GolfWRX Buzz

The Hottest Shafts in 2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013
941090c9b2045ac50202e5e2e962afcb1-600x400.jpgAt this point in the year, most golfers have heard all about the latest clubs that players are using on tour. But what they may not have heard about are the new shafts that those players have been trying. 

That's why we at GolfWRX have created a rundown of this year's hottest shafts, which are available in a range of weights, flexes and bend profiles to fit just about everyone. 

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Mickelson adds new irons, golf ball at Masters

Thursday, April 11, 2013
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We know, we know -- this is turning into the Phil Mickelson edition of GolfWRX Buzz. But we can't recall another other player making as many equipment changes in a major championship as Mickelson has this year at the Masters. 

It started when we found photos of Mickelson's "Phrankenwood" on the USGA List on conforming drivers on Monday. Then Mickelson announced that he would use the super-small Phrankenwood driver this week, touting its low spin off the tee and workability (Click here to see up-close photos of the club).

Yesterday, we snapped photos of Mickelson's bag with new Callaway X Forged irons, which we assumed were long irons. It's common for muscleback iron users like Mickelson to use more forgiving cavity-back long irons like the X Forged to give them more distance, a higher launch and more spin, especially into some Augusta's tight pin placements. 

But Mickelson switched to the X Forged in his short clubs, his 7, 8 and 9 iron. This doesn't make much sense on the surface, but we know that Mickelson tests his irons individually and in stages. The 7, 8 and 9 irons were likely the first irons he rigorously tested. 

If that wasn't enough, Mickelson also changed to a new golf ball this week, the Callaway Hex Chrome + that Gary Woodland debuted at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It's a four-piece ball that provides slightly more spin than the Callaway Hex Tour Black golf ball that Mickelson has previously played.

While Mickelson is leading in equipment changes, he didn't fair as well on the golf course. He shot a 1-under 71 and is currently tied for 23rd, five shots behind leaders Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia.


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Mickelson spotted with new irons at Augusta

Wednesday, April 10, 2013
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All of the equipment buzz at the Masters this week has revolved around Phil Mickelson's "Phrankenwood," a small-headed Callaway driver that he is using at Augusta to get more roll and more easily shape his tee shots.

In Tuesday's practice round, we snapped photos of Mickelson with new irons in the bag as well --  2013 Callaway X Forged irons that are more forgiving than the Callaway Razr X Muscleback irons Mickelson has played this year.

So to recap, Mickelson has gone to a smaller, less-forgiving driver, but could be gaming larger, more forgiving irons this week? 

Only Lefty.


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Mickelson to play "Phrankenwood" at Augusta?

Monday, April 8, 2013
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Remember the special club Phil Mickelson said the Callaway team was making for him to use at the Masters? 

Today, Callaway's "X Hot Phrankenwood" hit the USGA's Conforming Club list in a left-hand-only model that was no doubt created for Mr. Mickelson. 

"Phrankenwood" is a take off on the phrase "FrankenFairway" that Callaway's Senior Vice President of Marketing Harry Arnett coined in November to describe Mickelson's suped-up TaylorMade RBZ fairway wood, which Lefty used as a second driver in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and early in 2013.

Even though the Phrankenwood is listed as a driver on the USGA's conforming list, it appears to be much smaller than a standard driver, and the sole relief (a.k.a. the slots in the back of the sole) looks to be a modification that will allow Mickelson to hit the club off the ground if he should choose to do so.

This is the second special club that Mickelson has had a hand in creating with the Callaway team this year, the first being Callaway's X Hot Pro "3Deep" fairway wood that launched on the PGA Tour two weeks ago at the Shell Houston Open and will hit shelves April 19.


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Laird is first to win with RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver

Sunday, April 7, 2013
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With his two-shot victory at the Valero Texas Open, Martin Laird became the first golfer to win on the PGA Tour using TaylorMade's RocketBallz Stage 2 driver.

Laird used the "Tour" model of the RocketBallz Stage 2, which was first released to tour players three weeks ago at the Tampa Bay Championship. 

The Tour is the same shape and size as the non-Tour model, but TaylorMade changed the internal weighting so that the Tour has a lower, more forward center of gravity that helps players with higher swing speeds lower their launch and spin.

Laird used a 9-degree head with a Matrix Ozik 8m3 "Black Tie" shaft, a heavier-than-standard driver shaft that's one of the company's lowest-launching, lowest-spinning models. 


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K.J. Choi: GolfWRX What's in the bag

Friday, April 5, 2013
43.jpg Eight-time PGA Tour winner K.J. Choi hasn't won since his breakthrough performance at The Players Championship in 2011, but he's looking to find the winner's circle again this week at the Valero Texas Open, where he's in second place after 36 holes.

Our camera crew caught up with Choi on the range this week at TPC San Antonio and shot photos of every club in his bag. 

It's interesting to note that he has switched back to the exact irons he used at The Players in 2011, a set of Miura CB-501 with KBS Tour shafts. 

