Rollback Balls and Fresh Gear: PGA Championship Notes

Unlike the Masters, which offers up a limited field at a course that many pros know well, the PGA Championship features a full field on a rotation of courses, making it the ideal place to spot a lot of gear changes.

So to help keep you up to date on anything and everything gear-related from the PGA Championship, here are the equipment stories leading into round one, with a special thanks to our friends at GolfWRX.com for all the in-hand pictures from the grounds this week

(Title Image: GolfWRX - Greg Moore)

New Lab Putter For Adrien Saddier

(Image: GolfWRX - Greg Moore)

First up, Adrien was seen using an new L.A.B. VZN.1i. which features a hollow area with weight distributed around the perimeter. In some ways it's like an Odyssey #7 had a baby with a Square to Square Jailbird, but I'm also willing to say that it's also similar to PXG's HotRod ZT or their Allan.

Either way, if we can take anything from the modern equipment cycle and the ability to manufacture new clubs faster, it's almost shocking we don't see more unique putter shapes on tour.

Cam Young's Ball Is 2028 Rollback Conforming

Getty Images

In what could be the most interesting gear story of the week (especially if he goes on to win), according to a Golf Channel report, Cam Young's Double Left Dot Titleist Pro V1X is conforming to the future USGA rollback guidelines.

This is based on the new testing method where initial launch conditions and total distance are tested based on a 125 mph club head speed, 2200 rpm of spin, and 11° of vertical launch angle.

If this is the case, as it has been reported, it sure feels like a blow to those who believe that there would be a significant change to the modern game with new golf ball regulations, and as Rory McIlroy stated during an interview on The Friend Egg Golf podcast (paraphrasing) "I think given enough time, the manufacturers will figure out how to get any lost distance back".

I guess the next question is: Does the USGA once again reduce the final distance testing standard, or do they go after something else like the driver head?

Knockout Spring Accessories

From TaylorMade's Founding Father-themed gear, to Callaway's Baseball bag, and even some boxing gloves. This week's limited edition bags, headcovers and accessories are a real knockout.

Hideki's Team even has some extra fun with it:

Even Maxfli got in on the action.

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Brooks Koepka Swapping In

Although he's never been known as much of a tinkerer, since splitting with his equipment sponsor Srixon, Brooks Koepka has made a few noticeable changes to the lower end of his bag - particularly his wedges.

(Image: Getty Images - Maddie Meyer)

He has got from Cleveland RTZ to Vokey SM11's, and put in play lofts of 48, 52, 56, plus a wedge works 60B Grind

(Image: GolfWRX - Greg Moore)

Another change once again for Brooks is also his putter, and after testing a bunch of options earlier in the week from Scotty Cameron and TaylorMade, it appears that he will take on the PGA with a new Spider Tour-V.

RELATED: GolfWRX - Brooks Koepka - WITB - 2026 PGA Championship

Justin Rose's McLaren Road Trip Continues

As first spotted by Golf Digest's Jonathan Wall (a true friend of the program), Justin Rose had two bags filled with irons on the range Tuesday at Aronimink.

Considering his strong play leading up to the Masters this year, I'm hoping that this is just Justin being Justin as he gets settled into his new McLaren irons, especially considering his previously strong play at Aronimink.

RELATED: Inside McLaren Golf’s First Real Equipment Drop

Keith Mitchel with Qi4D LS

Sure, I'm a little late to the party since this actually happened a couple of weeks ago at the Cadillac Championship, but Keith Mitchell has moved into a TaylorMade Qi4D LS driver from his tried and tested Mizuno ST-Z.

For a guy who is one of the longest and straightest drivers in the game (with his Mizuno), this is a bit of an odd move to see, but it could be that he was messing around with the Qi4D and found something he really liked. When looking at his stats from the Cadillac at Doral, he was lower than his tour average so far in stroked gained off the tee for the week, but also happen to hit the longest driver of the week, that measured 389 (freaking) yards!

Let's Talk Some Old

(Image: GolfWRX - Greg Moore)

Before we get into the event, I think with so much talk about new gear, it's also important to acknowledge some of the OG's still kicking around some golf bags, including Martin Kaymer's SLDR hybrid, and Brandt Snedeker's 2017 TaylorMade M2 driver.

Its goes to show that you can can some of the best access in the world to new clubs, and its still hard to give up on some of your favorites!

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