ventus TR Blue I was using. Even shots into the wind showed no real signs of rising or ballooning. Spin was also lower than I expected with the VF shaft. On the course, I noticed a penetrating, boring flight no matter where I hit the ball on the driver face. Shots struck low on the face held a good amount of distance and even the low heel strike seemed to launch lower and carry further.
I even took a couple of driver heads out to the range with a launch monitor and noticed that I rarely saw a spin number with a “3” in front of it. Almost every shot, good and not so good, seemed to spin around that 2,600 RPM number. With many fittings and shaft tinkering, that is usually on the lower end of what I find with my swing. As I said with the shaft being mid/low launch I was seeing an average of around 11 degrees while using a couple of 10.5-degree driver heads. On course, the VF was very straight and consistent and while it seemed easier to square up than I expected, it did not want to go left as easily as some other shafts. I would consider the flight just slightly fade biased but if you release the club properly you will be rewarded with a straight shot down the fairway.
Overall, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF is a really solid mid/low launch and low spin option with a smooth feel. It is starting to gain some traction on the professional tours and could be a great shaft for your swing as well.
Graphite Design Tour AD VF Specs
- LIKE4
- LEGIT4
- WOW3
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Why Viktor Hovland loves his Ping i210 irons (and other equipment morsels)
Adam Schenk WITB 2023 (August)
Korn Ferry Tour pro disqualified while warming up on the practice range
Report: Zach Johnson makes huge Justin Thomas decision as Ryder Cup wildcard picks revealed
Report: Tony Finau facing multiple lawsuits over claims he owes millions of dollars
Lee Hodges WITB 2023 (August)
Viktor Hovland’s winning WITB: 2023 Tour Championship
Lucas Glover WITB 2023 (August)
Former coach of Tiger Woods says Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup wildcard picks ‘confirms it’s the Boys Club’
‘I know what people want to see’ – Ex-Golf Channel’s Holly Sonders on her new topless sports league
Ruixin Liu WITB 2023 (October)
Ruixin Liu what’s in the bag accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship. Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub...
Will McGirt WITB 2023 (October)
Will McGirt what’s in the bag accurate as of the Sanderson Farms Championship. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees...
Su Oh WITB 2023 (October)
Su Oh WITB accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Driver: Callaway Epic Max LS (10.5 degrees @9.5) Shaft:...
Marina Alex WITB 2023 (October)
Marina Alex WITB accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR...
-
19th Hole3 days agoReport: U.S. Ryder Cup teamroom is ‘fractured’ due to a protest led by hatless Patrick Cantlay
-
19th Hole1 week agoReport: Solheim Cup star was dropped by captain on Friday afternoon for refusing to play with two of her teammates
-
19th Hole1 week ago‘I don’t need to comment on that’ – Lexi Thompson in tense exchange with reporter following costly shank
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks agoPaige Spiranac WITB 2023 (September)
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoMajor champ claims that without golf Phil Mickelson would be ‘gambling in a ditch somewhere’
-
19th Hole6 days agoCeline Boutier responds after report claimed she refused to play with two teammates at Solheim Cup
-
Equipment3 weeks agoThe PGA Tour’s newest free agent, Wesley Bryan’s unknown irons, and custom Ryder Cup gear spotted in Napa
-
Opinion & Analysis4 days agoThe Wedge Guy: 3 surefire ways to never get better at golf
Ray
Mar 26, 2014 at 12:47 pm
GEEZ GUYS, how many of you ever won a major let alone 13 ? For all his other foibles, he is still World No. 1 – for a big reason. He’s no dummy; otherwise he would take all the advise left here and be a total whack job.
Ashley
Aug 14, 2014 at 10:54 am
He’s won 14!
davethomas
Apr 8, 2015 at 2:48 pm
he’s not world #1, he’s 111 http://www.owgr.com/en/Ranking.aspx?pageNo=1&pageSize=300&country=All
l_michaels
Oct 15, 2013 at 8:32 am
I don’t agree, read that:
http://cu.odysseyinsider.selfip.com/odyssey-putter-grip-problems.php
Richard Branson
Oct 12, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Not sure if everyone knows this, but Tiger continues to use a PING putter grip no matter what putter he is using.
davethomas
Apr 8, 2015 at 2:47 pm
just like the pictures show right?
8thehardway
Oct 11, 2013 at 2:25 am
With his stroke I think he should try out some Bullseye putters.
