Equipment
Callaway X Hot Pro 3Deep Fairway Woods
Callaway’s X Hot Pro 3Deep is the third and lowest-spinning version of Callaway’s X Hot line of fairway woods to hit the PGA Tour this year.
Three different models might seem like overkill, but according to Luke Williams, senior director of global woods and irons for Callaway, they’re necessary because changing to a new 3 wood is one of the toughest equipment changes for a Tour player.
“With 3 woods, there’s two different camps,” Williams said. “There’s players that hit their 3 woods primarily off the tee and others who use it mostly off the fairway. The longer hitters use it mostly off the tee, because they very rarely are far enough out on a par 5 to need it.”
The X Hot Pro 3Deep was designed for the Tour’s longest players, those that want a very low-spinning 3 wood that they can hit almost as far as their driver off the tee. It features a noticeably deeper, or taller face, making it 25 cubic centimeters larger than the more shallow-faced X Hot Pro model.
It seems illogical that Tour players would want a driver and 3 wood that go close to the same distance, but according to Williams, it’s a setup many players use to help them shape shots both ways off the tee.
The main influencer behind the X Hot Pro 3Deep’s design was Phil Mickelson, who carries a 13-degree model and a Callaway Razr Fit Xtreme driver. Mickelson’s driver is weighted in such a way that it has a slight fade bias, which allows him to more easily create the right-to-left ball flight he prefers for control off the tee.
But if Mickelson wants to hit a draw, he can opt for his 3Deep, which is easier for him to turn over. According to Williams, the weighting of Mickelson’s 3 wood is very similar to his driver, but the 3 wood’s smaller head places the center of gravity closer to the shaft. That, combined with the fact that his 3 wood has more loft, makes it easier for him to shape shots left to right.
The X Hot Pro 3Deep is available in one loft for lefties, 13 degrees, and two lofts for righties, 13 and 14.5 degrees. The 13-degree head measures 185 cubic centimeters, while the 14.5 degree head is 180 CC’s.
Like the X Hot Pro, the 3Deep three woods feature the same 455-carpenter steel construction and warbird-inspired sole, and will come stock with True Temper Project X Velocity shafts in flexes of 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. But they will measure 43.5 inches, 0.5-inches longer than similar X Hot Pro models.
They will be available April 19, and cost the same as the X Hot Pro fairway woods – -$229.
Check out the in-hand comparison photos we snapped of a 13-degree X Hot Pro 3Deep and 15-degree X Hot Pro fairway woods in the gallery below.
Click here for more discussion in the Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
Click here for more discussion in the Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Equipment
Spotted: TaylorMade P-UDI driving iron
It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.
We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.
From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.
“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.
TaylorMade P-UDI 3-iron – 20°
TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron – 22°
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
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Whats in the Bag
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)
- Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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other paul
Nov 29, 2015 at 8:35 pm
I just finally found one of these in great shape. Swinging this at 114MPH for around 300 yards total. Love this cannon. I could leave the driver at home if I didn’t live and die by the thing.
Scott C
Jun 10, 2013 at 9:53 am
Anthony, I do remember the Callaway “Deuce”! it was outstanding. A great driver alternative that I could hit as far as my driver, but with better control. Maybe this is the replacement for the “Deuce”. I hope so.
Ji Song
May 22, 2013 at 8:14 pm
I’ve been playing with the same King Cobra Speed FD 3 wood for the past 5 years because I never found another 3 wood that I could hit farther or straighter. I was looking forward to the new Callaway XHot fairway woods and demo’ed on the course but was disappointed that I didn’t hit it any better than what I currently had. However, I recently ran across the new 3 Deep 13 degree Pro at Golfsmith and hit it on their launch monitor 285 yrds and thought their system was un-calibrated. After confirming with the employee that it was working properly, we tried several other 3+ woods and I was still hitting the 3 Deep longer and straighter more consistently. The true test was comparing it with my old 3wd. Well, the results were 15 more yards, lower launch angle, lower ball spin and less dispersion with the 3 Deep 13* with Project X 6.0 shaft (avg dist 270yrds, launch ~12*, spin 3000). I also discovered it’s only 15-20 yards shorter than a well struck driver (8.5* Ping i20 Fujikara Shaft). I ended up buying this club at full retail of $229 but excited to get out and play with it this weekend and see how long the honeymoon phase with last. Hopefully forever…
Ben
May 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm
I have tested today the x hot 3 wood and the x hot 3 wood “deep” on a simulator.
