Equipment
SPOTTED: Three new PXG drivers appear on the USGA conforming list
Following up its original 0811 driver launch, PXG came out with 0811X drivers earlier in 2017. Now, as of December 18, there are three new PXG drivers that have popped up on the USGA Conforming Driver Heads list. The new heads include all 9-degree models; PXG ZZ, PXG XXF and PXG XX. Based on the placement of its signature screw-like weights, it appears there is a fade-biased head, a draw-biased head and a neutral head.
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the new PXG driver heads
PXG ZZ (Neutral)
The PXG ZZ head appears to have a slightly more compact shape than the XXF and XX models, and it also has only six weights in the sole that are placed in the rear of the head on the toe and heel. The placement of these weights suggest both high MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness) and a neutral trajectory bias.
PXG XXF (Fade-biased?)
The PXG XXF head has nine weights in the sole, with three weights placed out on the toe; this weight placement suggests a fade-bias. And with three weights closer to the face, this suggests a CG (center of gravity) that’s more forward than the ZZ model, possibly to lower spin.
PXG XX (Draw-biased?)
Like the XXF head, the PXG XX head has nine weights in the sole, with three weights forward in the head. The difference is that the XX model has three weights in the heel, suggesting a draw-bias.
What do you think about the new PXG drivers that appear on the USGA conforming list?
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the new PXG driver heads
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Kenneth Boucher
Dec 22, 2017 at 10:05 am
I am a custom clubmaker and fitter with over 25 years of experience, I also worked at a big box store as the main fitter and repair man. I have had the chance to hit everything out on the market, I can say that the PXG clubs are far superior to anything out there. I am amazed at all the WRX so called golfers who constantly rip on this company when in fact they are about the only company out there who are in fact actually building a club to help your game and not relying on hype and advertising to sell like OEM companies. Yes I carry PXG in my shop and will put them against any others. You dont get a cheap shaft like OEM clubs instead you will get a shaft to fit your swing. Stop whinning about the price and buy a set that will last for many years instead of a new set of under performing clubs every couple years. I play them myself switching last summer and won my club championship flight by 11 shots, yes the clubs are that good. Maybe try them instead of just knocking them.
SK
Dec 25, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Great news but exactly what makes the PXG clubs “far superior to anything out there.”?
How do PXGs “… build a club to help your game..”?
How do PXG determine “…a shaft to fit your swing.”?
If you are a legit “custom clubmaker and fitter” do you get PXG component club heads and then do the shaft fitting?
How do you do a “dynamic” shaft fitting with the PXG club heads installed?
Thanks for your clarifications to your nebulous comments about PXG and your great game.
Kenneth Boucher
Dec 30, 2017 at 9:30 am
Yes I am a Ligit clubmaker and yes I receive the clubhead from PXG I select the proper loft for your game I also make the selection of the correct shaft for your swing. Not all shafts have the same flex as their given letter A R S X. You must know the cpm of the shaft you order to get this correct also I may tip a shaft to make it a bit stiffer depends on customers needs. Mostly use paderson shafts of graphite design. You get quality with PXG
Realist
Jan 9, 2018 at 1:19 pm
If they are far superior, then why isnt every pro gaming at least the driver?
PXG has far superior marketing at best
Anthony
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Sorry guys and girls but you’re all wrong! These driver heads are all “foam” filled for more ball speed across the whole face, even hit it low in the shaft and it will fly!!!! Each driver will set you back $15,000 and in 2 months the R&A will deem them illegal and someone will set a nice law suit against them for the foam in the driver head because someone did it 200 years ago….
Bummer, there goes my $15,000 ROFLMAO….
Wrxer
Dec 20, 2017 at 2:00 pm
PXG = Skrews skrews skrews … in the head !!!!!
Ab
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:04 pm
As long as the ‘skrews’ in your head don’t come loose when swinging 😉
HDTVMAN
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Sorry, but $400 will buy a driver, if not better, comparable to PXG. I currently play the Callaway Fusion Heavy, long and forgiving, however, the new Ping G400 appears to be the current king of the hill with distance and forgiveness.
Wrxer
Dec 20, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Yah but they don’t have skrews in the head….. skrews are superior for accuracy and forgiveness… and that’s a fact. No skrews no swing no good !!!!
Simms
Dec 18, 2017 at 6:09 pm
I think it is great that the one’s that have no limit on how much they spend on their clubs has places to go….maybe it is time the less affluent get a company to make “Good” clubs everyone has a chance to afford…One place I have found and used for “Very Good” and affordable clubs is called GolfWorks…they sell components and tools to make clubs, but also do a little customization selling their own club heads, shafts etc….never tried their irons but will stand firm behind some of their fairway metals fit to their shafts, as a 12 handicap going thru $300 Yonex, and $200 Taylormade fairway metals the $69 GolfWorks fairways blow them away…
Jerry
Dec 19, 2017 at 11:35 pm
That’s off-topic, don’t you think. Let’s get back to the PXG drivers. Most of us are not buying them, we all know they are expensive, but let’s take a look at the tech.
Wrxer
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:32 am
But do they have tungsten skrews in their heads… skrews are best… dontcha know?!!
dat
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Costs about as much as a bowling alley.
Scott
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:16 pm
$1000 per club baby!!!
stevek
Dec 19, 2017 at 7:35 am
…. and for those who have more money than brains or talent …!
Scott
Dec 19, 2017 at 7:04 pm
I’m a 3 handicap and play PXG irons they’re that much better and worth the money
Wrxer
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:29 am
How “better”?.. and why “worth the money”?.. ‘splain yerself 3 handicapper!!
tsakdontkno
Dec 18, 2017 at 1:57 pm
looks like a bowling ball
Wrxer
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:30 am
… with skrews all over …!!!