Equipment
(Update 9/17): PXG Founder Sues TaylorMade for Patent Infringement
Update 9/17 at 5 p.m.
On Friday, Judge John J. Tuchi denied PXG’s request for a TRO (temporary restraining order) against TaylorMade P-790 irons. A TaylorMade representative released the following statement on behalf of the company:
“While TaylorMade respects the intellectual property rights of others, we will always defend ourselves vigorously when someone falsely accuses us of infringement. Our victory in court today re-affirms our confidence in our products and technologies, and reinforces the excitement and momentum we are experiencing with our P790 irons to date.
“P790 is a TaylorMade owned, game-changing product that delivers superior performance benefits to golfers through its key innovations. When you have an iron like P790 that also has Tour player adoption and golfers of all skill levels testing, experiencing distance gains and placing orders, others have no choice but to attempt to slow down our momentum. We fully anticipate a strong reception at retail this weekend and are already increasing our forecast to accommodate greater than anticipated demand.”
A hearing on PXG’s appeal for a preliminary injunction against TaylorMade is set for November 14.
——
PXG Founder Bob Parsons said in a Tweet that he’s sued TaylorMade for patent infringement related to its new P-790 irons.
Taylormade Golf’s new P790 irons infringe upon many PXG patents. Sued them in Federal court today!
— Bob Parsons (@DrBobParsons) September 12, 2017
TaylorMade’s P-790 irons are due in stores on September 15 in the U.S. They use a hollow construction that’s filled with a material TaylorMade calls “SpeedFoam.” It supports the thin, forged clubs faces used in the irons the help improve distance and accuracy. The material also helps quiet vibrations to improve the sound and feel of the irons.
Tech Story: Learn more about TaylorMade’s P-790 irons
PXG’s 0311 iron series also uses a hollow-body construction. The forged club heads are filled with a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) material that serves the same purpose as TaylorMade’s SpeedFoam.
To get a handle on the lawsuit, we spoke to Rob Van Arnam and Mike Sajovec, two patent attorneys from the law firm Williams Mullen. They explained that, in sum, PXG is claiming that its design for a better-performing iron is accomplished by the clubs having an expanded sweet spot, an ultra-thin club face, and an elastic material injected into the hollow-bodied club head. The claims of PXG’s patents are generally alleged to cover any golf club that includes a hollow portion filled with an elastomeric polymer, a first weight portion at a “top-and-toe transition region”, and a second weight portion located below a horizontal midplane of the golf club head with the first weight portion having a mass less than the second portion.
Thus, in layman’s terms, the patents attempt to cover the PXG club head with a polymer/rubber insert with the four weights near the toe and the seven weights on the back face of the club head closer to the sole of the club head. The eight patents asserted by PXG are related and are part of PXG’s portfolio of patents.
Related: What makes PXG irons and wedges so different?
We also asked them why they thought this case was filed.
“It is not surprising that PXG filed suit to protect its technology and PXG irons, as they appear to be the lifeblood of Bob Parson’s company,” Van Arnam said. “PXG will likely portray itself as an innovator and that TaylorMade is merely trading off PXG’s technology and success.”
We asked about the defenses TaylorMade will raise.
“TaylorMade will likely counter that golf club heads for years have had hollow cavities with polymers or foams and have come with weights,” Sajovec said. “Thus, nothing that PXG is doing is new; it only looks better. TaylorMade will also focus on the different design of its weights, while PXG will allege that because TaylorMade utilizes two sets of weight, those weights are equivalent to the weights in the PXG patents claims. TaylorMade will counter that although PXG patents may be valid, the claims do not cover the TaylorMade design, particularly the placement of the weights.”
So what will happen first, how will the case proceed, and how long will it last?
“PXG has already asked for a TRO (temporary restraining order) and a preliminary injunction to stop TaylorMade from making and selling its P-790 clubs while the case is pending,” Van Arnam said. “So there will be an intense few months to decide that motion. Because of the extraordinary relief injunctions offer, that may be an uphill battle. At the same time, we would expect TaylorMade will seek to stay the case and to challenge it with an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding in the patent office, seeking a reexamination and invalidation of the patents.”
Sajovec added that IPRs are a common litigation challenge in patent cases and that “a quick look at the prosecution history of several of the PXG patents gives the impression that the patent examiner may not have fully appreciated the prior art cited during prosecution.”
“As a result of those actions and barring any early resolution, the case could last for 2-3 years or more,” Van Arnam said.
