Phil's Phrankenwood at The 2013 Masters

[RPMPIRE]

I wonder why he keeps tinkering around with putters especially when he's 3rd in putting average. Do you think he's "overly" preparing for each major?

[chriskzoo]

Originally Posted by reedf

I believe this actually stems from a tournament late in the season last year when Phil showed up with a TM 3 wood. Phil was out driving the others that were using driver and hitting way more fairways. Obviously Callaway is paying him too much to carry that club every week, but I think they're still trying to re-create one for Phil.

Phil is the same guy who, at the British a few years ago, elected to his 3 wood on a hole with a 265ish yard carry because the winds were blowing like 25mph and he was told before the round that in a high wind the 3 wood, with a higher trajectory should theoretically go farther than a driver because of the tail wind.  Needless to say everyone else was making the carry with their driver, Phil hits 3 wood and comes up short in the rough.

[Mr. Desmond]

The Frankenwood is a deep faced driver-fairway. I think Phil will hit that club off the turf if the occasion calls for it. At 250cc, a shorter shaft, today's technology and cup face - it's a beast with control ... at least, theoretically.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

Wasn't he raving about his new driver just a few weeks ago?

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

The Frankenwood is a deep faced driver-fairway. I think Phil will hit that club off the turf if the occasion calls for it. At 250cc, a shorter shaft, today's technology and cup face - it's a beast with control ... at least, theoretically.

This is just what the golf industry is looking for. A fairway friendly hybrid driver. If it works out for Phil, get in line.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

Wasn't he raving about his new driver just a few weeks ago?

Originally Posted by bplewis24

That's exactly what I was thinking.  I remember what, 2 months ago, he was blowing the field away at the Waste Management Open and all I heard was how he had a new driver in the bag that he had JUST put in the bag that week.  He was hitting it "20 yards further" and straighter than ever.  They talked about all of the interviews he gave pre-tournament about how great the new driver was and what it was going to do for his game.

That's right!  I totally forgot about that.  He wouldn't shut up about that his "RazrFit Xtreme" ... sounded kinda like when they interview the race car driver and he can never say "my car" or "the car," but instead has to say "the #24 Dupont Chevy" every time. :)

So I guess this means the honeymoon phase is over.

[Chas]

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE

I wonder why he keeps tinkering around with putters especially when he's 3rd in putting average. Do you think he's "overly" preparing for each major?

Well it's a plausible hypothesis - he may not feel he's completely "ready" otherwise - not doing enough to prepare.  Who knows what's really going on in his mind.  Maybe he'll rationalize all the tinkering to us all at some point.

[phan52]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

The Frankenwood is a deep faced driver-fairway. I think Phil will hit that club off the turf if the occasion calls for it. At 250cc, a shorter shaft, today's technology and cup face - it's a beast with control ... at least, theoretically.

My brother was down there Monday and Tuesday (with passes that allowed him early entrance and access to the players). He asked Bones what the "secret weapon" was and he said "3-wood". He was texting everybody that yesterday afternoon on his way home, and was crazy when I told him the guys on TV are calling it a 2-wood.

"PHIL AND BONES SAY IT IS A 3-WOOD!!!"  I'm like, whatever....

[iacas]

It's a small headed driver with the same face and build tech as their 3-woods. It's not a 2-wood. 2-woods don't have 8.5° loft.

[phan52]

Originally Posted by iacas

It's a small headed driver with the same face and build tech as their 3-woods. It's not a 2-wood. 2-woods don't have 8.5° loft.

I'm just relating what they are saying. I have no idea what it is. And my brother said Bones called it a 3-wood. Horse's mouth.

[nevets88]

Golf manufacturers have nowhere to go increasing the size of their driver heads, they've gone as big as they possibly can?

This is a stealth marketing campaign to get push "throwback" drivers for the next season?

[RPMPIRE]

Don't know if Phil will game it, but it looks like he's trying out a couple if X Forged irons in place of his X MB irons. Still tinkering to the last day...

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/blogs/golfwrx/2013/04/mickelson-spotted-with-new-iro.html

[bplewis24]

I find this thread/topic kinda hilarious.  Eventually TMZ and ESPN are going to have helicopters hovering over Phil's practice area at his home to determine if he's gaming anything new that particular hour.  Then we will have breaking news the following hour that he changed his mind.

[Rick Martin]

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Yeah, they are calling it a Frankenwood.  The USGA has certified it as a driver even though it's being called a 2 wood by Callaway.

Ph rankenwood.

Yesterday during his press conference he said it was 8.5 loft. He plans on using is past the Masters during the season. Better control, but "hot" off the face.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

Phrankenwood.

Yesterday during his press conference he said it was 8.5 loft. He plans on using is past the Masters during the season. Better control, but "hot" off the face.

What does "hot" off the face mean?  It spins a lot?

[Rick Martin]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

Phrankenwood.

Yesterday during his press conference he said it was 8.5 loft. He plans on using is past the Masters during the season. Better control, but "hot" off the face.

What does "hot" off the face mean?  It spins a lot?

High velocity, I guess. Control of a 3-wood, distance of a driver (or farther). Hot = distance, less spin.

BTW, last I looked, Lefty was leading the Par-3 contest. Guess he's not superstitious. Don't think anyone who has won the Par-3 has gone on to win the Green Jacket that year.

http://www.pgatour.com/equipmentreport/2013/04/09/phil-s-phrankenwood--it-s-a-reality.html

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

What does "hot" off the face mean?  It spins a lot?

Whatever Callaway wants it to mean?  Heck, what does "Speed Frame Face" mean?  I'm going with nothing ... but it sounds flashy.

Here's another question ... how does this club provide more control than a driver?  I thought the main reason why 3-woods were easier to hit straighter than a driver was exactly the same reason 5 woods were easier to hit straighter than 3 woods, and why every other shorter club was progressively easier to hit straighter than the previous club ... because it had more loft, thus mmore "backspin" relative to "sidespin."

Call it a 2 wood, call it a 3 wood, I don't care, but to me it's just a small headed driver.  And there is a reason why all companies have been making driver heads bigger, and why all players, including top pros, have been using those bigger headed drivers.

[jamo]

[COLOR=FF0000]Ph[/COLOR]rankenwood. Yesterday during his press conference he said it was 8.5 loft. He plans on using is past the Masters during the season. Better control, but "hot" off the face.

Hot versus a 3-wood, maybe. It's less than 15˚, so the CoR limit applies, no matter what Callaway calls it.