By E. Michael Johnson

When you've conquered one sport (as in winning 22 Olympic medals in swimming -- 18 of them gold) you might decide not to take on another sport. Not so with Michael Phelps. An avid golfer, Phelps has decided to make a concerted effort to get better at the game. And Phelps has chosen to play Ping golf equipment to do so. Ping announced Tuesday that Phelps has reached an agreement to play a full set of the company's clubs.

Related: Phelps one of Golf Digest's "Golfers Who Give Back"

The bats Phelps will swing in pro-ams (he is slated to play with Bubba Watson at the Waste Management Phoenix Open pro-am) and on the Golf Channel's "Haney Project" highlight Ping's commitment to custom fitting. Standing 6-feet-4 with long arms and large hands, Phelps' Ping G25 irons were made one inch longer than standard and 3 degrees upright. His grips are 1/32-inch over standard size. Phelps also will play the company's G25 driver (9.5 degrees), 3-wood (15 degrees) and hybrid (20 degrees). Ping Tour Gorge wedges and a Ping Scottsdale TR Senita mallet putter round out the bag.

Ping added some custom touches to the 27-year-old Phelps' clubs, including red, white and blue paint fill on the irons as well as "Phelps22" on the irons, wedges and putter with the number 22 in gold paint. Gold highlights also are on Phelps' metalwoods. Here Phelps speaks with GolfDigest.com on the fitting experience as well as his thoughts on taking on his next sports challenge.

How did the relationship with Ping come about?

As soon as I picked up the Ping clubs -- I was able to get into a set of G25s --there were no other clubs I was able to get as comfortable with. The other thing that struck me is that they are a very family-oriented company and that is very important to me and I wanted to be a part of that. Other sponsors I have had have felt like a family away from home and I like that. When I walked into the headquarters here in Phoenix you could feel it the moment you walked in.

Plus they have the putter vault with all those gold putters from champions using Ping putters in their wins.

I just found out about that today [Jan. 29]. There's a lot of gold here so it seemed like a perfect fit.

Have you ever been fitted for clubs before and what was the fitting process like for you?

I've never been fit for equipment before like this. When I first got the clubs they sent me I was able to play with them for a week or two and get a feel for them but that was really it. But during that time I was able to pick up on a few things that needed some changing. And Hank [Haney] and I were able to see how that affected the ball flight, so when I got here for the fitting I had an idea of some things that we wanted to do, such as stiffer shafts, different grips that didn't feel like sandpaper, etc. We both felt the ball flight was super high. So we wanted stiffer shafts to bring that down. With the driver and 3-wood the shaft felt like a U, it felt like it was bending so much. So the Ping guys put me through a very thorough fitting. I never realized it was so technical. I never knew that there were 50-plus shafts to choose from or that a fitting was so technical.

How does that compare to swimming? Did you get fit for your suit, cap and goggles?

When I was in the pool you got a swimsuit, a cap and a pair of goggles and that was it. The last four years we had one kind of suit we swam in. With the cap it was small, medium or large and that's all. The suit goes up in waist size from 22 to 24 to 26 to 28 to however big you need it. There are about 15 types of goggles to choose from but we all have to follow the same guidelines. It's nothing like getting fit for golf clubs. It will be fun to become more educated about things such as the shaft in the driver and the loft gap in the wedges. I'm really looking forward to that. I want to be more knowledgeable about this.

What kind of improvement did you see?

As soon as we changed the grips and the shafts the improvement was noticeable. I'd hit one good one, one bad one. Then after some changes I hit three consecutive 7-irons from 170 yards to 180 yards and they were pretty much dead straight. At that point I knew what kind of improvement was possible. A lot of it is simply being comfortable with the club. Having confidence in it. When we added the length and some weight in the shaft it felt more comfortable. It didn't seem like I was swinging a wiffle ball bat like it did before. It's something I noticed just from holding the club and I liked the feeling.

Describe yourself as a golfer.

I'm learning. I think it is the same as in everything I do. I don't like to put limits on anything. This is a passion that I have and I'm going to do everything I can to improve and get to where I want to be. I have friends that are single-digit and scratch golfers that I would love to be able to compete with. I know it is a very challenging sport. It's the most humbling sport I've ever played in my life. And I know the small things can make a big difference. Eliminating three-putts and working on the short game are important. To get in a rhythm and be consistent is key. I know the more time I put into it the better I'll get.

