The 5 Biggest Gear Stories of 2024

Between the Olympics, the majors, Bryson, and Scottie Scheffler having a career year on the PGA Tour, it was one heck of a season when it comes equipment stories big and small. So with 2025 in our sights, here is a look back at year in gear for 2024.

Bryson won the U.S. Open with curved-faced 3D-Printed irons

When it comes to crazy equipment, it was the year of Bryson. After a strong start to the season that included a run at the Masters, Bryson showed up to Pinehurst with a brand new set of custom one-off 3D-printed irons. The irons featured a curved face from heel to toe—a.k.a. "bulge" in the gear design world. New irons in hand, and after some dramatics coming down the stretch ending with a clutch up and down on the 18th hole, Bryson won the U.S. Open.

Bryson hitting persimmon at the Open Championship

After an incredible showing at the U.S. Open, Bryson showed up to the Open Championship full of confidence with his goal to win his second major in a row. Unfortunately, things didn’t come together as far as scoring was concerned but he was still ripe for a fun gear story before play even began at Royal Troon. It came during a practice round when he borrowed a persimmon driver on the range that Rickie Fowler was using on the range during an "Inside the Open" segment. Goaded by Fowler and other onlookers, DeChambeau began dialing in distances on his launch monitor aiming to out-drive Fowler's 170-yard mark before he was cut off in fears of his power snapping the shaft.

Speaking of older gear and shorter flying drives, Bryson also made an insightful YouTube video this year showcasing what a potentially rolled-back golf ball would look like, and in at least this gear writer's opinion, made a pretty fair argument that it might not be that big of a deal after all.

Scheffler switched to TaylorMade Spider putter

It was hard to look around and not see a golfer win with a Spider putter this year on the PGA Tour, but it was the year of Scottie, and after trying various options at the start of 2024, he went to a mallet and never looked back.

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Spider in hand, Scheffler won The Players, Masters, plus 7 more times including an Olympic Gold Medal, the FedEx Cup and at the Hero World Challenge.

Mini drivers everywhere

There wasn't a single category of golf clubs that got more attention this year than mini drivers. From TaylorMade updating theirs with a retro Burner-themed model to Callaway finally getting back into the game with an Ai Smoke Mini, it was a big year for the “mini” club. PXG also got into the game with their Secret Weapon mini driver which looks to coming in 2025, and Titleist had a prototype for players on the PGA Tour. If both of these prototypes come to market in 2025 consumers will have the pick of the litter for mini options.

Cobra updates adapter for newest line

For the first time in a long time, one of the big OEMs changed up their adjustable hosel adapter, now that's news. Cobra is leading the charge in a big way with the Future Fit 33. The number 33 in the name refers to the 33 unique setting options available, making Cobra’s newest DS Adapt line their most adjustable and customizable ever.

Bonus: Zero Torque putters keep on rolling

Zero Torque putters didn't have a TaylorMade Spider-type year of success on tour—but two wins on the PGA Tour and one at the Creator Classic isn't nothing. Overall, Zero torque / lie angle balanced putters had a big year when it comes to consumer sales as well as exposure at the highest level. With LAB golf leading the pack, PXG, Odyssey, and Bettinardi all got into the Zero Torque maket with their respective models and it will be very interesting to see how golfers react to having more options in 2025.