Equipment
Tiger spotted testing new driver shaft at St. Andrews
Tiger Woods was spotted testing a new driver shaft during a practice round at St. Andrews, site of the upcoming 2015 Open Championship.
From what we can discern in the photo posted in the forums, he’s testing a Matrix TP7HDe. Sources say the shaft is an X-Flex that weighs 78 grams un-cut and measures 44.5 inches in overall length with no tipping.
Most recently at The Greenbrier Classic — where he finished T32 — Woods had a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Blue Board Prototype 70X shaft in his Nike Vapor Speed Prototype driver.
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Equipment
Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.
Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.
Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.
“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.
“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…
“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”
With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.
After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X
3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (May)
- Tiger Woods WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. In-hand photos from 2024 Genesis Open. Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees @18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Irons: 2023 TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 Raw (56-12TW, 60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (2024)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
More Tiger Woods WITBs
- Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (November)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (December) (new in-hand photos)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB at the 2022 PGA Championship (with a new 2-iron!)
- Tiger Woods WITB: 2022 Masters
- Tiger Woods WITB 2021 PNC Championship (new in-hand photos)
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Sargio_Gercia
Jul 17, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Cut the driver down to about 40 inches 🙂
Smile a little and actually mean it
Be nice to people
Exhibit gratitude
You can only blame circumstance for so long in your life
Chill the funk out
Then just grip it and rip it…
Brian
Jul 22, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Agreed. Be genuine. I think Tigers dad created a winner, but not a Champion (Think Jack Nicklaus arm around Tom Watson after Tom won at Turnberry in 77, honestly happy for Tom). If Tiger never wins another tournament, but becomes a great father to his children, he will have acheived success.
Pingback: Tiger Spotted Testing a MATRIX Shaft at The Open - D'Lance GolfD'Lance Golf
Bar
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Could be wrong but the last time he won at St Andrews he never hit a wood all week. What makes him think he needs to change now .
JT
Jul 15, 2015 at 5:30 pm
He said publicly a few days ago that the course is completely different from the last time he played it, and conditions are softer requiring more carry shots, so even more important to hit quality tee shots.. you probably are wrong about never hitting a wood and winning the British open..
Dunn2500
Jul 15, 2015 at 2:22 am
I am not a huge woods fan but funny to me how people who will never be near his status can comment about him……stick a camera in your face every second of every day and see how you would react……have all these reporters talk trash on you and see how you would treat them…..none of you have an ounce of his golfing ability but you have audacity to critique his golf game ( and you can’t even break 90)…..he is human and has made same mistakes everyone here has but he is less than you?…….have the media publicize all your dirty laundry and see how well you take it…….nobody here knows how to do what he has done both good and bad in front of whole world and still be standing……..my guess is 99% would have folded like Appalachian lawn chair in any of his successes or failures. …….that’s why he is who he is……..I am not a huge fan of woods but I have respect for what he has done and had to go through while the whole world is watching. ……I know I couldn’t have done it…….as far as his golf game I can’t comment as he is far better than me so really what could I possibly have to say ……I shot 80 today with dbl and a trple……pretty sure he would have wiped my a$% had he been there playing in my group, lol
ooffa
Jul 15, 2015 at 10:03 am
I dunno, Would he have to give you strokes? Sounds like you would have beat him pretty badly and taken him for a few presses as well.
Skip
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Well said.
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:19 pm
You wasted a lot of strokes on ………….’s
FergMan
Jul 14, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Tiger Woods is Golf, people. The hardcore fan may not give a damn but the weekend hacker who watches major tourneys only wants the headlines which is Tiger Woods. I can’t wait to follow every shot come Thursday morning and if you have a problem with all the headlines, simply avoid clicking on the story. You searched and came here and read the article so quit hating. We’ll see you all when his reign of terror on tour returns. He is too great to not come back.
Cyd
Jul 15, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Tigger is not golf. The game is bigger than eldrick. You sir are a maroon!
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Last time I checked we have the freedom to express our opinions without the need to qualify ourselves as experts of anything except our thoughts. So deal with that before you jump on your high horse. The world has vast amounts of perception that differs from your life experiences, and sometimes they can be enlightening. So accept the fact that we all don’t feel the way you do.
P.S. Anything to help him win is good.
ooffa
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:19 pm
He should just test out a senior flex shaft and be done with it. He’ll never win on the regular tour again anyway.
Mat
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:39 pm
yeah, like you’ve ever won anything great. Troll.
ooffa
Jul 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm
See, told ya so. Another missed cut at the Open. It’s not trolling if you’re right.
