Equipment
New Equipment Overload at the BMW Championship!
We spotted an overwhelming amount of new equipment this week at the BMW Championship, so much that we thought it was necessary to organize them in a single story for your viewing pleasure.
Check out the latest gear launched this week at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill., where 70 PGA Tour players are battling for one of 30 spots in the season-ending Tour Championship.
Exotics CB Pro and XCG7 Fairway Woods
According to Tour Edge, the CB Pro fairway woods are the high-end, high-performing clubs that the company had in mind when it created the Exotics brand.
The limited-edition fairway woods are based on Exotics’ popular CB2 line of fairway woods. They feature combo-brazed beta titanium faces and a new “Slip Stream” sole that Tour Edge says improves turf interaction regardless of a golfer’s angle of attack. They come with Fujikura’s new Motore Speeder 757 shaft (the new Speeder 661 is also available), and will retail for the hefty price of $499.
Click here to read more about the CB Pro, as well as Exotics’ new XCG7 and XCG7 Beta fairway woods.
Graphite Design Tour AD-MT shafts
Just a few months ago, Graphite Design released its popular Tour AD-DI shaft in a new color scheme, black and white. For Graphite Design’s newest shaft, the Tour AD-MT, the company went the opposite direction, complementing it with a neon-yellow-and-white color scheme.
According to Bill McPherson, vice president of Pros’ Choice Shafts (the exclusive North American distributor for Graphite Design), the AD-MT is based on the stiffer-profile AD-DI and AD-BB shafts played by several PGA Tour players including Adam Scott, Ryo Ishikawa and Kevin Chappell. McPherson said that it was too early to say any more about the specifics of the shaft, other than it is slated to hit shelves abound Nov. 15.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Tour AD-MT shafts in the forums.
Matrix HX3 “White Tie” Hybrid Shafts
Matrix’s new Ozik Altus hybrid shafts are based on the company’s popular line of new Ozik woods shafts released this year: the X3 “White Tie,” Q3 “Red Tie” and M3 “Black Tie.”
Like the wood series, the hX3 White Tie is the company’s highest-launching shaft and the hM3 Black Tie is the lowest-launching shaft. The hQ3 Red Tie fits the golfers in the middle, encouraging a medium trajectory.
Click here to read what GolfWRX members are saying about the new shafts from Matrix in the forums.
Nike Method “Mod” Putters
We’re not sure what to say about the four Nike Method “Mod” putters we spotted this week on the practice green at Conway Farms.
- The “Mod 90” is face-balanced mallet putter
- The Mod-30 (pictured above) is an Anser-style blade
- The Mod-60 is a heel-shafted half-mallet putter
- The Mod-00 is a bullseye-style putter.
Each features a red-colored material in the heel- and toe-sections, which we’re assuming helps increase the MOI of the putters. They also have high-end milled finish, with milling marks that run perpendicular to the target line at address.
Odyssey Metal-X Prototype
Chris Kirk was caught gaming this Odyssey prototype putter, a 100-percent-milled design with a face modeled after the company’s Metal-X insert putters. The putter’s sole is stamped with Odyssey’s prototype question mark stamps, which have often indicated a model Odyssey is seriously considering bringing to retail.
Instead of the usual “Odyssey” stamping on the back of the putter, Kirk’s putter features the Odyssey logo, as well as the removable weights Odyssey offered in its high-end Protype iX putters.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Milled Metal-X prototype putter.
New Ping TR Putters
In late May, Ping added to its already robust line of Scottsdale TR putters with the Nome TR (Click here to read our full story on the Nome TR putter). On Nov. 1, three new models of the Scottsdale TR series will become available: the Craz-E, Anser T and a counterbalanced model, the Senita B.
- The Craz-E looks identical to the original model that was released in 2004, but it has a black PVD finish and Ping’s new True Roll insert, which features deep grooves on the middle of the face and more shallow grooves on the heel and toe areas to help marry the ball speed of impacts across the face.
- The Anser T (pictured above) is a variation of Ping’s Anser 2 putter, with an alignment bar in the middle of the back flange.
- The Senita B has a 400-gram head, 30 grams heavier than the standard model. Like other counterbalanced models, it measures 38 inches, but it is meant to be held a few inches short of the butt-end of the grip. It’s outfitted with an extra long 17-inch grip and a 50-gram counterweight to help add stability to a golfer’s stroke.
TaylorMade SpeedBlade irons
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TaylorMade’s SpeedBlade irons are the company’s latest line of distance irons. They have a longer, wider slot in the sole and a new construction that provide more face flexibility than the RocketBladez irons.
Watch the video above for more information, and click here to read our story about TaylorMade’s SpeedBlade event on Sept. 9.
Wilson FG 100 Blade Irons
Wilson Staff’s new FG Tour 100 blade irons were inspired by the company’s legendary 1971 “Button Back” model. While they incorporate features of that iron, such as “Fluid Feel” technology, a TPU insert that runs from the end of the shaft to the bottom of the irons’ soles, they’re a modern blade made to the specifications of the most discerning golfers.
The irons are forged from 8620 steel, and like the 1971 Button Backs, they have a high-luster nickel-chrome finish complemented with black-and-gold logoing.
The irons won’t be available until early in 2014, but they already have a win under their belt. They were used by the University of Illinois Head Golf Coach Mike Small to win his 10th Illinois PGA Championship.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the FG Tour 100 irons in the forums.
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Equipment
Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.
Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.
Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.
“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.
“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…
“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”
With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.
After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X
3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (May)
- Tiger Woods WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. In-hand photos from 2024 Genesis Open. Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees @18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Irons: 2023 TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 Raw (56-12TW, 60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (2024)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
More Tiger Woods WITBs
- Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (November)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (December) (new in-hand photos)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB at the 2022 PGA Championship (with a new 2-iron!)
- Tiger Woods WITB: 2022 Masters
- Tiger Woods WITB 2021 PNC Championship (new in-hand photos)
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TJ
Sep 12, 2013 at 2:51 pm
I looked up Sexiest Blade in the dictionary and a picture of the Mizuno MP-4 was beside it.
Dan
Sep 12, 2013 at 7:15 am
TM is falling behind. They haven’t announced a new line of equipment is 72 hours
nate
Sep 12, 2013 at 8:40 pm
this is so true…..
Jack
Sep 12, 2013 at 10:59 pm
That’s just cuz the black paint on the speedbladez isn’t drying quick enough. It’ll be the speedbladez black pro tp edition, and pro’s can hit 7 irons 211 yards instead of 200 yards, but they won’t bag them because then what would they do within 150 yards.
Metal-X-
Sep 16, 2013 at 6:10 pm
I agree. TM is releasing stuff so fast that it’s hard to keep up with. I have ceased buying TM stuff.
SN
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:55 am
Come on man, give them a break.
Their sticker printers are dead.
Or else we should have seen Speedblade “Tour” this weekend.
Rich
Sep 11, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Love those Wilson Staff Blades…..
Kenny nakato
Sep 12, 2013 at 11:08 am
Omg those are the series set of blades I’ve ever seen! And I’m writing this from Tokyo Japan haha
Kenny nakato
Sep 12, 2013 at 11:09 am
Sexiest is what I meant to type there
Jack
Sep 12, 2013 at 10:53 pm
They are indeed. Love the detailed old school look.
nospin
Sep 17, 2013 at 7:03 am
those are handsome clubs.