Equipment
Phil’s Secret Weapon: The “Phrankenwood”
Here is the photo of the “secret club” Phil Mickelson said was being built especially for Augusta National this week, the “X Hot Phrankenwood.”
The Phrankenwood appears to be an even larger version of Callaway’s X Hot Pro 3Deep, probably with even less loft to make the driver/fairway wood longer than the 3Deep but still more workable than a standard driver.
Notice the slots cut in the rear of the sole, which we’re assuming makes the club usable off the short grass.
The club has no loft stampings, but has been spotted on the USGA’s List of Conforming Drivers this morning.
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
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Whats in the Bag
Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)
- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
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.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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George Cap
Jun 2, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Where can I purchase a Callaway X Hot Prankenwood 8.5 degree 3 wood?
Brouster
Oct 21, 2014 at 12:21 am
How can I purchase phrankenwood driver
Steve
Apr 10, 2013 at 2:03 am
I guess he’s not going to use that black-painted TM RBZ 3-wood that he snuck into his sack a few months ago!
Leif
Apr 9, 2013 at 11:19 pm
He is still using the Razr Fit Xtreme driver too! This is his “3w”
David
Apr 9, 2013 at 6:44 pm
When Phil won a few years back with the two drivers I stopped questioning his decisions.
lance
Apr 9, 2013 at 6:11 pm
You never know what phil the thrill will have in the bag! !
Im thinking phil will cary this new stick along with the razr fit extreme!
Phrankenwood for a draw, and the fit extreme for his cut shots!
Jeffrey
Apr 9, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I was wondering if anyone knows if Phil’s club is a new creation or an 8.5 loft version of the new xhot 3deep being released April 19th. I heard that the 3 deep was a tour release to the public like the utility x prototypes.
Don
Apr 9, 2013 at 4:35 pm
I WANT ONE!!!! Put me on the list callaway.
Jeffrey
Apr 9, 2013 at 3:23 pm
The loft is 8.5 degrees with a 45 inch driver shaft.
Brad
Apr 9, 2013 at 3:03 pm
This club’s specifications are probably close to Cobra’s “Long Tom” 2 Wood (45 inches and 12.5 degrees with the head being quite a bit larger than a fairway wood but smaller than a driver). The 2 wood is as old and good a concept as one can get with golf equipment.
Randall
Apr 9, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I think he’s bored of golf. Has to do these things to give a reason to go play when you know you are aging, already extremely wealthy, and love your home life (ehh Tiger). It’s just a hobby for him now
Clay
Apr 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm
The club is misspelled, you have to take the “h” out. It should be named “Prankenwood”.
JEFF
Apr 9, 2013 at 12:31 pm
WEIRD….. KINDA DUMB…… WHY?
gery katona
Apr 9, 2013 at 11:59 am
I’m always a bit surprised when guys experiment and put new stuff into play just before a major, especially something as critical as a driver. When the pressure is on, the last thing you need to be concerned with is doubt in your equipment. I realize Phil is trying to optimize his bag for the situation and I guess some guys can get away with it while others keep the stuff they are comfortable with.
Edmond Brooks IV
Apr 9, 2013 at 11:53 am
Phil the thrill he just makes the Masters for me I love Tiger but Phil is always my favorite all around true Professional. Phil and Phrankenwood you just know you’re going to see another Phil shot!
Stephen
Apr 8, 2013 at 3:25 pm
I would buy a Phrankenwood if they make a 12 degree LH..Callaway should have a drawing for a Phil Mickelson series Phrankenwood!!
Putty
Apr 8, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Rocketbladez, are you not satisfied with your Razr Fit Xtreme?
RocketBladez
Apr 8, 2013 at 11:37 am
So what happened to the RAZR Fit Xtreme driver that he was raving about when he won in Phoenix earlier this year? Was that just marketing hype for his sponsor so we would all go out and buy one?
Double Mocha Man
Apr 8, 2013 at 12:08 pm
And by this Sunday it’ll be time for all of us to go out and buy a Phrankenwood!
Yohanan
Apr 8, 2013 at 10:28 am
It’s alive!
andietaylor
Apr 9, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Grandstanding Phil…always doing something to make headlines. It’s all about Phil. Loves the controversy…good, or bad. Maybe he can write off the new clubs on his tax return?
Todd
Apr 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm
What happened to that driver that was such “a dream”? You know, the one he raved about after Phoenix? Phil, if you haven’t figure out how to make a swing yet, no souped-up #2 wood is gonna save you now.