Equipment

The hottest golf gifts this holiday season

Published

6 months ago

Nov 22, 2023

Each year, as the leaves change and the air turns cold, GolfWRX staff gathers in front of a crackling fireplace, preferred beverages in hand, to deliberate as to what the year’s holiday gift guide will look like.

This year, after much discussion — and perhaps not surprisingly — we’ve decided to do something completely different than in the past. In previous guides, while we toyed with structures and the number of guides, we always attempted to bring you our suggestions for what you might want to buy for the golfers on your list. That is, what we thought they could want.

But what if we could tell you what the golfers on your list actually want? Which is to say, the products they are actually purchasing right now. Wouldn’t that make for a more joyful wrapping paper-tearing experience?

Enter our friends at 2nd Swing. We tasked the leaders in new and pre-owned equipment and gear retail with running the numbers to see what is flying off the shelves.

So, without further ado, here are the hottest golf gifts right now — with a focus on equipment, naturally.

The hottest golf gifts this holiday season

Ping G430 Max Driver

One of the top performers in Best Driver 2023 and Members Choice, it’s no surprise to see the Ping G430 Max is a big seller at 2nd Swing right now.

Price: $547

Buy here.

Callaway Paradym Driver

Recommended by our panel of fitters as a top choice for players with a swing speed between 95 and 105 mph, the Callaway Paradym is a popular pick.

Price: $499.99 (was $599.99)

Buy here.

Ping G425 Iron Set (6 Clubs, Steel)

A banner performer in last year’s Best Irons and Members Choice, Ping G425 irons remain an excellent choice — and are available at a big discount from original retail price.

Price: $684 (was $857)

Buy here.

Titleist T150 Iron Set (7 Clubs, Steel)

An intriguing addition to the T-Series irons lineup in the space between the T100 and T200, we’re not surprised to see Titleist T150 irons have been selling well.

Price: $1,400

Buy here.

Titleist SM9 Tour Chrome Wedges

A price reduction only makes the runaway winner of 2023 Members Choice: Wedges even more attractive.

Price: $149.99 (was $179.99)

Buy here.

Ping Glide 4.0 Wedges

Among the top 5 in our Members Choice for wedges this year, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges offer tech and forgiveness while continuing to present grind options.

Price: $127.00 (was $177)

Buy here.

Titleist Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters (certified pre-owned)

No surprise that Scottys are hot, and 2nd Swing has a ton in stock that won’t break the bank.

Price: Starting at $169.99 ($429.99 new)

Buy here.

Cobra Fly XL Complete Men’s, Women’s & Senior Sets

If you’re looking for a full-set option that’s levels up from what you can find at the big box store, this is the play.

Price: $749.99 (was $899.99)

Buy here.

Men’s & Women’s Name Brand Golf Apparel from Top Courses

Interesting inclusion here: Plenty of apparel from top clubs available at a deep discount.

Price: Starting at $29.99

Buy here.

SkyTrak Personal Launch Monitor

Given the price point and the capabilities, it’s no shock to see SkyTrak launch monitor selling well.

Price: $1,195 (was $1,695)

Buy here.

Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor

As Club Junkie said in his review “the MLM is great for tracking your bag, distances, dispersion, and ball speed. Use it indoors into a net or on the range; the MLM has so many features.”

Price: $179.99 (was $299.99)

Buy here.

Datrek Lite Rider Pro Cart Golf Bag

A great option if there’s a cart bag on the list of anyone you’re buying for.

Price: $119.99 ($219.99)

Buy here.

Ping Prior Gen Hoofer & Craz-E Lite Stand Bags

A fantastic iteration of one of the most popular stand bag lines in golf history.

Price: Varies (big discount!)

Buy here.

Titleist ProV1 Special Number Golf Balls

If you’re buying Pro V’s for someone on your list, add an extra test and deviate from traditional numbering. They’ll appreciate it.

Price: $54.99

Buy here.

Superspeed Golf Swing Training Speed System

Give the gift of a proven path to more swing speed — and thus more distance!

Price: $79.99 (was $199.99)

Buy here.

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Equipment

Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla

Published

15 hours ago

May 14, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

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.

On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.

Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.

Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.

“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.

“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…

“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”

With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship

Published

17 hours ago

May 14, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.

After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.

Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X

3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X

5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.

Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0

Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Nike RZN Black

Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.

WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

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