Equipment
Proof of a TaylorMade TP line in 2014?
For months, there has been speculation in our forums about the revival of TaylorMade’s TP (Tour Preferred) line of clubs, the company’s famed lineup of tour-inspired designs that target better golfers.
Finally, a photo of a TaylorMade SLDR 430 driver with a TP logo hit the forums (thanks member ZJohnson), the first real indication that TaylorMade is likely to launch at least one TP-branded club in 2014.
Recent drivers such as TaylorMade’s R11, R11S, R1 and SLDR models have been offered in a TP version, but that has only indicated a change in shaft, not a change in the design of the head. The last time golfers saw a TP-branded driver that had a different club head design was in 2011, when the company launched the Burner SuperFast 2.0 TP driver.
A TP driver is the least anticipated of TaylorMade’s rumored TP releases, however, as the company’s adjustable hosel system has removed much of the need for a special TP driver head.
While the original TaylorMade R510 TP driver had a distinct head design, later glued-hosel drivers had an identical head design, with the exception of a more opened face angle at address. TaylorMade’s latest adjustable hosel system on its SLDR 460 driver, called “Loft Sleeve,” allows golfers to set the face as much as 2-degrees closed or 6-degrees open, with several different variations in between.
The biggest hope from most members of our forums is that TaylorMade will release a new line of forged irons in 2013 with the TP logo. Although TaylorMade’s 2010 line of forged irons carried the “Tour Preferred” name, they did not include a TP badge like TaylorMade’s R9 TP and R7 TP irons.
Above: TaylorMade’s 2008 RAC TP Smoke irons.
The R7 TP and R9 TP irons were both cast, however, which is why they are not held in the same regard as TaylorMade’s RAC TP 2005 irons and the RAC MB Smoke 2008 irons, which were both forged and carried TP badging.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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mikey tee
Mar 1, 2014 at 11:25 pm
There was a TP logo on the ’09 Super Deep driver !
Supedefy
Dec 14, 2013 at 10:26 pm
lol
Just wait few more months after TP version launches. TM will launch the WHITE SLDR woods.
ttgolf
Nov 10, 2013 at 8:47 am
What really sucks on the retail side is they come out with more product before you can even get your precook order in. I prebooked my 2014 order two months ago and I’m going to have to go back and see what all has already changed. Getting to where I hate TM. I’m seeing where customers are now not buying TM new product, they wait on the price to drop in 30 days or see it on the used rack. TM was definitely not my best seller in 2013.
tallPK
Nov 8, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Taylor Made, Taylor Made, Taylor Made…. If you ask me Taylor Made toooooooo many clubs!!!!! How about giving the R&D… I mean… the marketing department a vacation TM? At least let the golf “super” stores get rid of the model you put out 2 months ago. I don’t know how you can have any brand loyalty when you’ve saturate the market with “the latest and greatest” every month. Titlist get’s it – every 2 years irons and woods.
J Duf
Nov 8, 2013 at 9:34 am
Me Likey! Looks like a deep faced compact head that also has the most current adjustability technology.
Pingback: TaylorMade announces extension of SLDR lineup | Adam Stanley Communications
joro
Nov 7, 2013 at 10:13 am
Come and get while you can. It will be obsolete in a few months.
By Taylor Made,,,,,,,,, AKA Engulf and Devour
joro
Nov 7, 2013 at 10:10 am
Come and get it while you can, it will be obsolete in a few months.
By Taylor Made,,,,,,,,,,,,,,AKA Engulf and Devour
paul
Nov 4, 2013 at 1:21 pm
This is so awesome!! Another TM product. if this comes out in January then i will be even more excited about what comes out in march, June, September and December. No wonder they take up so much space at golftown, if you need to have 20 of every driver on the shelf ad you have 3-5 models a year and there is any stock from the previous year you need half a store for the drivers!
K
Nov 8, 2013 at 1:29 pm
Haha I work at Golftown, 20 of each at least on the floor… another 60 of each in the back.
P
Nov 9, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Just checked on RPRO SLDR 430 coming soon at Golf Town
Zachary yaz
Nov 4, 2013 at 11:12 am
just what we needed another taylormade line
Just sayin'
Nov 3, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Taylormade releases too many different clubs
ZJohnson
Nov 3, 2013 at 5:13 pm
You are welcome for the photos everyone…
Jeff Holman
Nov 4, 2013 at 8:30 am
Is this going to be more of a deep faced driver, like the superdeep or just a 430 version of the original head? I can’t really tell from the pics. Thanks
ZJohnson
Nov 4, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Oh yeah…cg moved up even more.
David
Nov 7, 2013 at 9:59 am
Thanks Zach! You’re a great guy .
naflack
Nov 3, 2013 at 3:29 pm
i would like to play a round of golf with someone who could consistently hit those irons.
Jon
Nov 3, 2013 at 5:39 pm
its not that hard to hit those, the taylormade musclebacks are actually pretty forgiving
naflack
Nov 3, 2013 at 5:50 pm
there isnt anything forgiving about the iron shown in the above photos. i hit the original smoke blades cause a buddy who is scratch had them. he got rid of them in a months time cause even he didnt have the time to practice enough to always be on when playing them. yes, there are more forgiving blades available on the market as a whole, i dont buy for a second these are in that category.
that said, if theyre easy for you to hit then good on you.
Jon
Nov 4, 2013 at 11:38 am
Well I guess it could be my ball striking, but I find these irons more forgiving and softer than the Nike MB’s
WILSON
Nov 4, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Same thing here man. I had the old Tiger blades (before the VR anything) and the next set I had were MB Smoke TP’s. I found the taylormades more forgiving as well.
Jack
Nov 4, 2013 at 3:17 am
The 08 Rac TP looks anything but forgiving. You better have some serious ball striking skills along with supreme swing speed to hit those puppies in the long irons.
WILSON
Nov 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I played em for 3 years. not that unforgiving, I promise.
naflack
Nov 5, 2013 at 10:05 pm
you got some ocean front property in arizona?
Dick Nuggets
Dec 22, 2013 at 11:11 am
Play ’em too and they’re a great club. Then again, I’m a +1. Naflack, stay away from these clubs. You obviously sound like you should stick with your oversized Big Berthas.
lloyd duffield
Nov 3, 2013 at 3:11 pm
ITS GOOD TO SEE THE TP LOGO BACK ON THERE CLUBS AND ITS ABOUT TIME THEY RELEASED SOME NEW FORGED IRONS BRANDING THE TP LOGO. AS IVE HEARD TAYLORMADE IS NOT RELEASING A SPEEDBLADE TOUR IRON SO DO THIS INDICATE THAT THERE BE A TP RANGE NEXT YEAR ? HOPE SO
mike
Nov 3, 2013 at 11:24 pm
WHAT!? WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING!?
Blair
Nov 4, 2013 at 4:48 pm
LOUD LOUD NOISES
WILSON
Nov 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I LOVE LAMP
tallPK
Nov 8, 2013 at 1:05 pm
you win Wilson
tyler
Nov 3, 2013 at 1:50 pm
I played the r7 TP’s and the r9 tp’s iron sets. Both really solid clubs. I’m a Ping man now but I’m glad to see TM going back to the TP.
Rich
Nov 3, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Well, TM is back tracking to the LOGO that looks like it came off a corvette. TM is just like a spoiled woman who can’t make up her mind.
Jealous of the Wilson Staff shield logo! Ho Hum!
CR
Nov 4, 2013 at 2:14 am
Yeah, they should at least update the logo a bit and make it a bit more non-comic looking.