Equipment

Bettinardi 2017 Studio Stock and Queen B putters

Published

6 years ago

Nov 17, 2016

For putter enthusiasts, not just Bettinardi fans, the yearly release of Bettinardi putters is exciting, even if just to see just what Bettinardi came up with this time. This year is extra special, as the 2017 marks the first time Bettinardi will control almost the entire production process in its recently expanded headquarters.

“We wanted to own the process,” says Sam Bettinardi, head of sales and marketing and son of company founder Bob Bettinardi. “It also speeds up lead time and gives us more creative freedom.”

Its Tinley Park, Ill., HQ is also its manufacturing facility is, and where the milling, polishing, paint filling, and assembly (shafts and grips) of Bettinardi putters takes place. The only thing the company doesn’t do at HQ is apply PVD finishes to its putters (it trusts a U.S.-based partner for that).

Bettinardi releases its BB Series and Queen B/Studio Stock Series putters on alternating years. This year, it’s the Studio Stock and Queen B’s turn.

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With the new Studio Stock Series, Bettinardi introduces a new Mercury Grey finish and a blue-and-black paint fill scheme on the familiar, Tour-proven head shapes. You will notice a new model, the Studio Stock #3, which was in high demand after multiple Tour wins in recent years. The Studio Stock 28, popularized by Matt Kuchar in an Arm-Lock option, also saw a few adjustments, including additional head options.

The Studio Stock Series faces use Bettinardi’s F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) Face Finish, which is “Fly-Milled,” and then milled again to remove 55 percent of the material from the putter face. According to Bettinardi, the lack of material on the face is why the Studio Stock Series putters are the “softest milled putters you can find.”

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In the Queen B series, Bettinardi introduces a bumble bee black-and-yellow color scheme, and swarms of bees are engraved on the soles of two completely new head shapes.

Bettinardi says the Queen B series is where Bettinardi really expresses its creative freedom in shaping and style. Both putters come with the company’s Micro Honeycomb milled face, which offers a “crisper feel,” according to Bettinardi. Check out more info about each head model below, and join the discussion in our forums.

Studio Stock #3

Head weight: 352 Grams
Toe Hang: Slight
Lie, Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
Lengths: 33-35 inches
Material: Carbon Steel

The #3 is a new model in the Studio Stock Series line, and a more compact, stout mallet option with a slight toe hang. It’s available in 33-35 inch lengths, in both left and right hand, with a counterbalance option, as well.

Studio Stock #3 Counterbalance

Head weight: 400 grams
Toe Hang: Slight
Lengths: 36-40 inches
Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The Studio Stock #3 CB has a head weight that is 42 grams heavier, making its total weight 400 grams. The putter is also 3 inches longer in length and equipped with a longer, heavier grip to produce more stability throughout the stroke.

Studio Stock #8

Head Weight: 358 grams
Toe Hang: Half
Length: 33-35 inches
Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The #8, as you’ll notice, is the most classic-looking putter in the line, but differentiates itself from Anser-style putters with a raised toe, which Bettinardi says Tour players enjoy. It also has a plumbers neck.

Studio Stock #28 Arm-Lock

Head weight: 400 grams
Toe Hang: Quarter
Lengths: 38-42 inches
Loft, Lie: 71 degrees, 5 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The Studio Stock 28 head shape takes after Matt Kuchar’s famous Model 1 Armlock putter, and is designed to be used with the grip secured along a golfer’s forearm to create a more stable stroke. The model Kuchar used in previous year’s had 7 degrees of loft and 2.5 shafts worth of offset.

Recently, however, Kuchar has “toned back the armlock,” according to Bettinardi, and the Studio Stock 28 takes after Kuchar’s new putter specifications. It has only 5 degrees of loft and 1 shaft worth of offset. That means armlockers no longer need to forward press as far. The new armlock head style also has a lower face profile than its predecessor.

Studio Stock #28 CS

Toe Hang: Quarter
Head weight: 358 grams
Lengths: 33-35 inches
Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

Bettinardi is also releasing the Studio Stock #28 in standard-length models as both a heel-shafted and center-shafted putter due to high demand for the head shape. The center-shafted #28 head model has a slight toe hang.

