Equipment

Show Stoppers: Day 1 of the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show

Published

10 years ago

Jan 21, 2014

The GolfWRX team is live from this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. The “Show Stoppers” segment will highlight our favorite clubs, gear, and training aids at the show.

At the PGA Merchandise Show, golf companies show off their latest equipment on Tuesday at the PGA Demo Day at Orange County National, and at the PGA Show inside the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday through Friday. Follow along as we bring you inside the ropes of this year’s events.

Click here to follow along as we update live from the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show.

Bridgestone “True Balance” putters

Bridgestone is releasing a line of True Balance putters, which are “counter” counter-balanced putters, if you will. Instead of having additional weight located in the shaft and grip-section of the putters, the True Balance putters have lighter shafts and grips that the company says adds more feel to the putter head during the stroke, allowing it to square up more easily at impact.

The True Balance Putters ($199) have 360-gram heads made from 304 SS with dual-layered polymer inserts. Their graphite shafts weigh only 35 grams, and their EVA rubber grips are even lighter: 20 grams. And yes, the putter heads are so much heavier than the shaft and the grip that the putters can stand on their own.

Steel-shafted versions of the putters ($149) are also available, including the TD-02, a double-bend mallet version. They’ll be available in March.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Bridgestone putters in the forums

Callaway X2 Hot “5Deep”

Callaway’s “Deep” fairway woods made news in 2013, when Phil Mickelson used the company’s “3Deep” fairway wood as his driver in route to a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open and back-to-back wins at the Scottish Open and Open Championship.

Callaway’s new X2 Hot 5Deep is the next logical step in the deep fairway wood progression. The deep-faced 5 woods target golfers who have downward angle of attacks or tend to contact their fairway woods on the upper part of the face. The 5Deep will give those players more consistent ball speeds because of their larger faces, regulating carry distances

The 5Deep, a refreshed 3Deep and a new 2Deep will be available later this spring for $239 with a “real-deal” version of Aldila’s Tour Green shaft.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Callaway 5Deep in the forums

Golf Pride CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro Golf Grips

Golf Pride’s new CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro grips are the softest performance grips in Golf Pride history. The CP2 Wrap (pictured above in blue) is for golfers who look for a soft feel with the classic wrap-around design. The CP2 Pro (pictured above in red) offers a more parallel design and flatter grip textures. The inner core stabilizer, which measures 2.5 inches in length, is much firmer than the rest of the grip works to stabilize the grip during the downswing. The CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro will be available in March for $6.99 per club for standard size, $7.49 for midsize and $7.99 for jumbo.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the new Golf Pride grips in the forums

FlightScope Xi

FlightScope’s new Xi is a small, portable, wireless Doppler-radar launch monitor that connects to an iPhone/iPad via WiFi to deliver ball data. No power source, cables, or laptops required. It starts at $2500.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Flightscope in the forums

Ping nFlight

The Ping nFlight Motion fitting process utilizes an attachment that clips onto any golf shaft, which sends information from the swing to an app on the iPhone or iPod touch through Bluetooth. The nFlight software models and digitally analyzes each swing and measures swing speed, path and angle of attack to fit the golfer into a combination of the proper shaft, loft and Ping club head. Only three swings per club are necessary to acquire enough information to fit the golfer properly, and the app provides additional shaft recommendations based on the fitting. Ping also offers an nFlight Mobile that works through an iPad.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Ping photos in the forums

UST Mamiya Elements Chrome Graphite Shafts

The UST Mamiya Elements Chrome shaft relies on a stiffer mid-flex and torque-specific weights that were previously utilized in the ProForce VTS models of recent years. The butt section of the shaft also has a larger diameter with a softer hoop strength that improves energy transfer and stability throughout the swing.

The mid-launch shaft is available for $285 in 12 different flex/weight combinations: 55 grams (A, R, S), 65 grams (R, S, X), 75 grams (S, X), 85 grams (S, X) and 95 grams (S, X).

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the UST Mamiya Elements Chrome shaft in the forums

Vokey SM5 Wedges

Vokey’s new SM5 wedges feature the third generation of the company’s grooves, which have a 7 percent larger groove volume than previous models.

The grooves are deeper and narrower on the 46-to-54 degree wedges to deliver better distance and trajectory control, reducing the chance of flyers from the rough. On the 56-to-62 degree SM5 wedges, the grooves are the same width as the previous generation, but they have a greater depth that adds roughly 400 rpm more spin on full shots from the rough.

The SM5 wedges are cast from 8620 carbon steel, and are available in lofts from 46 degrees to 62 degrees in two-degree increments. They come in six tour-inspired sole grinds (L, T, S, M, F and K), with each model sorted into low-, mid- and high-bounce categories. That creates a selection of 21 different loft, bounce and grind combinations.

The wedges are available in stores on March 14 in three different finishes — Tour Chrome, Gold Nickel and Raw Black — and will sell for $129. The Tour Chrome and Gold Nickel are plated finishes, while the Raw Black finish will rust over time.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Titleist SM5 wedges in the forums

Footjoy D.N.A. Golf Shoes

FootJoy recently unveiled D.N.A. (Dryjoys Next Advancement), the shoe that had golf apparel/equipment enthusiasts abuzz since Adam Scott wore them at the Presidents’ Cup. The shoes feature a 3D foam collar that molds to the foot and ankle, a Snugfit tongue, Microvent technology, a “Nitrothin” TPC (thermoplastic urethane) outsole, an “Xtra-thick” Fine-Tuned Foam (FTF) Fitbed and a Chromoskin Leather System making it waterproof. D.N.A is highly advanced, technology sound, stable and lightweight, with an added splash of color options.

They will be available in six colors on Feb. 15 for $220, with the BOA closure system available on the D.N.A.’s for $240.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Footjoy D.N.A.’s in the forums

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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