Equipment
Spotted: Mizuno MP-18 SC Irons
A little more than a month after Jhonnatan Vegas debuted Mizuno’s yet-to-be-announced MP-18 muscleback irons at the Masters, a cavity-back versions of the irons has appeared on the USGA’s Conforming Club List. The new irons, which are labeled MP-18 SC, are listed in both left- and right-handed versions.
It’s probably a safe bet that SC stands for “Split Cavity.” It’s also clear from the photo that the irons are constructed with Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forging Process and 1025E Carbon Steel.
A thanks to GolfWRX Member jrshelby for bringing the new listing to our attention through his forum post. Click through to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the irons in our forums, where Outlier10 and others are already salivating over the idea of an MP-18 combo set (cavity back long irons, blade short irons).
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Whats in the Bag
Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)
- Chesson Hadley what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)
Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5
- The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!
3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X
Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
View this post on Instagram
I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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TONEY P
Jul 24, 2017 at 11:54 am
Seen something similar years ago, but they probably feel better.
swingie
Jul 7, 2017 at 10:34 am
Cross between nike split cavities and ping EI1 in looks – gorgeous!
golfraven
May 13, 2017 at 2:46 pm
I am very confused with Mizuno’s mode numbering first of all and now the SC addition. What is it, a cavity-back, a specked down muscle-back or a freak of nature? Can someone tell me what the successor of the MP-25 will be called? Anyway, its time for new MPs so bring those on pronto.
Karl
May 10, 2017 at 10:17 am
Like all Mizuno irons I bet with the right shaft flex and the ability to hit the sweet spot they will play fantastic….I finely got old enough and slow enough had to give up and go back to Pings as the sweet spot kept being missed along with the green.
Tom Duckworth
May 8, 2017 at 10:47 pm
A little bit Ping iBlade looking. Not that it matters. I wonder if there is much tech under the hood.
If not I don’t see much to get a worked up about. A design that has been around for decades.
I’m sure they feel nice and play like a blade would and I do like to break out my old blades a play them from time to time but I just don’t see anything that says I must go out and try these.
Eric B
May 8, 2017 at 9:41 pm
You know when the JPX 900 tour looks better than the new MP… Someone done goofed. Also the MP-66 should’ve been the new MP in the US not this. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
SH
May 8, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Whatever happened to the diamond shaped muscle areas.
Peter
May 8, 2017 at 11:07 am
They look like the Snake Eyes 600C irons.
cgasucks
May 8, 2017 at 11:47 am
+1
ooffa
May 8, 2017 at 10:37 am
They are nice but the don’t even come close to being as good as the PXG’s. I guess if you wanted a second tier club to the PXG’s you should buy the Mizuno.
Dj
May 8, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Lol
sumsum
May 8, 2017 at 1:25 pm
you may just be the coolest person I’ve ever seen comment on here. If not you must be the smartest, since you’ve never hit the new Mizuno irons, or seen them, or held them in your hand, yet you can already comment on their performance. This is me tipping my hat to your vast knowledge!…. and in case you can’t tell I’m being sarcastic.
ooffa
May 8, 2017 at 2:46 pm
dumdum, oops, sorry, sumsum. Ask DJ to explain the joke to you.
It’s super weird when you write a sarcastic comment but don’t recognize one yourself.
birdie
May 9, 2017 at 1:00 pm
lol excellent troll.