Here is reaction from the game's leading equipment companies on the USGA and R&A's decision to ban anchored putting, effective Jan. 1, 2016:

Acushnet Company, maker of Titleist equipment: "The rule change regarding anchoring, as explained by the USGA and R&A, concerns only the definition of a stroke, and does not alter any current equipment regulations or impact any equipment that we manufacture and sell. We believe in one set of rules in golf and support the USGA and R&A as the ruling bodies and will continue to manufacture golf equipment that abides by the rules they establish."

Bob Philion, President of Cobra Puma Golf: “Golf lost today. This is not the direction we should be going, it will only continue to alienate people from golf… game enjoyment is how we are going to bring people back to golf. This decision is a giant leap back on that front. With this decision, bifurcation needs to be front and center in golf's conversations and we should be focusing on adapting the rules and the game to be inclusive and fun."

Nike Golf: “In cases like this, the USGA and R&A’s decision to redefine the rules on a product that has already legitimately been in play for many years has an impact on both manufacturers and golfers. Despite this, Nike always manages to adapt to the changes and deliver innovative products within the redefined rules. The USGA and the R&A have the right to make these changes for competitive play. Beyond this decision, we believe that the best interests of the sport of golf are better served by focusing on providing experiences that inspire golfers to play more; developing products that help them to perform better; and better connecting to the golfer in a world where alternative recreational choices are increasing.”

Chris Koske, Global Director of Odyssey Golf: "Odyssey strives to make putting easier for golfers while respecting and operating within the rules established by the USGA. We've anticipated the anchoring technique ban and have already introduced products -- including the Odyssey Tank #7, which has won on Tour -- that promote stability in the putting stroke in accordance with the USGA rules. ... we plan to continue leading the industry in alternative methods of putting with future product launches."

John Solheim, Chairman and CEO of Ping: “I appreciate this was an open process. I also recognize the importance of a single rule book. However, I believe the rulemaking bodies need to better address how we need to make the game more welcoming. I will continue to focus my efforts on that goal.”

TaylorMade Golf: "We appreciate the process the USGA used in its decision to ban the anchoring of putters, but we don’t agree the decision is in the best interest of the game."

We learned three things about Puma's new Faas Lite line of golf shoes from the above video. They are: 1) Fashionable; 2) Flexible; and, 3) Flammable. It also looks like Rickie Fowler wears them, and they work as well riding jeweled low-rider bicycles as they do for playing golf.

Luckily, the good people at PUMA filled The Shop in on some of the finer points of the Faas Lite and Faas Lite Mesh shoes, which will hit stores the first week of June. Both spikeless models are based on minimalist running ideas, meaning they're super light, flexible, and flat heel to toe to give a barefoot feel. How light? The Mesh tips the scales at 6.5 oz. (5.5 oz. for women's), and the waterproof Lite weight 8.7 oz. (7.0 oz. for women's).

Of course, there's some sizzle to go with the (petit) steak, too. The Lite and the Lite Mesh each come in three distinct colorways (women's come in two), with two sets of laces in shades that need to be seen to be understood. (Brilliant Blue/Limeade? Why not.)

PUMA will also be releasing a limited edition Faas Lite Splatter, which will incorporate graphics from Rickie Fowler's 2010 "Golf Art" expo, where he went Pollack with a pitching wedge on some canvases.

Now the brass tacks. Here's how much they'll cost you:
Faas Lite: $100
Faas Lite Mesh: $90
Faas Lite Women’s: $90
Faas Lite Mesh Women’s: $80
Faas Lite Splatter: $110

As per our previous post, Nike will also be coming out with their minimalist TW'14 shoe that same week. So choose your brand -- and your color -- and pick up a pair to bust your midseason slump.