Bill Ziegler
Oct 10, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I used a Scotty for many years. Tried a Method 001. If you have not tried it you should. The Method feels so much better. It also has a shallower face than most Scotty’s which really helps with clean contact.
Tiger’s problem is that golf is a hard game. Sometimes putts don’t go in. Be nice to see him play Brandel Chamblee in an 18 hole match play exhibition.
Tiger Woods
Oct 10, 2013 at 1:17 am
I need to try a long putter.
thefullsp
Oct 4, 2013 at 3:55 pm
I have the Nike Method Midnight 006 which Rory ditched with a lime green IOMIC grip. I ditched the Cameron Red X. It rolls the ball incredibly well. Let’s face it putting is all about attitude and confidence. I believe I’m gonna hole every putt and my numbers are way better since the mental change. If the grip gives him a shift in putting perspective, Nike will be ecstatic…
Billy
Oct 3, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Back to the PING grip! Short-lived experiment.
rob
Oct 3, 2013 at 11:47 am
This great is illegal….I can’t missed a putt with my eyeys closed….For the TW haters out there, I hear they are taking a collection to buy the company out and discontinue the grip…More Tiger proofing…Ouch
If he keeps the grip, his putting woes will be over. Mark my word.
trampampam
Oct 3, 2013 at 8:56 am
fantastic grip. I have 3 putters and they’re all with super stroke grips. One with 1.3 and two with 1.0(Rife Island series Trinidad and Mizuno 90 series). All of them feels perfect.
T
Oct 3, 2013 at 8:01 am
must buy stock…
Zachary
Oct 2, 2013 at 11:43 pm
I think it’s more psychological. It’s like how we sometimes think we need minor changes in our clubs from time to time because we think it will help although we know it probably won’t help that much, new things give us confidence. Hope it helps. But the bottom line as always is that “it’s not the arrow it’s the Indian”.
Al.J
Oct 2, 2013 at 11:20 pm
I agree he hasn’t putted nearly as well with the Nike as he did with the Scotty! Definitely a boost for super stroke if he sticks with it and wins!
CairnsRock
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:32 pm
I remember him using a Ping in his early days with the white PING letters on the grip which he had blacked out.
Cameron
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Bust out the Scotty again!!!
Jim Brooks
Oct 2, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Love You Tiger, ALWAYS HAVE… ALWAYS WILL ; ))) It’s NOT the putter grip that needs to be replaced… it’s a HUGE “boost” in the confidence level! It’s deffinitely 70% of the PUTTING GAME ; ))! If a change in grip can do that and create the “spark” needed… then do it by ALL MEANS my friend ; )))! Personally, inside 6 feet, don’t even give the ball a “chance” to THINK(break)… just FIRM, Dead Center of the Hole ; ))! That’s the stroke that made him… WHO he is today… he just has to find it again ; ))! You Can Do IT Tiger ; ))!
Jack
Oct 3, 2013 at 2:27 am
maybe changing the grip will help his confidence. Plus his putting is still way better than us. He just wants to make everything. A change could help regardless of it’s true effects.
kevin smith
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Hopefully trying a bit more of a Stricker motion, less timing of the right hand release…. Big muscles
moses
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:38 pm
WOW!!!! How about just using something that’s always worked. The one that won 13 majors?
Zeke
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:35 pm
They banned the anchored putter (wrongly) because it doesn’t look right. These fatter grips certainly don’t look traditional. The founding fathers didn’t envision using fat grips to putt with, either. The anchored putter has been used a lot longer than these fat grips. BAN THEM TOO!!!
Anthony Maccioli
Oct 3, 2013 at 12:50 am
Pretty sure they were not banned because they don’t look right.
Ashley
Aug 14, 2014 at 11:02 am
Do you think they should ban everything that makes you play better? In that case they should ban having lessons and cavity back iron and hybrids and low compression balls!! Get a grip man it’s a rubber handle,
Barry
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:13 pm
yeeeees!i have this exact same grip on my odyssey metal-x #8 putter!!Tiger – take it from me- it’s good!
JumboDebt
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:44 pm
He may be only experimenting with this. Didn’t he use a Ping Anser originally? Then Titleist, his equipment sponsor at the time came up with these Scotty Camerons that are really just copies of that Ping original design. But he is a tinkerer. As long as he doesn’t tinker himself out of contention. Putting is the most personal of all golf shots. Lose confidence there and it can ruin your entire game… But he is Tiger Woods. I’d say, “Don’t try this at home kids.”
