Players Distance Like Never Before: TaylorMade Introduces All-New P·790 Irons

CARLSBAD, CA – TaylorMade writes the latest chapter in the P·Series irons story with the release of the all-new P·790 irons. Dubbed as the irons that created a category of their own, Players Distance, the new P·790 irons deliver increased carry distance, premium forged feel, and a larger sweet spot to give golfers added consistency and performance. 

P·790 irons will be available for preorder on Feb. 18 at TaylorMadeGolf.com and available for purchase in retail outlets on Mar. 13 for $1,399.99 USD in steel shafts and $1,499.99 USD in graphite shafts for a seven-piece set.

A New Face Material for More Speed, More Consistently

The all-new P·790 irons utilize a new forged face material – 4340M. This material is 20% stronger, allowing engineers to design the face thinner and faster than previous models. These properties increase the coefficient of restitution (COR). As a result, golfers experience faster ball speeds and longer carry distances.^#

Compared to the previous model of P·790 irons, the use of 4340M material allows golfers to realize up to a 24% larger sweet spot*. This translates to consistent distance from the top of the set to the bottom.

^# Ball speed and distance claim based on player testing vs. 2023 P∙790.

* Comparison vs. 2023 P·790 7-iron. 

Individual Head Optimization for Premium Forged Feel

A primary goal in the design of P·790 irons was to deliver exceptional feel and sound. Through the use of T-modal analysis, each head has been strategically engineered to control the frequencies that ultimately dictate feel and sound at impact.

Easy Launch and More Stability

• The all-new P·790 irons are also some of the most stable TaylorMade has ever made. That’s due to strategic repositioning of up to 40g of tungsten internally, and FLTD CG that positions the CG lowest in long irons for easier launch and playability, and progressively higher in the shorter irons for precise spin, distance and trajectory control. Tungsten weighting has been moved lower in the long irons, thus lowering the CG.
• As the set progresses up through the 7-iron, the tungsten weight shifts closer to the toe. This increases both stability and MOI in the middle of the set, further enhancing forgiveness and delivering consistent distance and overall performance.
• Tungsten isn’t found in the 8-iron through pitching wedge allowing the CG to sit higher in the head where it enhances control.
  

Proven TaylorMade Technologies 

• Thick-Thin Back Wall Construction features honeycombed cutouts puzzled across the internal back wall to remove excess weight from above the strike zone. This allows engineers to strategically position more weight lower in the clubhead to achieve consistent performance characteristics. In short, mass placement has been optimized in each individual club. 
• A Thru-Slot Speed Pocket is also found in the 4-7 irons. This feature expands the sweet spot toward the lower part of the face where most mishits occur and protects ball speeds which ultimately translates to consistent distance.
• SpeedFoam Air also fills the hollow body construction of P·790 irons further ensuring the crisp, responsive feel golfers desire.  

Players Shaping

• P·790 irons have been upgraded with a new premium player’s inspired shape that is both inviting and aspirational. The topline width has slimmed down while each sole has been uniquely designed. The long irons feature an increased sole radius with a progressive beveled leading edge through the set for consistent turf interaction and improved impact locations.
  
• Aesthetically, the P·790 logo is centered on the back of P·790 irons instead of on the bottom heel where it’s been found in previous generations. This new location is in line with the rest of the P·Series family.
• Each head features a Tour Satin Scratch finish providing an elegant, clean look. The backbar has a mirrored finish. Machined texture is found just below the centered P·790 logo adding to the rich, high-end visual presentation.

Specs

P·790 irons are available in 4-iron through approach wedge in both right and left-handed. The stock steel shaft is the KBS Tour which is available in regular, stiff and extra-stiff flex. The stock graphite shaft is the Mitsubishi Chemical MMT in 75S, 65R and 55A. The stock grip is the Golf Pride Z-Grip 52g 0.580 (Black/Grey). Shaft customization and upgrades are available at TaylorMadeGolf.com.

Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE

Tour Edge Unveils the All-New Hot Launch 525 Series, Introducing a New Era of Game-Improvement Golf Clubs

BATAVIA, IL – Today Tour Edge introduced their all-new Hot Launch 525 Series, a groundbreaking line of game-improvement golf clubs designed to elevate the performance of golfers demanding distance and forgiveness.

Available at retail starting March 1, 2025, the Hot Launch 525 Series introduces the game-changing X-range for the first time in the brand’s best-selling Hot Launch family.

The Hot Launch 525 Series has been meticulously crafted with a focus on enhancing both the aesthetics and performance of the clubs. Drawing from Tour Edge’s proven Exotics technology and innovations, the series offers a new level of performance for golfers seeking more distance, forgiveness, and ease of play.

The Hot Launch 525 Series consists of two distinct ranges: the X-range and the E-range, each designed to meet specific player needs through advanced driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, and wedge designs.

• X-range: Super-Game-Improvement clubs with anti-slice offset designs and extremely low CG positions, featuring ultra-shallow faces that promote easy launch and consistent playability.
• E-range: Premium Game-Improvement clubs inspired by Exotics technology, offering class-leading MOI and enhanced forgiveness, power, and accuracy.

Hot Launch X525 Series

Hot Launch X525 Driver
The Extreme Game Improvement X525 Driver is designed to radically improve your game by providing effortless launch, consistent playability, and maximum forgiveness across the entire face. The 460cc Titanium driver is incredibly stable at impact thanks to an anti-slice heel-positioned back weight that creates an extremely high MOI surpassing 5,000 grams per cubic centimeter squared for top in-line stability.

Hot Launch X525 Fairway Metal & Hybrid
The 17-4 stainless-steel X525 metals provides the ultimate in slice-fighting technology with heel-weighted offset designs, allowing the face to square up at impact for a straighter ball flight. Tour Edge engineers have strategically positioned extra mass in the patented Houdini Sole to create an ultra-low CG that greatly improves stability and increases launch.

