Make sure to check out the full podcast review at the links below and search GolfWRX Radio on every podcast platform.

I was a big fan of the previous Tour MIM irons and played them in rotation throughout the last two years. Out of the box, I was impressed with the more simple and clean look of the badging on the new King Tour. Badging is mostly silver with just small black accents that should appeal to even the pickiest golfers. I didn’t notice the shorter blade length in the new irons but did notice that the leading edge is just slightly more rounded. Topline is thin, but not razor thin, but still has enough there to give you the confidence that you don’t have to hit it on the dead center every shot.

Feel is solid and soft with just a slight click to the thud on well struck shots while mishits are met with a little more sound and vibration to the hands.

These King Tour irons are built to be cannons and place more emphasis on consistent and precise shots. I also felt like the new irons launch easily and maybe a touch higher than some irons in the same category.

My launch monitor showed my 7 iron with an average launch angle of 22 degrees and spin right around 5,800 with a Project X LZ 6.0 stock shaft. Ball speed isn’t the ultimate focus of this iron but it did well with an average around 108mph and the iron was able to keep the speed up well when you didn’t strike the center. You will still see a drop off in speed and distance when you miss the center, but you don’t have to be Navy SEAL sniper accurate on the face to achieve a good shot. Dispersion was very tight, and while there are bigger irons with more forgiveness, this players cavity still allows good playability when you aren’t bringing your A-plus game to the course.

Cobra lists the King Tour as an iron for a Tour level player up to a 7 handicap and I think this iron could see the bags of more golfers than that. I am a 9.4 handicap, and I felt more than comfortable playing this iron even on less than perfect days.

Like last year there are three flavors to cover every driver need: Stealth 2, Stealth 2 Plus, and the Stealth 2 HD.

For a more detailed review, please take a listen to the Club Junkie below or on any podcast platform. Just search GolfWRX Radio.

Stealth 2 Plus

I typically like the bigger and more forgiving drivers, but this ended up being the one I hit the best. My miss is a low-left hook that comes from some swing flaws, and it was a shot I saw too many times with last year’s Stealth. My first time on the range, I noticed that shot would actually launch a little higher, stay in the air better, and not go as hard left.

The Plus might be the lowest-launching of the three, but it is still easy to elevate off the tee and produces flat, boring drives. I averaged a launch of 11.1 degrees in a 10.5-degree head with a Fujikura Ventus TR Red shaft. Spin was also the lowest and averaged 2,874 RPM, but the bigger part of that number is how the spin variation from center strikes to off center is very low. Only a few hundred RPM separated the highest and lowest spinning shots.

The Plus also offered the least draw out of the group with a very straight ball flight and even a few shots that went a hair to the right.

Stealth 2

This the bread-and-butter driver option offering hefty amounts of forgiveness and is easy to launch while offering low spin. This is the model that should launch and spin in-between the other two, but it actually ended up being the lowest launching for me. It wasn’t by much, but I had an average launch of 10.2 degrees with a 10.5-degree head and the same shaft as the Stealth 2 Plus. The spin was a little higher but only by a very small margin, as I averaged 2,917 RPMs.

For most players the nice thing about the Stealth 2 is that it seems a little easier to square up and turn over at impact. I saw a little more draw in the shots and the starting line was more straight to just slightly left. Like the Plus, I was pleased with the face that my miss off the high toe launched a little higher and stayed in the air a bit longer for a more playable shot.

Stealth 2 HD

I was actually the most excited to try this head because of how it looks. Most higher launching, draw-bias drivers sit very closed, and I don’t love that look. First time I set the HD down I was impressed that it looked square and a little larger, mostly from the visible red Carbon Composite Ring around the back. The HD also has a slightly shorter hosel that makes the driver play 1/4 inch shorter than the other two.

The HD did launch the highest at 11.5 degrees and spun the most, 3,105 RPM, out of the three Stealth 2 models. Those numbers still don’t sound like a high launching, spinny driver to me. The HD was the easiest of the Stealth models to turn over and really took away any shots to the right and any fade that I could have hit with the Plus. Off-center hits held up with solid ball speed and the added forgiveness in the head kept most shots online.

TaylorMade’s Stealth 2 line of drivers mixes distance with added forgiveness this year to really help golfers of all levels. Each model can cover a wide array of golfer abilities and the better players will still like the confident look from address. If you are looking to add a new driver to your bag this year, the Stealth 2 line is worth swinging.

Star Line: Mizar Tour

The Mizar Tour is a compact players distance iron that is packed with technology. Wheres a lot of multi-piece irons just have a forged face, the entire body of the Mizar Tour is forged from S25c steel. The face is crafted from a high strength maraging steel and only 3.5mm thick for added ball speed.

Out of the box, the Mizar Tour look good with a lightly satin chrome finish and small black badge in the cavity. The irons look compact, with a thin sole, and you would not think it is made from multiple pieces. If you are a fan of less offset, the Mizar Tour is going to fit your eye really well as even the long irons have almost none. These irons might have the lest amount of offset I have seen in a retail iron that isn’t a blade. The shape is a little softer and more rounded than the VDC irons.

Hitting balls with the Mizar Tour is really pleasant, and as you would think, you get a very soft feel upon impact. Even off center shots have a good feel to them but with a little added vibration for feedback. The ball flight is mid/high and the irons are easy to launch off the turf. The long irons, like the 4, are a little intimidating because of the compact look and almost no offset. The longer irons are still pretty easy to launch and much more playable than you would expect.

The nice thing about the Mizar Tour is that when you miss that thin face allows you to still get minimal drop off in distance. Shots also stayed online better than I expected with these irons. Heel strikes and shots low on the face carried very well and online where you noticed a little more distance loss when you struck the ball on the toe. I love the players distance irons that allow players like myself to play a more compact iron without sacrificing performance.

