Equipment
Spotted: Chris Kirk with new driver and S200 shafts in irons at Waste Management Phoenix Open
Chris Kirk is playing this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and has recently made some interesting changes to his clubs that you don’t generally see from tour players.
The first big change is the driver. Kirk recently switched to the all-new ST200X from Mizuno with a Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana D+ series 60 TX. A change like this seems pretty normal since the ST200X is one of three new drivers released from Mizuno for 2020 and Kirk is a Mizuno staff player. But the ST200X is the lightest, most draw-biased, game improvement driver model in the ST200 series, and it’s not too often you see a tour player fit into a draw-biased club. He also plays in an upright/lower-lofted hosel setting making the driver effectively play around 9.5 degrees.
When we reached out to Mizuno for comment we were told the reason for Kirk’s decision to use the most draw-biased driver in the line was simple “to help eliminate one side of the course.” It’s a common practice by golfers of all skill levels to choose a shot shape of the tee with the predominant option being a fade but in the case of Kirk who prefers to see the ball draw right to left the choice was simple.
The other switch for Kirk is more unusual than the first and that is a full iron shaft swap from ProjectX LZ (Load Zone) to True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S200.
Tour players are creatures of habit, and when it comes to iron shafts they are one of the last things players tinker with since weight, flex, and balance point can all change the feel of a club.
When asked about the change spotted this week at the WMPO here’s what Kirk had to say.
“For a couple of years now, I used the Project X LZ 6.5 that weighed 125g, and then S200 into my wedges that weigh 127g to keep weight consistent. Then I found I needed something that just spun just a hair more than the Project X LZ but would have the same soft feel.”
“I talked with the Mizuno guys and asked why can’t we just try S200’s throughout the bag? … I put them in and just love the soft feel. They are very similar to an S300 or S400 and it’s hard to tell the difference except for the lighter weight.”
When asked how this change ultimately changed ball flight Kirk replied
“Ideally, in the set from 4-iron through-9 iron I want to see it peaking between 95 and 100 [feet] and these are just perfect, and my spin numbers are right where I want them to be”
With all these setup changes for Mr. Kirk, and a wide-open TPC Scottsdale as the venue for this week’s event, it’s going to be fun to see if they result in a great finish.
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Whats in the Bag
Peter Kuest WITB 2024 (May)
- Peter Kuest what’s in the bag accurate as of CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM Titanium (19 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 85 6.5
Irons: Srixon ZX U (2), Srixon Z-Forged II (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-MID 10, 56-MID 10, 60-FULL 9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Peter Kuest’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Kelly Kraft WITB 2024 (May)
- Kelly Kraft’s what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Red 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali White 70 TX
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Synergy Blue
Irons: Srixon ZX U Mk II (23 degrees), Callaway X Forged Star (5-PW)
Shaft: Project X IO 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-08M, 60-08M)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey Versa 2-Ball Prototype
Grip: Odyssey Garsen Quad Tour
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kraft’s equipment here.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/6/24): Scotty Cameron Super Rat concept 1 putter
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 Scotty Cameron Super Rat concept 1 putter
From the seller: (@BWillis): “Scotty super rat concept 1 gss insert 35”, pulled from tour van at St. Jude’s in 2014 only carpet rolled. $7000 obo PayPal g&s, open to offers can send more pics.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Super Rat concept 1 putter
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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Scootin'
Jan 29, 2020 at 3:02 pm
I once heard that you should play the softest shafts you can control. Having moved from S300 to a Project X LZ 6.0, I can say from personal experience the softer feel is something I love.
DB
Jan 29, 2020 at 11:43 am
I have seen at least a few tour players recently moving into a “stiff” iron shaft because it gave them more launch, spin, etc. It makes sense, and I don’t think they can overpower an s200 or s400 the way they would overpower a “stiff” graphite shaft in their woods.
the dude
Jan 29, 2020 at 10:37 am
great article…..need more of the “why”…
D
Jan 29, 2020 at 10:27 am
It’s so nice to read more quotes from PGA players about why they made the change, especially Chris Kirk talk about numbers, feel, etc. I never would have thought about the S200s having more spin than the LZs. And hopefully this causes more people to test the Mizuno driver.