Names such as Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose all made gear changes at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

We also spotted some new equipment on-site at Bay Hill, including Bettinardi irons, new Scotty Cameron and PXG putters, and new Golf Pride putter grips.

Just to add a little more gear intrigue in honor of Arnie, we also got a look into NFL quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s golf bag, including his unbelievable custom “No. 16” putter, as well as NBA legend Vince Carter’s current setup during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

Yeah, I know; too much talk, not enough photos. I hear you, so let’s get into this week’s equipment highlights from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Click here to see all of our photos from Bay Hill this week

1) Scottie Scheffler switches into a TaylorMade Spider Tour X prototype putter

It’s been a long road of putter testing for Scheffler as he continues to search for the one putter that will stick longterm. Maybe his new Spider Tour X prototype is the answer.

His 2-under-par 70 in round 1 is certainly a nice start.

While his former Tour X SS proto putter that we spotted in 2023 came equipped with a custom milled face, his new Arnold Palmer Invitational version uses TaylorMade’s stock Pure Roll face insert. The new putter also has a visibly short plumbers neck construction.

TaylorMade weighed in with some insight on the new design after the first round:

“Scottie Scheffler put Spider Tour X putter in play this week after doing some extensive work with the putter at home. The putter is half-inch longer than Scottie’s previous gamer with the L-neck hosel and True Path with a full-line sightline on top. Scottie switched to Spider Tour X for increased MOI and stability compared to a blade.

“Spec wise, Scottie’s Spider Tour X has 3 degrees of loft with a lie angle of 72 degrees, and an 80/20 Pure Roll insert. He is also using Golf Pride’s Pistol grip.”

See more photos of Scheffler’s new putter here, or click here to see his full WITB from this week.

2) Collin Morikawa switches into a Logan Olson putter

Right as Scheffler gets off the Logan Olson train, Morikawa hops aboard.

New in the bag this week, Morikawa is now playing a custom Logan Olson blade putter, equipped with his familiar Mitsubishi Diamana putter shaft, and a SuperStroke Zynergy Tour 2.0XL putter grip.

See more photos of Collin’s new Logan Olson putter here

3) Fowler switches into a Cobra Darkspeed X driver, with a new Project X Denali shaft

If you’re particularly interested in Fowler’s new driver, or new driver shaft, or in the reasons why he switched, I recommend reading our full write-up over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, where Fowler went super in-depth on the change and new driver setup. Fowler is quite in-tune with his equipment, so he’s always interesting to speak with about his testing process.

Here’s a snippet of what Fowler had to say about it:

4) Justin Rose switches to Srixon Z Forged II irons

According to Rose’s caddie, Rose played his first 9 holes with the new Srixon X Forged II set on Tuesday, and as confirmed during the first round of competition on Thursday, he officially made the switch.

I guess he liked what he saw. Or felt.

As GolfWRX Forum user Drewhill44 pointed out in the forum thread, Rose has won on the PGA Tour twice on the week of an iron switch, so special things could be in store for Rose with the new Srixon irons this week.

We’ll catch with Rose next week at The Players to see why he made the change.

5) Arnold Palmer’s 2-iron, and “memorial” WITB

As mentioned earlier, Arnold Palmer was a true club tinkerer. Seriously, his club collection totals over 10,000.

That’s a lot of golf clubs.

On Wednesday, an umbrella-shaded Arnold Palmer staff bag was on display, and filled with clubs from his collection.

The 2-iron particularly caught my eye, as did the custom Odyssey Toulon Latrobe blade putter, crafted in his honor.

All of the clubs in The King’s memorial bag are worth checking out.

6) Trevor and Vince

Trevor Lawrence and Vince Carter played alongside Baron Corbin and Collin Morikawa during the Wednesday Pro-Am, and they each had some cool stuff in the bag.

Lawrence, who wears jersey number 16 while playing quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was using a Royal Payne/Rex Golf collab putter, and Carter, who’s a certified NBA legend, was using a Ping G430 7-wood.

Superstars always know how to wow the crowd.

Click for the full story on Lawrence’s putter, or see more photos of his full bag.

7) Guess what company makes this putter…

What’s your guess? Here’s the answer.

8) Bettinardi’s first irons ever

This was quite a surprise drop from Bettinardi this week. Luckily, GolfWRX Gear Expert Brian Knudson already wrote an in-depth story about the irons here.

9) New Scotty Cameron putters and LD/Long Design grips

The Scotty Cameron putter launch train keeps rolling, and adds a new LD/Long Design grip to the passenger car, too.

See what GolfWRX members are saying about the putters and grips here

10) Golf Pride throws it in Reverse (Taper)

Speaking of new putter grips, Golf Pride launched three new Reverse Taper putter grip models that completely flip the thought process of tapered putting grips, in hopes of stabilizing the hands throughout the stroke.

You can read more about the new technology here.

I tried telling you, it was a wild week in golf equipment at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Cheers to a great weekend of golf watching, and we’ll see you next week at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Pour up an Arnold Palmer to celebrate.