Hot Launch X525 Iron
The X525 ironwood is an extreme-playability iron designed to make miss-hits and slices go straighter. Hollow-body perimeter weighting produces the distance properties of a metal in an iron-like design, providing an effortless ease of launch due to the clubhead’s extremely low and rearward CG. The X525 iron is available as a full set or individually in every lift to fill every possible distance gap.

Hot Launch X525 Wedge
The extremely deep undercut cavity of the X525 Wedge dramatically lowers the CG for the ultimate in wedge forgiveness. It redistributes mass for enhanced flight control and creates a higher launch with increased spin for extreme playability from the sand and rough. An oversized face design provides more striking area for players seeking an extreme game improvement wedge.

Hot Launch E525 Family

Hot Launch E525 Driver
The E525 Driver is designed for players seeking a more traditional shape, offering optimal launch and spin rates with maximum MOI properties for enhanced ease of use, forgiveness, and accuracy. The premium 6-4 Titanium head is powered by a deep 360° Cup Face that increases the amount of face flexing on off-center hits to achieve higher ball speeds and creates a more solid feel.

Hot Launch E525 Fairway Metal & Hybrid
Featuring MOI-boosting rear sole weights and Ridgeback Technology, the E525 fairway metals and hybrids deliver high-launching shots with optimized spin rates and maximum ball speed.

Hot Launch E525 Iron
The E525 Irons are made from an extremely soft 431 Stainless Steel for a superior feel with maximum distance and forgiveness properties. The iron is for the player seeking a more traditional shape designed to deliver more consistent shot making with added power. An enhanced feel is provided by the VIBRCOR technology located behind the hitting area.

Hot Launch E525 Wedge
The E525 wedge is designed to provide perfect control and spin around the greens for every level of golfer. A proprietary VIBRCOR TPU is strategically placed in the deep undercut pocket to create a feel-enhancing internal technology that creates a distinct feel of the clubhead at impact that dampens sound and shock at impact.

High-Performance Shaft Options
Each club in the 525 Series comes equipped with an extremely lightweight UST Mamiya Helium graphite shaft featuring Nanocore Technology for increased clubhead speed and consistency. The True Temper Elevate MPH 95 steel shaft is also available in the 525 irons and wedges for maximum launch and carry distance.

Visit Tour Edge HERE

The post Golf News – February 18, 2025 appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro are the next generation of golf’s favorite speed training tool.  Adjustable weighting adds versatility.  Five levels of protocols keep training interesting and challenging.  A proven way to get faster and longer.

Introduction

Launched about a decade ago, the original SuperSpeed training system brought speed training to the golf masses.  Since then, SuperSpeed has birthed numerous imitators, but no other system is seen in the bags of as many Tour pros.

New for 2025 is the long awaited “sequel” – the SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro.  This new set of training tools is an grip-to-tip upgrade that includes added levels of versatility and portability.  I tested a set to see if you should consider making the switch.

Set Up & Ease of Use

The SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro don’t require any set up – pick them up and swing them fast.  Like the Force Board Pro [review HERE], the Speed Stick Pro don’t come with any written instruction – you need to find the training protocols in the SuperSpeed App.  The app is easy to use, and the Level 1 Protocols are included with your purchase.  You need the premium app subscription to get access to more advanced protocols (more details on this later).

There is a weight kit included with the Speed Sticks Pro.  I’ll discuss the function of this below, but I will note here that this system is very easy to use.  The wrench is included, and the weights screw in and out without hassle.  Changing the weights does take a minute because of the long threads, but that’s a safety feature – you wouldn’t want a 30 gram weight being flung from your training club at 100 MPH.

Effectiveness

At core, the SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro are not fundamentally different than the original training system [review HERE].  There are three training clubs of different weights, and you swing them according to the provided protocols to gain club head speed.  Thousands of golfers of every age, gender, and ability level can tell you that the system works.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about what makes the Speed Sticks Pro different.  Most importantly, they have what SuperSpeed calls the Inertia Matching System – adjustable weighting.  The set comes with ten total weight plugs – 20 grams (3), 30 grams (3), 40 grams (3), and 80 grams (1).  This allows you to personalize your training clubs based on the chart above or an assessment in the SuperSpeed app.

The other benefit of the Inertia Matching System is that it allows you to train with just one training club.  SuperSpeed refers to this as the “Integrated Travel Version.”  By using the blue club without a weight, with your standard weight, and with the 80 gram weight, you can simulate having all three training clubs.  This is a nice feature for those that want to have their SuperSpeed with them at all times or those trying to keep their luggage under the 50 pound limit.

The weighting is not the only change to the SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro.  They’ve made the “heads” more aerodynamic with a teardrop shape and three “air flow modulators” on the sides.  The new grips are larger and less tapered with alternating sections of texture.  I think the soft feel of these grips is great, and SuperSpeed claims that the larger grips will allow players to more effectively activate the muscles in their hands and forearms.  The grips can be replaced if you don’t like them or want something smaller.

The final change is the new shaft.  SuperSpeed training clubs have always had very stiff shafts, but the new versions are more thoughtfully tuned.  The Load Zone near the grip is very stiff to encourage an aggressive loading of the shaft.  Near the tip, there’s a softer Torque Zone which SuperSpeed says “promotes more optimal timing of club head release”.  I don’t know that this change will fix your release, but the new shaft makes the training club feel more like a normal club rather than a piece of rebar with a dumbbell on the end.

Longevity

In my original review, I stated that longevity was the one weakness of SuperSpeed.  The company has done a lot to shore that up with the SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro.  The SuperSpeed App has five levels of Overspeed training, so you get more variety in your workouts.  There are also notifications and badges which gamify the training and help you to stay on track.

