pga tour

Why Dustin Johnson has a 64-degree TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedge in his bag

Published

6 years ago

Dec 21, 2017

A 64-degree wedge, DJ?! But why…

To answer this question, and others about his equipment changes heading into 2018, I recently spoke with Dustin Johnson and his fitter, Keith Sbarbaro (VP of Tour Operations at TaylorMade). Since DJ currently has some unreleased TaylorMade drivers and woods in the bag, we discussed his long-awaited official switch from his Tour Preferred MB 2014 irons into the new P-730 DJ Proto irons, his decision to put in a P-790 3 iron, and his new 64-degree TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedge — a club he plans to use throughout 2018. I also asked if he has any plans to switch out his Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution 2.0 shaft in the near future.

See what Dustin and his fitter had to say about each of the changes below. Also, if you’re interested in hearing more from DJ, tune into our 19th hole podcast this week where he makes a guest appearance (or listen to the embed below).

The driver shaft

DJ says: “I don’t change driver shafts. I’ve had this shaft since I came out on Tour basically. I just like it.”

Keith says: “We mess around sometimes, but there’s just nothing better for him. And if it’s not broke… So when we do driver testing, we basically just have one variable to deal with.”

P-790 3 iron

DJ says: “I’m probably gonna go 4 thru pitching wedge [this year], then have a P-790 3 iron in the bag too. I got four wedges in the bag now, so I gotta get rid of either the [P-730] 3-iron or the 5 wood.”

Keith says: “He hits the P-790 3-iron about 260 yards, so it fills that yardage gap of his 5 wood.”

P-730 irons

DJ says: “I just got these blades in; they’re prototypes that are more like my Tour Preferreds. [The original DJ protos] were actually raw, but I waited for them to plate it. I’ve always played a chrome iron, and I prefer to look at that. But yea, these are gonna be in the bag (for 2018).”

Keith says: “The original [DJ protos] were milled and raw, and he was spinning them too much. With the chrome plating, he likes em way better.”

64 degree Hi-Toe TaylorMade wedge

DJ says: “I put this 64-degree wedge in play, and the 60-degree Hi-Toe too. I really like them. I just have a different face and grind than the normal ones. I like the more raw finish and can get more spin. The soles sit a bit closer to the ground… I’ve always had to manipulate my technique in the bunker, so the extra loft [on the 64-degree wedge] helps.”

Keith says: “The 64-degree helps because he’s a shut-face player. He’s had to manipulate his wrist to open the face [in the past]. Now, he can use a natural backswing… Rose was liking the 62-degree [Hi-Toe wedge] and was able to spin it so we kinda copied it for Dustin. He was hitting it from 50 yards and spinning it back 10 feet. I compare the Hi-Toe wedge to the Spider putter; it’s the one putter that everyone loved and it’s one of our best putters. This wedge reminds me of the Spider putters in that way. I think it’s the high CG. We could never get [the launch] low with spin because the ball would always shoot up the face. Now it doesn’t. I think it’s the high CG… [the face of his wedge] is more blasted.”

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

20 Comments

Keith Nash

Jan 8, 2018 at 4:48 pm

Here are my two comments fior DJ that have nothing to do with his clubs but my observations.
1. He must have a problem with his saliva glands as he is continuously spitting. Not s great habit.
2. He should take some of his winnings and hire a speech coach. In almost every sentence he uses the expression ” you know” .
During his short interview after his win he used those two words 13 times. Suggest he get together with Michele Wie and share the coach and expense as she has the sane malady.

Reply Report comment
- TeeBone
  
  Jan 10, 2018 at 2:18 pm
  
  Bro, you need to get laid.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Timothy P Armington
    
    Jan 14, 2018 at 2:15 pm
    
    Bahahahaha. What an f’ing grouchy!
    
    Reply Report comment
RG

Jan 3, 2018 at 12:26 pm

So now Traylor Made is doing a knock-off of the Ping Eye II wedge. Copying a design from the 1980’s and putting it out for the 2018 season, how original.