Click here to see all of our photos from Bay Hill this week

G730 irons

Per Ping, maximizing ball speed was the primary objective in the design of the G730 iron, in design to allow shots that launch higher and fly farther for golfers who struggle with consistent face contact.

By unlocking the strength properties of hyper 17-4 stainless steel through an advanced heat treatment, Ping engineers thinned the larger face to increase flexing and help lower the center of gravity, in an effort to add significant ball-speed gains and generate several more yards of distance with every iron in the set.

The larger face expands the hitting surface, in design to preserve ball speed and ensure forgiveness on mishits. The PurFlex cavity badge, with multiple flex zones, aims to help control face bending while enhancing feel and producing a powerful sound.

The larger head and wider sole in the investment-cast design increases the MOI in both axes, and a lower center of gravity bids to elevate forgiveness for improved accuracy and consistency. Golfers will also notice more offset in the cavity-back design which is designed to aid getting the ball airborne easier and more consistently. The performance-enhancing hydropearl chrome 2.0 finish seeks to help ensure consistent launch results from varying conditions.

With an eye toward increasing distance but also optimizing gaps to best fit the golfer, the standard lofts are custom engineered to ensure set configurations that are designed to maximize performance throughout the bag. The four wedges in the set feature machined faces and grooves for added control, while the option of power (stronger) and retro (weaker) spec lofts allows fitters to further optimize performance.

What Ping Are Saying

“The G730 irons are engineered for golfers who can benefit from more distance and a higher level of forgiveness and consistency to shoot lower scores. The new G730 brings them all that in an easy-to-hit, confidence-inspiring design. It’s the longest and most forgiving iron in our current lineup and is a great solution to help maximize the performance of a lot of golfers. We’re excited to bring them an iron that’s engineered to make the game easier and more enjoyable.” – John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President

Specs, Pricing & Availability

• Available: 5-9, PW, UW, 50°, 56°
• Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec
• Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold Mid 100 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (S300, X100), PING Alta CB Black graphite (SR, R, S)
• Optional stock shafts: PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105 (R, S, X), Elevate MPH 95 (R, S), UST Recoil Dart 65 (A), 75 (R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45
• Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline in four sizes (Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″;, White-Std, Gold +1/32″)
• U.S. MSRP: $185 per club with stock steel shaft; $200 per club with stock graphite shaft

i530 irons

Ping’s new i530 irons feature an internal weight pad that provides a deeper and thinner face-to-sole transition, ensuring more face flexing and pushing mass down to lower the center of gravity in design for more ball speed.

The forged, highly flexible maraging steel C300 face is precisely welded to a 17-4 stainless steel hollow body. A polymer applied inside the head on the back of the face bids to improve feel and sound while maximizing face bending.

The body design contributes to distance by accentuating face bending. The lower CG is more aligned with where impact occurs, and distance-optimized lofts bids to help ensure more distance and higher max height for green-holding results. Three loft configurations (Standard, Power and
Retro) are available to optimize a golfer’s launch conditions during the custom fitting process.

The i530 irons feature a new machining technique that thins the back wall of the hollow-body design, saving weight in a bid to increase forgiveness and tighten dispersion for greater accuracy along with the added distance. In addition, precision-milled MicroMax grooves combine with the hydropearl chrome 2.0 finish in design to provide consistent launch and spin from all conditions.

What Ping Are Saying

“We’re seeing significant distance gains with the i530 iron mainly due to its higher face flexing and bending. It’s a great fit for the golfer whose top priority is more distance, including someone who may have lost yards with their current irons over time. It also has a level of forgiveness not typically found in distance irons. It’s packed with performance. It looks great, feels great and more importantly, will lead to lower scores and more enjoyment on the course.” – John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President

Specs, Pricing & Availability

• Available: 4-9, PW, UW
• Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec
• Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold Mid 100 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (S300, X100), PING Alta CB Black graphite (SR, R, S)
• Optional stock shafts: PING AWT (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105 (R, S, X), Elevate MPH 95 (R, S), UST Recoil Dart 65 (A), 75 (R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45
• Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″;, Red -1/32″;, Aqua -1/64″;, White-Std, Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
• U.S. MSRP: $205 per club with stock steel shaft; $220 per club with stock graphite shaft

He started the season using his previous Cobra Aerojet LS driver, equipped with a unique Mitsubishi Diamana Whiteboard prototype shaft, then switched into a new Cobra Darkspeed LS (Low-Spin) driver for The American Express, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and WM Phoenix Open. He then switched back into his Aerojet LS at The Genesis Invitational, and he switched yet again into a new Cobra Darkspeed X model – equipped with a new Project X Denali Black 70 TX shaft – at last week’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

The inconsistency with his driver choices has reflected in the stat sheet. For the season, he ranks just 167th on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and 127th in Driving Accuracy.

Fowler has recognized the issue, and by putting the more forgiving Cobra Darkspeed X driver model into play, he’s aiming to hit more fairways.

“The LS head is really good; I was just struggling with it a little bit on dispersion and left-right,” Fowler said Tuesday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “I felt like the misses, I thought they could be a little tighter, and it was still pretty similar to Aerojet. It wasn’t like the LS wasn’t as good (as the Aerojet) or anything. And I would say that it was probably a little faster, but, a big thing out here is hitting fairways. So hitting out of the middle (of the face) it’s very good. I was just struggling with mishits.