DRIVER: Callaway RAZR Fit (8.5°) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI7 shaft  

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway RAZR Fit 3-wood (15°) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI7 shaft 

HYBRID: Callaway X Hot Pro (18°) with Matrix Ozik HM3 Black Tie shaft

UTILITY IRON: Callaway X Utility Prototype (21°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

IRONS: Callaway RAZR X Muscleback (4-9) with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

WEDGES: Callaway X Forged (48°, 52°, 60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

PUTTER: Odyssey Tour Milled #1

BALL: Callaway HEX Chrome+ 

(Photos: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Jason Day is coming off a T9 finish at the Players Championship, but to tailor his equipment perfectly for TPC Four Seasons, host of this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship, Day is adding a new weapon to his bag -- a 1-iron.

Day explained the unusual decision in his pre-tournament interview on Wednesday:

JASON DAY: I made one club change, which I'm going to put a 1 iron in, take my 2 iron out and put a 1 iron in this week.

Q. A 1 iron?

JASON DAY: Yes.

Q. That's amazing.

JASON DAY: Yes.

Q. How many players do you think have a 1 iron in their bag?

JASON DAY: I wouldn't think there would be too many. They don't physically tailor made doesn't make a 1 iron we got a Rocketbladez 2 iron and bent it to a 1 iron. I was out there today and hit a couple of it was downwind and it was 10 to 20 mile an hour wind out there and there was a couple that went 300 easy with the bounce and roll as well so I want to say today with the wind hit about four, maybe five drives total, everything else was a 1 iron and I didn't pull out the 4 wood at all. The ball flight is very strong.

Day went on to admit that the equipment change was made with an eye on the third major of the year in July.

What the experiment was, was we were going to try a 1 iron and try it out here because we know if we have a 1 iron here and it works well in the wind, when we go over seas to the British this year we can have the full confidence that it's going to go the right distance and can come out low and hit different types of shots when I need to.

I know that it's not British Open course but the wind is very strong here.

You can read the full interview here.

RELATED: Bizarre history of Hogan's infamous 1-iron from the 1950 U.S. Open

(Photos: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The forged carbon steel 712U is a souped-up utility iron for players who prefer flat-face long irons over hybrids. Already in the bag of a major winner this year (see Masters: Adam Scott), the hollow-headed 712U has a deeper center of gravity and higher MOI than conventional long irons for added stability and control, while a 455 stainless-steel face insert delivers higher ball speeds. The club generates longer, higher shots than long-iron counterparts while being easy to manipulate. Starting May 15, the custom-order-only 712U comes in a two-iron (18°), three-iron (21°) or four-iron (24°). $209, steel; $229, graphite.

RELATED: More Titleist clubs, news, photos

The key to winning The Players Championship? It's gotta be the shoes. Just ask Tiger, who took the title the same week he debuted his newest signature kicks, the TW'14s.

Nike officially announced the line on Monday. Coincidence? Few things in Beaverton are. Regardless, fans of sneaker-like, natural motion golf shoes such as last year's Nike "Free"-inspired TW'13, should enjoy a few new features on this year's model. For the uninitiated, the TW'14 is based off of Nike's flagship running shoe. The idea here is that a lighter, more flexible golf shoe is more comfortable to wear and allows the player to transfer energy more efficiently through the swing. The result, says Nike, is more power.

Tiger agrees. He should. After all, the shoe was originally his idea: "I train with Nike Free technology all the time," he told Nike. "I love training in it, running in it, lifting in it. So I asked, why can’t I play golf in it?” Sure, Tiger. Why not.

Weekend warriors may not train, run or lift, but starting June 7th they can play golf in the TW'14s. Improvements over the '13s include improved ventilation in the upper shoe, and increased stability through "Flywire" technology, which Nike claims helps to hold the shoe to your foot. The new shoe will also be more customizable: A TW'14 iD version allows players to select color combos, choose between "waterproof" leather or "breathable" mesh uppers, select either soft-spike or spikeless soles, and add a name or inspirational monogram to the shoe. Fair guess none will say "Rory."

