All the Gear: Which tour players are using new sticks?
It was great to have some new hardware to talk about this week in the form of some new Callaway irons – the Apex MB and X Forged.
We spent an entire day down at Moor Allerton testing these out and a range of other new gear – some we can talk about now and some we can’t.
Utterly spent after a full day of testing @JWhitaker_Golf @MoorAllertonGC The new @CallawayGolfEU X Forged will make lots of people happy… pic.twitter.com/3E40e8w4gV
— James Savage (@JamesSavageNCG) October 17, 2017
But either way we’ve got loads of equipment review videos for you on the way.
I thought it was probably a good time to take a closer look at some of the gear being used on tour to see which new models had been put into play.
Sticking with Callaway, it was interesting to see Danny Willett stick the new X Forged in at Valderrama.
The 2016 Masters champion had favoured the Apex Pro irons but I’d expect there to be a few others making the same switch.
His utility irons look very interesting as well – I think we may be learning more about them soon…
It hasn’t been the greatest year so far for Willett so maybe an equipment change can get him moving in the right direction?
Over on the PGA Tour we spotted fellow Callaway staffer Danny Lee with a set of the new Apex MBs on the go.
NCG regular James Morrison has plumped for the new Epic irons – well, he’s using a 3-iron which we saw Phil Mickelson and Tommy Fleetwood using at The Open.
A lot of Titleist staffers were quick to put the new 718 models into play.
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston is using the 718 MB irons at the Valderrama Masters this week.
Holland’s Joost Luiten previously had a bag full of the new 718 AP3s but he’s now switched to the 718 CB model.
And Australia’s Cameron Smith has been ripping it up on the PGA Tour with the 718 AP2s.
The Ping G400 range has gone down a storm in the pro shops since it was released a couple of months ago.
Home favourite Jose Maria Olazabal hit the opening shot of the Valderrama Masters with a new G400 driver.
Sun Mountain announce 2018 bag line-up
On the whole it has been a quiet week for new gear releases but we have had some new bags from Sun Mountain.
New models include the H2NO Superlite (£225) which weighs in at just 1.9kg.
Contents are kept dry with the help of waterproof zips which protect four accessory pockets, including a full-length clothing pocket. The X-strap dual strap system should make carrying more comfortable.
The new TWO5 Plus model (£190) is even lighter at 1.2 kgs and bag incorporates a 4-way divider, full-length clothing pocket, valuables pocket, ultra-lightweight durable carbon fibre legs and high density foam straps for added comfort.
The full range can be viewed on the Sun Mountain website and bags can be purchased via the Brand Fusion website.
Review: Callaway 2018 X Forged irons
Review: Callaway Apex MB irons
First look: Titleist 718 AP2 irons
James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.