Reply Report comment
Fore Golfer

Jan 1, 2018 at 2:14 pm

I had an old forged 60º flop wedge bent into the face so that the loft was nearly 70º!!!
It’s a super-flop wedge and I can hit a ball and it goes behind me!!!
Sometimes I use it to face backwards then and hit the ball forward!!!
Lots of yuks from my buddies 🙂

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Jerry

Dec 26, 2017 at 4:30 pm

I see TM is going after the edel grooves out to the toe look like Callaway did with the PM Grind. That’s a different hosel, too – bore-thru?

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- Fore Golfer
  
  Jan 1, 2018 at 2:16 pm
  
  What happens when you high up on the toe with all those grooves?
  Are grooves necessary up on the toe or are they only ornamental?
  
  Reply Report comment
Brando

Dec 22, 2017 at 8:03 pm

I have to agree with how he does his driver fitting. Once you find a driver shaft that you like and does not do you wrong it’s hard to fiddle around. I been playing Fujikura 757 since the Titleist 983e days and just have not found anything I like better I don’t even bother with other shafts when I change drivers for me it’s a 757 all day probably till I die.

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- Rickie Towler
  
  Dec 23, 2017 at 4:18 am
  
  Wow so we all know now what set-up a hacker uses.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rickie Towler
  
  Dec 23, 2017 at 4:19 am
  
  so we all know now what set-up a hacker uses.
  
  Reply Report comment
Carlos

Dec 22, 2017 at 12:22 pm

Yeah but is it really a 661X EVO or just a paint job on top of another shaft…

Anyone have any info?

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ParPlayrCCC

Dec 22, 2017 at 11:42 am

Nice to see grooves all the way to the toe of the clubface. My grind would include grooves on the hozzle as well.

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Steve Sands

Dec 21, 2017 at 11:22 pm

The irons look like the Apex, the wedges are the 2015 PM’s, and the 3 iron is a PXG knock off. Taylor Made please think of something original.
The R&D deptartment took the year off. Sergio got lucky. Boring.

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Ray

Dec 21, 2017 at 8:07 pm

DJ want back to his 2014 TP MB irons at the Hero World Challenge. Was reported on PGATour.com after the Hero event.

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BAbernathy

Dec 21, 2017 at 7:46 pm

Likely he doesn’t take any divot with the 64º wedge… only nips the ball off the grass with a full swing …. just like I do with my 1980 model 65º RAM Senator Trouble Shooter Pitching Wedge… it’s a miracle club from 50 yards in.

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- SK
  
  Dec 23, 2017 at 3:06 am
  
  What was old becomes new again and the wheel goes round and round …!
  
  Reply Report comment
DB

Dec 21, 2017 at 3:03 pm

Seems like more and more guys going to the 62-64 wedge. I know in this article they say he loves it from the bunker, but I can’t imagine him putting it in the bag just for bunker play. The main reason is probably due to lightning-fast green speeds and players needing either high-trajectory or high-spin options around the green.

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xjohnx

Dec 21, 2017 at 2:52 pm

Oh so TM made a PM wedge?

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- DrRob1963
  
  Dec 21, 2017 at 8:53 pm
  
  Sure looks similar!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - neil
    
    Dec 21, 2017 at 11:54 pm
    
    seems to very similar to the Callaway PM
    
    Reply Report comment

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pga tour

WITB Time Machine: Chris DiMarco WITB 2013

Published

1 year ago

Feb 24, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Ping G25 (8.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X 6.5 (45.25 inches, tipped 1 inch)

3-wood: Ping Anser (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP 80 X (43 inches) Swing Weight: D3

Irons: Ping i20 (3-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: Ping Tour-S (52), Ping EYE2 XG (LW-58)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: Ping Anser Milled Anser 1

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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Equipment

Cameron Champ’s Winning WITB: 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship

Published

5 years ago

Oct 28, 2018

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Ping G400 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Pro White TS 63X
Length: 44.5 inches, tipped 1.5 inches
Swing weight: D3

Fairway Wood: Ping G400 (14.5 degrees, at 14.2 degrees +0.6 setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 85 grams 6.5-flex
Length: 42.75 inches, tipped 1 inch
Swing weight: D3

Irons: Ping i500 (4 iron), Ping iBlade (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130X

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged (50, 54 and 60 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Ping PLD Mid Tyne Prototype
Length, loft, lie: 34.5 inches, 2 degrees, 0.5 degrees flat

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

See in-hand photos of Cameron Champ’s clubs and shafts here.

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