“Yes, we do mishit them. And I just thought I could get a little tighter dispersion. So, that was where the thought of going and trying the X head. Just trying to get, like I said, a tighter window on mishits. And so with that head, there’s obviously different shape, different weighting, probably starting out, it’s maybe a touch more – or can be – not draw-biased, but have a little bit more left versus the LS.

“But I was just looking for some stability, something that I was going to be able to hit and trust to hit at the fairway more often. So that was kind of the main idea behind it. It was pretty solid last week. Trying to validate a little bit more.”

Fowler also found more forgiveness in the Denali shaft, further inspiring him to make this adjustment.

“Obviously, I’m a big fan of the Whiteboard; always have been,” Fowler said. “(Cobra Tour rep Ben Schomin) sent this Denali over. It felt pretty similar, maybe a little more stable. And so I went with that … it just matched up as a good combo, good feel, felt stable, had the forgiveness. The spin window is good. Heel shots weren’t spinning off the charts. Toe balls that were drawing weren’t getting too low. You know, it felt like I was able to hit shots, as far as lower flight, get it up in the air if I wanted to.”

Read more here.

The answers were plentiful, and after much debate and discussion here at WRX HQ, we present to you some of the most difficult greens GolfWRXers have ever stroked a putt on, along with StrackaLine maps of the greens.

Check them out below.

We want to know (with @StrackaLine)

What is the HARDEST green you've ever putt on? Drop the course and hole below ?

— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) February 9, 2024

No. 10 at Oakmont Country Club

Site of Phil Mickelson’s infamous 2007 U.S. Open four-putt, Oakmont’s 10th green slopes severely from front right to back left. It is, in a word, brutal, on a course full of some of the slipperiest putting surfaces in the game.

(Photo via Oakmont Country Club)

No. 10 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Another 10th hole, another torturous green, this time at Shinnecock. The 415-yard par 4, named Eastward Ho, challenges golfers with an uphill approach to a devilish green that loves to reject shots, thanks to extreme slopes around the perimeter. The 10th played as the most difficult hole when Shinnecock hosted the 2004 U.S. Open, and its green is a big reason why.

No. 16 at Pasatiempo Golf Club

The green at Pasatiempo’s 387-yard 16th is a beastly back-to-front sloper with three separate tiers. Course designer Alister Mackenzie called the hole the best two-shotter he knew.

No. 8 at Sweetens Cove Golf Club

12,500 square feet. Double plateau. This thing looks like a stegosaurus’ back.

Practice green at Tobacco Road Golf Club

Mike Stranz’s 1988 gem is known for its wild greens — and that starts right out of the clubhouse with the practice green.

(Photo via TripAdvisor)

If you could use a little help navigating the golf course, check out StrackaLine’s range of products. GolfWRXers can use code GolfWRX for 20% off. 

This week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, we spotted a couple of PXG prototype putters on the practice green with a more traditional milled face on them. The putters look to be very traditional Anser head shape with a more squared-off look and sharper corners. One of the putters was naked, with no site lines or dots milled into the topline or flange for a clean and classic look. I don’t see any tungsten weights integrated into the heel and toe bumpers like the retail putters, but the interchangeable sole weights look to be the same as we’d expect.

A more traditional, shallower face milling looks to have been used on the face with PXG’s Darkness skull logo milled into the heel. The sole also features a large PXG logo with many different-sized Darkness skulls around it. We have no word on if this will ever be available at retail or if it just a tour-only prototype. Very cool either way!

• Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of 2023 Titleist T-100 iron heads.

From the seller: (@sdaileyiii): “2023 T-100 4-P iron heads. Got these in a trade, but decided to go another route. See condition in pics. $765.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: 2023 Titleist T-100 iron heads

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7, draw setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond (15 degrees @14)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 80 TX

• Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Noren’s clubs here.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 95 6.5

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

• Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Noren’s clubs here.

Wedges: Callaway Jaws (46-10S, 50-10S, 56-08C, 60-08C)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (50-60)

Putter: Odyssey O-Works #1W

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Noren’s clubs here.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

• Check out more in-hand photos of Scottie Scheffler’s clubs here.

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (3, 4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50-12F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-06K, 60.5-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

• Check out more in-hand photos of Scottie Scheffler’s clubs here.

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Grip: Golf Pride Pro Only

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Check out more in-hand photos of Scottie Scheffler’s clubs here.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Studio Select (circa 2008) Newport 2.

From the seller: (@Need4spd): “Hello one and all. I’ve said it before, but this is the one I never thought I’d sell. Haven’t gamed it in ages and I don’t see myself doing so anytime soon. Alas…As always, price includes CONUS shipping. She’s mint, folks. Not 10 out of 10, but it’s very, very close. You won’t find another in this condition that hasn’t been refinished. Plays 34”. Original headcover is included. Grip is a PING PP58 blacked-out. Apologies, having trouble getting the photo of the grip to upload. Thanks for looking – Play well! Asking price is $425.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Studio Select (circa 2008) Newport 2

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

The tapered grip allows for stability in the top hand, and a faster release of the bottom hand.

