what's in my bag
What's In My Bag: Eric Cole
Photographs by Jason Conder
My mom [former LPGA player Laura Baugh] didn’t mess with her clubs much, but my dad [former PGA Tour player Bobby Cole] was very precise with his equipment. That said, I’m more like my mom. I trust the people who work on my equipment, and I think the less I know about it, the better. —With E. Michael Johnson
DRIVER
SPECS: PXG 0311 Black Ops, 9°, Project X Evenflow Riptide LX 70 6.5 shaft, 45.25 inches.
I recently put this new driver in the bag. It’s a little more forgiving on off-center hits and has slightly faster ball speed than my previous gamer. If I’m not losing forgiveness, and I’m gaining speed, then it makes the decision to switch easy. The shaft is the same as my previous driver.
The standard model—the most forgiving of the two—features more stability on off-center hits from heel to toe (by a little) and top to bottom (by 25 percent). This means some off-center hits have ball speeds consistent with center hits. The way the new titanium alloy in the face deflects at impact yields higher flight with less spin. Meanwhile, the lightweight carbon-composite sections on the crown and sole result in a lower and deeper center of gravity compared to last year’s extra-forgiving XF model.
FAIRWAY WOODS
Justin Kase Conder
SPECS: TaylorMade Stealth, 15°, Project X Denali Black 70 TX shaft; PXG 0311 GEN5, 18°, Project X HZRDUS G4 95 TX shaft.
I don’t hit a ton of 3-woods off the tee, so the high launch on my 3-wood is helpful. About 18 months ago I switched from a utility iron to this 5-wood. It’s a versatile club trajectory-wise for me. The utility iron was too one-dimensional.
IRONS
SPECS: PXG 0317 CB (4-iron); PXG 0317 ST (5-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid X100 shaft.
The 4-iron is bigger, more forgiving and easier to get in the air. The rest of the set is the blade-like ST. I haven’t always been a blade player, but with the firm greens we play on tour, I found I need the added spin, especially when playing knockdown shots that come in lower.
Unlike the 0317 T, which has a hollow-body construction, the 0317 CB is a more traditional single-piece forging. With a longer blade length, thicker topline and wider sole, the CB provides a higher moment of inertia that reduces ball-speed loss on shots that fail to find the center of the face. The large weight in the back of the club can be adjusted during the fitting process (something PXG encourages) to achieve the optimal swingweight. The face is milled to ensure flatness and a precise control on thickness.
WEDGES
SPECS: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50°, 54°); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60°), True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft.
You might notice the “No Excuses” stamping. It’s a family mantra. I use this club for all my short-game shots. I like getting used to using one club and relying on it. The 60-degree has a very aggressive grind and just 4 degrees of bounce, so when I open it up, the leading edge sits close to the ground.
The new SM10 line is beyond complete with plenty of options for those savvy enough to get fit for wedges. The center-of-gravity location received particular attention. The smaller profile and shorter hosel lengths (on lofts 46 to 52) help drive the CG low to make the transition from short irons easier. In the 54- through 62-degree models, the CG has moved up, forward and toward the center to promote a lower, more controlled flight. The “spin milled” grooves have been updated and when combined with a texture between the grooves increase spin by as much as 300 revolutions per minute.
Putter
SPECS: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon, 34 inches, 3°.
I used a center-shafted PXG putter for a while. A lot of good things happened with that putter, but I felt like I was being too robotic with it. This putter allows me to be more creative and more feel-oriented, which is how I prefer to putt. With the center shaft, I felt like I was trying to be too perfect. I do change putters frequently, and since this was shot, I’ve switched to an Odyssey model.
For all the bodacious TV ads, you might forget that PXG is dead serious about one of the less sexy aspects of the business. Fitting is central to PXG’s philosophy, and that’s especially true for putters. These blades, which feature super-thin faces supported by a feel- and forgiveness-enhancing polymer fill, come with an array of hosel options ranging from heel-shafted to armlock. The heel and toe weight ports on the sole can further customize the look you want fit to the stroke you have.
SPIN MACHINE
Justin Kase Conder
I use the 2021 Titleist Pro V1x. It has a little bit more spin than the most recent model, and I’m always seeking more spin.
SUGAR BOOST
Justin Kase Conder
I’m a type-1 diabetic. If my blood-sugar gets low, I have some Skittles and other candies to bring it back up to where it should be.
LINE IT UP
Justin Kase Conder
I’ve used reminder grips for six years (this is Golf Pride’s Align). They let me know where the face is during the swing.
