Equipment
Tiger Woods puts a new grip on the “Elder Wand”
Yes, it’s just a putter grip, but hey, it’s Tiger—and the most famous putter in the world.
We spotted TW at Winged Foot this morning with a fresh (but super old) Lamkin Deep Etched Pistol grip to replace his trusty Ping Blackout, which he has played for the majority of his professional tenure (although Woods has opted for the non-blacked-out version in recent years).
Users on social media cited Woods using the grip in combination with an Odyssey Dual Force 660 putter while at Stanford and early in his career. Interestingly, while we’re used to seeing a Blackout grip in Woods’ hands, he used multiple cord and etched grips in his pre-Elder Wand days.
Photo Courtesy of Worthpoint.com
As our Gianni Magliocco pointed out earlier this month, the world No. 21 is in the midst of the worst putting stretch of his career.
Woods tried a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Timeless Prototype at the PGA Championship, but ultimately that experiment was short-lived.
Woods plays Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord grips on his woods and irons.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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The Hammer
Sep 20, 2020 at 8:29 pm
We call his putter Excalibur.
BigG
Sep 16, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Do you guys ever stop with this garbage. What next?
Tiger is eating a sandwich.
Tiger is tying his shoes.
Tiger is taking a crap.
Tiger is taping his finger.
Give it a rest.
John Wunder
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:18 pm
I think its fun. The guy doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle. If the guy changes shoe laces people care. You may not which is fine but if a poll was taken, I would bet money that anything the guy does is interesting to most.
gwelfgulfer
Sep 29, 2020 at 1:00 am
No John, if Tiger changed his shoe laces, no one other than the wrx ‘writers’ would care…
The Dude-Dudeness
Oct 3, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Hey when can hear about how and with who he cheated on his wife?
Or driving under the influence?
He was the greatest jerk of all time until this,
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/tiger-woods-dui-arrest-golfer-had-five-drugs-system-toxicology-n792856
DB
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:24 am
Main change here is the weight. PING is 58 grams, the Lamkin Deep Etch cord is usually 80-85 grams. That makes a big difference, most prefer a heavier putter head with the heavier grip.
Jordan
Sep 15, 2020 at 8:45 pm
He probably should give the greatest putter grip of all time a try: The Scotty Cameron Studio Design
John
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:55 am
LOL
Bobby
Sep 16, 2020 at 2:17 pm
The Pingman Blackout is basically the same exact grip as the studio design, just 2 grams heavier but very little difference between the two!
Gianni's dad
Sep 15, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Give is a few more starts, he’ll be in a super stroke 5.0 and left hand low.
Adult
Sep 15, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Is there anything cornier than calling his putter the “elder wand?”
Chris
Sep 15, 2020 at 7:42 pm
Only your name
Adult
Sep 15, 2020 at 8:32 pm
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
John
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:56 am
What a sad comeback to a great post from chris.
Mike Dropped.
Adult
Sep 16, 2020 at 9:03 am
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
Ryan
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:56 am
guy’s name is Eldrick. It sorta works and, since you asked, you probably cannot come up with anything cornier for his putter. You definitely nailed a cornier comebacks though!
Adult
Sep 16, 2020 at 11:01 am
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
Mike
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Hey!
Funkaholic
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:53 am
You must be a blast at parties.
John Wunder
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:15 pm
Nothing corny about the Elder Wand…. watch Harry Potter, that stick was a world-beater.
Gene Kennedy
Sep 15, 2020 at 6:14 pm
It takes SO long for pro’s to change anything and they have access to Everything! Please, Don’t say superstition, or TW would’ve kept his original SWING~~
Delbert
Sep 15, 2020 at 3:07 pm
There’s feel in them old cords.
stanley
Sep 15, 2020 at 1:13 pm
this is a big change. putter grip isn’t anything to laugh at. i wonder if he is uncomfortable with his putting at this time.
Captain obvious
Sep 15, 2020 at 9:25 pm
You wonder? You wonder? I what gave it away?