Equipment
Wilson’s Driver vs. Driver is back for a second season, entries now open
Wilson announced today that The Golf Channel has given the go ahead for season two of Driver vs. Driver — a reality show that follows the process of designing a new driver while its contestants compete for a cash prize. The new season is set to premiere in the Fall of 2018 and the “Call for Entries” is now open.
#DriverVsDriver is set to return! Submit your design by 6/4 and you could be a Season 2 contestant!#WilsonStaff
? https://t.co/O8pjtUtk86 pic.twitter.com/wInahEoraP
— Wilson Golf (@WilsonGolf) May 2, 2017
To enter your driver design, you or your team are required to submit a “short video” describing your concept and why you believe it to be golf’s next great driver innovation. No experience as an engineer or inventor is necessary, but it certainly will help since the competition will be stiff based on season one. The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. ET on June 4, 2017.
In case you forgot, last season’s winner was Eric Sillies who helped produce Wilson’s Triton driver. As promised, Wilson brought that driver to market, although it didn’t hit stores without a hiccup. Retail versions of the Triton were initially deemed illegal, but Wilson made slight adjustments to the sole plate of the driver to make it conforming.
You may also recognize the driver sketches in Wilson’s promotional images from somewhere. Ahead of season one, I visited Wilson’s headquarters to learn about the challenges of designing a driver, as well as the difficulties of making the driver not only legal, but effective and marketable. I can attest the entire process is far from easy, so season two’s winner will certainly earn their victory.
Good luck to all entrants and contestants of season two!
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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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- 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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View this post on Instagram
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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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...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
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19th Hole2 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole3 days agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
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19th Hole3 days ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole1 week agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole1 week agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole1 week agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Sandy Bunker
May 5, 2017 at 7:26 am
I’d like to submit my 25 year old Wilson Invex driver remodelled to today’s specs ( 460cc TI head & tricked up shaft ) and see how it goes on the Trackman , GC Quad etc. Man that driver was ahead of its time.
H
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
“it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
H
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
“it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Michael
May 4, 2017 at 11:05 am
There are currently no titanium driver heads manufactured in the US. The last one made here were prior to the Ping G-series drivers. There are persimmon drivers still being made in the US though.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 8:53 am
Wow, That was boring!
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 11:26 am
Nope, just boring.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Yep. too bored with your comment to bother.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 6:51 pm
ZZZZZzzzzzzz
rebfan73
May 4, 2017 at 7:43 am
Zzzzzzz
Mad-Mex
May 4, 2017 at 2:28 am
How about this, make it a K-Sig driver theme, Tour Grade quality for less than $199!!!
Then you will have me watching!
setter02
May 3, 2017 at 11:16 pm
Simple, 99% of it isn’t made in the US, happy shopping!
joro
May 3, 2017 at 11:58 am
Not again, I just got my Triton setup for my swing. It was okay when I got it but it get a lot better when I worked with the settings and got it just right. It is now my best Driver, better than the BB or the M2. Not another one!!
Dj
May 3, 2017 at 8:18 am
The Triton is actually a decent driver. My biggest surprise of demo day for sure
Mr Muira
May 3, 2017 at 7:12 am
If the engineering gonzos had a brain you would forget about the exterior looks and think about what they could do internally to make a driver work better than the $40 hollow pieces of crap they sell for $600.
H
May 3, 2017 at 2:17 am
I guess Wilson must have some money lying around not doing anything to throw it away on more junk that nobody will ever buy
H
May 5, 2017 at 2:13 am
We know its you Smeagol, why don’t you just go ahead and jump into the cauldron and fizzle
Rex
May 2, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Stop!
tlmck
May 2, 2017 at 5:43 pm
I would like to submit my new/old Titleist 909 D3 for consideration. Far superior to any new tech on the market.
taco breath
May 2, 2017 at 9:13 pm
i was thinking of something similar but for me its the 905r
Dj
May 3, 2017 at 8:17 am
Lol that thing wouldn’t come within 5 mph of ball speed of the m1 and epic
golfraven
May 2, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Please learn from series one and don’t f.. with R&A and USGA so next driver actually has a chance in the market. I like that Wilson are bold and give this a shoot though.
JS
May 2, 2017 at 2:13 pm
the tv money must outweigh the money they lose on these drivers.
chinchbugs
May 2, 2017 at 1:53 pm
***Conforming drivers not required***
Blake
May 3, 2017 at 4:53 pm
This was what i said also. Someone should go in and tell wilson “Why are you trying to compete with tit, tmag,etc on conforming drivers when 99% of golfers never play in a usga sanctioned event. Own the non conforming driver market. And therefore own the amateur market”
TR1PTIK
May 5, 2017 at 4:11 pm
How many guys in your foursome use non-conforming clubs (that were purchased as non-conforming clubs)? Wilson would be dealing themselves a much quicker death if they followed your advice.
Robert
May 2, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I would think season 2 will be much better now that it’s a known entity. They should get way more entrants. I was surprised at some of the teams that actually made the show and thought the WRX Driver you guys built was the best of all of them.
setter02
May 3, 2017 at 11:18 pm
Wilson is a known entity, how’s that working out for them?