Golfing News & Blog Articles

Cobra RAD Speed Key Takeaways

Three new Cobra RAD Speed drivers landed on the USGA list.They include low-spin, middle-of-the-market and draw-biased options.Bryson DeChambeau has been experimenting with a 5.5-degree version.More info when the embargo lifts.

The Cobra Rad Speed driver family – the company’s upcoming 2021 offering – has landed on the USGA’s conforming list just in time for the Masters.

Not counting a Version 2 of the RAD Speed, there are three distinct models on the list, suggesting that Cobra has decided to mirror much of the industry and take a trident approach to tackling the driver market.

With mainstream lineups, it’s not atypical to find a low-spin offering, a meaty part of the bell curve/everyman driver, and something from the other category. While we do see lightweight others and uber-forgiving others, the draw-biased other has become the most common and that certainly appears where Cobra is headed as well.

RAD Speed Drivers – What We Can Say?

As per standard embargo rules, what I’m allowed to tell you is limited to what’s visibly apparent in the USGA photos.

Given that, a reasonably observant person might conclude that the RAD in RAD Speed refers to the Radial Weights visible in different areas of the three club heads. Placement suggests the story won’t be limited to pushing weight low and back, but rather to the edges (both front and back) presumably to create greater functional differentiation between models while optimizing launch conditions for both low- and high-spin players.

Topping the odds at 8-1 at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, Bryson DeChambeau is the consensus favorite to win the Masters this week.

Puma is celebrating the conclusion of the 2020 major season with a Masters themed bonanza. Rickie, Bryson and Gary have been decked out with the most colorful and vibrant designs that fit The Masters persona to a tee.

Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and major winner Bryson DeChambeau, will be rocking pieces from PUMA Golf’s Autumn/Winter 2020 Collection. Everything is highlighted by the Experience Collection of apparel, footwear and accessories that take inspiration from the most beautiful three-hole stretch in golf.

Get ready for an explosion of colorful apparel, shoes and golf bags.

The post PUMA CELEBRATES THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2020 MAJOR SEASON appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

It's Masters week in November for the first time. Can Tiger repeat? Or will Bryson DeChambeau fulfill everyone's expectations? Our experts offer their best bets.

Today we give you your first look at the new PXG One & Done putter. The PXG One & Done mallet is the second release in PXG’s Battle Ready Collection, reinforcing last month’s PXG Blackjack release. Like the Blackjack, the PXG One & Done features 100-percent milled multi-material construction, bold PXG styling and stability-promoting high MOI (moment of inertia) numbers.

But the real story of the PXG One & Done is alignment.

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Specifications: PXG One & Done

Construction: 100-percent milled aerospace-grade aluminum and tungstenHosel: Four options (heel shafted, double bend, plumber’s and armlock)Face: PXG’s Pyramid Face pattern millingLength: 33”-36”Loft: 3°Lie: 70°Grip: PXG Lamkin Sink Fit (SuperStroke grips also available)Weight: 70-gram range based upon neck and sole weight configurationPrice: $395 for limited time, $525 normally .truegolffit-banner-inner-right { padding-top: calc(574/1020 * (100% - 430px)); } @media screen and (max-width: 991px) { .truegolffit-banner-inner-right { padding-top: calc(574/1020 * 100%); width: 100%; } }

PXG One & Done: Materials

Like its Blackjack predecessor, the PXG One & Done features milled aerospace-grade aluminum and tungsten. This time around, the high-density tungsten is positioned low and rearward as opposed to the Blackjack’s predominantly perimeter placement. By placing a large portion of the putter’s mass toward the rear, PXG reports that the center of gravity has shifted back 0.58 inches. This shift is said to benefit “both swing and stability dynamics.”

This strange year has seen first-time major winners at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Will the first fall Masters continue the trend?

This Masters will be different, that's for sure. But the lack of patrons isn't the only big topic. There's Tiger Woods' defense, Bryson DeChambeau's length and a few sleepers to keep your eyes on this week.

Phil Mickelson practices off the 10th tee with his personal launch monitor

And that’s not the predicted rainfall total by week’s end. Though you never know.

I can’t imagine a more nightmarish Tradition-Unlike-Any-Other storyline than talk of golfers and their driver shafts. And because, well you know why, we arrive at the 2020 rescheduled Masters without fans, without a Par 3 contest and without the usual spring delights, 48 inches is the talk of the town.

It didn’t have to be this way. Of course, Fred Ridley is the Masters chairman and he had his shot to ensure a focus on skill during his USGA Presidency, as have many other leaders.

Without further ado, I give you the 48-inch roundup.

Tiger Woods held court as the 2019 Masters defending champion and grew emotion recounting last year’s fifth Masters win.

