Equipment
Fred Couples finally switches irons—after 10 years
Fred Couples still moves the needle. For a Seattle-born gear junkie (me), pretty much anything the guy does is a big deal.
Earlier this summer, I wrote an article about the makeup of Couple’s bag. What you see is a player committed to feel and trust more than anything. He, like very few others, will stick with a club for years. His 3-wood is 12-years-old and his irons (at least a version of the same head) for over 10.
Until this week.
The part of his bag that I believe has made the biggest impact on his stellar play over the past decade was the switch to the Bridgestone golf ball (currently the Tour B RXS). It allowed Couples the ability to not tweak the overall DNA of his bag over the years, all while giving Fred the firepower and spin he needed off the driver and around the greens. Sometimes, players who love old gear can keep it current with a serious golf ball.
The PGA Tour Champions is in Phoenix this week for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and Fred paid a visit to Ping HQ on Monday to test some gear.
Brad Millard (Ping Tour Rep) was the man running the session, and in a Herculean effort, was able to spin Couples out of some old standbys and into a new driver and irons. Trust me, it’s no small feat. If you get Freddy to change nine clubs in one sitting, you deserve a medal. Not because he’s difficult, he’s just Fred Couples, and if he’s making a switch it’s gotta do more than just impress on TrackMan.
Regarding the switch into the new Ping G425 LST driver, Millard said this
“Fred loved the look and feel of the G425, his launch and spin were perfect (12.5 launch spin around 2300-2400) and we dialed in the flight he wanted.”
Driver: Ping G425 9 LST (Dot Setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 65 TX (45 1/4″)
Couples cruises in around 108 MPH swing speed and 160-165 MPH ball speed—depending on how his back is feeling.
The irons were the next frontier. Couples isn’t one to play around in that category and has tested (at home) different sets from time to time but hasn’t ever found that true replacement for the Bridgestone Dual Pocket CB he has loved for 10 years.
Photo courtesy of @fullyequippedgolf on IG
Ping I210 irons seemed to get his attention quickly, however. Not only do they resemble a club from his past (Ping Eye 2) but they have a few things Freddy loves. Offset, bounce, and a long blade length. Once Millard dialed in the lies, it was a no-brainer from there.
Fred Couples’ new iron setup
Irons: Ping I210 (3-PW)
Shafts: Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW X
Std Lofts, +.25 inches, and 1 degree up.
Fred is also testing Ping Glide 3.0 wedges 54-WS and 58 and 60-SS. We will confirm if any or all go in play. All wedges with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts.
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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 Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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KingJames
Dec 16, 2020 at 8:41 am
Great article!
Boom Boom
Nov 15, 2020 at 3:56 am
Maybe its my ocd but why is there a pic of two Tensei AV Raw shafts if Freddie is using a Tensei CK Blue 65 TX?
On the other hand I was surprised to find out Freddie prefers offset and longer blade length.
Pick it clean
Nov 9, 2020 at 10:13 am
Has Freddie ever been a staffer for anyone?
Scott McDonald
Nov 9, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Hogan early. Lynx
Tom Duckworth
Nov 8, 2020 at 10:12 am
I would like that setup. The golf ball is interesting I think that many players could do well to look into what ball they play more.
I based what I play on feel more than anything but I think I should throw that out the window and do some testing and just look at spin numbers. You hear complaints about low spin irons I would like to see more testers use different balls when they test. Hit the same iron with low spin and high spin balls.
Jo Flo
Nov 7, 2020 at 3:43 pm
Paulo is a dck.
Pureswinger
Nov 7, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Biden is President now so it’s time to get along.
Paulo
Nov 8, 2020 at 8:10 am
Over the moon Biden did it. Thank god that lunatic is out of the house. My dads older than him and we don’t trust him with the tv remote , never mind the nuclear launch codes
Pureswinger
Nov 8, 2020 at 10:53 am
Didn’t you date Jennifer Anniston?
Paulo
Nov 8, 2020 at 11:55 am
If she’s your mom then yes I did. Many times.
Purseswinger
Nov 8, 2020 at 1:05 pm
That’s great! Maybe you’re my Dad? I do have some issues about that. There’s this crazy gene in me that makes me want to screw sheep. Guess I got that from you. LOL!
Peter
Nov 7, 2020 at 5:28 am
No glove and now Pings! Two things that Fred and I have in common. Yay!
