Equipment
Spotted: Callaway Mack Daddy 4 prototype wedges, X Forged driving iron
Tinker season has returned!
With the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season ending at the Tour Championship on Sunday, it’s technically the offseason despite some of the best players in the world competing in the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club. Although it’s an important and patriotic competition, it still marks the start of new equipment releases, and PGA Tour players trying out new equipment.
On the range at Liberty National, we spotted new Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedges — the company says they are in the prototype phase — and a new Callaway X Forged prototype driving iron in the bag of Phil Mickelson.
Callaway Mack Daddy 4 prototype wedges
The Mack Daddy 4 wedges look similar to the company’s previous MD3 Milled wedges, which also had four weight ports in the rear cavities that were said to reposition center of gravity (CG) higher in the wedges for a lower launch and higher spin. The overall look of the wedges, however, bear more of a resemblance to its Mack Daddy 2 wedges. The photos also show that “milled” is stamped on the hosel of the Mack Daddy 4 wedges.
Maybe the Mack Daddy 4 is a best-of-both-worlds design that draws from the constructions of both the Mack Daddy 2 and 3 wedges. We’ll have to wait and see, for now.
“This is a Callaway prototype wedge that we are currently testing with our professional staffers,” a Callaway representative told us. “It is a prototype as of now.”
Callaway X Forged Driving Iron
In Phil Mickelson’s bag, a well-known club tinkerer, we spotted a Callaway Epic Pro iron, X Forged 2017 irons, Callaway Apex MB irons, and a never-before-seen X Forged 18-degree driving iron. Unlike Callaway’s previous Apex UT driving iron that had a weight port in its sole, the X Forged driving iron we spotted in Phil’s bag has a clean sole. It does, however, sport an expectedly wider sole than the new X Forged 2017 irons that were recently unveiled in Japan.
“These are Callaway prototype irons that we are testing with our professional staffers,” a Callaway representative told us. “They are prototypes as of now.”
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Mack Daddy 4 prototype wedges
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Scotty Cameron has today introduced the new range of Special Select Jet Set putters.
The limited release features a four-model collection designed for the player looking for a particular design aesthetic in a high-performance configuration with attention to shape, color palette and finish.
Precision milled in the United States from a block of 303 stainless steel, each new Limited Release Special Select Jet Set putter incorporates Scotty’s performance balanced weighting technology featuring customizable sole weights, as well as purpose-built aluminum sole plates designed to optimize weight distribution in the wider profile of the Plus models.
Speaking on the new range, Scotty Cameron said:
“A lot of golfers want to game the same putters the pros play. Our new Special Select Jet Set putters offer a taste of that experience with a few extras that put them in a category of their own. The Tour Black finish is something a lot of people really like, so when I can, I make putters using it combined with dark, smoky accents. The overall tone-on-tone look is inspired by custom car builders, and that’s where the Jet Set name comes from. We’ve offered this concept in years past. This is the next version of Jet Set. Specifically, the ‘Plus’ models that are in between the width of a Newport 2 and a Squareback 2. I developed this “tweener” size working with a few Tour players who wanted something in between the width of a traditional blade and our Squareback flange width. The Special Select Jet Set Newport Plus and Newport 2 Plus offer those desired sizes and happen to be the first we’ve created for everyone. Limited releases like these new Special Select Jet Set models are for those who want a high-performance putter, but also that little extra.”
In addition, the Special Select Jet Set Newport, Special Select Jet Set Newport Plus, Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 and Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 Plus feature custom graphics, a Tour Black finish with a dark, tonal color scheme, a specialized Pistolini Plus grip, shaft band and headcover.
Displaying the evolution of Scotty’s research in bringing the benefits of higher MOI to blade putter shapes, the line’s “Plus” models introduce slightly wider profiles than standard face-to-flange blade dimensions in design to offer maximum performance from a blade putter.
Special Select Jet Set Newport
“A souped-up version of Scotty’s classic heel-and-toe weighted blade, the Special Select Jet Set Newport includes a plumbing neck, the model’s distinctive rounded features and a unique sight line milled on the topline. Precision milled from 303 stainless steel, this limited release putter has a solid face, misted Tour Black finish, adjustable performance balanced raw tungsten sole weighting and includes the line’s new textured Pistolini Plus grip and Jet Set headcover.”
Special Select Jet Set Newport Plus
“Crafted slightly wider when measured from face to flange, the Special Select Jet Set Newport Plus offers a new size in high-performance blade putter design. Relying on proven multi-material design methodology, Scotty accommodated the fuller profile by distributing weight to the perimeter and incorporating a 6061 aircraft grade aluminum sole plate, anodized black and engraved with the line’s Jet Set graphics. A milled flange sight line provides clean alignment, while customizable stainless steel sole weights provide balance. A new, textured Pistolini Plus grip, Jet Set shaft band and specialized headcover complete the package.”
Special Select Jet Set Newport 2
“Designed with the proven shape, plumbing neck and tri-sole of a modern Newport 2, the Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 is milled from 303 stainless steel with customizable tungsten sole weights, a Tour Black finish and the line’s Jet Set graphics package, including a specialty shaft band, headcover and textured Pistolini Plus grip. Incorporating a subtle design characteristic—and inspired by the putters he makes for touring professionals—Scotty included a milled sight line on the topline rather than a standard flange line. A limited number of left-handed Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 models were also created.”
Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 Plus
“Splitting the difference in flange width between a Special Select Newport 2 and Squareback 2, the Special Select Jet Set Newport 2 Plus offers a Tour-inspired shape that introduces the next profile in high-performance blade design. Milled from 303 stainless steel with a solid face, the Newport 2 Plus has a 6061 aircraft grade aluminum sole plate, anodized black and engraved with the line’s Jet Set graphics. A milled flange sight line provides clean alignment, while customizable stainless steel sole weights provide balance. The putter includes the line’s new, textured Pistolini Plus grip, Jet Set shaft band and specialized headcover.”
