Equipment

Show Stoppers: Day 2 at the PGA Merchandise Show

Published

9 years ago

Jan 22, 2015

Team GolfWRX is in Orlando to be your eyes and ears at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show.

Each day, we’ll publish a list of “Show Stoppers” — the newest, coolest products we find at Demo Day and inside the Orange County Convention Center.

Enjoy this list of Show Stoppers we found at Day 2 at the PGA Merchandise Show.

Callaway’s new Mack Daddy 2 PM Grind Wedges

Callaway’s new Mack Daddy 2 PM Grind wedges were designed by Phil Mickelson to help him with his specialty, open-faced wedge shots.

Callaway’s Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (left) and the Mack Daddy 2 PM Grind.

The high-toe design creates more face area when the face is opened, which helps with consistency. The wedge’s higher center of gravity also creates a lower launch angle and more spin — a good thing with wedges.

Weight was removed from the sole of the PM Grind wedge to create a lower launch angle and more spin.

Ever notice that golfers tend to hit lob shots on the extreme portion of the toe and very high on the club face? Mickelson and Callaway club designers did as well, which is why they extended the new wedge’s grooves all the way to the end of the face.

The PM Grind wedges come stock with the U Grind that Phil Mickelson uses on his lob wedge.

The wedges will be in stores May 1 and come in lofts of 56, 58, 60 and 64 degrees.

Click here to read more about Callaway’s new Mack Daddy 2 PM Grind wedges.

Golf Pride MCC Plus4 Grips

Golf Pride’s new MCC Plus4 has a 4.6 percent larger diameter on the lower portion of the grip, giving golfers the “built-up” feel that many prefer without the need for extra grip tape.

The grips are similar to the company’s extremely popular New Decade Multi-Compound grips in that they use two different constructions. The upper portion of the grip uses brushed cotton cord and Golf Pride’s Micro-Texture pattern for more stability, while the lower portion of the grip is made of a softer rubber compound for better feel.

They’ll be in stores March 15 and sell for $9.49 each.

KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 and 610 Wedge Shafts

KBS’ new 610 and Hi-Rev 2.0 wedge shafts suit the needs of golfers at different ends of the short game spectrum.

The 610 has a slightly larger butt diameter (it measures 0.610 inches) and is designed for better players looking for a flatter trajectory. The Hi-Rev 2.0 has a slightly stiffer butt section that creates a higher launch angle and more spin for more stopping power.

Oakley Prizm Lenses

Oakley’s Prizm lens are designed to block specific wavelengths across the color spectrum to maximize color contrast. That helps elite marksmen in a shooting environment find and hit their target, and also golfers.

Oakley found that the Prizm lenses can help golfers read greens, slope and see targets with more clarity.

Scotty Cameron’s New GoLo Putters

The new GoLo putters have aircraft-grade, milled aluminum faces.

“The mass market wants mallets,” said Scotty Cameron, who debuted several new mallet putter models yesterday at the Orange County Convention Center.

[quote_box_center]”Fifty percent of our sales are mallet putters, and 50 percent of [PGA] Tour players are using mallets,” he said. [/quote_box_center]

The GoLo 5R is has a more round appearance at address than the GoLo 5.

Cameron’s new GoLo putters include the GoLo 3, GoLo 5, GoLo 5R, GoLo 5R Dual Balance and GoLo 6. Their construction uses two pieces — an aluminum Face-Core Sole and a heavier stainless steel frame — to give putters a better feel and more forgiveness than GoLo putters he’s made in the past.

The GoLo 5 also comes in a Dual Balance, or counterbalanced model.

The technology is one that Cameron said could end up in future blade-style putters such as his Coronados and Newports.

The aluminum Face-Sole Core “pops” through the top of the putter, creating a unique alignment aid.

Click here to read more about Scotty Cameron’s new GoLo putters.

Full 2015 PGAM Coverage

Show Stoppers: Demo Day
Show Stoppers: Day 2
Show Stoppers: Day 3

Visit our 2015 PGAM forum to see all the photos and discussion.

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20 Comments

Brad Ingarfield

Jan 24, 2015 at 9:21 am

I’m looking forward to trying the new Oakley lenses. – Brad Ingarfield

Reply Report comment
8thehardway

Jan 22, 2015 at 11:54 pm

KBS shafts and Golf Pride grips are showstoppers? Must be some show.

