Equipment

Titleist T200, T300 iron seeding begins at Travelers Championship

Published

5 years ago

Jun 17, 2019

The last few weeks for Titleist have been very busy.

First, we had the new TS series of hybrids and aptly named U-Series utilities/long iron replacements, then shortly after the T100s and new 620 MB and CB irons debuted. Now, to potentially round out the iron lineup we are seeing the T200 and T300s.

We can only speculate at the moment, but based on the rebranding across the line up, from the TS Hybrids to returning to using “600” to identify iron models, I feel confident that this “T” series name will be the replacement for the AP line (RIP Titleist AP Series, you had a great run).

This simple name change makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons when you consider how other OEMs generally identify models: in sequence going from the most players club to the most forgiving. The AP had this with the AP1 and AP2, but with the introduction of the AP3, it was from all accounts (what I have heard through friends across retail channels in the industry) a confusing club for consumers to understand where it fits in the lineup, since the AP1 is still the most player friendly. We have to remember that not all golfers are as continuously up to date like the readers here at GolfWRX!

These types of rebranding decisions are never made in haste by OEMs since it can have lasting effects on naming down the line, but with this refresh, I think it will help consumers understand what model is right for them and make it easier for fitters to help explain too.

The above image is a perfect representation that shows a widening sole from the T100 – 300 along with an ever-increasing depth to the cavity.

We don’t have any tech specs for the new models yet but there are a few little nuggets we can speculate on from the provided images

Multi-material: This was a staple in the AP line since its introduction and with the ability to increase MOI without physically increasing the size of the club. It would appear the new T series will offer varying versions of this to create the best fit
Easy to blend: Similar appearances and close in looks (as a whole), these sets should be prime candidates for building combo sets
Cast?: First images of the 620s and T100 all had “Forged” on the hosels, but that is noticeably absent from the hosels of the T200 and T300s. With multi-material construction and different polymers and elastomers, a “great” feeling clubs doesn’t have to be forged (we’ve debunked that myth a LONG time ago). Plus, if face inserts are used to help create higher MOI and ball speed who cares how they do it? I know I don’t!

Heres the big one: Mi-Max Impact technology?!?! Yeah I don’t know what it means either, but considering every tiny detail of every club goes through so many design renderings before seeing the light of day, for Titleist to put this in writing on the back of the T200 (in what looking like the bottom of a bullet) means it’s going to be a big part of the story. We also see this Mi on the back of the T300 too, on what I can only assume is part of the vibration dampening system.

Titleist pushed the envelope, with the CNCPT series, in materials, construction, and cost, and like all things technology, the longer it’s available the less expensive it becomes to mass manufacture. Will part of what makes the series so good be making its way into the new T200 and T300 irons and more readily available? Not sure just yet. But when we do know we will be sure to let you know too.

Titleist T200 7-iron

Titleist T300 7-iron

Check out more in-hand photos below.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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