Modern Classics (Ep. 8, Series finale!): 2016 TaylorMade M2 driver
GolfWRX recently launched a new 8-part video series, called “The Modern Classics,” in partnership with 2nd Swing Golf. Throughout this video series, GolfWRX’s Head of Tour Content, Andrew Tursky, tests out 8 legendary used golf clubs that are still being played on Tour today. How do the older, less expensive products compare to modern technologies?
In the first seven episodes, Tursky tested:
- TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC 2011 iron
- Adams Idea Pro hybrid from 2006
- TaylorMade Rocketballz RBZ fairway wood
- TaylorMade Burner SuperFast 3-wood
- Nike VR Pro Ltd. Edition 3-wood from 2011
- Ping’s G400 LST driver from 2017
- Callaway’s Great Big Bertha driver from 2015
For episode 8 – the finale of the Modern Classics series! – we highlight the TaylorMade M2 2016 driver, which was still being used by Justin Rose on the PGA Tour at the 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open. TaylorMade’s M2 2016 drivers are currently available on 2nd Swing’s website for $195.99.
Check out the video at the top of the page for more on the product, design, and how it stands up to testing against Tursky’s modern driver.
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Equipment
Putter roundup from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
It seems like we spot some really amazing putters each week out on the PGA Tour, and in that vein, the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open didn’t disappoint. We spotted some new and really great flatsticks out on the practice green and in a few players’ bags. Here’s a sampling of the putters that caught our eye this week in Houston.
Kevin Dougherty’s Scotty Cameron Timeless
This might be one of the most classy Scotty Cameron gamer putters on tour at the moment. It looks like a Timeless head as the cavity has the “ears” in the upper corners and the bumpers look to be a touch larger. The head has a flat black finish to it and just a simple site dot on the topline. The back flange is naked, but we do get two Circle T stamps in the cavity where the name “Tristyn” is stamped. A shallow face milling is present, along with a small Circle T logo over on the heel. The sole is pretty clean with just the Circle T, Scotty Dog, and the 350g stamps on it.
Ping PLD Anser
OK, so this might actually be the cleanest putter on this list! An antique finish that looks to be a bit more bronze in color than usual adorns this putter. A traditional L-neck is in place and the topline is clean with just a simple alignment line on the flange. The back cavity features Ping’s PLD logo in matching white paint and the sole of the putter is completely blank; we don’t even see the model name on this one. The face looks to have a very shallow milling pattern as well that should offer a slightly firmer feel and louder sound at impact.
Tom Hoge’s Custom Scotty Cameron Phantom T-11
Scotty Cameron’s Phantom 11 is probably the most advanced putter they have ever created with a head made from 303 stainless steel and 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. Tom wanted a little different look and feel for his and opted for an L-neck hosel to be welded on. The L-neck, or plumbers neck, will create additional toe hang compared to the traditional bent shaft in the Phantom 11. Hoge’s T-11 was given a deeper milling on the face that should offer a little softer feel and more quiet sound at impact.
Piretti Tesora 2 CU
Piretti had a good amount of putters on the green, but this Tesora 2 CU stood out as a real stunner. The head shape takes cues from the iconic Anser 2 and Newport 2 with a squared-off shape and sharper corners on the bumpers and shoulders. The head is milled from 303 stainless steel, and then Piretti installs a soft copper insert for additional feel. A single site line, paint filled in black, is milled onto the flange and the cavity contains Piretti’s lion logo and four bolts to hold the copper insert in place. The sole contains twin adjustable weights to let the player dial in the perfect feel and balance.
Bettinardi Proto D.A.S.S. Hexperimental
Bettinardi is showing us that heel-shafted putters aren’t just a thing of the past with this Hexperimental prototype. Heel-shafted putters like this usually have full toe hang and a unique feel through the putting stroke. Bettinardi milled this out of their double-aged stainless steel (D.A.S.S.) that is annealed twice to ensure it has a very soft and responsive feel. The topline is straight and on the thicker side with a single site dot for alignment. A round back of the putter slopes gently from the face back and has a slight concave shape to it.
Scotty Cameron Circle T T-11 “Long”
The second Scotty T-11 on this list, this one is built a little different as well. I am calling this a “Long” because it looks like a counterbalanced build, and those are usually a little longer in length to get some weight up into the hands for stability. A standard T-11 head with the traditional single bend shaft should offer a face-balanced, or close to it, feel through the stroke. A deeper milling, and a red Circle T logo, are applied to the face for a softer feel and more muted sound. On the sole we can see that two heavy 30-gram weights have been installed to compensate for the longer build and heavier grip. This T-11 is also shafted up with UST Mamiya’s All-In multi-material shaft and finished with a long Super Stroke grip.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Open
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/27/24): Miura TC-201 irons
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 Miura TC-201 irons
From the seller: (@Vinny Nguyen): “Miura TC 201 5-PW w/ Modus 105X Black shafts. Half inch short of standard, 2 flat, standard loft. $825.“
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Miura TC-201 irons
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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Stu
Mar 9, 2023 at 9:58 pm
GOAT level driver. I managed to get a great condition replacement when I exploded my original and also have an 8.5 Tour Issue so that O can be like Justin when I grow up ?
BB
Mar 7, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Still $200???? That’s way too much. It should be $99