Equipment

Steel vs. graphite putter shafts: What do the top-25 PGA Tour players actually use?

Published

3 years ago

Oct 26, 2023

Before we get into the research experiment below, I wanted to say something quickly: NO ONE, ever, has “figured out” how to putt.

There are some golfers who are less terrible at putting than others, certainly, or they’re less terrible than they used to be, hopefully, but no one has ever figured out the perfect technique, grip, shaft, head design, face design, hosel configuration, toe hang, or swing weight.

Over the years, there have been countless waves, trends, fads and systems that get introduced to the world of golf.

Some ideas come and go. Some ideas are a flash in the pan, and they work for a few rounds, or for a few people, but the golf world ends up moving on.

But, every so often, some ideas spark a complete paradigm shift, and help move the future of the golf industry forward, while also making golfers better.

Are graphite putter shafts simply a flash in the proverbial pan? Or are we standing at the forefront of a massive shift in what’s considered a “normal” putter?

Scotty Cameron putters at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

If a golfer, in the year 2023, stepped on the tee box with a steel-shafted driver, they would be playing the game using ancient technology. And possibly mocked by their playing partners.

Is that where we’re heading with putter shafts? Will every putter have a graphite shaft in 20 years?

From my perspective, as someone who covers golf equipment on the PGA Tour week-in and week-out, it has certainly seemed that graphite putter shafts are gaining more traction among PGA Tour players. More players testing each week, and more players switching.

A few decades ago, there was one option for your putter shaft: Steel.

Now, there’s a broad spectrum of composite shafts that are available to PGA Tour players, offered in a range of different flex-and-weight options.

As I recently learned from Collin Morikawa’s putter shaft prototyping process, it’s not always easy to find the right combination of stiffness and weight with a graphite putter shaft, but striking that balance can prove successful.

Some PGA Tour players seem to be finding greater stability, and thus, less face twisting throughout the stroke, when using graphite or composite shafts.

Putting is putting, though, so finding the right feel and weight for speed/control purposes remains vital. It’s not purely about stability, since there’s still human motion involved.

Odyssey putters at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

In general, composite shafts have undoubtedly become more mainstream, and various manufacturers are currently selling graphite shafts to the public. It seems the list of options, and the list of companies making graphite putter shafts, continues to grow.

With all that being said, I wanted to know what the putter shaft landscape looks like at the moment. What are the best players on the PGA Tour using? What are the top-ranked putters on the PGA Tour using?

Are we riding a wave of graphite putter shafts, or is this more of a permanent shift?

I’m considering this story as the baseline data pool for future reference, so that we can look back later to determine if the number of graphite putter shaft users is growing, or shrinking.

In this story, I tracked the top 25 golfers, as ranked by the Official World Golf Rankings, to see what putter shaft style they’re currently using. Then, I tracked the top 25 golfers, as ranked by the Strokes Gained: Putting category for the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season.

Below are the results, as of the 2023 ZOZO Championship.

I’ll see you again in 2024 to see if the numbers have changed.

Top 25 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Scottie Scheffler: Steel
Rory McIlroy: Steel (Black)
Jon Rahm: Steel
Viktor Hovland: Steel
Patrick Cantlay: Steel
Xander Schauffele: Steel (Black)
Matt Fitzpatrick: Steel
Max Homa: Steel
Brian Harman: Steel
Wyndham Clark: Steel
Tom Kim: Composite (LA Golf P135)
Tyrrell Hatton: Steel
Collin Morikawa: Composite (Mitsubishi Diamana 105-gram Prototype)
Jordan Spieth: Steel
Tommy Fleetwood: Steel
Cameron Young: Composite (UST Mamiya All In)
Keegan Bradley: Steel
Brooks Koepka: Steel
Cameron Smith: Steel
Sam Burns: Steel (Black)
Jason Day: Steel (Black)
Tony Finau: Steel
Sepp Straka: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab, all-steel, half-composite)
Rickie Fowler: Steel
Justin Thomas: Steel

Takeaways

Four (4) golfers from the Top-25 in the current OWGR are using a composite shaft
Four (4) of the 22 golfers who are using steel shafts are using steel shafts with a black finish
17 golfers in the top-25 in the OWGR are using silver steel shafts

Top 25 Strokes Gained: Putting

Maverick McNealy: Steel
Taylor Montgomery: Steel (Black)
Denny McCarthy: Steel
Harry Hall: Steel
Xander Schauffele: Steel (Black)
Max Homa: Steel
Tyrrell Hatton: Steel
Sam Burns: Steel (Black)
Justin Suh: Steel
Matthew Fitzpatrick: Steel
Andrew Putnam: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
Sam Ryder: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
Tommy Fleetwood: Steel
Brendon Todd: Steel
Sahith Theegala: Steel
Adam Scott: Composite (TPT Prototype)
Eric Cole: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
Harris English: Steel
Peter Malnati: Steel
Keegan Bradley: Steel
Brian Harman: Steel
Adam Hadwin: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
Alex Noren: Steel (Black)
Aaron Baddeley: Steel
Nicolai Hojgaard: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)

Takeaways

Six (6) of the top-25 putters use a composite putter shaft
Four (4) of the golfers who are using a steel shaft are using a steel shaft with a black finish
15 golfers in the top 25 of Strokes Gained: Putting are using a silver steel shaft

Conclusion

The PGA Tour is a great place to find out about the equipment that’s trending among the best players in the world.

Honestly, there were fewer top-25 players using graphite shafts than I would have guessed. But, there are definitely more graphite shafts being used among the top putters in the world than among the top players in the world. I’m not saying there’s a correlation, but there is a difference.

Either way, take this story as a nudge into experimentation. If some of the best players in the world are trying graphite putter shafts and putting them in play on the PGA Tour, then maybe it’s time you give one a try for yourself.

Next time you have the chance, ask your local professional fitter or teaching pro if you can give a new graphite putter shaft a test. Maybe it’s your answer. Or maybe not. The best way to know is to know.

Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

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.

Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

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”

Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

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