Equipment
Everything you need to know about the Project X LZ iron shafts
When golfers think of iron shafts played on the PGA Tour, two models generally come to mind. The first is the most-used shaft on the PGA Tour, True Temper’s Dynamic Gold. It’s been the leading choice of serious golfers for nearly four decades. The second is another True Temper shaft. Called Project X, it has been around a little more than a decade, and is the second-most played shaft on the PGA Tour.
It’s starting to feel as though True Temper’s new Project X LZ iron shafts could be another classic in the making, with three high-profile wins in the last four months. Adam Scott used the shafts to win the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship, while James Hahn won with the shafts the first week he used them at the Wells Fargo Championship.
What’s different about the Project X LZ shafts, and what can they do for your game? We asked Don Brown, True Temper’s Director of Golf Innovation.
WRX: What’s the difference between the Dynamic Gold, Project X and Project X LZ iron shafts?
DB: Dynamic Gold and Project X share very similar performance profiles. Both are low- launch, low-spin shafts that weigh roughly 125 to 135 grams and both have reinforced tip sections. While their launch conditions are very similar, their EI profiles and feel are very different. Dynamic Gold has a tip section that changes in length (distance to the first step) as you move through the set. Project X, on the other hand, has a 2-inch tip section on every shaft in the set. These differences create a much different feel for these two similarly preforming shafts.
Project X LZ is a different design all together. The PX LZ has both a reinforced tip and butt section, which creates a mid-section that is more active. This allows the shaft to load more and provides exceptional feel. This three-wall design is very unique to the steel golf shaft industry. The PX LZ also has a series of very small micro steps in the midsection to enhance the loading zone even further. It will provide a mid-launch angle with a flat apex.
WRX: How long was the Project X LZ shaft in development? What challenges were there in its design?
DB: As we were seeing the great results with our early prototypes of graphite Project X LZ in late 2013, we immediately began to think if we could see the same benefits in a steel shaft. The challenge was how to create that same affect in a steel shaft. There is a lot more freedom of design with a graphite shaft, where we can easily change the different layers of graphite, as well as use different grades of graphite. In steel, you need to be able to make changes to the internal reinforcement of the shaft and are working with a singular material.
Our steel engineers spent over a year manipulating the steel trying to create the Loading Zone signature EI profile. When they still hadn’t perfected it, they realized they were going to have to do something unconventional. All of our tour shafts have reinforced tip sections for added stability and trajectory control, but for the LZ signature, we were going to have to reinforce the tip and butt sections. That presented a lot of manufacturing challenges that took many months to get right. Finally, with the tri-walled designed dialed in, we added the series of micro steps to increase the flexibility in the loading zone even more. It took almost 2 years to get the designs dialed in, and a few more months of player testing, but with the rapid tour uptake and 3 PGA wins in a few months, it was definitely worth it.
WRX: What has been the feedback from tour players?
DB: Obviously, we have had great success on Tour already with several major champions putting the shafts in play, and over a dozen different players having added it to their bags.
A lot of the players who are adding it are looking to work and flight the ball a little more than they can with the traditional low-launch, low-spin products that dominate the Tour. I think we are seeing players being more receptive to new technologies like LZ and (True Temper’s Dynamic Gold) AMT, as opposed to sticking with traditional designs and weights.
WRX: How do PGA Tour players test new iron shafts? Are they more concerned with what their launch monitor says, what their ball flight does, or what they’re feeling during their swing?
DB: For irons we use the launch monitor, but the data doesn’t figure into decisions as much as it does with drivers. With a driver, the numbers are usually king, and a good range session with a driver shaft can be enough to switch. With irons, it’s more about feel and ball flight. Players aren’t worried as much about distance; they want to see a trajectory and ball flight that they like, and have a feel that gives them confidence.
If a player is satisfied with his current irons, it will usually take a couple rounds of testing before he will consider switching. A player who is searching might switch in the same week, but not without some on-course testing first.
WRX: Some tour players use the same shafts in their irons as they do in their wedges. Others use the same model, but one flex less in their wedges. A smaller group of tour players use completely different shafts, or those specifically design for wedges. Is the Project X LZ a good wedge shaft?