Classic Line: VDC

The VDC shows off its fantastic milling work on the back side with dual cavities that allow Vega to adjust the CG higher on the irons for the perfect players cavity set. The irons look great with a slightly more square toe and edgier look to them than the Mizar line. The blade length is a little longer from heel to toe while still giving a traditional compact look. Faces on all the irons are micro-milled as well for precision shots and distance control. The sole is narrow and has a pre-worn leading edge for improved turf interaction. These irons again have very little offset, with maybe just a hair more than the Mizar set. Overall the shape is very proportionate and discerning players should be confident standing over them.

Feel on the VDC irons is wildly soft, making two-piece range balls feel soft. Shots struck in the center are met with a solid “thud” sound and that feeling of did you even make contact with the ball. While the face didn’t give you the sense of ball exploding off the face, the VDC provided solid distance and an ability to work the ball in any direction. The ball flight was more mid launching with a noticeably flatter trajectory than the Mizar.

If you are a player that likes to shape shots, the VDC will allow you to not only go right and left, but also allow you to pick your trajectory and really dial in those touch shots. The VDC is a little more demanding when it comes to forgiveness, and you will notice more of a distance drop off when you get away from the center of the face. The shots hit near the heel kept that solid and soft feel where the shots out on the toe and low are met with a little added vibration and click. Nothing is harsh, even in the cold weather I was hitting in and that responsiveness should help those feel players.

The VDC is a high-end players cavity iron set that offers great, soft feel that you would expect with precision shot making.

Overall, the Vega line of irons are high performance and great feeling. You can go down the Classic Line for traditional shapes and buttery soft feel or take the Star Line for technology packed irons with added firepower. Either way you go, there is probably a Vega iron that fits your game.

Mizuno’s RB Tour and RB Tour X golf balls are both three-piece, urethane cover, golf balls that are designed for skilled players looking for precision. The RB Tour launches lower and produces less spin with driver, while the RB Tour X does the opposite and has a slightly firmer feel. Both have a glossy white finish and smaller logos and markings that should appeal to discriminating players.

For more details on the Mizuno RB Tour golf balls. make sure to check out the Club Junkie podcast below, or on any podcast platform. Just search “GolfWRX Radio.”

RB Tour

The RB Tour is the ball that is designed for players looking for a flatter launch, lower spin, but who still want to have a lot of green side control. Out on the course, I easily noticed that shots off the tee started out in a lower window and had a very flat trajectory. The RB Tour did offer a straighter flight with less curvature to my draw and hook while offering a soft and solid feel. Distance was good with the ball but I think the combination of lower launch and spin took a few yards from me compared to the RB Tour X.

With irons and wedges, I noticed less of a difference in launch, and I was easily able to launch the RB Tour high, and it landed softly on the green, when I hit them. Wedge shots carried a lot of spin and a fairway lie would often result in a ball that had very minimal release. I am not one to zip balls back off the green but felt like the small amount of release on the green was consistent and predictable. Shots out of the rough had a little more release after they hit the green, but again the amount was easily judged and only took a few shots to get used to.

The feel on the RB Tour is soft and solid with minimal audible click at impact. RB Tour is a soft ball, but not so soft that you lack feedback. Feel off the putter or wedge is pleasant, and you know immediately where you struck the shot.

RB Tour X

This ball fit my game a little better with the higher launch and added spin on tee shots. Driver launch was clearly higher that the RB Tour and hit my preferred trajectory. The added spin seemed to help my shots stay in the air a little longer and carry just a bit further than the RB Tour.

Like I said before, the iron launch seemed to be very similar, and the RB Tour X was easy to get up in the air from the turf and land softly on the green. The higher flight and aded spin aided in distance control on the green where there was very minimal roll out. Shots from the fairway checked up immediately while shots from the rough rolled out a shorter distance than the RB Tour.

Around the green, I felt like the RB Tour X checked up just a little bit faster for me. The shorter chip and pitch shots had a little more grab on the first hop and less roll after that. Opening the face to hit higher lofted shots resulted in soft landing ball that again wanted to stop pretty quickly. Putting with the RB Tour X yielded a slightly firmer feel, but not wildly firmer than the RB Tour.

If you weren’t really paying attention, or using a soft insert putter, I think some golfers couldn’t tell the difference between the two. The roll is good and you get a slightly more audible click at impact that can be more responsive when you miss the center of the face.

Overall, I think the new Mizuno RB Tour golf balls are solid tour-level golf balls that offer good performance. If you are looking for a new golf ball this year, I think trying the new options from Mizuno out on the course would be worth your time.

The Watch5 Golf Edition is a full function smartwatch that you can wear every day and use for everything from golf to checking your text messages. For more details on the Golf Edition made sure to check out the Club Junkie podcast below, or on any podcast platform. Just search GolfWRX Radio.

Samsung’s Watch5 Pro Golf Edition has a pretty large 45mm case that is made from titanium for reduced weight without sacrificing any durability. The titanium case is finished in a matte black and has two pushers on the right side to help with navigating the pretty extensive menu options. The case measures about 52mm from lug to lug and stands about 14mm tall, so the fit on smaller wrists could be an issue. I did notice that when wearing a few layers on colder days the extra height did have me adjusting my sleeves to ensure I could swing freely.

The sapphire crystal display is 1.4 inches in diameter, so it should be very scratch resistant, and is protected by a raised titanium bezel. The Super AMOLED display has a 450 x 450 resolution with 321ppi density for clear, crisp graphics. Inside the watch is a dual-core 1.18Ghz Cortex-A55 CPU, 16GB + 1.5GB RAM, and a Mali-G68 GPU to ensure your apps run quickly and efficiently.

