Equipment
Tiger to wear new Nike TW ’17 golf shoes at Hero World Challenge
Tiger Woods will be wearing Nike’s new TW ’17 golf shoe this week at the Hero World Challenge, which is designed to accomodate the golfer’s revamped golf swing.
According to Nike, Woods has been working on the design of the shoe with Tobie Hatfield, Nike’s Senior Director of Athlete Innovation, since July 2015. The inspiration for its design was Woods’ new swing, in which Woods has shifted his dominance from his left leg to his right leg.
“This shoe is an absolutely integral part of my return to the sport I love and have missed so much,” Woods says. “Nike really got in the zone with me. I knew Tobie and I were on to something special back when I tried on the first prototype. I feel supreme support from this shoe which leads to the utmost confidence when I step onto the course.”
The most intriguing part of the shoe’s design is what Nike calls its “duo’s strapping system concept,” which was added to keep Woods “secure and locked down in his shoe.” According to Nike, the TW ’17 is the only golf shoe Woods has worn since undergoing two back surgeries in the fall of 2015.
The TW ’17 will be available in Spring 2017.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/28/24): L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick putter with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft.
From the seller: (@hibcam): “L.A.B. GOLF Mezz.1 Max Broomstick- LA Golf Paige Spiranac Shaft- 44″/79.5. Brand new, never used brown leather cover. The head was professionally anodized from Orange to Blue (Orange looked bad with the Pink shaft so I had it changed). Only a few rounds on this combo. Please see last pic- slight ding on back corner. 8.5-10 condition. THE SHAFT COST $475/ THE PUTTER $625. $799 shipped in the US. ONLY $699 SHIPPED.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Pickitup
Dec 1, 2016 at 8:58 pm
I just got to the point that I could stomach a Nike TW Golf shoe. I bought the last two models. Now this…..? Oh well back to fJ or Adidas. No way this is the shoe they are going to try and sell!
Malibu
Nov 30, 2016 at 9:35 pm
The First Tee of Detroit endorses these
Roger A
Nov 30, 2016 at 2:05 pm
They look like the shoes that you see the mall walkers wearing.
Mad-Mex
Nov 29, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Hey NIKE, please stop! want to stand out?!?! Go back to offering wingtips and saddle show combos, black on white, brown on white, classy not trashy like what you been dealing out!
Wizardofflatstickmountain
Nov 29, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Pretty sure it’s Tinker Hatfield. Unless Tobie is his less successful brother.
Wizardofflatstickmountain
Nov 29, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Despite my jest, I was completely correct. Those make FJ icons look like they’re from the future
new stuff!!
Nov 29, 2016 at 2:29 pm
sorry Woods – crazy respect for your golf game and hope you come back big – so you don’t have to spend time trying to design golf shoes. seeing the way you dress off the course – god gave you golf game not fashion sense
Dr Troy
Nov 29, 2016 at 8:23 pm
+100
Greg
Dec 1, 2016 at 10:09 am
I’m with you. I am pulling for him as a golfer. Just don’t try to sell me anything. His credibility is worthless now.
Rex
Nov 29, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Velcro nurse shoes
Sneaker
Nov 29, 2016 at 11:21 am
Wow! This injury is apparently far more serious than I ever thought it was.
RAT
Nov 29, 2016 at 10:06 am
Well at least there isn’t a 6″ swoosh on the toe platform .
G
Nov 29, 2016 at 10:00 am
They don’t look that bad in black
Adrien Jenot
Nov 29, 2016 at 9:53 am
I seriously think they are trying to get Tiger to quit Nike so they can stop the bleeding lol These are the worst things I have ever seen! What happened to focus group testing? Under Armour and Footjoy will be licking their chops at the site of these lol….
Mike
Nov 29, 2016 at 10:34 am
Have you seen UA shoes? If they want my dad to wear them, they’re doing things the right way…
Adrien Jenot
Nov 30, 2016 at 3:33 pm
I tough the tempo hybrids we’re quite nice. I like the sporty casual look and fit of them but to each there own right. These are moon boot though I think we can agree on that. Cheers
COGolfer
Dec 1, 2016 at 12:53 am
Footjoy will continue to control their market share. Undar Amour is quite a ways from making a shoe that is worth while. To be fair, shoes are not their strength. Much the same way that Nike couldn’t make clubs.
MR B
Nov 29, 2016 at 9:36 am
they look awfully similar to the old Dennis Rodman Nike Air Shake Ndestrukt…which is niiiiiice.
OH
Nov 29, 2016 at 9:32 am
In the words of Charles Barkley, “Those are turrible, man…turrible”.
D
Nov 29, 2016 at 9:24 am
Yikes