Articles by E. Michael Johnson

December 17th, 2024

Bryson’s 3D-printed irons, Tiger’s rusty wedge, Fitzy’s cracked driver and five other notable equipment stories from 2024

Whether a major champion using irons that were 3D-printed, a six-time PGA Tour winner putting in two drivers at the Masters or a fairway wood from 2006 finding its way back in play, here’s our take on the top gear stories of 2024.

December 13th, 2024

Cobra DS-Adapt and DS-Adapt Max irons: What you need to know

The new irons make meaningful moves forward with a new hollow-body construction that features Cobra’s largest cupface design in an iron to date for more ball speed.

December 5th, 2024

Bridgestone re-enters the U.S. equipment market with irons and wedges: What you need to know

What you need to know: With its first U.S. club launch in several years, Bridgestone isn’t just dipping it toe back into the water but jumping right in with three iron models: the 220 MB, the 221 CB, and the 222 CB+, all of which feature forged construction and precision-milled grooves. A line of BRM2 Read more…

December 4th, 2024

How to play ’11’: A game that involves plenty of strategy

Golf Games Explained is exactly what it sounds like. You want to mix it up and try something new for once? Well, someone has to do the thankless work of playing different golf formats and telling you if it’s worth it. You can thank me later. I recently was introduced to 11—a game I had Read more…

November 27th, 2024

Only one company can legally describe a putter as a ‘broomstick’. Here’s why

In a recent online exchange, L.A.B. Golf founder Sam Hahn was explaining why the company was dropping the “broomstick” terminology on its putters and replacing it with “sweeper”. The answer was eyebrow-raising.

November 25th, 2024

The clubs Maverick McNealy used to win the 2024 RSM Classic

McNealy ranked eighth in strokes gained/approach the green and T-2 in greens in regulation for the week.

November 18th, 2024

The clubs Rafael Campos used to win the 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Campos is the rare winner that did not dominate from tee to green (he ranked T-49 in greens in regulation) but rather relied heavily on his short game.

November 11th, 2024

The clubs Austin Eckroat used to win the 2024 World Wide Technology Championship

You wouldn’t think the 6,814-metre El Cardonal at Diamante course would yield to anything but a bomber, but Austin Eckroat navigated it skilfully – if without overpowering length – to capture the World Wide Technology Championship for his second win of 2024.

November 9th, 2024

The Hot List favorites of a physically-fit 10-handicapper, in his own words

Ryan Kroll is a 49-year-old stay-at-home dad and a veteran Hot List tester. A member of major-championship site, Hazeltine National G.C., in Minnesota, he’s used to difficult tasks—like discerning degrees of excellence when it comes to golf clubs. A 10.0 Index who plays two to three times a week and practices fairly regularly, the in-shape, Read more…

October 28th, 2024

The clubs Nico Echavarria used to win the 2024 Zozo Championship

Echavarria ranked second in the field in strokes gained/approach, racking up almost eight shots better than the field average with a split set of irons that encompasses three models.

October 25th, 2024

Cobra King Tec, Tec-X and One Length irons: What you need to know

An updated Cobra Tec and Tec One Length iron are joined the game-improvement Tec X. All are hollow-body designs that use tungsten weighting to enhance launch and stability.

October 21st, 2024

The putter switch that changed J.T. Poston’s career

Although Poston was more than serviceable off the tee, it was around and on the greens where his game shone brightest in Las Vegas.

October 15th, 2024

Bryson DeChambeau swears by single-length irons. Are they good for you?

We like this question if for no other reason than we recently visited the good folks at Cobra Golf, and the topic of single-length always comes up.

October 15th, 2024

Titleist formally debuts its 2025 Pro V1 and Pro V1x at same venue the ball was first launched in 2000

It has been two years since the last models were introduced and while the company, as per its custom, is mum on details at this time, it is part of its long-held seeding and validation process with its players.

October 14th, 2024

The clubs Matt McCarty used to win the 2024 Black Desert Championship

An older 3-wood isn’t the only intriguing part of McCarty’s bag.

October 7th, 2024

The clubs Kevin Yu used to win the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship

Making putts is the thing Yu did best in Mississippi. He ranked second in strokes gained/putting, bettering the field average by nearly nine shots while averaging 108 feet of putts made per round, also topping the field in that stat.

October 2nd, 2024

Tour Edge X725, E725, X725 irons: What you need to know

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Tour Edge’s latest Exotics iron line features the C725 for a more accomplished player seeking to reclaim some lost distance while the E725 appeals to the game-improvement crowd. A super-game-improvement iron—the X725—is a new addition to the line. PRICE/AVAILABILITY: Cost for the C725 irons is $129 per iron in steel Read more…

September 27th, 2024

The Hot List favorites of a 60-year-old middle handicapper—in his own words

Tom Allen is one of our longest-tenured Hot List testers. Having just turned 60, Allen is a 5-foot-10 six-handicapper with a self-described “dad bod” and declining clubhead speed (96 to 98 miles per hour with the driver, down from a high of 107 mph). An attoney, Allen finds the time to play a bountiful amount Read more…

September 24th, 2024

Whose ball should you play in alternate-shot? We have the answer

Question: My club’s annual Ryder Cup is coming up, and we play alternate-shot in one match. Last year, I partnered with a guy who plays a ball wildly different from mine. Is there an ideal protocol for choosing a ball for this format? Answer: The Ryder Cup used to be full on intrigue with regard Read more…

September 21st, 2024

Whether with a fitter or by yourself, getting the right putter is more science than art

A few years ago, Tom Morton, director of the Player Performance Studio at Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop in Sacramento, Calif., told Golf Digest that at best one in four golfers are using a putter that’s well suited to them. “Maybe. And that’s mostly by luck,” he said. One of the reasons for that low Read more…

September 16th, 2024

Patton Kizzire used a putter from 2016 to win the 2024 Procore Championship

Kizzire ranked first in strokes gained/putting, picking up nearly nine shots on the field, and second in putts per green in regulation.

September 13th, 2024

Does walking without carrying your bag lead to lower scores? What our modest test reveals

Welcome to MythBusters, a Golf Digest series where we explore answers to some of golf’s most common questions through a series of tests with real golfers. The COVID years were a challenge, but it did have benefits for golf. As a welcome respite and safe activity that brought scores of new players into the game, Read more…