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Justin Rose announces new capsule collection with Bonobos

Justin Rose releases a new golf collection with Bonobos featuring pieces for spring and summer style.

Justin Rose has spent his time co-designing a capsule with Bonobos. Rose, a former World No. 1 and U.S. Open champion, has been sporting the popular menswear’s clothing on the PGA Tour since becoming an ambassador in 2019, and said its stylish look has pushed him out of his comfort zone while still allowing him to feel comfortable to go inside a Starbucks for a cup of coffee before or after his round.

The Justin Rose Golf Collection gives a look into a spring and summer wardrobe with pants, polos and shorts that are intended for on and off the golf course.

Golfweek’s Averee Dovsek spoke with Justin on Instagram Live to discuss his inspiration for the collection, who he considers icons of style in the golf world and some of his favorite pieces in the capsule below.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CL4wliJlQda/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Justin Rose Performance Polo features a soft jersey fabric with UPF 50 protection. This polo comes in several eye-catching patterns and prints and its fabric is moisture wicking, breathable and stretchy for extreme comfort during your day.

Rose mentioned that his favorite polo in the collection was the White Sunday Roses Polo. He jokingly noted that the green stems of the rose would be paired nicely with a green jacket at Augusta for the 2021 Masters.

Rose talked about how the Tour Pants and Shorts in his capsule are functional and stylish. He wanted to escape the classic golf pant and move into something a bit more modern. He feels that the collection does just that.

Both bottoms are water repellant with UPF 50 protection. The gripped waistband and pockets large enough to hold a scorecard are designed for your new low round or post-round drinks in the clubhouse.

You can see more of the Justin Rose Golf Collection in action here or visit Bonobos’ website.

Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5, 5.5, 11, 11.5 putters

Scotty Cameron extends Titleist’s mallet putter lineup with two models designed to provide more feel and stability.

Gear: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5, 5.5, 11, 11.5 putters
Price: $429 each
Specs: Milled 303 stainless steel with aluminum and adjustable sole weights
Available: March 26

Last season brought an update to the Scotty Cameron Select line of blade-style putters, so this year it is the mallet putters’ turn to be refreshed. While there are several mid-size and high-MOI mallets in the Phantom X lineup introduced two years ago carrying over into 2021, Titleist’s putter maker has added two new models with different neck configurations for players who want more forgiveness and feel.

The Phantom X 5 and X 5.5 share the same head, which is milled from a piece of 303 stainless steel and has extensions in the heel and toe area. But instead of keeping the entire head solid, which could make the putter extremely heavy, Cameron replaced a significant portion of the bottom of the head with aluminum, which is a much lighter material, and then added a pair of weights in the heel and toe area. The weights are not designed to be changed by golfers, but fitters can swap the weights out to adjust the club’s swing weight based on its length and a player’s preferences.

Scotty Cameron Phantom X putters — Adjustable weights on the bottom of the Phantom X putters allow the swing weight to be changed easily. (Titleist)

Where the two putters vary is in the neck. The Phantom X 5 has a single-bend in the shaft that makes it face balanced and ideal for players who have a straight-back, straight-through stroke. The Phantom X 5.5 has a small slant neck which creates a small amount of toe hang. It is very similar to the putter that Justin Thomas plays and is better suited for players who have a slightly-arced putting stroke.

The Phantom X 11 and X 11.5 are similarly shaped to the X 5 and X 5.5, but they are slightly larger and have extra steel pieces at the end of the heel and toe wings. Again, the silver-toned areas are milled 303 stainless steel, and the darker sections are aluminum to save weight. The larger profile increases stability and the moment of inertia to make the X 11 and X 11.5 more resistant to twisting on off-center hits.

The difference between the two putters, again, is found in the neck. The Phantom X 11 has a high-bend neck and is face balanced; the Phantom X 11.5 has a single bend that is lower, which encourages more movement in the toe portion of the putter, so it is better for golfers who have an arched stroke.

New golf equipment for 2021: Footwear

See all the latest golf shoes from Adidas, Ecco, FootJoy, G/Fore, Puma, Under Armour and more.

This story first appeared in the February issue of Golfweek Magazine.

White shoes with a black saddle. White shoes with a brown saddle. All white. All black. It seemed golf shoes were trapped in an endless cycle of conformity for decades.

Thankfully, those days are over. While there are plenty of golfers who still love to play in classic-looking footwear, the trend is toward athletic-looking golf shoes with bold colors and sporty styles. From posh private clubs to municipal tracks, more and more golfers are wearing shoes that resemble something that might be seen at a 10K race.