With all that said, this is still a workout program.  You will see “beginner gains” very quickly, but then your growth will slow down.  SuperSpeed training also requires enough room to swing a driver at 100%.  I think that SuperSpeed Golf has built a tremendous system, but you need to be committed to it if you want it to work.

Value

The SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro retail for $199.  Please support Plugged In Golf and buy HERE.  Especially with the new additions, I think it’s a great buy for anyone looking to add club head speed and play better golf.

To get the most out of your SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro, you will need the SuperSpeed App.  The Premium membership is $10/month or $100/year.  This unlocks all five levels of the training protocols, the physical assessment, and much more.  Training with just Level One Protocols will work, but I think the added variety makes the Premium membership worthwhile.

Conclusion

SuperSpeed Golf took their time coming up with a sequel to their blockbuster training system, and I’m glad they did.  The SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro are an improvement on the original system in every way, but they maintain the core principles that have helped thousands of golfers get faster.  If you want to hit it longer with every club in your bag, start SuperSpeed training today.

Buy SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro HERE

The post SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

More than any other sport golf demands both patience and high-level skill sets. People worldwide have come to love golf because of top-performing players who have raised the sport to unprecedented levels. Through their outstanding play, these famous athletes established successful sports legacies. We examine the path and works of the golfers who changed the game to understand their effect on the sport and golf development.

Golfing Legends Who Changed the Game

The best golfers ever not only played the game but transformed how everyone experiences it. These successful players taught new generations why golf matters and raised its popularity worldwide. While it is hard to precisely know who the greatest golfer of all time is, the players listed below have changed the game.

Arnold Palmer

During modern times Arnold Palmer became the first golfer to reach superstar status. As “The King” of golf Arnold Palmer brought fans into the game through his engagement with both players and spectators which helped make golf a popular sport for everyone. People around the world knew him because his natural charm made him a beloved figure in both golf and life.

Achievements and Legacy:

• He earned seven major tournament titles during his career with four Masters titles.
• By co-founding The Golf Channel Palmer drove golf to more people.
• Through his events, Palmer created “Arnie’s Army” which grew into a traveling fan base.

Fun Fact: After Arnold Palmer enjoyed a special combination of iced tea and lemonade the drink earned its name: Arnold Palmer.

Jack Nicklaus 

The Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus leads golf history as the player who won the most major tournaments with 18 championships. Jack Nicklaus’ golf skills made him one of the best players in history. Beyond being a top player Nicklaus took a leading role in creating world-class golf courses.

Achievements and Skills: 

• He claimed 73 PGA Tour wins plus 18 major championships including his record six Masters titles.
• His mental strength keeps him playing longer than his rivals can stand in tough conditions.
• He designed over 300 golf courses across worldwide locations that bring elegance and difficulty together.

Although he had achieved impressive success through golf tournaments and course designs Nicklaus openly revealed that he was nervous before each round.

Tiger Woods

People place golf icon Tiger Woods at the top when they talk about the golfers who wielded the game’s greatest power ever. Through his physical talents and strong determination, Tiger Woods changed how golf was viewed across the world. When Woods performs his best under high-stakes moments he takes sports history to new levels.

Achievements and Cultural Impact: 

• He won 15 major events including five Masters titles.
• Holds the record for the most weeks ranked No. 1 in the world: 683 weeks.
• His achievements changed traditional golf rules and helped bring many different athletes into the sport.

Tiger Woods’ real first name is Eldrick, and the nickname “Tiger” was given to him in honor of a friend of his father.

John Daly

People find John Daly both fascinating and at times unpredictable because he plays golf the same way he leads his personal life. People love Daly for his authentic personality and natural golf style which features powerful hits.

Playing Style and Casino Connection:

• Winner of two major championships: Daly won titles in 1991 and 1995 during the PGA Championship and Open Championship tournaments.
• People remember him for both his long drives and his daring mindset on the course.

Apart from golf John Daly shows his big personality through his enthusiasm for casino activities, and the lesson to take away is to play responsibly when it comes to trying out new casinos and games. It comes as no surprise that Daly enjoyed blackjack and slots, as many celebrities and athletes are drawn to the casino atmosphere and excitement. Daly announced he had spent millions playing cards but liked the excitement of gambling more than winning money. The golf champion has openly talked about his gambling habits and losses, which has impacted a lot of fans. His unique personality combined with his casino stories is what makes him one of golf’s unique figures. 

Iconic Moments and Shots in Golf History 

Displaying great technique plus well-planned action and courageous performance produces exhilarating moments in golf history. Success in golf history through iconic shots in golf inspires fans around the world.

• Jack Nicklaus’ 1972 U.S. Open 1-Iron Shot: Nicklaus achieved golf immortality when he struck a 1-iron right into the flag at Pebble Beach’s 17th hole.
• Tiger Woods’ 2005 Masters Chip: Woods made golf history at the 16th when he chipped the ball towards the cup and it hovered on the edge before sinking, triggering a wild reaction from fans.
• Arnold Palmer’s 1960 U.S. Open Comeback: After facing a seven-stroke deficit Palmer proved his determination through a thrilling victory.
• John Daly’s Monster Drives: Through his driving performances Daly set a new standard for long shots before today’s players achieved it regularly.

By embodying their talents these performers revealed the distinctive skill that top golfers own, their impressive pressure management.

What Sets the Greatest Golfers Apart? 

The best golfers of all time have traits that make them stand head and shoulders above other players. Below we analyze what sets the best golf players apart. 

Mental Toughness
The game of golf needs players to maintain deep concentration at all times, unlike any other competitive sport. The best golfers ever excelled at tough moments by proving that command over their mental state equals command over their golf swing.

