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Callaway XR Drivers, Fairway Woods and Hybrids

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Callaway’s XR drivers, fairway woods and hybrids use the company’s new-and-improved Hyper Speed Face Cup technology to produce faster ball speeds — without skimping on forgiveness.

The new Hyper Speed Face Cup has an even thinner, lighter face than its predecessors. The lighter face gave Callaway engineers the ability to move the center of gravity (CG) slightly lower in the club heads, as well as add a bit more perimeter weighting. The results? Higher-launching, lower-spinning shots and club heads that are more consistent on mishits.

SPEED-FROM-R-MOTO-FACE-TECHNOLOGY

To lighten the face of the XR and XR Pro drivers, Callaway added what it calls “R-Moto” — also used on its Big Bertha Alpha 815 drivers — which is a series of ribs that connect the face to the crown and the sole. The structure reduces weight in the face by as much as 10 percent, and also transfers energy more efficiently, says Evan Gibbs, Senior Manager of R&D for Woods at Callaway Golf.

Callaway’s Speed Step Crown

Callaway also tackled an airflow issue with the XR line. With golf clubs, there’s a tendency for air to separate from the club head’s surface as it moves through space, which increases turbulence and drag.

Callaway’s XR driver uses the company’s new Speed Step crown (gallery above) to improve aerodynamics, while the XR Pro has an aerodynamically-enhanced Forged Composite Crown to slightly boost club head speed.

“THE SPEED STEP CROWN AND THE AERODYNAMIC HEAD SHAPE WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP THE AIRFLOW ATTACHED TO THE CLUB HEAD FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE,” SAYS GIBBS.

MORE-DISTANCE-WHERE-YOU-NEED-IT

The XR driver, fairway woods and hybrids also use what Callaway calls an Internal Standing Wave — a forward-leaning weight pad behind the face that helps lower CG for reduced spin and more ball speed.

Like the drivers, Callaway’s XR fairway woods and hybrids were also the beneficiary of aerodynamic improvements.

Callaway’s XR line offers two different driver models (Standard and Pro), three different fairway wood models (Standard, Pro and Deep) and two different hybrid models (Standard and Pro).

The standard models are the most forgiving option throughout the line for players who need more spin, forgiveness or both. The Pro versions have more compact head designs and offer a lower-spinning trajectory

xr-fwy-3-deep-face-2015

The XR Pro 3 Deep fairway wood (14 degrees) is a specialty 3 wood model with a deeper (read taller) face than the Pro model. It combines a larger face with a lower-spinning trajectory to create a club that golfers can use from the tee as a second driver, as well as from the fairway.

SPEED-FROM-MAXIMUM-SHAFT-LOAD

The XR line’s stock shafts are True Temper’s Project X LZ, which are designed to help golfers to maximize shaft load at the top of the swing transfer more energy into the ball at impact.

Standard XR drivers, woods and hybrids will be available in stores on Feb. 20, 2015, and the XR Pro and XR Deep models will be available on March 20, 2015.

XR driver

XR Product Shots-130 copy

Price: $349
Lofts: 9, 10.5, 12 and 13.5 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X LZ (Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara 52, no charge)

Design Features:

  • Speed Step Crown
  • R-Moto face
  • OptiFit Hosel offers 8 different loft/lie configurations

XR Pro driver

xr-driver-pro-address-2015

Price: $399
Lofts: 9 and 10.5 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X LZ (Matrix Black Tie and Fujikura Speeder 565, no charge)

Design Features:

  • R-Moto Face
  • Forged Composite Crown (lowers spin by 300 rpm compared to X2 Hot, according to Callaway)
  • Aerodynamic head design
  • OptiFit adjustability

XR fairway woods

XR Product Shots-187 copy

Price: $229
Lofts: 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X LZ

Design Features: 

  • Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup
  • 200 less rpm of spin compared to X2 Hot woods
  • Redesigned head shape — flatter leading edge, higher toe, shallower face height

XR Pro fairway woods

xr-fwy-pro-address-2015

Price: $239
Lofts: 14, 16 and 18 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X LZ
Design Features:

  • Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup
  • Internal Standing Wave for lower CG
  • Deeper face for better performance off the tee, and a more sloped crown to make working the ball easier, especially hitting a draw.