Is this the best grip style for putting, though? What if it was reversed, where the top-end of the grip is smaller, and the bottom-end of the grip is larger? Would that allow for more stability throughout the stroke, by restricting movement in the bottom hand?

Well, Golf Pride may have that answer. On Monday, Golf Pride officially announced that its new Reverse Taper line of grips will soon be available in three common styles: Round, Pistol and Flat.

“Within the putter grip category, we observed a trend in which manufacturers were actively trying to design products that removed the hands from the putting process, whereas our research indicates that by optimizing the connection between the hands and grip that players can improve their performance,” said James Ledford, President of Golf Pride, in a press release. “Through hundreds of concept iterations, our innovation team created Reverse Taper, which has tested quite positively with players of all skill levels.”

By flipping the script, Golf Pride says that it can help prevent “micro-levers” in the stroke for greater stability:

“Drawing on 75 years of inspiration, coupled with extensive consumer testing, Golf Pride designed Reverse Taper with a slimmer upper half and wider lower section to help anchor the top hand for stability and reduce tension in the lower hand for smooth acceleration through the stroke,” Golf Pride said in a press release. “Additionally, Reverse Taper prevents micro-levers in the stroke, helping golfers to not flip their wrists at impact.”

With three different grip styles, Golf Pride provided a brief breakdown of what style may be right for your game:

• Round – Universally popular for all hand gripping techniques; features a traditionally round upper section that tapers into a wider lower section
• Pistol – Classic pistol shape to help golfers lock in their upper hand; designed for all and often popular with players who use a left-hand-low technique (right-handed golfer)
• Flat – Slightly more oval shaped upper section; designed for all and often preferred by golfers with a palm-to-palm putting stroke style

Each of the Reverse Taper putter grips are constructed using polyurethane to help ensure the desired softness, texture and weight. The black-red-and-white colorway of the grip comes with design features that help golfers place their hands properly and consistently on the grips.

Golf Pride’s new Reverse Taper putter grips will be available at retail starting on April 15, selling for $29.99 apiece.

See more photos and discussion about the new Reverse Taper grips here

It was Rory’s first win at the King’s track, and he did so thanks to an incredible display on the greens, with the Irishman gaining a whopping 10 strokes over the field with his flatstick.

Here’s a look at the clubs McIlroy used that week.

Driver: TaylorMade M3 460 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Orange 70 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade M3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX

5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax P95 X

Irons: TaylorMade P750 (4), TaylorMade “Rors Proto” P730 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 7.0

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48, 52, 58 degrees), TaylorMade Hi-Toe (60 degrees)
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Putter: TaylorMade TP Collection Black Copper Soto (with slant neck)

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

Let’s take a look at the two models from Bettinardi.

Bettinardi CB24 irons

As the name on the USGA conforming list states, this is a cavity back iron with the famous hexagon B logo in the cavity. The CB iron has a heavy matte finish to it that should eliminate glare. The cavity has a little bit of chrome surrounding it with the iconic Bettinardi Honeycomb pattern surrounding the hexagon “B” logo. A lot of trailing edge relief is visible and should create some fast and smooth turf interaction. The hosel says it is forged, but we can’t be sure if it is from carbon or stainless steel.

USGA Conforming List photo

• See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Bettinardi MB24 irons

A classic muscleback blade is always welcome on the PGA Tour, and Bettinardi’s new version is a beautiful rendition. Forged like its CB sibling, the MB looks to be a little more compact. The topline is thinner and it has fairly minimal offset. A heavy matte finish is applied to this head, again reducing any glare from the sun. This iron doesn’t have a cavity in the back, but that didn’t stop Bettinardi from milling in the famous Honeycomb pattern to the top of the iron head. It’s interesting to note that the Honeycomb milling looks to be raised to maybe help dial in the CG in addition to looking fantastic.

• See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

USGA Conforming List photo

• Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Our Andrew Tursky spoke to Bettinardi’s Nico Garafoolo at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, who had this to say.

“So we’re doing a CB, 4-PW, and the MB’s are 4-PW, as well. The lofts are 23-45 degrees in both sets, so they transition well. They’re evenly transitioned.

“One piece co-forged 1025 Carbon steel tri-material construction – high-density tungsten and military grade CMC (ceramic matrix composite). [They feature a] progressive center of gravity – more launch in the high irons controlled backspin in scoring irons plus. tighter dispersion

“For the shafts, we’re doing KBS Tours, KBS C-Taper Lights, Project XLZ’s, Project X, and then Nippon Modus shafts, as well, will be offered come retail time.”

Tursky: Any tour player action? Like, what do you guys expect from the tour launch?

“So we had a couple weeks ago after one of the Champions Tour events. Sam, Bob, and the team, they met Fred Couples down there because he’s a batting already staffer. They had some putters to drop off, but they also had an iron for him to hopefully test, I think was the goal, but he didn’t play so well.

