Equipment
Everything you need to know about TaylorMade’s new GAPR Lo, Mid and Hi clubs
The Golden Years of wood-style hybrids and hybrid innovation in the marketplace are over, Tomo Bystedt, the Senior Director of Product Creation for TaylorMade, told GolfWRX.
Based on data collected from the company’s myRoundPro app and TrackMan data from its fitting facility, called “The Kingdom,” Bystedt says TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron, and while some hit the 3 wood very well, they struggle with 5/7/9 woods and hybrid-style clubs. Bystedt also acknowledges that Tour players have moved away from hybrid-style golf clubs as we know them, and into driving-iron-style clubs instead; they provide better control and offer greater distance in certain conditions, he says.
So, golfers of all skill levels need to fill the gap between a 5-iron and a 3-wood, and thus, TaylorMade has designed a new family of golf clubs called GAPR, pronounced “gapper.”
The family consists of a GAPR Lo, a GAPR Mid and a GAPR Hi. The clubs are made with C300 faces and 450 stainless steel bodies, with the company’s familiar SpeedFoam between the faces and bodies for durability of the face and to improve overall sound and feel due to the vibration dampening qualities of the foam. They also have “blind slots,” according to Bystedt, or in other words, speed slots on their soles that are not bore-thru slots. Each of the GAPR irons have adjustable loft sleeves, as well.
TaylorMade’s new GAPR clubs will be available on August 24 and sell for $250 apiece with stock KBS graphite shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips. More specs and info on each of the offerings below.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about GAPR irons in our forums.
GAPR Lo
We’ve spotted Tiger Woods testing a GAPR Lo at Carnoustie, and Bystedt says other big name pros including Dustin Johnson are testing it, as well. There are a few GAPR Lo irons that have a fixed hosel that are floating around in Tour bags, but the retail versions have an adjustable hosel.
The GAPR Lo irons have a weight port (filled with either steel or tungsten weights) placed in the back for head weight purposes and are not interchangeable weights by the user. The head shape of the GAPR Lo is slightly bigger than the P-790 UDI clubs, according to Bystedt, and more similar to the Tour Preferred UDI. That’s because player feedback suggested the P-790 UDI was a bit too small, and players wanted a slightly bigger size.
Retail offerings of the GAPR Lo will include 17, 19 and 22 degree options, ranging from 40.25 inches to 39.25 inches, respectively.
GAPR Mid
The GAPR Mid iron has a bigger profile than the GAPR Lo, and has CG (center of gravity) lower in the club head for higher launch and more forgiveness. The weight port is on the sole of the club, as opposed to the back cavity as seen on the GAPR Lo iron. The soles are also wider, making these more playable for players from the turf.
The GAPR Mid irons are offered in 18, 21 and 24 degree lofts, ranging from 40.25 to 39.25 inches, respectively.
GAPR Hi
TaylorMade’s GAPR Hi irons have an even bigger profile and wider soles than the GAPR Mid irons, and the CG is lower and deeper for an even higher launch and greater forgiveness. The shaping of the club is like the child of a driving iron and a wood-style hybrid; according to a TaylorMade press release, it “features modern Rescue shaping with a high-toe, peanut shaped clubhead.” It also has bulge and roll on the face to help with off-center hits. Additionally, the SpeedFoam in the GAPR Hi is slightly less dense than the rest of the offerings, according to Bystedt, because the density of the original foam was raising CG and deadening sound too much; he calls it “SpeedFoam lite” in the GAPR Hi.
The GAPR Hi is offered in 19, 22, 25 and 28 degree lofts, ranging from 40.75 inches to 39.25 inches, respectively.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about GAPR irons in our forums.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T100 (3-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
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Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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KC
Nov 11, 2021 at 10:06 am
I have purchased the GAPR Lo 2 and it is amazing. The club has a smaller head which I like, the profile at address is very reasonable. The feel off the club face is slightly deadened but still very acceptable. The most amazing part is, I can’t seem to miss the center of the club face with it. Believe me I am very capable of missing the sweet spot on most clubs but this seems to square itself on every shot and the ball goes a mile. On what I consider poor swings, it still travels a very respectable distance.
Tom
Aug 29, 2018 at 10:37 pm
The hollow GAPR is filled with some kind of gooper? WOW!
JR
Jul 26, 2018 at 3:53 am
TM contradict themselves with every new release. Hybrids were supposed to be the cure for those who struggle with long irons. Now we have this eyesore for those who struggle with hybrids?! If you can’t play long irons or hybrids then you aren’t going to fare any better with this – better to spend the money on some coaching.
Jim McPherson
Aug 11, 2018 at 1:05 pm
That doesn’t sell clubs to the sheeple though!!! Lessons are for morons that don’t want manufacturers to get rich. Where would these executives get their huge bonuses from if we all paid for lessons?
Mat
Jul 23, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Who “struggles” with a 9-wood?
GC
Jul 18, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Their marketing team needs to be fired. GAPR? really? Twistface? c’mon man
Don
Jul 31, 2018 at 5:18 pm
“RocketBallz”
Jim McPherson
Jul 18, 2018 at 2:01 am
WTF does GAPR mean? Gap Rescue? Is it an acronym for something?
Either way, it’s ugly. Should’ve kept it looking like the 790.
And TM says players have a tough time with anything past a 5 iron and struggle with hybrids. Yet the GAPR Hi looks just like a hybrid! So why is this hybrid better than any other hybrid?
commoner
Jul 17, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Carnival barking with no shame. Simply cannot see an 8 to 16 handicapper getting what he hopes for from this stick. For this group, nowhere is it explained the source of this wand’s magic that makes others inferior and obsolete.
Max
Jul 17, 2018 at 11:16 am
“Everything I need to know….” except what they look like at address.
Rand
Jul 17, 2018 at 10:15 am
“TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron and … struggle with … hybrid-style clubs.”
So TM came up with two long irons and a hybrid to solve that problem. TM Marketing at its finest. Lol
Man
Jul 17, 2018 at 3:35 am
No Twist Face on the GAPR Hi? Why not? Perfect opportunity to put one in, if it has bulge and roll. Why didn’t they?
Evan
Jul 19, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Bingo!
Geohogan
Aug 16, 2018 at 11:49 am
Twist face will be next marketing blitz (pronounced “suckers”) in 2019.
Fingers
Jul 17, 2018 at 1:57 am
I feel like Taylormade has become “that guy” at the party that doesnt stop talking and when they realize nobody is listening they just start yelling louder.
saveva
Jul 16, 2018 at 11:18 pm
“TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron and … struggle with … hybrid-style clubs.” So to solve this problem we developed “long driving style irons” called GAPR lo and GAPR mid and a “hybrid-style club” called the GAPR Hi but they aren’t long irons or hybrids, they are GAPRs so no more problems.
Man
Jul 17, 2018 at 3:35 am
Yeah so? What’s the problem?
DB
Jul 17, 2018 at 8:42 am
To be fair, what do you expect them to come up with? If they are saying players struggle with traditional long irons and also hybrid-style clubs, then it does make sense that another choice would be a high-tech driving-style long iron. It’s basically a “hybrid” between hybrids and long irons.