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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)...
-
19th Hole2 weeks 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 Hole3 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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Pingback: Paige Spiranac Takes Top Off In Latest PXG Ad...Just Kidding, But She Does Get An Extra 15 Yards! | twoinchesshort
SK
Nov 5, 2017 at 11:19 pm
These things are not golf clubs; they are just expensive toys for wannabes and gearheads who have more money than brains or ability.
It’s such a scam but as Harvey Penick said on page 74 of his Little Red Book “Golfers are gullible.”.
This fraudulent ‘over-engineering’ of golf club heads is comical and pathetic for the intended use. It’s a marketing scam and gullible golfers are taken for a futile ride.
Jerry
Nov 5, 2017 at 12:41 pm
The reality is that TM did copy PXG.
Question is whether it’s a legal copying.
Todd
Sep 21, 2017 at 11:55 pm
PXGs Tag Line: NOBODY MAKES GOLF CLUBS THE WAY WE DO. PERIOD. Well apparently someone does for a lot less money, and they did it along time before PXG was around. Kinda takes the air outta their exaggerated clubs.
TMAG...how many irons on their site at this moment?
Sep 21, 2017 at 10:59 pm
No offense to TMAG, but why not come out with something better? I don’t know how close they are or specifics of patent PXG holds on their iron head design, but it does seem like a complete “we will make a set just like theirs; just half the price” and will be on sale rack half that price 3 months later.
Engineer Bob
Sep 17, 2017 at 2:30 am
TM P-790 and PXG 0311 fake forged scam exposed on GolfWRX!
Only the thin face plate is nominally ‘forged’ while the rest of the club body is cast SS.
The two pieces are welded together to form the hollow cavity filled with foam or gel.
They’re like 90% cast steel body and 10% forged plate. Wotta scam and the gearheads just lap it up without complaining.
Craig
Sep 17, 2017 at 2:41 am
It is well known this is how PXG clubs are mean, not sure I understand your point. No one thought they were blades.
AllanB
Sep 17, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Both clubs have the word “forged” stamped on them which would lead you to believe they are 100% forged. Cast SS is cheap and the thin so-called ‘forged’ face plate is cheap too.
So why the high prices for these cheap to manufacture clubs? It’s a scam.
SoloGolfer
Sep 20, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Fake fake fake fake (forged)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48KMbOOR-A
MN
Sep 24, 2017 at 1:20 am
Lol, it does say forged. But it didn’t say 100% forged, so that doesn’t mean its not. Get over it.
SG
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:11 am
So you just believe whatever the OEMs tell you about their cooked up products…. because you love the status of owning OEM clubs.
People like you are the proverbial “a sucker born every minute”.
Thomas A
Sep 29, 2017 at 9:13 am
You would believe that if you believed everything you read. Seems like in the specs they call out the manufacturing process and materials, so they’re not hiding anything. It’d probably blow your mind if I told you that the pumpkin in pumpkin pie is actually squash. Semantics.
Gbx
Sep 16, 2017 at 6:00 pm
The day I wanted to buy pxg clubs was the day I realized I must be having a midlife crisis.
Nick
Sep 18, 2017 at 2:15 am
…. or you wanted skrews in your head …..!
Looks like a point for PXG
Sep 21, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Whether other OEM’s have tried in the past, it’s working for PXG now. Ironically “the biggest name in golf” made an attempt to make a very similar club to satisfy those with PXG price issues. TMAG hould have tried to build something better, but I guess all Ping engineers are happy at PXG. They will be on the sale rack just like the rest of TMAG’s equipment.
John Agel
Sep 16, 2017 at 2:20 pm
This is ridiculous absolutely ridiculous. This is not new technology in any way shape or form and actually I believe it was Tailor-Made in the 90s with their Burner series that first came out with cavity clubs that were foam filled this is… just childishness.
Jimmy O
Sep 16, 2017 at 1:38 pm
Patent trolls might have a field day with this. Nickent had the ARC blades about a decade ago and were filled with elastomer. If they had a patent, the material used might not have been limited to just elastomer. Yonex had their a blade irons filled as well… Should be an interesting few years of suits and counter suits.
Freddie
Sep 16, 2017 at 1:27 pm
If TM has prior art work, or has produced a club similar prior to the PXG patent, they are good to go. Public disclosure trumps a patent. In other words if you patent something that has already been done, your patent is useless.