Studio Stock #28 (Heel-Shafted)

Studio Stock Series Specs

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Queen B #8

Head Weight: 362 grams
Toe Hang: Quarter
Lengths: 33-35 inches
Loft, Lie: 70 dgerees, 3 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The all-new Queen B #8 model has a slotback with a milled pocket in the flange thats helps better frame the ball and encourage more consistent alignment. It also has a more squared off look than a classic mallet, and is designed with isolated rear bumpers that create a higher moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of forgiveness. The putter has a quarter-toe hang for a slight arcing stroke.

Queen B #9

Head Weight: 362 grams
Toe Hang: Half
Lengths: 33-35 inches
Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
Material: Mild Carbon Steel

“This model combines the best of the signature Bettinardi design principles with a gentle sweeping toe and crescent-milled neck to complement the compact and curved appearance,” Bettinardi says.

The Queen B #9 is also a new head design, which a crescent-milled neck that frames the ball slightly different at address than previous models. Like the Studio Stock Series #8, it also has a raised-toe design.

Queen B Specs

All 2017 Bettinardi putters will be in stores January 20, 2017, and will be available for pre-order on bettinardi.com in December. See more photos, and join the discussion in our forums here.

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Whats in the Bag

Sam Burns WITB 2023 (January)

Published

1 day ago

Jan 27, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Sam Burns what’s in the bag accurate as of the The American Express. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX

4-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB
Shafts: Project X 125 6.5

Wedges: Callaway Apex TCB (AW), Callaway Jaws MD5 (56-10S
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (AW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56)

Putter: Odyssey O-Works #7s Black
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

See the rest of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Aaron Wise WITB 2023 (January)

Published

1 day ago

Jan 27, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Aaron Wise what’s in the bag accurate as of the The American Express. More photos from the event here.

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15 @ 15.75)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 TX

Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM2 MAX (19 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5

Irons: TaylorMade P750 (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (52-12F, 56-08M)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: TaylorMade Ghost Corza
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See the rest of Aaron Wise’ WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

TOUR REPORT: Jason Day’s new Scotty Cameron, celebrity Ben Baller’s WITB, and Xander’s new 3-wood

Published

2 days ago

Jan 26, 2023

Andrew Tursky

The West Coast swing continued this week on the cliffs of San Diego at Torrey Pines for the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open, and we caught up with some of the top players (and celebrities) in attendance to see what clubs are in their bag, and what changes they’re making.

As GolfWRX uncovered, Xander Schauffele, Jason Day and Justin Rose made equipment changes ahead of the event. We also caught up with famous celebrities Ben Baller and Gareth Bale to get glimpse at their equipment setups; both players competed in the Pro-Am on Wednesday. We also spotted some new equipment that players were testing, and we caught up with Gary Woodland to check out his new Cobra setup.

Let’s waste no more time and get right into this week’s Tour Report from the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

Check out all of our photos from Torrey Pines here

Day switches to a new blacked-out Scotty Cameron…and a 7-wood

Back at the 2022 Shriners Open in October, I caught up with Jason Day to learn why he switched into a Scotty Cameron putter for the first time in his career, and what he liked about his new rounded mallet putter. He said the previous putters he used in the last few years – TaylorMade’s Spider Tour, and Odyssey’s Toulon Daytona – sat a bit too square, and looked as if they were pointing left of the target. The rounder Scotty Cameron mallet looked to point a bit more to the right, helping him to start the ball on a better line.

Here’s a look at his original Scotty Cameron build:

Last week at The 2023 American Express, however, Day switched into a nearly identical head, except this time it was made with a “Tour Black” finish. He ended up finishing 2nd in Strokes Gained: Putting on the week, and we caught with him on Tuesday at the 2023 Farmers Insurance this week to get a look at the new putter for ourselves:

Could this be the putter that helps Day get his magic back on the greens?

I went into way more depth into the putter switch over on PGATOUR.com, so click the link if you’re interested. We also have more photos and discussion of the putter in our GolfWRX Forums.

For this week, due to the particularly heavy rough and firm greens at Torrey Pines, Day also put in a TaylorMade Stealth 7-wood, equipped with a Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80X shaft. His caddie says he flies it about 245-250 yards and lands softly.

