Equipment
Spotted: Chris Kirk with new driver and S200 shafts in irons at Waste Management Phoenix Open
Chris Kirk is playing this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and has recently made some interesting changes to his clubs that you don’t generally see from tour players.
The first big change is the driver. Kirk recently switched to the all-new ST200X from Mizuno with a Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana D+ series 60 TX. A change like this seems pretty normal since the ST200X is one of three new drivers released from Mizuno for 2020 and Kirk is a Mizuno staff player. But the ST200X is the lightest, most draw-biased, game improvement driver model in the ST200 series, and it’s not too often you see a tour player fit into a draw-biased club. He also plays in an upright/lower-lofted hosel setting making the driver effectively play around 9.5 degrees.
When we reached out to Mizuno for comment we were told the reason for Kirk’s decision to use the most draw-biased driver in the line was simple “to help eliminate one side of the course.” It’s a common practice by golfers of all skill levels to choose a shot shape of the tee with the predominant option being a fade but in the case of Kirk who prefers to see the ball draw right to left the choice was simple.
The other switch for Kirk is more unusual than the first and that is a full iron shaft swap from ProjectX LZ (Load Zone) to True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S200.
Tour players are creatures of habit, and when it comes to iron shafts they are one of the last things players tinker with since weight, flex, and balance point can all change the feel of a club.
When asked about the change spotted this week at the WMPO here’s what Kirk had to say.
“For a couple of years now, I used the Project X LZ 6.5 that weighed 125g, and then S200 into my wedges that weigh 127g to keep weight consistent. Then I found I needed something that just spun just a hair more than the Project X LZ but would have the same soft feel.”
“I talked with the Mizuno guys and asked why can’t we just try S200’s throughout the bag? … I put them in and just love the soft feel. They are very similar to an S300 or S400 and it’s hard to tell the difference except for the lighter weight.”
When asked how this change ultimately changed ball flight Kirk replied
“Ideally, in the set from 4-iron through-9 iron I want to see it peaking between 95 and 100 [feet] and these are just perfect, and my spin numbers are right where I want them to be”
With all these setup changes for Mr. Kirk, and a wide-open TPC Scottsdale as the venue for this week’s event, it’s going to be fun to see if they result in a great finish.
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- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
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Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
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Scootin'
Jan 29, 2020 at 3:02 pm
I once heard that you should play the softest shafts you can control. Having moved from S300 to a Project X LZ 6.0, I can say from personal experience the softer feel is something I love.
DB
Jan 29, 2020 at 11:43 am
I have seen at least a few tour players recently moving into a “stiff” iron shaft because it gave them more launch, spin, etc. It makes sense, and I don’t think they can overpower an s200 or s400 the way they would overpower a “stiff” graphite shaft in their woods.
the dude
Jan 29, 2020 at 10:37 am
great article…..need more of the “why”…
D
Jan 29, 2020 at 10:27 am
It’s so nice to read more quotes from PGA players about why they made the change, especially Chris Kirk talk about numbers, feel, etc. I never would have thought about the S200s having more spin than the LZs. And hopefully this causes more people to test the Mizuno driver.