Equipment
“I play golf.” Be proud to be a golfer
More than just a cool slogan on a hoodie, the words “I play golf” have had such a strong impact on me throughout my life.
Like any kid growing up, I had a variety of interests… but ultimately, sports ran my life. Whether it was watching or playing, I lived for basketball during basketball season, football during football season, and baseball during baseball season. But ever since I could walk, I took a strange liking to golf in particular, and it never had an “off-season” to me. In the spring, summer and fall months, I went to the range (often forcing my mom to videotape my swing for hours), to the golf course with my dad, or hit pitch shots in my backyard until sunset or long after. In the winter, I chipped on the carpet in our living room, or I swung a golf club in a mirror working on my positions. I was obsessed with the game.
Often times, however, it was a personal obsession; something I kept to myself. Kids can be cruel, and playing golf was more of a reason to be ridiculed than praised for me while growing up. So I always told people “I play basketball,” or “I play football.” Rarely did I say, or at least say proudly, “I play golf.”
But as time went on, and I went from playing golf in junior events, to high school matches, to playing golf in college, I started saying it more and more proudly. My college peers, probably from all of the student-athlete gear I’d wear to and from class, knew I played a sport at Rutgers. They’d ask, “what do you play; baseball or lacrosse or something?” And I’d answer, “No, I play golf.”
I was being borderline cocky with my answer, if we’re being honest. I liked playing Division I golf, plus I had worked so hard to get there I felt entitled to that bravado. It also felt good to not hide my passion for golf amongst my peers anymore like I did when I was younger. Some people even thought it was pretty cool I played golf.
A funny thing happened my junior year while on the golf team at Rutgers, however. A tumor popped up into my spine, and the back spasms were so bad I needed immediate surgery. Back surgery at 20 years old is far from ideal for anyone, but as a collegiate golfer with big aspirations, it could have meant the end of my career. And it almost did.
I was forced, both physically and by my doctors, to red shirt my senior year. That meant I did not in fact play golf. For awhile, I couldn’t even stand to putt, let alone work on my swing at the range. “I play golf.” Maybe those are words I’ll never say again, I thought at the time.
“The Blackout” hat by @Back9usa
Sometime during my senior season, however, I began swinging the golf club again. Then I started playing golf again. Then I started scoring pretty well during practice rounds, and I felt I was “back.” But this time around, I had a new appreciation for the sport that I’ve always loved.
After graduating from Rutgers, and with a year of eligibility still left to play collegiately, I took my (mostly diminished) talents to Hawaii; a Division II school called Hawaii Pacific University. When people asked me at HPU what sport I played, I proudly — not with embarrassment, apprehension, or some unwarranted cockiness — told them “I play golf.”
The words “I play golf” may have different meanings to you, depending on your perspective. Actually, I had a swing coach one time who would repeatedly ask me, “Do you play golf swing or do you play golf?” to which I’d answer “I play golf.” But, to me, the words “I play golf” on this hoodie represent a lifelong relationship with golf that went through ups and downs, but today I’m proud to be a golfer, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to play the game I love most. And to anyone who gets made fun of — kids, adults, whomever — for playing golf, I say screw em; be proud of who you are and what you love. Life’s too short to be ashamed of yourself, and golf truly is the greatest game ever played, isn’t it?
If you’re proud to be a golfer, purchase your “I play golf.” hoodie here.
- LIKE117
- LEGIT15
- WOW7
- LOL6
- IDHT7
- FLOP7
- OB5
- SHANK95
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
View this post on Instagram
OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
- LIKE19
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Like L.A.B. Golf’s larger DF 2.1 putter, the new DF3 is “fully automatic.” That means golfers will get the full experience of DF3 wanting to guide itself on the correct path on the way back and through. This is possible thanks to L.A.B. Golf’s patented Lie Angle Balance technology. The technology creates true zero-torque putters that stay square by themselves. Golfers can trust that L.A.B. Golf putters will return to square without any need for manipulation.
How we choose our testers
GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.