You're a competitive guy. Does the challenge of the game appeal to you?

There were times that I've been really frustrated and didn't want to pick up the clubs anymore. But now it is hard to get them out of my hands. I know it's not going to happen overnight and I have to put in the time. There are ways to move forward and improve, but it has to be something you want. And this is definitely something that I want. I cannot stand to lose and I can't stand the thought of being beat every time I go out there with my friends. I don't want them giving me 15 strokes or even more than that sometimes. It's annoying for me. I'd like to play at the same level as them or even someday pass them.

Related: Watch Michael Phelps make one of the longest putts ever

Not to mention the golf course is a little more interesting than a pool I would think.

The playing grounds are much prettier than a pool. It is something that is very different from swimming. There we have the same pool. It's the same length, the same temperature and not much is different from one pool to the next. But being able to travel all over the world and see the courses, well, it's wild. At the Dunhill Links event I think I figured out I never want to go back to Carnoustie. That is the hardest golf course I have ever played. I was stuck in the rough so much and couldn't get out. It was so frustrating. There were times I wanted to just pick the ball up and move to the next hole. It was driving me insane! The greens at the Old Course were cool, though. They were the biggest I'd ever seen. So it's neat to play different courses with the weather changes and the different layouts. The different lengths of course. It's interesting to see how every course is different. I have a little board of all the top 100 courses and so far I don't have a lot on there but at some point I'd like to say I've played them all.

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By E. Michael Johnson

A few weeks ago during a commercial shoot in California, Hunter Mahan was admiring Bubba Watson's new Ping Tour Gorge wedges. At the Farmers Insurance Open, Mahan had a pair of the clubs in play. The reason, however, had little to do with his look into Watson's bag.

It turns out that Mahan recently changed the angle of attack on his short chip and pitch shots to a steeper swing with more of a "hinged" motion. Ping tour rep Matt Rollins suggested to Mahan that the Tour Gorge wide-sole model would be perfect because it was designed for those with a steep move into the ball. Mahan used a 54-degree (bent to 53 degrees) and a 60-degree (bent to 59 degrees) in finishing T-15 at Torrey Pines.

Mahan discovered what many tour players have come to realize -- when they make an adjustment to their swing, their equipment likely needs to be altered as well to accommodate the change.

Players changing or tweaking their equipment after adjusting their motion is a recent phenomenon, due mostly to launch monitors and other high-tech fitting systems spelling out exactly what a player needs from an equipment perspective. Until recently, it was more the other way around -- players would change equipment and then realize they needed to adapt their swing.

Related: 2013 Hot List Drivers

The latter certainly applied to Byron Nelson, who made a significant swing change after realizing his old move didn't work with his new steel shafts. Tiger Woods also discovered that he needed a higher launch angle to take advantage of the modern, lower-spinning golf ball. But now, the swing change comes first.

Take Jhonattan Vegas. A recent adjustment to his setup position that had him standing closer to the ball made him uncomfortable with his woods. As a result Vegas made the following tweaks at Torrey Pines: He changed his Nike VR_S Covert Tour driver from an open setting to a neutral setting; he also increased its loft from 8.5 degrees to 10.5 degrees and had his 3- and 5-woods shortened by 1/4-inch.

Players changing their putting strokes also need to be aware that their flat sticks might no longer suit their needs. As noted in the Jan. 28 edition of Golf World, Phil Mickelson reduced the amount of forward press in his stroke and employed a claw grip. To accommodate those measures he reduced the loft in his putter to 2 degrees.

Getting the proper lie angle also can be critical. Jerry Kelly tells of how a few years ago he changed his swing and then hit a rough stretch. He finally determined he needed to have his irons bent 1.5 degrees upright to accommodate his new swing.

Related: Best of the 2013 PGA Show

"You get to a point where you start wondering if it's the swing or the equipment," said Kelly. "But for me it was just a matter of getting everything right in the bag and then trusting it."

Although Kelly was speaking about himself, it is a lesson average players would do well to heed. Think about it: Many players spend small fortunes on lessons without so much as considering that the changes they are implementing might be making their equipment ill-fitted.

