Equipment
Hayate: Miura’s new Driver and Fairway Woods
“Hi-yaw-tay.” That’s how you pronounce Miura’s new Hayate drivers and fairway woods, the first launch by the company since it took on new ownership in January.
Miura Golf is an ultra-premium golf equipment company that’s based in Japan. It’s best known for its forged irons and wedges, which have achieved a cult following among purists and low-handicap golfers. With the Hayate metal wood line, the company brings its MG Collection metal woods line to North America (they were previously only available in Asia), where it hopes to broaden its appeal to a golfer’s full bag and players of all skill levels.
The Hayate driver, for example, is designed to “maximize ball speed” and “optimize launch conditions.” It does so through a shallow, 460-cubic-centimeter club head that has a 35-gram arch “floating” above its sole. According the company, the new technology optimizes center of gravity (CG) to add ball speed and reduce spin for more distance. The CG is also alterable through an adjustable heel weight, which can accomodate up to an 8-gram weight to tweak draw or fade bias.
Visually, the first thing most golfers will notice about the driver is its sole, which has a honeycomb structure and a large MG logo. According to the company, its purpose is both functional and aesthetic. The honeycomb construction is said to add to the driver’s structural stability and therefore improve feel.
The Hayate driver ($639) will be available in lofts of 9.5 and 10.5 degrees with a standard head weight of 196 grams (adjustable by +/- 4 grams).
The Hayate fairway woods are designed to improve playability and consistency, using a one-piece titanium construction that the company says offers “the industry’s tightest tolerances.” The shallow club faces are paired with a low CG to help golfers hit the ball higher and make it easier for them to elevate shots from the turf. Making shots from the ground even easier is a sole shape that’s said to optimize turf interaction for improved ball contact.
The fairway woods offer two adjustable weights — one on the toe (4 grams) and one on the heel (8 grams) — to help golfers fine tune their trajectory. Weights of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 grams are sold separately. The fairway woods are available in lofts of 15 and 18 degrees, and will sell for $539.
The driver and fairway woods will be available for purchase June 20. And for those wondering, the word Hayate directly translates to “the sound of the wind.”
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
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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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Orvill
Jun 3, 2017 at 4:25 pm
I love it!
I wish I could afford it!
I wanna be the first to own it!
I need to maximize my ball speed!
I wanna optimize my launch conditions!
Hayate! Hayate! Hayate! Tora! Tora! Tora!!!
Matt
Jun 2, 2017 at 2:42 am
Nice gear. At least they’re not (yet) a mass market company charging those prices.
Matt
Jun 1, 2017 at 9:47 pm
The Miura logo always looks like the Yankees’ when I catch it out of the corner of my eye.
DP30
Jun 1, 2017 at 8:53 pm
Looked at one of these two days ago. Really clean looking FWs Nice straight top line, easy to line up. I might have to go back and hit it.
Eric
Jun 1, 2017 at 5:14 pm
The pricing is ridiculous. It’s weird that the driver is $649 (not unreasonable) but the woods are $539. When’s the last time you saw a driver from Titleist on sale for $499 and see the fairway woods on sale for $399??? I don’t understand the logic here
Skip
Jun 7, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Well, the Titleist Fairways aren’t made of Titanium.
Desmond
Jun 1, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Doubt if Miura-san designed these clubs.
O
Jun 1, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Yeah. This smells of McGarity and True Spec, and not really Mr Miura’s & Son’s own independent design
Skip
Jun 7, 2017 at 12:59 pm
FYI this stuff was out way before the McGarity/True Spec deal.
Blayda
Jun 1, 2017 at 10:29 am
That’s not how you pronounce it. Why would you put the “Hi” at the beginning? There is no “Hi.” It’s just Ha-ya-tay. Simples!
Peter
Jun 1, 2017 at 9:58 am
I wish I have more $$$ to throw away at clubs at this price level…..
JThunder
Jun 1, 2017 at 5:45 pm
I’m sure a lot of people will say the same. And many of those will have purchased 3, 4, 5, 6 drivers by the end of the year. I suppose a false economy is still better than the US economy – or the media hype of both.
Boobsy McKiss
Jun 1, 2017 at 9:48 am
Laughable prices and design. And isn’t every pro driver designed to “maximize ball speed” and “optimize launch conditions” ? Lol.
McPickens
Jun 1, 2017 at 5:31 pm
nailed it
JThunder
Jun 1, 2017 at 5:48 pm
If it’s a “laughable design”, then clearly you’ve played it, or it would be an ignorant comment. A more thorough description of its failings from a user’s perspective would be helpful. Also wondering what a “pro” driver is. Are there semi-pro and amateur drivers?
Phil
Jun 1, 2017 at 9:47 am
I’d play this over PXG any day!
Benny
Jun 4, 2017 at 5:30 am
Agreed. At least Miura has a reason to be at a premium price. Along with a great track record (supposidly) for the best players in the world I understand their price logic. But like the rest of my bag I will wait for the prices to fall in 1-3 years, see what all the critics and reviews say and if it’s still all the shits will buy one at 1/4 the price. Like all Miura its dsign and name is certainly Japan’sh!