Jacked_Loft
Sep 16, 2017 at 4:14 am
TM probably knew that this was going to happen when they first started working on the 790s on the drawing board. I’m sure that their legal beagles did the due diligence before the release and know that PXG hasn’t a chance in hell to sue them.
allanaj
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:45 pm
”The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies, and everything golf you can imagine. So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.”
———————
Okay, now tell us if the TM P-790 and PXG 0311 irons are FULLY forged, or are they only face-plate forged and the rest of the body is a SS casting with the parts welded together.
dcorun
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:19 pm
I like my 2017 M2 driver but, not a total TM club fan. Should be fun watching this for awhile before something else comes along to distract us. 🙂
peter collins
Sep 15, 2017 at 11:59 am
PXG will win the day pay up TM
BigBoy
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:59 am
They’re both sh*t clubs.
Engineer Bob
Sep 17, 2017 at 2:31 am
Fake forged too.
BigBoy
Sep 17, 2017 at 5:20 am
Exactly. Wannabe clubs.
AllanB
Sep 17, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Stupid buyers are easily scammed by these cheap clubs.
Kevin
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:46 am
In baseball terms, they would both be considered cheaters for “juicing the bats”
Tblack
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:23 am
I have had some dealings with PXG they are very arrogant, hope TM Clobbers them
Golfr42 PA
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:05 am
End of the day, how it will play out is that TM has the attorneys on payroll and can tie it up in litigation so long that BOTH companies will have moved on to the new “bigger and better” (or should I say “longer and more forgey feeling”) thing three times before PXG decides they can’t afford to pursue it further. Another possible outcome is that TM pays PXG enough to get them to STFU and drop the suit.
Either way you look at it, and if you are a fan of either, both or none of those companies, this should generate enough butt hurt on the forums to keep those of us who really don’t give a damn some entertainment watching folks self-destruct over it. Still better entertainment than the left vs right political vomit that’s been polluting the forums and social media recently.
Jimmy Ray
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:46 am
Am I the only one horrified that someone cut a $300 iron in half just for a money shot? I could have sold that baby on eBay!
Golfr42 PA
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:07 am
More than likely it was a QC reject that was butchered on its way to the scrap heap
Judge mental
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:15 am
PXG reinvent the wheel ,so watch out everyone !!!!!!
Jack Nash
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:14 am
Taylormade getting sued? Again? That’s why they bought out Adams. Hmmm slot technology. Then again, if we’re going for Style points I would imagine Mizuno and Titleist would have a beef against both these companies.
Spitfisher
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:14 am
Looking at the picture at the top of article, looks like the iron on the right has better quality control…..don’t tell Bob he’ll sue his own manufacturing
Fredo
Sep 15, 2017 at 10:04 am
Hey Spit, the club on the right is PXG haha.
https://www.pxg.com/en-us/clubs/irons
jack
Sep 15, 2017 at 3:05 am
Sticking to the subject, PXG has numerous patents including the injection of a polymer into the cavity of the club.
http://patents.justia.com/assignee/parsons-xtreme-golf-llc
Fredo
Sep 15, 2017 at 10:06 am
BOOM!!!
Mike
Sep 14, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Bob needs the money to continue to sponsor Paige Spirinac.
Mat
Sep 15, 2017 at 2:24 am
/thread
Jack Nash
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:17 am
Danica is coming back. This time with a set of clubs.
AllanA
Sep 14, 2017 at 8:28 pm
I suspect TM and PXG have colluded with these publicity law suits to suck in the geerhead market to look at their clubs and create a desire to choose sides and form TM and PXG teams …. at exorbitant prices to join the teams and own cheap cast steel clubs with a thin ‘forged’ face-plate. Ya think?!!
Bert
Sep 14, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Better sue Yonex as well – what a joke.
BO
Sep 14, 2017 at 5:21 pm
I sue you
You sue me
Let’s all just sue
That fella behind the tree !!!
Blake
Sep 14, 2017 at 4:28 pm
Thats rich coming from the guy who stole PING employees then created PING clubs with screws on the back.
Chris B
Sep 14, 2017 at 11:07 am
I can’t see how they have a case, hollow irons have been around before and most will have had some hot melt put in at some stage. Foam is very different to a thermoplastic material.
They all copy each other anyway.
Jose Pro Se
Sep 14, 2017 at 7:45 am
TM will be fine. Parsons is about to get a very expensive lesson – just b/c you get a patent doesn’t mean you have an enforceable patent.
