Equipment
16 Revealing Photos from the RSM Classic
GolfWRX was live from the 2015 RSM Classic at the Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia. If you missed any of the albums, be sure to check them out here.
It’s a sad time of the year for a golf fan. This is the final official PGA Tour tournament in 2015, although Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge and the Franklin Templeton Shootout are still something to look forward to.
For a gear head, it’s an exciting time of the year, however. Players are more likely to make equipment changes now than mid-year, so it’s interesting to see which players are trying new clubs
We captured some photos of players testing new equipment this week, as well as some other revealing photos. Check them all out below.
Tour protos from TaylorMade
They feature an off-colored, raised sight line, but is it 21.35 millimeters above the putting surface? Check out our review and see what the significance of 21.35 is.
$200 says he can hit it through that door, over the patio, into the river, and make that pelican fly off its perch
You got this shot pards… It’s a hooded 4 iron.
If you haven’t seen Tin Cup, the “Pelican scene” is one of the best scenes in the movie, and possibly any golf movie… and possibly any movie ever. Some A+ commentary from Gary McCord throughout this movie, but especially in this scene. “Can someone get control of that guy?”
Nike Flexberry
Nike’s new Flex 440 driver looks like the company took a sparkly blue Vapor Fly driver and dipped it into melted RZN like fondue. Its resemblance to a chocolate covered strawberry is astounding.
See more photos of the Nike Vapor Fly Flex 440 driver here.
Warning: If your opponent’s putter looks like this, DO NOT play him for money
You should be weary of anyone that has a wear mark on their putter, no matter where it is. It means they practice hard, have had the same putter for a while and hit the same spot on the club face consistently.
Note to self: Keep my wallet away from Tim Weinhart, a local Georgia PGA Professional.
A lead tape masterpiece
This is such a beautiful application of lead tape on Derek Fathauer‘s Callaway V-Series fairway wood. It’s rare to see lead tape applied so crisply, with such artistry. It was clearly cut to match the curvature of the club, which lead-tape connoisseurs are sure to appreciate. But for the love of lead tape, please don’t let Phil Mickelson see this photo. We need not push him off the wagon.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, this should help explain it.
Dru Love’s clubs, like father like son
Is Dru Love playing his father’s old golf clubs? With a SLDR fairway wood, a Mizuno Fli-Hi 2-iron, Ping S55 irons and a Scotty Cameron Tour Rat prototype, it sure appears that way.
See more photos of Dru Love’s clubs here.
Chuckie 3 Sticks is the hero GolfWRX needs
No one tinkers more than Charles Howell III on Tour… well, maybe K.J. Choi. He’s constantly on a chase to become better, and find better equipment. He’s currently testing a PXG 0811 driver with 4 screws — opposed to the standard 5 screws — set in the forward position, thus moving CG forward, most likely for lower spin and a lower flight. He’s also wearing what looks to be FootJoy prototype shoes.
If there was a Gear Head Hall of Fame, Chuckie 3 Sticks would be first ballot.
Another pair of FootJoy prototypes spotted
And some tremendous footwork, too.
Vijay just refuses to stop grinding on the range
Some people have different passions in life. CHIII has golf clubs, Bubba Watson has the hashtag #urwelcome, Keegan Bradley has club twirls, Phil Mickelson has lead tape, Jordan Spieth has winning tournaments and Padraig Harrington has making the sound “eh” in interviews. Grinding on the range from sun up to sun down just happens to be Vijay’s passion.
Question to ponder: Do you think Vijay finds playing golf as an annoyance because it cuts into his range time?
Ouch
Patrick Rodgers, who’s testing Nike’s new FlexBerry 440, just put my back into a pretzel from looking at this photo.
But yet, a smooth finish. Impressive.
Davis Love III showing off new PXG 0311T irons and the USA Ryder Cup bags
I wonder if Tiger Woods will use the same Tour bag this year, except with “Vice Captain” under his name. He just have to change “USA” to… what’s his bag sponsor, again? It’s been too long, Tiger.
Breaking the rules
I see you rules officials with your phones out. NO TEXTING! The guy on the right knows he got caught, too. Such a guilty grin.
Pressure-sensing mats, the newest trend on Tour
If you’ve never used one, they are great way to see how your weight transfers throughout the golf swing.
Related: Where Tour pros distribute their weight at address
I need to know…
What is Jason Dufner listening to? What’s on his iTunes playlist? Is it Taylor Swift? Is it Biggie Smalls? Is it the Biebs? If someone could reach out to Dufner to confirm, that would be great.
Peter Malnati’s custom Scotty putter, and an interesting ball selection
The Missouri-grad uses a golf ball with the number 7. Personally, I don’t want numbers on my golf ball that I wouldn’t want on my scorecard…but he just won his first PGA Tour event, and I’m analyzing a close-up photo of his golf equipment. Keep doing you, Pete.
Home course advantage
Harris English is a member at Sea Island Golf Club, host of The RSM Classic. Surely there’s something comforting about using your own locker during a PGA Tour event.
Also, here’s an unexpected answer to a question you’ve never asked: What’s the difference between Harris English and Hudson Swafford, who also played on the University of Georgia golf team. Answer: Nothing!
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet




























Proofreader
Nov 21, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Very impressed that those TM prototype putters feature Cleveland golf technology.
Johnnylongballz
Nov 21, 2015 at 7:55 am
Love these articles, keep them coming!
Ryan
Nov 21, 2015 at 2:15 am
It’s not a prototype it’s just the hyperflex anyways great article!