Equipment
Nike Golf signs Dave Stockton
Nike Golf has signed short-game guru Dave Stockton to assist with its product development and design, particularly with the company’s putters.
Stockton has worked with several of golf’s best players on their putting in recent years, including Phil Mickelson and Nike’s own Rory McIlroy and Suzann Pettersen.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of what I believe is one of the most innovative brands in sports,” said Stockton. “I look forward to sharing my putter insights with Nike engineers so they can continue to create amazing product that help golfers putt better.”
Stockton currently runs Stockton Golf — a golf instruction program — with his two sons, Ron and Dave, Jr. Stockton. He was previously associated with TaylorMade, where he also assisted with product development and design.
Stockton was known as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour during his professional golf career, which started in 1964. He won 11 Tour events, including two PGA Championships (1970 and 1976).
In 1991, he joined the Champions Tour, where he won 14 events including three majors. Stockton was also a part of three winning U.S. Ryder Cup teams — in 1971, 1977 and in 1991 as a captain.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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chris
Aug 22, 2013 at 12:42 am
dave stockton is an amazing putter and coach. he will do great things for nike’s putters and would not have signed with nike if they had not assured him a decent level of control/influence over their putter development.
dude knows what he is talking about. i was fortunate enough to have a couple hour session with him, his son and laurie hammer this summer and it has helped my putting immensely. if you ever have the chance to chat with him or get a lesson, jump on it.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:30 am
how much did it cost?
chris
Aug 28, 2013 at 11:16 pm
nothing.
Deacon Blues
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Lucas Glover won the 2009 US Open with a Method just a few weeks before Cink won at Turnberry.
I think Suzann Pettersen also uses a Method, though I don’t think they had come out yet when she won her only major (the 2007 LPGA Championship).
Zak Kozuchowski
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Stewart Cink also won a major with a Method — 2009 British Open
– Zak
Todd
Aug 21, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Tiger seems to be the only guy on staff that can use that Method Putter. I bet they bail on that and start making a Stockton brand of milled putters similar to Scotty Cameron. Seems like the other guys who play these Methods either don’t like it (Rory switching) or can’t hit the broad side of a barn (Stanley, Watney, Noh)
Blaise
Aug 21, 2013 at 3:03 pm
I like the idea of the stockton brand from nike, but they seem like to stubborn of a company. they thought they hit it big with this method, problem is it isn’t working for anyone. has anyone won a major with it? maybe Schwartzel did but he isn’t known for his putting either. I know when majors roll around tiger putts like he’s fresh out of that scandal.
GGG
Aug 21, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Cink won the British with the Method and Shwartzel won the masters, correct. I think the method line is phenomenal to be honest, its nike though and has a hard time selling. But you are right, If tiger or rory put a few of them together, they might sell..maybe too late.
Mark
Aug 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
It’s not the putter Todd, The biggest difference that these players have experienced since switching to Nike is definitely the golf ball. Tiger still uses the Tour D and these guys are all using the 20XI. ProV1 to 20XI is a radical change. I think the Method line of putters is one of the best putters on the market today, but the same cannot be said about their golf balls (or wedges for that matter).
Kyle
Aug 22, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Their wedges are unreal. Way better than vokeys. My opinion of course but don’t say Nike’s wedges aren’t good because they are one of the best, no doubt.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:27 am
I’ve tried their wedges on a demo day once at my local course and i have to say their great for attacking pins from afar but are terrible when used around the green but other than that i’m a pure nike head and also i love my method core it always has a good forward roll and a nice soft feel to it. i chose the core over the milled one because of feel the core just felt better to me.