Editor’s note: We were fortunate to have the lord of lead himself, Lead Tape Chronicles, contributing to our PGA Show coverage. Naturally, we had to ask him for a few items he’d like to situate some slabs on. 

Ping G440 Max 9-wood

I would put lead tape on the Ping G440 Max 9-wood (24 degrees). Personally, with the higher-lofted wood, I would set it flat and leave the loft as a stock number. With the flat setting, you have less tendency to turn the ball over with a draw. Speaking with Ping’s Marty Jertson earlier this week at Demo Day, he said that when custom-making the higher-lofted woods, they will make the shafts a little shorter than standard to keep the ball from ballooning on solid shots and mishits. Honorable mentions: The Ping G440 hybrid and the G440 7-wood at 22 degrees.

Odyssey AI Dual Jailbird 1/2 Ball DB

This caught my eye with the story of the Odyssey Jailbird. Released in January 2014 and rediscovered 10 years later on tour by Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark, Odyssey has released a new model for 2026 in the AI Dual line. The putter has a solid feel and sound off the face. The alignment with a horizontal line in the half ball is a new look for the Jailbird.

Bushnell Tour V7S

The Bushnell Tour V7S is fast and responsive with vibration when locked to the target. The actual yardage is in red, and the adjusted number is in green at the bottom of the scope. Bushnell Golf’s exclusive BITE magnetic mount provides a convenient way of getting the range finder on and off the cart bar. I really enjoyed the rangefinder’s size and the speed at which it locked onto the target. It can pair with Bushnell’s MyBag app as well.

Cleveland RTZ Z-Alloy wedge

This wedge caught my eye not only from the looks and variety of grinds, but also from the material of the wedge itself. Speaking with Cleveland-Srixon’s Clint Zitterkopf, the leading edge and grooves can last up to two times longer solely based on the Z-Alloy material. The material is unique, as even the raw finish will not rust over time. Wedge finishes come in Tour Rack (Raw), Black Satin, and Tour Satin.

Mizuno Pro S-3 irons

I liked the look of these irons due to their thin top line and thinner sole. The blade’s appearance at address, with perimeter weighting, is a very modern look that blends two styles that were often kept separate years ago. The look of these irons will stand the test of time and cover a wide range of turf conditions.