Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, has a set up that is different than every other player. See all his clubs at Winged Foot.
Here is a complete list of the golf equipment Bryson DeChambeau used to win the 120th U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club. For clarity, we have included the clubs’ lengths, because not only are all of his irons the same length, DeChambeau’s fairway woods both have modified 3-wood heads fitted on different length shafts.
DRIVER:Cobra King Speedzone (5.5 degrees), with LAGP BAD prototype 60X shaft, 45.5 inches long
FAIRWAY WOODS:King Speedzone Tour (11.5 degrees), with LAGP BAD prototype 70X shaft, 43 inches long; (17.5 degrees), with LAGP BAD prototype 70X shaft, 41 inches long
Golfers around the world can now play the same version of the Bridgestone ball Tiger Woods uses, complete with TIGER stamping.
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Many Tiger Woods fans were sad to hear the 15-time major winner did not enter this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, but Bridgestone, the maker of the golf ball that Woods uses, has given those fans a reason to cheer up. The Japanese equipment maker announced Monday that it is releasing the Tour B XS-TW.
In a release, Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone’s golf ball marketing manager said, “Tiger Woods has proudly stated that he has never been more involved with the design of a golf ball from birth of concept to final model, than he has with the new 2020 Tour B XS golf ball, so it is only fitting that we offer a version to consumers with the same TIGER sidestamp that Woods himself uses.”
Aside from the sidestamp, the Tour B XS-TW, which will cost $44.99 per dozen when it arrives in stores in the coming days, is identical to the standard 2020 Tour B XS. As with Bridgestone’s other ball made for tour-level swing speeds, the Tour B X, the Tour B XS is ideally suited for players who have a driver swing speed over 105 mph, but it has a softer feel than the Tour B X and spins more around the greens.
Like all the 2020 Bridgestone Tour B balls, the Tour B XS-TW has a Reactiv urethane cover that rebounds more quickly than other urethanes Bridgestone has used to help golfers generate more ball speed and distance off the tee. However, on pitches and chips, it absorbs shock and helps the ball stay in contact with the face to enhance spin and increase greenside control.
Tiger Woods rarely changes his equipment, but the 15-time major winner played the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open with a new driver and ball.
Tiger Woods rarely changes his golf equipment, aside from occasionally swapping a 2-iron for his 5-wood on fast, firm courses. So, it was noteworthy to see that the 15-time major winner made not one but two changes to his set up last week at the Farmers Insurance Open. One was obvious, while the other was subtle.
The change that was easy to spot was his driver. Tiger played last season using a 9-degree TaylorMade M5 fitted with a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 60 TX shaft. He used that club to win his fifth Masters and to go 3-0-0 at the Presidents Cup in December, but at Torrey Pines, he opted for TaylorMade’s new SIM driver.
The sole plate of the SIM driver is asymmetrical, pointing slightly toward the toe, for better aerodynamics. (TaylorMade)
Tiger’s driver has 9 degrees of loft and the same Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 60 TX shaft. The SIM has a single moveable weight that allows golfers and fitters to create either a draw or a fade bias, but Woods had the weight in the center of the track system, in a neutral setting. That should make the club more forgiving.
For the week, Tiger hit 59 percent of the fairways (tied for 18th in the field), averaged 297 yards off the tee (26th) and had a strokes gained off the tee of 0.302 (26th). For reference, that represents a four percent improvement in accuracy off the tee over Woods’ performance last year at Torrey Pines. He averaged one yard less per tee shot in 2020, but his strokes gained off the tee was up about 0.1, so it’s fair to say that Tiger drove the ball better with the SIM driver this year at the Farmers Insurance Open than he did last year with the M5.
The equipment change that many people missed last week was Tiger played using a new golf ball. Bridgestone updated the Tour B series of balls for 2020, and while the balls will not be available to the public until Feb. 14, Tiger used the 2020 version of the Tour B XS last week.
Bridgestone Tour B XS for 2020. (Bridgestone)
The three-piece Tour B XS is for golfers with a driver swing over 105 mph, but who want a softer feel and more greenside spin than the standard Tour B X, which is played by both Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Kuchar. For 2020, Bridgestone made a modification to the urethane blend used in the cover and the company claims it helps the ball create more speed off the tee plus more spin with wedge shots.
