Golfing News & Blog Articles
Stay up-to-date on golfing news, products, and trends from around the world.
What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of ECCO Golf?
Of all the words used to describe ECCO, “traditional” surely isn’t at the top of that list.
For years, ECCO has been at the forefront of golf shoe innovation with their fancy BOA-ridden silhouettes and Gore-Tex waterproofing. But in a classic “back to the future” move, the Danish footwear giant has released an all-new, old-school spikeless golf shoe—the ECCO Classic Hybrid.
The Details
Available March 22White and brown color optionsRetail $220A Closer Look
Highlighted by ultra-premium construction, the ECCO Classic Hybrid spikeless golf shoe lives up to its namesake with a classic dress shoe fit and finish. Unlike the golf shoes of old, the Classic Hybrid is fully up to speed in the performance category.
Beneath the leather exterior and classy façade, the ECCO Classic Hybrid features the brand’s FLUIDFORM Direct Comfort Technology. This refers to the process in which ECCO forms the midsoles for some of their shoes across a bunch of different categories, golf included. It’s basically a fancy way of saying the midsoles are molded in a way to fit the human foot, rather than just a flat board.
Rory McIlroy told the "No Laying Up" podcast this week that he supports the proposals to limit the distance golf balls travel when struck by elite players.
There are many great par 3 golf courses around the world, but here are some that are widely considered among the best:
Pebble Beach Golf Links (Par 3, 106 yards) - Located in California, USA, this iconic par 3 sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and requires a shot over the water to a small green.
Augusta National Golf Club (Hole 12, Par 3, 155 yards) - Home of The Masters, this par 3 is known as "Golden Bell" and requires a precise shot over water to a small green guarded by bunkers.
Cypress Point Club (Hole 15, Par 3, 231 yards) - Another California course, Cypress Point's par 3 15th requires a long shot over the ocean to a green surrounded by cliffs and rocky outcroppings.
Royal Troon Golf Club (Hole 8, Par 3, 123 yards) - Located in Scotland, Royal Troon's famous "Postage Stamp" hole is the shortest par 3 on the Open Championship rota but is notoriously difficult due to its small green and surrounding bunkers.
MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of golf balls. Today, we’re reviewing the 2023 Mizuno RB Tour X. To learn more about our test process, click here.
About the Mizuno RB Tour X
The RB Tour X is one of two premium urethane offerings from Mizuno. At $43 per dozen, it doesn’t strike quite the same value proposition of many direct-to-consumer offerings, but it is $5-$10 less than competitive offerings from the industry leaders.
Mizuno says the 2023 RB Tour golf ball lineup is a significant upgrade over the prior generation. It has stepped up the quality while changing the performance specs. Both the previous RB Tour and RB Tour X were what we would classify as excessively high-spin balls. Mizuno says the new balls don’t spin nearly as much and, while the RB Tour X is the higher-spinning off the two, Mizuno classifies it mid-spin (the RB Tour is classified as low-spin).
Mizuno RB Tour X Construction
With the new RB Tour X golf ball, Mizuno has moved away from four-piece, dual-core construction. Suffice it to say we found some issues with the prior generation, so it’s not particularly surprising that Mizuno, like others in the industry, has moved away from dual-core construction entirely.
XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition – Key Takeaways
Updates for XXIO’s ultra-lightweight lineDesigned for “moderate” swing speed golfersXXIO Prime Royal Edition, upscale even for XXIOAvailable at retail and online April 14
There are few guarantees in this world but the new XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition golf clubs deliver on several.
First, if you have a moderate (slow) swing speed, you will like the XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition.
Second, if the word “premium” does have meaning and value to you, you’ll like the XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition.
And, third, if you want to howl about the price of clubs, you’ll love the XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition.
When news broke of the Bridgestone Golf and St. Andre partnership, a couple of questions immediately crossed my mind.
The first: “Who—or what—is St. Andre?”
The second: “What did this Andre guy do to qualify for beatification, let alone canonization?”
Sunday School jokes aside, the Bridgestone Golf partnership with St. Andre may feel like another OEM-social media influencer partnership. In many ways it is. But when compared to the Good Good/Callaway and No Laying Up/Titleist partnerships, this one’s very different.
