Podcasts

Don’t worry, TaylorMade’s “Twist Face” doesn’t look weird at address

Published

6 years ago

Jan 4, 2018

Does TaylorMade’s “Twist Face” M3 and M4 driver technology actually work? And more importantly, does it look weird? Equipment expert Brian Knudson and GolfWRX editor Andrew Tursky discuss TaylorMade’s new face design, their own hot takes for the upcoming season, and the number of PGA Tour player-sponsor switches already in 2018.

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GolfWRX Staff

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22 Comments

emil

Jan 6, 2018 at 4:49 pm

Most on this topic tread are posting ignorant nonsense and obviously don’t understand vertical and horizontal gear effect and how bulge and roll affect gear effect and ball flight. Gearheads only love the look of their driver.

Reply Report comment
- Been There, Seen That
  
  Jan 8, 2018 at 12:12 pm
  
  And other people are posting nonsense about TM being the first ever company to modify bulge AND roll on a driver. Absolutely false. TM was the first to launch a multi-million dollar campaign based on modifying both bulge AND roll. This has been done in MANY clubs for MANY years, without the marketing machine that is TM.
  
  I’m not saying there is or isn’t a slight benefit to the technology. I’m simply saying TM is not the first company to do this, and your claim is completely bogus. For you to know this, you’d have to have inside knowledge of how ALL manufacturers have designed their clubs for years. Do you have said info? As I truthfully stated, TM is the first to use it as a marketing campaign.
  
  Reply Report comment
Paul

Jan 5, 2018 at 3:36 pm

Around 42:00

Reply Report comment
- emil
  
  Jan 5, 2018 at 7:04 pm
  
  Twist Face = Open toe and closed heel?
  Keep weights forward to reduce spin?
  (so much shitchat chatter …. 🙁 )
  
  Reply Report comment
Marooned

Jan 5, 2018 at 7:37 am

I love people who complain and says that this is shit without hitting it, seeing in person etc

It’s like saying that ”I don’t like cucumber but i’ve never tasted it”.

Come back with honest opinions when you’ve tried clubs in Trackman with the right shaft for you, lie angle etc. After that it’s a valuable opinion. Not before, that’s just ignorant and honestly stupid.

Reply Report comment
emil

Jan 4, 2018 at 11:06 pm

Tom Wishon was a WRX contributor in the past. He designed drivers with a flat face. I wonder if WRX Staff could ask him to comment on the TM Twist Face design and claims.

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Golfaholic

Jan 4, 2018 at 10:46 pm

Major bogey for Taylormade when they have to pay for an article titled: “No the driver is not hideous…we promise!”

Reminds me of when my kid tells me not to look at the right side of my car. “The dent is hardly noticeable.”

Reply Report comment
Dat

Jan 4, 2018 at 9:36 pm

This is not new technology, just new marketing.

Reply Report comment
- emil
  
  Jan 4, 2018 at 11:00 pm
  
  TM believe their new “Twist Face” technology will help golfers. Nothing wrong with that.
  
  Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Jan 6, 2018 at 7:56 am
  
  Ok….who was first??
  
  Reply Report comment
  - emil
    
    Jan 6, 2018 at 2:08 pm
    
    TM were first to modify the bulge AND roll. Cobra only modified the roll.
    Roll = vertical gear effect …… Bulge = horizontal gear effect.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Been There, Seen That
      
      Jan 8, 2018 at 12:04 pm
      
      Absolutely false. TM was the first to launch a multi-million dollar campaign based on modifying both bulge AND roll. This has been done in MANY clubs for MANY years, without the marketing machine that is TM.
      
      Reply Report comment
SK

Jan 4, 2018 at 7:03 pm

Sorry, but I will not spend over one hour listening to the podcasts and I’m submitting these comments and questions on that basis of reading the first article published on WRX with no comments section.
http://www.golfwrx.com/483160/taylormade-launches-m3-and-m4-drivers-that-have-a-twist-face/

The M3 driver with the TWIST FACE is possibly one of the most groundbreaking design innovations in driver technology. Congratulations.
As for Dustin’s M3 weight setup shown in the picture in the first article, it appears he wants the weights shifted closest to the clubface thus bringing the driver CG well forward.
Recreational golfers will want to have the CG pulled back for more gear effect.
How is the gear effect being optimized with the Twist Face for both players?

Bazzel explains, in the first WRX article:
• At 15mm above CF (center face) and 15mm to the toe, the loft will be 0.5 (degrees) weaker and 0.5 degrees more open than standard bulge and roll.
• At 15mm below CF (center face) and 15mm to the heel, the loft is going to be 0.5 degrees stronger and 0.5 degrees more closed than standard bulge and roll.

