Equipment

Editors’ Choice 2013

Published

11 years ago

May 6, 2013

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]olfWRX’s editorial team recognizes golf equipment of the highest quality, design and performance with our “Editors’ Choice” award, which signifies that a club is one of the best in its category. This year’s “Best of 2013″ nominees are the results of many months of observation, discussion and debate, along with countless hours spent reviewing data.

But don’t just take our word for it.

EditorsChoice_131 copy

A product that receives an Editors’ Choice award and makes the “Best of” list must pass through multiple stages of review, including feedback from our panel of elite custom fitters located throughout North America.

Their feedback, combined with objective analysis and reviews from our editorial team, allows us to filter through the hype to provide the GolfWRX community with a list of the absolute best golf equipment currently available. Click here to read the specifics on the voting committee and how we picked the best.

Note: Because new golf equipment is released year round, the “Best of ” list will grow and change as new clubs and data become available.

Add all this up and one thing becomes clear: We take our Editors’ Choice awards very seriously. You can spend countless hours in the GolfWRX forums reading, writing and asking questions about the latest golf gear. If you’re really hardcore, you might even buy and sell clubs in our BST (Buy/Sell/Trade) forum to find the best match for you. We certainly don’t want to discourage you from doing that, because it’s a lot of fun, and our team and up to 1.4 million monthly visitors do it every day.

But we offer our “Best of” list as a much quicker and easier route to equipment nirvana.

Award Categories

Drivers
Fairways
Hybrids
Irons
Wedges
Shafts
Rangefinders

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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his year’s crop of drivers seem to have more buzz than we remember in the past. Even though golf’s ruling bodies capped the COR (coefficient of restitution) limit on drivers to 0.83 and club head size to 460 cubic centimeters more than a decade ago, manufactures have still found new ways to improve on their designs every year. This year is no exception — crazy graphics, cavity back sole designs and small tweaks have made this year’s drivers better than ever before. Here are eight new drivers that have rolled out these recent months.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/62101/launch-season-for-6-big-dogs/”]See Best Drivers for 2013[/button]

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[dropcap]G[/dropcap]olfers love fairway woods that allow them to hit long, straight shots off the tee and off the ground. But fairway woods are not only some of the hardest clubs to hit consistently — they’re also some of the toughest to fit. Start with these five top-ranked fairway woods in your next fitting session and we guarantee that you’ll be on your way to hitting more fairways and greens in no time.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/90773/2013-best-fairway-woods/”]See Best Fairways for 2013[/button]

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There’s a lot fewer long irons played on the PGA Tour these days than in years past. That’s because the pros have realized that some of the long irons they used to play aren’t as consistent as similar-lofted hybrids, which they can also hit higher and farther. Unfortunately, many amatuer golfers haven’t caught on with the trend. If you’re one of them, make your way to the nearest golf store and give one of these hybrids a swing.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/97848/2013-best-hybrids/”]See Best Hybrids for 2013[/button]

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[dropcap]E[/dropcap]very year brings an opportunity for all the golf companies to release something that makes us gasp, a set of irons that will make us want to kick out our current gamers out of the bag for something new. Maybe longer, more forgiving irons will be the spark we need to take our game to the next level? Here are some of our Editors’ picks for best irons for the year.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/95050/best-irons-2013/”]See Best Irons for 2013[/button]

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[dropcap]G[/dropcap]olf equipment companies are currently offering more sole options than ever before, so there’s no excuse for not playing a grind that gives you the best chance to get it up and down. To help you narrow it down, we’ve created an Editors’ Choice list for the best wedges currently available. They’re offered in a slew of lofts, grinds, finishes and custom options, and are a great starting point if you’re in the market for a new wedge.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/90151/the-best-wedges-for-2013-editors-choice/”]See Best Wedges for 2013[/button]