So the next time you're taking a lesson, have your pro check your equipment as well. Your swing might not be the only thing in need of fine-tuning.

NEW STUFF

TITLEIST PRO V1/V1x
PRICE: $48 (dozen)

Titleist's new Pro V1 and Pro V1x feature an improved manufacturing process that provides greater consistency from ball to ball. The new balls have seven professional wins to date.

titleist.com

WILSON FG TOUR TC
PRICE: $100 (Lofts: 50 to 64 degrees in 2-degree increments)

The wedges boast a new milled groove with 11 laser-etched lines between each groove to enhance spin on full as well as partial shots.

wilson.com

BAG ROOM

When TaylorMade debuted its Rocketbladez irons last year at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Sean O'Hair had a set in play that featured a camouflage badge in the cavity to keep the name secret. Since then O'Hair has continued to play the camo irons, but when he showed up with them at the Farmers Insurance Open, TaylorMade's tour reps changed the badges to the standard version. ... Adidas' new adizero Tour shoe -- which weighs only 10.6 ounces -- debuted on tour at the Farmers Insurance Open. Among those wearing the shoes the first week out were Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker, Charles Howell III and Mike Weir. ... Adams had more than double the number of hybrids in play as the next company at the FIO. Among those switching to the new white-headed hybrids were Casey Wittenberg and Steve Marino, who each used a 19-degree Adams Idea Super LS. ... To assist with his alignment, Tag Ridings switched to Odyssey's Versa #1 Wide model with white/black/white striping. Ridings finished T-15 at Torrey Pines ranking 34th in strokes gained/putting. ... Billy Horschel overhauled his woods for 2013 and in La Jolla had Ping's new G25 driver, 3- and 5-woods in play. ... J.B. Holmes went with a 7.5-degree version of Callaway's X Hot Pro driver in La Jolla. The lower-lofted head with a square face angle upped Holmes' ball speed and helped reduce the hook he had been fighting. Holmes ranked first in driving distance (317.5 yards) before missing the cut at Torrey Pines. Holmes also switched to Callaway's new X Forged irons, citing the improved turf interaction due to the sole design. Normally Holmes has the leading edges ground to soften them, but only one iron required that work with this set.

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By E. Michael Johnson

To start his 2013 season Phil Mickelson put Odyssey's new Versa putter in the bag. The club is noticeable for its zebra-like stripes (the #9 half-mallet Mickelson used features white/black/white striping), but little noted was that Lefty's flat stick had only 2 degrees of loft.

A player using a putter with that little loft is not unusual. However, at various times in his career, Mickelson has used a putter with as much as 7 degrees of loft. The example drives home the fact that putter loft can be overlooked as a key to success on the pro tours.

Each putter design has minor differences in loft, intended to create a pure roll. But the design is effective only if the person putting uses the appropriate stance and stroke. And since virtually every player inadvertently adds or subtracts from his putter's inherent loft to some extent, tweaking the loft of the putter is necessary. Mickelson is an excellent example. Earlier in his career when he used a significant forward press, Mickelson needed the added loft to compensate. Now that he has eliminated much of that press (as well as incorporated a claw grip), he delivers the club at a more level angle thus requiring less loft.

In short, putters are like drivers -- you need the proper loft to produce the proper launch angle. In fact, if you had talked about the importance of launch angle on putts to a tour player five years ago, they would have looked at you somewhat curiously. But just one degree can make a huge difference. If golfers notice their putts bouncing and skidding, then they probably have the wrong loft on their putter.

Related: Phil Mickelson's history of unexpected rants

What are the dangers of having the wrong loft? Too much will cause the ball to hop more on impact, producing more skid than is ideal. Too little loft will drive the ball into the turf too soon, making it difficult for it to settle into the proper roll.

For some top players, more loft meant fewer putts. Putting guru Dave Stockton won a pair of PGA Championships with a stroke that had his hands considerably forward at impact. As a result the putter he used for most of his career had between 5 and 6 degrees loft. Olin Browne was another requiring more loft. In fact, days prior to the 2011 U.S. Senior Open at Inverness, Browne added 2 degrees to his Odyssey Black Series i #1 putter, raising it from 4 to 6 degrees. He went on to win the Senior Open by three shots, averaging 27 putts per round.

