Equipment
New Callaway Opus, Opus Platinum wedges announced
We spotted Callaway’s new Opus wedges on the PGA Tour in May. The design, however, in its “S6” incarnation, has been present in pros bags for much longer, game by the likes of Jon Rahm, Yuka Saso, and Xander Schauffele.
Today, Callaway is officially announcing the retail launch of its Opus and Opus Platinum wedges and pulling back the curtain on the most tour-tested, tour-validated wedge in company history in the process.
2024 Callaway Opus wedges: What’s new, key technology
Spin Gen Face Technology
Callaway engineers combine three elements for what they’re calling “Spin Gen Face Technology.” More grooves are present on the face thanks to decreasing the distance between each groove. As with previous designs, engineers also leverage offset groove-in-groove design for more spin, particularly on open-face shots. Finally, the face has been aggressively blasted with quartz to create additional roughness. The sum total of all these elements? More spin, particularly from the rough and in wet conditions, as well as lower launch.
Tour feedback
As a result of extensive testing and input from tour professionals, Opus wedges feature a higher toe peak, refined leading edge radius, and smooth hosel transition for what the company calls its “best wedge shape ever.” Owing to professional input, Callaway offers Opus wedges with a full range of grinds.
2024 Callaway Opus wedges: Additional model details
Opus Platinum wedges
In addition to the standard Opus wedge, Callaway is also unveiling premium MiM (metal injection molded) Opus Platinum wedges. The wedges feature 17 grams of tungsten bonded high in the topline of the club for lower launch with more spin as well as a proprietary blend of metals in the body of the club for optimum feel and performance.
What Callaway says
On the name…Paul Winterhalter – Product Manager: There is an art to the game, and we really felt this quote summarized what this product really meant: where the art meets science. So, with that, introducing the new name for our franchise of wedges is Opus. In general, the name has an air of elegance to it. There’s a sense of beauty, and especially as you look at the product and we get these in your hands, you’ll see that there really is just a new look, just a beautiful sense to them. They’re quite elegant…for us, there was a ton of time and effort put into this product, and we really felt that the product was befitting of the name Opus.
On the different design mentality…Brian Herr – R&D Manager, Wedges: “We started with a different mentality this time. We didn’t design a wedge and then bring it out and see what they thought. We started from the ground up, we started with shaping. We had multiple different shapes that we brought out and showed, we got their feedback, we iterated, we got their feedback, we iterated again. So, we really let the Tour players design this product to a shape they wanted. And then after we got a shape that we loved, we started on the sole grind. So, there’s notes here all over of what Dean tested and what he built and how he went about making products for players and getting their feedback. But really, it was 18 months in the making of going and testing and then iterating and then going back out, getting as many players as feedback as we could and helping them to have them help us design it.”
On the available grinds…Paul Winterhalter: “Looking at the grind offerings, as wedges go, this is crucial for us. On the right-hand side, we have the S and W grinds where we do the lion’s share of sales. The S is our standard everyday grind with a standard sole, while the W has a wider, more forgiving full sole…We also wanted to create a product that’s a better fit for better players, so we introduced the T grind, which is new, and the C grind.
Brian Herr: The T grind is narrow and sits low to the ground, incredible for open-faced shots, particularly for players who pick the ball cleanly without taking a divot. On the other hand, the C grind is a departure from what we’ve done before, designed to keep the leading edge low when opening the face, suitable for versatile shot-making from various lies. The wider sole in the C grind provides better feedback through the turf compared to the T grind. Both grinds cater to skilled players who want to make any shot around the green.
On the Opus Platinum wedge design…Paul Winterhalter: The Opus Platinum looks super premium with MIM (Metal Injection Molding) lines in the back and elevated curb appeal. As a quick elevator pitch, we have the Spin Gen face technology as with Opus and Tour-validated shaping so those are kind of baked into the product. But what we’re doing to take it up another level is that trajectory control using tungsten. And then that unique MIM construction. We’ve talked about this already but through a large amount of tungsten being bonded into that topline to help the CG placement…and the next piece of that is the Metal Injection Molding – it’s not caste, it’s not forged, it’s kind of something new for us.