Abbie @Golf Mario
Nov 22, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I like your comment! My husband is the same way. Here in Utah we golf a lot during the season and he is a no glove, Ping golfer! Made me laugh when I read your excited about having that in common, haha!
Peter
Mar 8, 2021 at 2:38 am
cheers! Does he also hear the commentator in his head as he stands over the shot?. “6th hole, Couples’ second to the green…”
Mick
Nov 6, 2020 at 9:03 pm
Cink wins a few weeks back with Ping i210. The LPGA has a heavy usage of Ping i210 ( most amateur men should watch what they play) . Now Couples switches to them. They will go down as an all time great for PING.
AG
Nov 6, 2020 at 7:02 pm
What’s with the weird Bridgestone golf ball ad thrown into the middle of the article?
“Fred Couple switches irons… but first let me tell you how amazing this golf ball is!”
John Wunder
Nov 7, 2020 at 8:09 am
It’s not a weird ad, if you wanna know why a player can maintain older equipment for a longer period of time, the golf ball is the lynchpin of the whole thing. to not reference it is a discredit to the whole process. We don’t do weird ad’s in the middle of a players bag info.
Pureswinger
Nov 8, 2020 at 12:15 am
Your grammar sucks!
John Wunder
Nov 9, 2020 at 7:16 am
Well, thank god I have experts like you to track it all and make sure it’s called out.
Thanks for reading.
Zach
Nov 9, 2020 at 10:16 am
Can we confirm what he bagged? I think the driver and irons were in there. What wedges?
FamousDave
Nov 9, 2020 at 6:44 pm
I’d guess Freddie has bagged a lot during his career. LOL!
Mike Barnett
Nov 6, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Would you guys consider the Ping i210 irons a low handicap player set? I see they are high bounce.
Paulo
Nov 7, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Hi Mike. Fred can have them any way he wants. He’s one of the all time greats. His are probably hand forged unlike the retail models. What’s your index ? Ping might make you a custom set with your exact bounce spec. Drop them a line as they may have lost your contact details and club specs
FamousDave
Nov 6, 2020 at 11:07 am
This confirms even more that Bridgestone is getting out of making clubs.
Paulo
Nov 6, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Excellent point and a huge shame. Still don’t understand the shift to ping irons though , obvious choice from Bridgestone would be hand made irons by whomever he wants to make them because he’s Fred couples after akt
Desert Hacker
Nov 6, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Yep, I would’ve expected the same. I have the 2015 version of those Bridgestone irons and I’ve been waiting for something to come along and replace them…might go back to Mizuno. Not going to be easy to take them out of the bag.
DJ
Nov 19, 2020 at 10:51 am
Bridgestone Tour 201mb and 201cb. We’ll see if they come to the US market.
Imafitter
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:03 am
Very satisfies with my Ping i500’s, 3.0 Eye2 Wedges, 410 fairway & hybrids, and especially my G400MAX driver, which I shortened and re-weighted. Just outstanding equipment!
Dave M.
Nov 6, 2020 at 9:58 am
I sold those bridgestones this year on eBay for $300 more than I bought them for in 2014…I guess they are good, I just hit them too much to the right
Dave M.
Nov 6, 2020 at 3:14 pm
I meant to the left
pureswinger
Nov 6, 2020 at 4:47 pm
You liberal golf you!
Paulo
Nov 7, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Maybe you were aiming there or presenting dynamic lie too upright or, Jesus H Christ it could be a thousand things but I promise you it was unlikely an inherent design defect in the iron head .
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Delbert
Nov 6, 2020 at 9:47 am
What’s his specs? That would be cool to see. Didn’t he play a set off the rack once?
Pureswinger
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:04 am
They’re posted you dummy! Tiger should switch to these and give his body a break. With the Steelfiber shaft, they are great sticks. The driver is a beast. Anyone struggling with their game should seriously consider Ping for everything.
Kalle
Nov 6, 2020 at 9:44 am
The i210 are legendary. I may never abandon them.
Karsten's Ghost
Nov 6, 2020 at 6:03 am
The i210 keeps getting more and more… it’s an all-timer.
Mark it Zero
Nov 6, 2020 at 8:30 pm
It’s cool to see the love for the i210 because I’ve had a lot of success with mine. But, obviously, I’m no Fred Couples, or other staffers who have had success with them. Also, aren’t they bound to be replaced soon? I’ve had mine for two years…
Paulo
Nov 6, 2020 at 12:17 am
Is he a ping staffer now?