XR Pro 3 Deep fairway woods

xr-fwy-3-deep-address-2015

Price: $239
Lofts: 14 degrees
Shafts: True Temper Project X LZ

Design Features:

  • Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup
  • Internal Standing Wave for lower CG
  • Progressive face height and deeper face are designed primarily for shots off the tee

XR Hybrid

1200x580-XR-Hybrids-Press-Center-bold-bg

Price: $219
Lofts: 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X SD

Design Features:

  • Forged Hyper Speed Cup Face
  • Redesigned head shape and repositioned weight for 46 percent lower CG than X2 Hot hybrids
  • Internal Standing Wave for higher MOI and ball speed

XR Pro Hybrid

Price: $229
Lofts: 16, 18, 20 and 23 degrees
Shaft: True Temper Project X LZ
Design Features:

  • Compact head design for better players
  • Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup
  • Redesigned head shape for lowest CG ever in a Callaway hybrid
  • Internal Standing Wave for MOI and more ball speed
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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

42 Comments

42 Comments

  1. Jerry Spencer

    Nov 17, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    Who cares what a club looks like? I rather have totally ugly club that performs to my expectations. Calliway clubs do that for me.

  2. sean mcsweeny

    Apr 20, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    I have just purchased the xr pros is the weight on the bottom of the driver exchangeable and what are the advantages ?

  3. LindyLoulie

    Feb 8, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I wonder what clubs all the haters play?? The only brands that don’t change frequently are Titleist and Ping. So what?!? If you base your hatred on the looks and haven’t even hit them I guess you’re not being objective about the performance at all. Perhaps y’all are scratch golfers who could hit it a mile and within three feet with a broomstick??

    If the folks involved in the golf equipment R&D departments had no interest in finding a better way to make golf a little bit easier and more enjoyable for us amateurs looking for a bit more distance and forgiveness in our clubs we’d all still be killing ourselves playing those “great” old classic ’76 Wilson Staffs. I still have mine — in the closet! I loved them back in the day, however Father Time has taken his revenge on my ol’ body and hands. I truly appreciate having the opportunity to continue to play and enjoy the game even tho I have gone from a 3 to a 16 due to major health issues and the resulting lost distance. The wonderful advancements in equipment have made that possible.

    As for the new Callaway XR line… I had the opportunity to hit the XR 7 iron in my configuration — Men’s length/Senior flex — and the ball exploded off the face like a rocket! I gained 12 straight/15draw yards over last year’s X2 Hot. LOVE IT!! Can’t wait for my custom order to arrive! BTW, I for one like the looks. I actually prefer the look of the XR Pro at address due to its thinner top line and less offset, however I hit the standard XR a bit further, so that is what I opted for. I have not had the opportunity to hit the XR driver, fairways & hybrids, but if the irons are any indication, I’m sure the “woods” will be great as well.

    While I do not appreciate the fact that Callaway’s — and all other companies’ — policy of bringing out new models about every 6 months leads to rapid depreciation in value, I do appreciate having the opportunity to re-gain some of my lost distance along with greater forgiveness through new technology. I still have to know how to manage the course, make a good swing and have a sharp short game. Also, I still have to putt well, so the challenge of the game is still there, and it is what keeps me coming back for more!

    Now, all you haters go out and hit the new clubs before you hate on ’em! If you still hate them don’t buy ’em!

