Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show

Massive thanks to Under Armour for sponsoring this week's episode. The new Drive Pro Clone and Drive Pro Clone SL golf shoes are on sale now.Joe's away this week, so what better time than to welcome back Sam De'Ath (a.k.a Sweaty Sam) to chew the fat on all the equipment he's been busy testing over the last six months. Sam looks after the putter, golf ball and fairway wood categories for Golf Monthly, and it is the putter where we spend most of our time this week.To assess whether the zero-torque putter trend is just getting going or starting to fade away, Sam has brought in some of the finest examples of this subcategory into the studio with him. From the new, more affordable options from Wilson to the new Asner-style option from L.A.B. Golf, can the zero torque putter be a catch-all putter for the average golfer? If zero torque isn't your thing, don't worry, Sam has his analysis on the latest Sausage putter, something new (and confusing) from TaylorMade, as well as Odyssey's latest lineup.We also have some of your excellent Ask The Pod questions surrounding Sam's other area of expertise, fairway woods. With so many lofts now available, how many fairway woods is too many fairway woods for the average golfer?

Thank you again to our sponsors, Fujikura. After the Masters last Sunday, that is now 5 major wins in a row for Fujikura! Fujikura's streak of major championship winners trusting a VENTUS shaft in their driver continues. All 4 major champions last year won with a Fujikura VENTUS shaft in their driver - the first time ANY company has done this.  Today, is the first day the completely new VENTUS TR shaft collection is available (in Red, Blue and Black profiles) - and we have already seen the new TR Blue and Black on tour with a handful of players making an immediate switch.  The new VENTUS TR collection has been upgraded with VeloCore+ technology, offering enhanced feel and stability. Now there are even more options to get the perfect with the tour- trusted VENTUS shafts.  Head over to fujikuragolf.com to find a fitting location near you to try the new TR VENTUS collection and most trusted driver and wood shaft on tour for yourself.In this week's episode, Dan and Baz discuss Matt Fitzpatrick's impressive RBC Heritage playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler, the 'sneaky' form of Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland's turbulence, the state of play with LIV Golf and look ahead towards the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.This episode will be the last Tour Issue hosted on the Kick Point show, with an exciting rebrand coming from Monday 27th March with the launch of Golf Monthly Tour Issue. Don't worry though, it's not all change. Baz will be co-hosting the new show in partnership with our incredibly knowledgable news team - discussing everything you need to know about professional golf with Elliott Heath, Jonny Leighfield or Matt Cradock every single Monday.For those of you who love tour golf, have opinions on the happenings each weekend and want to hear the thoughts of an expert panel on the best bets for any given week - head over to Golf Monthly Tour Issue... Baz will see you there!

Big thanks to our friends at GolfClubs4Cash for sponsoring this week's episode. You can visit them in store now at its locations in Edinburgh, Warrington, Milton Keynes and Southampton or head to www.golfclubs4cash.co.uk to browse the more than 50,000 items in stock.Welcome back to regularly scheduled programming! We hope you enjoyed the Masters and our Tour Issue specials, but we're back onto our bread and butter topic this week: equipment. For the bulk of this week's episode, we wanted to answer one simple questions, are direct to conusmer blades the best value golf clubs on the market? Often priced at less than 50% of the bigger brands' rival blades, do they offer the same performance? To see whether the blade irons offered by direct-to-consumer brands really are the best value to performance golf clubs on the market, we put the best three head-to-head. Which of the Vice, Ben Hogan Ft Worth MB and Takomo 301MB is the best of the best in the DTC space? Also, this week, we debate whether blending a mix of graphite and steel shafts through irons and wedges is a good idea, and get a sneak peek behind some of the Tour pros who love shopping in the second-hand market. All of that, plus your questions and comments in Ask The Pod - enjoy!