I do like that the Watch5 Pro Golf Edition’s white and black rubber strap has a quick release system so you can change it out to match or contrast an outfit. The Golf Edition strap is very supple and conforms to your wrist well, holding it in place during multiple swings.

Out on the course the Watch5 Pro golf Edition is comfortable on the wrist and light enough, ~46g, where it isn’t very noticeable. I don’t usually wear a watch on the course, and it only took a few holes to get used to having it on my left wrist. Wearing a glove on the same hand as the watch doesn’t really change much, depending on the glove. If you have a model that goes a little higher on the wrist you could feel the watch and leather bunch a little bit. Some of my Kirkland Signature gloves would run into the watch case while I didn’t have an issue with my Titleist or Callaway models.

The screen is great in direct sunlight and is just as easy to read in overcast or twilight rounds. The images of holes and text for distances is crisp and has a bright contrast agains the black background. The Watch5 Pro Golf Edition comes with a lifetime membership to Smart Caddie for your use on the course. Smart Caddie was developed by Golfbuddy, who has been making rangefinders and GPS units for years. I didn’t sign up for the Smart Caddie app as I did not buy the watch and have logins for multiple GPS and tracking apps. Smart Caddie looks to be extremely extensive, offering a ton of options beyond just GPS and it is one that works seamlessly with the Galaxy watches.

I ended up using The Grint as it was an app I have used in the past and was already signed up for. Getting to the app to start a round was very simple, needing one swipe up and one tap to start The Grint app. The screen is very smooth and records each swipe and tap with zero issues. I never felt like I was tapping or swiping without the Watch5 Pro acknowledging those movements and navigating the menu as I desired. The GPS worked flawlessly and the distances were accurate and consistent. With The Grint’s app you did have to keep the phone in your pocket or in the cart close enough for the Bluetooth connection. For most that is’t a big deal and the only time I noticed it was when I used my electric cart and drove it well in front of me down the fairway.

Overall the Samsung Watch5 Pro Golf Edition is a great option for golfers who want one device for everyday wear and use on the course. The Watch5 Pro Golf Edition still has all the fitness and health options as well as being able to  connect to your email, text messages, and social media apps. With the Watch5 Pro Golf Edition you won’t have to worry about buying a device just for golf or forgetting to bring your GPS to the course.

• RELATED: Ping i230, iCrossover irons: Everything you need to know

The i230 irons are engineered for distance control and tight dispersion for aspiring golfers. They aren’t as demanding as the Blueprint or i59 but offer a lower flight and more workability compared to the G425. This class of irons that the i210 is in fits my game as a barely single digit handicap who is looking for some forgiveness in a smaller package.

Out of the box the i210 looks great. The look from the back is sleek and if you didn’t look closely wouldn’t even notice the badge in the cavity. That badge is matching silver and has just a couple subtle lines in it, almost giving the look of a smaller players cavity back. The head size is a little larger than a Titleist T100s or a PXG 0311T but still looks good because Ping kept everything in proportion. The blade length is a little longer but you don’t notice it much with the slightly thicker topline and small amount of offset. To me the i230 looks like a players club that also gives you the confidence that you don’t have to strike the dead center in order to hit a solid shot.

Ping added a large elastomer insert behind the badge to dial in the sound and feel of the i230 irons and that technology seems to work. The feel is solid and responsive while still be a little firmer at impact. You can hear a little click as the club connects with the ball, but the vibration that gets to your hands in minimal and far from harsh. Responsiveness is really good and you get ample feed back on how good, or not so good, your contact on the face was.

Well struck shots launch pretty easily into the air and fly with a flat apex towards your target. My expectations for the i230 were that they would be low launch and spin, but they were much more playable than that. The i230 launched almost 2 degrees higher than my PXG 0311T Gen5 irons that I have been gaming most of this year. The overall apex was also lower and flatter with the i230 cruising at 76.7 feet above the grass compared to 82.8 feet for the PXG. The i230 were very forgiving and dispersion was very tight. I felt like there was a little less left in my misses and the ball started out on a straighter path.

If I brought a terrible swing I could still get the ball to go left, but on good and decent swings shots stayed online and at the target. My miss recently has been out on the toe and the ball speed and height on shots out there were very playable. Shots that were low on the face didn’t get up as high and as fast as some other irons, but still carried a decent amount and total distance would have depended on the roll.

Ping doesn’t really jump up and down to say that the i230 are wildly long but they added about 2 yards compared to my gamer irons. They also spun about 300 RPM more than the 0311T irons but still produced a really boring trajectory, even into a pretty strong wind. There was no rise or ballooning of any sort, even with shots that had some fade to them.

Overall the new Ping i230 irons are really good and we should see them in a lot of bags. The lower launch, distance control, and forgiveness will open these up to a wide range of players and provide excellent performance.

And don’t forget to check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

The Raijin 2.0 is a new shaft with plenty of updates, but keeps the original Raijin DNA intact. The profile on the 2.0 stays the same as the original with a firm handle section and stiff mid and tip. The torque rating is slightly lower on the new 2.0 and they are both mid-high launching shafts. Graphics have always been something that VA has knocked out of park and the matte finish on the Raijin 2.0 is pretty cool to look at.

I was hitting the 2.0 in my Titleist TSR2 driver and was really impressed with the shaft. I think it feels a touch more stout than the original but keeps the expected smooth feel. The launch was a touch lower and had a flatter flight than the original Raijin and I would slate it as a mid/high launch for me. In the TSR2 I had an average launch of 12.4 degrees, and that was very close to the shaft I have been gaming. The flight was pretty flat and boring with no rise to the shots, even if they were a small fade.