The limited release Special Select Jet Set putters will be available worldwide on Aug. 19, 2022, at Titleist authorized golf shops, and are priced at $650 each.
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What you need to know: TaylorMade is launching the latest iteration of its “Swiss Army knife” Hi-Toe 3 wedges. In contrast to TaylorMade’s MG3 wedges, Hi-Toe 3 wedges feature a higher toe peak, higher center of gravity for lower launch and more spin, a four-way cambered sole, and full-face scoring lines all aimed at maximizing versatility and performance around the green.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3: What’s new
- Full length scoring lines on all lofts above 54 degrees for additional spin on open-faced shots.
- Raised micro-ribs between the full grooves (introduced in MG3 wedge) add texture to the face for increased spin and performance on partial shots.
- Aged copper finish to complement the raw face
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3: Additional technology
In order to assist in executing “all the shots” TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 marketing references, TM engineers again incorporate a four-way cambered sole into the 8620 carbon steel Hi-Toe 3. Generous bounce and a wide sole meet a low leading edge for enhanced playability from a variety of lies.
And of course, the weighted toe pad “high toe” portion of the Hi-Toe 3 raises the center of gravity and moves it closer to the center of the face in an effort to produce lower launching, higher spinning shots.
ZTP Raw Grooves are implemented in the Hi-Toe 3 for optimal spin across a variety of conditions.
Full face ZTP RAW grooves
What TaylorMade says
“Our athletes all offered great input individually, but collectively everyone wanted something versatile. They wanted a single wedge that could perform around the greens from deep rough, thick fescue, bunkers with different sands, in wet conditions and from tight lies. That’s a lot to fit into a single design, but with Hi-Toe 3 we’ve done it.” — Bill Price, Product Creation, Wedges and Putters
TaylorMade Milled Grind 3: What it looks like
52 degree
56 degree
60 degree
Pricing and availability
Hi-Toe 3 is available for order now at www.taylormadegolf.com and at retail locations with an MSRP of $179 USD. Hi-Toe 3 comes stock with the KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 shaft (115g) and Lamkin Crossline 360 Round 52 gram grips (Gray/Blue/Black End Cap).
Hi-Toe 3 is available in standard bounce (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees), low bounce (58, 60 degrees), and high bounce (58, 60 degrees).
KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 115 shafts are standard along with Lamkin Crossline 360 grips.
MyHi-Toe 3
Added elements of personalization are available through MyHi-Toe 3. They may choose from four different finishes, including the classic brushed copper, chrome, black and raw, before selecting text, logos, and paint fills to create a purely unique design.
A complete list of customizable options includes:
- Finish
- Grip
- Shaft
- Length
- Personalized text
- Loft & bounce
- Custom paints fills: Logos, icons, carbon steel, hosel rings, text
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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 set of mint Ping i500s.
From the seller (@lawrencedc1): “Asking $725 Plus Ship. Played 5 rounds. Didn’t make the Bag!”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Mint Ping i500s
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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gunmetal
Oct 1, 2017 at 9:14 pm
It wouldn’t be Fall if Callaway weren’t debuting their new and improved wedges from a few months back. My oh my, how do Titleist, Ping, Mizuno, Cleveland and dare I say Taylormade compete in the wedge segment? They only release new wedges every 18-24 months.
Overengineering? To a T.
FWIW, I do like that they’re not even bothering with rebadging.
Mad-Mex
Sep 27, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Read this “article” three times and have not figured out what makes these BETTER than Mack Daddy 2 wedges? It says it ” reposition center of gravity (CG) higher in the wedges for a lower launch and higher spin” How much lower and how much spin?
Gearhead
Sep 27, 2017 at 11:22 am
Mmmmmm I love my gear
Golf Engineer
Sep 26, 2017 at 5:34 pm
From Wikipedia:
“Overengineering (or over-engineering) is the designing of a product to be more robust or complicated than is necessary for its application, either (charitably) to ensure sufficient factor of safety, sufficient functionality, or because of design errors. Overengineering can be desirable when safety or performance on a particular criterion is critical, or when extremely broad functionality is required, but it is generally criticized from the point of view of value engineering as wasteful. As a design philosophy, such overcomplexity is the opposite of the less is more school of thought (and hence a violation of the KISS principle and parsimony).
Overengineering generally occurs in high-end products or specialized market criteria, and takes various forms. In one form, products are overbuilt, and have performance far in excess of needs (a family sedan that can drive at 300 km/h, or a home video cassette recorder with a projected lifespan of 100 years), and hence are more expensive, bulkier, and heavier than necessary. Alternatively, they may be overcomplicated – the design may be far more complicated than is necessary for its use, such as a modern text editor asking whether files should be saved in ASCII, EBCDIC or various multi-byte formats. Overcomplexity reduces usability of the product by the end user, and can decrease productivity of the design team due to the need to build and maintain all the features.
A related issue is market segmentation – making different products for different market segments. In this context, a particular product may be more or less suited for a particular market segment, and may be over- or under- engineered relative to an application.
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The golf club industry and over-engineering…. so true.
Boss
Sep 27, 2017 at 2:53 am
From Wikipedia:
IDIOT
An idiot, dolt, dullard or (archaically) mome is a person perceived to be lacking intelligence, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way. Along with the similar terms moron, imbecile, and cretin, the word archaically referred to the intellectually disabled, but have all since gained specialized meanings in modern times. An idiot is said to be idiotic, and to suffer from idiocy.
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You are the definition. So true//