Club Junkie

Can a more affordable shaft really compete with the premium options? This week on the Club Junkie Podcast, Brian Knudson puts the VA Composites Baddazz Gold wood shaft to the test. Designed to deliver premium performance at a friendlier price, Brian breaks down how it feels, how it performs on the course, and who should give it a serious look. Then it's time to roll some putts with one of the most...

The latest Club Junkie Podcast is packed with some of the hottest gear in golf. Brian takes an in depth look at the new LAB Golf VZN.1i putter, breaking down how it performs on the course, who it fits best, and whether the latest zero torque design lives up to the hype. Then it's over to the PGA Tour for a look at the latest equipment spotted at the 2026 John Deere Classic. Rickie Fowler has sever...

On this episode of Club Junkie, Brian dives into two very different flatsticks that have been getting plenty of attention lately: the Machine M12 ZTX zero torque putter and the HOG CSX Milled putter. How do they perform on the course? Which one delivers the best feel, forgiveness, and confidence on the greens? Brian breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of both and explains which golfers each m...

On this week's episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we deliver an in-depth review and head-to-head comparison of the new Cobra OPTM X and Cobra OPTM Max K drivers. We analyze the launch monitor data, spin profiles, and forgiveness levels of both heads to help you decide between the low-spin workability of the X model and the high-MOI stability of the Max K.Next, we take you inside the ropes at the...

On this episode of Club Junkie, Brian dives into the all new TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched putters and breaks down everything from the unique torched finish to the performance, feel, and roll on the greens. Are these Spiders just a cosmetic upgrade, or is there more to the story? Then, Brian is joined by Luke Williams from Odyssey Golf to discuss the highly anticipated Damascus Milled putters. Lu...

The annual What's In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that's performing best and explains what's separating the front runners from the rest of the field. Brian also heads into the workshop to dis...

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look. I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discu...

On this episode of Club Junkie, I dive into the brand new Ping i540 irons and talk about where they fit in the lineup, the performance on the course, and who I think they are really made for. There is a lot to love and maybe one complaint in the new i540 irons. The show also covers the new LAB VZN.1i putters that have started showing up, plus some new Graphite Design Tour AD shafts spotted out on...

On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, I head to the Titleist Performance Institute for a full driver fitting with the new Titleist GTS lineup. We dive into the fitting process, talk about what made the biggest difference in performance, and break down how the different GTS heads and shaft combinations compare on the launch monitor. If you are thinking about a new driver setup for this season...

The new Titleist GTS drivers and fairway woods are here and we’re taking a full deep dive into everything golfers want to know. On this episode of GolfWRX Radio, Stephanie Luttrell from Titleist joins us to break down the technology, design goals, player feedback, and performance behind the newest GTS lineup. We talk about what makes the GTS drivers different, how the fairway woods were engineered...

In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this i...

Fore Love of Golf has moved channels! Subscribe here on ⁠Apple⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠ for all future and past episodes. Well folks, we made it to Episode 50 which we hope is just a quick stop on a long journey with Fore Love of Golf.  #50 is a special one for us as we were able to bring on friend of the pod, Sean McDonough.  If you’ve watched any sports over the last 35+ years, there’s a decent chance you’...

I break down my first Top 10 Zero Torque Putter Rankings for 2026. From the biggest names in the category to a few under the radar surprises, I dive into what makes each of these putters stand out and how they performed. Talk about feel, consistency, forgiveness, and of course whether zero torque technology actually delivers on its promise to help you start more putts on line. If you have been cur...

Fore Love of Golf is moving channels! Subscribe here on Apple or Spotify for all future and past episodes. In Episode 49, the boys chat with Johnny Thompson, longtime Callaway Golf employee. Johnny has worked in some great roles within the company including years as a Tour Rep for Odyssey and Callaway. He has spent time on the LPGA Tour, Champions Tour, and PGA Tour and is now working as the Tour...

On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, Brian sits down with Andy Hennis from New Level Golf for a deep dive into one of the most interesting independent brands in the game. Andy shares the story behind New Level Golf, how the company approaches design and performance, and what sets their clubs apart in a crowded equipment landscape. The conversation then shifts to the brand new SPN V3 wedges....

In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we sit down with master club builder and fitter Eric Cooke from King Pine Golf for a deep dive into the world of custom golf clubs. Eric shares his unique approach to building and fitting, what golfers often get wrong about their equipment, and how true customization can unlock better performance on the course. We also get into some of his philosophies o...

I get to test out the new OVVIO driver shafts from Gears Golf. Gears created a shaft lineup to work with players swing types using their high-tech data. Every year we see tons of limited edition Masters themed gear from brands big and small. I break down some of the great items from some of the big EOMs.

What are the best fairway woods of 2026? Well GolfWRX just published their Best Fairway Woods list for this year and I break down who made it and a few who didn't on the show. Out at the Valero Texas Open there are some very interesting putters in some bags being tested. We have to jump in and talk about a few that stood out from Hideki, Marco, and Grillo with some special sauce! Finally, there is...

In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we take a deep dive into the new LAB Golf Link 2.2 putter and explore what makes it one of the most talked about zero torque designs in the game. From its unique construction to the feel and performance on the greens, we break down everything you need to know about how the Link 2.2 stacks up against other premium putters and who it is best suited for. We...

There are a lot of hot drivers out in the market this week and the new TaylorMade Qi4D has a ton of buzz going. I put the Qi4D up against its low spin Qi4D LS sibling to see how they are different. There are some really cool new putters floating around the Valspar this week and I have to break them down. Finally we run through what clubs are on the workbench for some tweaks.

Time to review the hottest irons from Wilson Golf! This year Wilson is giving us 3 brand new Staff Model irons with one, the XB, being brand new to the lineup. Wilson's Staff Model XB is a new hollow body design that gives golfers distance, forgivness, and great feel in a players size. The Staff Model CB and MB irons have been updated for 2026 with a new satin finish for less glare and refined sha...

Odyssey has some new putters with a interesting new insert and alignment aid. The new insert is called Ai-Dual and built on two layers of urethane for consistent ball speed and new FRD grooves for better roll. Odyssey features a 1/2 ball alignment feature that helps golfers frame the ball for better center contact. We also take a look at some of the interesting clubs and putters from the Arnold Pa...

I get to review one of the hottest shafts out of Korea, the Attomax Pro Atom Blue wood shaft! This $900 shaft features super high-end carbon fiber and an amorphous metal wire technology for added stability. I break down the new LAB Golf prototype putters spotted on tour. Reviewing the new Bettinardi BB Series putters has been awesome and I am really liking the new Variable Depth Fly Mill face. It...

Time to finally review the new Ping G440 K driver! Ping did a great job with keeping the G440 K super forgiving and stable while making it long. Great ball speed for a straight driver. Breakdown a few Scotty Cameron putters from the 2026 Genesis, including Hideki's latest flat stick.

This week I review the new 2026 Scotty Cameron Phantom putter line. I have both the Phantom 5.5 and 9R putters in-hand that I have been rolling for a bit now. The new SCS face insert offers a softer feel and I like the new look of the 9R. Callaway has a few new items on the USGA conforming list and I have two club projects to build that I let you know about.