Equipment

Latest Aldila Buzzz

Published

17 years ago

Oct 2, 2009

Not many items get the GolfWRX forums as excited as the announcement of a new shaft. I’m a victim of this myself – the promise of better performance, enticing graphics, and something that is more elite than what is off the shelf really gets me quite excited every time. One day my game might even catch up to my fancy equipment!

At any rate, the Aldila RIP has been seen in spy pics for several weeks now and has some sweet skull and crossbones graphics. The shafts have been spotted on Tour (including in winners’ bags like Heath Slocum) and are rumored to be released to everyone else in the near future (maybe).

The En Fuego shaft series have spicy names and graphics to match. The buzz info is that the MSRP on these will be $99 and there are three versions: Habanero – mid to high launch R,S,X; Wasabi – mid launch R,S,X; and Serrano – low to mid launch R,S,X. These have an early 2010 release date to the masses. That Habanero looks mighty tasty to me!

Possibly the most interesting thing about these shafts is the amount of chatter that has evolved from the names that Aldila has chosen for the new line. Now I’ve said it before, as a surfer/skater first and golfer second my gear can have skulls and be named just about anything under the sun and I’ll game it. Honestly, I am more concerned with performance and improvement in my game. If something makes me hit the ball with greater accuracy/distance/etc. then the looks and name are secondary as far as I’m concerned. Not everyone feels this way at all. In fact, there are some very strong feelings about these shafts:

“Recently Aldila has named their shafts “Voodoo” and now with RIP (with skull picture) etc. What the heck? Aldila, I am avoiding your SATANIC names. I only wish you’d use better names because I am very interested to buy more shafts from you.”

“What were they thinking? Was the Aldila marketing dept walking down the spice aisle at the supermarket when they named theses shafts?”

“Yeah, they walked in the Asian spice store for the Wasabi name but they were in their satanic cult session when they named VooDoo and RIP. What a bunch of IDIOTS at Aldila! If they think of golfers who are staying away of the shafts because of those evil-sounded names, they will realize how much money they lose in business. A neutral name equals more businesses just like in any other product.”

“I’d have to say you’re in the minority if you won’t play a shaft because of its name. I think the idiot comment may be a self-reference not a term to use against a good company? For your information, RIP stands for “Reverse Interlaminar Positioning” which is the design/processing of the shaft. People have been putting skull and cross bones on golf merchandise way before the VooDoo came out. The VooDoo is supposed to be funny as in the shaft is magically good! Wasabi was so named because it has extra kick! I think the pepper marketing is funny. Hot, hotter, hottest…It’s not that farfetched.”

“I appreciate the updates in this thread. On another note, this thread contained some of the stupidest comments about Aldila’s naming convention. Yes, it’s not “vanilla” naming, but that’s the point, the name is meant to make an impact and formulate a descriptive association for their product. I don’t see these as demonic or devilish. If we really wanted to nit-pick on devilish names then we could call out Callaway for their “El Diablo” woods…but seriously, who’s really cares. It’s not like your purchase is subsidizing satanic activity!”

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

18 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

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.

Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

Published

18 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

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

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

18 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

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”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”