  4. Michael M

    Jan 15, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    same pos new paint on some

  5. Jgolf

    Jan 15, 2015 at 10:38 am

    It seems like these releases are coming fast and furious. But really it follows the one year cyle.
    BB 815 & BBDBD relpace BB & BB Alpha. XR 7 XR Pro replace X2 Hot & X2HP. So I figured we would be looking at an early summer release for the “Speed Enhanced Driver” to replace the BB V Series.
    But after visiting their website, they are billing this as “Crazy Speed” so maybe XR combines the X2 Hot and V series. When Callaway droped the FT Optiforce on us, they did say they were going to keep bring products to market when they have better tech. That being said, I agree with Leon. How much less spin do I want with my average club head speed. I know….more ball speed, etc.
    I’m a huge Callway fan, but I’m not feeling these so much.

  6. Golfnut99

    Jan 14, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    I am confused as to what everyone is yapping about with the graphics??? What is considered traditional today? The g30 graphics look like a spaceship with a sort of horned frog look at address? The XR pro dr/fwy/hy look about as clean as it gets out of anything in the industry. I am a 120 sis guy and hit both the fwy wood and hybrid in the pro model and std driver all with the stock stiff shafts. I have already pre ordered the pro in everything!!!! That’s how impressed I was. The ball just shot off the face and the club has great feel and sound. I have been a tmag guy for a long time ( u want to talk about cheap graphics look no further than r15 or aero burner??? ). I thought I would never replace my stage 2 tp fwy or my sldr 430 but this line has me super excited for 2015. Good stuff Callaway!!!

  7. Lee H.

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    I’m not crazy about the cheap looking graphics, but I’m sure the clubs will all perform, including the irons. That’s what really matters…The XR line is a replacement of the X2 line, not the BB Alpha line that just came out (for those complaining about product cycles)…I am heading to the PGA Show for the 1st time and these are definitely on my list to try out. I’m more curious about the irons though since I’m sticking with my X2 driver.

  8. bogeybirdiebogeybirdie

    Jan 14, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    When Callaway, Taylormade, and (insert any major brand here) come out with new equipment and “new” technology every few months, it really begins to discredit them and unfortunately show how stupid we are as consumers. If we truly believe that they come up with something revolutionary every 16 weeks, then we need to put these club designers in charge of cancer research and world hunger. They could wipe those out in under a year! However as long as the ignorant consumer (us) continue to buy $400 drivers and accept $50 trade value 4 months later for the next $400 driver, they will continue to change the crown color, add sliding weights, adjustable everything, and claim it will add 5 mph to our swing.
    P.S. If that last statement was true we would all have 250 mph swing speeds by now!

  9. Wilson63

    Jan 14, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    This replaced the x2 hot line and the 815 series replaced the original alpha series? Don’t really understand how this is confusing? Also, I have not a fan of the color scheme at all, but I mean the x2 hot pro 3 wood was one, if not the best 3 wood of 2014. So it’s the performance for me that counts. Can’t wait to hit it!

  10. Jgolf

    Jan 14, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    Actually it’s seems like these new releases are coming in fast and furious. But they are holding steady with the one year cycle on the Drivers, Fairways and Hybrids. 815 & 815DBD replaced BB & BBA. Now Xr & Xr Pro replaces X2 & X2HP. So I figure we’re gonna see a new version of the “Speed Enhanced Driver” mid summer to replace BB V Series. Callaway said when they dropped the FT Optiforce on us they were going to keep bringing new releases when they have new technology.
    That being said, I agree with Leon. How much less spin do I want with my very average clubhead speed. I’m a big Cally fan. But I’m not feeling these.

  11. Dan

    Jan 14, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    I didn’t even read the article but I’m willing to bet that in order to increase distance they moved the MOI to here which resulted in this and they changed a price to increase face speed. All of this research was done in less than 12 months time. Next year they will change the MOI to a different location and charge you $429

  12. Matthew Bacon

    Jan 14, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    Brought to you by BMW M Series

  13. dsw

    Jan 14, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    This is my first time posting on GolfWRX and I just had to respond to this horrendous line of clubs. My dad plays Callaway clubs and when I picked up golf a few years ago, I chose to play Callaways too, but this is just ridiculous. Callaway…what the heck are you thinking? Just horrible.

