Equipment
Bettinardi releases military-inspired BB8-Wide Armageddon putter in honor of those who have served
Bettinardi Golf has unveiled its limited-run military-inspired BB8-Wide Armageddon putter in honor of those who have served, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Veteran Golfers Association.
Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, the new release from Bettinardi features a unique full tactical F.I.T. Face over Honeycomb face milling which is designed for extra soft feel at impact. The neck, bumpers, and sole of the flat-stick features engravings inspired by military insignias used in the army.
Handpainted in a military-themed “sniper” navy, gray and white color scheme, the putter is milled to 355 grams from Soft Carbon steel and comes with a matching Made in USA headcover and a red Lamkin Deep Etched Cord grip.
The BB8-Wide Armageddon putter costs $550 and will be available to buy at Bettinardi specialty dealers around the globe on May 23, and online in the Hive on Bettinardi.com.
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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Kevin
May 21, 2019 at 2:41 am
I would agree with previous posts about this not honoring Veterans. I served in the Marines and can tell you this is not how you honor veterans. I like the previous poster’s idea of donating all or most of profits to Wounded Warrior Project. At least offer a large price discount for Veterans. Now I like Bettinardi putters a lot, and understand that a company can’t just give a bunch of product out for free, but seriously Bettinardi you guys can do better than this.
JP
May 18, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Bettinardi has only honored profits here. If you want to honor those that have served, how about making a true limited edition of 100 and donate ALL proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project? I’d get behind that one!
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How about honoring Fire House 54 that responded to the Workd Trade Center? Make a limited run of 54 putters and have those monies donated to the charity of choice of Fire House 54?
.
Do something more than line your own pockets with these putters that “honor” people.
Jordan
May 17, 2019 at 12:10 pm
You mean you don’t like it when an overweight middle-aged non-veteran shows up at the golf course with that Ping camo stand bag and headcovers? Weird, who would have thought.
Adam
May 17, 2019 at 11:52 am
Bettinardi is over-saturating and devaluing their brand by releasing all these “limited edition” putters
Will
May 18, 2019 at 10:29 am
How do you figure? They release a limited putter once a quarter and 20-24 Hive putters a month that are one of one.
I think the theme is cool, on a headstyle that is not offered at retail. Nice work Bob and Co!
Joe Taylor
May 17, 2019 at 11:09 am
Completely agree with Garrick. Shameless marketing.
Garrick
May 17, 2019 at 10:59 am
Another gimmick to cash in on American “patriotism”. As an army vet I dont feel honored and I’m sick of the exploitation.
D
May 17, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Commercialism for the sake of “just sell” in the capitalist world of America is what’s devaluing the country and Betti can stuff it along with Parsons
gunmetal
May 17, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Thank you for your service. I could totally see your (and others who have chimed in) point – but where they are donating a portion of the proceeds to the Veterans Golfer Association, I think there’s still a win there, no?
I did not serve. But I have two brothers who are active duty. Is it wrong for me to have a Ping camo bag or play this putter? Serious question as I always thought the only thing I was doing was in a very small way showing support by doing this. The last thing I would want to do would be to offend or annoy anyone in our military.
W
May 17, 2019 at 9:52 pm
Instead of spending the money to make these things and then selling them to make money on them, of which only a portion of given to charity and the rest pocketed for profit, why not just give the money in whole in the first place? They can still wave the flag and take photos being patriotic or whatever.
No need to waste time and resources making objects that are overpriced and sit around more than actually used. They cash money will be used constantly.
Steve
May 19, 2019 at 12:18 am
They’re a putter company, not a charity.
Steve
May 19, 2019 at 12:21 am
No, it is not wrong and it’s not disrespectful of you in any way, shape, or form. If you like the bag, use it. If you like the putter, play it. Stop worrying so much about what others think.