Others need less loft. It's not unusual for players using long putters (where there's no forward press and the stroke generally strikes the ball on somewhat of an upswing) to use as little as 1 degree of loft. Ball position also plays a role in determining the proper putter loft. Jim Furyk, for example, positions the ball off his front foot and routinely uses a putter with 1 to 2 degrees of loft to compensate for that. Others, such as Retief Goosen and Mike Weir, tend to add loft with their stroke and therefore need less loft.

Course conditions are also a factor. "For the average guy, unless you're on perfect greens, you need some loft," two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Allen Doyle told Golf World in 2009. "Most guys probably never think to increase loft on bumpy greens, but they should." Doyle, who grew up playing on bad greens, got so accustomed to a putter with 6 degrees loft that he continued to use it even during his tour days.

Regardless of the amount of loft, the goal is the same: launch the putt between 3 and 4 degrees. "Four degrees at impact gives me optimum roll," Mickelson told Golf World in 2011. "If you have too little loft, it beats it right into the ground and then the ball has a hop to it, as well as what I call a hot roll where the ball takes off on you. If you have too much loft, it is coming up off the ground before it starts to roll and will often come up short."

At the Humana Mickelson averaged .877 strokes per round better than the field according to the strokes gained/putting statistic. Obviously the man knows what he is talking about.

TOUR STORIES

CASEY WITTENBERG // About face

Tour players are a particular bunch and nowhere is that more apparent than with their putters. One such case came at the Humana Challenge where Web.com Tour graduate Casey Wittenberg was trying a TaylorMade Ghost Tour prototype but had some issues with the insert. For starters, Wittenberg didn't like that he could see parts of the black insert at address. There also was a performance aspect to consider -- the ball didn't come off the Surlyn insert as fast as Wittenberg would like.

To address Wittenberg's concerns, TaylorMade had a red "Pure Roll" insert driven from its Carlsbad, Calif., headquarters to Palm Springs where putter rep Shawn Mullin changed the inserts. The red insert not only fit Wittenberg's eye better, but produced the quicker release off the face he was seeking.

NEW STUFF

PING G25 IRONS
PRICE: $780 (set of eight, steel)

The tuning port in the cavity has been integrated into the sole to position the center of gravity for higher shots. The sole widths get thinner from long irons to short irons.

ping.com

BAG ROOM

At his Jan. 14 press conference announcing his signing with Nike, Rory McIlroy said, "From now on I'll be playing a Method putter," referring to Nike's putter line. That held true for one round. After an uninspiring 75 during the first round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McIlroy returned to the Scotty Cameron by Titleist Studio Select Newport GSS prototype he used in 2012. McIlroy shrugged off any suggestion the move was a major occurrence. "I wasn't getting the ball to the hole," McIlroy told Golf Channel. "The greens here are a little slow, and the Nike putter I used yesterday is quite light, so for practicing on fast greens, it's great. But when you get on greens that aren't quite as quick like here, I felt like I was having to hit it a bit more. So it's just a weight issue. The one I used today is a bit heavier, so I thought I could stroke it a bit more. That was it." ... Roberto Castro was among those who switched to TaylorMade's R1 driver at the Humana Challenge. During testing, Castro, who played a TaylorMade R11 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, tried an R1 with a Mitsubishi 'ilima shaft but felt he was spinning the ball too much. A switch to Mitsubishi's Diamana Blue S+ took care of that, and Castro found he picked up 2 to 3 miles per hour ball speed with better dispersion.

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By E. Michael Johnson

Now that Nike Golf has officially introduced Rory McIlroy as its newest "athlete," signing him to a multi-year deal to play its clubs and ball as well as don its apparel and shoes, the logical question is, "What happens now?"

Golf history shows the landscape has been littered with top-name players that have switched equipment companies only to fail miserably after doing so.

