Equipment
Tiger to change to a SuperStroke putter grip?
Tiger Woods was spotted practicing Wednesday at the Presidents Cup with a new putter grip on his Nike Method 001 putter, a SuperStroke Ultra Slim 1.0 that is roughly twice the size of his usual putter grip.
SuperStroke’s oversized grips have exploded in popularity on the professional tours in 2013, with Phil Mickelson and Jason Dufner using the company’s Slim 3.0 grip to win the season’s final two majors. The larger-sized grips are thought to help golfers quiet their hands and relieve tension during the stroke, which can improve consistency, particularly on short putts under pressure.
The Ultra Slim grip Woods was spotted using is considerably smaller than the grips used by Mickelson and Dufner (Woods’ grip has a 1.0-inch diameter instead of a 1.3-inch diameter). But any change is a big change for Woods, who has used the same style putter and grip for each of his 14 major championship victories.
Along with being twice as large as Woods’ usual Ping Man putter grip, the new grip is also 6 grams heavier. That will have a slight counterbalancing effect on Woods’ putter, which also can add stability to a golfer’s stroke.
Early in the 2013 PGA Tour season, Woods lead the Tour’s Strokes Gained-putting statistic by a large margin, but he finished the year ranked 22nd. While 2013 marked his best finish in the Strokes Gained-putting statistic since 2009, it’s still well off his performance in the category from 2004 to 2009, a period where he won six major championships.
From 2004 (the year the Tour began tracking Strokes Gained-putting) to 2009, Woods finished 2nd, 9th, 22nd, 3rd, 3rd and 2nd in the category. While Woods’ golf swing change under instructor Sean Foley has been the centerpiece of criticism from golf experts such as Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, many have pointed to Woods’ putting as one of his key weaknesses in major championships since he returned to the PGA Tour in 2010.
This year, Woods missed several key putts at both the Masters and British Open, where he finished T4 and T6, respectively. He has had few problems with his putter in rounds 1 and 2 of tournaments, averaging 2nd on the Tour in scoring average before the cut. But on the weekends where pressure builds, Woods’ scoring average has been much higher. He ranked 48th in round 3 scoring average this year and 93rd in round 4 scoring average.
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- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.
In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).
With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
See all of our photo galleries from the week here
Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters
Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.
That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.
One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…
We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…
While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.
We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).
See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here
An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird
Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.
Well, we have an update.
According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.
Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron
As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.
Good timing on that switch, Jordan.
On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.
Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:
“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’
“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”
Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball
At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.
GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…
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A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!
Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.
On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.
Check out Kim’s full WITB here
A smart golf ball stamping
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.
While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.
And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.
For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
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- Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
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19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
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Equipment3 weeks agoWhat we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
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19th Hole6 days agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
Ray
Mar 26, 2014 at 12:47 pm
GEEZ GUYS, how many of you ever won a major let alone 13 ? For all his other foibles, he is still World No. 1 – for a big reason. He’s no dummy; otherwise he would take all the advise left here and be a total whack job.
Ashley
Aug 14, 2014 at 10:54 am
He’s won 14!
davethomas
Apr 8, 2015 at 2:48 pm
he’s not world #1, he’s 111 http://www.owgr.com/en/Ranking.aspx?pageNo=1&pageSize=300&country=All
l_michaels
Oct 15, 2013 at 8:32 am
I don’t agree, read that:
http://cu.odysseyinsider.selfip.com/odyssey-putter-grip-problems.php
Richard Branson
Oct 12, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Not sure if everyone knows this, but Tiger continues to use a PING putter grip no matter what putter he is using.
davethomas
Apr 8, 2015 at 2:47 pm
just like the pictures show right?
8thehardway
Oct 11, 2013 at 2:25 am
With his stroke I think he should try out some Bullseye putters.
Bill Ziegler
Oct 10, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I used a Scotty for many years. Tried a Method 001. If you have not tried it you should. The Method feels so much better. It also has a shallower face than most Scotty’s which really helps with clean contact.
Tiger’s problem is that golf is a hard game. Sometimes putts don’t go in. Be nice to see him play Brandel Chamblee in an 18 hole match play exhibition.
