Equipment

Wilson introduces new Duo Soft golf balls, available in matte colors

Published

7 years ago

Oct 10, 2017

Wilson is unveiling the industry’s lowest-compression two-piece golf ball and adding some color in the process.

“The industry’s lowest 29-compression golf balls are not only the softest, longest and straightest, but now even longer and more durable,” says Frank Simonutti, Wilson’s Global Director of Golf Ball Innovation.

“With a 3 percent larger core for increased ball velocity and a softer, thinner sodium/zinc ionomer cover for optimal distance and durability, this newly formulated 2-piece golf ball provides low driver spin, exceptional yardage and unparalleled soft feel to the Distance (D) player.”

WilsonDuoSoftSPin

The Duo Soft balls, which will be available in-store and online November 17, bear a $19.99 price tag for one dozen. In terms of price, the Duo Soft slides in behind Wilson’s premium Staff FG Tour Urethane ($44.99/dozen) and Duo Urethane ($37.99/dozen).

Simonutti also notes company testing shows the new Duo Soft is an industry leader in the two-piece ball market.

“The optimized dimple pattern has reduced dimple depth by 5.7 percent, resulting in higher trajectory and longer distance performance.” These enhancements give DUO Soft the (1) best feel, (2) longest distance, and (3) the lowest spin leading to straightest flight off the tee in testing against all competitive premium 2-piece balls.”

Consumers will be able to pre-order the Duo Soft golf ball– in one of six matte finishes –starting October 30. The balls are available in red, green, yellow, orange, pink, and a women’s matte white.

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22 Comments

Vito B

Oct 11, 2017 at 5:57 pm

Interesting. On My Golf Spy, Frank Simonetti says that they tested a large number of different golf balls and there was no more than 4 yards difference in all of them.(except for Aeroburner Soft which was “a lot shorter”). So which is it Mr. Simonetti, are they longer or not? Or are you wearing your “marketing”(aka B.S) hat?

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- JB
  
  Oct 13, 2017 at 3:27 pm
  
  In context he you are referring to two separate comparisons.
  
  When he says they are longer, he is referring to the previous ball these replaced. Which, yes, can generally be viewed as marketing. It is always expected to be better than previous generations. Do you think anyone would ever sell a product if they said “It is kind of better than the previous generation.” It would be like Apple saying “This is the same exact iPhone, with no real improvement over the old generation”, or “The battery life is the exact same.” Probably wouldn’t sell many phones.
  
  His other comment about a 4 yard difference is a comparison across all balls, both tour and non-tour caliber balls. In other words under the USGA rules, all balls essentially get the same distance, and the only difference is feel, spin, etc. So if your buying a ball just for “distance” you are wasting time, they all go the same distance give or take a few yards. Keep in mind this comparison is not a comparison with the previous DUO.
  
  Reply Report comment
William Milne

Oct 11, 2017 at 12:20 pm

Must tell you guys…I am senior golfer and at one time scratch player for years. I tried the duo about a year ago and have tried all the other brands and was long time PRO V! player. For my swing speed at about 90 MPH it is great! Also, what I like is that it is the softest feel off pitches and putter of ANY ball I have ever used. Sure, it doesn’t bite as well as the premiums, but for price and feel, I have come to conclusion that it is the only ball for me and I am going to quit trying to find better ball. Tried the duo spin, but did not like it as well…not sure why.

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matt

Oct 11, 2017 at 10:49 am

So Women only get the white-balls???

Reply Report comment
- Thomas A
  
  Oct 11, 2017 at 11:40 am
  
  Don’t be racist.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - dapadre
    
    Oct 11, 2017 at 2:07 pm
    
    Taking a Knee because of Matts comment.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Travis
      
      Oct 12, 2017 at 8:47 am
      
      Get out of here, Collin!
      
      Reply Report comment
- JB
  
  Oct 13, 2017 at 3:29 pm
  
  I heard they were going to make matt black balls too, but you know what they say about going black…..
  
  Reply Report comment
Gorden

Oct 10, 2017 at 10:27 pm

Like what he said about distance, all most all golf balls have reached distance limit, last year Barney Adams (original Adams golf) told us Drivers had reached distance limit within the last 6 years or so….Now we need to see how long before golf governing bodies cave in to club and ball companies and make the average tour drive 350….with 400 common for big hitters…..

Reply Report comment
Volvik

Oct 10, 2017 at 9:19 pm

Welp, there goes my business…

Reply Report comment
- Real Volvik
  
  Oct 11, 2017 at 7:10 am
  
  Not really, we are supplying the technology to Wilson Staff. We’re doing just fine.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Real Real Volvik
    
    Oct 12, 2017 at 8:48 am
    
    Just kidding, no one plays our balls anyway.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Rick
      
      Oct 13, 2017 at 9:16 am
      
      I play the green. I don’t see as well as always but hate wearing glasses while playing. Easy to see and no glare. It even lights up the face of my irons when sun is right which is no benefit, but cool
      
      Reply Report comment
Scott

Oct 10, 2017 at 8:54 pm

Why don’t they come out with blue balls…

Reply Report comment
- Tanner
  
  Oct 11, 2017 at 7:12 pm
  
  Gamer Soft has. WTF, no yellow ones?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Thomas A
    
    Oct 12, 2017 at 10:23 am
    
    Yellow is listed and pictured here.
    
    Reply Report comment
etc.

Oct 10, 2017 at 6:54 pm

29-compressioin?!!! They must feel like a silicone ball or a really old marshmallow !!!

Reply Report comment
Shane

Oct 10, 2017 at 6:32 pm

Says matte but in photo at top with the box they look like regular white, thus so or not? I saw them elsewhere and the shield was blue in color, what gives?

Reply Report comment
Steve I

Oct 10, 2017 at 5:07 pm

Balls! … White balls … Yellow balls …. Orange balls …. what’s next … Blackballs?

Reply Report comment
- etc.
  
  Oct 10, 2017 at 6:55 pm
  
  IIRC Nike came out with a ‘black’ ball.. but it was quickly discontinued…. wonder why.
  
  Reply Report comment
Cornwall1888

Oct 10, 2017 at 11:31 am

Softest, longest, straightest? Too good to be true

Reply Report comment
Dat

Oct 10, 2017 at 9:40 am

Just in time for fall/winter. I like it!

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

3 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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