  14. jgpl001

    Jan 14, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    This is ABSOLUTE NONSENSE

    It’s nearly one new club a week, even TM would be proud of this charade

    So how long do I have wait for the 815 DD to drop in price, next week maybe???

  15. FTWPhil

    Jan 14, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    Callaway doesn’t seem to like #6 hybrids again. One year they have them, and the next they don’t. Kind of like when they made the RAZR X in a #6, but not the RAZR X HL. Not everybody who wants a #6 wants Edge Combo sets.

    • Thibault

      Jan 15, 2015 at 4:17 am

      Have a look at the Big Bertha HY line, they even carry a 7H

    • Large chris

      Jan 15, 2015 at 8:10 am

      My Grandma loves her 6 hybrid

  16. Jason

    Jan 14, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    I’m sure they are great clubs, would love to hit a bucket of balls with them. But I have to say that color and graphics scheme on the bottom is pretty Wal-Mart looking.

  17. Leon

    Jan 14, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    Now, I can hit 300 yards with less than 1000 rpm spin by switching to this trash. Wait, did I mention my swing speed is about 90 mph? Never mind, callaway told me that I can reduce 300 rpm spin rate by using their new drivers every time I switched. So I figured it out that my spin rate right now must be something less than 1000 rpm. Great.

  18. Troy

    Jan 14, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    I am a loyal Callaway customer and have been for nearly 20 years.
    I am no fan of the soles of any of the drivers or fairway woods, they look cheap.
    With that being said, one does not see the soles of woods or drivers that often, but wish they would make them look a little more classy/traditional.

  19. steve

    Jan 14, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Cant believe they went back to the project x shafts, those are terrible. I figured they would stick with the tour blue and green since they were such a huge improvement.

  20. Dpavs

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    Yuck.

  21. Regis

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    Wow. I just ordered a 2014 Big Bertha Alpha today because the price had dropped enough. Had to debate between the Alpha, The Big Bertha, the X2Hot or the V series. Didn’t even consider the 815 series. I’m a Ho and TMAG is my go to brand but even I’m confused as to where Callaway is going. Can’t imagine what the retailer is trying to juggle and this is just one brand.

  22. John

    Jan 14, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    I thought the 815 double black diamond just came out? What was product cycle on that line? My goodness. Is there a race between Callaway and TM for who can come out with the most woods in a 365 day window?

  23. Johnny Miller

    Jan 14, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    So X2 didn’t work at $329… Callaways solution: $349 and $399!!

    • Scooter McGavin

      Jan 14, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      Actually, or store sold a ton of X2 Hot woods.

      • Johnny Miller

        Jan 14, 2015 at 5:17 pm

        before or after they dropped $100?

  24. Person

    Jan 14, 2015 at 11:20 am

    I am confused; why are people still eating up these gimmicky looking clubs?

    • RobG

      Jan 14, 2015 at 11:36 am

      Who cares if they look gimmicky, its the performance that counts.

      • bradford

        Jan 15, 2015 at 8:35 am

        Do you also believe that a razor with 6 blades does a better job?

    • POS

      Jan 14, 2015 at 12:19 pm

      They don’t look any more gimmicky than those POS Titleist drivers

  25. Curt

    Jan 14, 2015 at 11:09 am

    I like the all black look so I can live with the colors on the bottom. I just won’t look underneath.

  26. frendy

    Jan 14, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Turbulators!

  27. Callaway X Hot

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:23 am

    I assume this is the replacement for the X2 Hot line of woods. Will they be coming out with a set of XR irons also?

  28. CB

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:01 am

    I hope it performs because it looks horrible.

    • POS

      Jan 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Looks great, performs great. Just like all Callaways always do.

