Equipment
Bridgestone Tour B XW-1 wedges: new grooves, different soles for different lofts (2019 PGA Show)

Bridgestone’s Tour B XW-1 wedges are the softest and highest spinning wedges ever designed for better players, according to the company.
How? Bridgestone’s proprietary Biting Rail Milled grooves.
“Low-Mid handicappers are going to love the control and feel that our new Tour B XW-1 Wedges deliver,” said Zack Kupperbusch, Golf Club Marketing Manager – Bridgestone Golf. “The combination of the industry’s most premium forging and our new Biting Rail Milled grooves provide unparalleled softness and optimum spin on a variety of short shots.”
Forged from 1020 mild carbon steel, the XW-1 Wedge series is designed with three separate sole configurations, with each being tailored to the particular club.
- The F (Flat) sole is found in the 50-degree gap wedge, and intended to optimize turf interaction on full or mid-range approach shots providing added stability at impact for a more penetrating ball flight.
- The M Sole, or the “Multi-Purpose Sole” characteristic of the 52, 54, 58 and 60-degree wedges, focuses on providing versatility for all the varying shots one would hit during a round. From hooded bump-and-runs to open-flange flop shots, the M-Sole delivers maximum controllability.
- The A Sole, or the “Forgiving Sole,” offers supreme forgiveness in the 56-degree wedge, whether you’re hitting an explosion shot to get out of a steep face bunker, or pin-hunting from the fairway.
The XW-1 wedges are available in right-hand only and in a satin chrome finish only. A Nippon Modus Tour 105 stiff shaft is stock. With retail availability beginning March 1. MSRP: $139.99 per club.
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Whats in the Bag
Ruixin Liu WITB 2023 (October)

- Ruixin Liu what’s in the bag accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship.
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana
3-wood: Titleist TSR1 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 55 S
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Hybrid: Ping G430 (22 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Hybrid: Ping G430 (26 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R
Irons: Titleist T200 (6-PW), Titleist T150 (7-PW)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48-10F), WedgeWorks Proto (54-M), Miura MG-R01 (58)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95 cw (48, 54), UST Mamiya Recoil 95 (58)
Grips: Golf Pride MCC, Grip Master
More photos of Ruixin Liu’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Will McGirt WITB 2023 (October)

- Will McGirt what’s in the bag accurate as of the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
5-wood: Ping G430 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 58-09 Full)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125 Wedge
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Victory Cord
More photos of Will McGirt’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Club Junkie Review: Graphite Design Tour AD VF wood shaft

Graphite Design has been a legendary brand in the world of premium golf shafts since the company was founded in 1989. Graphite Design has had some popular shafts over the years, but they are probably most well known for the Tour AD DI that was released in 2010. Today we are talking about the newest shaft in the Graphite Design lineup, the new VF. The letters do stand for something, Victory Force, and according to Graphite Design every victory requires force! For a more in-depth review, please check out the Club Junkie podcast below or on any streaming platform. Just search “GolfWRX Radio.”
Out of the box, the VF has a very familiar look with a red handle section and a black tip section that are separated with the traditional 10 silver rings. The color combination is definitely more subtle than some of the other Tour AD shaft combinations. Graphite Design doesn’t make too many low-launching shafts, so the VF is filling that need. The VF will suit players looking for low/,id launch and low spin shaft to put in their driver or fairway wood.
The shaft profile is a firm+ handle section, it matches the stiffest handles Graphite Design shafts, with a stiff midsection, and finally a very stiff tip. Exotic materials are used along with MSI Design to maintain stability and consistency. Graphite Design uses Torayca M40X carbon fiber in the handle section to make it stiffer and enhance control of the shaft. Ultra-high modulus Torayca T1100G is used in the middle and tip section for added stability without losing that smooth feel.
I built up the VF shaft using a universal tip system that allows me to use the shaft in any driver head. The building went extremely smoothly as every Graphite Design shaft I have ever installed has a consistent tip diameter and I have never had any issues with a sloppy fit. Once the VF was cut to length and installed, the shaft has a great look that doesn’t jump out as distracting or eye-catching. If you are playing a TaylorMade Stealth 2, then the shaft blends in naturally and they look to visually be great partners!
You would expect a smooth and responsive feel from any Graphite Design shaft and you will get just that with the VF. For me the shaft was exactly as Graphite Design describes, being mid/low launch and offering a very penetrating ball flight. The Tour AD XC might launch a touch lower, but I like the feel and consistency I get from the VF just a little bit more. No matter what driver head I used, the VF seemed to offer ball flight in a similar window, slightly lower than the Fujikura Ventus TR Blue I was using. Even shots into the wind showed no real signs of rising or ballooning. Spin was also lower than I expected with the VF shaft. On the course, I noticed a penetrating, boring flight no matter where I hit the ball on the driver face. Shots struck low on the face held a good amount of distance and even the low heel strike seemed to launch lower and carry further.
I even took a couple of driver heads out to the range with a launch monitor and noticed that I rarely saw a spin number with a “3” in front of it. Almost every shot, good and not so good, seemed to spin around that 2,600 RPM number. With many fittings and shaft tinkering, that is usually on the lower end of what I find with my swing. As I said with the shaft being mid/low launch I was seeing an average of around 11 degrees while using a couple of 10.5-degree driver heads. On course, the VF was very straight and consistent and while it seemed easier to square up than I expected, it did not want to go left as easily as some other shafts. I would consider the flight just slightly fade biased but if you release the club properly you will be rewarded with a straight shot down the fairway.
Overall, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF is a really solid mid/low launch and low spin option with a smooth feel. It is starting to gain some traction on the professional tours and could be a great shaft for your swing as well.
Graphite Design Tour AD VF Specs
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Dave r
Jan 25, 2019 at 11:41 am
They look very nice can’t wait until in local shop a must look.
A
Jan 25, 2019 at 10:39 am
Bloody terrible name
bobby
Jan 25, 2019 at 6:23 am
I can’t wait for the day a golf company comes out with “we have nothing new, but think this looks nice” marketing.
Mike
Jan 24, 2019 at 9:29 pm
Bridgestone irons/wedges are among the best performers I’ve ever used and I’ve gamed many. Maybe just a head thing for me but I love Bridgestone.
golfraven
Jan 24, 2019 at 3:19 pm
I would love to test those wedges. Kind of drifting towards Bridgestone although I am a Titleist fanboy. The price is right and the shaft is defenitely right.