Equipment
Live from TaylorMade’s 2015 Launch Event: M1 driver and PSi irons
TaylorMade is launching its M1 driver and PSi irons at its 2015 Fall Launch event at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut on Tuesday night. We’ll be right here to update you with photos and information as they become available.
Related
- Follow along in the live forum thread for discussion of the event
- Follow our twitter page @GolfWRX for up-to-the-second updates
M1 Logo
You can see TaylorMade’s new M1 driver logo on Sergio’s hat.
M1 Driver
Here’s a photo of the driver, which shows dual-sliding, perpendicular weight tracks on its sole. Apparently, TaylorMade is categorizing it as an “unmetalwood.”
THE #M1 DRIVER USES ALUMINUM, TUNGSTEN, CARPENTER STEEL, AND MORE. @TAYLORMADEGOLF CEO CALLS IT THE “UNMETALWOOD” #TAYLORMADEEVENT
— ZAK KOZUCHOWSKI (@ZAKKOZ) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
The M1 driver’s crown…
THE @TAYLORMADEGOLF#M1‘S 10-GRAM COMPOSITE CROWN SAVES 10 GRAMS OF WEIGHT VS. TITANIUM CONSTRUCTION #TAYLORMADEEVENT
— ZAK KOZUCHOWSKI (@ZAKKOZ) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
2015 PGA Champion Jason Day says the M1 is going in his bag for the BMW Championship.
.@JDAYGOLF SAYS HE WILL PLAY #M1 AT THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP. GAINED 3 MPH BALL SPEED, “WHICH EQUATES TO 10 YARDS,” HE SAYS.
— ZAK KOZUCHOWSKI (@ZAKKOZ) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
TaylorMade teasing…
RETWEET TO OPEN THE TAYLORMADE VAULT FOR AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT OUR LATEST INNOVATIONS. #UNMETALWOOD#DEMANDMOREPIC.TWITTER.COM/KSE67JNMBX
— TAYLORMADE GOLF (@TAYLORMADEGOLF) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
TaylorMade’s full line of M1 woods and PSi irons!
@TAYLORMADEGOLF INTRODUCING #M1DRIVER: HTTP://T.CO/2INMDV5FEL#PSIIRONS: HTTP://T.CO/1VEOQYZPZAPIC.TWITTER.COM/CKGCCVVJUR
— TAYLORMADE GOLF (@TAYLORMADEGOLF) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
PSi and PSi Tour irons
OFFICIAL FROM @TAYLORMADEGOLF SAYS THE PSI IRONS ARE ABOUT CONSISTENCY AND REMOVING “HOT SPOTS” #TAYLORMADEEVENTPIC.TWITTER.COM/JZUT4VTY62
— ZAK KOZUCHOWSKI (@ZAKKOZ) SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
@TaylorMadeGolf Tweeted this link, which provides comprehensive graphics and information on the PSi and PSi Tour irons.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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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.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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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.
View this post on Instagram
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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Pingback: TaylorMade Golf Teases to Launch New M1 Driver | Schneider PR Blog
Mad-Mex
Sep 16, 2015 at 11:45 pm
They are trying too hard,,, too IPhone release like for me to take it serious,,,, so the R-15 is old news now?
Matt Wiseley
Sep 9, 2015 at 11:18 pm
Like the progressiveness trying to improve….think I am still going with the Cobra King LTD Pro.
steve
Sep 9, 2015 at 7:53 pm
lets all go back to persimmon and blades, forget all this hype. I for one won’t spend half a months mortgage on a golf club. the human element is what will get you more distance……used to be called hitting the ball on the center of the club face. I am a professional clubfitter and repair tech at a major golf retailer.
Lowell Madanes
Sep 9, 2015 at 10:35 am
Well if Jason Day likes it so will I. WWJD
The irons look like the old R7 irons and the Sldr irons mated while the M1 looks like the burner and R15 had a baby as well. Gotta love it. GO Taylormade.
Jonny B
Sep 9, 2015 at 10:05 am
This might be the first TMag driver I buy. Looks sweet, and the adjustments look simple enough. I loved my old Cleveland Launcher Comp – used to kill that club and love the muted sound/feel of a composite crown.
Nick
Sep 10, 2015 at 1:12 pm
I still think the Cleveland Launcher Comp was the best driver I ever played. Unfortunately, I cracked the face after about 2 years of having it. That weld they used for the composite to the titanium was not that strong.
Nathan
Sep 9, 2015 at 9:39 am
Great looking driver. The latest technology, it will be the driver of 2016. For Taylormade at least. too bad the shafts it comes with are rather old in comparison.