  29. Zach

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:01 am

    whoa! No 2 or 5 deep?

    • Dakota

      Jan 14, 2015 at 9:51 am

      They will becoming out around the time of the XR Pro driver, I think the Cally rep said sometime in mid-march, but march for sure.

  30. Scooter McGavin

    Jan 14, 2015 at 8:24 am

    Color scheme seems to be a bit all over the place. But i suppose if they perform, that’s what really matters.

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Equipment

7 takeaways from an AWESOME equipment talk with Padraig Harrington

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Fans of golf equipment have long known that Padraig Harrington is one of us. Throughout his career, Harrington has been willing to test new products, make changes from week to week, and play with a bag of mixed equipment brands.

What equipment fans may not know, however, is just how brilliant of an equipment mind Harrington truly has.

Ahead of the 2023 Valero Texas Open, I caught up with Harrington to pick his brain about what clubs are currently in his bag, and why. The conversation turned into Harrington discussing topics such as the broader equipment landscape, brand deals in 2023, his driver testing process, why he still uses a TaylorMade ZTP wedge from 2008, square grooves vs. V-grooves, and using a knockoff set of Ping Eye 1 irons as a junior.

Padraig Harrington’s 2023 WITB

Below are my 7 major takeaways from the extensive gear talk with Harrington.

1) Padraig’s stance on equipment contracts, and why he prefers Wilson

Harrington is a longtime Wilson staffer, and although he supports the brand and uses their equipment, he doesn’t use a full bag of Wilson clubs. He finds Wilson’s understanding of a player’s need for flexibility to be beneficial to the player, and it’s attracting more and more professional players to the company (such as Kevin Kisner and Trey Mullinax).

“Wilson wants me to play whatever I’m comfortable with. It’s very important. They’re not a manufacturer that says, ‘We want you to play 14 clubs.’ There’s always a club you don’t like. That’s just the way it is. So Wilson is like, ‘We want you playing well and playing the best clubs for you.’

“I am very comfortable with their irons. I’m very comfortable with their wedges, as you can see. They have an old hybrid 4 iron that I love. They have a new hybrid 4-iron that is too powerful. I put it in the bag last week and I had to take it out. The thing is, I use a 4-iron and a 5-wood. My 4-iron has to go somewhat relative to my 5-iron, and then I have to bridge that gap between 4-iron and 5-wood, so it has to do both. The new 4-iron was going 230 yards. My 4-iron goes about 215-235, maybe 240 on a warm day. And my 5-wood is like a warm-day 265 in the air, but I have no problem hitting it 235, so I can cross it over. But this 4-iron, the new version, it just went. I couldn’t hit the 215 shot with it; it’s just too powerful. That’s why I have the old 4-iron in the bag, but it does the job to bridge the gap…

“As players get more money, they’re less dependent on manufacturers. They need the service of a manufacturer – because, like I need to be on that truck and get things checked. But you’re seeing more players see Wilson as an attractive option because you don’t have to use 14 clubs. If you’re not happy this week with the putter; you know, Wilson has the putters, they have everything, but if you want to chase something else for a moment…remember, there’s two things you’re chasing. If you’re a free agent, it’s not good to be changing a lot. That is a distraction. But it’s nice to have the option that if somebody…like I feel Titleist has come out with a great driver. And I’m able to work my way straight into Titleist and say, ‘Hey, gimmie a go with that. Oh, this is a great driver, I’m going to use this.’ Wilson is aware of that. They want their players to be happy and playing well. Like it’s still 10 clubs, but it’s just not 14 and the ball.

“The irons are great, there’s no doubt about that. They’ve won the most majors. They make a gambit of irons. If you want to use a blade, they have the blade. If you want to use my iron, which is just a good tour composite, it has a bit of a cavity-back, you can do that. If you want to use the D irons that have rockets going off there, you can have them. Like the 4 iron, the one they gave me, it was a rocket! And guys are happy to carry driving irons like that, but mine has to match in with the 5-iron. It was just too high and too fast.

