Equipment
Spotted: Charley Hoffman’s one-off Scotty Cameron putter
Major championships are major business for players. Everything gets a second look as pros pull out all the stops in an attempt to cement legacies beyond just racking up tour wins.
Pulling out the stops and a new putter this week is Charley Hoffman — a man known for consistently finding his way up leaderboards at majors, and tinkering with putters along the way. As putters go, what we spotted at Bethpage is a complete one-of-one for Hoffman and it has a lot of tech going one with some throwback flair for fun.
First let’s talk the tech: what we have here is a multi-piece, multi-material head designed to maximize MOI. Looking “under the hood” we can see that it is essentially a Phantom X 8 if the Prototype T8 wasn’t already a dead giveaway. BUT there are some big difference that certainly draw some inspiration from Cameron putters from the past.
We have very soft lines and edges compared to the standard retail model, which has already been pointed out in our forums. Our man on the ground confirmed from “the Hoff” and his caddy that soft rounded lines are what he prefers, and as I have mentioned before, when it comes to high ranking tour players and custom gear, all you really have to do is ask.
The other major difference (see what I did there) is the elimination of the black finish (now I’m two for two in tournament references) and the variation on the standard site line. Dark and black finished putters are always hit or miss with players of all skill levels and from this putter, it seems CH prefers the classic aluminium body vs the anodized one. Speaking of classics and aluminium this brings me back to what I said earlier and how this putter will remind some Cameron faithful about a model found in the wayback machine — the Caliente.
Milled from aluminium and having what we would now consider a rudimentary multi-material construction from the top, the spacing of the lines isn’t exactly the same but the flowing nature of the Prototype quickly bring back memories of this putter and if you consider the scale difference between the T8 and the Caliente the alignment appears very close to the naked eye.
From a looks perspective, I’ve never had a personal preference between standard grey “steel” finished clubs and black ones, and if you were to take a look at my putter and wedge collection that would quickly become apparent. For Mr. Hoffman, a guy known more for his prodigious ball striking than putting, this putter change could make a big difference this week and potentially help him turn the page (there I did it – snuck the whole course name into the article) on his major record.
To see more pics and join the discussion check out the forum thread.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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 Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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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Rod Brink
May 15, 2019 at 5:31 pm
That Prototype,the Caliente,was probably born from Ray Cook M1-X…I’m sure Scotty remembers that model.
Realist
May 14, 2019 at 10:33 pm
He used the cameron red x for years….anybody catch the similarities….with more moi!?
Charles Knox
May 14, 2019 at 9:36 pm
One (perhaps two) other notable difference(s): Significantly less offset with what seems to be a bend at a higher point on the shaft. Not just for how the putter looks soled behind the ball, but also pushes the alignment features slightly left of the stock putter.
Brandon Wooley
May 14, 2019 at 9:05 pm
I had that Caliente Grand back in the day. I couldn’t putt with it to save my life. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have left it in the bag for like 6 years.
Ab
May 14, 2019 at 3:02 pm
That is the ugliest Alien-baby looking POS putter I’ve ever seen
LoveIt
May 14, 2019 at 11:53 am
Like the putter. Hate Matt Kuchar.
Jack
May 14, 2019 at 1:59 pm
I concur. Kuch is a d-bag
Tommy
May 14, 2019 at 2:34 pm
WTH does this have to do with Kuchar and why vent your hate in public?…..BTW, I’m sure he’s going to lose lots of sleep over it.