The fujikura Pro. Last years thing
The Rogue Silver. This years, next year is rogue I/O! Wait callaway are bringing that to their new driver.
The Kuro Kage Silver, so old now that it isn’t even up on Mitsubishi rayon golf website anymore.
Cmon taylormade, don’t do half a job on this.
Once again, clear as day tm just trying to make as much money as possible. That’s just one aspect of business, the other is to bring the best possible product to market that you can. Really believe in it. Give the customer value and in return your shareholders will have value… I want to see newer shafts as stock, rogue I/O, Kuro Kage xt, and fujikura idk speeder pro. Just a little let down with shaft options, and think that’s where you decided you could save money, rather than bring out the best possible product you could
8thehardway
Sep 9, 2015 at 9:05 am
I’ve e-mailed TM for years looking for my “extra 17 yards;” they finally replied saying packer #8 forgot to include it in my shipment but if I buy this driver they’ll add an extra 10 yards, a headcover and some straightness.
Cons
Sep 9, 2015 at 11:09 am
Welp, you win the comment board. Flawless victory.
Martin
Sep 9, 2015 at 6:38 am
I suspect the driver will sell Ok only. I for one have always liked composite crowns, just like the way they feel.
Bummer for me as I am waiting on an R15 Driver & 3W and Rsi2 irons I got as a promotion for buying a new car which we picked up July 31st. Said to take 4 weeks, now I am hearing you can’t order Rsi2 irons anymore.
Wonder if I will get PSI irons when TMAG finally ships them.
JH
Sep 9, 2015 at 8:52 am
So I got a rental set of RSi irons and areoburner driver, woods, and hybrid when I played a course in Indy. The RSi irons will suite you well if all you want is distance. I literally was seeing the 9 iron crank out 150 yards like it was nothing. To me I wasn’t a fan, because I had no viable options under 100 yards except a lob wedge. The SW was hitting 100 yards. There was no GW either, so if you get the RSi irons, make sure you have a GW because the PW is at some 45* and the SW is at 55* so that is a 10* gap with no club.
I would only use the RSi irons if I got them for free, they aren’t worth it in my opinion.
Brian
Sep 9, 2015 at 11:00 am
I don’t think most people buy a set of irons and expect to have the wedges part of the deal. Just my thought. I don’t even get a set with an A wedge because it’s always too strong of a 50 deg and not enough workability. 5-PW for me please.
johnnylongballz
Sep 9, 2015 at 6:36 am
I am gonna wait till Christmas when they release the M2, or maybe March when they release the M3, or maybe summer when the release the M4. By then I should pick up a total of 40 yds extra distance.
Brian
Sep 9, 2015 at 8:08 am
that would mean almost 200 yards off carry for you total. I’d go for it!
cb
Sep 9, 2015 at 11:35 am
I mean if you’ve waited that long you should just wait till next labor day for the m5 and make it a solid 50 extra yards
David
Sep 9, 2015 at 6:35 am
Everything about this is terrible for the game. Tired of companies claiming all these distance gains with every new release. If true these drivers should be hitting the ball 600+ yards by now with all the new releases they have had over the modern golf era. The sad thing is distance is like sex to a amateur golfer…it sells clubs. Yes, the better golfer likes distance, but understands the importance of putting the ball in the fairway. Golfers should focus on playing the clubs you have and learn to hit them.
RSL
Sep 9, 2015 at 10:49 am
I’ve never been a fan of putting the ball in the fairway . . . I find it hard to control distances and it really dings up my Scotty.
Double Mocha Man
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Better than putting the ball in a sand trap or water hazard.
Golfraven
Sep 9, 2015 at 6:28 am
Current irons are of course the RSi not PSi – whatever it stands for.
Gubment Cheeze
Sep 9, 2015 at 7:20 pm
……..aannnddd that’s why I’ll take a third term with you
Golfraven
Sep 9, 2015 at 6:20 am
Those irons remind me too much of the Mizuno MP59. The carbon look is just gimmic. Actually TM was on a good track with current PSi irons but they had to come up with new BS – rather sad. I lost track of how many modes they release past two years and I won’t buy into it.
Steve
Sep 9, 2015 at 5:20 am
M1 is SLDR with a Mizuno fast track channel…..glad i didn’t hold my breath!
Mat
Sep 9, 2015 at 2:16 am
PSI = Deflategate II
rymail00
Sep 9, 2015 at 12:21 am
The SLDR 430 is the best driver I’ve played ever. If this spins/launches and plays like it but gives the forgiveness of the SLDR 460 I’ll be very interested. But that might not be possible. If not I’m still contempt with my 430. The double weights is interesting though. Id love to head more about it when the info comes out.