This one is strictly for fun.
With the PGA Tour changing its format in 2024, this week will be the last time, seemingly at least for the next couple of years, that a match-play event will be part of the regular season. Here's what to expect.
- TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver
- Callaway Epic Max Driver
- Titleist TSi3 Driver
- Ping G425 Max Driver
- Cobra RADSPEED Driver
- Mizuno ST-Z Driver
- Honma TR20 460 Driver
- Srixon ZX5 Driver
- Wilson Staff D9 Driver
- PXG 0211 Driver
It’s important to note that the “best” golf driver for an individual golfer depends on their personal preferences, swing style, and skill level. It’s recommended to get fitted by a professional to find the driver that suits you best.
Callaway Jaws Raw Wedge Line Extension – Key Takeaways
Updates, refreshes and additions to the Jaws Raw wedge lineNew High Toe modelsMore full-face groove, sole grind and LH options$179.99. Available April 7There’s much to like about the new Callaway Jaws Raw wedge line extension, not the least of which is how Callaway is describing the release: “a line extension.”
No fancy names, no updates, upgrades or enhancements. Callaway is simply saying it is what it is.
A line extension.
Don’t know about you but I kinda like that.
No matter the industry, a line extension is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives an OEM more stuff to sell and it gives consumers more choices. The downside is that the OEM has more stuff it has to sell and consumers have more choices to make.
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and more of the PGA Tour's top golfers will play in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play this week. Here is how you can watch all of the action on ESPN+.
There are many famous golf courses in Europe. Here are some of the most well-known:
St Andrews Links (Old Course) - Scotland: The Old Course at St Andrews is considered the birthplace of golf, and is one of the oldest and most iconic courses in the world.
Royal County Down Golf Club - Northern Ireland: Located in Newcastle, Royal County Down is consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the world, and is known for its stunning views of the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club - England: Located in Southport, Royal Birkdale has hosted numerous major championships, including the Open Championship, and is known for its challenging layout and scenic beauty.
Valderrama Golf Club - Spain: Located in Sotogrande, Valderrama is considered one of the best golf courses in Europe, and has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments, including the Ryder Cup.
Shot Scope X5 GPS Golf Watch – Key Takeaways
Updated/upgraded GPS and shot trackingIncludes dogleg and layup distances, full green viewsUpdated tags fit domed grips$299.99, available nowThe new Shot Scope X5 GPS golf watch/shot tracker isn’t exactly replacing the company’s existing GPS and shot-tracking hardware.
Maybe enhancing is a better word. So are updating and upgrading. If you’re into phraseology, improving upon works.
But blowing away might be the most accurate.
The new X5, at the very least, puts Shot Scope in the general neighborhood with other high-end, ultra-cool GPS golf watches. But when you factor in the industry’s easiest-to-use shot- and data-tracking system, a stout but not overwhelming statistics package and no subscription fees, you have an intriguing option.
Throw in a price tag of just under $300 and you have, in the words of Sherrif Buford T. Justice, an attention-getter.
Our Job Is Your Game
To celebrate 10 years of Most Wanted Testing, we decided to put on a head-to-head Best Golf Drivers showdown.
We pitted the very first driver to ever receive the title of Best Driver versus the Best Driver of 2023.
Callaway X Hot versus TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus.
Then Versus Now. Let the battle commence!
Testing Parameters
A decade of separation begs the question, “Is newer better?”
Ernie Els won the PGA Tour Champions' Hoag Classic on Sunday. It was his first win since October 2020.
Danny Lee birdied his final two holes for a 2-under 69 and then won LIV Golf Tucson on the second hole of a four-man playoff on Sunday.
Taylor Moore delivered the clutch shots to move into contention, closed with a 4-under 67 and won the Valspar Championship on Sunday when he avoided the mistakes that cost Jordan Spieth and Adam Schenk.
Matthew Baldwin claimed his first title on the European tour in style by storming to a seven-shot victory at the SDC Championship in South Africa.
Adam Schenk's late 5-foot birdie on Saturday at the Valspar Championship gives him a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood as he goes for his first PGA Tour win.