Photo by Getty Images

After a big year in 1993, Payne Stewart left Wilson to sign with Spalding in 1994. The deal required him to change from forged blades to cast, offset irons, as well as the two-piece Top-Flite ball. The results were shockingly bad. Stewart won a mere $145,687 in 1994 and finished the year 123rd on the money list. Players such as Corey Pavin and Lee Janzen had similar struggles after cashing in. So did Nick Price. After leading the PGA Tour in earnings for two consecutive years, Price went from Ram to Atrigon. The following year he was 30th in earnings. Price went on to several other equipment companies, but never rose higher than 17th in earnings again. Still, players have changed companies and succeeded. Ernie Els has won four major titles with three different companies. Phil Mickelson won three majors after leaving Titleist for Callaway.

McIlroy's odds for a successful transition are significantly better than those of Stewart and Price. For starters, companies rarely force a player into a specific product anymore and they certainly would not make a player make such a drastic departure from what they are used to or comfortable with. Still, the fact is professional golfers like their comfort zone and McIlroy now has a bunch of variables to deal with, including new apparel and footwear, as well as new clubs. The slightest variation in feel or flight or distance can affect a player of McIlroy's ability level, so some sort of transition/familiarity period should be expected.

Related: Five costly equipment switches

Still, the tools at his (and Nike Golf's) disposal are many. Fitting technologies now make it easier to dial a player in to his clubs. Manufacturing levels also are better, allowing for companies to make specialized products if needed that can address a player's needs while not looking significantly different from the product being sold in stores. In the early stages of the Nike Tour Accuracy ball, Nike tweaked the formulation of the ball to address some of Tiger Woods' needs. Woods also played smaller-headed versions of the company's drivers at times. If needed, the same could be done for McIlroy.

Players also spend more time conducting due diligence. Unlike 20 years ago where the big check was most important, the prize money and other endorsement dollars that come with being successful are too great to risk by signing with a company that may be a poor match. Players test equipment more frequently, and they speak with other players about the company they might sign with.

However, despite all the legwork and enhanced technologies, the fact remains that there is some risk involved -- both for McIlroy and Nike Golf. Should the world No. 1 somehow struggle in 2013 many will be quick to point to the equipment as the reason. And Nike Golf, which is just starting to get its legs under it as a legitimate player in the equipment business simply can't afford that kind of negative impression of its new product line -- specifically its VR_S Covert driver.

There's also the question of how McIlroy's signing will impact the marketplace. It has long been thought that golfers are good at raising brand awareness but don't necessarily help sell specific products. The old saw was that if players sold clubs then the Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus brands would have been the two best-selling golf equipment companies of all-time.

Related: Rory and Tiger's new Nike ad

Nike is banking that McIlroy's presence alongside Tiger Woods in the company's athlete stable (the pair has already filmed an ad together that is somewhat reminiscent of the old Larry Bird/Michael Jordan ads) will produce a positive impact. What that impact is, however, might be up for discussion.

"If you go back the last 30 years in golf, the most successful companies have been ones that were able to run leadership campaigns," said Leigh Bader, co-owner for Joe & Leigh's Golf Shop at Pine Oaks GC in South Easton, Mass. "To be able to say you're No. 1 in something has proven very powerful. The star-athlete strategy in golf has historically been less effective."

Bader's statement stands up. TaylorMade and Titleist have done remarkably well with their No. 1 driver and No. 1 ball in golf, respectively, campaigns. The latter, in fact, has thrived despite repeated defections by big-name players from its tour staff, including Woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson and McIlroy, maintaining no player is bigger than the brand. Adams Golf has been able to translate its No. 1 hybrid on tour claim into sales as well. On the flip side, a company such as Callaway has struggled to parlay the impact of Phil Mickelson into sales. On the surface, Lefty is an endorsement dream -- he's been successful (three majors with Callaway), uses the product and openly discusses its benefits while being one of the most popular players on tour with fans). Yet Callaway has struggled during his tenure with them.

For now, though, Nike Golf enjoys both a star-athlete strategy as well as a leadership position. No other company can lay claim to having the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world.

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By E. Michael Johnson

The last day of December was "Black Monday" for a number of NFL coaches, and it set the "coaching carousel" in full swing. On the following day, however, the golf world had a different kind of carousel set in motion -- the one where players change equipment companies.

