3 gear trends that I would like to leave behind in 2025

The game of golf is full of moments, and there was no shortage of them in 2025. Rory won his Masters, the zero torque putter category continued to rise and everyone and their dog seem to have bought a high lofted fairway wood. The question then becomes: was it worth it? Well, it certainly was for Rory, although I have to admit I was rooting for Justin Rose. But as far as equipment trends in 2025 are concerned, I’d like to leave a few behind.

1.) Zero Torque putters

Before you shoot the messenger, let me just say that there is nothing wrong with the goldfinches themselves. If it works for you, it works for you, and I shouldn’t stop you from using equipment that will help you play better golf. The newest putter I got and probably the coolest of the bunch is the new Toulon Golf Concept 59 Roswell; a highly futuristic, linearly shaped putter that attempts to solve the problems inherently associated with the ‘zero torque’ category. It’s a beautiful putter that’s a bit edgy, offers golfers an updated option for the category, and performs very well. But it is still a CoG axis hammer intended for a very linear stroke. Next to the Toulon Formula 45, another attempt to solve a problem in the field of ‘zero torque’, it is probably one of my favorites, with the AiOne Max stripe and the drama thrown in there too. But even that isn’t enough to keep me interested.

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That said, I’m over it. I was recently taking stock of some content samples and realized that the last 10, YES TEN, putters I received for review were ‘zero torque’ models. Whatever happened to a great looking knife or a new hammer shape? What about introducing a new milling pattern or material? I wasn’t a fan of the LA GOLF carbon fiber putters, but hey, at least they tried to be different. Maybe the fact that I’m not a good candidate for a “zero torque” option is part of the reason I have some fear in this category, but that’s certainly not my entire attitude. I’ve told several leaders in the zero-torque industry that the best customer for this category is someone who has never used a putter, and none of them disagreed. But that only furthers the idea that there is a large group of golfers who feel left behind. Golfers who want to have it myocardial infarction in their putting arc. Golfers who like the idea of ​​a smaller package. Golfers who do not want a putter head of 380-400 grams. At the risk of sounding left-handed… we’re here and we’d like some new offerings.

The other problem, which I’ll probably address in its own article, is that the ‘zero torque’ category has actually destroyed putter fittings. I was talking to a fitter friend about this. This category cannot really be ‘fit’. You simply determine what length and lie best suits the way you stand over the ball, and off you go. There’s no art to it, there’s no excitement in discovery, there’s not even a chance to figure out if that putter isn’t the right option for you. It’s very transactional, and that seems to take a lot of the fun out of the editing room.

Furthermore, they don’t really have zero torque. Don’t get me started on that. Don’t worry, I’ll continue to review new offerings in the category, and like I said, the putters themselves are great. They help many golfers, and probably make starting golf a little easier for some players. Just don’t expect to see one end up in my bag unless someone shows me irrefutable data.

2.) High lofted fairway woods

This one is tricky, so let me explain. I think there is a huge market for higher lofted fairway woods, but that market has become very muddy because a few big names on Tour threw one in the bag. As I’ve pointed out many times in other content, just because a Tour player (aka a player with more control over a golf ball than you have over your vehicle on the way to work) puts something in his or her bag doesn’t mean you have to do the same. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on the course with better players who have a high lofted fairway wood in their bag and NEVER use it. Why? Because it’s a one-trick pony. I know this because I tried it too. Is it fun to pocket a 9-wood and hit the ball 50 yards in the air again and again with a big draw? Yes. Of course it is. But is that shot something I need 99 percent of the time? Absolutely not. I don’t agree that there are circumstances that indicate a higher loft option is the better tool, but I’m also a super team hybrid. I think people ignore this category way too much, and that 2026 will be all about making hybrids great again.

I won’t leave you on a cliff. I did mention that there is a group of players who could benefit from having a higher lofted fairway as a tool in their bag. These players are typically lower skill or slower speed players who require an iron replacement at the top of the bag. Fairway woods tend to be a bit shallower, especially woods that would be good for this market, and that shallowness makes it easier to launch the ball with less effort. These players aren’t worried about getting caught in the wind or spinning the ball too much. In this case, the higher loft option is a great tool for the bag because the measure of success is simply getting the ball into the air with ease. If this is you, keep going. Put an 11 wood in the bag if you need it.

3.) Combo or ‘flow’ sets

This is the one where I’ll probably get the most heat, and I’ll probably end up being a huge hypocrite. First off, my problem with combo sets isn’t really in their actual use, but rather in their very messy definition. When I talk about a TRUE combo set, there must be at least two irons of the same model, or more than two models in total. Putting a more forgiving 4-iron in the bag doesn’t mean you’re playing a combo set. It means you play your set from the 5-iron and use a specific tool for the 4-iron slot in the bag. A true combo set would be something like a 4-6 iron option in one club model and a 7-PW option in another club model. A real breakthrough in the set. Or maybe you get really spicy and go for 4, 5 in model A, 6, 7 in model B and 8-PW in model C. Now you basically just do it because you can.

Secondly, I’m still unsure about the actual use of a combo set. For three years I only played combo sets. Mainly because it’s an easier way to get samples from the OEMs when I’m reviewing gear (I don’t have to ask for multiple sets), but it started to grow on me too. By the way, my favorite iron set this year is a combo set from Bettinardi, with their CB on top and the MB on the bottom. I love that set. I made a hole-in-one with a combo set from Cobra. I shot par for the first time on my home course with a combo set from Mizuno. But I’m still not convinced. Should I play the Bettinardi, Cobra or Mizuno CB offering for the entire set?

Yes. Probably. If they are made to be combined, it usually means that the loft package is the same and you will see just a little more forgiveness and ball speed from the larger package. Why wouldn’t I want that? Again, I usually don’t have the full set of each. I have the combo set, so that’s exactly what I play. But I keep wondering what kind of green I missed on the 18th hole from 152 yards that prevented me from breaking par for the first time. If that was a CB instead of an MB, wouldn’t I have been shortchanged? It keeps me awake at night.

The 2026 product is about to be released! Make sure your adjustment is on the calendar at your local True Spec.

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