Equipment

WMPO Tour Truck Report: MMT mania, Chez puts Ascent to the test, Hoffman goes the other way on his 60

Published

3 years ago

Feb 3, 2021

John Wunder

Titleist

Continuation of a theme: More players adding length.

CT Pan went to 46 inches in his TSi2 driver (9 degrees) with a Fujikura Ventus Red 6 X.

Richy Werenski to 46 inches in his TSi4 driver (9 degrees) with a Fujikura Ventus Red 6 X.

Russell Henley to TSi3 (10 degrees) from TSi4 with a KBS TD 80 Category 5.

Will Zalatoris replaced his trusty TS3 19-degree hybrid with a Titleist U500 3-iron. The new chicken stick has a Nippon Pro Modus3 Hybrid shaft.

Charles Howell III is progressing nicely into his Mitsubishi MMT iron shafts. After a solid second round at Torrey with the new sticks, he is now home at Isleworth CC testing further. Word is he is very happy with the dispersion across the board.

Vokey Wedge Rep (Aaron Dill)

“Conditions here are a little soft from rain and snow recently in the area. Wedge wise, we are seeing the usual fresh grooves as players have commented that the greens are not holding the ball as well as expected from the moisture they have around the course. “

Charley Hoffman is testing and possibly gaming a K Grind (60-06). Charley would normally game a 60-04L but said with the softer conditions a little forgiveness could be a nice thing to have. Spent time around the short game area and saw some excellent results.

Ping

Scott Harrington ditched his G410 3-wood opting to adjust his 5-wood (16 degrees) to a stronger spec to fill the gap. The 5-wood has a Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X shaft. He also added a G425 Crossover with a Fujikura Ventus Blue 9 X Hybrid shaft.

Gary Woodland is now in a Ping G425 LST 3-wood (14.5 degrees set at 13.6). Shaft: Accra Tour ZX 4100 M5 (42.5 inches, tipped 2.5 inches) and a Ping G425 Max 7-wood (20.5 degrees @19) with the Accra Tour ZX 4100 M5.

Stewart Cink switched into G425 LST (10.5 degrees) from the G410LST (10.5 degrees) he has had recent success with. The new driver has a Graphite Design Tour AD XC 6 TX (45.25″).

Cameron Champ put a stronger lofted i500 3-iron in the bag (17 degrees). Like his irons, it has a True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shaft.

TaylorMade

Harold Varner (non-staffer) tested multiple variations of the SIM2 Max (10.5 degrees). Fujikura Motore X F1 6X, Ventus Black 6 TX, and Evo 7 6 X shafts. Not sure if any will make it in play but sounds like a Fuji party over there.

Chez Reavie (non-staffer) tested a SIM2 Max driver (9 degrees), SIM2 3-wood (15 degrees), and SIM2 5-wood (19 degrees) with Aldila Ascent Red 60 TX, 70 TX, 80 TX. He also put a SIM2 Hybrid (22 degrees) in the bag with MMT HY 90 TX. Not 100 percent sure if the driver will go in, but we will keep you posted.

Nick Taylor put a SIM2 3-wood (15 degrees) in the bag with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X.

Scott Stallings (non-staffer) is also testing the SIM2 (10.5 degrees) with an MCA Kaili White 60 TX.

Hudson Swafford (non-staffer) tested a 60-09 LN Hi-Toe 2 lob wedge. He was previously in the OG Hi-Toe. The wedge has a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft.

Callaway

*Callaway is seeing its fastest Tour conversion rate since Epic

Sam Burns switched into Epic Speed (9 degrees) fully equipped with a TPT Prototype shaft

Will Gordon, who is making some swing changes, lofted up on his Epic Speed Triple Diamond Driver (10.5 degrees from 9). The new driver has an MCA Tensei White CK Pro 60 TX shaft.

Dylan Frittelli switched into Odyssey’s new “Triple Track 2-Ball Ten Proto” putter.

Erik Van Rooyen will most likely be putting the 2-Ball Proto in play as well.

Scott Garrison SST/KBS

Fun story here. Scottie Scheffler, who cracked the face of his trusty Nike Pro Limited 3-wood a couple of weeks back, was in search of a replacement. Garrison had an old one in his garage and brought it out to TPC this week. The potential new replacement is shafted up with a KBS TD 70 Category 5 shaft. Scheffler’s previous setup had an Aldila Rogue Black 110 M.S.I. 70 TX.

Photo Courtesy of @scotteggolf

Free Agents

Scott Brown put a brand new set of Proto Concept irons in the bag. The exotic Japanese muscle backs came fully equipped with yet another set of Mitsubishi MMT 125 TX shafts.

Steve Stricker added some new Callaway gear to the bag recently swapping in the new Epic Speed Triple Diamond driver (9 degrees) with a Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X and a fresh set of Callaway Apex TCB (Tour Cavity Back) irons. The irons have True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts.

Scott Stallings also tested the Mitsubishi MMT 125 TX in his Titleist T100 irons.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

10 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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