Equipment
TaylorMade prototype irons spotted at The Memorial
What we know: Select TaylorMade Staff Members were testing one-off, milled prototype irons from the company at the range of The Memorial. The irons had three slots: a “Speed Pocket” in the sole and two “Face Slots” that were positioned just outside the grooves on the club face.
What we don’t know: The club’s name, release date and potential construction (forged or cast). The irons appear to have a size and shape that’s similar to the company’s current RSi TP irons.
TaylorMade’s prototype irons (left) and John Huh’s custom RocketBladez Tour irons.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the iron in our forum.
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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dcorun
Jun 12, 2015 at 6:17 pm
I play the TM RBZ Stage 2 Bonded driver and have for 2 years. I compare it to all the new ones that have come out since I bought it and it hasn’t been worth trading in yet. The Fly-Z and D200 came awful close though. I play the Cleveland 588 MT irons (1 1/2 yrs), a Cobra T-Rail+ Baffler hybrid (1 1/2 yrs) and a Ping Karsten TR PAL putter (1yr). My point is… who cares if TM and Callaway come out with new clubs every 3 months, just play what you like and feels right to you. Try them out against the new clubs and see if it’s time for a change but, like I said, who cares how many or how soon some companies come out with new clubs. No one is twisting arms to run out and buy them but, I do feel for the guy who just bought that new long distance driver to find out 3 months later that a new one just came out that’s even faster and longer. 🙂
Christosterone
Jun 7, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Like with all clubs, I see Ping influences….the s series in particular.
tim
Jun 5, 2015 at 11:28 am
The “they release too many clubs” comments are so beyond stale at this point. And I’ not a TM guy either. I didn’t like the feel of the RSI’s or any iron with a slot, at least not yet.
Graeme
Jun 4, 2015 at 8:15 am
Love the way people on here see a prototype and start hating on TM bringing out too many clubs too often. If it’s a prototype, good luck seeing it in any shops this year.
Also, no one is making you buy it or even making you read this article. It’s not like people buy the newest range of clubs every time they are released. Plus it’s better for the buyer because the ‘older’ technology will drop in price with each new release.
Sean Paul
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Love how people rip on Taylormade for coming out with new clubs “every four weeks” when Callaway does the same exact thing in addition to coming out with a new paint job for their putters every 4 months and marketing it as a whole new putter. Y’all just mad that Taylormade wins more tournaments than anyone else.
Jeff C
Jun 3, 2015 at 10:22 pm
What tournaments are you watching. TM isn’t even close to the #1 OEM winning the
most tourny’s. Different winner every week.
I really doubt you’re so poor you can’t pay attention………
mike
Jun 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Last time I checked tm doesn’t win that many. Go back and check this years winners. Not many tm.
Dan
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Mizuno MP-59 influence?
Tom p
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:44 pm
All these haters that keep commenting on the frequency of release need to get over it and get a life. We would have 12 different models of they released every 4 weeks. They have released a new iron and a new wood every year since 2015.
Go complain about phones and tvs and cars that get released every year. The Taylormade bashing is getting old. Some of us like to see what is coming out or a prototype.
By the way if you are counting Callaway has released more than TaylorMade the last three years…might want to give them some hateraid too.
Steve
Jun 3, 2015 at 9:02 am
Hard to make any judgements with the pics here. But sounds like the same old with the speed slots and a new 7 yards longer campaign.
G
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:32 am
Did TM actually say they were launching this iron? didn’t think so…hint for future, learn to read…
Lee
Jun 3, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Hint for commenter, the title of this article says nothing about Taylormade “launching” anything.
Steven
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:40 pm
I agree. Reading is fundamental. Such a bias against TaylorMade these days. Jealous much?
mike
Jun 6, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Jealously no, tired of the market being flooded with crap and over marketing more distance…… yes. Last time I checked the usga hasn’t changed the rules.
moses
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:12 am
All good by me. Can’t wait for the RSi TP’s to come down to about $300
Lowell Madanes
Jun 5, 2015 at 9:45 am
Im on the same mind set…. Or should I say RSI TP/MC’s since they are very similar
Go TMAG!!!
gabriel
Jun 6, 2015 at 7:03 pm
the mc are 599.99 right know AT GOLF TOWN
Jengus
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:05 am
lel @ everyone
golfprotj
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:49 pm
They change there line more often than some people change the underwear! J/k, lol/sorry T-Made fans, Complete joke, Any makes you wonder!!!
Lee H.
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Who cares if they put out a club every 6 months? If people are buying it, Taylormade will keep building it. If we, as consumers, don’t like the latest and greatest that seems to be coming out quite often from them, then we don’t buy it. If it ever gets to the point where Taylormade feels their marketing strategy is not working, then they will ease back. But until then, they will come out with as much new stuff as they feel is needed. We can choose to buy it or stick with what we got. The good thing about living in a democratic society is that no one is forcing us to do or buy anything that we don’t want to.
cb
Jun 3, 2015 at 1:00 am
we don’t have to buy it but unfortunately the golf shops have to stock it
jcorbran
Jun 3, 2015 at 1:24 am
no they dont
Tom p
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Well said.
Haters gonna hate hate hate…
Barack
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I was getting worried, they haven’t put out a new club in a couple of weeks
BigBoy
Jun 2, 2015 at 8:22 pm
How long is this BS going to go on for by the manufacturers, they chop and change and go no-where….at least the Japanese forged boys produce something you can hit till they wear out and not give you a new model every 4 weeks.
Winmac80
Jun 2, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Am I the only ones that feels weird of a mark on John Huh’s heel that could indicate a shank? maybe more than once? But RSi has been quite a solid iron and we should expect better irons from TM (and better price for RSi)
chad ryan
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Yea looks like a slightly chunkier mp 15. Not bad though. Their “slots” kinda ruin their irons for me though.
Sherwin
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:33 pm
More new TaylorMade irons! What is up with their product cycles?
RValdez
Jun 2, 2015 at 5:50 pm
If that is a tungsten weight behind the sweetspot it kind of reminds me of the Mizuno MP-59 with the TM/Adams slots.
Rip Torn
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Or it’s a TITANIUM slab to move the weight distribution to the heel and toe like the MP-59 or MP-15.
Yet another TM rip of Mizuno.
It’s a bit thick looking but I like it.
MHendon
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
That would be titanium not tungsten
StG
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:27 pm
You mean Titanium. Not tungsten. Titanium is light, so that helps to distribute the steel’s mass towards the heel and toe and also adds anti-vibration feel to the middle.
Richard Valdez
Jun 2, 2015 at 11:29 pm
My fault on that one. I forgot it was titanium.