Jack
Sep 8, 2015 at 11:30 pm
Day forgot to mention that his last driver wasn’t fit right. Either that or he is saying he gained 10 yards from his driver from 10 years ago. Callaway has been doing composite crowns since forever, and you haven’t seem them taking over the driver market due to huge gains in distance.
The M1 logo looks ugly. Also, the irons don’t really look that good. I do like the mass behind the sweet spot though. Not that it’s a new technology, but oh well.
That said, I’m more interested in trying their driver than the irons. Though I’d rather that be a fitting iron, and they can custom make a driver for me that doesn’t have moving parts to the same specs. That would be sweet.
tim
Sep 9, 2015 at 12:48 am
Composite has been around for years. And if you watched or listened to the speech, you would hear that he is talking about what Taylormade has done with the weight savings. They have been able to move the cg lower than ever and create a driver which has a sweet spot almost in the direct middle of the club.
Really his last R15 driver wasnt fit right??? and he is 3rd on the tour in driving distance?@?!?!?! GTFO!!!! SMH
I believe he talks of 3 more MPH of ballspeed which is close to 10 yards without changing launch conditions…
JS
Sep 9, 2015 at 1:28 am
You don’t know Jack sh_t.
Taylormade will slay everybody again with the M1.
The only drawback is…… the M2 will have dual weight tracks. So if you need that, you should wait. I don’t understand why they removed the dual weight track from the front track in the M1 as you would see it on the R15. But if you’re looking to pick up at least 1 or 2 MPH equating to 3 to 6 yards of distance, then get the M1.
Mark Horner
Sep 9, 2015 at 3:21 am
lol I was going to say the same thing about the M2, I mean the M1 looks cool to me and would like to try but you better believe the M2 is up next with the dual weight tracks like the change from SLDR to R15
Brian
Sep 9, 2015 at 8:15 am
I’m waiting on a driver made entirely of weight tracks. They call it the Rollercoaster Tycoon III.
jaye
Sep 15, 2015 at 4:13 am
i think the dual weight was to create stability which the front to back weight does so there’s no need for the dual weights
Chuck
Sep 8, 2015 at 10:39 pm
I know it is something of a standing joke, and not undeservedly so; another Taylormade driver, another 10 yard distance gain.
But I take it rather seriously. For the following reason.
If manufacturers like Taylormade are going to take the lead in publishing claims of ever-more technologically-produced distance, then they have to answer to the USGA. Which joined with the Royal and Ancient to issue a Joint Statement of Principles about golf equipment technology. I quote from the Joint Statement:
“The R&A and the USGA believe, however, that any further significant increases in hitting distances at the highest level are undesirable. Whether these increases in distance emanate from advancing equipment technology, greater athleticism of players, improved player coaching, golf course conditioning or a combination of these or other factors, they will have the impact of seriously reducing the challenge of the game. The consequential lengthening or toughening of courses would be costly or impossible and would have a negative effect on increasingly important environmental and ecological issues. Pace of play would be slowed and playing costs would increase.
“The R&A and the USGA will consider all of these factors contributing to distance on a regular basis. Should such a situation of meaningful increases in distances arise, the R&A and the USGA would feel it immediately necessary to seek ways of protecting the game.”
http://www.usga.org/equipment-standards/joint-statement-of-principles-892b2553.html
JS
Sep 9, 2015 at 1:33 am
All of those have been passed and done.
Look up COR (Co-efficient of Restitution) testing and CT (Characteristic Time) testing.
http://www.randa.org/en/Equipment/Equipment-Notices/Archive/2012/August/Inertia.aspx
http://www.randa.org/en/Equipment/Protocols-and-Procedures/Clubs/Pendulum-Test.aspx
SB
Sep 9, 2015 at 8:12 am
R&A and the USGA can solve this issue quickly. Change the ball. Guys who were pounding balatas or any wound ball for that matter had to achieve near perfect launch conditions to hit the ball over 325yds. Nowadays, you have guys in their 60’s hitting it over 325 not to mention the young dudes on tour driving 290yd par 4’s with 3 irons.
TimJHU
Sep 8, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Those irons look pretty awful imo.
Justin
Sep 8, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Any word on what, if anything, will come in Left handed? Preferably the 430?
lou
Sep 8, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Only getting if it comes in black. The marketing white is done done.
Double Mocha Man
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Can of black spray paint…
Joe
Sep 8, 2015 at 8:39 pm
I won’t hate on this. TMAG has always made great drivers. I’ll give it a spin.