Stanley tested his new Nike equipment extensively to avoid any "question marks." (Photo: J.D. Cuban)

The switches for 2013 were plentiful and the activity swift. In all more than a dozen players either changed companies or re-upped with their current equipment maker. And that's not counting Rory McIlroy and his long-rumored move to Nike (although Nike has confirmed a "major announcement" for Jan. 14 in Abu Dhabi). Although McIlroy is, theoretically, in equipment limbo as his deal with Titleist expired at year's end, recognizable names, such as Nick Watney and Kyle Stanley (Nike), Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover and Ryan Moore (TaylorMade) and Gary Woodland (Callaway) all signed new deals.

A quick rundown of the scorecard to date shows that in addition to the above, John Huh and J.J. Henry also signed with TaylorMade (which also re-upped Sergio Garcia and Sean O'Hair). Elsewhere, Callaway inked Nicolas Colsaerts and Chris Kirk, and Nike added the European Tour's Thorbjÿrn Olesen. Adams, meanwhile, signed Jeff Overton.

Although in the past some marquee players have struggled after switching companies, that's less likely now. First, manufacturers are better at customizing clubs. Second, players are better about due diligence before signing a deal.

Consider defending Phoenix champ Stanley, who not only found that the Nike 20XI-X ball spun less -- much to his liking -- but did extensive testing with the clubs as well. "My season ended Dec. 9, so I was using my old equipment right until then," Stanley said. "I don't think I've ever overhauled my set like this. But I worked out with the equipment some before [season's end] and a lot since then. I didn't want to come into the season with any question marks."

Woodland also did his homework, taking time to speak with Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson about the company and its clubs. "Phil had nothing but good things to say," said Woodland. "They wanted a staff that was younger and more athletic. It seemed like a very good fit."

Ryo Ishikawa, who recently left Yonex for Callaway, also fits that bill. Then there's McIlroy, whose deal should be confirmed imminently. After that announcement perhaps the carousel will finally come to a stop.

NEW STUFF

CALLAWAY X HOT
PRICE: $299 (Lofts: 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13)

Each loft model on this driver has a different bulge radius and draw bias based on the impact pattern of golfers most likely to play that loft. A smaller Pro version also is available.

callawaygolf.com

TAYLORMADE R1
PRICE: $399 (Adjustable loft)

This driver offers the ability to change loft from 8 to 12 degrees while an adjustable sole plate can alter face angle. Two movable weights allow for further customization.

taylormadegolf.com

PING G25
PRICE: $349 (Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 degrees)

Each loft can be adjusted half a degree up or down. A high-balance-point shaft is designed to help golfers swing the slightly heavier clubhead faster.

ping.com

BAG ROOM

Hyundai Tournament of Champions victor Dustin Johnson made some changes to his equipment prior to the start of play. Using TaylorMade's new R1 driver for the first time in competition, Johnson had the adjustable loft set at 10 degrees (instead of his normal 10.5 degrees) due to the blustery conditions at Kapalua's Plantation Course. Johnson also altered his new TaylorMade RocketBladez Tour irons. Feeling they were a bit too upright, Johnson had the irons bent 1 degree flatter at a small workshop on the driving range at Kapalua. ... Another player using the R1 was Johnson Wagner, who also took advantage of the adjustable-loft head by going from his normal 8.5 degree loft to 8 degrees. ... Tommy Gainey put Callaway's new X Hot metal woods into play right away, using a 10.5-degree X Hot driver and X Hot 3-wood (with Aldila RIP NV 65 shafts) in Hawaii. ... Webb Simpson conducted an overhaul of his bag this off season, saying goodbye to his four-year-old woods and muscleback blade Titleist irons in favor of a Titleist 913D3 driver (10.5 degrees), 913F.d 3- and 5-wood, 913H hybrid (20 degrees) and Titleist AP2 irons (4-PW). Simpson also used the new Titleist Pro V1x -- one of 10 players using the new Pro V1/V1x in Hawaii. ... Last fall Hunter Mahan switched to Ping's G25 driver, and in Hawaii he added the company's new Anser irons. Another Ping staffer, Mark Wilson, had a pair of the company's new Anser hybrids (17, 20 degrees) in play at Kapalua. ... Rickie Fowler had three orange-colored Cobra AMP Cell woods (driver, 3-wood, hybrid) in his bag at the Hyundai.

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