DB: With wedges, usually we see the pitching wedge is the same shaft as the set, and the other wedges can be independent. With our LZ players, we have some who have gone to LZ through the set, some who stuck with their existing wedges shafts and one player who is still testing LZ in his irons, but has put LZ into his gap and lob wedges.
LZ certainly can work well as a wedge shaft, but for many players wedges are about confidence and feel, so we don’t see players switch their gap, sand and lob wedges shafts very often.
WRX: Anything else we need to know, Don?
DB: I encourage all GolfWRX readers to give the LZ shafts a try at a demo day or club fitter. The technology in these shafts is really unique, and provides a different performance and feel than anything else out there on the market. PX LZ are available now from our PFC dealers, and many of the OEMs have already added them to custom or will be adding them very soon.
WRX: Thanks Don.
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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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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Apr 6, 2021 at 8:17 am
Thanks a lot, highly appreciated 🙂
Jericho
Jan 22, 2017 at 3:05 pm
I’ve been swinging the 2006 satin finish 6.0 Project x matched with the satin finish 2006 TP MB’s ..my game is a little funny right now but still around 69-72ish ..how would th PX lz compare to my 2006 PX ?
Tom Duckworth
May 22, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Some specs. would have been nice to include. So many factors go into picking the right iron shaft for your swing.
I have good swing speed but don’t load real aggressively so I start with that idea in mind when I look at any shaft . They are for the most part all good shafts just find the one that fits the best is what counts. I don’t really care what the guys on tour play because I don’t swing like them anyway.
Faxon
May 21, 2016 at 6:20 am
Why are you posting this information now, when this shaft is over 2 years old?
Dave
May 20, 2016 at 5:09 pm
125to135 gram shafts ,you would have to have a pretty fast swing speed to hit these all day ,and be fairly muscle bound also . I know personally I would be tired after 12holes trying to swing these.
Joshuaplaysgolf
May 20, 2016 at 5:53 pm
If you’ve ever swung a DG S300, one of the most popular/common shafts, you’ve swung a 130g shaft. It’s a pretty standard weight for steel shafts…with, of course, numerous lighter options available. You seem to think this is only for tour-level and/or burley players and its Titleist’s stock iron shaft. Lol. Even the R300 is 127g. Most people can load a shaft of that weight, it’s a matter of finding the right weight to lock in tempo and your personal preference of swing weight.
Brad
May 20, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Personally, I like the idea, but my favorite shafts are KBS Tour C-Taper. I really want to try out Dynamic Gold AMT, but these look fantastic!
erlybrd
May 19, 2016 at 10:41 pm
Well it sounds like Modus 120. I guess LZs are pretty nice as well. I’d rather have shafts made in Japan though – Nippon.
Dave C
May 23, 2016 at 10:09 pm
It sounds more like the profile of the Modus3 125 version.
LabraeGolfer
May 19, 2016 at 2:02 pm
I think these seem like they are made to compete with the KBS Tours… sounds like a similar profile maybe the Modus3 as previously mentioned as well….
Joshuaplaysgolf
May 19, 2016 at 1:02 pm
I would be really interested to see a testing against these and what, in my mind, sounds like a similar shaft weight/flex point like the Nippon modus3 125’s. Personally, these went in my irons this year and the trajectory and dispersion is phenomenal…but being a wrxer, naturally when I see something new and shiny I want to play with it.
Milo
May 19, 2016 at 10:46 am
I wonder how these would compare to my PXi shafts.
Lp
May 20, 2016 at 2:13 am
Not even the same. PXi is softer tipped. PX is stiff tipped.
golfraven
May 19, 2016 at 9:22 am
When I think of iron shafts played on tour I also thing of KBS and Nippon as well. So just mentioning True Temper is bit far fetched. I understand it is in the context of the article but bit misleading – stop favouring specific brands. I play the PX and would be interested to try the LZ but certainly will also have KBS on my mind.
name goes here
May 19, 2016 at 11:41 am
Considering the article is an interview advertorial piece, why mention the competition? Everyone reading already knows.
Lp
May 20, 2016 at 2:12 am
golfraven,
what in the heck on Earth are you blethering about? True Temper owns PX. So why wouldn’t any writer mention PX with True Temper? It’s the same company.