“So they were a little apprehensive to have him test it. And, he ended up hitting the seven iron that we had there for over an hour and he was really, really, impressed by it. So we actually sent him two sets. So, hopefully, we see those down the road, but, his feedback was really nice. As far as the scope outside of that, I think it’s just introducing them and seeing where the where they take off and let the dominoes kinda fall where they fall.

“But, yeah, Fred’s our most optimistic look as far as a player’s feedback goes. He hasn’t changed irons in almost 10 years, I think. So it’d be pretty cool.”

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 75 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSi3 (15 degrees @14.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BF 80 TX

• Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Ryder’s WITB here.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li White 90 TX

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (3), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 6 Tour Rack (54-12 Full, 60-12 Full)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

• Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Ryder’s WITB here.

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven, Scotty Cameron T6M

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Ryder’s WITB here.

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees @14.75) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X (tipped 1.5 inch)

• Check out more photos of Austin Eckroat’s WITB in the forums.

Irons: Ping Blueprint S (3) Buy here, Ping Blueprint T (4-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-06T) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

• Check out more photos of Austin Eckroat’s WITB in the forums.

Putter: Ping Redwood D66 Buy here.

Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Buy here.

• Check out more photos of Austin Eckroat’s WITB in the forums.

The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

The big story is the Ai Smart Face with micro deflections for added ball speed and straighter ball flight. There is also a new 360-degree carbon chassis that is lighter and stronger than the previous model.

Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke lineup consists of four driver heads. I am going to take a look at the two most popular models for GolfWRX followers, the “bread and butter” Max, and the Triple Diamond head.

For a more in-depth review of these drivers check out the Club Junkie podcast below or on any podcast platform.

Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond

This head is aimed at the lower handicap golfer who is looking for lower spin, lower launch, and the ability to shape their shots. The shape is the most compact at address of the Ai Smoke drivers and the cleanest looking with the deletion of the chevron alignment mark on the top. The shape also looks to be a little shorter from heel to toe as well as from face to back. I like the forged carbon on the sole and love that no two drivers will ever look exactly the same.

Hitting the new Paradym Ai Smoke TD is a real pleasure as when I first hit it I thought it was louder than the previous Paradym. I was hitting indoors and the sound was greatly amplified because outdoors the TD has a very muted sound and nice soft feel. The new Ai Smart Face lets you feel the ball compress off the face when you strike it solid and the face overall just has a little softer feel than the Paradym.

While the launch number wasn’t that far off from the Ai Smoke Max driver, the overall ball flight was flatter and just slightly lower with the TD. My decent angle was also about one-degree shallower with the TD. The biggest surprise to me was how playable the TD was on poor shots. I expected the head to be a little more demanding and penalizing when you hit it off the toe or heel but was happily met with shots that didn’t venture too far off the fairway.

Keeping the heavy weight in the back makes the TD a driver playable by a wider range of handicaps.  The Ai Smart Face also kept the ball speed numbers extremely consistent no matter where the ball made contact. With how well I hit the Triple Diamond, I am now a little more confident it will perform on even a poor driving day!

Paradym Ai Smoke Max

Callaway’s bread and butter driver is super adjustable to let fitters dial it into a wide range of golfers. While some will argue that the Triple Diamond driver is the best looking, I think Callaway did a nice job on the Max head. A touch longer from heel to toe and the face-to-back length is a little more stretched but it all works together for a larger but good-looking driver. I do like larger profile drivers as they tend to give you confidence that you don’t have to be perfect and they offer some help when you are off. I like the sound on the TD driver, but the Max might be even a touch quieter upon impact. It could be the weight track in the back with additional structure that diverts the sound waves, giving a low-pitched metallic sound.

The launch on the Max was just a little higher than the TD, but it tended to be consistently higher when I hit my low draw miss. That shot seemed to stay straighter and go a little higher with this Max head. Ball flight with the Max tended to be straighter with less curvature to draws and fades. You might miss the fairway on either side, but the ball was on a straight line right or left and didn’t stray that far offline.

Off-center strikes were helped by the Ai Smart Face and kept the ball speed higher than you would expect. Callaway hasn’t made any claims to MOI numbers but the Max is a very stable driver that doesn’t let the face flop open on toe contact and won’t snap shut when you hit it off the heel. This stability gives you a consistent and straight flight that you can count on when you need it.

Callaway has really brought some serious firepower to the driver game this year with the Ai Smoke models. There is the Triple Diamond for the player who needs lower spin and lower ball flight and the Max for the player who wants it all with added forgiveness. There are also two other models, Max D, and Max D Fast, for some added draw, higher launch, and lighter weight (Max D Fast). Overall, Callaway has a driver that should fit your swing!

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Odyssey Special Edition Jailbird (White Hot) putter.

From the seller: (@TheAztec27): “Odyssey Special Edition Jailbird (White Hot) – $525 Shipped. Used for one round. Minor nicks on the toe, but otherwise mint.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Odyssey Special Edition Jailbird (White Hot)

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

• Check out all of our photos from the Cognizant Classic here.

