Equipment
18 players switch to Titleist 917 drivers at Quicken Loans National
Titleist debuted its new 917D2 and 917D3 drivers this week at the Quicken Loans National. After the first tee shots of the tournament were struck, 18 of the 28 Titleist drivers being used in the tournament were one of the new models.
See in-hand photos, and learn more about Titleist’s 917 drivers.
There was an even split between Titleist’s 917D2 (9) and Titleist’s 917D3 (9), with the most interesting model change coming from Justin Thomas (917D2, 8.5 degrees), who was previously using Titleist’s low-spin 915D4 driver. This could indicate that the 917D2 is significantly lower spinning than past D2 models.
See who changed into what driver and what loft in the list below.
Note: Players who made the cut this week are bolded. Webb Simpson and Bill Haas both changed to the new driver this week and are 10-under par, five shots off the pace of Round 3 leader Billy Hurley III.
917D2
- Blayne Barber (9.5 degrees)
- Erik Compton (9.5 degrees)
- Bill Haas (9.5 degrees)
- Charley Hoffman (8.5 degrees)
- Mark Hubbard (9.5 degrees)
- Andrew Loupe (8.5 degrees)
- Peter Malnati (8.5 degrees)
- Justin Thomas (8.5 degrees)
- Tyrone van Aswegen (9.5 degrees)
917D3
- Ben An (8.5 degrees)
- Brendon de Jonge (9.5 degrees)
- Chesson Hadley (10.5 degrees)
- Morgan Hoffmann (8.5 degrees)
- Patton Kizzire (10.5 degrees)
- Ben Martin (9.5 degrees)
- Webb Simpson (10.5 degrees)
- Cameron Smith (10.5 degrees)
- Cameron Tringale (8.5 degrees)
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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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Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
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KK
Jun 29, 2016 at 3:58 am
Good question about the Justin Thomas switch from a D4 to a D2….I’m really interested to see what real changes Titleist made with the 917. Anyone here still playing the SLDR and think it’s the best driver they ever hit due to the ultra low spin design? I’ve never hit one, but I’ve heard that the tradeoff with the low spin (and distance) is a not so forgiving head. TM released the R7 Superdeep and that lasted about 6 months. I wonder if Titleist has somehow figured out high launch, low spin, and forgiving….we’ll have to wait until the Fall to see.
On another note, I don’t care about paint color, graphics on the sole or the club face, or what tour pro is playing this club. If it’s the best club for me, I’m gaming it. I’m not really sure why every time a new club comes out, there are so many negative comments about the club before anyone hits it or even sees it in person.
Ron
Jun 28, 2016 at 10:20 am
Hmmm, wonder how long before we see the SureFit CG Bar in Titleist Irons?
Rox
Rarebit
Jun 28, 2016 at 3:24 am
Yeah well, unless they start selling maximum allowable CT and COR, Tour-stamped versions on the retail shelves people will believe Titleist can only make decent balls based on other companies’ ideas on compression
Mark
Jun 28, 2016 at 3:09 am
They really need these to sell. 915’s are still gathering dust in my area. TM and Ping have battered them out of the park.
Jackson Galaxy
Jun 29, 2016 at 10:46 am
Not really. Unless people suddenly stop needing new golf balls they’ll be okay.
cgasucks
Jul 4, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Yeah…their golf balls is their most profitable segment and what is keeping them afloat even if their clubs tanked (which is unlikely).
Marshall Moyes
Jun 27, 2016 at 5:24 pm
I am 69 and now play to a handicap of 10.8. Having tried Callaway and Taylor made drivers, I still find the Titleist drivers longer and straighter. I cannot agree with C and T drivers being more forgiving or longer.
the guy
Jun 27, 2016 at 4:58 pm
D2 made more cuts. Obvious choice.
Steve
Jun 27, 2016 at 9:18 am
Honestly, unless you are a 4 handicapper or less, not sure knowing what the pros are playing means for most of us. Titleist (and I have played them over the years) has been known for making the best looking and purist feeling Drivers in the market. Their failure to challenge Taylor Made and Calloway seems to be rooted in their inability to gain traction in the “big box” retailers and the presumed more forgiving and greater distance offered by TM and C. It’ll be interesting to see if the latest offerings are more of the same. And oh….were they really serious about the new Titanium version priced at $ 1000? Great company, but beyond the Pro Vs….their marketing has been suspect.
300 Yard Pro
Jun 28, 2016 at 7:27 pm
People buy what the pros play.
um
Jun 29, 2016 at 3:24 am
Exactly. They want to buy what the Pros play.
Jack
Jul 20, 2016 at 5:19 am
For sure the low spin options are not for most amateurs who have a SS less than 100. It’s always easy to get on a launch monitor and figure out what really works for you at a big box store.
Pete
Jun 26, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Didn’t Haas get one of those C16’s earlier in the year?
Matt
Jun 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Zak would love to know what those guys were using head/loft wise before and if they changed shafts or went to something new.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jun 27, 2016 at 9:20 am
Agreed, Matt. We will get that info as new WITB photos roll in over the next few weeks/months. Still lots of tinkering happening.