What’s In My Bag: Eric Cole – Australian Golf Digest

by Admin
September 12, 2024

My mom [former LPGA player Laura Baugh] didn’t mess with her clubs much, but my dad [former PGA Tour player Bobby Cole] was very precise with his equipment. That said, I’m more like my mom. I trust the people who work on my equipment, and I think the less I know about it, the better. —With E. Michael Johnson

DRIVER SPECS: PXG 0311 Black Ops, 9°, Project X Evenflow Riptide LX 70 6.5 shaft, 45.25 inches.

I recently put this new driver in the bag. It’s a little more forgiving on off-center hits and has slightly faster ball speed than my previous gamer. If I’m not losing forgiveness, and I’m gaining speed, then it makes the decision to switch easy. The shaft is the same as my previous driver.

false PXG 0311 Black Ops $600 | Golf Galaxy 4.5 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $600

The standard model—the most forgiving of the two—features more stability on off-center hits from heel to toe (by a little) and top to bottom (by 25 percent). This means some off-center hits have ball speeds consistent with center hits. The way the new titanium alloy in the face deflects at impact yields higher flight with less spin. Meanwhile, the lightweight carbon-composite sections on the crown and sole result in a lower and deeper center of gravity compared to last year’s extra-forgiving XF model.

More on this club

BUY NOW DETAILS FAIRWAY WOODS

Justin Kase Conder

SPECS: TaylorMade Stealth, 15°, Project X Denali Black 70 TX shaft; PXG 0311 GEN5, 18°, Project X HZRDUS G4 95 TX shaft.

I don’t hit a ton of 3-woods off the tee, so the high launch on my 3-wood is helpful. About 18 months ago I switched from a utility iron to this 5-wood. It’s a versatile club trajectory-wise for me. The utility iron was too one-dimensional.

IRONS SPECS: PXG 0317 CB (4-iron); PXG 0317 ST (5-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid X100 shaft.

The 4-iron is bigger, more forgiving and easier to get in the air. The rest of the set is the blade-like ST. I haven’t always been a blade player, but with the firm greens we play on tour, I found I need the added spin, especially when playing knockdown shots that come in lower.

false PXG 0317 CB $180 per iron | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $180 per iron

Unlike the 0317 T, which has a hollow-body construction, the 0317 CB is a more traditional single-piece forging. With a longer blade length, thicker topline and wider sole, the CB provides a higher moment of inertia that reduces ball-speed loss on shots that fail to find the center of the face. The large weight in the back of the club can be adjusted during the fitting process (something PXG encourages) to achieve the optimal swingweight. The face is milled to ensure flatness and a precise control on thickness.

BUY NOW DETAILS

MORE: How Eric Cole overcame disease, a broken back and 13 years playing mini-tours

WEDGES SPECS: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50°, 54°); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60°), True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft.

You might notice the “No Excuses” stamping. It’s a family mantra. I use this club for all my short-game shots. I like getting used to using one club and relying on it. The 60-degree has a very aggressive grind and just 4 degrees of bounce, so when I open it up, the leading edge sits close to the ground.

false Titleist Vokey Design SM10 $180 | Golf Galaxy 5.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $180

The new SM10 line is beyond complete with plenty of options for those savvy enough to get fit for wedges. The center-of-gravity location received particular attention. The smaller profile and shorter hosel lengths (on lofts 46 to 52) help drive the CG low to make the transition from short irons easier. In the 54- through 62-degree models, the CG has moved up, forward and toward the center to promote a lower, more controlled flight. The “spin milled” grooves have been updated and when combined with a texture between the grooves increase spin by as much as 300 revolutions per minute.

BUY NOW DETAILS Putter SPECS: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon, 34 inches, 3°.

I used a center-shafted PXG putter for a while. A lot of good things happened with that putter, but I felt like I was being too robotic with it. This putter allows me to be more creative and more feel-oriented, which is how I prefer to putt. With the center shaft, I felt like I was trying to be too perfect. I do change putters frequently, and since this was shot, I’ve switched to an Odyssey model.

false PXG Battle Ready II $390 | Golf Galaxy 4.5 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $390

For all the bodacious TV ads, you might forget that PXG is dead serious about one of the less sexy aspects of the business. Fitting is central to PXG’s philosophy, and that’s especially true for putters. These blades, which feature super-thin faces supported by a feel- and forgiveness-enhancing polymer fill, come with an array of hosel options ranging from heel-shafted to armlock. The heel and toe weight ports on the sole can further customize the look you want fit to the stroke you have.