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600 best shafts

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne of our favorite subjects to cover on GolfWRX is shafts. They can be confusing, but golfers who get fitted and know what works for them can get into a comfort zone on the course that can make the difference. But golfers buying new or looking to dial in their old gear need to know about the hottest shafts that are hitting stores this year. You can look HERE to see what shafts the Pros are playing in their equipment and also read through this article to find some inspiration prior to your fitting.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/74447/hot-shafts-for-2013-latest-hot-picks/”]See Best Shafts for 2013[/button]

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GolfWRX

GolfWRX is the world's largest and best online golf community. Expert editorial reviews, breaking golf tour and industry news, what to play, how to play and where to play. GolfWRX surrounds consumers throughout the buying, learning and enrichment process from original photographic and video content, to peer to peer advice and camaraderie, to technical how-tos, and more. As the largest online golf community we continue to protect the purity of our members opinions and the platform to voice them. We want to protect the interests of golfers by providing an unbiased platform to feel proud to contribute to for years to come. You can follow GolfWRX on Twitter @GolfWRX and on Facebook.

15 Comments

.U7X-H5SSxXo

Sep 30, 2014 at 9:14 pm

We all know videos will be invoked among the appropriate
and effective alternative to develop the business conveniently.
As they update regularly, engines remain on
this website for longer time periods. —Want to share his knowledge
and experiences, in hope that I reach a high level of achievement.

Reply Report comment
cg

Oct 10, 2013 at 5:26 pm

taylor made will come out with at least 3 new drivers before december…wait to them!!

Reply Report comment
Travis

Oct 5, 2013 at 5:55 pm

Got balls?

Reply Report comment
ragnar9

Sep 26, 2013 at 3:05 am

All in all a great presentation. Could we also have a “best bags” category for 2014? I’ve been struggling to find just the right one this year. Categories ultralight, carry, hybrid, cart, staff?

Reply Report comment
Wheaton

Aug 19, 2013 at 8:47 am

wow. almost 9 months into the year and they still have not done hybrid or ball reviews. Great website

Reply Report comment
- GolfWRX
  
  Sep 19, 2013 at 11:41 pm
  
  http://www.golfwrx.com/97848/2013-best-hybrids/
  
  Reply Report comment
Alfredo

Aug 2, 2013 at 11:23 am

Guys need to relax. We see the reviews on most the hybrids out. Try them all out, and see which you hit the best.

Reply Report comment
Sam

Aug 1, 2013 at 1:13 pm

Sooo…. It’s now August…. Still waiting for those hybrid reviews.
What’s going on here?

Reply Report comment
- GolfWRX
  
  Sep 19, 2013 at 11:41 pm
  
  sorry. Came out a few weeks ago… http://www.golfwrx.com/97848/2013-best-hybrids/
  
  Reply Report comment
Michael

Jul 21, 2013 at 8:19 pm

Like Travis, I’m also wondering where the hybrid and ball reviews are. As well as some of the unfinished iron reviews

Reply Report comment
Travis

Jul 14, 2013 at 5:36 pm

July is halfway over, where are the ball and hybrid reviews? Especially since they were originally supposed to be up in June.

Reply Report comment
Travis

Jul 1, 2013 at 11:18 pm

Where are the hybrid and ball reviews? Says coming in June, it’s July

Reply Report comment
Dugan

May 20, 2013 at 4:55 pm

Do you have lists for previous years? Would like to see how my current setup ranks

Reply Report comment
pablo

May 8, 2013 at 9:41 pm

2013 is barely 1/3 complete.

Reply Report comment
- GolfWRX
  
  May 8, 2013 at 11:43 pm
  
  Yes but the 6 clubfitters that fit over 500 players a month each have weighed in and formed an opinion… http://www.golfwrx.com/reviews/best-of-awards-and-the-inside-scoop/
  
  Also as new models come into the picture or a revelation/shift in votes occurs we always acknowledge. We ask the fitters to cast their votes for all categories once a quarter.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

1 hour 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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