Equipment

Mizuno’s new, super-adjustable GT-180 driver and fairway woods

Published

6 years ago

Feb 1, 2018

All the way back in August, we spotted a prototype “GT-180” driver from Mizuno that had a sole full of adjustable features.

Then, in November, Mizuno launched a ST-180 driver that had “wave-sole technology” in the sole that was used to push weight low-and-forward in the club head to reduce spin rates. But, the ST-180 did not have the adjustable features of the GT driver we spotted. So, we thought, where is this ultra-adjustable “GT-180” driver?

Well, Mizuno finally launched the GT-180 driver. It’s packed with all of the adjustability we expected, but now we have all the tech info. There’s also GT-180 fairway woods.

Read below for everything you need to know about the GT-180 drivers and the fairway woods, and see what GolfWRX members are saying about them in our forums.

Mizuno GT-180 driver

Mizuno promises extreme adjustability and performance optimization with its GT-180 driver. The club features a forged SP700 Ti face, implementing the multi-thickness face concept we’ve seen recently as manufacturers strive to maximize ball speed across the face. Two movable, 7-gram weights offer the full buffet of adjustability options, and the Quick Switch adjustable hosel allows for four degrees of loft adjustment and three degrees of lie toggling.

“With its wider range of settings, the GT180 can hold the key to squeeze out those last few seemingly unattainable yards,” says Bill Price, Custom Fitting Manager at Mizuno. “Being able to fine tune your launch angle and spin rate is the final element in the equation to find your most efficient flight.”

On the subject of how golfers should choose between GT-180 and ST-180 drivers, R&D Director David Llewellyn put it simply.

“Most players like to keep things as uncomplicated as possible – to stand there and give the ball a rip. The ST-180 is for them. Then you have players who enjoy the process of dialing in a driver and getting it optimized to the yard – that’s the GT-180. Everything else is very similar – playability, ball speed. Chose a model based on your attitude to the game – it’s not about ability.”

GT-180 drivers will sell for $500, and they come stock with Mitsubishi’s Kuro Kage shafts, although other shafts are available at no upcharge.

Mizuno GT-180 fairway woods

Reduced spin, maximum adjustability, and no ballooning if you’re in the upper range of the swing speed scale. Such are Mizuno’s promises with its new GT-180 fairway woods. The company continues to refine its Wave Sole and sliding weight system, pairing the technologies with a thinner, 1770 maraging steel face.

Mizuno’s GT-180 fairways woods offer 17 grams of total sliding weight, as well as the same Quick Switch hosel as the driver (four degrees of loft adjustment, three degrees of lie). A TS (tour style) model with a more compact, lower-lofted head, is also available. The fairway woods will sell for $300 apiece.

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Equipment

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

Published

15 hours 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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