The Raijin 2.0 has a great kick at impact and is easy to square up without having to worry about hitting a big hook. Shots missed off the toe and heel stayed online really well and had very little curve to them. I could easily see that shots struck low heel tended to go right, but without that fade curve to them.

The hybrid Raijin 2.0 was very similar in the Tour Edge Exotics C722 head. The ball was easy to launch off the deck and provided a very straight ball. Even shots struck low on the face, my miss with hybrid, the ball was still able to get in the air a good amount and add some carry. Well struck shots flew high and landed very soft. Using it off the tee was great but I didn’t get much roll, if any, off the fairway. Again the Raijin 2.0 offered very good stability on miss hits and kept the ball online consistently. The shaft was easy to square up at impact but didn’t add any left bias to the hybrid.

Overall I was really impressed with the new VA Composites Raijin 2.0 and think it is a solid upgrade. Victor and his team didn’t take anything away from the original profile and gave us a little tighter and lower launching version. Check out vashafts.com for more info on the Raijin 2.0.

To hear the full review on the Raijin 2.0 driver and hybrid shaft check the podcast links below or search GolfWRX Radio on your preferred podcast app.

The new PXG 0211 driver has a price that is utterly shocking, $219 as of writing this review. I took the driver and 7-wood out to the range to compare to my 0311 XF Gen5 flagship woods and wasn’t expecting much of a comparison. I think the looks on the 0211 are pretty clean and simple with the satin black paint, silver line around the perimeter, and silver X alignment aid. The shape has the full PXG DNA with the rounded back but it does have a little deeper face than the 0311 XF.

For a 12-degree head, yes I need a little loft, you don’t see as much of the face as you think you would. I think the dark crown blends very well with the black face and you don’t feel like you are hitting a driver with such high loft. The sound is great and I actually prefer it over the 0311 XF. A more muted and lower pitched sound comes at impact, less of the ting you get from the 0311 XF. Now the face is responsive and you can tell when you miss the center of the face, but the 0311 XF does let you feel the ball compress a little more as it contacts the face.

The launch of the 0211 is higher than the 0311 XF and you notice it right away when you watch the flight. My launch monitor showed an increase of 1.3 degrees compared to the same lofted and shafted 0311 XF driver and I think that is a conservative number. The first two shots with the 0311 XF were high and right, but hit well so I didn’t delete them as outliers. If those two shots were removed I think I would have seen closer to 2 degrees of launch difference. Dispersion is very tight and the 0211 was very forgiving on mishits. The 0211 hits a very straight ball but I can see a little more left bias in it compared to the 0311 XF.

Now to be fair my 0311 XF has movable weights that are set out in the toe for maximum fade but both drivers are set to the -1 degrees of loft and flat setting on the hosel. The 0211 didn’t hit big draws but the starting line of the shots were a little more left. The 0211 was pretty low spin as well and only a few hundred RPM more than the 0311 XF while the ball speed difference was only about .5mph difference in favor of the 0211.

The 7 wood was a lot of the same that I saw in the driver. Launch was effortless and higher than the 0311 XF, but to be fair my 0311 XF 7 wood does have a heavier and stiffer shaft in it. Now the interesting thing is the loft on the 0211 7 wood is 21 degrees and my 0311 XF gamer is a 22-degree head that I have turned down 1* and set flat. There is no adjustable hosel in the 0211 but even without lowering the loft the head looks to set square when you put it down on the turf. Just like the driver, the 0211 ball flight had a little more left in it and shots started off more left with a little draw to them.

The launch was about 1.5 degrees more with the 0211 and again very noticeable when watching the ball sail down the range. Ball speed was actually a little faster with the 0211, by about 1.5mph and spin about 250RPM more compared to the 0311 XF. Now I still hit the gamer 0311 XF a little farther but I think a lot of that comes down to hitting it a little lower and flatter. If you are thinking about trying a 7-wood the $169 price makes it a much easier decision without having to search for a much older model.

Overall the performance of the PXG 0211 woods is really darn good, even if you don’t consider the price. I think this line of woods will compete with many of the larger or more flagship models from any brand. You can add a driver, fairway, and hybrid to your bag and still be under the price of the big drivers on the market. PXG definitely didn’t skimp on the performance when they designed these woods and golfers are only going to benefit from the value.

Sean discussed how his Michigan-based company started out as a hobby and he was just coming up with the designs. He would then send those designs off to a manufacturer and they would actually create the physical cover. This didn’t last long as his supplier stopped taking orders as small as his. So Sean did what anyone would have, he bought all of the equipment and a warehouse to produce his own Hatch accessories. Hatch is now a full time career and he even has his brother-in-law working with him full time as well to produce new products. 

If you are not familiar with Hatch Golf’s headcovers, then you should really head over to their website or social media pages to check out their work. The covers are highly embroidered and contain a massive amount of detail. I asked about using other materials like rubber or leather patches in his designs, and Sean was quick to explain how anything you put on a headcover has to withstand the everyday use and abuse. Tossing bags from the trunk to the cart and the sun’s UV rays take their toll on headcovers. Hatch uses tried and true materials, like marine grade fabrics, to ensure that the cool designs will last for years in the bag or displayed indoors. 

