Equipment

TaylorMade prototype irons spotted at The Memorial

Published

9 years ago

Jun 2, 2015

What we know: Select TaylorMade Staff Members were testing one-off, milled prototype irons from the company at the range of The Memorial. The irons had three slots: a “Speed Pocket” in the sole and two “Face Slots” that were positioned just outside the grooves on the club face.

What we don’t know: The club’s name, release date and potential construction (forged or cast). The irons appear to have a size and shape that’s similar to the company’s current RSi TP irons.

TaylorMade’s prototype irons (left) and John Huh’s custom RocketBladez Tour irons.

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the iron in our forum.

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33 Comments

dcorun

Jun 12, 2015 at 6:17 pm

I play the TM RBZ Stage 2 Bonded driver and have for 2 years. I compare it to all the new ones that have come out since I bought it and it hasn’t been worth trading in yet. The Fly-Z and D200 came awful close though. I play the Cleveland 588 MT irons (1 1/2 yrs), a Cobra T-Rail+ Baffler hybrid (1 1/2 yrs) and a Ping Karsten TR PAL putter (1yr). My point is… who cares if TM and Callaway come out with new clubs every 3 months, just play what you like and feels right to you. Try them out against the new clubs and see if it’s time for a change but, like I said, who cares how many or how soon some companies come out with new clubs. No one is twisting arms to run out and buy them but, I do feel for the guy who just bought that new long distance driver to find out 3 months later that a new one just came out that’s even faster and longer. 🙂

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Christosterone

Jun 7, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Like with all clubs, I see Ping influences….the s series in particular.

Reply Report comment
tim

Jun 5, 2015 at 11:28 am

The “they release too many clubs” comments are so beyond stale at this point. And I’ not a TM guy either. I didn’t like the feel of the RSI’s or any iron with a slot, at least not yet.

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Graeme

Jun 4, 2015 at 8:15 am

Love the way people on here see a prototype and start hating on TM bringing out too many clubs too often. If it’s a prototype, good luck seeing it in any shops this year.
Also, no one is making you buy it or even making you read this article. It’s not like people buy the newest range of clubs every time they are released. Plus it’s better for the buyer because the ‘older’ technology will drop in price with each new release.

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Sean Paul

Jun 3, 2015 at 3:58 pm

Love how people rip on Taylormade for coming out with new clubs “every four weeks” when Callaway does the same exact thing in addition to coming out with a new paint job for their putters every 4 months and marketing it as a whole new putter. Y’all just mad that Taylormade wins more tournaments than anyone else.

Reply Report comment
- Jeff C
  
  Jun 3, 2015 at 10:22 pm
  
  What tournaments are you watching. TM isn’t even close to the #1 OEM winning the
  most tourny’s. Different winner every week.
  
  I really doubt you’re so poor you can’t pay attention………
  
  Reply Report comment
- mike
  
  Jun 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm
  
  Last time I checked tm doesn’t win that many. Go back and check this years winners. Not many tm.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Jun 3, 2015 at 3:27 pm

Mizuno MP-59 influence?

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Tom p

Jun 3, 2015 at 2:44 pm

All these haters that keep commenting on the frequency of release need to get over it and get a life. We would have 12 different models of they released every 4 weeks. They have released a new iron and a new wood every year since 2015.

Go complain about phones and tvs and cars that get released every year. The Taylormade bashing is getting old. Some of us like to see what is coming out or a prototype.

By the way if you are counting Callaway has released more than TaylorMade the last three years…might want to give them some hateraid too.

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Steve

Jun 3, 2015 at 9:02 am

Hard to make any judgements with the pics here. But sounds like the same old with the speed slots and a new 7 yards longer campaign.

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G

Jun 3, 2015 at 3:32 am

Did TM actually say they were launching this iron? didn’t think so…hint for future, learn to read…

Reply Report comment
- Lee
  
  Jun 3, 2015 at 12:50 pm
  
  Hint for commenter, the title of this article says nothing about Taylormade “launching” anything.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Steven
    
    Jun 3, 2015 at 2:40 pm
    
    I agree. Reading is fundamental. Such a bias against TaylorMade these days. Jealous much?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - mike
      
      Jun 6, 2015 at 12:58 pm
      
      Jealously no, tired of the market being flooded with crap and over marketing more distance…… yes. Last time I checked the usga hasn’t changed the rules.
      
