Spy on Equipment: Long Putters, Snazzy Shoes and New Mizuno Irons

Golf gear manufacturers release a lot of new equipment during the year. While the vast majority of offerings are simply updated, tricked-out versions of existing models, interesting stuff does come down the pike every now and then.

Here are a few equipment items that caught our attention in recent weeks.

Bellying up – way up

TaylorMade's Ghost Spider putter.

Every golfer of a certain age remembers Jack Nicklaus’ stunning Masters triumph in 1986. Most have forgotten the explosion of putter sales that followed his win. Specifically, sales of the mammoth-headed MacGregor Response ZT putter Nicklaus used to make all those back-nine bombs.

In the 2 ½ years following Nicklaus’ sixth Masters victory, MacGregor sold an astounding 350,000 Response ZTs. A similar boom is mushrooming now in the belly and long putter market.

Late-season victories by Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson put extended flatsticks front and center in the public’s eye. TaylorMade recently tripled fourth-quarter sales expectations for long and belly putters, and accelerated the timeline for launching long versions of its popular Corza Ghost and Ghost Spider models.

Cleveland and Odyssey have reported similar success and product plans.

adidas joins street shoe brigade

Constant innovation is a key benefit of the free-market system. And whenever something original breaks through to a mass audience, copy-cats are sure to follow.

adidas' new adicross golf shoes

Hence, Nirvana begat Bush, the Android rode the iPhone’s coattails, and adidas joined the parade of companies mimicking Ecco’s Street Premiere golf shoes.

The adicross is adidas’ entry into this expanding category, which FootJoy, Nike and startups like Kikkor Golf have joined. (For the record, we consider TRUE Linkswear shoes a somewhat different breed.)

What does adicross offer? Lightweight, full-grain leather, five color combos and, of course, a spikeless sole.

Not to be confused with soul-less tripe. For that, we recommend listening to a Bush album.

Rejoice: Mizuno intros new irons

Few golf brands inspire the loyalty of Mizuno, specifically, the company’s forged irons. (You’ll get my Mizzies when you pry them from my cold, dead hands.)

Mizuno's MP-59

There’s a new member of the esteemed MP family, the cavity-back MP-59. Like its forebear, the MP-58, the 59 features a hunk of titanium forged into the back of the blade. The company claims a 5-percent larger sweet spot on the MP-59s than the 58s.

Mizuno aims these irons at golfers in the plus-2 to 13 handicap range. In other words, you need to be a decent stick, but not a world-beater, to wield them properly.

Spy Review – Odyssey TI-Hot 1 Putter Limited Edition

Odyssey putters have long been on the market to offer excellence in the game of golf. When Callaway Golf acquired Odyssey Sports and their premium line of putters, we have never seen a game of professional golf without the use of an Odyssey. Enter the Odyssey TI-Hot 1 Limited Edition Putter.

The revelation of this elite putter from Odyssey is not only bringing in rave reviews but its limited edition status in the U.S. has golfers chomping at the bit to get their hands on the all-titanium constructed, tungsten weighted ports; with hopes of knocking off a few more strokes to their game. Only 1,250 Odyssey TI-Hot 1 Putters will be made available for sale in the U.S. market.

The TI-Hot 1 Putter has a precision milled titanium head which has a noticeably deeper and sharper milling pattern that provides a better feel, truer roll and more consistency in every putt.  The tungsten weighted ports are strategically placed in the sole of the TI-Hot 1 to optimize performance. This unique feature offers an ideal balance of feel, control and accuracy. The weights also lower the center of gravity, which causes a stable feel and a good sound on impact.

Odyssey’s use of an all-titanium construction allows the player to feel the softness that steel construction putters don’t have. The TI-Hot 1 Putter is designed for comfort and style with its crank-neck hosel, full shaft offset, and muted charcoal finish with the signature Odyssey logo – your fellow golfers will be asking you, “what is that?” and “can I try your new putter?” However, your final game score will speak for itself as you adjust to the ease of a true premium club, you’ll find that your confidence in letting the putter do the work is assured at the end of every hole.

The retail price of the Odyssey TI-Hot 1 Putter is $349.99; however with the limited edition marketing there may be those golf fans that are willing to pay more than the premium to get their hands on this model. Many retailers were limited to just a few putters to their inventory, which means your best bet would be to order directly from Callaway online. However, if you’re hoping to get your hands on one to try it out first, that may be just as difficult to do as purchasing one, which might just be the thought behind this exclusive model.

Additional features:

Odyssey Releases New Phil Mickelson PT 82 Putter

Callaway Golf announced the limited release of the Odyssey pro type 82 putter, inspired by the putter Phil Mickelson used to win the 2010 Masters. The pro type 82 features a sleek, blade-like design with a single sight-line running from the face to the back of the flange, as well as Odyssey’s latest insert technology, White Ice. Less than 3000 putters are available through authorized Callaway retailers in the United States; international locations likewise have limited quantities.

“It’s great to get feedback from our Tour Professionals, in this case Phil Mickelson, and turn that direct input into products for our consumers, with our latest inserts,” said Austie Rollinson, Principal Designer for Odyssey. “From a consumer standpoint, there is always demand for the putter designs that Tour Pros use and we are constantly speaking with golfers to see what they are most interested in. We’re thrilled to deliver these pro type replica models to the golfing public.”

Along with the sight line, the PT 82 Putter boasts a milled tungsten insert, which has been placed behind the face to ensure precise weight and feel. The putter is cast out of stainless steel with a PVD finish. It also features a PT pistol grip.

The new pt 82 putter is available now at a retail price of $349.

Odyssey To Offer ProType Phil Mickelson Putter

Callaway Golf announced the introduction of the Odyssey ProType 82 Putter, a limited edition design inspired by the same model Phil Mickelson used to win his third Green Jacket. Only 82 right-handed and 82 left-handed ProType putters will be available for purchase in the United States.

Beginning May 10 at 11:00 a.m. ET, those interested in owning one of these limited edition putters can sign up to be eligible for purchase on a first-come basis at OdysseyGolf.com. Each of these 164 individually numbered, limited edition putters features a green highlight on the sole, a nod to Mickelson's win at Augusta earlier this month.

The ProType 82 features Odyssey's new White Ice insert, with a Tungsten weight behind it, along with a single white sightline that stretches from the face of the putter down the back flange-a look requested by Mickelson himself. These limited edition PT 82 putters will also come with a Phil Mickelson Limited Edition headcover and a Black Series grip, identical to what the four-time major champion used to win at Augusta.

"I'm very excited that the designers at Odyssey have produced this limited edition putter with the same design as my gamer," Mickelson said. "Tournaments are won and lost on the green, which is why I rely on Odyssey technology. Our design team gives me the best chance to win. Odyssey's winning results on tour are a testament to their engineering capabilities."

Each of the 164 individually numbered, limited edition ProType 82 putters will be available at an asking price of $500.