Equipment
Bettinardi releases military-inspired BB8-Wide Armageddon putter in honor of those who have served
Bettinardi Golf has unveiled its limited-run military-inspired BB8-Wide Armageddon putter in honor of those who have served, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Veteran Golfers Association.
Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, the new release from Bettinardi features a unique full tactical F.I.T. Face over Honeycomb face milling which is designed for extra soft feel at impact. The neck, bumpers, and sole of the flat-stick features engravings inspired by military insignias used in the army.
Handpainted in a military-themed “sniper” navy, gray and white color scheme, the putter is milled to 355 grams from Soft Carbon steel and comes with a matching Made in USA headcover and a red Lamkin Deep Etched Cord grip.
The BB8-Wide Armageddon putter costs $550 and will be available to buy at Bettinardi specialty dealers around the globe on May 23, and online in the Hive on Bettinardi.com.
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.
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
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
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
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...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Kevin
May 21, 2019 at 2:41 am
I would agree with previous posts about this not honoring Veterans. I served in the Marines and can tell you this is not how you honor veterans. I like the previous poster’s idea of donating all or most of profits to Wounded Warrior Project. At least offer a large price discount for Veterans. Now I like Bettinardi putters a lot, and understand that a company can’t just give a bunch of product out for free, but seriously Bettinardi you guys can do better than this.
JP
May 18, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Bettinardi has only honored profits here. If you want to honor those that have served, how about making a true limited edition of 100 and donate ALL proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project? I’d get behind that one!
.
How about honoring Fire House 54 that responded to the Workd Trade Center? Make a limited run of 54 putters and have those monies donated to the charity of choice of Fire House 54?
.
Do something more than line your own pockets with these putters that “honor” people.
Jordan
May 17, 2019 at 12:10 pm
You mean you don’t like it when an overweight middle-aged non-veteran shows up at the golf course with that Ping camo stand bag and headcovers? Weird, who would have thought.
Adam
May 17, 2019 at 11:52 am
Bettinardi is over-saturating and devaluing their brand by releasing all these “limited edition” putters
Will
May 18, 2019 at 10:29 am
How do you figure? They release a limited putter once a quarter and 20-24 Hive putters a month that are one of one.
I think the theme is cool, on a headstyle that is not offered at retail. Nice work Bob and Co!
Joe Taylor
May 17, 2019 at 11:09 am
Completely agree with Garrick. Shameless marketing.
Garrick
May 17, 2019 at 10:59 am
Another gimmick to cash in on American “patriotism”. As an army vet I dont feel honored and I’m sick of the exploitation.
D
May 17, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Commercialism for the sake of “just sell” in the capitalist world of America is what’s devaluing the country and Betti can stuff it along with Parsons
gunmetal
May 17, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Thank you for your service. I could totally see your (and others who have chimed in) point – but where they are donating a portion of the proceeds to the Veterans Golfer Association, I think there’s still a win there, no?
I did not serve. But I have two brothers who are active duty. Is it wrong for me to have a Ping camo bag or play this putter? Serious question as I always thought the only thing I was doing was in a very small way showing support by doing this. The last thing I would want to do would be to offend or annoy anyone in our military.
W
May 17, 2019 at 9:52 pm
Instead of spending the money to make these things and then selling them to make money on them, of which only a portion of given to charity and the rest pocketed for profit, why not just give the money in whole in the first place? They can still wave the flag and take photos being patriotic or whatever.
No need to waste time and resources making objects that are overpriced and sit around more than actually used. They cash money will be used constantly.
Steve
May 19, 2019 at 12:18 am
They’re a putter company, not a charity.
Steve
May 19, 2019 at 12:21 am
No, it is not wrong and it’s not disrespectful of you in any way, shape, or form. If you like the bag, use it. If you like the putter, play it. Stop worrying so much about what others think.