Physical Skills
Every great golfer had different physical abilities showing up during their games. People were amazed by Daly’s extended tee shots yet no player hit shots more accurately than Nicklaus.

Strategic Thinking
Every aspect of golf depends on intelligent decision-making more than it depends on your physical abilities. Nicklaus won through front planning his shots while Palmer followed a powerful attacking style that built audience support. 

Connection with Fans
People around the world followed these golfers because of their lively personalities combined with their impressive achievements. Golf newcomers understand that winning in this sport requires both consistent practice and ongoing dedication to the sport.

Final Thoughts

Renowned golf players created the sport’s history by building its popularity worldwide. When players like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and John Daly took to the course they shared their unwavering determination alongside creative passion and a deep love of golf.

Nicklaus and Daly stood out as golf icons thanks to their exceptional individual skills which defined exceptional golf player characteristics. Rising stars in golf use their examples to show that the future of golf looks just as promising as its history.

Learning to golf begins by learning from the best performers in golf history. These great golfers still lead their sport by example because they take their skills and love for the game to new heights.

The post The Greatest Golfers of All Time: Legends, Skills, and Impact appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The PING G440 MAX driver is outstanding.  At or near the top of every performance category.  High launch with moderate spin.  Great sound and feel.  Straightforward, impactful adjustability.

Introduction

When I ask a fitter, “What’s good right now?” they almost always say, “Everything.”  So when I see a fitter light up and proactively name one product, I know it’s special.  That was the case with the new PING G440 MAX driver, which one fitter referred to as, “Probably the driver of the year.”  I tested one to see if this was the club that would put PING back at the top of my bag.

Looks

The address look of the PING G440 MAX driver is a bit cleaner than its predecessor, the G430 MAX [review HERE].  Instead of the visible texture, the G440 MAX has a Carbonfly Wrap crown which was previously seen only on the LST model.  Additionally, the subtle crown graphics are done in a barely-noticeable grey.  This is still recognizable as a PING driver thanks to the turbulators on the leading edge and the matte black crown.  Turning to the footprint, PING created a conventional, nearly-symmetrical shape that doesn’t look stretched from front to back.

In the bag, the PING G440 MAX driver has a stream of gloss black separating the matte black heel and toe.  The PING branding takes center stage with “G440” and “MAX” surrounding it on either side.  I like the return of the blue accents because it reminds me of some of the first PING clubs I loved, the G2 and G5.

Side by side, the PING G440 MAX bears a strong familial resemblance to other two G440 drivers, the SFT and LST, but there are subtle differences.  Next to the LST, the G440 looks a touch longer front-to-back and is slightly less symmetrical.  The SFT and MAX look almost identical in size and shape, but the SFT sits a bit closed at address in the neutral setting.

Sound & Feel

PING touts the Carbonfly Wrap crown as not only a performance feature but also helping to produce a “more muted, pleasing sound at impact.”  I don’t typically associate carbon crowns with helping the sound, but it certainly seems to work in this case.  Even with a range ball, the PING G440 MAX driver is below average in volume, producing a mid-bass “thwack.”  There are no metallic notes, but it can get a little “pop” on mishits, which is a nice piece of audio feedback.

The feel of the G440 MAX is similarly excellent.  It’s solid across the entire face, so you don’t get that cringey, “Oh no, I hope I get to the fairway” feeling on the low toe.  On center, the feel is transcendent: a blend of high speed pop with strength and force.  Despite being one of the most stable drivers on the market, the G440 MAX provides good feedback through the hands on strike location.

Performance

I’m not normally the type of guy who enjoys plowing through giant buckets of balls on the range, but I make an exception at this time of year.  Seeing all the new drivers go head-to-head on a range or on the launch monitor helps me to appreciate the differences between clubs that are all objectively good.  What I observed in my testing is that the PING G440 MAX driver is scary good when it comes to forgiveness and consistency, and could be in a tier all its own.

I think of forgiveness in plateaus.  Centered strikes are the top of the mountain; they set the bar.  Small misses are the next step down, and I want to know how far from the peak they are and how big is the “small miss” area.  Finally, you get to the lowest tier – the big misses – and I want to know if those shots go anywhere and in what direction.  At every level, the PING G440 MAX driver is excellent.  Small misses are almost indistinguishable from pure strikes, and you need to hit the very edge of the face to see an ugly result.

Also, I want to be clear that the top of the mountain is as high as I’ve seen with any other driver.  In the past, some players have felt that PING drivers don’t have the same top end speed as others, but that’s definitely not the case here.  PING gave the G440 MAX driver a shorter, thinner face for more ball speed across a larger area.

Before I move away from ball speed and forgiveness, I’ll answer the question on the mind of the gear nerds: is the PING G440 MAX driver more forgiving than the G430 MAX 10K [review HERE]?  PING does not mention an MOI number with the G440 MAX, so I’ll assume it’s less than 10K which means that it’s objectively less forgiving.  That said, my experience hitting both clubs was similar: every shot wants to go high and straight.  

Turning to launch and spin, the G440 MAX launches high with moderate spin.  “High launch” is one of the notes I got from several fitters, too.  They told me that they were fitting players into less loft in this model and not seeing launch angles drop.  In my testing, the launch was both high and consistent thanks to PING’s “lowest CG ever.”  The spin is also consistent across the face, but it can change a lot when your shot shape changes [get further insight into launch monitor numbers HERE].

Speaking of shot shape, PING drivers continue to have arguably the most impactful adjustability in golf.  There are three positions for the 29 gram weight, and they’re labeled for clarity.  This is a big weight, and you will instantly see the impact of those movements on your ball flight.  The 8-position hosel allows you to add or subtract 1.5 degrees of loft or make the lie 3 degrees flatter than standard.  Combined, this gives you a huge range of possibilities for trajectory and direction control.