Okay…. but where are the sole weights located with each of these performance conditions?
If you slide the weights closer to the face the CG also moves closer to the face and gear effect is diminished.
If you slide the weight farthest from the face the CG moves back and the gear effect is enhanced.
Your numbers mix horizontal and vertical gear effects. How do they perform with separate horizontal and vertical impact conditions? Thanks again and congratulations.

Reply Report comment
- emil
  
  Jan 7, 2018 at 3:55 pm
  
  * * * crickets * * *
  
  Reply Report comment
Lance

Jan 4, 2018 at 6:53 pm

Cobra has has canted bulge and roll since the 2012 amp line. 6 years late taylormade and not revolutionary.

Reply Report comment
- Ray
  
  Jan 4, 2018 at 10:47 pm
  
  Bulge and Roll along with gear effect has existed forever in club design. Both Cobra and TM have put their own spin on it. No more no less. They both have their own marketing terms for it. Cobra didn’t invent it 6 years ago.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - emil
    
    Jan 4, 2018 at 11:03 pm
    
    Bulge and roll was traditionally measured with a constant radius across the face of the driver. The Twist Face has variable radii across the face from top to bottom and across the face. They have refined bulge and roll with their new design and have tested it enough to put it out to market.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dylnr
    
    Jan 5, 2018 at 9:12 pm
    
    I’m going to link an article here, but I don’t know why because no one is actually going to read it.
    
    http://theaposition.com/golf-equipment/pga-show/2142/cobra-amp-driver
    
    Like Lance said above, Cobra did this 6 years ago in their AMP Driver. This is like when you steal your friends homework from the previous quarter, copy it onto your paper, switch some variables, and put your name at the top.
    
    “The AMP (Advanced Material Placement) driver features a new canted bulge with dual roll design the company says provides more distance to shots hit above and below the centerline. Cobra says its research shows most average players miss shots low on the heel and high on the toe, which the company addressed with the E9 Face technology in its S3 driver.”
    
    Low heel and high toe… Sound familiar? Don’t fall for the latest marketing scheme and fancy technology name. Besides twist face is only twisted 0.5 degrees in the toe and 0.5 degrees in the heel. You’re telling me a guy in China polishing Taylormade driver faces is that accurate? I’d much rather prefer my driver face to be machined like Cobra’s F8 and F8+ drivers.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Dylnr
      
      Jan 5, 2018 at 9:19 pm
      
      You can also jump to 00:30 in this video for an explanation of how Cobra designed their drivers for the low heel and hight toe miss.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn7ggF6UZes
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Lance
      
      Jan 5, 2018 at 11:10 pm
      
      Thanks for the follow up and the article. Hopefully people read it and don’t get seduced by the taylomade marketing machine!
      
      Reply Report comment
    - emil
      
      Jan 6, 2018 at 12:47 am
      
      TM have compensated both the bulge and roll curvatures in their Twist Face, whereas Cobra only modified the roll and not the bulge.
      Bulge affects the horizontal gear effect across the face; roll affects the vertical gear effecct.
      TM design compensates for both horizontal and vertical gear effect and Cobra only for vertical gear effect. TM is the winner.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Dylnr
        
        Jan 11, 2018 at 5:50 pm
        
        I’m sorry that you fail to see how Cobra’s canted bulge and roll does the exact same thing. Best of luck with your hand polished face.
        
        Reply Report comment

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Golf's Perfect Imperfections

Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Live from Mexico Open + Insight on how the pros stay ready

Published

12 months ago

May 3, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

In this week’s podcast, we are catching up with Shawn on his experience at the Mexico Open and we dive into some of the techniques pros are using to stay ahead of the game.

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Golf's Perfect Imperfections

GPI: 3,000 years and no change in how we exercise our bodies…until now

Published

12 months ago

Apr 26, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation) training is a highly effective and time-efficient workout that can benefit people of all ages and fitness levels. It involves using a special suit that delivers electrical impulses to the muscles, causing them to contract and work harder than they would during traditional exercise. The Team at Wisdom in Golf has partnered with the Katalyst team, which has sought to bring EMS training at the leisure of your own home. Their ultimate goal is to help everyone develop with this technology at their own pace.

