Golfing News & Blog Articles

Driver fitting is inarguably the most accessible of golf club fitting types. With that, it’s reasonable to say it’s also the most widely understood.  

That shouldn’t suggest that every driver fitting is a good one. As with basically everything else in the golf equipment world, there’s still plenty of bad info out there but even among golfers who find difficult to get fitted, there’s likely somewhere nearby where you can work with a competent fitter or find the tools to DIY your way to better results. 

While we’d strongly recommend working with a fitter, when that’s not possible (or you just don’t want to), DIY can be a whole lot easier when you know what to look for. 

Before we get into that, let’s tackle the basics. 

Why driver fitting is important 

When you get fitted into a driver that matches your unique swing profile (what Mizuno calls your Swing DNA), the outcome is often more consistency and better results on the golf course. 

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried:

The Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag; Vessel’s latest and greatest luxury golf bag offering.

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers.

I used to be the laughing stock of MyGolfSpy because of my choice of golf bag. I’m here to fix that. It’s about time I conducted a Vessel golf bag review!

Vessel Player IV Pro Golf Bag Review: Bigger, but Better

Vessel is a perennial top player in our golf bag testing. And if their cult-like following is any indication of their performance, I’ll take that as a good sign. The Player IV Pro is the latest in Vessel’s lineup. It aims to not only iterate upon, but drastically improve the few spots where the Vessel Player IV fell short. 

Let’s dive right into my review of the Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag. 

Michael Block finished in sixth place at U.S. Open qualifying in Toronto, where 27 players competed for one of three spots to gain entry into next week's field at Los Angeles Country Club.

A day after winning on the PGA Tour, Viktor Hovland caddies for his former college teammate's attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open.

The Callaway Paradym Night Mode driver launch is the clearest signal yet that we’re into Round Two of the special-/limited-edition launch. In the past two weeks, we’ve seen TaylorMade launch black versions of the P7900 and Stealth irons. Today, Callaway is announcing a limited-edition Paradym driver offering it’s calling Night Mode.

Night Mode. At night, it’s dark. The drivers are black and “Night Mode” sounds way cooler than “black.”

For the record, there are two Callaway Paradym Night Mode drivers. There’s the standard Paradym and the low-spinning, better-player-focused Paradym Triple Diamond. As with the other special-/limited-edition offerings, the only difference between these drivers and the originals is cosmetic.

Callaway Paradym Night Mode Drivers

This is the second go-round for a special-/limited-edition Paradym. In late March, just before the annual Eastern Georgia Golf Extravaganza, Callaway released a limited-edition green-and-yellow themed Paradym.

We’re unsure if the Paradym Night Mode drivers are connected to the upcoming U.S. Open or Father’s Day. They could also celebrate National Veggie Burger Day or National Moonshine Day, both of which happen to be today.

Viktor Hovland wins the Memorial, Rose Zhang makes history and U.S. Open spots are available across the land on Monday.

Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first LPGA Tour winner in her pro debut in 72 years, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second hole in a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Viktor Hovland delivered three clutch putts at the end to win the Memorial in a playoff over hard-luck Denny McCarthy on Sunday.

Stephen Ames birdied the 17th hole and closed with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for a one-shot victory over Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly in the Principal Charity Classic, giving Ames his third PGA Tour Champions title this year.

Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from the Memorial Tournament ahead of Sunday's final round due to back spasms. The 26-year-old was two strokes off the lead.

Twenty-year-old Tom McKibbin shot a 3-under 70 in the final round to win the European Open and earn his first European tour victory

Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang moved into position to win in her professional debut, shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Mizuho Americans Open.

Rory McIlroy finished Round 3 with a 2-under 70 Saturday at the Memorial, good enough for him to share the lead with David Lipsky and Si Woo Kim at the tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

Minjee Lee and Cheyenne Knight lead the LPGA Tour's weather-delayed Mizuho Americas Open at 7-under 137, while Rose Zhang is 2 shots back.

Justin Suh holed eight putts from the 10-foot range or longer to give him a one-shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama, with Patrick Cantlay another shot behind at the Memorial on Friday.