That does not mean these shoes are short on golf-specific details. Manufacturers study how golfers put stress on their feet during the swing, looking at various traction elements and how cleats dig into the grass. They are always tinkering with new materials that provide pillow-like cushioning without increasing weight.

But regardless of the style of shoe you prefer, getting footwear that fits properly is key. Walking a course can easily involve strolling four or five miles up and down hills, and even if you ride in a cart, you will walk a lot during your round.

Shoes that are too tight are never comfortable, and footwear that is too big can rob you of traction and potentially lead to blisters. Your shoes should flex under the balls of your feet to ensure both comfort and traction when you walk, yet they need to be rigid enough to keep you locked to the turf so you can maintain your balance off the tee.

Here are several new options that are sure to be popular this spring.

TaylorMade Spider EX putter

The newest Spider putter blends multimaterial construction with a high moment of inertia and a grooved face insert for a better roll.

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Gear: TaylorMade Spider EX putter
Price: $349.99 with Super Stroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip
Specs: Aluminum and carbon-fiber frame with steel and tungsten weights, and grooved face insert. Available in 33-inch, 34-inch and 35-inch versions.
Available: March 12

The first TaylorMade Spider putters were spotted in 2009, and they were big. Tarantula might have been a better name, but there was no denying the Spider was forgiving and extremely stable.

Golfers loved them or hated them, but in 2015, TaylorMade struck gold after Jason Day won the Players Championship using a customized, red Spider Tour Itsy Bitsy. That year Day used the compact mallet to average +1.13 in strokes gained putting for a season. It was the first time a golfer on the PGA Tour finished a season with an average above 1. Many other pros and recreational golfers followed Day’s lead and made compact mallets designed for arced putting strokes trendy.

Since then TaylorMade has refined the Spider putters, and for 2021 its newest offering is the Spider EX, which relies on the same winning recipe.

TaylorMade Spider EX putter — The Spider EX has steel weights in the heel and toe areas, along with tungsten weights in the back. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

The new Spider EX is a variation of the Spider X putter that Rory McIlroy has often used. The frame’s perimeter is made from lightweight aluminum, with the center section made from carbon fiber. Using those materials saved a significant amount of weight and allowed designers to add 28-gram steel weights in the heel and toe areas and tungsten weights in the back heel and toe portions of the head. While custom fitters can change the tungsten weights to modify the club’s swing weight, the extra mass boosts the moment of inertia and makes the Spider EX much more stable.

To encourage the ball to roll instead of skid as it comes off the face, TaylorMade gave the Spider EX a new Pure Roll² insert. The insert contains thermoplastic polyurethane surrounding eight aluminum grooves that point downward at a 45-degree angle. TaylorMade said the grooves grab the back of the ball at impact and pull it upward to get it rolling, while the TPU portion softens impact and enhances feel.

The Spider EX is available in three colorways, and each has a large, white alignment aid with three dots extending back from the topline. TaylorMade refers to the system as True Path and said it should make it easier for golfers to align the putter behind the ball and aim the face on the desired target line.

Finally, a new KBS putter shaft comes standard on the Spider EX with a softer tip section to improve feel.

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS golf ball

Callaway is enhancing its premium ball franchise with the release of a low-spin model for players who want a lower flight and more distance.

Gear: Callaway Chrome Soft X LS golf ball
Price: $47.99 per dozen
Specs: Four-piece, urethane-covered ball. Available in white or yellow and with Triple Track alignment lines
Available: March 18

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Callaway updated its flagship premium golf balls, the Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X, in 2020. The focus was on getting more speed from a larger core, creating a higher launch on approach shots and maintaining greenside spin. For most golfers, higher-flying shots create a steeper descent angle, and that can help players stop the ball faster on the greens for enhanced distance control.

However, some players create excessive spin both off the tee and from the fairway, so Callaway is expanding the Chrome Soft family with the introduction of the Chrome Soft X LS for those players.

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS golf balls — The Chrome Soft X LS has a large core, two mantle layers and a urethane cover. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

The Chrome Soft X, a four-piece ball with a urethane cover, is the most-played Callaway ball on the PGA Tour, and it was the inspiration for the Chrome Soft X LS. The new low-spin version also features a large core, a dual mantle system and a proprietary urethane cover to enhance spin around the greens.

To reduce spin off the tee, Callaway gave the Chrome Soft X LS a different dimple pattern. Yes, the dimples are still hexagonal, but the new pattern decreases drag, Callaway said, to reduce spin on fast-swinging shots.

The Chrome Soft X LS will be available in white and yellow, and there will be white and yellow versions available with Callaway’s Triple Track alignment system as well.