Sean let me in on the fact that he has a “short list” of about a thousand or more ideas for his future covers. He takes inspiration from just about anything and has desire to create a run of covers that look like the car graphics from the original Fast and Furious movie. But cars are just one muse as pop culture and hottest social media trends will influence and inspire designs. Some releases are a little less spontaneous, like covers based on majors or holidays. He is extremely excited for this Halloween as Hatch is releasing multiple covers over a few days. These releases are very limited, only 20-50 pieces of each blade or mallet, and for a few reasons. Hatch would rather have a bunch of designs and options available instead of just making 250 or 500 of just one design. This way customers have more options to choose from and if one doesn’t really excite them, then maybe another will. The short runs also make the covers more collectable and loved by the ones who do get their hands on them. Sean explained how they will never re-run a cover design, once they are done they are done.

Hatch has been growing and we are seeing more and more of the covers on social as well as out in the wild. Sean says it is still very strange to see a golfer with one of his products in the bag and meet golfers who are fans of Hatch’s work. The Hatch team has even done a few events where fans and collectors meet up, show off their gear, and play some golf! These events are humbling to Sean and his team as they never really expected to have such loyal fans who enjoy showing off their collections. At one event a collector was changing out head covers on almost every hole so he could use a display them all. Experiences like that just reinforce that Hatch should stay true to what they do and keeping the customer experience first. 

I find it pretty awesome that a company like Hatch Golf is local to me and doing some amazing work. Sean seems to truly love what he does and love the game of golf. I even asked him about a little WITB and he got into a little of what he plays when he is out on the course. If you are into the headcover and accessory side of golf, it is worth checking out Hatch Golf.

The new ZNE (pronounced zone) shaft is a multi-piece shaft that combines graphite, aluminum, and steel. All these pieces come together in order to add stability and consistency to wedge shots. BGT offers the ZNE shafts in three different weights (90, 115, and 130 grams), so you can match up your wedge shafts to your irons. Make sure to listen to the full review on the Club Junkie podcast below or on any podcast platform.

Out on the course, the Breakthrough Golf ZNE wedge shafts offer just a different feel than traditional steel. The really stout shaft gives you the feeling that you know exactly where the wedge head is throughout the whole swing. The feeling is very controlled wether you are hitting a full swing gap wedge or a short pitch shot from just off the green. The ZNE provides a little softer feel, with less vibration, from the multi piece construction. You will still know when you hit a solid shot or if you missed the center, but the overall vibration will be muted.

Consistency is the word when it comes to the ZNE shafts. I installed the 115 in my 50-degree gap wedge and the first shots on the range were within such a tight window. I was hitting at a “green” out on that range and out of 10 balls, I don’t think one would have missed. Every shot was exactly the same and had very little right or left curvature to them. I am a player who hits a draw and that shape was massively minimized to a straight shot. At first I chalked it up as the honeymoon phase but when taking the ZNE to the course it was more of the same. I am a player who can easily miss greens from just about any yardage but out on the course I probably hit more greens from 110 yards and in than I have in awhile.

Launch is a little higher than my Nippon Modus 125 Wedge shafts that I have been using for the past 2 years on full shots. Spin is high and every full shot from the fairway will hit and spin back a little for me. Shots out of the rough a very predictable and land with a controlled amount of release. 

I went with the heavier ZNE 130 in my 56-degree wedge and could actually notice a little weight difference from my previous wedge shaft. Building the sand wedge with the ZNE was super easy and BGT has the balance perfect as I didn’t need any tip weights or tricks, the wedge came out to stock D4 swing weight at standard length. On the range, I noticed the same thing as the gap wedge with the ZNE 115, The ball just went exactly where I swung it. During the swing, you again feel like the shaft is directly connected with your hands and you know right where the face is. I rarely every take full swings with my sand wedge and on partial shots you can again see the consistency and stability of the ZNE shaft.

Shorter, high lofted shots are easy to pull off and I seemed to feel the use of the wedge bounce slightly more. Center contact seemed to be more consistent for me on those tough, for me, 30-50 yard pitch shots. I found my contact was closer to center and less out towards the toe for every shot I was hitting. Bunker play was still easy and you didn’t have to change anything about your swing to splash the ball out of the sand. Spin with the shorter shots was very predictable and the ball checked up well from tight lies. 

Overall, the Breakthrough Golf ZNE shafts impressed me more than I thought they would. I found them to be consistent, stable, and offer solid feel around the green. I love seeing technology be put into more than just driver shafts and think that we are at the very beginning of some great advancements for wedge and putter performance.

Driver: Titleist TSR2 10.0* (ALLFIT Set Standard) 

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6x

I got the Titleist TSR2 about a month ago and have found it to just be really consistent. The added stability and forgiveness of the TSR2 has really shown up on the course and I have hit more fairways since receiving it. An upgraded ATI425 titanium face retains ball speed when I (frequently) miss the center of the face, keeping my drives further out in the fairway than they should be. The Fujikura Ventus TR Red adds a little higher launch than the Project X HZRDUS Black Gen 4 but I feel a little more control with the TR’s beefed up handle section. Overall the TSR2 just keeps me in play more often and gives me more chances to hit greens in regulation.

Runner Up: TaylorMade Stealth Plus 10.5* / Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6x

Fairway: Titleist TSR2 15* (Set D1)

Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black Gen 4 70g 6.0

I have been on the three wood search for a couple of years now after retiring my trusty Callaway XR16. Titleist’s TSR2 has been the most consistent and solid three wood that I have played with this year for my game. My fitter set the TSR2 at D1 (-.75* loft) for a little more distance and flatter flight off the tee, but I am still able to elevate the club off the turf with no problem. This club is still used 90% of the time off the tee, but it is nice to have some confidence in the fact I can hit it into a long par 5 if needed. This hasn’t hit “magic” status yet but it is working its way up!