Who wins? TM and PXG ATTORNEYS
Mike Honcho
Sep 14, 2017 at 7:38 am
PXG. Pompous Xtreme Golf. Get over yourself Bob!
Anthony Rowe
Sep 14, 2017 at 1:17 am
At the end of the where does it all end , most big brands , drivers have the same adjustable weights and shafts, and the other is people’s preferences and budget, PXG over $3000 for just a set of irons, so which clown at PXG can possibly be thinking about the market of golfer they are making for, at least taylormade, who is now probably the biggest supporter of golf, with products that a real golfer can afford, PXG want to tread lightly after alot of there staff are ex PING employees, PING might be next to sue PXG for copyrights?
LLC
Sep 14, 2017 at 1:04 am
For TM:
“…“SpeedFoam.” It supports the thin, forged clubs faces used in the (P-790) irons…”
And for PXG:
“…The forged (0311) club heads are filled with a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) material…”
————–
Thank you GolfWRX Staff for admitting that the PXG is fully forged and the TM is only face-forged ….. or is it?
Bert
Sep 14, 2017 at 6:27 pm
How would you forge a hollow club head? I thought forging was a stamping process from a solid piece of metal and cast was poured melted metal. Not sure how you could stamp a heated metal ingot into a hollow body. My bet is neither are really a forged club.
AllanA
Sep 14, 2017 at 8:23 pm
I suspect only the face-plates are forged and the rest of the club is cast SS with the forged face welded to the cast body.
So where does the ‘forged feel’ come from; only from the face-plate or the entire body and in particular the hosel which transmits the impact feel to the shaft?
I recall a blind test done with forged and cast steel clubs and most of the regular golfers couldn’t tell the difference on center hits. Perhaps forged heads help muffle the off-center hit shock.
And perhaps the ‘feel’ difference only emerges in high speed pro swings where the forged hosel changes the feel sensation.
Perhaps the myth of ‘forged’ is being exploited by TM and PXG…. and the gullible geerheads just imagine the feel differences. Of course OEMs can charge outlandish prices for clubs with fake forged lettering on the body.
Perhaps it’s all a scam……….
Chris
Sep 15, 2017 at 2:05 pm
2-piece forged. Then welded together I guess, it forged a second time with the polymer sandwiched in.
allanaj
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:47 pm
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Stop guessing and ask GolfWRX to investigate and inform us.
DaveT
Sep 13, 2017 at 10:44 pm
A couple of comments on the patent and legal issue, not the technology itself:
(1) Since I started out as an engineer in 1962, the patent process has changed enormously. In order to handle the huge crush of applications in more recent years, as well as speed the issuance of a patent, the examiner does a lot less critical examination of the application. They (rightly IMHO) issue patents too easily, and let litigation decide which are important enough to investigate in detail. So the IPR request from TaylorMade is entirely appropriate, and it may invalidate the hollow, foam-filled part of PXG’s claim. And TM was doing screw weights and placement before almost anybody, IIRC. So only the specific configuration of PXG’s screws is likely to be patentable. I imagine that is not infringed by TM.
(2) The really critical thing is not whether the patent is deemed valid or not; it is the injunction. The suit itself will take years to get to a decision. By then both companies will have different products and the decision will be moot. So the big thing commercially is whether or not the court will let TM sell their product while we wait for an answer. Yes? TM won, period. No? PXG won, period. The outcome of the trial itself doesn’t really matter.
Mark Walgren
Sep 13, 2017 at 10:28 pm
PXG lol… what a joke.
Dat
Sep 13, 2017 at 8:55 pm
PXG is a JOKE!
Brian
Sep 13, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Lol. PXG just sucks.
tlmck
Sep 13, 2017 at 7:30 pm
TM just needs to tie this up in court for 6 months or so. By that time they will be releasing their new iron offerings that won’t sell either.
Anthony
Sep 14, 2017 at 1:06 am
6 months? have they changed their release times? More like 3-4 months lol…
Tim
Sep 14, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Oh look more release frequency jokes…
LITM
Sep 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm
You idiots don’t know much about patents
Allen Rawlins
Sep 13, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Back in the mid 90’s taylormade made an iron that had in the hollowed out cavity….. FOAM!!!!! Makes you wonder who is infringing on who??!!
Historian
Sep 13, 2017 at 9:05 pm
EXACTLY.
allanaj
Sep 15, 2017 at 8:50 pm
And the original TM Pittsburgh Persimmon hollow steel drivers were filled with foam… but only to support the sole, crown and face for the welding of the parts.