Jacob Bridgeman: Circle T Masterful+

The matte copper finish is something you don’t see a ton from Scotty Cameron, but it looks great on this putter. The Masterful+ is a version of the retail Newport+ with a slightly wider shape from face to back. A Teryllium face insert should offer a softer feel and sound, especially with the deeper milling on it.

Tom Kim: Circle T 5s

Kim’s putter might be the most unique here because of the center shaft, shaft alignment aid, and a sanded-down sole. When you look at the top of the putter, down near the heel, you can see an alignment aid that works with the shaft to make sure the putter face is square to the target. The sole also looks to have the center of it sanded down and that could be to ensure that the putter sits a certain way when it is resting on the turf.

Alejandro Tosti: Circle T Timeless+

This Timeless+ is a take on the retail Newport 2 Plus with a wider shape and a sole plate that moves more mass to the perimeter for added stability. Tosti went with a single site line on the topline of the putter, leaving the flange naked. We see another Teryllium face insert here for dialing in the sound and feel, but this time with shallower milling.

Ryo Hisatsune: Circle T F-3

We haven’t seen too many heel-shafted putters in the past couple of years, but recently they have made a slight comeback. Ryo’s F3 is based off the legendary Del Mar head shape with the larger shoulders surrounding the flange. This putter also has a unique “T” shaped alignment with a white line running from heel to toe on the top of the putter and a half line running from front to back on the flange. The face looks to have a pretty aggressive deep milling for a softer, quieter impact.

• Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX

5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees @ 18.25 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

• Check out more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s clubs here.

Irons: Srixon ZX Utility (3, 20 degrees), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X (3), KBS Tour 130 X (4-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID), Cleveland RTX Full Face (58-8)
Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X Black

• Check out more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s clubs here.

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

• Check out more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s clubs here.

Not to oversell the story below, but we spotted a surprising amount of interesting gear this week.

We got our first look at Maverick McNealy’s updated set (he’s mostly a free agent now, aside from the putter), Jake Knapp’s two-driver setup, Chris Kirk’s show-stopping new black irons, Tom Kim’s “new” custom Scotty Cameron, an oddly high-tech prototype driver headcover, and we even got a look at Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s set during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

There’s a lot to cover, and no time to waste. Let’s get right into the 9 interesting equipment photos below!

See all of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic here

1) Our first look at Maverick McNealy’s setup in 2024

Now as an Odyssey putter staffer, McNealy is free to play any 13 full-shot clubs that he desires. McNealy has always preferred a blade iron style with a longer blade length – ala Tiger Woods – so it’s no shocker to see him switch into the TaylorMade P-7TW iron head, co-designed by Tiger himself. What’s cool about the photo above is you can see that he originally had lead tape across the top portion of the head, but removed it and added weight to the bottom portion; in all likelihood, he still wanted the extra head weight, but also wanted a bit of extra launch and height. After all, it is a thin blade 3-iron we’re talking about, so it makes sense.

As for the rest of McNealy’s bag, he’s using a TaylorMade Qi10 driver, two Stealth 2 fairway woods (3HL and 7), a set of P-7TW irons (3-9), Titleist Vokey SM10 wedges (46, 50, 54 and 58 degrees), and he’s testing between his longtime Odyssey Toulon “Stanford MM” putter, and a new Odyssey Ai-One Milled “Stanford” black-and-gold putter.

He’s also using a Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, where he uses the “dot” while putting for visual focus, and the line for alignment on his tee shot.

McNealy is the type of gearhead that GolfWRX.com is all about; attention to detail, with a flair for style. He’s a pilot, too, which explains the Top Gun-inspired “Maverick” headcovers, and “remove before flight” headcover tag.

Check out McNealy’s full 2024 WITB here from the Cognizant Classic

2) Shane Lowry’s two heartwarming headcovers

Shane Lowry has two daughters.

One is named Ivy…

And the other is named Iris…

See what golf clubs are underneath Lowry’s family-oriented headcovers here.

3) Brandt Snedeker still has the Odyssey White Hot Rossie XG putter in the bag

He’s still got it!

But, let’s not get too excited, because on Wednesday, we also spotted Sneds with a Bridgestone TD-02 putter in the bag, which looks quite similar to his longtime gamer Rossie XG.

Snedeker certainly has a type when it comes to how his putter looks, doesn’t he?

Check out the rest of Snedeker’s 2024 WITB here

4) A prototype Swag Golf headcover

 

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It’s rare that “prototype headcover testing” happens on the PGA Tour, but that exactly what’s happening with Nick Hardy this week.

According to Swag Golf founder and CEO Nick Venson, Swag Golf is in the creation process of what the company is calling “Headcover 3.0,” which uses TPU welding and a support structure to create a three-dimensional look, and greater durability.

The new age of headcovers could be developing right in front of our eyes.

5) Tom Kim’s custom putter

I wrote in-depth about Tom Kim’s new custom putter over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report this week, but below is a few snippets of what he had to say about the customized Scotty Cameron Tour-Only T5S mallet that he switched to recently at the 2024 Genesis Invitational:

6) Chris Kirk’s black Callaway Apex CB irons

We saw Kirk switch into Callaway’s Apex CB irons – which were the stock silver/chrome color – at the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Classic last year, but, we also know that Kirk prefers the look of black irons because they make the head look slightly smaller.