From Steve DiMeglio’s story from Augusta:

“I’m getting chills thinking about it,” Woods said about his one-shot victory over Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele, picturing in his mind a few moments from his magical journey to his fifth green jacket and 15th major championship triumph. “Coming up 18, and knowing that all I have to do is just two-putt that little 15 footer and to see my family there and my mom and my kids and all of the people that helped support me or were there for me in the tough times, and I was walking up there trying not to lose it, and still saying, ‘Hey, I’ve still got to two-putt this.’

“Then I walked off the back of the green, to see (son) Charlie there, just opened up our arms, it meant a lot to me and still does. It just reminded me so much of me and my dad (hugging after his 1997 Masters win), and to come full circle like that, it stills gets me you know, a little teary.

Video of Woods speaking Tuesday inside the media center:

While we focus on long drives and shafts, Masters numbers crunchers like the 15th Club’s Justin Ray will tell you iron play and very few three-putts will help you win a green jacket.

So with two aces in as many 2020 practice days, maybe Jon Rahm is someone to keep an eye on. And who says I don’t provide live tips?

This one is at 17.5 million views as of this posting because he was skipping the ball off the lake. Yes, I know, it’s a shot he won’t try on tournament play. Still, this takes iron skill and he’s just really good in general.

From pond to pin! Rahm skips to a hole-in-one on No. 16 at #themasters pic.twitter.com/JNNPWgW9OP

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 10, 2020

Rahn’s fourth hole ace Monday was not caught on camera but the moment he grabbed the ball was later posted by the 10-1 Spaniard:

Tiger Woods still gets chills when he thinks about his 2019 Masters victory.

The traditional Masters Champions Dinner is Tuesday night ahead of the tournament, postponed from April. Woods, as the reigning champion, is bringing back a menu he has used in the past.

Jon Rahm had a hole-in-one on Monday at Augusta National. How do you top that? By skipping one across a pond for another on your birthday the very next day.

Tiger Woods will tee off early Thursday morning at the Masters with Shane Lowry and Andy Ogletree.

A look at all the groups for the first and second rounds of the 2020 Masters.

Bryson DeChambeau might use a 48-inch driver to get even more distance off the tee.

Eureka Earth’s overhead from a few weeks ago shows a new grove of trees left of the 18th hole fairway bunkers (left side of image)

I felt like we were making such progress with Augusta National, down to public comments by Chairman Fred Ridley to uphold the original architectural vision of Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones.

So to read of Hootie Johnson-era manipulations to the course via rough and trees is, well, a setback given the well-stated views of the architects.

From ESPN.com’s Bob Harig Monday course assessment:

The rough appears longer. It's possible it will be cut prior to the first round, but on Monday it was thicker than what the "first cut'' would normally play and look.

Every shot. From every player. On every hole. That’s the pledge of “My Group”, the newest feature in the Masters app and website (with a Jimmy Roberts voiced tutorial here).

Developed by IBM, the 2020 Masters rolls out the next innovation in viewing after last year’s mostly excellent debut of every shot, every player (with just a few exceptions).

The latest twist: you can build a playlist of players and artificial intelligence will put together shots and highlights for you. They are also saying you can view (almost) live coverage of only the players you want to see.

I will be most interested to see how this “sounds” given the lack of fans on site or announcers adding big picture context to what you’re seeing. That’s also a nice way of saying you might want to have your Masters music playlist on a loop.

Here is a setup video hosted by Scott Van Pelt featuring a distinctly pharmaceutical ad vibe with actors pretending to look at screens in places no normal person would watch golf. I’m not sure they should be encouraging viewing while behind the wheel unless, of course, AI is also driving your Tesla. Then it’s okay:

The Augusta National veteran initially didn't want to carry for the up-and-comer in 1995, but together they made history. The caddie reflects on the fates that brought them together that week, and what he sees now as Woods readies his title defense.

Callaway Q3 Financial Report – Key Takeaways

Callaway reports a record third quarter, with $476 million in sales worldwide.Golf equipment fueled the quarter with a 27-percent increase over Q3 of last year.Growth is almost entirely homegrown,  with U.S. sales outpacing the rest of the globe.TopGolf merger positions Callaway to top $3 billion in sales by 2022.

The golf industry’s giddiness continues. The Callaway Q3 financial report shows a record quarter for the company with sales totaling $476 million. That represents a 12-percent ($50-million) increase over Q3 of 2019.

What’s more, the report shows a quarterly $52-million net profit, a whopping 69-percent increase over Q3 of last year.

While the numbers aren’t quite in line with Acushnet’s Q3 performance, there’s still a lot of information to unpack, so let’s get to it.

Callaway Q3 Financial Report – Riding the Industry Wave

The entire golf equipment industry set a sales record in Q3 according to Golf Datatech, with sales up 42 percent compared to last year’s third quarter. In addition, the National Golf Foundation is reporting a 25-percent increase in rounds played in September. On top of that, rounds played for the year are up compared to last year, even with two months’ worth of shutdown.

Yup, people want to play golf, and they need the tools of the trade to do so.