Equipment
Project X debuts new LS (Low Spin) steel shaft
This past week, the PGA Tour restarted its schedule with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, and it was only a matter of time before equipment testing started up too.
Speculation began with Project X teasing a new steel shaft on social media using the popular Wipe it Down Challenge on TikTok—now there’s something I never expected to write in a new equipment piece.
We started asking questions, and now we have all the details to share.
ProjectX LS shaft
Here is the information directly from True Temper.
“Project X LS started as an engineering concept to create a shaft to best fit the increasingly stronger golfer. The new era of elite-level golfers are stronger, more athletic, and faster than ever, and because of this, they naturally create more launch and spin.
“We tasked our engineers with one thing—to create the lowest launching, lowest spinning steel golf shaft on the market. The result is a shaft that launches a degree lower and spins up to 500 rpm less than its predecessor.
“It features an ultra-stable and stiff design that minimizes spin while providing a tight feel to keep up with even the strongest swingers on Tour. LS also features a unique brushed chrome finish that reduces glare and gives Project X LS a distinct look.”
Specs and availability
The all-new ProjectX LS will be available in Taper sets with the flexes 6.0. 6.5, and 7.0, and will be available mid-July through aftermarket True Temper/Project X dealers.
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Whats in the Bag
Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)
- Chesson Hadley what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)
Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5
- The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!
3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X
Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
View this post on Instagram
I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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Shawn
Jun 17, 2020 at 11:11 am
Didn’t Kim Braly design the project x well before KBS. I find it funny the lowest spin rebar shaft with KBS is the c-taper which is brushed chrome. Hmm.
dat
Jun 16, 2020 at 10:43 am
HULK SMASH! 700 yard 7 iron! (4 putts green)
Chip2win
Jun 15, 2020 at 9:40 pm
I always thought the PX shaft was pretty stout already. Are there really a lot of players who think it’s too whippy?
Jeremy
Jul 15, 2020 at 4:17 pm
So what you’re saying is you made a heavier, stouter Px shaft… ?
Bill
Jun 15, 2020 at 5:54 pm
I don’t get the obsession with low spin.
Tiger is one of the best iron players ever and he wants more spin, with weak lofts and a spinny ball.
Mower
Jun 15, 2020 at 7:22 pm
I don’t either. If anything, I want spin!
Travis
Jun 15, 2020 at 7:44 pm
I agree. Spin is your friend.
Bone dry
Jun 15, 2020 at 9:25 pm
Think of it like this, a head designed for more forgiveness typically launches higher and and within more spin. If you can put a shaft in that head that kills the spin for a good player it’s a win win
gwelfgulfer
Jun 15, 2020 at 10:04 pm
Except this isn’t ‘killing’ spin. Dropping 500 rpm might be something in a driver, but on your 9i approaches… Seems like another thing no one really asked for, yet here it is to save the world… At a well over inflated price given its just steel…
Forged MB
Jun 17, 2020 at 10:17 am
Actually, the more forgiving game improvement irons will generate less spin and not more. They have a lower CG than a more blade like or typical player’s iron which will create a higher launch with lower spin. Also, the lower CG and hotter faces allow for the stronger lofts that you typically find in these sets which even further reduces spin. It’s a common misconception, but a muscle back design will actually be the highest spin iron all things equal due to it’s higher CG.
Cameron
Jun 16, 2020 at 7:05 am
Tiger does not swing as fast as Bryson, Cameron champ, Tony finau, Gary woodland, etc.
And yea, taking my 9 iron spin from 9,500 to 9000 would be a win for very high speed players. Difference between 10 feet of zip vs 15+
Brian LaFevre
Jun 16, 2020 at 9:02 am
You hit the nail on the head. I would venture to guess it would be for short irons for drop and stop control vs. having a ball spin back too far. Tour players want to know a number and hit it to that number and have it stop. Not have to gauge how much spin a particular lie, slope, green will produce at that moment. Anything to get them closer to that is a win for them.
ddetts
Jun 15, 2020 at 4:36 pm
Finally! The return of the brushed chrome finish! Hopefully they’ll offer on the other PX models in the future because I don’t have the speed to swing this new rebar model.