News
TaylorMade comments on Tiger’s new TW-Phase 1 irons
Update (5/1/18 at 3:00 pm): Click here for in-hand photos of Tiger’s new TW-Phase1 irons
So far throughout 2018, Tiger Woods has played TGR blade irons, leaving GolfWRX Members wondering when he would switch to TaylorMade P-730 irons… or some variation of “TW Protos,” following in the footsteps of the Rors Proto, Rose Proto and DJ Proto irons.
Now, we have the answer. In a post on Instagram, Tiger Woods announced he will play TaylorMade “TW-Phase 1” prototype irons this week at the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.
Here’s what TaylorMade had to say when asked about the TW-Phase 1 irons.
We have been working closely with Tiger on the development, creation and refinement of a set of TaylorMade irons that meet his precise standards and preferences.
As we continue to develop future iterations of Tiger’s prototype irons, “TW·Phase1” marks Tiger’s initial transition into a TaylorMade set. This set was built to his meticulous specifications. Based on the positive feedback and excitement expressed by Tiger regarding upcoming prototypes, we are encouraged by the ongoing creation process and look forward to what’s in store for the next phase of Tiger’s irons.
As we work toward finalizing Tiger’s new irons, there will be more information to come, including a release date for golfers everywhere.
Here’s a side-by-side look at the TW-Phase 1 irons and the TGR blades Woods had been gaming.
See in-hand photos of Tiger’s new irons here
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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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
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Peter
Jul 13, 2019 at 3:01 am
Thanks for the great manual
Travis
Jun 12, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Taylormade couldn’t develop an iron that met his expectations, so whoever built the TGR irons sent Taylormade blanks that they could badge and chrome. Easiest way to get Tiger into a TM branded iron set while they continue to “refine” the irons, a.k.a. actually build and perfect a new set.
rex235
May 14, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Phase 1?
Very Clean. Personally like them, but built under the TaylorMade umbrella, so they’re a very customized version of the P-730 model.
RH Only.
Kurt
May 3, 2018 at 8:04 am
Too Many Experts on this site to comment !! ????????
A.Dante
May 2, 2018 at 8:40 am
One word…..MIURA
Funky Critter
May 1, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Rebranded Tomy Armours #FACT
TigerArmy
May 1, 2018 at 1:16 pm
He will always and ever play some Mizuno clones. Probably also these ones manufactured by Mizuno. Doesn’t matter what they stamp on them. Go Tiger go.
Scott Francis
May 1, 2018 at 11:49 am
I liked the satin finish on the TGR blades better.
2putttom
May 1, 2018 at 11:32 am
oh this will arouse wrxer’s to a new level.
ogo
May 1, 2018 at 11:06 am
Solid traditional muscleback blades for Tiger…. super game improvement rube golfberg clubs for the rest of us gearhead/duffers …. 😮
Tourgrinder
May 1, 2018 at 10:54 am
First off, Tiger Woods never played an entire set of Mizuno MP-29s. It’s been documented – for the ’97 Masters and those years he played those clubs, he carried an MP-29 two iron, three iron and maybe four-iron. I can’t remember off the top of my head. For the four iron (maybe) and all other iron clubs, he carried MP-14s. He was using Cleveland wedges at the time. More to the point, it doesn’t really matter what name or model # is on the back plate of any of his irons. From Mizuno to Titleist, from Titleist to Nike, from Nike to TGR, from TGR to Taylor-Made, Woods has a very clear, detailed set of specs for his clubs, especially his irons. That includes, leading edge grind, camber of sole, toe grind (look), overall weight, etc. etc. The name on the back plate of any of these clubs is almost irrelevant; definitely the least telling aspect…other than the fact that each company was boat-loading cash to his account in each relationship.
the dude
May 1, 2018 at 7:49 pm
i’ll give this a big 10-4!
SoCalSlicer
May 1, 2018 at 10:11 am
Nike VR Pro Blades. Only development was how to put a TM logo on them.
NorCalDrawer
May 1, 2018 at 10:16 am
Er, no, Mizuno MP-29s. He wanted to get away from the Nikes as fast as possible, and go back to what he started with
Jamie
May 1, 2018 at 11:09 am
Have you ever seen a set? The muscle and CG are entirely different. Please don’t name drop Mizuno here. There are too many others who know what they’re talking about and will call you on it.
Brayden Weiss
May 1, 2018 at 11:14 am
Haha you think that he ever played Nike irons that’s kind of funny. He has never played Nike in his life and it wasn’t Mizuno rebrands during the Nike days. Those are miuras that have been rebranded for him by Nike and now taylormade too. The old TGR blades are the exact same clubs as the new Tiger phase ones.
Jens Eriksson
May 1, 2018 at 11:29 am
Please don’t speak…
DB
May 2, 2018 at 8:53 am
Wrong! You should read the forum. This has been discussed at length, lots of photo evidence and even people who personally know the crew/guy who has been making Tiger’s irons.
hurrrr
May 1, 2018 at 10:18 am
Yeah because it would’ve taken this long to develop that alone….