Equipment
Ping launches “PLD1” custom-putter program
Attention, putter collectors, creative minds and golfers with deep pockets: Ping has a new custom-putter program called PLD1 (stands for Putting Lab Design) that may be right up your alley.
PLD1 allows golfers to customize a milled Ping putter, a concept that’s “inspired by the one-off, milled putters that Bubba and several of our tour players use,” according to the company.
On the PLD1 microsite, golfers have their say over the following design aspects:
- Dexterity (right- or left-handed)
- Alignment Aids (line vs. dot)
- Heel/toe bumper engravings (max 6 characters each bumper)
- “Ping” cavity color
- “Ping” hosel color
- Eyemark logo color
- Length (28-38 inches, standard is 35 inches)
- Loft (standard is 3 degrees, adjustable +/- 2 degrees)
- Lie (standard is 70 degrees, adjustable +/- 4 degrees)
- Grip (30+ options, including Ping, SuperStroke and Salty)
The putters, which will be handcrafted by Ping machinists, will sell for $600 plus tax, regardless of your custom selections. Each putter also comes with a PLD1 box and putter cover, as pictured above.
Visit puttinglab.ping.com to learn more.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
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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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Bert
Jan 15, 2017 at 8:32 am
Marketing gone crazy? Guess it will work if golfers buy them; after all they buy other Ping replicas for big bucks; just add milling!
booya cornflakes
Jan 13, 2017 at 12:38 pm
So…400 bucks for stamping? It feels like all of the other options can be had off the rack, other than the paintfill color which takes all of what, 25 minutes to change? This seems badly planned, especially when $600 buys a LOT of putter fro anyone number of boutique brands that are actually, you know, custom.
MuskieCy
Jan 13, 2017 at 12:31 am
I get one of these, PXG irons and stupid expensive JDM titanium.
Viola, the first GOLFWRX $10K bag championship.
I win and am a total loser at the same time.
Blake
Jan 12, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Go to edel instead and get a completely custom putter. $600 is ridic
tlmck
Jan 12, 2017 at 11:25 am
Hopefully there is something different about these otehr than the paint job of grip choice. If it is like the milled ones I hit at the store, mu 1990 stainless with no grooves walks all over those turds.
Cwolfs
Jan 11, 2017 at 7:03 pm
You lost me at the price tag. Never
John
Jan 11, 2017 at 4:37 pm
A $600 Ping Anser?! Kingston Putters about to get PAY-EDDD
Anthony Polakov
Jan 11, 2017 at 1:29 pm
A big waste of money. But what else do golf equipment company’s have to do but try every way to get more of our money!
Shanks for the Memories
Jan 11, 2017 at 12:42 pm
I was hoping there would be more options or models or something. Basically a milled anser with stamped bumpers and your choice of siteline… oh, and colors. Your choice of colors.
rymail00
Jan 11, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Agree. $600 for your choice of paintfill, bumper stamping and alignent choice is not what I’d consider a custom putter worth that price point JMO.
Maybe if other options like carbon, different finishes, and choice of head weights with adding tunsten or whatever. Might be asking a lot though.
Rich
Jan 11, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Literally a Rife Vault 001 Iconic Putter
John
Jan 11, 2017 at 1:16 pm
RIFE doesn’t have an iconic putter. Nobody thinks RIFE is iconic.
Smith
Jan 11, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Rekt.