Equipment
The latest patents from Nike, Titleist and TaylorMade
Many of the patents major OEMs apply for with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office take several months to a year to get published, or made public. In other words, companies begin working on a technology and apply for a patent (if it’s something unique enough that the parties in question believe they alone should profit from for the term of a patent) well before we, the general public, are able to hear about it.
Still, it’s interesting to examine the technologies that some of the highest-paid equipment wonks in the world are working on, even if these specific models never make it market, as we did at the beginning of February.
Now, let’s take a look at some recent filings from the major OEMs you know and love.
Nike Iron
It seems at The Oven they’re working with a protoype design that looks like the above. Certainly, the design appears to trend more towards the “game improvement” iron type than a players club.
The prototype seems to be a composite of several materials fused together, as is commonplace among recent distance-improving clubs.
The filing doesn’t give away much in terms of the details of the materials used in the club, obviously, but it does provide a look at the design and how the component parts fit together.
See the full patent filing here.
Titleist Iron
Titleist is developing a co-forged iron, according to a recent patent filing, which is technologically very interesting.
As the filing states:
[the] invention creates…an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn’t require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.
Thus, the great players iron manufacturer is attempting to produced a multi-component club with superior feel, as the elements will be joined during the forging process, rather than after.
The club is due to have “a body portion having a striking surface made out of a first material, and at least one weight adjustment portion made out of a second material encased within the body portion; wherein the at least one weight adjustment portion is encased monolithically within the body portion of the golf club head without any secondary attachment operations.”
See the full patent filing here.
Titleist Wedge
From an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” standpoint, It’s interesting to see Titleist working on a new wedge design. However, the company has continuously worked to improve their wedges, and appears interested in introducing some CG tweaks into their wedge offerings as they continue to pursue the holy grail of increased spin.
The Fairhaven, Mass company tips its hand with this passage from the filing:
In addition to the increased backspin benefits that can be achieved by maximizing the CG location of a wedge type golf club, maximizing the CG location will also allow for increased performance characteristics such as increased ball speed and increased launch angle that correlates into increased trajectory, increased accuracy, and increased control. Increased ball speed will yield increased shot distance. If an increased spin is desired while keeping shot distance constant, the wedge loft will have to be increased, a characteristic which will mitigate the ballspeed increase while adding even more backspin to the ball, yielding even more overall stopping power or accuracy.
See the full patent filing here.
TaylorMade Driver
In a great surprise to nobody, TaylorMade is continuing to work on driver technology.
The patent in question relates to a club design intended to maximize aerodynamic performance through club construction. The specific ways the company is seeking to accomplish this can be guessed at by looking at the drawings submitted with the patent filing.
Given this and a few of the designs from January, it appears a move away from the “traditional” driver shape may be again on the horizon, with concerns about aerodynamics, rather than MOI dominating this time around.
See the full patent filing here.
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- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.
In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).
With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
See all of our photo galleries from the week here
Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters
Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.
That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.
One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…
We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…
While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.
We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).
See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here
An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird
Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.
Well, we have an update.
According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.
Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron
As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.
Good timing on that switch, Jordan.
On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.
Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:
“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’
“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”
Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball
At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.
GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…
View this post on Instagram
A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!
Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.
On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.
Check out Kim’s full WITB here
A smart golf ball stamping
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.
While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.
And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.
For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
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- Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
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19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
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Equipment3 weeks agoWhat we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
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19th Hole6 days agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
dcorun
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:25 pm
The only thing that continues to bother me is the lack of interest in other clubs. It seems that Cally, and TM are the only ones out there. Lord knows they have the money to spend on promotion but, golfers are missing out on a lot of really good drivers and irons because of this constant back and forth between the two. I play Cleveland equipment and always have. They make excellent clubs but, never get any credit for them. Just check out the GD Hot List, one FW and one set of irons are listed. I guess there wasn’t enough pages them and TM, Cally, Ping and Titleist. I do wish they would promote more because a lot of golfers are missing out on some great clubs. Sorry for the rant, everyone have a great golf season especially after this past winter.
sam
Mar 22, 2014 at 5:14 am
The Titleist wedges look like a knock off of the Scor wedge, with weight higher to increase spin rates etc – it reads like they copied and pasted the idea from a Scor brochure! Still they never really have any original ideas of their own anyway, its always a redesign of a successful technology.
Sams Dumb
Mar 23, 2014 at 9:39 am
Ohhh burn. Go shoot 95 with your taylormade speedslot!
bradford
Sep 24, 2014 at 10:22 am
Oh burn–you’ve never broken 100, “Sams dumb”-ever.
Boomgolf28
Mar 21, 2014 at 8:20 pm
It looks to me like Titleist is taking a page out of Adams book too. That iron design looks a bit like the CMB, same multi-materiel forging concept. Of all of the new stuff above that’s the one I want to hit most haha.
Brian
Mar 20, 2014 at 11:18 am
Great information, as usual. I am very excited to see what Titleist has in store with those irons. Looks like a MB design with some multi-material forgiveness built in – a more “playerish” AP2, if you will. If so, sign me up!
