Equipment

Bettinardi unveils 2022 BB Series and Inovai Series putters

Published

2 years ago

Nov 18, 2021

Gianni Magliocco

Bettinardi Golf has today announced its updated production putter lines: the 2022 BB Series and Inovai lineup.

The lineup features an upgraded BB Series and Inovai 6.0 series while introducing the all-new high MOI Inovai 8.0.

Inovai 6.0

Featured on the 2022 Inovai 6.0 and 8.0 models is Bettinardi’s newest Roll Control face milling, which has been scientifically engineered with an asymmetrical design groove profile in design to promote more topspin at impact to put the ball into a true roll faster.

Without the use of inserts, the Roll Control face aims to give players excellent feel and optimal audible feedback at impact.

The Inovai 6.0 has been updated from an aesthetic standpoint, with the head reduced by 5% to offer a more compact head shape in design to promote optimal visual alignment.

The Bettinardi patented Roll Control face now adorns all 4 of the models in the Inovai 6.0 lineup, which includes a slant neck, a spudneck in both right-handed and left-handed and center-shafted models.

Speaking on the Inovai 6.0 models, Vice President Sam Bettinardi said

“The Inovai 6.0 has been one of the most successful head shapes we have ever created. With two years of Tour feedback, we were able to refine the 6.0 with a 5% smaller head from heel to toe, offering a sleek, more compact design than its predecessor. We are proud to bring this Tour-proven model to golfers around the world.”

Inovai 8.0

The Inovai 8.0 is an all-new addition to the Inovai family, blending Bettinardi’s latest technology with the brand’s Roll Control face milling, creating an all-new head design inspired by Tour feedback.

Precision milled from 303 Stainless Steel, and 6061 Military Grade aluminum, the bi-metal technology on the Inovai 8.0 is designed to optimize weight distribution with more mass in the rear of the putter for greater forgiveness and stability.

The 8.0 is available in four offerings, including slant neck, left-handed slant neck, spudneck, and for the first time in Bettinardi’s Armlock technology.

On the Inovai 8.0, Vice President Sam Bettinardi said

“The Inovai 8.0 adds a new level of innovation to Bettinardi Golf. We are now able to enter the ever-growing compact mallet segment with all of the performance characteristics that our Tour players have asked for. This new model is a game changer for the Bettinardi brand, and we cannot wait for players of all calibers to put this new design into play.”

BB Series of Putters

The BB series of putters feature Flymill face milling and arrive in a graphite gray PVD finish. Precision milled from 303 Stainless Steel; the release contains the new BB46 model for the 2022 lineup.

The 2022 BB Series features four unique models: the BB1, which comes in both right-handed and left-handed versions; the BB1F (Flow); the BB8W (Wide); and the new addition to the line, the mid-mallet BB46.

Speaking on the 2022 BB Series, Founder and CEO of Bettinardi Golf, Robert J. Bettinardi, said

“Bettinardi Golf is proud to continue the tradition of American made craftsmanship and ingenuity, creating our most timeless and advanced BB Series to date. Our all-new BB Series is now milled out of a solid block of 303 Stainless Steel and features our all-new Aggressive Flymill face milling, finished with our gorgeous graphite gray PVD finish that gives this series of putters a Tour inspired look, feel, and performance.”

The first opportunity to purchase the 2022 product line will take place during Bettinardi’s special-edition Black Friday Hive release at www.bettinardi.com, which is set for November 26th at 10 a.m. CST.

For this release, all new models will be available in a special blackout finish, paired with a black shaft, matching series black headcover, and Bettinardi Lamkin SinkFit grip.

The official launch of all production putters is set for March 2022.

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Equipment

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

Published

5 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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