Overall tester feedback
Overall, our testers were impressed with the ease and precision of the remote-fitting process with its custom options. On the whole, even those skeptical about the DF3’s shape enjoyed the ease of alignment and consistent delivery of putter to ball, with some testers pointing to an initial “adjustment period.” Those who had played previous L.A.B. creations universally praised the improved feel of the DF3.
What our members said
“I try to take a lighter grip typically when I putt or at least when I am putting my best. I can do that for the most part BUT it is on the shorter putts lately where the grip gets a little tighter at times. The one thing I tried to focus on, after watching some videos Sam has putt online about how to putt with his putters, was to not feel pressure in my thumbs during the stroke and let the putter swing more freely. When you do this, this putter just wants to rock back and forth. Let the putter/tech do the work for you without your brain trying to telling to manipulate the face in any way. It was a different feeling not having that “torque” working against your hands in the feel of the stroke.”
“At this point, I feel completely confident with this putter. I have never seen the ball roll this consistently end over end on my start line. It has made me realize that I definitely have a bit of work to do in the green reading department, but what’s really nice is that it never leaves me guessing. When I watch the ball start on my line and roll perfectly end over end, it is at least nice to be able to definitively say “oh I just misread that” while taking out almost every other variable.”
“Also for whatever reason people find the gimme getter so hilarious. It’s always just “oh cool that picks up balls?!”…Unless something wild happens this putter will be staying in the bag for the foreseeable future including the tournament schedule over the season, I’ve got almost nothing bad to say about it.”
“It’s everything I hoped it would be. I’m very happy I went with the heavier head option, I fear the standard weight would have felt a touch too light for my taste. So shout out to Calvin for being spot on there. At the current weight, I can have a light grip pressure and let gravity do the work. The head just feels incredibly stable and amazingly solid. Speaking of grip, I really debated what grip to go with and the Press Pistol seems like a great choice. The grip feels very versatile for different putting styles, maybe a bit less so for left hand low (imo). I’m mostly a “2 thumbs” guy but have gone back and forth with left hand low as well as claw. The grip tapers down to a smaller flat oval at the bottom. I didn’t love it for left hand low, but for a claw style grip it is really really good.”
“This putter isn’t going to magically turn a poor putter in to Brad Faxon on the greens. But what I can say with confidence is that removing the excessive face rotation from the putter makes creating a repeatable, consistent stroke infinitely easier to obtain. If you’ve been wanting to try a LAB putter, this is the one truly worth taking the dive on in my opinion. Having never been completely blown away with the Mezz or DF 2.1, this putter has really changed my opinion. I’ve always been really intrigued by the technology, and completely buy in to the concept, but I’ve never been able to get past what I perceived to be less than stellar looks, sound and feel. LAB, in my opinion, has address and improved on all of those things. While this putter still looks far from conventional, it did not take long to get comfortable with the look or footprint. It’s not overly obnoxious in size and sets up so well behind the ball.”
“As far as consistency, it’s ridiculous. You can hit these putters ANYWHERE on the face and the ball rolls end over end. And whether you hit it in the middle, on the toe, or on the heel. The balls roll pretty much the same distance, easily within 6″ of each other.”
“LAB really did a great job with the new smaller size as well. The DF 2 always felt like I was putting with a branding iron. The DF 3 is a perfect compact size and very easy to look down at.”
“The DF 2 I had was an armlock putter. So my only concern with the DF 3 was the grip. I have never been a hands pressed forward putter. It was recommended to me to go with the Press II 1.5* grip so I did. Went with the textured grip and it is perfect. I putt with the pencil grip and my hands are very comfortable.”
“As much as I love the roll that the PXG milled face putters (which I’ve been using for years) put on the ball the DF 3 is even better. Can’t believe I’m saying this but you will soon see my PXG putter on the BST.”
Member review themes
- Ease of remote fitting process
- Putter stability
- Surprisingly good sound and feel
- Ease of getting a putt on line
- Ease of alignment
Check out the full review thread here.
