Equipment
Tiger puts a Covert 3 Wood in play at Augusta
Our boots on the ground at Augusta National have confirmed that Tiger Woods is using a Nike VR_S Covert 3 Wood in Round 1 of the Masters, which he used to hit his first tee shot of the tournament.
According to Nike’s website, Woods is playing a 15-degree Covert (the non-Tour model), the same version as Woods’ VR_S Covert 19-degree 5 wood that he put in the bag at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.
Nike Golf’s twitter account tweeted a picture of the club this morning, saying, “The high draw demands Covert. The 3-wood that joins @TigerWoods bag.”
The non-Tour versions of Nike’s Covert fairway woods do not feature an adjustable hosel, which Woods has never used in competition. Click here to see a full photo gallery and spec list of Tiger’s equipment.
[youtube id=”uut3ZKyDEEo” width=”620″ height=”360″]
The photo indicates that Woods is using the same shaft, his trusty Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 103X, which he’s been using in his Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3 wood and previous fairway woods for several years.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- LIKE9
- LEGIT1
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
- LIKE7
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole3 days ago
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole7 days ago
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Jon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
-
Equipment2 weeks ago
Best driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Charlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Why Kevin Streelman sought USGA approval to use this equipment tool as he leads Valspar after round one
lance
Apr 12, 2013 at 8:19 am
I don’t see tiger switching his current driver out of the bag anytime soon!!
Shiga78
Apr 13, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I have the same driver head and shaft that Tiger is using. VR Tour with 420 cc head with a GD Tour AD DI 6 X, and I see why he still hits this driver. The head and shaft combo is amazing. Shaping the ball is so much easier. Nike clubs are so underrated…..TM, Callaway and Ping are way OVER rated….Rocketballs-ier? You gotta be kidding me.
Jack
Apr 11, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Interesting, so if he switches to the driver he would play the non tour version as well? Less adjustability but more spin too?
Brian
Apr 12, 2013 at 7:19 am
More likely, he would test an adjustable version, figure out how he likes it, and then they’d build several non adjustable versions at that setting and he’d choose from those.
Callaway X Hot
Apr 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm
When is he going to put the Covert driver in the bag???
phase3golf
Apr 11, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Adjustable in Tigers bag? Not likely…
Billy
Apr 11, 2013 at 12:28 pm
@Craig Vogt – I believe the performance version has slightly higher launch/spin characteristics than the tour version.
craig vogt
Apr 11, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Other than the adjustability what differences are there in the non tour vs tour FW coverts?
Blanco
Apr 11, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Smaller head, different paint, probably more fwd CG. Lower launching version of the Kuro Kage I believe.