Equipment
Matrix TPHDe shafts
Matrix’s new TPHDe shafts use the latest materials in a new construction that can improve ball speed, feel and stability, according to the company.
Like its predecessor, Matrix’s TPHD shaft, the TPHEe uses exotic materials such as Zylon, Boron and Gmat to stabilize the shaft without increasing weight or making the shaft feel stiffer.
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In Matrix’s TPHD, the HD section, or 16-sided hexadecagonal internal platform, was located in the upper portion of the shaft. In the TPHDe, Matrix extended the HD section down the body of the shaft. According to Chris Nolan, Matrix’s executive vice president for global operations, that allowed the company to make improvements to the shaft’s design that were not possible with the TPHD.
“In car terms, we’re trying to make sure the chassis is as stiff as possible,” Nolan said. “By extending the HD section, we’re able to increase stability without losing feel.”
The exotic materials and the construction of those materials, however, come at a cost. With a $1200 MSRP, the TPHDe is one of the priciest shafts on the market.
“We’re dealing with different raw materials that have different properties, and it’s a very technical process to get those materials to stay together,” Nolan said.
The TPHDe shafts offer a mid-launch, mid-spin trajectory and are available in weights of 50 grams, 60 grams and 70 grams in eight different flexes ranging from lady to XX-stiff.
They have a balance point that is about 0.5 inches higher (toward the butt section) than the TPHD, which allows golfers to retain traditional swing weights with today’s heavier club heads or build the driver to a longer finished length to increased club head speed.
Matrix’s TPHDe shafts will ship to retailers later this month.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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xboxkilla
Jul 22, 2014 at 2:50 am
If you really want a $1200 shaft, but for way less than these guys are charging- go with a Penley shaft. They sell them on their site and the designer can be contacted almost anytime to answer questions-
check out the ET2 on there-
http://www.penleysports.com/products/penley-et2-shaft/
TheLegend
Apr 20, 2014 at 5:28 pm
lol nice trying to save this guy zak. He should never talk again. But you did a good job trying to find out what these shaft actually do better. But he had no real answer.
Zak Kozuchowski
Apr 20, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Guys,
I think you’re being a little hard on Chris. It was an impromptu interview about a very complex shaft. He’s an extremely kind, knowledgeable guy, and the fitters I speak to on a regular basis praise Matrix’s products as some of the best at creating a little extra ball speed.
Shaft companies spend a lot of time trying to explain their products to the masses, but the only real way to know how each will affect your performance is to find a custom fitter who stocks a lot of shafts and hit them for yourself. Most good club fitters will work within their customer’s budget, giving them several options at different price points. The TPHDe is certainly not for everyone, both in its cost and profile, but fitters such as Modern Golf in Toronto sell quite of few of them. To each is own.
brad
Apr 17, 2014 at 7:19 am
In his defense, it is quite difficult to push the tech boundary…these things are pricey in the beginning, but as it takes hold and materials and processes become more common, we’ll see similar shafts at “reasonable” prices. Remember, none of our wives or girlfriends understands why the thousand dollar irons we play are any better than the irons she saw at Target. If it were anyone but Matrix, I would call BS, but they’ve never let me down. Now we wait…
west
Apr 17, 2014 at 2:40 pm
Umm it’s not the price that I’m surprised by. Yes, the materials and processes used to make this shaft actually justify its cost. This shaft is like the Lamborghini of golf shafts, and while not everyone can afford an exotic or needs the performance of an exotic, it’s the people with excess cash who can justify the self indigence, no questions asked. What shocks the hell out of me is this “executive’s” piss-poor ability to market his company’s product. If I didn’t already know all the tech about golf shafts, and was just an average Joe golfer in the market, after seeing this interview I would not have any confidence in the TPHDe line or Matrix as a company. Just surprises me how unprepared this guy was to pitch his product…
west
Apr 17, 2014 at 4:04 am
This guy is the VP of operations? Seriously??
R
Apr 17, 2014 at 12:19 am
Gotta say I wasn’t impressed with this guys interview. Zak had to come in at the end and kind of bring some positivity back to it.
Nick
Apr 16, 2014 at 7:16 pm
For $1200 Im taking another golf vacation instead.
Petercybulski
Apr 16, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Well said
Petercybulski
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Gonna put those bad boys in my woods and irons!!!
Xreb
Apr 16, 2014 at 4:39 pm
You can see the guy struggling to explain the price point of the shaft, although I give him credit for keeping the BS to a minimum !