Tiger Woods
Oct 10, 2013 at 1:17 am
I need to try a long putter.
thefullsp
Oct 4, 2013 at 3:55 pm
I have the Nike Method Midnight 006 which Rory ditched with a lime green IOMIC grip. I ditched the Cameron Red X. It rolls the ball incredibly well. Let’s face it putting is all about attitude and confidence. I believe I’m gonna hole every putt and my numbers are way better since the mental change. If the grip gives him a shift in putting perspective, Nike will be ecstatic…
Billy
Oct 3, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Back to the PING grip! Short-lived experiment.
rob
Oct 3, 2013 at 11:47 am
This great is illegal….I can’t missed a putt with my eyeys closed….For the TW haters out there, I hear they are taking a collection to buy the company out and discontinue the grip…More Tiger proofing…Ouch
If he keeps the grip, his putting woes will be over. Mark my word.
trampampam
Oct 3, 2013 at 8:56 am
fantastic grip. I have 3 putters and they’re all with super stroke grips. One with 1.3 and two with 1.0(Rife Island series Trinidad and Mizuno 90 series). All of them feels perfect.
T
Oct 3, 2013 at 8:01 am
must buy stock…
Zachary
Oct 2, 2013 at 11:43 pm
I think it’s more psychological. It’s like how we sometimes think we need minor changes in our clubs from time to time because we think it will help although we know it probably won’t help that much, new things give us confidence. Hope it helps. But the bottom line as always is that “it’s not the arrow it’s the Indian”.
Al.J
Oct 2, 2013 at 11:20 pm
I agree he hasn’t putted nearly as well with the Nike as he did with the Scotty! Definitely a boost for super stroke if he sticks with it and wins!
CairnsRock
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:32 pm
I remember him using a Ping in his early days with the white PING letters on the grip which he had blacked out.
Cameron
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Bust out the Scotty again!!!
Jim Brooks
Oct 2, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Love You Tiger, ALWAYS HAVE… ALWAYS WILL ; ))) It’s NOT the putter grip that needs to be replaced… it’s a HUGE “boost” in the confidence level! It’s deffinitely 70% of the PUTTING GAME ; ))! If a change in grip can do that and create the “spark” needed… then do it by ALL MEANS my friend ; )))! Personally, inside 6 feet, don’t even give the ball a “chance” to THINK(break)… just FIRM, Dead Center of the Hole ; ))! That’s the stroke that made him… WHO he is today… he just has to find it again ; ))! You Can Do IT Tiger ; ))!
Jack
Oct 3, 2013 at 2:27 am
maybe changing the grip will help his confidence. Plus his putting is still way better than us. He just wants to make everything. A change could help regardless of it’s true effects.
kevin smith
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Hopefully trying a bit more of a Stricker motion, less timing of the right hand release…. Big muscles
moses
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:38 pm
WOW!!!! How about just using something that’s always worked. The one that won 13 majors?
Zeke
Oct 2, 2013 at 5:35 pm
They banned the anchored putter (wrongly) because it doesn’t look right. These fatter grips certainly don’t look traditional. The founding fathers didn’t envision using fat grips to putt with, either. The anchored putter has been used a lot longer than these fat grips. BAN THEM TOO!!!
Anthony Maccioli
Oct 3, 2013 at 12:50 am
Pretty sure they were not banned because they don’t look right.
Ashley
Aug 14, 2014 at 11:02 am
Do you think they should ban everything that makes you play better? In that case they should ban having lessons and cavity back iron and hybrids and low compression balls!! Get a grip man it’s a rubber handle,
Barry
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:13 pm
yeeeees!i have this exact same grip on my odyssey metal-x #8 putter!!Tiger – take it from me- it’s good!
JumboDebt
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:44 pm
He may be only experimenting with this. Didn’t he use a Ping Anser originally? Then Titleist, his equipment sponsor at the time came up with these Scotty Camerons that are really just copies of that Ping original design. But he is a tinkerer. As long as he doesn’t tinker himself out of contention. Putting is the most personal of all golf shots. Lose confidence there and it can ruin your entire game… But he is Tiger Woods. I’d say, “Don’t try this at home kids.”
Jimmy Ray
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:31 pm
The sales VP at Tigershark/SuperStroke just put a deposit on Tiger’s yacht…
Billy
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Good for him, hope it works out!
wcavanau
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Was there today and noticed that he had that grip. Only saw him on 18 and he made about a 4ft for par after coming up short of the green.