Well, it looks like Kirk is testing out some new black-colored Apex CB irons, which combine the forgiveness of the Apex CB iron head, with the “smaller looking” black colorway that Kirk prefers. He still had his old chrome versions in the bag on Wednesday, to go along with the new black models, so we’ll keep an eye on what irons Kirk decides to put in the bag come competition time.

Don’t be surprised if he switches this week, or sometime in the near future.

See what GolfWRX members are saying Kirk’s new black Apex CB irons here

7) Knapp wins with two drivers in the bag

We already covered Knapp’s two-driver setup on GolfWRX.com and PGATOUR.com, but I wanted to re-emphasize how popular it’s becoming that PGA Tour players are using both a driver and a mini driver, rather than a driver and a 3-wood. Adam Scott and Tommy Fleetwood also come to mind.

I’m not saying you should switch to a setup like this for yourself, but even Knapp says that the BRNR Mini driver is significantly easier to hit than a three wood. When pros say things like that, it’s a cue to amateurs to at least test out its merits for themselves.

8) Make the forums go crazy, Jake!

We’ve already covered a few putters in this story, but still, the Custom Putter of the Week Award goes to Jacob Bridgeman, who showed off his Scotty Cameron putter with a “commando” finish and three white alignment lines.

GolfWRX Forums members weren’t ready for this type of heat, and some even slapped the “NSFW” tag on the putter photos.

Don’t hurt ’em, Jake!

See what else the forum members are saying about Bridgeman’s custom Scotty here

9) Left-handed NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s right-handed golf clubs

Tua isn’t the first person ever to throw a football left-handed and play golf right-handed. Jordan Spieth is the same way. But, admittedly, it did throw me for a spiral when I first saw Tua swinging righty.

Too bad Tua can’t throw a spiral himself!

Sorry, that was a mean attempt at a pun. I’m a Giants fan, though, we can’t help it.

In terms of Tua’s WITB, he was gaming mostly PXG clubs, including a driver, fairway wood, irons, wedges, and a putter. He also had a Callaway Jaws lob wedge in the bag during the Wednesday Pro-Am, just to keep things interesting.

Something tells me the next time we see Tua on the golf course, he’ll be using a custom Miami Dolphins SuperStroke grip on his PXG putter.

And, with that cross-sport connection, we say goodbye to Palm Beach Gardens. We’ll see you next week in Orlando at Arnie’s Place for the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational. See you there!

Check out all of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic here

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X

• Check out more in-hand photos of Brandt Snedeker’s clubs here.

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Srixon ZX Mk II (3), Bridgestone J15CB (5-9)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i110cw, AeroTech SteelFiber i95

• Check out more in-hand photos of Brandt Snedeker’s clubs here.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-10S), Vokey WedgeWorks Proto (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey Rossie White Hot XG, Bridgestone TD-O2

• Check out more in-hand photos of Brandt Snedeker’s clubs here.

Grips: Lamkin UTx

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Brandt Snedeker’s clubs here.

This week, we spotted a new grip on the practice green at the Cognizant Classic with the “Pistol” name but a little different shape. The traditional pistol shape flares out into the palm on the upper hand and usually has a flat top for your thumb to rest easily. The new grips feature two sizes at the moment, the 1.0 and 2.0, with the latter looking significantly larger.

This new Pistol Lock grip looks to have a similar flat top and flared-out back in the upper hand like the original. The taper to the upper hand looks to start further down the shaft and has a more pronounced shape at the top of the grip. The lower-hand section also might look to have a touch more taper to it, but sometimes these shapes are hard to tell from just photos. Here are the new Pistol Lock grips next to the current Pistol.

• Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
• Also spotted at the Cognizant Classic: LA Golf Malibu X putter with a new face insert

See what JT had in the bag at PGA National six years ago below.

Driver: Titleist 917D2 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BF 60 TX

3-wood: Titleist 917F2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 80 TX

5-wood: Titleist 915Fd (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 Tour Spec X

Irons: Titleist 718 AP2 (4), Titleist 718 MB (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM5 (56-14F), Vokey SM6 (46-08F, 52-12F, 60-12K)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue (46-60), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 (60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron X5.5
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GT Tour

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

More Justin Thomas WITBs

• Justin Thomas WITB 2024 (February)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2023 (November)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2022 (December)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2022 (August)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2022 (January)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2021 (October)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2021 (September)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2021 (August)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2021 Masters
• Justin Thomas WITB (2020 Zozo Championship)
• Justin Thomas WITB (2020 Tour Championship)
• Justin Thomas WITB (Workday Charity Open – July)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2020
• Justin Thomas WITB 2020
• Justin Thomas WITB 2018
• Justin Thomas WITB 2017 (FedEx Cup Champion)
• Justin Thomas WITB 2015
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2022 PGA Championship
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2021 Players Championship
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions
• Justin Thomas’s winning WITB: The 2017 CJ Cup
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2019 BMW Championship
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2018 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2018 Honda Classic
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2017 Dell Technologies Championship
• Justin Thomas’ winning WITB: 2017 PGA Championship

LA Golf usually uses 303 stainless steel for the face with Descending Loft Technology and horizontal grooves to keep putt launch and spin consistent. A stainless steel face also helps give the putter a little more feel and a sound at impact that golfers are used to. However, we spotted a new face on an LA Golf Malibu X mallet at the 2024 Cognizant Open this week that looks to be a little more of a copper color. LA Golf isn’t giving out any details just yet, but if it is a type of copper alloy, it might offer a slightly softer feel or reduced sound at impact.

• Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic

The newest chapter is designed to elevate every touchpoint for the foot to help with traction, stability and comfort to give golfers everything they need to perform their best on the course.

“For Tour360 24, our objective was to take key learnings from nearly 20 years of Tour360 development to enhance the performance of the shoe from the inside out. We wanted to capture that feeling of confidence that comes when someone puts their foot into the shoe for the first time and gets excited to head to the first tee. The shoe features the classic signature look, but golfers will notice a difference in the way this one feels the minute they put them on.” – Masun Denison, global footwear director, Adidas Golf

Adidas focused on three key areas with the new Tour360 24:

Fit

The new Tour360 24 brings key technologies inside the shoe so that the footwear fits the right way. To help give golfers a better fit, adidas is introducing:

• Insite 2.0 Sockliner – Modified for Tour360 24, this insole features updated shaping in the arch and heel to provide improved fit and stability.
• Internal 360Wrap – Adidas included an internal fit sleeve on the sides of the tongue along with the new Torsion Bridge in the midsole that when combined gives golfers a feeling of 360 support throughout the swing.
• Performance Last –  Tour360 24 is built on adidas’ performance last to help ensure fit consistency across other performance models in the range. Men’s models of Tour360 24 will be offered in both medium and wide widths while the women’s model will be offered in medium width only.

Performance

Perhaps one of the most critical pieces for golfers, the adidas team designed the new footwear specifically with performance in mind. Key features include:

• Torsion Bridge – Comprised of a more rigid top plate and flexible bottom plate, this new TPU Torsion Bridge drives maximum stability across the mid and forefoot for where golfers need it most, especially as they load and unload power through the swing. It also sits lower to the ground to help conform to uneven lies and surfaces.
• Jet Boost/Lightstrike – For the first time in golf, adidas is using Jet Boost in the heel, which fuses smaller, firmer energy capsules together to provide the ultimate blend of stability and comfort. When combined with Lightstrike in the forefoot, golfers will get the most out of cushioning and a feeling of stability throughout the swing.
• Replaceable ThinTech 7-spike outsole – Designed for optimal traction the TPU outsole features replaceable spikes where golfers need them most. adidas also included flex grooves in the secondary traction, finished with high gloss to help reduce clogging in the footwear. adidas also placed a spike closer to the toe to allow for better toe-off through the swing to help generate additional power from the ground.

Durability

Golfers find themselves in a variety of conditions as they play, so adidas included some key features to go along with the premium leather and microfiber materials to help the shoes last from season to season:

• ‘T-Shape’ suede microfiber heel – This new three-piece construction combines a soft, anti-abrasive sandwiched textile that runs from the center heel to the half collar to help eliminate wear and tear over time while enhancing overall comfort.
• Waterproof leather upper – This premium, soft, waterproof leather upper is designed for long-term durability and protection in wet conditions so that golfers get the protection they need.

What Tour pros are saying

Collin Morikawa

“The first time I tried the prototypes for the Tour360 24 I was amazed with how they felt. Having footwear that I can trust and feel confident in is such an important piece of my game and this new Tour360 checks all the boxes.”

Hinako Shibuno

“Tour360 24 combines everything golfers will need in a golf shoe when they step on the course. I continue to be impressed with how much stability and traction this model provides, all while in such a clean and iconic silhouette.”

Nick Taylor

“In my first win as a professional in 2014, I was wearing the Tour360s.  Now, nearly 10 years later, I wore the new Tour360 24 during my most recent win in Phoenix. While the technology has certainly improved over the past 10 years, that iconic feel of the Tour360 is still the same. It’s that feeling I know all golfers will appreciate when they play in this new footwear.”

BOA Model

As part of the Tour360 24 range, adidas is introducing a new BOA model for men and women to provide another option for improved fit and performance. Hidden within the upper of the footwear, adidas collaborated with the BOA Technology team to create a shell pattern fit
system that works in conjunction with the lining of the leather upper in design to enhance overall fit and function.

Featuring the micro-adjustable Li2 dial, the system sits underneath a zipper shroud in the upper for a premium and clean aesthetic. Wrapping around the midfoot, golfers will feel even more locked-in as the BOA Li2 dial provides a customized fit.

Availability

The new footwear will come in both laced and BOA models for men and women and will be available on adidas.com, the adidas app and at select retailers beginning Thursday, February 29.

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (13 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X

Irons: Titleist T200 (2), Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron T10 Teryllium Newport 2 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

(Photo via LIV Golf)

Featured image credit to Mike McAllister of LIV Golf on Twitter.