Reply Report comment
- Jason
  
  Jan 23, 2015 at 9:44 am
  
  That’s what I thought, a million sq feet of golf equipment and that’s what qualified as a show stopper. Maybe I’m just hard to excite.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Philip Kim
  
  Jan 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm
  
  Where is the “Like” button functionality?
  
  Reply Report comment
T-MAC

Jan 22, 2015 at 8:08 pm

I’ve heard that the new aluminum face on the Cameron putters are very soft, almost carbon-like in feel. If I can get over the ugly looking sight aid that Golo 6 may find a spot in the rotation.
Looking forward to giving the new dual comp grips a try too. I always build up the lower half of my grips so these should save me on some tape.
The PM wedges are hard to look at but I’m thinking they probably work nicely. I lay my face open quite a bit on my 60 for many shots and these may be just the ticket. Be interesting to see how they slide through the sand being as big as they are.

Reply Report comment
talljohn777

Jan 22, 2015 at 4:25 pm

I hit my irons all over the face (heel, toe and occasionally the center) can we extend the grooves to all the areas of the face of every club as well not just the lob wedge??? 🙂

Reply Report comment
otherpaul

Jan 22, 2015 at 1:52 pm

I would like to hear about new swing analyzers and small portable launch monitors. Clubs are just clubs. Some new tiny idea blown up to sound big probably isn’t going to save me many strokes. How ever, a launch monitor I can use in front of my hitting net gets me pretty excited. Instant feed a is king (right? Wrx blade players) ????

Reply Report comment
- twshoot67
  
  Jan 22, 2015 at 9:20 pm
  
  I’m with you “otherpaul”, I’d like to hear more about the New Earnest Sports ES14 and ES13 and if anyone who’s there from golfwrx can shed some light on how they perform? Me personally I would be using it outdoors 90% of the time but when the winters in PA. get bad this would be a great tool to own. So I’d really like to hear first hand from the boys of wrx how they like the new products!
  
  Reply Report comment
Merty Huckle

Jan 22, 2015 at 12:11 pm

the PM wedge is ugly, but I really like the idea, and can see it being a good product. So far it’s the show highlight IMO

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Jan 22, 2015 at 11:58 pm
  
  It’s very similar in design to the old ping eye2 he used for many years.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dave
    
    Jan 24, 2015 at 10:15 pm
    
    +1
    
    Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Jan 22, 2015 at 11:37 am

The back of the Cameron putter looks like it was designed based on Paulina Gretzky’s butt cheeks. Sorry Dustin. Sorry Paulina. That was uncalled for. Butt it was like staring at an accident.

Reply Report comment
- luke keefner
  
  Jan 22, 2015 at 7:19 pm
  
  Looking back at the pic I think I have to agree with you.
  
  Reply Report comment
Nolanski

Jan 22, 2015 at 11:03 am

Playing golf with sunglasses has always bugged me but I hate being out in the bright sun without eye protection.

Reply Report comment
Jim

Jan 22, 2015 at 11:01 am

Not sure I’m too excited about the MD PM wedges. Looking down at that frying pan isn’t something I’d be too interested in, but I’ll withhold judgement until seeing one in person, but the first impression isn’t too nice.

Like the NDMC grips alot and look forward to seeing them soon.

Reply Report comment
Nolanski

Jan 22, 2015 at 10:57 am

If my eye can tolerate looking down at that wedge– I love the concept. The highest loft I take full shots with is a 54 but I carry a 58 for specialty shots. This one could replace my current 58. It’ll be interesting to play around with.

Reply Report comment
- RG
  
  Jan 24, 2015 at 12:12 am
  
  Get the Eye2 XG . Best specialty wedge ever, which is why Callaway is ripping it off..
  
  Reply Report comment
b-wall

Jan 22, 2015 at 10:54 am

Is it wrong to be excited about the grips? I always have 3 extra layers of tape put on the bottom half of my grips, so this may be just the fit I need. Sweet!

Reply Report comment
- Regis
  
  Jan 22, 2015 at 2:20 pm
  
  I’m with you. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I’ve gone through soooo many grip alternatives varying between types, brands, and sizes. Best fit for me is the Winn Excel and I think its because it has less of a taper than other grips. So no I too am pumped to try these out. (May even get a little bold with colors if they pan out).
  
  Reply Report comment
bradford

Jan 22, 2015 at 10:11 am

Just like Titleist, SC seems to follow the leaders and yet somehow seem “innovative”. This is not new.

A PM 58 will find my bag though.

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

10 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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