I want to once again thank our sponsors for this week, Callaway. We’ve just watched four days of world-class golf and the big takeaway is consistency. The players who perform under pressure are the ones who can rely on their equipment, shot after shot. That’s exactly what the Quantum family is built for - drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, iron - the whole lineup - designed to give you more speed, more control and more repeatable performance. Because, while we might not be teeing it up at Augusta anytime soon, we all want to play our own courses a little bit better. So if this week has got you thinking about your game, it’s a great time to explore the Quantum range.To find out more, go and visit your local retailer or take a look online at eu.callawaygolf.com.Well, there you have it. Rory McIlroy has successfully defended the Green Jacket, becoming only the fourth person in history to do so. After losing a six-shot lead in round three, McIlroy bravely batted to a one-shot victory over World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and once again wrote his name into the history books. In this episode, Joe and I discuss Rory's ability to win without his best game, Scottie Scheffler's incredible weekend, Cam Young's Major chances and Justin Rose's latest attempt to finally get over the line at Augusta National.Watch us in FULL on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KickPointGolfGet in touch with Dan and Joe and 'Ask The Pod' via our email: kickpointpodcast@futurenet.comSign up for the weekly Kick Point newsletter, released every Friday: https://www.golfmonthly.com/newsletterGet three issues of the Golf Monthly magazine delivered to your door for just £5 at https://www.magazinesdirect.com/kickpointHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I want to once again thank our sponsors for this week and give a quick shoutout to Callaway’s Chrome Tour golf balls. This is where everything matters - feel, control, spin, and performance under pressure. The Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X are designed for exactly that. You’ve got exceptional distance off the tee, but also that control and consistency into the greens, especially on those delicate shots around Augusta. And that balance is what we’re seeing from the players in contention, total trust in every part of their game. So whether you’re chasing a personal best or just trying to sharpen up your short game, the Chrome Tour range delivers tour-level performance. To find out more, visit eu.callawaygolf.com.One way or another, Rory McIlroy is going to make history at the 2026 Masters Tournament. He will either defend his Green Jacket, becoming only the fourth person to do so, or he will have blown the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. With plenty of big names in hot pursuit, the final round at Augusta National is promising to be incredibly exciting. In this special daily episode, Joe and I discuss Cameron Young's impressive charge after starting the tournament four-over-par through seven holes, the chances of other Major winners like Justin Rose or Shane Lowry, the professionalism and consistency of Sam Burns and, of course, the lurking presence of the World No.1 Scottie Scheffler on the leaderboard. This is a Masters Tournament that continues to deliver and one you will not want to miss down the stretch on Sunday.Watch us in FULL on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KickPointGolfGet in touch with Dan and Joe and 'Ask The Pod' via our email: kickpointpodcast@futurenet.comSign up for the weekly Kick Point newsletter, released every Friday: https://www.golfmonthly.com/newsletterGet three issues of the Golf Monthly magazine delivered to your door for just £5 at https://www.magazinesdirect.com/kickpointHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Callaway. Seeing Augusta this week, it’s obvious how important approach play is to success. Distance control, consistency and giving yourself chances is so important. Now, while the guys out there aren’t gaming these, Callaway’s new Quantum Irons are built for exactly that kind of challenge… for everyday golfers. They’re designed as game improvement irons, which means more forgiveness, more consistency, and helping you hit more greens, especially on those slight misses we all have. So while the pros are dialling it in with precision this week, Quantum Irons are all about helping you bring a bit more of that consistency into your own game. If you’re looking to improve your iron play, they’re definitely worth a look. To find out more, visit eu.callawaygolf.com.Well, If you thought the opening day at The Masters was good... day two was truly something else. Rory McIlroy continued to dazzle at Augusta National, with a majestic second round performance stretching his lead, but there is an incredibly strong leaderboard that are going to do their best not to make it easy for him over the weekend. In the second of our Masters daily specials, Joe and I discuss Tyrrell Hatton's impressive 66 powered by a 100% green in regulation success rate, Patrick Reed's sublime short game, Justin Rose's popularity and prowess around Augusta National, Brooks Koepka's chances and plenty more. As we look ahead to the weekend, this Masters Tournament has all the makings of a classic.Watch us in FULL on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KickPointGolfGet in touch with Dan and Joe and 'Ask The Pod' via our email: kickpointpodcast@futurenet.comSign up for the weekly Kick Point newsletter, released every Friday: https://www.golfmonthly.com/newsletterGet three issues of the Golf Monthly magazine delivered to your door for just £5 at https://www.magazinesdirect.com/kickpointHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Callaway. After round one, you can already see how important it is to get the ball in play off the tee. Augusta National doesn’t let you get away with much. And that’s where the new Quantum Driver is making a serious impact. It’s already picked up five global wins in 2026, including Jon Rahm - the 2023 Masters Champion - who won at LIV Hong Kong using the Quantum Triple Diamond. This driver is built for elite-level performance; speed, control, and consistency when it matters. But it’s not just for the pros. If you’re looking to find more fairways and gain confidence off the tee, it’s well worth checking out. To find out more, visit eu.callawaygolf.com or visit your local retailer.Day one at The Masters certainly didn't disappoint. Rory posted one of his best opening rounds at Augusta National to share the early lead with Sam Burns, Justin Rose once again surged up the leaderboard, Scheffler started fast and the some of the top names in world golf jostled for position. In this special episode, Baz and Joe discuss all the main talking point from day one at Augusta National, give their opinions on the controversial topic of television coverage at The Masters and look ahead to the day two action at the first men's Major of the season. We will be with you every morning of the tournament, covering the hottest talking points and giving our analysis on events as they unfold. This is going to be a cracker!Watch us in FULL on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KickPointGolfGet in touch with Dan and Joe and 'Ask The Pod' via our email: kickpointpodcast@futurenet.comSign up for the weekly Kick Point newsletter, released every Friday: https://www.golfmonthly.com/newsletterGet three issues of the Golf Monthly magazine delivered to your door for just £5 at https://www.magazinesdirect.com/kickpointHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Callaway and its new Quantum range of golf clubs. If you’re feeling inspired ahead of the Masters to get out and try some new clubs for yourself, now’s a great time to take a look. To find out more, visit eu.callawaygolf.com.Happy Masters Monday! Is there a better day in the calendar year? We don't think so, which is why we're bringing you a very, very special Kick Point flavoured preview of the best golf tournament on earth. Dan is joined by Baz in the full Kick Point studio to look ahead at everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 Masters. In the next hour or so, Baz runs through all of the key story lines you may have missed coming into this week, and gives us his top betting advice of who to look out for as our potential winner. Can Rory defend his title? Will one of the early favourites come home to win? Or can an outsider conquer Augusta National? All of this, plus some of our hot takes on the event itself and Augusta National Golf Club. Enjoy!

Big thanks to our friends at GolfClubs4Cash for sponsoring this week's episode. You can visit them in store now at its locations in Edinburgh, Warrington, Milton Keynes and Southampton or head to www.golfclubs4cash.co.uk to browse the more than 50,000 items in stock.What's Joe's best-ever second-hand golf club purchase? How far back from the hole would you go to 'guarantee' it going in (for a cash prize)? Should I use blades for vibe nd vibes only? What's the meaning of life? All of this (and much more) is asked and subsequently answered on this week's episode. We also take two of the biggest (literally) and best (also literally) game improvement/high-handicap irons to have been released in 2026 and put them head-to-head. Can Ping's chunky 'super game improvement' G740 outclass the new kid on the block, the Cobra 3DP X? To round off this week's episode, we also welcome Andrew Huang, Tour Rep for Fujikura, onto the show to answer all of Joe's burning shaft questions, of which we now know he has plenty. Get ready to have all of your shaft preconceptions quashed!