Finally, PING is among the industry leaders in shaft options.  There are four excellent PING-specific options plus the Denali Red and Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Black [review HERE].  The stock length will vary depending on the shaft that you choose – 46″ with the PING Alta CB Blue, 45.5″ with the PING Tour, Denali, or TENSEI.  PING also details the changes that the different shafts will make on swing weight on their website, but the G440 MAX comes stock at D3.

*I tested all three PING G440 driver heads with the PING Tour 2.0 Chrome to make the launch monitor data an apples-to-apples comparison of the heads.

Conclusion

After about a decade of gaming PING drivers exclusively, I’ve spent the last year trying other things.  And the saying is true: absence makes the heart grow fonder.  While I won’t make any final decisions until we have better weather in Chicago, the PING G440 MAX driver is the clubhouse leader to be my gamer in 2025 thanks to its astounding levels of high end performance and consistency.

Support Plugged In Golf, Shop HERE

PING G440 MAX Driver Price & Specs

The post PING G440 MAX Driver Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

San Diego, CA – Ludvig Åberg has won the 2025 Genesis Invitational.  With a final round of 66, he would score 12-under for the tournament.  This marks his second PGA Tour title.  Along with the win, and 700 FedEx Cup points (enough to move into the top spot), he earned $4 million in tournament earnings. 

Due to the recent fires in the Los Angeles area, this year the Genesis invitational was moved to be played at Torrey Pines, the same location that hosted the Farmer’s Insurance Open just a few weeks ago.  While historically this tournament has been held at Riviera, the change in scenery didn’t affect Åberg for the worse.  

For most of the day, it seemed that Maverick McNealy was destined to earn his second PGA Tour title.  After shooting a 30 on the front nine of his final round, it seemed like the tournament was his to lose.  However, Åberg dug deep to pull out the win.  He went four under in his last six holes, culminating with a birdie putt on the last to snatch the tournament by a single stroke.  McNealy’s lone bogey of the day on his 14th hole is the only thing that kept him from being in a playoff for the title.  He would would finish just one behind with a score of 11-under. 

Being a signature event on the PGA Tour, there was serious star-power nipping at Åberg’s heels.  Those names included the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood and Tony Finau.  Scheffler would go finish in third at 9-under par, while the other three would all finish in a tie for fourth place, at 8-under par. 

The next PGA Tour event will be an international one, The Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.  There, Jake Knapp will be headlining the group of competitors as the defending champion.  While many of the top players will be taking a week off following Genesis, Knapp won’t be the only one playing.  The field will also include the likes of Akshay Bhatia, Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, and the 17-year-old Blades Brown.

Ludvig Åberg’s What’s In The Bag:

Driver: Titleist GT2 (9° in D4 setting) / Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 

3 Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15°) / Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X 

7 Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21°) / Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X 

Irons: Titleist T100 (4-PW) / KBS Tour 130 X 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50° 08F, 54° 10S, 60° 08M) / KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Versa #1

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

The post The Genesis Invitational 2025 Recap appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

PXG Unveils the New PXG Black Ops Ultra Lite Driver — A Game-Changer for Golfers Seeking Speed and Forgiveness

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – PXG, the world-class golf equipment and apparel company, has expanded its award-winning PXG Black Ops Collection with the introduction of the PXG® Black Ops® Ultra Lite Driver. This exceptional new offering is engineered to benefit amateur golfers with slower swing speeds. The result: a much lighter club that is easy to swing and for many players easier to swing faster!

The PXG Black Ops Ultra Lite Driver features a lightweight design with a clubhead mass of 189 grams, which is 14 grams lighter than the standard PXG Black Ops Driver. The clubhead mass is also adjustable between 179 grams and 196.5 grams leveraging PXG’s signature Precision Weighting Technology. With a single rear weight port, this driver has a deeper center of gravity (CG) that increases both forgiveness and consistency and enhances stability.

The new driver also features PXG’s proprietary AMF (Advanced Material Face) Technology. Optimized with a variable thickness design, the face delivers increased ball speed for more distance. The non-uniform bulge and roll face design is refined and manufactured consistently through robotic polishing to adjust the horizontal and vertical curvatures across the face strategically. This face design supports enhanced forgiveness and improves overall performance by optimizing the club’s reaction to off-center hits. 

A high-strength composite body construction manufactured from high-grade carbon fiber using a sophisticated compression molding process helps improve weight distribution within the clubhead to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) and push the center of gravity (CG) lower and further back. 

With the addition of the new PXG Black Ops Ultra Lite Driver, the PXG Black Ops Driver Collection now includes three head designs tailored to a wide range of players. The original PXG Black Ops Driver delivers a high launch, low-spin option, ensuring unmatched ball speed and exceptional forgiveness for optimum performance. The PXG Black Ops Tour-1 Driver features a tour-inspired head design with a taller face and a more curved crown, creating an aggressive look and maximizing distance with a penetrating ball flight for advanced players. The new PXG Black Ops Ultra Lite Driver rounds out the award-winning collection with a lightweight design that appeals to golfers looking to add both speed and forgiveness to their game off the tee.  

“Whether you play like a pro or an average Joe, we’re committed to having a high-performance setup that will help you play your best and have a good time,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “The expansion of the PXG Black Ops Driver Collection to include a lightweight option is case in point. There are a lot of players out there who will benefit from this clubhead design, and we’re thrilled to give them what they need.”

Visit PXG Golf HERE

Upper Deck Golf Announces Game-changing Partnership with PXG

CARLSBAD, CA – Upper Deck Golf is pleased to announce that it will swing into 25 MLB, NFL, and College stadiums nationwide in 2025. The company is also thrilled to reveal a new multi-year partnership with PXG – a company dedicated to making the world’s finest golf equipment and apparel – to bring participants the most immersive experience ever.

Upper Deck Golf events allow fans to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime stadium golf engagement. Those lucky enough to snag tickets to the typically sold-out events will see their favorite stadiums set up in a unique way and play golf like never before, with PXG clubs and golf balls, from the upper decks, with no screaming fans.  

Upper Deck Golf Managing Partners Marc Bender and Adam Wachter released a joint statement, “We could not be more excited to launch a packed calendar of events for Upper Deck Golf in 2025. We have some very exciting initiatives planned that we know our participants will love. Equipping the courses with PXG golf clubs will add a new layer of fun and performance to our already immersive experience in iconic stadiums all over the country.”

Beginning with the first tour stop in Houston at Daikin Park, Upper Deck Golf’s participants will have a chance to swing PXG golf clubs on every hole and at every featured activation throughout the stadium experience. Driver to putter, Upper Deck Golf will be equipped with PXG clubs for golfers of all skill levels so guests can enjoy the game like never before.

Also debuting in Houston, Upper Deck will roll out a signature PXG hole-in-one challenge that will offer participants a chance to win a custom golf club fitting and a full bag of PXG golf clubs. This hole-in-one challenge will be a featured activation throughout the 2025 season!

In addition to sharing a passion for golf and creating exceptional experiences, PXG and Upper Deck Golf share a deep respect for veterans, and want to give back to the men and women who bravely protect our freedoms. Each event will feature a dedicated veteran’s hole where participants can scan a QR code to donate in exchange for two mulligans. All donations will benefit PGA HOPE. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.

Finally, throughout the season, Upper Deck Golf will host many special experiences, from appearances by influencers to legends of the game.

Visit Upper Deck Golf HERE

Nippon Shaft Wins Three Times Worldwide

CARLSBAD, CA – Players using Nippon Shaft products won three tournaments Sunday (Feb. 9) on the DP World [European] Tour, PGA Tour Champions and the European HotelPlanner [Challenge] Tour.]

The 29-year-old from China used N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR120 steel shafts in his irons to shoot 16-under par to win the Qatar Masters by one shot at Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar. He sank a dramatic 15-foot putt on the final hole to secure his fourth DP World Tour victory.

On PGA Tour Champions, the 61-year-old pony-tailed Spaniard used N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR105steel shafts in his irons and wedges to win the Trophy Hassan II by two strokes. He shot 11-under par with rounds of 70-69-69 at the 54-hole event, making him a 14-time winner on PGA Tour Champions. He came to the 17th hole tied with his playing partner, drove the green and made eagle to pull ahead by two.

On the HotelPlanner Tour, a 32-year-old Englishman used N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR105steel shafts in his irons and wedges to win the Cell C Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club in Cape Town, South Africa by two shots. In his first victory on the tour, he shot 14-under par 274 with rounds of 69-69-67-69.

“Nippon Shaft congratulates three outstanding players on their victories on prominent tours all over the world,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft. “Nippon Shaft takes pride in designing and manufacturing shafts for both professionals playing at the highest levels as well as recreational golfers who want to play their best.”

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands.  In addition, Nippon Shaft products are available through Nippon Shaft’s dedicated global club fitter network.

Visit Nippon Shaft HERE

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50 Words or Less

ACCRA Shogun is a family of three wood shafts with extraordinary performance.  Shogun Blue is extremely active and high launching.  Shogun Green has a traditional low launch, low spin feel and great stability.  Shogun Red is built for the aggressive swinger with excellent consistency and surprising kick.

Introduction

I’ve tested several ACCRA shafts over the years [ACCRA Tour Z RPG review HERE], and every time I’m left with the same thought, “If these guys ever got their marketing right, they just might destroy every other shaft company.”  Testing the ACCRA Shogun shafts was no different.  This family of three premium wood shafts is absolutely extraordinary though – in true ACCRA fashion – it defies the easy red/blue/white system that most shaft makers adhere to.  Read on to learn which one might help elevate your game.

Looks

The look of the ACCRA Shogun shafts screams quality.  In red, green, and blue, they have a gorgeous matte finish.  It’s hard to put into words, but something about the combination of the rich colors and the finish stands apart from anything else I’ve seen in a long time.

Graphically, the Shogun shafts are understated.  The branding and specifications are done in gold on one side of the shaft.  A subtle star-like geometric pattern wraps around the entire shaft just below the grip.  On the “logo down” side, you’ll see a golden Japanese character and the ACCRA logo in tone on tone.  Overall, these shafts are absolutely stunning.

Feel

The three ACCRA Shogun shafts have completely different bend profiles.  Per ACCRA, Shogun Blue is the most active, Shogun Green is tip stiff with a softer butt section, and Shogun Red is stable “from top to bottom.”  I’ll discuss each one individually.

Based on those descriptions, you’d never guess that the ACCRA Shogun Blue is used by long drive competitors, but it is.  I was even more stunned when I swung it.  This shaft is only offered in M0 and M2 flexes – both “below” regular – so the feel of the shaft I tested was predictably active.  The intense bending demanded that I swing with good tempo and allow the shaft to do the work.  This was not a fit for my aggressive transition, but I could appreciate the feel of the shaft powering itself through impact.

For me, the next shaft up the feel ladder was the ACCRA Shogun Red.  This deviates from ACCRA’s description, but feel is subjective.  For me, the Shogun Red feels highly stable, but it does offer some kick when you give it your all.  It’s one of the most fun shafts I’ve hit because it walks a fine line of rewarding your full effort without being punishing when you don’t go all out.