Check out more photos and discussion of Day’s switches here

Schauffele finally changes up his 3-wood

While Schauffele upgraded into a new Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions, he kept his old Epic Speed Triple Diamond 3-wood in the bag that week. As we covered in our full story on PGATOUR.com, he struggles with 3-woods that spin too low when he hits a right-to-left shot; he doesn’t want the ball coming in too hot and not being able to hold the green.

Since then, however, he found a new Paradym Triple Diamond 3-wood setup that minimizes that concern. His new 16.5-degree HL fairway wood, which is actually bent down to 15.3 degrees, has helped Schauffele tighten spin variation due to the spin consistency across the face.

He put the new 3-wood into play on Wednesday at Torrey Pines.

Xander Schauffele’s full WITB at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open

Woodland’s new Cobra setup

Gary Woodland officially signed an equipment deal with Cobra at the beginning of 2023, and we finally got a first look at his full WITB setup as a full-time Cobra staffer at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open. Most notably, Woodland switched into a new set of Cobra King MB irons, which he said are “literally off the rack.”

Check out the rest of his 2023 WITB here

Hideki tests an all-new Graphite Design putter shaft

According to Graphite Design rep Erik Boysen, there have been only two prototypes made of a new Graphite Design putter shaft, and Matsuyama tested one of them this week at Torrey Pines. The shaft is designed to provide increased stiffness and stability throughout the stroke. While Matsuyama isn’t putting it in play just yet, we’ll certainly keep an eye on his putter shaft going forward, and keep an eye on Graphite Design to see how this product may progress.

Join the discussion about the new shaft prototype here

Ben is a Baller

Ben Baller is a famous actor/jeweler/designer/entrepreneur/avid golfer/TaylorMade staffer, and he was also on the winning Pro-Am team this week.

Ahead of his victorious round at Torrey Pines, we got a look at all the clubs in Baller’s bag.

We expected nothing less than an eye-popping custom Scotty Cameron Masterful putter, engraved with his name and paint-filled with Lakers yellow. Uniquely, though, Baller went with a driver-less setup to help avoid the rough at Torrey Pines, so he went with a top-end setup full of TaylorMade Stealth2 and Stealth fairway woods and hybrids.

He fills out his bag with TaylorMade Stealth irons, TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges and custom TaylorMade golf balls with his logo on them.

Check out Ben Baller’s full WITB here

Kickin’ it with Gareth Bale

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Gareth Bale – a newly retired Welsh soccer player (or footballer, if you prefer) – also teed it up alongside Ben Baller on the winning Pro-Am team. While we didn’t get a chance to capture photos of every club in Bale’s bag, we managed to capture a few photos of his setup.

He doesn’t have a bad golf swing, either, especially for being a former world-class member of Real Madrid and Tottenham.

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Justin Rose switches drivers

The last time we caught up with Rose at the 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open, the equipment free agent had an old TaylorMade M2 2016 driver in the bag. He’s been conducting extensive driver testing recently, though.

This week, he ended up switching to a new Callaway Paradym 8.5-degree head, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 6X shaft.

Justin Rose full 2023 WITB at Torrey Pines

Ben Martin’s new EvnRoll putter

Martin was previously using an old Guerin Rife mallet putter, but he switched into a new EvnRoll EV5.2 mallet putter at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open.

James Hahn shows up with a mixed bag

Former PXG staffer James Hahn has apparently gone the free agent route in 2023, since he showed up at Torrey Pines this week with a mixed-brand setup, which includes a Titleist driver, TaylorMade fairway wood, PXG hybrid, Callaway irons, Titleist Vokey wedges, and a Scotty Cameron putter.

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Hahn’s new free agency and golf clubs

TaylorMade’s San Diego head covers

TaylorMade’s Carlsbad HQ is just down the road from Torrey Pines, so the company typically designs some San Diego-inspired headcover heat when the PGA Tour comes into town. The 2023 Farmers Insurance sunset versions certainly did not disappoint.

Unfortunately, the sun is also setting on this week’s Tour Report from Torrey Pines. We’ll see you next week as the Tour travels up the West Coast to Pebble Beach.

Check out all of our photos from Torrey Pines here

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