Equipment

Proof of a TaylorMade TP line in 2014?

Published

10 years ago

Nov 3, 2013

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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34 Comments

mikey tee

Mar 1, 2014 at 11:25 pm

There was a TP logo on the ’09 Super Deep driver !

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
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!

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - P
    
    Nov 9, 2013 at 2:48 pm
    
    Just checked on RPRO SLDR 430 coming soon at Golf Town
    
    Reply Report comment
Zachary yaz

Nov 4, 2013 at 11:12 am

just what we needed another taylormade line

Reply Report comment
Just sayin'

Nov 3, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Taylormade releases too many different clubs

Reply Report comment
ZJohnson

Nov 3, 2013 at 5:13 pm

You are welcome for the photos everyone…

Reply Report comment
- 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
  
  Reply Report comment
  - ZJohnson
    
    Nov 4, 2013 at 11:13 pm
    
    Oh yeah…cg moved up even more.
    
    Reply Report comment
- David
  
  Nov 7, 2013 at 9:59 am
  
  Thanks Zach! You’re a great guy .
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Jon
  
  Nov 3, 2013 at 5:39 pm
  
  its not that hard to hit those, the taylormade musclebacks are actually pretty forgiving
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - 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
      
      Reply Report comment
      - 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.
        
        Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - WILSON
      
      Nov 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm
      
      I played em for 3 years. not that unforgiving, I promise.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - naflack
        
        Nov 5, 2013 at 10:05 pm
        
        you got some ocean front property in arizona?
        
        Reply Report comment
      - 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.
        
        Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- mike
  
  Nov 3, 2013 at 11:24 pm
  
  WHAT!? WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING!?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Blair
  
  Nov 4, 2013 at 4:48 pm
  
  LOUD LOUD NOISES
  
  Reply Report comment
  - WILSON
    
    Nov 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm
    
    I LOVE LAMP
    
    Reply Report comment
    - tallPK
      
      Nov 8, 2013 at 1:05 pm
      
      you win Wilson
      
      Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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!

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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