Runner Up: Callaway Rogue ST LS 15* (Set -1/N) / Fujikura Ventus TR Red 7x

Fairway: PXG 0311 XF Gen5 7w (22* Set -1 and flat)

Shaft: Nippon Regio Formula MB+ 75x

As I have said many times this year, I haven’t played a 7 wood since I was a kid! I have been very impressed with this 0311 XF and how easy it is to hit and how high I can hit it. I am not a player who hits a high ball and anything at the top end of the bag is really hard to get onto a green. I have played a lot of hybrids and they have been OK, but the 7 wood has been far better. The XF launches super high, but still hits the yardage I need it to, and stops with much more control on the green. I do lose a little roll off the tee compared to a hybrid but overall the 7 wood has just been a nice surprise.

Runner Up: Cobra King Tech 19* (Set Standard) / Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8x

Utility Iron: Tour Edge C722 Ti-Utility 4 (22*)

Shaft: KBS PGI 90 Stiff

I’ll admit that I need a little more firepower at the top end of my iron set. I am not a long hitter and the added ball speed from the Tour Edge Ti-Utility’s titanium face. This multi-piece iron combines a titanium face with a steel body and helps me hit it a few yards farther than a typical iron. I usually use this off the tee but the Tour Edge is easier to hit off the turf than the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi for me. I think the shorter blade length in the Ti-Utility gives it that advantage and I like the look from address a little more. Very little offset and you only see a small amount of the back “muscle”. The Ti-Utility offers a nice muted “ting” at impact and the face holds a lot of ball speed on off center strikes. KBS’s PGI is their higher launching iron shaft option and offers a smooth feel with tight dispersion.

Runner Up: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4 (21.5*) / fujikura Pro 95 Tour Spec Stiff

Irons: PXG 0311 T Gen5 (5-7), PXG 0317 ST (8-P)

Shaft: True Temper Elevate 95 Stiff

PXG 0311 T are the perfect “cheater” iron for me. They look compact, have a thin top line, and minimal offset but are packed with technology. They are very stable and long on miss hits, allowing me to still hit the front of the green without the perfect swing. At the bottom of the bag the 0317 ST are blades but go pretty far when you hit the center! I like the solid thud you get from the 0317 ST when you hit them well and the distance control into the greens is fantastic. The more compact look is great in the short irons and the milled faces seem to hold onto a lot of spin out of the rough. Both irons have a good amount of bounce and resist digging in the softer Michigan conditions.

Runner Up: TaylorMade P770 (5-P) / KBS Tour Lite X-Stiff

Gap Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM8 Raw (50.12F)

Shaft: Nippon Modus 125 Wedge

This is really a close race but the SM8 just has a little more bounce and digs less in the soft fairways here. I also like that you can really slam the sole into the turf on chips and pitches around the green without worry. I have had this SM8 since 2021 but swap it out with other options so frequently that the grooves and face are in perfect shape. The sole has also given me more confidence with full shots, thus giving me a wider range of yardages where I use it. Spin is high and very predictable from the fairway or lies in the rough. The feel is soft and very responsive, letting you know immediately where you hit it on the face. The Nippon Modus 125 Wedge shaft is very consistent and gives me a little flatter flight compared to some other wedge shafts.

Runner Up: TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 52* / Nippon Modus 125 Wedge

Sand Wedge: TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 (56* 12SB)

Shaft: Breakthrough Golf Technology ZNE 130

I have had this wedge since it was introduced but only used it a handful of times. This year I gave it a little more love and have been really impressed by the playability of it. The full sole has plenty of bounce for when I get over the top and steep with my swing, but still allows me to open the face with the leading edge only raising a small amount. The raw face offers plenty of spin from all lies, even when wet and the feel is very soft when you strike it solid. Bunkers are no problem for this wedge as the sole offers plenty of float for even light, fluffy sand. I rarely take full swings with the sand wedge but have gotten more comfortable with taking bigger swings and hitting it to tighter pin locations. BGT’s new ZNE shaft is a new addition and so far I really like the tight dispersion it has been offering me.

Runner Up: Titleist Vokey SM9 54.12D / True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

Lob Wedge: Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks T Grind 60*

Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

This one is really a tie. I switch out between the Vokey T Grind and the Hi-Toe 3 depending on the conditions I am going to play that day. I recently found that I can get steep with short irons and my other 2 wedges, but I deliver my lob wedge much more shallow. The T grind is crazy versatile, allowing you to really play with the face angle to hit every shot. You do have to be a little more precise with it as there is very little forgiveness if you hit it a little fat. The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 goes in the bag when conditions are softer or not as tight. The full face grooves and hi toe design make it such an easy wedge to hit, you can get away with a lot of bad swings. You never have to worry about the club just sliding under the ball and the shot going nowhere, those tall grooves keep some spin and control on the shot. 

Runner Up: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 60* (13* HB) / KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 115

Putter: Bettinardi BB8 Wide

Shaft: Fujikura MC 115 Firm

This again is a very close race, but the Bettinardi has just been a comfortable flat stick since I started using the 2021 model. For 2022 Bettinardi changed the face milling and it gave the BB8 Wide a much softer feel and more muted sound. They also shortened the blade length, giving it a little more proportional look while still keeping the wide flange and linger site line. The larger blade gives me a little more forgiveness when I strike it on the toe, keeping the ball online better than some traditional blades. The Fujikura MC 115 Firm putter shaft softens the feel a little while adding stability and consistency to the putter. I added a Super Stroke Pistol GT 1.0 grip late in the year and it has really helped keep my right hand from influencing the stroke. The L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max putter is really solid as well and the Lie Angle Balanced design can really help a lot of golfers make more putts. The larger Max putter head doesn’t stand out and unless you are setting it next to a Mezz.1 it will be hard to notice the size difference. The feel is a little softer but the more stable and forgiving Max head really stands out.