      Reply Report comment
moses

Jun 3, 2015 at 2:12 am

All good by me. Can’t wait for the RSi TP’s to come down to about $300

Reply Report comment
- Lowell Madanes
  
  Jun 5, 2015 at 9:45 am
  
  Im on the same mind set…. Or should I say RSI TP/MC’s since they are very similar
  Go TMAG!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - gabriel
    
    Jun 6, 2015 at 7:03 pm
    
    the mc are 599.99 right know AT GOLF TOWN
    
    Reply Report comment
Jengus

Jun 3, 2015 at 2:05 am

lel @ everyone

Reply Report comment
golfprotj

Jun 2, 2015 at 9:49 pm

They change there line more often than some people change the underwear! J/k, lol/sorry T-Made fans, Complete joke, Any makes you wonder!!!

Reply Report comment
Lee H.

Jun 2, 2015 at 9:45 pm

Who cares if they put out a club every 6 months? If people are buying it, Taylormade will keep building it. If we, as consumers, don’t like the latest and greatest that seems to be coming out quite often from them, then we don’t buy it. If it ever gets to the point where Taylormade feels their marketing strategy is not working, then they will ease back. But until then, they will come out with as much new stuff as they feel is needed. We can choose to buy it or stick with what we got. The good thing about living in a democratic society is that no one is forcing us to do or buy anything that we don’t want to.

Reply Report comment
- cb
  
  Jun 3, 2015 at 1:00 am
  
  we don’t have to buy it but unfortunately the golf shops have to stock it
  
  Reply Report comment
  - jcorbran
    
    Jun 3, 2015 at 1:24 am
    
    no they dont
    
    Reply Report comment
- Tom p
  
  Jun 3, 2015 at 2:46 pm
  
  Well said.
  
  Haters gonna hate hate hate…
  
  Reply Report comment
Barack

Jun 2, 2015 at 9:17 pm

I was getting worried, they haven’t put out a new club in a couple of weeks

Reply Report comment
BigBoy

Jun 2, 2015 at 8:22 pm

How long is this BS going to go on for by the manufacturers, they chop and change and go no-where….at least the Japanese forged boys produce something you can hit till they wear out and not give you a new model every 4 weeks.

Reply Report comment
Winmac80

Jun 2, 2015 at 7:24 pm

Am I the only ones that feels weird of a mark on John Huh’s heel that could indicate a shank? maybe more than once? But RSi has been quite a solid iron and we should expect better irons from TM (and better price for RSi)

Reply Report comment
chad ryan

Jun 2, 2015 at 6:43 pm

Yea looks like a slightly chunkier mp 15. Not bad though. Their “slots” kinda ruin their irons for me though.

Reply Report comment
Sherwin

Jun 2, 2015 at 6:33 pm

More new TaylorMade irons! What is up with their product cycles?

Reply Report comment
RValdez

Jun 2, 2015 at 5:50 pm

If that is a tungsten weight behind the sweetspot it kind of reminds me of the Mizuno MP-59 with the TM/Adams slots.

Reply Report comment
- Rip Torn
  
  Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
  
  Or it’s a TITANIUM slab to move the weight distribution to the heel and toe like the MP-59 or MP-15.
  
  Yet another TM rip of Mizuno.
  
  It’s a bit thick looking but I like it.
  
  Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
  
  That would be titanium not tungsten
  
  Reply Report comment
- StG
  
  Jun 2, 2015 at 6:27 pm
  
  You mean Titanium. Not tungsten. Titanium is light, so that helps to distribute the steel’s mass towards the heel and toe and also adds anti-vibration feel to the middle.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Richard Valdez
    
    Jun 2, 2015 at 11:29 pm
    
    My fault on that one. I forgot it was titanium.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

29 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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