More about GolfWRX member testing
Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.
For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.
You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole3 days agoReport: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week agoGary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks agoTeam McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
Equipment1 week agoGolf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
-
19th Hole1 week ago
LIV star splits with swing coach after working together for 14 years
Laney
Nov 2, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Such a well-written and poignant article. And the hoodie is dope AF.
Mad-Mex
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:19 pm
“Back surgery at 20 years old is far from ideal for anyone, but as a collegiate golfer with big aspirations, it could have meant the end of my career.”,,, what a narcissist hit piece! Really? I can easily introduce you to a dozen men and women 20 years old who had one or both legs blown off, I can also introduce you to a dozen or more young men and women who work while attending high school or community college paying their way and helping their family. GOLF is a LUXURY !!!
Let’s see how long before this one is deleted too.
Jack
Oct 31, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, what a loser for being upset about losing out on a lifelong career dream. Hey people have had legs blown off, so no whining about back surgery!
Actually you know what, the guys with blown off legs should shut their holes too, I know people who DIED in combat, so these guys with two working limbs and a heartbeat should just shut the hell up too I guess.
Dave
Oct 30, 2017 at 9:09 am
The comments here are funny.
LD
Oct 30, 2017 at 5:41 am
Looks like they also added enough “likes” to prevent the article from being the shank that it is. Pathetic.
2putttom
Oct 29, 2017 at 6:44 pm
” for playing golf, I say screw em; be proud of who you are and what you love. Life’s too short to be ashamed of yourself, and golf truly is the greatest game ever played, isn’t it?”
. spot on
C.B.
Oct 30, 2017 at 2:21 am
We all know it was you who caused it all to happen with your incessant nonsense
Stevens
Oct 29, 2017 at 11:57 am
The game is doing just fine now without the Tiger Woods bandwagon of fickle children. Please don’t encourage them to return.
Tim Gunn
Oct 29, 2017 at 10:08 am
Make it work!
The dude
Oct 28, 2017 at 8:47 pm
This is a joke right???
Sr. Golfer
Oct 29, 2017 at 5:55 pm
If anybody walked into my golf club wearing that hoodie and baggy pants they would be quickly escorted out the front gate. So yes, it is a joke, a bad joke.
Phil
Oct 28, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Golfer’s Anthem:
O say can you see, the golf ball on the tee,
What so proudly we play to twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad fairways and bright greens through the perilous OBs,
O’er the sand bunkers we watched, were so gallantly swinging!
And the driver’s fast flare, the balls flying in air,
Gave proof through the green that the flag was still there;
O say does that golf-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
AP
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:14 am
No kneeling…. stand up and sing proudly.
C.B.
Oct 30, 2017 at 2:20 am
You really enjoy talking to yourself, don’t you?
Duncan
Oct 28, 2017 at 7:59 pm
#curmudgeon Take the hate elsewhere. Grow the game bro
Closing time
Oct 29, 2017 at 9:56 am
Are you serious? You still have brought nothing to the table accept apparent hate probably stemming from jealousy…you’re that guy who looks at me and our group of players who are for most part finishing/finished baseball careers, and came to a private country club with full sleeve tattoos accumulated while bouncing around country playing baseball and golf when not playing ball…it’s those like you so quick to judge, I’ve seen it literally. Yet guys I’ve crossed paths with on web. and PGA Tour are the last to decide someone’s character by appearance. Occasionally 2 NFL players joined us this summer, and its you a full grown man asking for autographs after passing judgement for the way someone looks. Cheers to you, and hope you change the way you think…the close minded miss out on life
Terry
Oct 29, 2017 at 1:39 pm
LOL
Duncan
Oct 28, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Your serious? Let me guess… over 60 curmudgeon.
Duncan
Oct 28, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Great article. Make golf great again. I am in the same boat. Much cooler to say your a race car driver or basketball player than a golfer. Golfer I am.
8thehardway
Oct 28, 2017 at 12:15 am
‘The hoodie, you own it, you better never let it go.’