Jimmy Ray
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:31 pm
The sales VP at Tigershark/SuperStroke just put a deposit on Tiger’s yacht…
Billy
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Good for him, hope it works out!
wcavanau
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Was there today and noticed that he had that grip. Only saw him on 18 and he made about a 4ft for par after coming up short of the green.
Spitty
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:03 pm
just cut to the chase Tiger and get a 38 inch daddy long legs putter.
Scott
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Tiger’s putting hasn’t been the same since he took his Scotty Cameron out of the bag. Nike has tried in every way to duplicate the same Cameron putter that Tiger used to win every major but to no avail.
To make Nike happy Tiger should just do what many Tour pros do, find what you can play well then have your equipment sponsor stick it’s name on it or leave it blank and put a Nike cover on it. For many of us it’s been comical to watch Nike try to make a putter like Tiger’s trusty Cameron
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:54 pm
So earlier in the year when he was making everything must have been luck? Good logic. Go try his putter and then try making that statement. You wouldn’t.
Jack
Oct 3, 2013 at 2:25 am
Putter making isn’t some kind of black magic mystery, and Scotty’s are the only good putters out there.
gert heskel
Oct 3, 2013 at 5:39 am
I agree with you 100% Scott.
kevin
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:00 pm
i don’t think its grip issue. more like the nike method putterhead. the thing putts terribly. probably has something to do with the face on that model. tiger should go back to his old cameron’s.
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:53 pm
You are terribly informed. The method putts the best roll on a ball in golf. Not even an argument. He’s been using it for 3 years it’s not like he’s not used to the thing. Get over him using a nike putter.
Gmatt
Oct 3, 2013 at 12:05 pm
No argument? LOL I can provide a bunch, get over the Method love, regardless of what putter he uses, they are all different coming off the face
Bill
Oct 3, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Maybe he should go back to Titleist too? Good thing he’s not asking for your advice. Tiger won’t use anything that he doesn’t feel will improve his chances to win.
Mike
Oct 14, 2013 at 7:58 am
Disagree. I play the Nike Method 006 and the ball rolls very true. I’ve made more putts with that putter than any flat stick including the Scotty I had, which I sold. TW is messing around with SS, that’s all. The winning Prez Cup putt was made with his Ping grip. Scotty makes a darn good putter, but they are overrated and at $400 a pop, forget it. Truth be told putters are all about feel. If you need proof ask Jim Furyk who won 11M a few years ago winning the Fed Ex Cup and Tour Championship with a putter that cost $39. Case closed.
Mike
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:57 pm
about time he took my advice…
Conrad
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:45 pm
just an amazing grip. sorta surprised to seeing him trying it but not really…
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Ditch the putter? What does the putter have to do with a poor stroke he has had over the last month? Get over him having a nike putter
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Oops wrong reply haha ^
misanthrope
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:42 pm
he is a feel putter – ditch that putter and go back to feel, has nothing to do with the grip, ball comes off the face too hot and he has become mechanical as a result. The 1.0 superstroke has no impact on eliminating the wrists, its basically a midsize, edel has been using round grips for a reason and this is the most readily available mimic of it. The above post about more feedback is counter-intuitive because the grip is thicker and the artificial winn type outer – its actually more dampening, not going to find much more feedback than those skinny old pings unless you go to a pro only old schooler.
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Ditch the putter? What does the putter have to do with a poor stroke he has had over the last month? Get over him having a nike putter
Cannon
Oct 2, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Sounds like he’s saying the face is hotter than the Cameron, leading to inconsistency with speed since he has to use a shorter stroke or slower than he was used to with his classic anser/Cameron style.
Bill
Oct 3, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Gee, I never heard that or do you know him personally or maybe you’re a teaching pro. That must be it!
tbowles411
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:29 pm
I figure, what the heck? It improved my putting, and his putting is a heck of a lot better than mine.
Mike
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Absolutely love that grip. Have one on each of my 3 putters. Great feel, feedback, and really gives you confidence in the stroke. Hope it works out for Tiger. Would love to see him do well in the President’s Cup.
Jeff
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm
SuperStroke is GEEKED!
mitch
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:16 pm
glad to see tiger messing around with his putter which is probably the only thing that he has kept constant the last few years and prevented him from winning a major.
TWshoot67
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Wow didn’t see that coming, but hey if it helps Tiger get back to putting how he use to then great! I still think he should go bak to old faithful but I guess only time will tell. I mean if his putter worked like Tiger days gone by like in 2001-05, then he could have easily had 2-3 more wins this past season. The putter has really held him back from what use to be automatic good from 10′ and in.