Rich
Sep 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm
This takes it back to the Macgregor hollow back V foil irons and the old Wilson Staff Relex irons of many years ago. Heck tell us some Mfgs that have copied from a previous design !!!
Historian
Sep 13, 2017 at 9:07 pm
The Wilson Reflex iron is a great example of the slot in the sole technology. I’m not sure how Wilson can’t claim the technology – they had it in the late 1970’s. Has the patent expired?
JThunder
Sep 14, 2017 at 4:18 am
Design patents last 14 years in the US.
Any patent PXG holds would have to be very specific to their design, since nothing they’re doing in general is new; forged. hollow, gunk-filled, weights…
Bob Parsons clearly just has too much money and needs to find ways to spend it. A team of lawyers would drive 99% of the population into bankruptcy, but won’t even dent Bob’s ludicrous cash pile.
UnclePhil
Sep 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm
@Bishop!! Well played, love that comment!
OX
Sep 13, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Will TM counter-sue and ask for costs? Then PXG drops their suit and TM will withdraw claim for costs. Then there will an ad campaign between PXG 0311 and TM P-790 ….. and the winner will be …… BOTH … ( and the club owning golfers will lose because they fell for the scam).
Bob Jacobs
Sep 13, 2017 at 1:40 pm
This is like saying as a club maker that I will be suing every other club maker because they have irons made of metal, same as I do. Silly and p.s., I bought a set of PXGs and ZERO feel off the face.
alan p
Sep 13, 2017 at 1:08 pm
now i know why these performed so well in the member testing.
Scott
Sep 13, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Taylor made had foam filled irons in the 1990s first well before pxg was even a pipe dream. Parsons will lose
Boss
Sep 13, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Exactly.
Boss
Sep 13, 2017 at 12:15 pm
I’m going to sue PXG for making golf clubs that look like other golf clubs but are far too expensive and don’t perform as advertised!
john
Sep 13, 2017 at 11:57 pm
I have a set of 0311t’s and they perform as advertised. High quality irons that came with exactly the right lofts and lie angles as expected from a proper manufacturer (without every second club having tip weights, hey titleist). Taylormades I had before the 4 iron and 5 iron had the same loft. The only part advertised that you don’t agree with is the price. Should get a better job.
Willgolf
Sep 14, 2017 at 7:30 am
What do you mean by second clubs having tip weights?
Charlie
Sep 14, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Tip weights put into the hollow part of the shaft at the bottom where the head is connected…they add head weight so that you can get the desirable swing weight. With shafts that taper in length (4 iron 38.5″, half inch increments down to 35.25″ in wedges), you have to have corrasponding head weights to match the shaft length to get the clubs at the same swing weight. So, an example (though not completely accurate) would be because 4 iron is 38.5″ in length, the head weight needs to be a few grams lighter than the 5 iron headweight, which will be put into a 38″ shaft. If they head weights aren’t right you need to compensate by tip weighting the shafts (or adding lead tape) to get the appropriate swing weight. It doesn’t really make any difference but some people say it’s a testament to the quality and attention to detail.
craig
Sep 15, 2017 at 9:11 am
Every major OEM uses the tip weight system.
I have pulled apart irons, hybrids, fairways, wedges, putters and drivers from all OEM,s and they all have some sort of tip weighting system.
Because all clubheads, grips, shafts have tollerances up to 5-10 grams each then this practice is going to be the norm. If you have never pulled apart a golf club then you will never know.
Chris
Sep 15, 2017 at 2:16 pm
Not so for Miura, Epon, Vega, PXG. In general, the more high end JDM stuff never feature tip weights.
Bob Pegram
Sep 15, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Custom clubmakers will weight their heads and use the ones that get the right swingweight without added weights. They will also check lofts and lies, and adjust where necessary to get correct specs. That is the big adbantage of buying clubs from a custom clubmaker. They take the time to do it right.
Bishop
Sep 13, 2017 at 12:12 pm
So, you’re saying that if I buy the 790’s now, I’m getting the 0311 irons for half price???
rymail00
Sep 13, 2017 at 10:10 pm
I ACCIDENTLY HIT REPORT COMMENT INSTEAD OF REPLY, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!!!!
HAHAHAHA, well said Bishop. I saw and hit the demo 7 iron at DSG. The pics on here make them look quite a bit bigger and more driver iron-ish. Definitely a great shape and size, nowhere near as big as I as expecting. Felt pretty good too, I preffered my AP2 for feel but could get used to them easily.