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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- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
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Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)
Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)...
Scottie Scheffler’s winning WITB: 2024 RBC Heritage
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees @8.25) Buy here. Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (45 inches) 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy...
Nelly Korda’s winning WITB: 2024 Chevron Championship
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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?