GEAR SHORTS Tiger’s bag for Hero, PXG putter heaven

So, here we have it. Tiger Woods is officially back at the Hero World Challenge and this time, there’s no backing out.

But what’s in his bag? Well, while practising at Albany, he gave some information to onlooking reporters, firstly confirming the Bridgestone ball and Scotty Cameron putter rumours.

He’ll be using the Bridgestone Tour 330S ball, engineered by pros for swing speeds above 105mph, which is also the choice of Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Brandt Snedeker.

“The golf ball is the most important club in the bag,” Woods told USA Today’s Steve DiMeglio. “It’s a lot of testing. But I’m getting my golf stamina back so I can do this.”

Read more -> Tiger Woods lands BIG new sponsor

And the rest of the bag?

Well, that’s all less clear-cut. While Woods is strongly expected to have a TaylorMade driver and woods in play in the Bahamas, he made no assurances of that being a long-term arrangement.

He has the same Nike irons and wedges in his bag that he used the last time he played – Nike Vapor Pro Blades (3-PW) and Nike VR Forged X3X wedges (56 and 60 deg.).

However, he added to reporters that he will continue testing various clubs to find the perfect shaft, lie and loft he wants in every club.

Read more -> Tiger Woods ‘nervous’ ahead of return to action

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Limited edition PXG putters

Have you written your letter to Santa yet? You might want to add one of these.

Only 560 of these limited edition PXG Gunboat Darkness putter have been made and each comes priced at a hefty $750.

The original Gunboat putters were available in either a chrome finish with black trim or black finish with chrome trim. The Darkness edition is all black with a black shaft and grip.

Darkness is also PXG founder and owner Bob Parsons’ nickname, as he regularly dresses in black clothes.

Read more -> Could Lydia Ko be set for PXG switch?

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DeChambeau and Microsoft

Another week, another story about Bryson DeChambeau’s unique experimentation with golf equipment.

According to GolfWRX, the American has linked up with software giant Microsoft and a Seattle start-up company called Sensoria to work on a prototype ‘smart grip’, which is designed to analyse pressure applied throughout the golf swing.

DeChambeau said maintaining consistent grip pressure was important and that there were no devices to measure that.

The grip has eight embedded sensors that return data and, as a result, DeChambeau has had these ‘smart grips’ already built into his existing JumboMax grips.

Read more -> Bryson DeChambeau considering bold putting change

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Olesen waves goodbye to Nike

When Nike staffer won the Turkish Airlines Open three weeks ago, he still had a Nike Method putter in the bag.

But, on winning the World Cup of Golf with Soren Kjeldsen, there were no Nike clubs left. The Nike Method putter has been switched out for a Scotty Cameron Newport Prototype.

And the rest of his bag? It’s all TaylorMade. He’s got an M1 driver, M2 fairway woods, PSi Tour irons and TP EF wedges.

And, speaking of the M1, it helped him launch this 403-yard drive at Kingston Heath.

A 403 yard drive?!

Here's @Thorbjornolesen going big earlier on pic.twitter.com/gzQSP0kVgz

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 25, 2016

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