Last week at Torrey Pines, using the new Bridgestone Tour B XS, Tiger had a strokes gained around the green average of 1.518 (21st), hit 70 percent of the greens in regulation (T-24) and a had a scrambling percentage of 76 percent (3rd).
Here’s a sampling of all the new equipment recently released from major manufacturers that should garner attention as golf season kicks off.
With the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando completed last week, most of the major equipment launches for early 2020 have been announced. From drivers to irons to golf balls, Golfweek has covered them all. Check out the following 10 products, a sampling of all the new equipment recently released from major manufacturers that should garner attention as golf season kicks off.
The Tour B balls have an updated cover that helps to produce more distance off the tee and greenside spin. (Bridgestone)
The key technology in the second generation of Tour B golf balls is a new type of urethane used in the cover. Bridgestone calls it Reactiv urethane, and it contains an impact modifier that helps the material do some unique things.
Off the tee, the urethane rebounds more quickly than other urethanes Bridgestone has used to help golfers generate more ball speed and distance. However, on softly hit pitches and chip shots around the green, it absorbs shock and helps the ball stay in contact with the face for a longer period of time. That should help the grooves in wedges generate more spin and greenside control.
Bridgestone used a new urethane blend in the new Tour B balls to increase distance off the tee and improve greenside control.
Gear: Bridgestone Tour B golf balls (2020) Price: $44.99 per dozen Specs: Three-piece urethane-covered balls Available: Feb. 14
What happens when you take 900 engineers who specialize in polymer and rubber, and combine them with expert golf ball designers and the feedback of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods? The answer is the new family of Bridgestone Tour B golf balls, which the company said will give golfers the best combination of distance off the tee and greenside spin.
The key technology in the second generation of Tour B balls is a new type of urethane used in the cover. Bridgestone calls it Reactiv urethane, and it contains an impact modifier that helps the material do some unique things.
Off the tee, the urethane rebounds more quickly than other urethanes Bridgestone has used to help golfers generate more ball speed and distance. However, on softly hit pitches and chip shots around the green, it absorbs shock and helps the ball stay in contact with the face for a longer period of time. That should help the grooves in wedges generate more spin and greenside control.
The Tour B balls have an updated cover that helps produce more distance off the tee while boosting greenside spin. (Bridgestone)
In addition to the new cover material, Bridgestone’s updated Tour B balls feature the company’s gradational compression core design. Instead of using multiple cores, Bridgestone has engineered the core of each Tour B to be very soft in the center and become gradually firmer toward the outer areas. Bridgestone said this type of core helps generate consistent compression time for increased ball speed.
Like the previous generation Tour B golf balls, there is also a firm mantle layer to create more ball speed, as well as a dual-dimple system on the cover. The outer dimple is designed to create more height and speed off the tee, while the inner dimple promotes a shallower descent angle for increased roll in the fairways.
There are four Tour B models designed for different types of players and individual preferences.
Bridgestone Tour B X and Tout B XS (Bridgestone)
The Tour B X and the Tour B XS are designed for golfers who have a driver swing that is 105 mph or faster. They are both three-piece balls, but the Tour B X (Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau’s choice) has a firmer feel while the Tour B XS has a softer feel at impact and generates slightly more greenside spin. Tiger Woods is expected to use the updated Tour B XS this week at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
In a release, Woods said, “(The Tour B XS) gives me the right feel and has shortgame spin that exceeds my previous urethane ball. Off the tee, ball speed is up and this new Tour B XS is definitely longer while still being in my window.”
Bridgestone Tour B RX and Tour B RXS (Bridgestone)
For golfers with driver swing speeds below 105 mph, Bridgestone is offering the Tour B RX and Tour B RXS. Again, both balls are three-piece designs, with the RX ball being the firmer of the two. The cover on the Tour B RXS is slightly softer, so it should provide more greenside spin.
See all the gear that the American stars like Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are expected to play in December.
With Tiger Woods having announced his captain’s picks (including himself), we now know the 12 members of the U.S. Presidents Cup team that will face the International squad Dec. 12-15 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. Below is a list of the U.S. players and the equipment they are expected to use.
Patrick Cantlay’s Titleist irons (David Dusek/Golfweek)
HYBRID:Titleist 816 H2 (21 degrees), with Mitsubishi CK Pro Blue 90 X shaft
IRONS:Titleist T100 (4-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 shafts
WEDGES:Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (54 degrees bent to 53, 56 degrees bent to 57, 60 degrees bent to 61), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 shafts