The head of the “deep” version is heavier and smaller than the head of the x hot 3 wood.
The assistant told me that this club is for player around 15 hcp or less because it is less forgiving.
I am not a long hitter but I hit today around 215 yards and pretty straight, it was really longer than my previous taylor made bought a few years ago…
I love the head of the club. The ball flight is not super high which helps the ball to hit the fairway more often.
I love this club, it will replace my driver to hit more fairways !
I eventually bought it ! It’s simply a great club.
anthony
Apr 17, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Does everybody not remember the “Deuce”??????
rj
Apr 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I sometimes carry an 11 degree warbird and call it a 2 wood.
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Sean
Apr 8, 2013 at 8:44 am
Bumped into my local Callaway rep as well at a local range and I hit the same 13 degree with the 6.0 shaft. This club is ridiculous. Ridiculously good that is! Was hitting it as far as my new X-Hot Pro driver on most shots off the tee. For me it was too hard to hit off the deck so I will likely opt for the 14.5 loft for some versatility. It’s hard to imagine this working any better than the 15 degree Hot-Pro fairway I just got. At 43.5 inches in length, yes very much like an old school driver. It even looks like my original “Pittsburgh Persimmon” from 1987.
Bill
Mar 29, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Can’t wait to hit it, Matt…It has a 43.5 inch shaft, so it’s not a rehashed driver as some assert. The deeper face makes it desirable off the tee. More like the 2 woods of old which I often used as a youngster. I have a 19.5 hybrid for fairways and I’ve never hit driver off the deck effectively so this club absolutely has a market. Hopefully my Callaway rep is up to speed on this release now.
Jack
Apr 8, 2013 at 2:16 am
That’s probably longer than the old drivers.
Mat
Mar 28, 2013 at 12:12 pm
What’s old is new again. It’s basically an old-school driver, with old-school shape and old-school loft.
Scott
Mar 28, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Spot on !
Matt
Mar 28, 2013 at 11:59 am
I actually got to hit this yesterday at my local Golfsmith. The Callaway Rep showed up while I was hitting and comparing some irons and he asked if I had any questions since I was hitting the new Callaway Forged irons as he came in. I asked him jokingly if he had a 3 Deep on him and he in fact did have one.
He had the 13° with the Project X 6.0 shaft. First off the weight felt extremely good holding with a nice heavy head and looking down the taller face is definitely noticeable. The 6.0 shaft however did have a little more flex than I like and whips a lot with the heavy club head. I would need to try out the Project X 6.5 or even just upgrade the shaft because my ball flight was ballooning way up in the air with Golfsmiths launch monitor but I was still averaging 276 yards off the tee with little roll out were as my usual 15° 3 wood averages 250-260 and Driver averages from 280-290. I was hitting indoors so it is a little difficult to comment on the sound but you could definitely hear the difference of a well struck shot from a poor shot and the well struck shot just sounds like you are crushing it. So right off the bat before a shaft change/upgrade I’m already picking up the yardage I was hoping for plus if I get my ball flight down and lower the spin some I could imagine getting some really big numbers out of this. I hope to hit it soon outdoors with a few different options but I don’t see how I could not buy one. I hope everyone else gets to try it soon some good results too!
Mike T
Mar 28, 2013 at 11:12 am
This reminds me of the GBB2 3 wood.. I used to have one of those and it was a bomber off the tee, it shape was like a mini-driver almost.
Joe W
Mar 27, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Will have to take a look at this. If I can hit it within 5-10 yards of my driver but keep the control I have with my 15* off the tee then I would be happy to give up the driver.
Rufiolegacy
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:17 pm
dang it! Just ordered the X Hot Pro last week, I will have to talk to my rep.
stu
Mar 26, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Close to a 2 wood. Could see this becoming my predominant club for the tee, relegating driver to a backup for special situations
t
Mar 26, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I have been waiting for a product like this for a long time!
Jim
Mar 26, 2013 at 12:52 pm
It’s perfect. Can’t wait to get it in my bag!
Jim