Equipment

What it’s really like inside the ropes at a PGA Tour event

Published

2 months ago

Mar 24, 2026

Editor’s note: Our Andrew Von Lossow got his first taste of life inside the ropes with a media credential at a PGA Tour event. He has assembled a few of his impressions below.

Ready for Launch in Houston

Monday morning was relatively slow as players filtered in for the new week. However, there was a special launch in the space city. Titleist unveiled its new GTS line of drivers for tour testing. The GTS 2, GTS 3, and GTS 4 models were all ready for player testing on the range. The Titleist team was on the range with players as well, gathering feedback on launch, mishit spin rate, and overall ball speed. Early indications from the small sample size I saw were that players really liked the spin numbers with their traditional mishits. It will be interesting to see how many put the driver in play this week for tournament play.

Monitoring on the Green

Seen on the forums in recent weeks, a new putting device has been installed on the practice green. It is from the company Grasp Technology; this machine measures speed, line, and impact location. This makes for fine-tuning the putting stroke to the degree with the multiple lasers and cameras on the machine. The machine reads players’ tendencies for their putting stroke.

Adjustments are made to the player’s stroke when there are major differences for each stroke or a predominant miss. For example, if a player lines up seven degrees open and always hits their mark, their “zero” point is seven degrees. Putting is an art form, but this level of technology helps determine what part of the player’s style is and what adjustments can be made to be more consistent.

Putting Around

Seeing the array of putters is really another game within a game in the tour setting. The variety is astonishing in person to a newcomer, but nothing out of the ordinary for the experienced on tour. You predominantly see certain styles on television during the week, but there is another world that awaits inside the gates of the practice green. Countless finishes, styles, lengths, and grips. You see some putters that would be a perfect addition to your collection, and you see some other putters you think you could play in the Saturday game.

A fair number of blades are on display for players to try, but the choices are fairly dominated by mallets. What was once experimental designs with a blade foundation has moved to more prototype-looking mallets. What it comes down to is the hundreds of options for the tour player. When good golf is played with simplicity, all of the options are there to make it as simple or complex as you would like.

Fairway Wood Talk

In addition to drivers, Titleist GTS fairway metals have made their way into a few bags for on-course testing. The player feedback on the driver performance was intriguing, prompting players to give fairway woods a try as well. These fairways have a low profile and a stainless steel face, unlike previous versions. The stainless steel look gives the player a bit more loft at address, while still maintaining a traditional and strong appearance.

The Vibe

It was cool to see the rhythm of the week kick off on Monday. Not a completely packed house with the full field arriving on the property by tomorrow afternoon. Players are coming in from the Valspar, and some were already in town. Players went through their drills and routine on the practice green, and then warmed up and did light practice on the driving range.

I saw a few players being fitted for new drivers and some putters. One player on the range was trying a new driver. The player and manufacturer narrowed it down to 2 different head styles and 5 different shafts. From there, they fine-tuned the launch monitor using the best combinations. As the week goes on, with a couple more holes left to play in the practice round, the decision for the gamer can be made.

As with putters, once a player found a style he liked from the staff bags, he had one made to his specifications by the end of the day and went through his drills and routine. It was the feel of a tournament week in the air, but the professionals know it is about pacing yourself on another week on tour. It is a marathon, not a sprint, after all.

Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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