Shriners winner Tom Kim’s Vokey wedges
Ryan Barath
Welcome to Wall-to-Wall Equipment, the Monday morning gear wrap-up through which GOLF tools editor Jonathan Wall takes you thru the newest trends, rumors and breaking information. This week’s Wall-to-Wall is dropped at you by Jonathan’s associate in gear nerdiness, GOLF senior tools editor Ryan Barath, who was on the bottom in Las Vegas final week for the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin.
Tom Kim took dwelling the Shriners Children’s Open with a stunning final-round 66, and you’ll study all about his profitable golf equipment right here. But for all the opposite prime tools tales, strap on in, as a result of we now have a lot to cowl.
Fresh Odyssey Putters
Ryan Barath
The best spot of the week in Vegas was a brand new putter line from Odyssey, that includes two distinct inserts that each make the most of synthetic intelligence of their designs.
Ryan Barath
Although we couldn’t get any a lot element on the impression of A.I. on the putter’s efficiency, the Odyssey group did affirm the brand new putter makes use of A.I. as a part of the face design. Also, primarily based on the putter’s Tour debut this week, which included full-line branding, you won’t have to attend for much longer to study extra.
Long putters choosing up steam
If you thought the top of the final PGA Tour season would mark the top of the long-putter development, assume once more. In Vegas, many golfers have been looking for to cut back their threat on the greens (simply as you do on the tables) by doubling down with long-shafted wands.
Ryan Barath
Several putter-brand reps, together with from the likes of Ping, PXG and Odyssey, advised me that they had been working onerous behind the scenes to get new heads constructed for gamers who had requested to check broom-style placing. From what I noticed, although, L.A.B. Golf nonetheless appears to have the strongest maintain on the Tour-pro market.
L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1
$449
Zero Torque. Zero Compromise. MEZZ.1 Stock makes it easy for any golfer to benefit from Lie Angle Balance. It looks pretty much like a normal putter. But it actually helps you make putts. MEZZ.1 Stock is our mid-mallet putter that’s fully CNC machined from a billet of 6061 aircraft aluminum (body) and 303 stainless steel (midsection). It includes 10 weights (eight on the bottom, two on the sides) that allow us to individually build each putter to a golfer’s exact specifications.
Finish: Anodized 6061 Aircraft Aluminum (Black) and Brushed 303 Stainless Steel.
Length: 33, 34, or 35 inches.
Lie Angles: 67, 69, or 71 degrees.
Loft: 2.5 degrees static loft (1-degree of effective loft with Press II 1.5º).
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New Ping irons
Last week was my first likelihood to get my palms on Ping’s latest Blueprint S and T irons, and all I can say is, “Wow.” The new S mannequin attracts a lot inspiration from earlier “S” mannequin irons — together with the final technology S55 — however this iteration is solid. They include a sharper and extra squared toe and use a CTP insert within the longer irons to assist increase MOI and consistency.
The Blueprint S irons have already been an enormous success, with one Ping rep telling me the brand new irons have one of many quickest adoption charges they’ve ever seen with a brand new iron, particularly from gamers who have been utilizing older S mannequin irons. One of these gamers is Matt Fitzpatrick, who received this previous week, on the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, in Scotland.
More Callaway TCB irons
Since the discharge of Callaway’s latest Apex line, some golfers have been asking if the favored TCB iron would get an improve. Although there’s nothing to report on the retail entrance, it seems Callaway is making a brand new model out there to its tour employees.
Ryan Barath
We noticed the brand new TCB irons within the bag of Akshay Bhatia, they usually got here with some additional stamping for good measure (the star stamp has no additional that means regarding the mannequin or know-how, it’s simply on there for enjoyable). From what I’ve gathered from listening to gamers speak about this new TCB, it simply has a barely extra compact look in comparison with the now-released Apex CB. But largely, it’s extra of a beauty improve from the earlier mannequin than any kind of efficiency improve. (Still, all of us like shiny new issues, proper?)
Callaway Apex CB Custom Irons
$215
The new Apex CB ’24 Irons are designed for the most discerning tour pros and elite ball-strikers. This tour-cavity back is designed with an all-new forged construction for a pure feel, precise shot-making, and workability.
THE ULTIMATE TOUR IRON.
The new Apex CB ’24 Irons are designed for the most discerning tour pros and elite ball-strikers. This tour-cavity back is designed with an all-new forged construction for a pure feel, precise shot-making, and workability.
PURE FORGED PERFORMANCE
The Apex CB Irons are forged in a 5-step process from 1025 carbon steel, creating the buttery-soft feel discerning players crave. The body and face are forged as one-piece while MIM weights placed strategically in the heel and toe create a perfectly balanced design for enhanced workability and control.
PROGRESSIVE CG DESIGN FOR ADDED CONTROL
A progressive CG throughout the set improves trajectory control. The long irons feature a lower CG that promotes towering shots that land soft into greens while the short irons utilize a higher CG for a lower trajectory to promote more spin for added control.