Iowa women's basketball star Caitlin Clark will tee it up in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am next month in Illinois.

The new TaylorMade Stealth Black irons are hitting the market right on time.

We’ve mentioned it before but it’s now standard operating procedure for OEMs on a two-year product cycle to give their current offering a little kick in the pants by giving it a paint job.

Yep, the TaylorMade Stealth Black irons are just like the regular TaylorMade Stealth irons that were released about a year ago. Except they’re black.

If that doesn’t get you all limp and tingly, I don’t know what will.

TaylorMade Stealth Black Irons

We’re not sure who started the trend but coming out with a black version of second-year iron releases dates back to at least 2018 for TaylorMade. That’s when the company came out with a black PVD finish on its P790 irons. Now it’s part of the OEM playbook to give current irons a sales boost entering their final year.

Gene Sarazen's double eagle on the 15th hole of the 1935 Masters Tournament is widely regarded as one of the greatest shots in golf history. Here are some additional details about this remarkable achievement:

• The 15th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the 1935 Masters Tournament was a par-5 hole, measuring approximately 485 yards.
• Sarazen, who was trailing by three shots at the time, decided to take a bold approach for his second shot. He opted to use a 4-wood, which was a risky choice given the distance and the water hazard in front of the green.
• With a powerful swing, Sarazen struck the ball perfectly, sending it soaring towards the green. The shot covered a distance of around 235 yards.
• The ball landed on the green, took a couple of bounces, and then rolled straight into the cup for a double eagle. A double eagle is a score of 2 on a par-5 hole, as opposed to a traditional eagle, which is a score of 3.
• Sarazen's incredible shot not only tied him for the lead with Craig Wood but also created a significant shift in momentum. It is worth noting that the term "double eagle" was coined after Sarazen's historic shot.
• Sarazen went on to win the 1935 Masters Tournament in a 36-hole playoff against Wood, securing his place in golf history as the champion of that year's event.

Sarazen's double eagle on the 15th hole is still remembered as one of the most iconic and influential shots in golf. It not only showcased Sarazen's skill and bravery but also played a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the tournament. The shot continues to be celebrated as a testament to the thrilling and awe-inspiring moments that make golf such a captivating sport.

AskMyGolfSpy is an opportunity to submit questions to our experts here at MGS. You can pass along your questions to the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or right here in the comments section below!  

Q: Will softer balls land more softly and roll less on the green than harder ones? I struggle with length (slow swing speed) so I end up having to use long clubs to hit the green and, therefore almost no spin. Will a soft ball roll out less than a harder one? -richk9holes 

Painting with my usual broad strokes, I’ll start by saying that, generally, a soft ball will roll more on the green than a firmer (higher compression) ball. The typical design characteristics of low compression (soft) golf balls are high flight with low spin. The high flight helps increase the landing angle, which works to offset the spin loss. 

As you move closer to the green and start hitting partial (less than full height) shots, it becomes more difficult to offset spin with descent angle. 

Once you’re greenside, softer balls are at a significant disadvantage as it relates to stopping power. To generate spin on a shorter shot the ball needs to have a soft cover and a firm mantle layer. 

In 2-piece designs, you have no mantle layer, just a firm cover over a soft core. That’s never going to spin. 

“Another tie!” Dad exclaims with feigned gratitude as he opens yet another lackluster gift.

Come on. Father’s Day is a special day to show your dad how much you appreciate him, not test his acting skills as you shower him with meaningless gifts.  

This year, get Dad a useful golf gift. Whether he is a golf fanatic or just needs some alone time on the golf course with few cold ones and some pals, this is the gift guide for you (him).

Don’t settle for a novelty bathroom putting green or a gimmicky prank golf ball. Dad deserves the darned best golf gift money can buy. Sound like a tall task? We’ve got you covered. Here are the best Father’s Day golf gifts for 2023. 

For the Dad Who Needs a Wardrobe Makeover

VRST Men’s Floral Cracks Print Golf Polo – $56.25

This playful polo is as breathable as it is comfortable. Keep Dad looking fresh with this fun yet subtle design. Looking good is sure to make him a better golfer, right?