Equipment
New Cleveland ZipCore XL and Halo XL Full Face irons launched
Cleveland Golf pursued ease of use with its new ZipCore XL and Halo XL Full Face irons, targeting forgiveness in the long irons and precision in the short irons.
“We designed these irons with the intent to let the clubs do all the hard work with optimized tech features like our XL Head Designs and MainFrame to ensure maximum forgiveness,” said Dustin Brekke, Director of Engineering at Cleveland Golf. “Our goal was easy. We wanted golfers to see better results on the course with products made specifically for their needs. They’re going to see better distance, consistent spin, with exceptional feel no matter the Iron they choose.”
Cleveland ZipCore XL irons
In the ZipCore XL irons (4-7), Cleveland’s MainFrame technology employs a diverse network of grooves, channels, and cavities milled into the rear of the clubface. This design serves a dual purpose, enhancing the coefficient of restitution (COR) through the utilization of weight pads to boost moment of inertia (MOI).
The ZipCore XL irons showcase two noteworthy technologies: the incorporation of ZipCore and HydraZip technologies. The short irons (8-SW) of ZipCore XL feature Cleveland Golf’s unique low-density core. This strategically positions the center of gravity precisely at the point of impact, for more launch, spin, and distance. Complementing this, HydraZip dynamically balances spin across the entire set. This dynamic blast ensures that long irons prioritize distance and consistency, while shorter irons enhance spin and control.
ZipCore XL irons are equipped with loft-specific grooves for more spin on the irons where more spin is needed. Crafted with Cleveland Golf’s V-Shaped sole, these irons feature increased bounce on the leading edge, aiding in maintaining club head speed for cleaner impact. Trailing edge relief at the back end allows for enhanced workability.
Cleveland Halo XL Full-Face irons
XL Full-Face irons feature a profile that shifts mass away from the center of the clubhead for greater MOI — and thus more forgiveness. The company calls this XL Head Design.
Here, the company’s incorporation of MainFrame technology looks like a variable thickness face pattern for maximum flex at impact, and thus greater COR, for higher ball speed. Weight pads are positioned low and deep in the club face to increase MOI.
Engineers have included full-face grooves for more consistent spin on off-center shots, amounting to a 20-percent larger hitting area.
Three different soles are incorporated across the line. GlideRail in the long irons helps with turf interaction and impact. Mid irons have a V-shaped sole to cut through the turf. In short irons and wedges, Cleveland implemented a three-tiered sole for maximum forgiveness, particularly on shots around the green.
Pricing, specs, and availability
Lofts:
Halo XL irons
Zipcore XL irons
Stock shafts: KBS Tour Lite (steel), UST Helium Nanocore (graphite)
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360
At retail: 1/19
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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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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (7/15/24): TaylorMade MySpider X L-Neck putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that 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, there is a listing for a TaylorMade MySpider X L-Neck putter.
From the seller: (@Need4spd): “TaylorMade MySpider X L-Neck. Asking $315 • Plays 33.5” • Dead mint condition • SuperStroke Pistol Tour (used for four rounds) – It’s the black and white one, pic won’t upload for some reason. • New and unused MySpider headcover included.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade MySpider X L-Neck putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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News
Robert MacIntyre’s winning WITB: 2024 Genesis Scottish Open
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7 X
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X
Irons: Titleist 620 CB (4-9) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F) Buy here, SM9 (50-08F, 56-10S) Buy here, WedgeWorks (60-08K) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Onyx (46, 50), Dynamic Gold S400 Onyx (56, 60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord (woods, wedges), Grip Master (irons)
Check out more in-hand photos of Robert MacIntyre’s clubs here.
The winning WITB 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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