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Bettinardi’s new BB-Series and Inovai 5.0 putters, and H2 303 SS wedges

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Over recent years, Bettinardi has employed two-year product cycles for its most popular lines; the Queen B and Studio Stock putters have launched on even-numbered years, while its BB-Series and Inovai putters have launched on odd years. Being that it’s 2017, Bettinardi is rolling out its new BB-Series lineup, and a new Inovai 5.0 putter.

In the new BB-Series, you’ll notice new Super-Fly Milled faces, matte black finishes with hints of electric yellow, slight adjustments to classic head shapes, and a few new models, as well. Each of the putters will sell for $300, and come with electric yellow Lamkin grips. The Inovai 5.0 (also $300), which follows up the Inovai 3.0, has been redesigned for more MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness), and shifts away from counterbalancing that the Inovai putters have used in previous models.

Also part of this launch of new products, Bettinardi is announcing its H2 303 Stainless Steel wedge that replaces the previous H2 wedges released in 2014, and they will sell for $165 apiece.

Below is everything you need to know about each of the products, and see more photos of the lineup here.

BB1 

This classic head shape has been given a slight adjustment to performance. While BB1 putters of the past have had a 3/4 toe hang, which Sam Bettinardi, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, calls “tough putters to use,” the 2018 BB1 has a 1/2 toe hang that makes it easier to square the face. The design is essentially a replica of a putter that Sam Horsfield — who Bettinardi calls “one of the best putters I’ve ever seen” — has in his bag.

  • Weight: 350 grams
  • Material: Soft Carbon Steel
  • Finish: Stealth Black
  • Face Milling: Super-Fly Mill
  • Lie/Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
  • Length: 33-35 inches
  • Dexterity: Right and Left-Handed
  • Toe Hang: 1/2

BB29 

The BB29 is a new model that’s based on a Japan-only release, and it features a “boxy, square frame,” according to Bettinardi. It has a mid-slant neck that creates a bit more offset than the BB1, helping to keep the hands in a more forward-pressed position, thus locking the hands in place throughout the stroke.

  • Weight: 350 grams
  • Material: Soft Carbon Steel
  • Finish: Stealth Black
  • Face Milling: Super-Fly Mill
  • Lie/Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
  • Length: 33-35 inches
  • Dexterity: Right handed
  • Toe Hang: 1/2

BB39

“As a mallet guy, this is my favorite putter in the series, says Bettinardi. And he’s not the only one; Francesco Molinari is also currently using a production model of the BB39 putter. In this year’s model, the flange has been extended and given a longer sightline, which Betinardi says will frame the ball nicely. Being that it’s a bit wider than previous BB39 models, it will also be a bit more forgiving on off-center hits because of the increase in MOI.

  • Weight: 350 grams
  • Material: Soft Carbon Steel
  • Finish: Stealth Black
  • Face Milling: Super-Fly Mill
  • Lie/Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
  • Length: 33-35 inches
  • Dexterity: Right handed
  • Toe Hang: 1/8

BB56

The purpose of the BB56 design is to raise CG (center of gravity) in order to get the ball rolling faster along the putting surface. It’s body is made from 6061 military grade aluminum, and the sightline section is made from 303 stainless steel. Being that SS is heavier than aluminum, the weight placement raises overall CG, helping golfers impart less backspin on the golf ball, and therefore, less hopping/skipping.

  • Weight: 350 grams
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum and 303 Stainless Steel
  • Finish: Stealth Black
  • Face Milling: Super-Fly Mill
  • Lie/Loft: 70 degrees/2 degrees
  • Length: 33-35 inches
  • Dexterity: Right and left-handed
  • Toe Hang: 1/8

Inovai 5.0 and 5.0 Center shaft

The new Inovai 5.0 putters have 6061 aluminum bodies, and 303 stainless steel rear sections that are screwed into those bodies; the design brings more weight toward the back of the putter, thus raising MOI. This year’s Inovai putters also go away from the previous counterbalancing concept, which Bettinardi says many golfers are no longer employing.

  • Weight: 358 grams
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum and 303 Stainless Steel
  • Finish: Black Anodized and Hand-Polished Stainless Steel
  • Face Milling: F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology)
  • Lie/Loft: 70 degrees/2 degrees
  • Length: 33-35 inches
  • Dexterity: Right Handed
  • Toe Hang: 1/8

H2 303 SS wedges 

Bettinardi’s new H2 303 wedges, as their names imply, are forged from stainless steel, a material that Bettinardi says “no one else in the wedge industry is using.” According to Bettinardi, the SS material will be more durable than other common materials used in wedges, and it will not rust. As with the previous wedge release, Bettinardi has chosen to use the versatile C-grind. What’s new in the H2 303 wedges, however, a honeycomb milling that Bettinardi says will impart more friction on the golf ball to impart greater spin, and therefore green-side control.

The wedges are available in six loft options ranging from 50-to-60 degrees, and have three bounce options (8, 10 and 12 degrees). They come stock with KBS Tour Hi-Rev shafts and Lamkin Crossline Cord grips.

See more photos and discussion about Bettinardi’s new products here.

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Val

    Nov 15, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    I just love all those Betty’s and I’m thinking of buying one of each and then testing them on my backyard putting green for several weeks. I’ll keep the winners and sell off the losers on eBay.
    (p.s. I’m a lottery winner and price doesn’t matter to me.)

  2. Rich

    Nov 15, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    Looks like WilsonStaff 2012

  3. eric

    Nov 15, 2017 at 11:43 am

    What is the finish on these? Looks like its painted on or sprayed on like an odyssey, personally not a fan makes it look like a cast head which we know its not because its CNC milled.

  4. DB

    Nov 15, 2017 at 9:02 am

    Nice to see that BB1 head shape released. We had been seeing that head in lots of the Bettinardi Tour pictures.

    Curiously no address shot? I would think it looks pretty clean at address. Maybe a little non-traditional with the single straight-line bumper, but probably looks really clean.

    • DB

      Nov 15, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      Meant to say BB29, but the BB1 looks good too. Nice job Bettinardi.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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