The ACCRA Shogun Green felt most stiff to me.  I could feel a hint of a kick in the butt section, but it really took everything I had to get it to go.  I don’t know that I could call is smooth, but it’s certainly not harsh.  It didn’t laugh at my weaker swings, but it did feel indifferent to them.

Performance

Let’s start with the ACCRA Shogun Blue.  This was the prototypical, “It’s not you, it’s me” situation.  I blast through my transition like a kid ripping open a birthday present; the Shogun Blue is for people who neatly fold the wrapping paper.  When I made smoother swings, this shaft performed very well – a strong draw with slightly higher launch.  I will note that even when I made my normal, too-aggressive swing, the stability of the ACCRA Shogun Blue impressed me – the tip didn’t feel torque-y and the ball flight never crossed into snap hook territory.  This was also a good reminder that long drive competitors are absolute freaks – to swing this shaft smoothly while generating 150 MPH club speed doesn’t make any sense.

Moving to the ACCRA Shogun Green felt like playing an entirely different sport.  While ACCRA states that this shaft is for “smooth transition players,” I felt that it could keep up with my wildest efforts.  Feel aside, this shaft produced amazing shots.  The default was a straight ball with mid-low launch and spin, but I could shape it fairly easily.  I particularly liked that I could hit a controlled draw without fear of it turning over too much.  I’d also be doing cartwheels over the ball speed I was generating if it wasn’t edged out by its brother.

According to the company, the ACCRA Shogun Red is built upon “the legacy of the ‘GOAT’ ACCRA shaft, the SE 80.”  Based on my testing, the Shogun Red is definitely the greatest in this line for me.  The stability is unquestioned – this shaft stood up to my hardest swings and produced an extremely good dispersion.  It also created the highest ball speed I’ve seen in a while along with high launch and low spin for extraordinary carry distance.  But, for me, the appeal goes beyond the numbers.  There’s something in the feel of this shaft that rewards a good, hard swing and makes you want to hit another shot.  It’s addictive, and it might make this shaft my gamer for 2025.

The technology story behind these premium shafts includes both materials and manufacturing techniques.  ACCelaron MX is “an ultra lightweight 5K material” that claims to minimize ovaling (more stability) and recover more rapidly (added speed).  On the manufacturing side, ACCRA uses “Tornado Material Stabilization” to make the Shogun shafts.  They state that this “evenly distributes composite material strength around the circumference of the shaft” which should lead to superior consistency.

Finally, the ACCRA Shogun family covers a wide range of weights and flexes across the three models.  Shogun Blue is only offered at 42 grams in M0 or M2 flex.  Shogun Green is available in 52, 62, and 72 grams.  At 52 grams, they offer M3 and M4 flexes, akin to regular and stiff.  At 62 grams, ACCRA offers M3, M4, and M5.  For the 72 gram version, there is M4 and M5.  Finally, Shogun Red is offered at 62 and 72 grams, both in M4 and M5 flexes.

Conclusion

The ACCRA Shogun shafts cover a wide range of feels and performance characteristics while all delivering extremely consistent, high end performance.  This family defies simple categorization, so make sure to visit an ACCRA fitter like Club Champion to find the best model for your swing.

Visit ACCRA HERE

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50 Words or Less

The Srixon ZXi5 irons are incredibly impressive.  An arguably unrivaled blend of great looks, sound, and feel with strong game improvement performance.

Introduction

I usually try to come up with some kind of modestly clever introduction, but I’m just going to jump in here: the Srixon ZXi5 irons are well on their way to being my favorite game improvement iron of 2025.  I’m impressed with every aspect of this club, so let’s get to it.

Looks

The Srixon ZXi5 irons make an impression from the minute you unbox them.  There are interesting angles everywhere on this club, from the sole to the cavity, but the look has been cleaned up from the overly busy ZX5 Mk II [review HERE].  Srixon allows that geometry to speak for itself, pushing all the branding into the toe.  Limiting the paint fill to black and white furthers the classy, timeless look.  Also, the finish is outstanding – it straddles the line between a dull matte and a thin chrome that shows every scuff and scratch.

The address look of the Srixon ZXi5 irons is a huge part of their appeal for me.  Srixon calls these players distance irons, but I think they could be simply called players irons.  They’re on the thick side of that category, certainly, but I think the argument can be made.  If you don’t want to go that far, then the ZXi5 irons are the best looking game improvement irons I can think of.  The top lines and blade lengths are moderate, and there’s only a modest amount of offset (roughly 0.5 mm more than the ZXi7 irons).

Above, you can see the Srixon ZXi5 next to the ZXi4 (left).  If you want to see all the ZXi irons and their specs, Srixon has an outstanding chart HERE, but there are two things on the chart that don’t match what my eyes see.  Srixon’s chart says that the top lines of the ZXi4, ZXi5, and ZXi7 are all the same, and that the offset specs are almost identical.  I’ve looked at the ZXi4 and ZXi5 side by side, and I am 100% convinced the top line of the ZXi5 is thinner and that it has less offset.

There are probably ways for Srixon and me to both to be right, related to the measurement techniques and the impact of the club’s shape.  Regardless, I think there is a noticeable difference between the two models, but the transition is smooth enough that you could combo the two sets easily.

Sound & Feel

The look of the Srixon ZXi5 irons got me intrigued, but the sound and feel really put me over the edge.  My first shot felt great – soft and crisp.  Then I looked down and realized it wasn’t close to the center.  “Wow,” I thought, “if the toe feels that good, I can’t wait to feel the sweet spot.”  When I did hit the center, the feel was even better: it’s softer and deeper – a better connection from your hands to the ball.

Striking a premium ball creates a crisp “thud.”  That sounds a little contradictory, but the sound never gets click-y or snappy.  Good shots have a rich quality to the tone that does dissipates slightly when you hit the toe or heel.