Check out the full description of his equipment below, and click here to view separate photos of each club on GolfWRX.com

K.J Choi: What's in the bag

Driver: TaylorMade R11
Loft: 8 Degrees (Adjusted to 9.0 Degrees, Sole plate set to closed)
Shaft: Matrix Ozik RUL 70 X-Flex (TaylorMade TP Graphics)

3 Wood: Ping i15
Loft: 15.5 Degrees
Shaft: Accra S3 Dymatch 85 M4
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

3 Wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2
Loft: 14.5 Degrees
Shaft: Matrix Ozik RUL 70 X-Flex (TaylorMade TP Graphics)
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

4 Wood: TaylorMade RBZ
Loft: 17.5 Degrees
Shaft: Matrix RUL 80 X-Flex
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 

Hybrid: TaylorMade Rescue ‘11
Loft: 21 Degrees (Adjusted to 20 Degrees)
Shaft: Matrix Ozik Altus

Irons: Miura CB-501 (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Wedges: TaylorMade TP xFT (54 Degrees Loft) and Titleist Vokey Design 2013 Prototype (59 Degrees Loft)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue

Putter: Odyssey TriHot 2
Grip: SuperStroke

Click here to view separate photos of each club on GolfWRX.com

 

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New Mitsubishi shaft spotted on tour

Wednesday, April 3, 2013
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Check out the new Mitsubishi Kurokage shaft we spotted on the range at the Valero Texas Open, which is finished with an ion plating instead of paint to give the shaft a special luster. 

Mitsubishi says its Kurokage shafts offer more strength and feel thanks to a special carbon fiber material that has more fibers and less resin than previous shafts.

They're currently available two different models -- "Silver" and "Black," which has a stiffer tip to help high-speed players lower launch and spin. 

So is the ion-plated shaft a different Kurokage, or just a fresh look? We'll keep you updated as soon as we learn more.


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GolfWRX Review: Nike Covert Drivers

Thursday, March 28, 2013

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Before Covert, we never had a reason to play a Nike driver. 

Sure, Tiger and the rest of the Nike Golf staff played one. But at GolfWRX, we tend to measure the success of equipment by the usage habits of golfers who are not getting paid to play certain equipment. For Nike drivers, that number was low. 

We didn’t know what to say when we first saw the Nike VR_S Covert driver. Unlike the company’s position in some other sports, Nike is the new kid on the block in golf. And here they were in 2013 attempting to sell consumers a driver with one-third of its sole missing. And it was red. And it had a Swoosh on the crown. Were they crazy? Tiger was never going to hit that. 

But as the technology behind the Covert drivers began to leak out, we suddenly became very interested.

Check out our quick-hitter review of the Covert driver's below. 

Pros: Thanks to their radical cavity back design (a.k.a. the large chunk missing from the rear portion of the sole), the Nike Covert and Covert Tour drivers less spin and are more forgiving than previous models. Surprisingly, they also have a very pleasing sound. Their adjustable hosel system, Flex Loft, is also one of the widest ranging and most intuitive in the industry. 

Cons: Not everyone will love the shiny red paint and the white Nike Swoosh on their crown. Flex Loft is easy to use, but it’s not as fine-tuned as other systems, allowing only 1.5-degree changes in face angle (from neutral) and 1-degree adjustments through its 5-degree loft range. The drivers also lack a non-invasive way to adjust swing weight, which would have been nice to have. 

The Takeaway: The Covert and Covert Tour drivers will be hard to beat for golfers who are looking to reduce spin without parting ways with forgiveness. That’s why for the first time, Nike will have non-Nike Golf fans interested in its driver. It’s cool, it’s adjustable and it’s long and straight.


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Guerin Rife unveils new putter line

Thursday, March 28, 2013
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Guerin Rife is best known for the line of putters that carry his last name. But he’s releasing a new line of putters called “Guerin” that he hopes will familiarize golfers with his first name. 

Rife no longer has any association with Rife putter company, which was sold to Innovex, a company known for its multi-piece golf balls, in late 2011. But he's back in the game with his new putter company, Guerin Design Putter Co.

Rife putters were one of the first to feature grooves on the face, which Rife says help grip the ball at impact for a truer roll. His Guerin line of putters also feature grooves on the face, but they're a different shape. 

Instead of being positioned straight across the putter face, they're a wavy, which Rife says grips the dimpled surface of a golf ball even better for a superior roll. 

Guerin putters will be available in two models -- an Anser-style GR1 and a mallet-style GR3 , which are available in either a stainless steel or a black finish. Both putters feature a "Rocker Sole," which is designed to keep the putter square regardless of where golfers sole the putter or where they position their hands. 

The putters will come in three different lengths, 33, 34 and 35 inches, which have different head weights to give every length what Rife says is the preferred balance on tour -- a swing weight of D-7. 

Expect Guerin putters to hit retail outlets this summer. Prices are still to be announced, but they should cost about the same as other premium putters on the market. 


GolfWRX Review: Odyssey Tank Putter

Thursday, March 28, 2013
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Odyssey's Tank putter is the company's first counter-balanced putter, featuring a heavier head, shaft and grip that makes it the heaviest putter the company has ever released. 

The added weight increases the putter's MOI by 109 percent in the 40-inch model. And here's the best part -- the weight is balanced throughout the putter in a way that creates a feel that is similar to Odyssey's short putters.

That could make the Tank a simple transition for golfers who want more stability in their strokes but hesitate to use a long or belly putter because of the pending anchored-putter ban.

The Tank will be available April 12 and cost about $199. Check out our quick-hitter review below. 

Pros: We love the larger No. 7 head shape and the soft feel of Odyssey's revamped White Hot insert. We also appreciate that Odyssey is offering four different lengths at retail — 34, 36, 38 and 40 inches. 

Cons: We’d like to see different neck configurations, such as slant-neck and center-shafted versions. Also on our wish list: adjustable head weights and Versa paint. 

The Takeaway: The Tank is heavy, but it doesn't feel heavy. That will be huge for golfers who want more stability in their strokes, but don't want to leave their comfort zone. 


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