“So yeah, I think you’re going to see manufacturers go more of that way. Our players want to be independent, but the problem is that full independence is not great. You don’t want a situation where you’re turning up – as you see kids who make it into their first tournament, and the manufacturers start giving them stuff, and they’re changing. You don’t want to be the guy changing too much.”

2) The dangers of a 64-degree wedge

Although Harrington himself uses a Wilson Staff High Toe 64-degree wedge, he seldom practices with it. Here’s why he warns against it:

“The big key with a 64 wedge is DO NOT use it. No, seriously, do not use it. It’s a terrible wedge for your technique. That club is in the bag and it gets used on the golf course, and it gets used when it’s needed, but you don’t practice with it, because it’s awful. So much loft will get you leading too much, and you’re going to deloft it. Hit one or two shots with it, then put it away. You’re better off practicing with a pitching wedge and adding loft to be a good chipper instead of practicing with a lob wedge and taking loft off. A 64-degree wedge is accentuating that problem. It’s a dangerous club. It does a great job at times, but it certainly can do harm.

“It’s not bad having it in the bag for a certain shot, but it’s a terrible club to practice with. I literally hit one or two full shots with it, a couple chips with it, and that’s it. I know if I spend too long with it, I’ll start de-lofting.”

3) The interchangeable faces on TaylorMade’s ZTP wedges from 2008 were Padraig’s idea?!

I couldn’t believe it myself, but Harrington says that the idea for TaylorMade to offer interchangeable face technology on its ZTP wedges in 2008 was originally his idea…

“The TaylorMade is obviously attracting a lot of attention, but that was my idea! Myself and a consultant for Wilson, I got him to build changeable faces and he sold that to TaylorMade…that’s fully my idea. He sold that then to TaylorMade, and TaylorMade produced them, which I was happy about. But TaylorMade couldn’t sell them. You can’t get people to clean the grooves, so they weren’t going to buy a new face. Why have 400 faces at home? So I went out and bought these faces to make sure I had them for life. And I was home chipping a while ago, and I have a nice 58. I like the grind on that wedge, and the fact I can just replace the face and have a fresh face every three weeks, it’s just easy, so that’s why that’s in there.”

4) Driver testing isn’t all about speed

“The driver companies know I’m a free agent when it comes to drivers, so every time a new driver comes out, they’ll come to me and say, ‘Hey, would you have a look at this?’

“I will test everything, yeah, but it has to beat what I have in the bag. And Wilson’s new driver is the same. They brought out a new driver and it’s great, but I love the driver I’m using. So I say, ‘Look, guys, not only do you have to be as good as the incumbent, you have to be better, because I already know this and I’m familiar with it.’

“Wilson has built a very, very good driver. There’s know doubt about it. But I love the driver I’m using. And none of these manufacturers can build me a driver that’s better.

“Ball speed gets a driver into the conversation, and then you bring it to the golf course. So the driver has to be going as good as my current driver, and then I bring it to the course and see if I can hit the thing straight. I have gone down the road [of prioritizing speed]…I used a driver in 2014, and it never worked weekends. But it was fast. I used it for about six weeks I’d say – six tournaments – and I missed six straight cuts. It never worked the weekend. It was really fast on the range, but it just wasn’t good on the course.”

 

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5) Playing with knockoff irons as a junior

“I played as a junior for Ireland, under 18’s, and I owned half a set of golf clubs, and they were imitation Ping Eye 1’s. I borrowed the other half set off my brother. We had a half set each. I had the evens, he had the odds. In that tournament, there was a guy playing with Ping Berylliums with graphite shafts. They cost 1,900 pounds. Mine cost 100 pounds, and they were knockoffs. So I played, for my country, with a set of knockoffs. Before I used those knockoff clubs, I used a mixed bag of clubs. As in, I picked up whatever club they had. The 6-iron might go farther than the 5-iron. The 5-iron might go with a fade and the 7-iron might go with a hook, but I knew what my clubs did. Each club had a purpose.”