Booger
Jul 13, 2015 at 11:29 am
Who cares. I’m sick of the fake smile on all his press photos. Miss the cut so I can enjoy watching this weekend !!
Josh
Jul 13, 2015 at 2:22 pm
If so sick of him why click the link to a story about him?
Mat
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:41 pm
hey Booger Troll, stop complaining and lets see u make a title of an article here
Ballstrikka
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:38 pm
Phil Pickleson would. Sergio Garcia would. Just face it, Eldrick hates his fan base and treats them accordingly. Live a little and splurge on a PGA Tour ticket and watch his behavior towards young fans and kids that show up dressed like him. He all but ignores them and can be quite rude. His attitude at his own tourney location in Los Angeles was atrocious and left a lot to be desired. This, and how he dumped his family is WHY the reactions are the way they are. This is what he signed up for, so he
has to weather the ^@*t storm at every turn of his life until his retirement day on the Senior errrrrrr,
Champions Tour. More than a handful of us will not be won back with a simple flash of his pearly whites and tip of his cap. Feeling sorry for THIS guy, uhhhhhh, no and *@ll no!
Cyd
Jul 15, 2015 at 7:13 pm
+1000
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:16 pm
and 1
Chuck
Jul 12, 2015 at 3:15 pm
My gosh; it occurs to me that any other player on the PGA Tour could demo a new driver, a new driver shaft, a new putter — whatever — and the general reaction might be interest in the new equipment, curiosity about what the player is looking for technically, and maybe even whether they should try that product themselves.
I see a lot of the reactions here, and I actually have some sympathy for Tiger.
It is personal to Tiger, right? Is there any other player who would get this reaction?
Ballstrikka
Jul 12, 2015 at 1:57 pm
While he’s at it, let’s test some new “putting” strokes! My friends, this guy has become pedestrian at best from 6-12 feet. He’s pulled his whatever generation golf shoes out of retirement, let’s dust off
the 2000 putting stroke too.
Greg
Jul 12, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Might help him shoot 75 instead of 80????.
JuNiOR
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Indian or Arrow?
Jeff
Jul 13, 2015 at 2:55 am
Oh dude. That’s racist.
Lane
Jul 13, 2015 at 9:26 am
It is the Indian, not the arrows. And if you seriously think is racist you need to get a life.
other paul
Jul 14, 2015 at 8:03 am
Is it the white guy or the rifle….? Less racist? Or equally racist?
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Yeah, we all know Indians use fake American names at customer service call centers, not arrows.
Christosterone
Jul 12, 2015 at 10:06 am
It’s an aertech fairway wood shaft….can’t believe people are not seeing that.
It is hard to believe Tiger would play a $59 shaft but that’s what it is:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=351442201471&globalID=EBAY-US
-Christosterone
Chuck
Jul 12, 2015 at 3:21 pm
I would love it if this were actually true.
MHendon
Jul 14, 2015 at 12:43 am
No its a Matrix
Jonzone
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:17 am
Correct. Matrix Ozik TP7HD
Dan Nichele
Jul 14, 2015 at 4:47 am
Yeah cos the guy taking the photo and talking to tour reps knows less than you about what’s in tigers bag. Tool.
Matto
Jul 12, 2015 at 4:35 am
I hope he’s just testing it with no intention of using it. 3wood all the way at St. Andrews please, Tiger!
Dude
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:29 am
What happened to the AD-DI? He should go back to that.
Jeff*
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:11 am
Every half inch that comes off that driver, he hits it straighter. He’s absolutely my golf hero but I think he chases numbers he think he needs to be relevant and the numbers, spin rate, club head speed, smash factor, the numbers have nothing to do with fixing a fault when he’s nervous, facing pressure.
His club specs are for perfect conditions in a launch bay, for maximum ball-speed, every time he sacrifices “potential” or “hypothetical” club head speed, for control, by trimming his driver down closer to the length of his other 13 clubs, he hits it better and better.
His swing looks oily sweet and smooth on the range, if he ever did have the guts to put a 43.5″ steel shaft on that Vapor Driver, even painted like graphite, he’d be world #1 again in a few months.
Kyle
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Looked fine to me at greenbrier.
Jim
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:24 pm
I have a broken watch that is right twice a day too.
Pat M
Jul 12, 2015 at 10:40 am
What is he ranked? 215th in the world? Journeyman golfer.
Kyle
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:14 am
Just a brutal reply. Swing changes take time.
Slimeone
Jul 11, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Apparently it features space-age new anti-left/anti-right/anti-yip technology.