Your heartfelt shame-to-pride journey is bookended with ads for the $39.95 hoodie you wear in the accompanying eminem-inspired photo shoot? I’m calling a Slim Shady on this infomercial.
alfred
Oct 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Good stuff!
Terry
Oct 27, 2017 at 8:29 pm
I dont get this article
Duncan
Oct 28, 2017 at 7:56 pm
Troll, hater. Must have been banned. You can smell it.
RonL
Oct 27, 2017 at 6:04 pm
How about these slogans?:
Golf is my passion
Golf is for lovers
Golf is power
Golf is happiness
Golf is wonderful
Golf is important
Golf is golf
Scott
Oct 27, 2017 at 2:55 pm
I have played golf when it was kind of cool (maybe kind of cool?), then not cool, then very cool, and now, not that cool. Not sure that I was ever laughed at or made fun of. I never really care what people think. So heck yeah! I play golf!! Always something I could do with my dad. He woudl needle the $^!t out of me and piss me off to no end. What I wouldn’t give to have any of those days back.
Travis
Oct 27, 2017 at 1:45 pm
I’d buy a hoodie if it didn’t say “GolfWRX” right on the hood. What a stupid location for that…
M. Vegas
Oct 27, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Back the blue!
Morpheus
Oct 28, 2017 at 2:14 am
You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.
Duncan
Oct 28, 2017 at 7:58 pm
hater. How about be proud and grow the game. #curmudgeon
037
Oct 27, 2017 at 1:19 pm
So you ran away to Hawaii, where there is nothing else to do but play golf and surf and thought you were cool saying you played golf? Boohoo. I don’t think you were in a challenging environment to say that with any power. You should have gone to some cold weather poor industrial town and say that in the middle of the town square where people have never even come close to golf and see what happens then
Scott
Oct 27, 2017 at 2:47 pm
huh???? what is this comment about???
fUN
Oct 27, 2017 at 4:36 pm
i THOUGHT iT was fUNNY
Bert
Oct 28, 2017 at 9:22 am
Perfect!
SteveK
Oct 27, 2017 at 1:13 pm
In a word(s) …. OCD ….. and everybody wants to ‘play’ for fun, but only a few want to ‘perform’ for the satisfaction of accomplishment.
Phil
Oct 27, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Fried Eggs golf should do a rap video with this hoodie on.
Colonel
Oct 28, 2017 at 2:18 am
Yes…. rap and golf go hand in hand ….. yo’ bro’
JT
Oct 27, 2017 at 12:14 pm
I’d love to play a round with you Andrew. I found this game about 6 years ago and have been obsessed ever since. I only wish that I had found this game earlier. Very cool hoodie.
To the other commenter, thank you for your service! I say never be afraid to say you served.
me
Oct 27, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Re. ‘Golfer’ post above… It sucks that you feel that way. Golf is awesome! It’s a great sport and is great for the soul, esp when compared to other sports imo.
Thank you for your service in the military… my family and I are LUCKY to have people like you. Never be ashamed, b/c if people make you feel that way about being in the military… you don’t want to be around them anyway. THANK YOU!
Golfer
Oct 27, 2017 at 11:36 am
Until recently there were two things I did not like to share with others: That I play golf and that I was in the military. Nowdays I share the golf connection with virtually everyone and the military connection with a select few.
Thank you for your article Andrew.
LaBraeGolfer
Oct 27, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Golfer sorry to hear that you felt ashamed being in the military. Where I come from our military men and women are our heroes. I have a fair amount of family that served. Thank You for your service!!!
Colonel
Oct 28, 2017 at 2:16 am
Heroes have low IQ…
joe
Oct 28, 2017 at 11:40 pm
Hahah. you and your 34%
2putttom
Oct 29, 2017 at 6:39 pm
+1 thank you for your service
Mad-Mex
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:23 pm
My BS meter went off after reading this,,,,, and yes, I am a 20+ year Vet and I am indifferent about playing this GAME,,,