6) Using square grooves and V-grooves simultaneously

Square grooves – or “box grooves” – were outlawed by the USGA in 2010 because they were said to help golfers spin the ball too much. V grooves are said to provide less of an advantage because they restrict the sharp edges of the grooves, thus reducing the amount of friction imparted on the golf ball. Prior to the rule change, however, Harrington actually used both V grooves and box grooves, and he’d adjust his setup depending on the golf course.

“What’s interesting is, when the box grooves were around – very few people know this – I carried two sets of clubs at all times. I carried a V groove and a box groove.

“Yeah, see, the box grooves were unbelievable out of the rough, spin wise, but if the rough got to a certain level, the ball would come out so low and with spin that it wouldn’t go very far. Your 7-iron coming out of this rough would only go like 140 yards and it wouldn’t get over any trees because it would come out so low. What I was doing was, if I got to a golf course with this sort of a rough, I’d put in a box groove 7-iron and a V-groove 8-iron. If I got in the rough and I had 170 yards, I’d hit an 8 iron and get a flyer, because the 7 iron wouldn’t get there depending on the lie. And I couldn’t get it over things. So if there were trees, you needed the V groove to get over the trees. A box groove wouldn’t get up in the air.

“No one else was doing it. I played with the box groove for a couple years before I realized that in certain rough, you need the V groove to get there. Hale Irwin played a U.S. Open seemingly with no grooves. Off the fairway it’s meant to make no difference. I would disagree, but that’s what the officials would say. But out of the rough you needed the flyers to get to the green. The V grooves were doing that for me. You get your flyer to get of the rough to get the ball there, but then if it was the first cut of rough, or light rough, or Bermuda rough, or chip shots, it would come out so low and spinny that you’d have no problem.

“I can’t believe that people didn’t realize that I was doing this two-groove thing all the time. I swear to you, you could stand here, you would not launch a 7-iron over that fence there if it was box grooves out of light rough, and V groove would launch over it. The launch characteristics were massively different.”

7) Blame the person, not the putter

Interestingly, Harrington, for all his tinkering, has only used a handful of putters. It turns out, there’s a good reason for that — although he’d like his current model to be a few millimeters taller.

“I used a 2-ball when it came out. Then I used a 2-ball blade, which I won my majors with. I always had a hook in my putts, so not long after I won my majors, I went to face-balanced putter because it helps reduce the left-to-right spin. I started putting really badly in 2013 and 2014 – I had some issues. And then come 2016-2017, I just said, look, I putted well with this putter. If I use this putter, I can’t go back and say it’s the putter’s problem. It’s gotta be me. So I went back to the face-balanced 2-ball blade because I’ve had good times with it. I may have only used 5 or 6 putters in my career.

“I’m really happy that I’ve got a putter that I know I’ve putted well with, and I don’t blame the putter. I can’t say that anymore. I don’t blame my tools, I blame myself if I miss a putt. So it comes down to…I know the putter works, then it’s me. Me, me, me.

“You know, I’ve toyed with using other shafts in the putter, and I will look at other putters, but things are askew to me when I look down. So I can’t have a putter with a line on it. It doesn’t look square to the face. I’ve never putted with a putter that has a line on it for that reason. I line up by feel. I know that putter works, I know it suits me, so that’s why I go with that…

“I prefer a deeper putter (a taller face). The one issue I have is I hit the ball too high on the face, but they won’t remodel the whole system to make me a deeper putter. I’ve tried some optical illusions to try and get it where I hit the ball more in the center, but I hit it high. It seems to be going in the hole so I’m not going to worry about it too much. But in an ideal world, if someone came along and said they could make the putter 3-4 millimeters higher, I’d be happy with that.”