Winner’s Bag: Collin Morikawa, WGC-Workday Championship

A complete list of the golf equipment Collin Morikawa used to win the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship.

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A complete list of the golf equipment Collin Morikawa used to win the 2021 World Golf Championships-Workday Championship:

DRIVER: TaylorMade SIM (8 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade SIM Titanium (14 degrees), SIM2 (19 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX shafts

IRONS: TaylorMade P-7MC (4-6), TaylorMade P730 (7-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (52, 56 degrees), TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider FCG

BALL: TaylorMade TP5

GRIPS: Golf Pride Z Grip (full swing) / SuperStroke Traxion Tour 1.0 (putter)

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Winner’s Bag: Branden Grace, Puerto Rico Open

A complete list of the gear South Africa’s Branden Grace used to win the PGA Tour’s 2021 Puerto Rico Open.

A complete list of the golf equipment Branden Grace used to win the PGA Tour’s 2021 Puerto Rico Open:

DRIVER: Callaway Epic Speed (9 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana TB 60 shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (16.5 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus 6 Blue shaft

IRONS: Callaway Apex UT (3), with Fujikura prototype shaft, X Forged CB (4-PW), with Project X 6.5 shafts

WEDGES: Callaway JAWS MD5 (52, 56, 60 degrees), with Project X 6.5 shafts

PUTTER: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

GRIPS: Golf Pride MCC (full swing) / SuperStroke Taxion Claw 1.0 (putter)

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New golf equipment for 2021: Irons

Whether you are in the market for game-improvement irons, muscleback blades or something in between, check out the newest irons for 2021.

The holidays are a distant memory but ’tis the season for new golf equipment to be arriving at your local pro shop and golf specialty store. We showed you the abundance of new drivers, and now it is time to focus on irons.

The trend in irons is to utilize unique materials and construction to not only allow golfers to hit the ball farther and higher but to get better performance on mis-hit shots. However, this season there are not just game-improvement and max game-improvement irons for mid- and higher-handicap golfers. We are also seeing a bumper crop of irons designed for experienced golfers who have repeatable, powerful swings and demand feel and control.

The best way to figure out which new iron is ideal for your game is to work with a good custom fitter, use a launch monitor and test several models and shafts.

Tour Edge Exotics C721 and E721 irons

The newest irons from Tour Edge feature a new vibration-dampening system and a unique face technology to maximize distance.

In October, Tour Edge released the latest budget-friendly, distance-oriented Hot Launch woods and irons, the E521 family. All those clubs were designed to hit the ball high, straight and far.

Tour Edge’s other family of clubs is the Exotics line, and with the two newest Exotics irons, the C721 and E721, the Batavia, Ill.-based company is setting its eyes on the player’s-distance market and the game-improvement category using several high-tech features and cutting-edge design elements.

The two irons share a pair of crucial features that are new for Tour Edge. First is Dual VibRCOR, a vibration-dampening material used to enhance feel. Second is Diamond Face 2.0, a face-design element engineered to help the hitting area flex more efficiently for increased distance.

Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedge

Wilson’s newest wedges are designed for accomplished players who demand feel, control and spin from tight lies and firm conditions.

Gear: Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedge
Price: $129.99 each with True Temper Dynamic Golf X100 120 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip
Specs: Forged 8620 carbon steel with milled face. Available in 56-, 58- and 60-degree versions.

Wilson has made it easy for golfers to get a feel for which clubs are designed for various types of players, with C Series gear being control-oriented and D Series products made with distance in mind. Over the past few seasons, new Staff Model irons and wedges also appeared, and they are constructed with accomplished golfers in mind. The irons tend to have thin toplines, narrow soles and less offset than other Wilson clubs, so they have found their way into the bags of players such as 2019 U.S. Open winner Gary Woodland, Brendan Steele and recent signee Kevin Chappell.

In keeping with that tradition, Wilson’s new Staff Model Tour Grind wedges were designed for golfers who want versatility around the greens, tend to sweep the ball and find themselves needing to play shots from tight lies.

Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedge — The Staff Model Tour Grind wedges have moderate bounce. (Wilson)

Forged from 8620 carbon steel for a soft feel at impact, the Staff Model Tour Grind wedges are available only in sand wedge and lob wedge lofts (56-60 degrees) and have moderate bounce (10-12 degrees). A significant amount of material has been ground out of the heel and toe areas, which should make it easier to open the face, get the leading edge under the ball and still receive the benefit of the bounce.

To enhance spin, Wilson mills the face of each Staff Model Tour Grind wedge before machining the grooves into the hitting area. This helps ensure the face is perfectly flat for consistency.