Runner Up: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max Custom / Accra Graphite

I have played the Mezz.1 this year and think it is a great putter, so to be honest, I wasn’t that excited to try the Mezz.1 Max at first. That changed pretty quickly once my putter showed up. To start, getting fit for a putter is one of the last things we golfers think about. L.A.B. has a very unique and effective remote fitting process if you cannot get to a fitter in person. You email a short video to them using your current putter and they use their internal genius to get your specs processed. The remote fitting video took me about seven minutes from start to submission.

Once you have your putter specs, you can then order a stock or custom Mezz.1 Max. I went down the custom path of various head colors, alignment aids, shafts, grips, and even a headcover to build my putter. My original Mezz.1 is black, and I wanted to go with some color to change things up and, for whatever reason, the cappuccino color kept grabbing my attention. The cappuccino color online looks more gold, and I was pleasantly surprised that in person the color is more brown and muted than I expected. The color goes well with the matte white Accra shaft and Press II 1.5-degree smooth grip.

Headcovers are now becoming big accessories, and the brown headcover I chose is kind of retro-looking while feeling high quality. Overall, I love the look and my Mezz.1 Max stands out without being too flashy and distracting.

As soon as I got the putter out of the box, I rolled a few putts on the carpet here at the office, not expecting much difference. From the first couple of putts, I could immediately tell something was a little different with this putter. The weight and balance through the stroke is more stable and you get an even better feeling of the putter wanting to keep the face pointed at the target. The other interesting find is that I didn’t even notice the 20-percent larger size that the Mezz.1 Max has over its older sibling. Maybe if I had them both side-by-side I would notice the size difference more, but the Mezz.1 Max on its own looks normal to my eye.

The first putts I hit on the carpet were great feeling and the Mezz.1 Max felt like it wanted to stay on its path regardless of how your hands tried to manipulate it. The same feeling was present on the putting green, and it was far stronger to me than the standard Mezz.1 felt. When you put the Mezz.1 Max on a target, the putter just wants to hit the ball at that target. The other interesting note is that, to me, the new Max has a softer and more solid feel compared to the smaller head. The sound at impact was more muted and had a lower pitch to it, even on mishits. Just like the original, the grooved face puts immediate forward roll on the ball and reduces almost all skipping.

L.A.B. says this Mezz.1 Max is 20-percent more stable, and I don’t think that is just some marketing talk. I have been in this putting funk where I have been making contact on the toe of the putter regularly. This miss has caused me to miss more than a few putts this year, and I hit a few with the new putter as well. Those toe misses still went straight and I wasn’t losing much speed. Those putts left the toe of the putter and either came up just short or just missed my intended line by a small amount. Those misses are a great improvement over the traditional blade that has been my gamer all summer. The biggest problem I had with the original Mezz.1 is that it took me awhile to get used to longer lag putts. This wasn’t the case with the Max, as I felt much more comfortable from long range and was able to get putts closer and reduce the 3-putt chances by a good amount.

Overall, if you’re searching for a new flatstick, the new L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max putter is something to check out. You have a putter that can truly help you make more putts thanks to the Lie Angle Balanced technology, additional forgiveness, and stability.

For more information on my Mezz.1 Max putter review, listen to the Club Junkie podcast, which is available below and on any podcasting service.

The M16 putter shaft is made up of a steel tip and a carbon fiber handle section that are bonded together to make a shaft that is 26-percent stiffer than a traditional steel putter shaft. The carbon handle section is made up of layers of carbon fiber, rubber, and 22 metal wires that run vertically through the shaft. This high-tech recipe creates a shaft that is stiffer and more stable than a traditional steel putter shaft. The shaft also comes in at a little lower price point than other offerings on the market at just an $89 upcharge when ordering a PXG putter.

I have played a handful of these new putter shafts, so I was excited to try this new offering from PXG. First off I love the look of the M16 with 3/4 of the shaft a matte black, it blends well with the black putter heads and grips. I have been playing the PXG Bat Attack putter this year with a traditional steel putter shaft and enjoy the stability of the putter and how the “wings” frame the ball. When I was fit for the putter PXG raised the weight of the head to help with the feel since I play the putter short, at 33 inches. PXG was kind enough to send me another Bat Attack in the same spec as my current putter, but with the new M16 shaft, so it was very easy to see how the new M16 performed.

Before heading out to the course, like all golfers, we do the waggle test, and just from that you can tell the M16 is stiffer than a traditional steel putter shaft. Out on the green the first thing I noticed, with the first putt, was the softer feel at impact. The PXG putters are fairly soft feeling anyway with their pyramid face pattern, but the M16 seems to soften that up just a little bit.

Impact brings your hands less vibration and a more solid feel as well as a more muted sound. I noticed the more muted sound with the M16 in my basement, putting on my mat. Outdoors you can still hear the difference between the two shafts and the sound is just a little more crisp, or high-pitched, with the steel shaft.

I said this before, but I am a big fan of a stiffer putter shaft and like the feel of the putter head not moving throughout the stroke. The M16 delivers on its promise of a stiffer profile and the putter head does not move during the stroke. For some players with quicker tempo putting strokes, the stiffer profile will more than likely give them a little feeling of added control.

On short putts the M16 feels stable and that the head is always aimed at your target line. There is zero movement or unwanted rotation from the head and you have the confidence to roll putts with a slightly more aggressive nature.

Lag putting I think is where the M16 really shines. The harder the stroke the more you can feel the M16 keep the putter head with your hands. The putter head just does not release as your bing the head to the bottom of the stroke to impact. Even with putts across greens and uphill you feel like you are in complete control of the putter and the ball leaves on your intended line.

