Equipment
Jon Rahm joins Callaway tour staff in multiyear deal
Today, Callaway Golf announced that Jon Rahm, the number two ranked player in the world, has joined its tour professional staff in a multiyear agreement.
Rahm worked extensively with the company’s tour department to dial in the specs for each of his new clubs, and will officially make his Callaway staff debut this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
For the year’s opening event, the Spaniard will use Callaway prototype woods and irons. He will eventually use the brand’s MD5 Jaws wedges, but they may not be in the bag in Hawaii. Rahm will also be gaming a Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball. While he’ll still have his TaylorMade Spider X putter in the bag, Rahm will move to an Odyssey putter in 2021.
Speaking on joining Callaway, Rahm, who shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf with his new clubs, said
“I’m so happy to be joining Callaway, and I can’t wait to start the year. The equipment is already performing well for me, and in my first round with the new setup,
“I shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf. I have confidence in my new Callaway clubs – and especially the golf ball, which has really impressed me during the testing process.”
Rahm used Callaway and Odyssey equipment at Arizona State University, where he won 11 tournaments while playing for Head Coach Tim Mickelson. The 26-year-old has the second-most wins in school history, behind fellow Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson.
On the new signing, Callaway President & CEO, Chip Brewer said
“We’re proud to welcome Jon Rahm as the newest member of our Tour Staff. He’s one of the very best players in the world, and he’s a proven winner on golf’s biggest global stages. We’ve admired Jon for many years, going back to his college days when he first used our equipment. We’re excited to see him playing Callaway and Odyssey again, as he looks to take his game to yet another level.”
In addition to using Callaway and Odyssey equipment, Rahm will wear apparel from TravisMathew throughout 2021.
Editor’s note: We will follow up this piece with a full Rahm WITB and details from the tour truck when the Spaniard’s club and shaft recipe is fully cooked.
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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
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Dennis Beach
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:37 pm
Maybe its not even about the equipment. TM just didn’t want to give him what he thought he was due. There is no loyalty to one brand anymore. Players in the past would play the same equipment(clubs, ball) brand forever. If it is equipment, he could do worse.
Jack Nash
Jan 4, 2021 at 4:39 pm
I fully expect that other than the “look” the irons won’t be any different than his TM’s. As someone said earlier none of Rahm’s equip will be in my bad anytime soon.
Dennis Beach
Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Nothing he plays helps me. Did my own research on everything I play in my bag. Ping g410SFT driver,older Cally Diablo 3 wood, 2 Snake Eyes hybrids(18-21), a full set of hybrid irons(24-46),from a company not so many people have ever heard about. 2 Cleveland CBX2 wedges, and a Cleveland putter. I play a Cally 2-piece ball. Not one club that a pro uses, will ever find its way into my bag, because they want it that way.
Imafitter
Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm
I wish him luck as I like watching Jon play. Not surprised based on his relationship with the Mickelson family. Some do well and some don’t when they change equipment, but I hope he is successful.
Dave r
Jan 4, 2021 at 1:28 pm
None of them use retail anything.
Tank
Jan 4, 2021 at 11:56 am
I really didn’t expect him to say anything but give glowing comments about his NEW SPONSOR!
Dyson Bochambeau
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:15 am
He will struggle like most guys who switch equipment
Funkaholic
Jan 4, 2021 at 12:04 pm
What a ridiculous comment.
gunny
Jan 4, 2021 at 12:15 pm
No it’s really not at all. Look at players who switch 14 clubs and the ball while at their peak. There’s almost always a long drought period and some don’t ever get back to where they were. Think Lydia Ko and Graeme McDowell. Lydia made things worse by moving away from her Coach as well, but her fall has been significant.
Blades Forever
Jan 4, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Agreed, An other example is Justin Rose.
Smith
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:27 am
I’m just glad the headline didn’t reference the 59. Guy made it to #1 in the world with TM – not saying they’re any better than Callaway, but not sure there’s a ton of improvement that can be offered be the change.
Brandon
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:17 am
Sounds like he has the new Apex pro in the bag along with the Epic Max. If so, we should see those hit the conforming list this week.
JT
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:10 am
The newest gen chrome soft x at retail is legit, I put it head to head with PV1x and loved it. Was an easy change. Not surprised to see JR go with it right away and give it so much positive feedback.
Jacon
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:46 am
Almost none of the staffers play the retail ball; there are something like 40 tour-noyl variations.
The most common ones I see from low-level tour players are the Diamond CS-X and the Star CS-X, which are firmer and more spinny, respectively.
JM
Jan 4, 2021 at 11:14 am
That’s correct. None use retail ball.
Benny
Jan 4, 2021 at 5:10 pm
All the Tour gear comes off the exact same manufacturing line as the retail stuff guys. You’d be suprised to know we do play the same. The Pros just receive more definied and specified gear with specific perameters which each OEM pull from the same bucket of goods. Only time its “different” is when they do Prototypes. Acushnet was a customer of mine. I also knew a couple who worked on the ProV line. There is no magic Tour Only plant or line except at Cameron, or the company Cameron uses.