Brian Herr: MiM is a different way to manufacture, it’s more precise, and it also provides better feel. We’ve done extensive testing on MIM versus other manufacturing methods. MIM dampens better than other materials even the same material in different methods. MIM is a better dampener, so you’re going to notice a premium good, soft feel.
Pricing, specs, and availability
- Price: Opus ($179.99), Opus Plantium ($229.99)
- Pre-sale: 7/19
- At retail: 7/26
- Opus finishes: Brushed chrome, black shadow
- Opus Platinum finishes: Blue, chrome
- Stock shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold MID 115 grams (steel), UST Recoil DART HDC 65 grams (graphite)
- Stock grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet +2 Gray
Full Callaway Opus specs
Callaway Opus
Callaway Opus Platinum
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Shane Lowry’s winning WITB, 2019 Open Championship
A surprise winner bolted ahead of the pack in 2019 at Royal Portrush. Entering the tournament on the heels of four missed cuts, all Irishman Shane Lowry did was better his nearest competitor (Tommy Fleetwood) by six strokes at the first Open in Northern Ireland in 68 years.
Here’s what Lowry had in the bag for his absolutely clinical drubbing of the field on the County Antrim coast five years ago.
Driver: Srixon Z 585 (9.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 X (45.25 inches, tipped .75 inch, D3 swing weight)
3-wood: TaylorMade M4 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZU85 [2 (18 degrees), 3 (20 degrees bent to 21)] Buy here, Srixon Z585 [4 (23 degrees], 5 (26 degrees)] Buy here, Srixon Z785 (6-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid TX (2), KBS Tour 130 X (3-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 (50 @51, 58) Buy here.
Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Exo 2-Ball Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion Pistol GT 1.0 (custom shamrock)
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R (logo down)
See more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s 2019 WITB here.
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Equipment
Scotty Cameron unveils new B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters
Titleist has today announced the launch of its new Scotty Cameron B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters, a special run of classic, playable blade designs crafted in a Tour Black finish.
Inspired by convertible car culture – where a black paintjob, black interior and black soft top signifies a “triple black” color combination – these special release putters feature four of Scotty’s most popular blade configurations, revisited with his own “triple black” design format: a black finish, black shaft, and black grip.
In select Titleist golf shops worldwide beginning Friday, July 26th, the new B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters will be offered in four models: the Newport 2 (available in right-hand and left-hand), Newport 2 Long Neck, Santa Fe and Catalina. The lineup blends classic setups with modern head shapes and tour-inspired dual-milled face technology.
“Our Triple Black putters have always been a popular option on Tour with players who not only like a stealthy, cool-looking design, but also want an extra solution for reducing sun glare. We created the B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters to give dedicated golfers that tour-quality experience in four classic configurations.” – Scotty Cameron
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Whats in the Bag
Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB accurate as of The Open Championship. Per TaylorMade, Woods has swapped his TaylorMade M3 5-wood for the P770 2-iron he had in the bag at the U.S. Open. The 15-time major champion has also added a healthy amount of lead tape to the cavity of his putter.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees @18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: 2023 TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (3-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 Raw (56-12TW Proto, 60-TW11 Proto)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (2024)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
More Tiger Woods WITBs
- Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (November)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (December) (new in-hand photos)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB at the 2022 PGA Championship (with a new 2-iron!)
- Tiger Woods WITB: 2022 Masters
- Tiger Woods WITB 2021 PNC Championship (new in-hand photos)
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Tom
Jul 16, 2024 at 4:42 pm
$230 for a wedge forget that. If their build quality hasnt gotten any better I wont get near that club. As far as the premium price I hope they dont sell a single one so they are forced to bring the price back down. $179 is too much but $230 better buy me a wedge made of gold that swings itself.
stephen
Jul 16, 2024 at 8:35 pm
You are not a real golfer keep hitting your Walmart clubs