See more photos of Padraig Harrington’s 2023 WITB here

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TaylorMade survey on ball rollback finds everyday golfers massively against introduction of Model Local Rule

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In response to the USGA and R&A’s recent announcement that they plan on rolling back the golf ball for the professional game, TaylorMade Golf issued a survey asking everyday golfers to voice their opinion regarding the topic of golf ball bifurcation. Today, they are sharing the results.

Almost 45,000 golfers across more than 100 countries spanning a variety of ages, abilities and participation levels took the time to complete the survey and have their voice heard, with some of the major findings shown below:

  • To the best of your knowledge, do you agree with the proposed golf ball rule?
    • 81% No
    • 19% Yes
  • Do you think average hitting distances in professional golf need to be reduced?
    • 77% No
    • 23% Yes
  • Are you for or against bifurcation in the game of golf (i.e., different rule(s) for professional golfers versus amateurs)?
    • 81% Against
    • 19% For
  • How important is it for you to play with the same equipment professional golfers use?
    • 48% Extremely important
    • 35% Moderately important
    • 17% Not important
  • If the proposed golf ball rule were to go into effect, would it have an impact on your interest in professional golf?
    • 45% Less interested
    • 49% No impact
    • 6% More Interested

The results also show that 57 percent of golfers aged 18-34 years old would be less interested in the pro game should the rule come into effect, while five percent said they would be more interested.

“The goal of our survey was to give golfers the opportunity to voice their opinion on this proposed ruling as we absorb the MLR and its potential effects on the everyday golfer. We are grateful that nearly 45,000 golfers across the world felt the need for their voice to be heard. The overwhelming amount of responses show the passion, knowledge and care for the game our audience possesses. Each response and data point is being reviewed as we will utilize this feedback in our preparation to provide a response to the USGA and R&A.” – David Abeles, TaylorMade Golf President & CEO

You can check out the survey results in full here.

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Spotted: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three “anti-right” prototype putter

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Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K putters have really taken off on tour, and we have seen a handful of models in tour player’s bags. The latest version we spotted out on tour is a very unique design.

Odyssey makes this putter head with a standard flow neck that offers plenty of toe hang for golfers who prefer or need that weighting. This prototype has a long slant neck installed more near the center of the putter head that lets the toe sit slightly up in the air when held horizontally. This is pretty different since most putters sit with the toe hanging down towards the ground or are face balanced (face sits parallel to the ground). A full shaft offset looks to be achieved with the slant neck and the look at address is definitely different.

We spoke to Callaway PGA Tour manager Joe Toulon about the putter and he had the following to say

“On course [we had a player who] had a little push bias that didn’t necessarily show up in practice but it is something that he felt on course. So we wanted to build something that was a little easier to release and maybe not necessarily open the toe as much in the back stroke and not have to work as hard to release it in the through stroke. That was kind of designed to give a little offset and when you rested it on your finger it would rest toe up a little bit. We thought for that player it would help him square the putter face at impact rather than leave it open a little bit.

“It was more of a concept we had and will continue to work on it. When we had it on the truck and we were hitting some putts with it we noticed that you had to work really hard to push this putter. We wanted to make an anti-right putter. Just a fun little concept that we have an idea and work with our tour department to test things out.

“It isn’t something that ended up in a player’s bag but we learned some things in that process and will keep in mind for future builds and projects.”

The finish also looks to be a little different than the standard Tri-Hot 5K putter’s black and silver motif. The face and neck are finished in silver and the rear done in more of a blueish-gray tone. The White Hot insert looks to be standard and the sole still contains two interchangeable weights.

The shaft looks to be painted in the same metallic red as their standard Stroke Lab shaft, but we don’t see a steel tip section. Not sure if this putter has a full graphite shaft or painted steel.

Toe sitting slightly up

Check out more photos of the Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three Putter.

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