Spitty
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:03 pm
just cut to the chase Tiger and get a 38 inch daddy long legs putter.
Scott
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Tiger’s putting hasn’t been the same since he took his Scotty Cameron out of the bag. Nike has tried in every way to duplicate the same Cameron putter that Tiger used to win every major but to no avail.
To make Nike happy Tiger should just do what many Tour pros do, find what you can play well then have your equipment sponsor stick it’s name on it or leave it blank and put a Nike cover on it. For many of us it’s been comical to watch Nike try to make a putter like Tiger’s trusty Cameron
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:54 pm
So earlier in the year when he was making everything must have been luck? Good logic. Go try his putter and then try making that statement. You wouldn’t.
Jack
Oct 3, 2013 at 2:25 am
Putter making isn’t some kind of black magic mystery, and Scotty’s are the only good putters out there.
gert heskel
Oct 3, 2013 at 5:39 am
I agree with you 100% Scott.
kevin
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:00 pm
i don’t think its grip issue. more like the nike method putterhead. the thing putts terribly. probably has something to do with the face on that model. tiger should go back to his old cameron’s.
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:53 pm
You are terribly informed. The method putts the best roll on a ball in golf. Not even an argument. He’s been using it for 3 years it’s not like he’s not used to the thing. Get over him using a nike putter.
Gmatt
Oct 3, 2013 at 12:05 pm
No argument? LOL I can provide a bunch, get over the Method love, regardless of what putter he uses, they are all different coming off the face
Bill
Oct 3, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Maybe he should go back to Titleist too? Good thing he’s not asking for your advice. Tiger won’t use anything that he doesn’t feel will improve his chances to win.
Mike
Oct 14, 2013 at 7:58 am
Disagree. I play the Nike Method 006 and the ball rolls very true. I’ve made more putts with that putter than any flat stick including the Scotty I had, which I sold. TW is messing around with SS, that’s all. The winning Prez Cup putt was made with his Ping grip. Scotty makes a darn good putter, but they are overrated and at $400 a pop, forget it. Truth be told putters are all about feel. If you need proof ask Jim Furyk who won 11M a few years ago winning the Fed Ex Cup and Tour Championship with a putter that cost $39. Case closed.
Mike
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:57 pm
about time he took my advice…
Conrad
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:45 pm
just an amazing grip. sorta surprised to seeing him trying it but not really…
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Ditch the putter? What does the putter have to do with a poor stroke he has had over the last month? Get over him having a nike putter
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Oops wrong reply haha ^
misanthrope
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:42 pm
he is a feel putter – ditch that putter and go back to feel, has nothing to do with the grip, ball comes off the face too hot and he has become mechanical as a result. The 1.0 superstroke has no impact on eliminating the wrists, its basically a midsize, edel has been using round grips for a reason and this is the most readily available mimic of it. The above post about more feedback is counter-intuitive because the grip is thicker and the artificial winn type outer – its actually more dampening, not going to find much more feedback than those skinny old pings unless you go to a pro only old schooler.
Kyle
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Ditch the putter? What does the putter have to do with a poor stroke he has had over the last month? Get over him having a nike putter
Cannon
Oct 2, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Sounds like he’s saying the face is hotter than the Cameron, leading to inconsistency with speed since he has to use a shorter stroke or slower than he was used to with his classic anser/Cameron style.
Bill
Oct 3, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Gee, I never heard that or do you know him personally or maybe you’re a teaching pro. That must be it!
tbowles411
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:29 pm
I figure, what the heck? It improved my putting, and his putting is a heck of a lot better than mine.
Mike
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Absolutely love that grip. Have one on each of my 3 putters. Great feel, feedback, and really gives you confidence in the stroke. Hope it works out for Tiger. Would love to see him do well in the President’s Cup.
Jeff
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm
SuperStroke is GEEKED!
mitch
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:16 pm
glad to see tiger messing around with his putter which is probably the only thing that he has kept constant the last few years and prevented him from winning a major.
TWshoot67
Oct 2, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Wow didn’t see that coming, but hey if it helps Tiger get back to putting how he use to then great! I still think he should go bak to old faithful but I guess only time will tell. I mean if his putter worked like Tiger days gone by like in 2001-05, then he could have easily had 2-3 more wins this past season. The putter has really held him back from what use to be automatic good from 10′ and in.