Overall PXG’s M16 putter shaft is a great option at a good price to add some stability and feel to your putter. If you are looking to try an exotic putter shaft and don’t want to break the bank, then I think you have to give the M16 a good look.

More on the M16 putter shaft and new Titleist TSR2 woods in the latest episode of Club Junkie, below. 

The new Hi-Toe 3 wedges are boasting some new technology to go with the classic “hi-toe” shape. TaylorMade updated the milled sole with a four-way camber design that will allow you to play the wedge open without the leading edge getting to high off the ground. The CG has also been adjusted to be a little higher for a lower trajectory but still being high spin. And speaking of spin, the new grooves take their tech from the Milled Grind 3 wedges, adding the raised Micro Rib to the full face grooves. Those Full Face grooves are also raw steel, just like the MG3 and Hi-Toe wedges before them. The raw steel face helps in wet conditions, keeping the spin you normally would have lost.

The new Hi-Toe 3 wedges look great out of the box with the bronze color that will wear as you play them. The 50 and 52 Hi-Toe 3 wedges are a little more traditional with less flair to the toe section and a standard set of grooves in the center of the club. The profile is a little larger compared to a TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 wedge but for some players that will just add to the confidence in the Hi-Toe 3. For me, a gap wedge is used primarily for full shots but I also use it for some pitch and chip shots around the green when there isn’t any hazards.

The Hi-Toe 3 really plays similar to my MG3 when it comes to spin into the green and feel. The Hi-Toe 3 is cast from 8620 carbon steel and has a soft feel to it on impact. The flight is a little lower and flatter than my MG3 gap wedge but the amount of release on the green seems to be very similar. Turf interaction is really good, the slightly wider sole help prevent digging for the steeper swing or if you play in soft conditions. The new camber on the sole also allows you to press the wedge forward and really get the leading edge down on right lies.

The sand and lob Hi-Toe 3 wedges are equally as versatile and do offer the full face grooves, so shots out off the toe carry a little more spin for consistent release. Shots for tight fairway lies check up immediately, and when the rough gets long, you still get consistent and predictable roll out.

The new sole design with four-way camber does allow you to open up the wedges and play higher lofted shots without the leading edge coming up too high. Opening the face in the rough, where the ball might be sitting up is still no issue and I never had any fear of the lob wedge sliding under the ball and it coming up way short.

The Hi-Toe 3 is great out of the sand and offers ample amount of float so even if your entry point into the bunker is a touch behind the ball, you will still get out of the trap. TaylorMade also rolled out three different bounce options for the 58 and 60, so depending on how you deliver the club and the course conditions you can match up your lob wedge perfectly.

If you are on the search for wedges that can give you some added forgiveness while being versatile, the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 are well worth a demo. Check out the full review of the Hi-Toe 3 wedges on my Club Junkie podcast, on all streaming platforms. Just search GolfWRX Radio.

Sometimes, early in the morning, I felt the music was either a little too loud for my playing partners or a little too soft for me to hear comfortably. The battery life is listed as 20 hours, and while I didn’t go that far, it worked fine for two 18 holes rounds. The Ampcaddy Golf Speaker V3 Pro is wireless, using a Bluetooth connection from your phone, but also has a Micro SD slot and an Aux port for connecting if Bluetooth isn’t available. Ampcaddy lists the Golf Speaker V3 Pro as IPX7 water resistant for rain or splashing, so you should have no issues if you get caught in a downpour away from the clubhouse.


Overall, the Ampcaddy Golf Speaker V3 Pro seems to be a well built speaker with a ton of flexibility for mounting it on the golf course. With good sound and long battery life, the Golf Speaker V3 Pro can add some further enjoyment while on the golf course.

Take a listen to the Club Junkie Podcast for even more on the Ampcaddy Golf Speaker V3 Pro.

The Ventus Red was a shaft that I played in drivers and fairway woods over the years and I really loved it. I hit a pretty low, flat ball so the added launch of the Ventus Red was needed and it offered accuracy that I hadn’t been able to find in many higher launching shafts. The new TR Red takes a lot of that DNA and turns it up a notch. TR Red has a smooth, yet little more stout feel through the swing. It takes just a little more effort to load it and the kick at impact is great, just maybe not as aggressive as the Ventus Red is. The TR Red launch is a little bit lower and overall apex seems to be just a bit flatter as well. For players with more aggressive tempos the TR Red might offer a tad less draw compared to its sibling. I took the TR Red out in my Stealth+ head to a course I had played frequently and never had yardages into holes that I had that day. On at least 3-4 holes I told my playing partner that I had never been that close. The TR Red is currently in the bag!

TR Black looks amazing with the Spread Tow fabric showing in the sunlight. When you set the club down and waggle it, like all of us do with a new stick, there is almost no waggle to the shaft! The Ventus TR Black is very stout, noticeably more stout than the original Ventus Black. As stiff as the shaft is, Fujikura has built in a ton of smoothness to it. It takes a lot of power to load so be ready to try the softer flex or lighter weight. The launch is very low, one of the lowest I have hit, and the ballflight very flat. I could see that the TR Black launched significantly lower than TR Red when hitting it in the same head on the course. TR Black is hard to turn over and players who fear the draw should like the stout feel as you bring the shaft to impact. For my 105 mph club head speed I think stepping down to the 6-S would give me more playable results compared to the extra stiff.

Overall the new TR Red and TR Black are great shafts that Fujikura has engineered. Even if you are currently playing a Ventus, I think it is worth your while to check out the new shafts and see how they compare to your gamer. For more on each shaft check out my Club Junkie podcast.