DYNAMIC SOLE DESIGN FOR ENHANCED TURF INTERACTION
The new Apex CB Irons feature a Dynamic Sole Design with a pre-worn leading edge to cut through the turf more efficiently and trailing edge relief to ensure a clean exit. The result is an iron sole that maintains speed through the turf and promotes consistent contact on all shots.
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Wilson irons
Speaking of shiny new issues, Wilson had its latest Staff CB and MB fashions on hand for any gamers trying to take a look at. If you want sharp-looking chrome irons, you’re in the best place!
Ryan Barath
Because we’re speaking about single one-piece solid irons, as soon as once more there isn’t an entire bunch to report from a know-how perspective. But there’s within the appears division. The cavities of the irons, particularly the blade mannequin, makes use of CNC milling to get right down to the ultimate spec.
Ryan Barath
Unreleased New Level irons
For these wanting in a extra boutique course, New Level Golf has a pleasant collection of direct-to-consumer irons and wedges that provide nice worth and efficiency — a lot in order that they’ve caught the attention of numerous Tour gamers in recent times, together with Chez Reavie, Ryan Moore and reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner Steven Alker.
Ryan Barath
Reavie had a brand new set of unreleased New Level 480-MC irons within the bag in Vegas, and even from a distance they seemed sharp. We have been unable to get any further data on this unreleased membership, and it’s tough to inform whether or not the screw within the again results in a hidden cavity or the iron is a one-piece solid membership and the screw is just used to nice tune the ultimate head weight.
If I used to be a betting man, and I’ve been identified to dabble on occasion, the house the place the screw goes into the top seems to be comparatively large, which might imply there’s a cavity in some, if not all, of the irons. Again, that is hypothesis and fortunate for me, I don’t have any chips on the desk for this hand. (Fret not, I’m not carried out but with the playing puns.)
Callaway Wedge
With new Apex irons simply launched after an prolonged wait, many oberservers have been beginning to surprise what Callaway may need in retailer for new wedges in 2024. Thanks to the bag of Will Gordon, Callaway could be beginning to present its hand (see what I did there?).
Ryan Barath
Gordon’s wedge, marked with “Proto-NC,” doesn’t give us a lot to work with, past the truth that it’s a completely uncooked wedge and the NC might imply one thing so simple as “no chrome.” The initials might additionally relate to the form of the grind on the only or a groove kind being examined for spin and long-term put on, as a result of it’s apparent from inspection this membership has been in play for fairly a while.
Callaway was unwilling to supply any extra data on the wedge, however I can affirm that this wasn’t the one model of the membership in Vegas, so Callaway seemingly is tough at work on one thing.
TaylorMade Spider stays scorching
Not all of the way back it felt like TaylorMade was all about metallic woods and every little thing else was a little bit of an afterthought, however these instances are lengthy gone. TaylorMade has develop into a significant participant relating to flat sticks, thanks largely to the Spider and new Spider Tour putters.
Ryan Barath
TaylorMade staffers and non-staffers alike have been protecting putter rep Bucky Coe busy on the placing inexperienced in Vegas, with many gamers wanting on the out there assortment of Spider Tour putters.
This full embracing of the earlier core line of the Spider putters with new know-how and an up to date look is proving to be a success on Tour, and I anticipate that success will proceed with shoppers.
TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter
$349.99
STABILITY FOR THE WIN
THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION
We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
STEEL WIREFRAME
Allows engineers to better control weight distribution and CG location.
HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER
HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
DIFFERENT CG LOCATION
Each Spider Tour model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting.
TSS WEIGHTING
TSS weights provide balanced weighting and help optimize performance for all various putter lengths.
GUNMETAL PVD FINISH
The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment.
REFINED HOSEL DESIGNS
Spider Tour Series includes two different hosel shapes and designs. The small slant produces toe hang, and the double bend produces a face balanced design.
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New shafts on their method
Both Fujikura and Mitsubishi Chemical had new driver shafts out for testing this week on the vary, and first up was Mitsubishi bringing out its latest technology of the WB.
Ryan Barath
The Fujikura shafts have been a bit extra beneath wraps and nonetheless going by means of prototype testing with the code title Nautilus Neo. We don’t have some other data past what was written on the shafts, however from my discussions, it doesn’t sound like all kind of substitute for the favored Ventus.
Ryan Barath
Old stuff remains to be kicking
As a gear junkie and somebody who loves to seek out hidden gems in used membership bins, discovering older gear on Tour is simply as enjoyable as recognizing new stuff, and the sphere in Vegas didn’t disappoint, in contrast to my luck on the roulette desk. From outdated irons to a utility that dates to 2013, the images under showcase a few of the older gear that continues to point out up week to week.
Ryan Barath
Ryan Barath
Ryan Barath
Want to overtake your bag? Find a becoming location close to you at True Spec Golf. And for extra gear information you may take a look at the newest episode of the Fully Equipped podcast under.