Jonathan
Mar 19, 2014 at 9:40 pm
The inventors listed on the TayloMade driver are both listed as residing in Texas, one specifically in Plano. That’s all the proof needed that TM has resorted to having to go to Adams for help. The only other possibility is that all design projects get filed under TM, and then once approved, the product actually gets assigned to Adams to take it to market.
Jonathan
Mar 19, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Actually the more I think about it, this has to be an Adams product. There’s no way that a TM driver is going to get patent approval and be registered without Benoit Vincent’s name on it as at least a contributing inventor. My guess is that TM is forcing Adams to get back to the “speed design” business while TM continues to take the wheel on low-forward CG design. A good way to prevent brand cannibalism in the marketplace between the two.
Elmo
Mar 20, 2014 at 3:00 am
I agree. I thought that as soon as I saw the head shape. It looks like it has that aerodynamic channel on the side that you always see on adams.
dMac
Mar 20, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Funnily enough this morning I was looking at an Adams 9064LS. When I looked at the TM offering I went hmmm then I wondered what the view would be like from underneath.
One thing the 9064 had was a spacer in the hosel that let you adjust shaft length by about 0.5 inch- I wonder how long (no pun intended)…
leftright
Mar 27, 2014 at 11:15 am
This is why the only products in my bag other than my putter are Adams. They are and have been on the forefront for awhile. I have tried Vokey’s, ATV’s, etc. but the Pugielli’s continue to be the best wedges for me. The new XTD driver is the longest I have tested. The SLDR was similar because it rolled out more but I prefer longer carry.
AC Green
Mar 19, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Could the Titleist wedge be an indicator of the first work done by James Harrington aka James Patrick? Also does the shape of the Taylormade driver in the front facing drawing remind anyone of the Adams Launch Lab?
BigBoy.
Mar 19, 2014 at 8:07 pm
what a load of rubbish.
technology has done nothing for the golf swing and never will.
todays golfer is a bigger hack than golfers of past.
the so called new clubs are no different than clubs built in the 70’s, if anything they do not help the golfer whatsoever.
a turd is a turd is a turd…they polish it and shout from the rooftops “look what we have invented”…and the sucker public bows down and believes the golfing evangelists.
what a shame golfers today have no real desire to improve their swings but will upgrade clubs yearly believing the spin the golfing companies tell them.
John
Mar 20, 2014 at 11:27 am
I guess you still play persimmon clubs and hogan apex irons with pro 90 golf balls right?
technology does not make huge leaps every year no doubt but if you try to argue that over periods of time it doesn’t make a difference you are crazy
paul
Mar 21, 2014 at 9:01 am
Typical pessimist comment about tech doesn’t matter, followed by tech doesn’t help, no one cares anymore about their swing (hacks usually don’t, they play for fun).
Cue the typical reply about persimmons and apex irons (I have some apex irons).
So tired of these comments.
Chuck
Mar 19, 2014 at 5:54 pm
This is such a great regular feature. And very well-written.
Jim
Mar 19, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Looks like the SLDR ALPHA is coming with the guarantee of 400 yard drives 17 degree launch and a mind numbing 1 rpm of backspin for all and 2 yards of dispersion
jgpl001
Mar 21, 2014 at 2:35 am
When is this being release? Next week?
This is the one I have been waiting for – can’t wait
pk20152
Mar 19, 2014 at 4:59 pm
I’m surprise TM hasn’t overloaded the US Patent office with their latest and greatest design. As a matter of fact I bet they’re the running joke at the Patent office “look what I got guys! hot off the press.. another rare patent submissions from TM”… no thanks. I am Titlist loyal.
Hackerdav31
Mar 20, 2014 at 2:51 am
Tough to tell…
MHendon
Mar 19, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Hmmmm so Taylormade is going with a design strangely similar to something Adams has already had on the market.
kibbs
Mar 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Well, since tney do own Adams Golf now, I wouldn’t see why they would do so seeing how Adams was the most advanced driver in speed (aerodynamically speaking). Coupling those two technologies of speed and adjust-ability is the next logical step. I can’t wait to see what they come out with.
bradford
Sep 24, 2014 at 10:26 am
Agreed, almost all of the long drive guys are playing Speedlines because of the head speed they can get. This and the slot technology were the two main reasons I thought they bought Adams in the first place. I’d REALLY like to see them incorporate some of the iron tech as well.
Danny
Mar 19, 2014 at 2:34 pm
SLDRier in white, guaranteed 17 yards longer or your money back! Why play a Titleist and drive it 250 yards when you can play a Taylormade and drive it 325 with the same swing!
Taylormade should start doing infomercials
AntiDanny
Mar 21, 2014 at 12:36 am
Here’s Danny again spewing hate to TM, further perpetuating that “haters gonna hate” only because the company leading the market is.. well.. leading the market. Sourpuss.
leftright
Mar 27, 2014 at 11:18 am
The Adams XTD and SLDR were the longest drivers for me, LH, 103 average swing speed by a bit (stock shafts) and I tested them all. I do think Adams probably is the brains behind TM now.
leftright
Mar 27, 2014 at 11:21 am
I hate to say it but the SLDR is heads and tails better than the 913. Titleist is going to have to hire away Justin Honea from Adams to rejuvenate their driver line. Titleist, straight but short.