PXG launches epic Black Ops line, rolls out red carpet at Scottsdale National

PXG is recognized as one of the best golf brands in the sport.

They are supported by many PGA Tour pros, including Joel Dahmen, Zach Johnson, and 2023 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Eric Cole. The same goes for Solheim Cup stars Megan Kang and Celine Boutier, among many others.

On Thursday, PXG officially launched its service. The long-awaited black ops We offer driver, wood, and hybrid lines to the general public. But they also stuck to the brand. They actually told all current and past military members, veterans, and first responders that a week ago, tour of duty Soft launch.

Black Ops clubs were recently added to the USGA's compliance list and are allowed for use in tournament play. Cole then used them in his RSM Classic with a T3 finish.

“The new Black Ops driver is a great blend of forgiveness and speed,” said Cole. “I noticed that when I switched to that, I gained more speed on solid shots as well as off-center strikes.”

I was lucky enough to find out exactly why so many people believe in PXG and this idea.

PXG Media Experience

Last month, I was invited to attend the PXG Media Xperience at Scottsdale National Golf Club in Arizona. On this incredible adventure, I drank wine, ate amazing food, met some of the kindest people, and acquired probably the best golf equipment on the planet.

I didn't fully understand what was in store for me with this PXG Xperience.

The villa I stayed in was wonderful. The food I had, especially the pork chop, was the best I've ever had. The people I met were incredibly kind and helpful.

This wasn't your typical branded club release.

Every year, golf club manufacturers invite members of the media ahead of their annual club launches. But no one does it like Bob Parsons and his PXG. As a longtime golf writer who has been to just about every golf course put it, quite literally: “No one can come close.”

I knew the PXG brand was special. After all, you won't find their clubs at your local pro shop. Within the company, we have a strong belief that everyone has their own golf swing. Therefore, his focus on custom fitting is a hallmark of his PXG Xperience.

PXG Black Ops Custom Fitting

As soon as I arrived at Scottsdale National Park, I went to the driving range. There I met Chris Reedy, one of PXG's master fitters.

I was amazed not only by how knowledgeable Reedy was about the game, but also by the amount of time he spent with me. We spent nearly 3 hours together during the fitting.

Reedy patiently explained our process, first handing me a 7-iron and asking me to take a few swings with Trackman clearly pointed at me. He detailed the importance of clubhead speed, ball speed, and spin rate. It broke down when I wanted to spin and when I didn't. It was a crash course in golf analysis that helped him further understand why he does the things he does.

After hitting about 10 shots with that 7-iron, he replaced the clubhead with a lighter version. We tracked the results. He did the same with the heavier version. Next we looked at shafts and tried different shafts to find the perfect match for my particular swing that always produced the best results.

Once I started putting parts together and finding combinations, I moved on to my newest toy: the Black Ops Driver, Wood, and Hybrid.

I had a lot of fun hitting PXG's 6th generation irons. I truly thought I had never hit a 7-iron like this in my life. However, at that moment, the feel of the driver I hit completely changed. Almost every swing felt like magic.

Leela Brennan, vice president of brand communications, wondered aloud whether I had told the truth about my handicap before arriving in Arizona.

Now let's move on to the putter.

As I mentioned earlier, each golfer has a unique swing. It's no different when we talk about the putting stroke. Some people have different degrees of arc. On the other hand, some people go straight back and forth.

Every day, millions of people walk into their local pro shop, try out a driver or putter, and say, “Wow, this feels good.” I'm going to buy this. ” What most people don't realize is that not only have they purchased a club that doesn't fit their swing, they could literally be negatively impacting their swing.

What I learned from Reedy was incredibly insightful and helpful.

I've gathered why people with certain putting strokes and using heavy toe-hung putters are already behind the 8 ball in consistently sinking putts.

The next morning, luckily, the club was ready and I played a round with Reedy at a private club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

If you're serious about improving your game and want to invest in it, arguably the most important thing to do is get a custom fit, and there's no better place to do it than PXG.

The process was incredible, but it was just the tip of the iceberg for this event. I was given the opportunity to speak with that person, Bob Parsons.

Bob Parsons – Giving back to PXG

On the second night I spoke with Mr. Parsons for a long time, discussing various topics.

It turns out that even though his father was a scratch golfer, it was surprisingly not until his 30s that his passion for the sport really took off.

But what intrigued me most of all was the charity work he and his wife Renee are involved in. That's why I wrote about his PXG in the first place. They are beacons of light that do good in this world.

Bob and Renee Parsons kindly donate $1 million to a charity of their choice every 15 days. Yes, that's right.

“The type of organizations we are looking for have a good cause and are already working on the ground and making a difference. But their work is not very popular and they struggle to raise funds. . That’s where you’ll find us.”

I got goosebumps when he talked about where their passion to give back comes from. One such example is one-tentha non-profit, volunteer-run LGBT organization.

“When they first came to us, they couldn't get anyone to help them. The first grant we gave them was about $250,000, then $500,000. We started supporting them, and other organizations saw us doing it, so they stepped in to help as well.”

The nature of Parsons' donations is well documented. As a former U.S. Marine who suffered from PTSD after serving in the Vietnam War, he is a huge supporter of the veteran community. tour of duty launch.

He went on to detail the many ways he tries to make a difference in people's lives. It was a moving and great honor to meet and talk with Mr. Parsons.

Parsons is different, and that is demonstrated in the clubs I have been lucky enough to visit.

Scottsdale National Golf Club is not your typical course. It doesn't have the stuffy atmosphere you get at other private golf clubs.

There's only one rule Scottsdale National members must follow. Golfers must not infringe on the good times of other members.

As Parsons famously said, “We're not here for long. We're here to have a good time.”

Kendall Capps is the senior editor of SB Nation's Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms.