Equipment
Ping Rapture V2 Hybrid – Review
It is very difficult to replace a club in my bag that has been ever so faithful to me for the past two plus years. I know that my hybrid never looked at another golfer with envy. I know that I have eyeballed many a possible new hybrid to replace my faithful until the end, Callaway 3H. I find it amazing that I stuck with her for as long as I did.
You know, I grew tired of her steel core and lusted for a newer, sleeker and avant-garde looking babe to idle away the hours on many a golf course. Being the fickle golfer that I am, I looked at many a new girl, or hybrid. For the time being, I settled on the new Ping Rapture V2 20 degree hybrid. I swear I’ll never date that 3 iron girl again. She just could never be counted upon when you really needed her to take care of your needs. On to my newest love affair, enter the Ping Rapture V2 hybrid. Not only a looker, but a pure performer as well.
According to Ping Golf, they wanted “to ensure forgiving and higher launching results so their engineers relied on the density of a tungsten sole plate in the design of the Rapture V2 Hybrid Series.”
The design features a “sloped crown design and the 112 gram tungsten sole–which represents 48% of the club head’s mass–allows the center of gravity (CG) to be positioned lower and farther back from the face.” The Rapture V2 hybrid’s “larger head profile and longer face increase the moment-of-inertia for improved accuracy and confidence.” All golfers need a lot of both. And me? I’ll take all that I can get. I thought about the Ping G10 hybrid as well, but the Rapture V2 is the one that really caught my eye.
One small thing that I was concerned about was replacing the accuracy of my Callaway Uniflex steel golf shaft. These shafts have always been top- notch performers for a ‘tweener (not regular, yet not stiff) such as myself. No matter how good these steel shafts are, I am always searching for a graphite shaft that I can live with for fairway wood and hybrid shots. Although I really liked the bright green fading into black Ping TFC 939D graphite shaft, I was more worried about what type of ball flight characteristics this Ping graphite shaft would offer me. This Ping shaft offers a very straight and piercing ball flight that really seems to take off and surpasses any expectations that I had for it prior to purchasing it.
I don’t miss my Callaway 3H one tiny bit, not at all. This change is very surprising to me. Why is that? That Callaway hybrid had been in my golf bag for well over two years. This is a lifetime for a club in my bag! It is now relegated to light duty in my back up golf bag. Compared to the Callaway, the ball really takes off with authority when the V2 hybrid comes into contact with the ball. This is quite pleasing, so much so that I ordered the V2 Rapture 3 wood to replace my Cobra Speed LD-F 3 wood, but I digress, that review is in your future. Because this hybrid is 20 degrees (my old hybrid was 21 degrees) I feel like I can ditch my 19 degree Cobra LD-F 5 wood (and not miss out) and add a wedge if I so desire. In the few rounds that I have played with it, it has become my “go to” club and that says a lot. There is nothing more satisfying than reaching for a club without any doubt. If you are in search of a high performing hybrid, why not check out the new Ping Rapture V2 series, you just might be impressed.
- LIKE13
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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!
- LIKE8
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole4 days ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Luc
Jul 1, 2009 at 6:08 am
after hitting a few balls with the Rapture V2 in a proshop I decided to go to my pro and do a club fit along with a product comparison (against my one year-old Callaway hybrid and the brand new Diablos).
Well the Diablo performed well to say the least but nothing compares to the Rapture. I’ve never felt so excited for a golf club. I had no idea that a specific club could bring my swing to such a level of excellence. The failure rate (missed hit, top, etc…) stands below 20% which is almost impossible to achieve with my current handicap (>95). And I am talking about range balls on the grass, not on a tee.
This review is *exactly* what I would have written about my own experience. And I am calling the shop right now to order this “magic” club 🙂
Give it a try, you won’t regret it!
PS: I am going for the regular flex with 20degree
Ronnie
Nov 21, 2008 at 2:19 am
How would you stack up the new TFC939 shaft against the TFC909, and my favorite, the TFC100?
I’m looking at replacing a 17* G2 5 wood that has the TFC100 shaft (stiff). This Rapture V2 looks like a terrific candidate.
Thanks for the great review!
REH
Nov 17, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Paul,
1. Dont call me MR.
2. I went with the stiff flex.
Paul
Nov 17, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Mr Hetzel,
Did you go with Regular or Stiff shaft for your new hybrid?
I’m interested as I too liked the Cally Uniflex.
Thanks for the review.