Equipment
Rory McIlroy, TaylorMade launch Rory Junior Golf Sets
TaylorMade and company staffer Rory McIlroy have joined forces to develop two sets of junior golf clubs. The 4-Plus set, not surprisingly, is for players 4 and up, and the 8-Plus set, is for, well, you get the idea.
Marketed as “Rory Junior Golf Sets,” a driver, fairway woods, rescue, irons, wedges and a putter are all included. The 4-Plus set has five clubs, while the 8-Plus has two additional irons.
“Growing up, golf was an extremely important part of my life. It allowed me to stay active, enjoy the outdoors and have fun within a competitive sport. I partnered with TaylorMade to design the Rory Junior Set to give kids an easy introduction to golf so they can have the same opportunity I had to fall in love with the sport,” McIlroy said.
According to TaylorMade, the sets utilize technologies from other company products with lengths, lofts, and shaft flexes optimized for juniors (example: easy-to-launch 16-degree driver).
Set makeups, courtesy of TaylorMade, below. The titanium driver is 400cc and the irons are made from 17-4 stainless steel.
8-Plus Set
Both the boys and girls 8-Plus set are designed for ages eight and above and 52″ to 60″ in height. MSRP of $399 USD.
- 400cc driver: 16° / 39.5″
- 3 wood: 24° / 37″
- 5 rescue: 30° / 34.5″
- 7-iron: 36° / 32.5″
- 9-iron: 44° / 31.5″
- Sand wedge: 56° / 31″
- Putter: 30″
4-Plus Set
Designed for players aged 4+ and 42″ to 52″ in height. MSRP of $299 USD.
- 400cc driver: 16° / 33.5″
- 5 Rescue: 30° / 29.5″
- 7-iron: 38° / 27.5″
- Sand wedge: 54° / 26″
- Putter: 26″
McIlroy announced the launch via Twitter with an accompanying video.
At age 5 I got my first real set of clubs, and that’s when my passion for the game started. Excited to announce I’ve teamed up with @taylormadegolf to create the perfect starter set for young golfers so they can build their passion for the game at an early age like I did! pic.twitter.com/wEpQhuj18c
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 1, 2018
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Ben Thompson
Oct 20, 2020 at 3:51 am
It’s good to see Rory get in on the act. My grandson is a big fan of Rory and it inspired him to go out and play golf. I’m sure if he was a little younger this would have been an ideal set of clubs.
Tom
Nov 2, 2018 at 6:35 pm
WOW! TM wasting time with kids clubs now? No money to go to the PGA Show and spending time working on selling “toy clubs”? Company is worth about $300 now, down from the $425 mil paid for it!
“Twist Face” seems to be “twisting in the wind” lol!
HDTVMAN
Nov 2, 2018 at 11:53 am
Actually the price is reasonable when compared to the competition, assuming the quality is much higher than the Topflite products. Cobra Jr products are very popular, US Kids is OK, and the Ping Prodi G set is excellent, $800 for a complete set, but it’s the best quality I’ve seen.
sam
Nov 2, 2018 at 1:27 am
complete with wedges and a putter that don’t work!
Cdub
Nov 1, 2018 at 10:08 pm
What a joke. $300 and $400? So much for growing the game.
forgedforever
Nov 2, 2018 at 7:00 am
Spot on. As usual it’s all about the money.
Scheiss
Nov 1, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Shop smart. Shop S mart. Rory is very s.mart.
Point misser
Nov 1, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Does anyone actually like Rors besides his Dad and agent?
Henry
Nov 2, 2018 at 10:19 am
What? Rory is one of the most liked golfers on the planet.
Adam
Nov 2, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Didn’t Rory say a couple years ago at a press conference that he isn’t out there to grow the game or be a role model, he is only playing to win trophies? If you didn’t see it, he did, and it effected my opinion of him.
Jamie
Nov 1, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for the specs. Now I’ll go out and build 2 sets for half the price and no billboard.
the dude
Nov 1, 2018 at 4:40 pm
good on ya…..(clearly your not the target audience….thank god).