Connect with us

Equipment

Six players switch to TaylorMade’s R1 Black in Memphis

Published

11 years ago

on

In the days leading up to the start of the FedEx St. Jude Classic, golf fans were treated to a fury of buzz about the debut of TaylorMade’s new R1 Black driver.

“Who was testing it?,” they wondered. And was anyone going to switch?

PGA Tour players are guilty of being some of worst window shoppers on the planet. They look, they touch, they test and they might even take a club home with them. But for most players, the commitment level to a new product, especially in its debut week, is very low.

post-1-0-57475600-1369877878_thumbpost-1-0-72515900-1369877896_thumb

That’s why we’re shocked that six PGA Tour players decided to put the R1 Black driver in play this week in Memphis, a club that is virtually identical to the R1 White drivers that the players have been using in 2013. The only difference is that the R1 Black has a glossy black-painted crown, while the R1 White has a matte white-painted crown. The players who made the switch this week are:

  • Dustin Johnson: Loft (10.5), Shaft (Fujikura Fuel 2.0X), Length (45.75 inches), Sole Plate (Neutral), Weights (7 heel, 7 toe).
  • Brian Gay: Loft (9.5), Shaft (Oban Kiyoshi Purple 65X), Length (45.75 inches), Sole Plate (O1), Weights (6 heel, 6 toe).
  • Robert Allenby: Specs coming
  • Peter Hanson: Loft (8.75 degrees), Shaft (UST Miyama Accra 65X), Weights (7 heel, 8 toe) Sole plate (O2).
  • Scott Verplank: Specs coming
  • Casey Wittenberg: Specs coming

With the exception of Wittenberg, every player who made the switch to an R1 Black made the cut in Memphis.

Gay’s reason for the change was the most unusual. During testing on Trackman, he saw an 2-mph increase of club head speed with the R1 Black. While no two drivers are ever exactly the same, Gay had the drivers dialed into the exact same specs as his R1 White driver that he used to win this year’s Humana Challenge, making the increased performance even more baffling.

Charlie Kautz, TaylorMade’s social media manager, said that it’s tough to point to an exact reason for Gay’s faster club head speed with the R1 Black, but it’s not unheard of.

“If the visual cues of R1 Black naturally inspire faster swing speed/ball speed for Brian and he picks up a few yards, the analytical testing on Trackman is completely worthwhile,” he said. “And, you could argue, necessary, to evaluate which driver is better beyond just looks.”

There were 26 of TaylorMade’s R1 White drivers used in Round 1 of FedEx St. Jude Classic for a total of 32 R1’s in the field. That means that nearly 19 percent of R1 users decided to tee it up with TaylorMade’s black version.

We expect that number to grow as the year goes on, as several other players such as Brandt Snedeker (Click here to see photos of him testing the driver), Sean O’Hair, Chad Campbell, Boo Weekly, Matt Bettencourt and Ken Duke all tested the R1 Black but decided not to put it in play this week.

Your Reaction?
  • 1
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW1
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Related Topics:
20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. leftright

    Dec 31, 2014 at 10:48 pm

    I rest my case. I get tired of telling everyone “I told you so.”

    Reply Report comment

  2. Dunno, Jack

    Jun 13, 2013 at 8:10 am

    Cool. Does anyone know if this new black version will come in white?

    Reply Report comment

    • John

      Aug 26, 2014 at 12:33 pm

      Yeah, i heard it’ll be released as soon as they’ve implemented their revolutionary I.C.T (Inverted Color Technology). Apparently it’s gonna change the game and give all of us 17 extra inches and a stiffer shaft..

      Reply Report comment

  3. Jack

    Jun 9, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    Good job TMag! You found a new way to make drivers obsolete without even coming out with “new tech”. Great.

    Reply Report comment

  4. Austin

    Jun 9, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    back in black. I hated the white look. will be testing taylormade product again when I am ready to buy this fall.

    Reply Report comment

  5. Greg

    Jun 9, 2013 at 5:36 am

    I have ordered my black R1 and can’t wait. White just didn’t suite my eye at address. Having the options to dial in the loft and face angle should help my driving ability and accuracy.

    Reply Report comment

  6. erkr

    Jun 9, 2013 at 2:41 am

    The white looks better. It is what makes R1 stand out

    Reply Report comment

  7. 1puttwoods

    Jun 8, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    I find it interesting that Brian Gay and his 103 mph swing speed play an x flex….

    Reply Report comment

    • Blanco

      Jun 8, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      The folks at UST Miyama Accra must be stoked.

      Reply Report comment

    • Taylormade Rep

      Jun 9, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      at 103 mph your supposed to play x, or you can play taylormade TP S which is the same as x. Get your facts right

      Reply Report comment

  8. Kmax™

    Jun 8, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Didnt Sneds put the black R1 in the bag too?

    Reply Report comment

  9. URNS

    Jun 8, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    The shiny finish is more aerodynamic, whipping through the air, rather than the matt finish which causes more friction as it is not as smooth.

    Reply Report comment

    • Burddz

      Jun 9, 2013 at 10:52 pm

      Pure genius…

      Reply Report comment

    • jgpl001

      Jun 10, 2013 at 5:34 pm

      Don’t be stupid – everyone know it’s due to TM’s new reverse, inverted R bi-concial cone, cold melted, plasma arc, seam free Molybdenum oxide face

      You need to keep up with the new technology man..

      PS I hear there is a new green TP “B” version on the way next week with an interchangable sole

      Can’t wait and it’s only $1199 on special order!

      I just wish TM would get lost and stop the nonsense

      Reply Report comment

      • Jake A

        Jun 18, 2013 at 7:24 pm

        So every manufacture does that, it doesn’t mean there not high quality equipment….that’s why Justin rose just won the us open, so get out of here, you don’t know anything about golf you dumb*^%, every manufacture has to advertise some way

        Reply Report comment

  10. MFB

    Jun 8, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    I am sure Taylormade lining a few guys pockets with money to play the new R1 black had nothing to do with it.

    Reply Report comment

    • Launcher

      Jun 8, 2013 at 2:14 pm

      TaylorMade pays players to use their stuff? Get outta here!

      Reply Report comment

    • lloyd duffield

      Jun 9, 2013 at 4:57 pm

      i agree taylormade will sign and pay any old tom dick and harry to use there products so the public is brain washed in to thinking its the best gear on tour so u will spent your months rent on a shiny new R1 driver.
      all clubs are the same and always will be its down to u wot u want to be seen using.

      Reply Report comment

      • Taylormade Rep

        Jun 9, 2013 at 9:34 pm

        all company’s do that, that is the reason that rory maclroy switched to nike

        Reply Report comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Whats in the Bag

Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 9, 2024

By

Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X

3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X

Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X

Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X

Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.

 

 

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Equipment

Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter

Published

15 hours ago

on

May 9, 2024

By

Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.

This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.

Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.

The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.

Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.

Your Reaction?
  • 13
  • LEGIT2
  • WOW2
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Equipment

Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new

Published

15 hours ago

on

May 9, 2024

By

We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5

7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S

Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S

Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)

Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge

Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115

Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115

Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X

Your Reaction?
  • 2
  • LEGIT2
  • WOW2
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK2

Continue Reading

WITB

Whats in the Bag14 hours ago

Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)

Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.  Driver: Ping G430 Max (9...
Whats in the Bag16 hours ago

WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2015 Wells Fargo Championship

Then-No. 1 player in the world Rory McIlroy began the week at the Wells Fargo Championship at 3-1 odds, if...
Whats in the Bag2 days ago

Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)

Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
Whats in the Bag2 days ago

Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)

Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Callaway...

Facebook

Trending