Both the TW'14 and the TW'14 iD are scheduled to drop June 7th. Expect to pay $225 for the customized version and $180 for the off-the-rack model, which comes in first-run colors of "Black/Reflective Silver-Varsity Red" and "White/Metallic Dark Grey-Varsity Red." On August 1st, they'll add a "Cool Grey/Black-Vivid Blue-Venom Green" shoe to the line. If those sound more like X-Men villains than actual colors — well, we'll defer to the photos.

(Photo: Courtesy of Nike)

DRIVER: Nike VR Tour (9.5°) with Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 73 X-flex shaft

FAIRWAY WOODS: Nike VR_S Covert 3-wood (15°) with Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 103 X-flex shaft (pictured above); Nike VR_S Covert 5-wood (19°) with Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 103 X-flex shaft

IRONS: Nike VR Pro Blade (3-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts

WEDGES: Nike VR Pro (56° and 60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts

PUTTER: Nike Method 001

BALL: Nike ONE Tour D

(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Sunny Ponte Vedra, Fla. is the pefect venue to showcase the latest spring and summer looks from Puma, Adidas and Ashworth. First up: check out Rickie Fowler's Thursday-Sunday looks for the Players Championship:

Photo courtesy of Puma Golf

Adidas Golf ambassadors Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Jason Day will be sporting the brand's new color-block designs in shades of gray, blue and pink. Unlike the Masters, we won't see the same shirt on each player every day. Instead, they'll rotate the designs Thursday-Saturday. On Sunday, all three players will don the pink shirt not only in honor of Mother's Day, but to help raise awareness for breast cancer. 

Photo courtesy of Adidas Golf

Of course, every shade of pink needs a shoe to match, and thankfully, Adidas has that covered with a limited edition Adizero Tour "Pink Out" shoe for Sunday's round:

Photo courtesy of Adidas Golf

Ashworth ambassadors Sean O'Hair, Stewart Cink and Justin Rose will also rotate their outfits all week until Sunday, when they too will unite in matching pink splendor:

   Photo courtesy of Ashworth Golf

Like what you see? Start shopping! The Rickie Fowler's Puma styles are all available for purchase at cobrapumagolf.com; Adidas at adidasgolf.com; and Ashworth at ashworthgolf.com.

Another major, another line of special edition gear. And while the U.S. Open isn't exactly around the corner, Cobra's getting us started with a first look at their commemorative red, white and blue driver. Because it's never too early for a little patriotism.

Unlike for the Masters, when Cobra released 1,800 green AMP Cell drivers, they're cutting back the quantity for the Open. This time, they're releasing just 600 AMP Cell Pro drivers. (The change makes sense, since the non-"Pro" AMP Cell already comes in blue.) It'll cost you, too: Cobra suggests a $499 retail, or about $100 more than the non-commemorative club.

Of course, it has all the same tech you'd get in the regular club. That means the "MyFly" adjustable hosel, which switch between six different loft settings (7.5°, 8.5°, 8.5° Fade, 9.5°, 9.5° Fade and 10.5°), and a "SmartPad" sole to help keep club square through all of that tweaking. What is different here -- other than the color scheme and the number stamped on the bottom -- is the shaft: The Open edition comes with an Aldila RIP Phenom shaft instead of the standard MRC Kurokage.

If you're interested, the club goes on sale June 1st. Or, if you're more of an Anglophile at heart, perhaps wait another month. We're guessing they'll roll out the British Open version by then. Fingers crossed for Union Jacks.

RELATED

Review: Cobra AMP Cell Pro Driver

More Cobra: Cobra Homepage on Golf.com

(Photo: Courtesy of Cobra)

DRIVER: Ping i20 (9.5°) with Ping TFC 707 X shaft
                                                            
FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping i15 (14°) with Grafalloy ProLaunch Red X shaft

HYBRID: Ping Anser (17°) with Oban Kiyoshi X shaft
                                                        
IRONS: Ping S56 (3-PW) with Project X 6.5 steel shaft                                                

WEDGES: Ping Tour (54° and 58°) with Project X 6.5 steel shaft                                                            

PUTTER: Ping Scottsdale TR Grayhawk

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

(Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)