In a recent podcast, we did, with the CEO & Founder of Katalyst, Bjoern Woltermann, set the tone for what the EMS training is all about and what potential it has for every golfer out there, amateur or professional:

[Minute 02:09] “We’re talking about a new way of working out for the first time in 3000 years. Because for 3000 years, if we think about it, the Olympic Games are still the same, right? We wrestle, and we throw things, and we run, and we lift things. You know, it sure to be a rock, and now it’s a little bit more refined, but at the End of the day, we measure how much we can lift over our head. That’s literally what we measure.” – Bjoern Woltermann, CEO & Founder of Katalyst

This technology has been used for decades in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings but is now gaining popularity as a workout tool. One of the main benefits of EMS training is that it allows people to achieve maximum results in minimal time. A 20-minute EMS session can be equivalent to a two-hour traditional gym workout. This is especially beneficial for busy professionals and those with hectic schedules who struggle to find time for exercise.

Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your overall health, EMS can help you achieve your objectives more efficiently than traditional exercise. Another advantage of EMS training is that it can be customized to suit individual needs and fitness goals. Within a month (Mid-March to Late-April) of utilizing the Katalyst Suit, the team at Wisdom in Golf claims to have seen profound gains in their golf swing, improvement with mind and body connection that is enhanced by the suit, and a better sense of well being.

Here is what Shawn said after using it for a month:

[Minute 35:09] “I did notice in the last week and a half I feel stronger over the ball, and I’m feeling more capable, and that’s, that’s a really fun feel to have for your confidence. So then I proceed to go through my practice session […] my beginning clubhead speed lately has been 102mph-104mph, and I can ramp it up to 110mph-112mph clubhead speed, and that’s pretty much where I have been staying. Last year it was at 114mph clubhead speed”, [35:53],” I haven’t been at 117mph clubhead speed since my 40s, I’m 57 years old, so I ramp it up to 114mph, Wow that’s pretty cool!”,[36:52],” Here I am at a 117mph clubhead speed at 57 years old, and I’m thinking I’m the king of the world right now, and then when I had a nice moment of gratitude, and I thought of you guys {Katalyst Team}.” – Shawn Clement

Furthermore, EMS is low impact and can be adapted to suit all fitness levels, making it an excellent option for people of all ages and abilities. It’s also ideal for those with joint or mobility issues, as the electrical stimulation can be used to target specific muscles without putting additional stress on the joints. Overall, EMS training is a highly effective and versatile workout tool that can benefit every demographic. With its time-saving and customizable approach, it’s no wonder why it’s quickly becoming a popular choice for those looking to achieve maximum results in minimal time.

Listen to the full podcast here.

Additional resources:

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Club Junkie

Club Junkie Review: Cobra’s new King Tour irons

Published

1 year ago

Apr 6, 2023

Brian Knudson

The Cobra King Tour irons have been proven on the PGA Tour already and will be in bags of better amateur players this year. The previous King Tour MIM irons were very underrated and offered great precision with a solid shape that many players liked. Cobra went away from the Metal Injection Molded construction and went with a five-step forging process for soft and solid feel.

Make sure to check out the full podcast review at the links below and search GolfWRX Radio on every podcast platform.

I was a big fan of the previous Tour MIM irons and played them in rotation throughout the last two years. Out of the box, I was impressed with the more simple and clean look of the badging on the new King Tour. Badging is mostly silver with just small black accents that should appeal to even the pickiest golfers. I didn’t notice the shorter blade length in the new irons but did notice that the leading edge is just slightly more rounded. Topline is thin, but not razor thin, but still has enough there to give you the confidence that you don’t have to hit it on the dead center every shot.

Feel is solid and soft with just a slight click to the thud on well struck shots while mishits are met with a little more sound and vibration to the hands.

These King Tour irons are built to be cannons and place more emphasis on consistent and precise shots. I also felt like the new irons launch easily and maybe a touch higher than some irons in the same category.

My launch monitor showed my 7 iron with an average launch angle of 22 degrees and spin right around 5,800 with a Project X LZ 6.0 stock shaft. Ball speed isn’t the ultimate focus of this iron but it did well with an average around 108mph and the iron was able to keep the speed up well when you didn’t strike the center. You will still see a drop off in speed and distance when you miss the center, but you don’t have to be Navy SEAL sniper accurate on the face to achieve a good shot. Dispersion was very tight, and while there are bigger irons with more forgiveness, this players cavity still allows good playability when you aren’t bringing your A-plus game to the course.

Cobra lists the King Tour as an iron for a Tour level player up to a 7 handicap and I think this iron could see the bags of more golfers than that. I am a 9.4 handicap, and I felt more than comfortable playing this iron even on less than perfect days.