Performance

Having fallen in love with the looks, sound, and feel, I started looking at the launch monitor data thinking to myself, “Don’t you screw this up!”  Thankfully, the Srixon ZXi5 irons have the performance to back up their amazing subjective qualities.

Srixon promotes the ZXi5 as players distance irons (I don’t love that designation; I’ll continue to think of them as game improvement), so let’s start with the ball speed.  Throughout the set, the ZXi5 produced strong ball speed that was remarkably consistent.  Looking purely at the ball speed numbers, you’d think I was a much more skilled ball striker than I am.  Consistency is going to be the big theme of this section, and it’s why I think so highly of these irons.

Turning to launch and spin, the Srixon ZXi5 irons are mid to mid-high.  This is another reason why I dislike the “players distance” designation for them – I associate that category with irons that launch and spin low because they’re focused purely on winning the launch monitor battle.  Turning back to that theme of consistency, I was really impressed with how robust the launch and spin were from pure strikes to poor ones.  Thin shots flew a little lower, but they weren’t worm burners.  The predictability of the ball flight was excellent.

Despite being forgiving and consistent, the Srixon ZXi5 irons have a lot of appeal to the better player.  Not only do they look, sound, and feel great, they’re workable, too.  This is thanks in no small part to the Tour V.T. Sole which makes the club feel almost like a blade in the turf.

Finally, Srixon continues to push the idea of combo sets with the ZXi line.  The ZXi5 irons are at the heart of these sets because you can combo up or down.  Better players may use the ZXi7 in the scoring irons and ZXi5 in the long irons.  Players who want more help can use the ZXi5 in the scoring irons and ZXi4 in the long irons.

If I’m being totally honest, I think the Srixon ZXi5 irons are so good they almost negate the need for a combo set.  I felt like the ZXi5 gave me all the forgiveness I needed in the long irons with plenty of control and touch in the short irons.  But, of course, that’s just my opinion, and you should work with your fitter to build your ideal set.

Conclusion

Whether you classify them as players distance or game improvement, the Srixon ZXi5 irons have set the bar very high for the rest of the class of 2025.  You will be hard pressed to find another iron this consistent that looks and feel this good.

Visit Srixon HERE

Srixon ZXi5 Irons Price & Specs

The post Srixon ZXi5 Irons Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter puts an aesthetic twist on the classic blade putter.  Beautiful finish and engravings.  Superb feel.  Forgiveness on par with standard Anser-style putters.

Introduction

Bettinardi’s Queen B putters have always steered toward more traditional designs, and no conventional putter line up would be complete without an Anser.  For 2025, that role is played by the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter, though it does show us Bettinardi putting their own spin on this classic.   I tested one to see if their tweaks go deeper than surface level.

Looks

At a glance, the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter is your typical Anser-style blade putter.  A second look reveals several differences that set it apart from the crowd.  Most obvious to me are the chamfered bumpers.  The flange is also slightly wider than normal, and the top line is crowned.  While I generally applaud putter makes that put their own spin on the conventional Anser, this one falls flat for me.  The softened bumpers contrast too sharply with the blocky shoulders and generally draw too much attention away from the ball.

The rest of the putter shares its elevated aesthetics with the other 2025 Queen B models.  The sole features a swarm of bees following the Queen B encased in a hexagon.  This engraving is done with the high level of detail that we expect from Bettinardi.  Also noteworthy is the Royal Rose PVD finish which pairs beautifully with the white and navy blue paintfill.

Sound & Feel

Unsurprisingly, the feel of the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter is every bit as satisfying as the feel I found in the Queen B 7 [review HERE].  Both putters are made from 303 stainless steel and feature Bettinardi’s Mini Honeycomb Face Milling.  The company states that this is “the softest Honeycomb face to date,” and I agree.  It’s soft but not mushy, gentle but not weak.  I didn’t feel like I had to hit the ball harder to get it to the cup, nor was I afraid of making an aggressive swing.

The sound that comes off this putter is a gentle “tock.”  It’s just clear enough to be called responsive.  Some soft-feeling putters can sound dull, but that’s not the case here.

As I noted with the Queen B 7, the Queen B 16 isn’t as demanding as many previous Bettinardi putters.  The feedback is there, but it’s mild.  You can get a great feel from a small miss while still knowing that the putt wasn’t perfect.

Performance

While the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter sets itself apart from the typical Anser aesthetically, the performance specs stay true to the original.  The plumbers neck creates a full shaft offset and “1/2 toe hang” or 4:30 or 45 degrees, depending on your preferred nomenclature.  This makes it an easy putter for the majority of golfers to pick up and use with no transition period.

The one specification that is a touch unusual is the head weight.  The Bettinardi Queen B 16 weighs in at a hefty 362 grams.  While there are certainly heavier putters, this is more than your average blade.  Given the prevalence of larger, often heavier, grips in the modern game, this slight boost in weight may be a necessity for maintaining a sensible swing weight.

On the green, I found the additional weight of the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter was helpful with my distance control.  I tend to having dying speed and am more apt to leave putts short than to hit them past the cup.  The added weight wasn’t so much that I felt like I couldn’t swing the putter normally, but it was enough to give the ball a little extra juice.

Finally, when it comes to forgiveness, there’s nothing that separates the Queen B 16 from any other Anser-style putter.  On close putts, anything hit reasonably well should find the bottom of the cup.  At longer distances, however, a good strike is required to get the ball to the hole.  Big mishits will stop short of the hole, leaving stressful par attempts.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that the beautiful finish and engravings will have Bettinardi collectors adding at least one of the 2025 Queen B putters to their collection.  Collector or not, if you’re seeking a high end, traditional blade with a slight aesthetic twist, you won’t go wrong with the Bettinardi Queen B 16 putter.

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