Equipment
2017 TaylorMade irons being tested at the RSM Classic
PGA Tour players are testing new TaylorMade irons at the RSM Classic, according to the company. Even better? TaylorMade’s decision to add an image of the 2017 irons on its Twitter account, which gives us a good idea what they might look like when they’re released.
Update: In-hand photos below!
TOUR testing in progress. #RSMClassic pic.twitter.com/ZDPDOYmJH6
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) November 15, 2016
From the photo, it’s clear that the new irons are forged (see the toe engravings). Based on that, one can jump to the conclusion that the irons are a replacement for the company’s previous line of PGA Tour-inspired irons, the PSi (Players Slotted Irons).
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The PSi irons use a multi-material construction that helps make the long irons hotter and more forgiving, while maintaining compact, consistent short irons. The PSi Tour irons, on the other hand, are fully forged cavity-backs made from 1025 carbon steel with a size that’s fractionally larger than muscleback irons.
So are these new irons more like the PSi, PSi Tour… or something completely different? We’ll let you know as soon as we know.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Protos in our forums.
Update 11/16
Based on photos shot at the RSM Classic, it appears there are two different prototypes from TaylorMade. One has a more compact look with a thinner sole, while the other has a thicker sole, and has “tungsten” stamped on the back badging. One can suspect that these will replace the TaylorMade PSi and PSi Tour irons based on the two different heads.
Forged Proto 9-iron
Forged Proto 9 iron w/ “Tungsten”
Forged Proto 7-iron
Forged Proto 7-iron w/ “Tungsten”
Forged Proto 4-iron
Forged Proto 4-iron w/ “Tungsten”
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Protos in our forums.
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- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.
In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).
With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
See all of our photo galleries from the week here
Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters
Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.
That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.
One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…
We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…
While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.
We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).
See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here
An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird
Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.
Well, we have an update.
According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.
Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron
As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.
Good timing on that switch, Jordan.
On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.
Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:
“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’
“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”
Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball
At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.
GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…
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A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!
Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.
On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.
Check out Kim’s full WITB here
A smart golf ball stamping
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.
While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.
And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.
For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
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- Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
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RAT
Dec 1, 2016 at 10:08 am
can you say MIZUNO
Jack Nash
Nov 22, 2016 at 9:04 pm
TM = Mizuno rip off.
JJ
Nov 17, 2016 at 9:24 pm
So, the Forged Proto is a re-modified MP-25.
I wish TM designers would just go back to making the TP MB Smoked and only that, with EF grooves, and call it a day.
Rac
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:24 pm
JJ, please search in Google Taylormade RAC TP iron and you will see the origin of the new proto iron. You will also realize it has no relation to MP-25 but rather a recycle of an old TM idea.
TM RAC TP release date Nov 2008, MP-25 release date Sep 2015, mmmm so who copied who?
KL
Nov 17, 2016 at 4:31 am
No slots on them?
JJ
Nov 17, 2016 at 6:31 pm
No. Because they finally realized how crappy the slot made it feel. No real need for them
Dat
Nov 17, 2016 at 8:40 pm
You mean plastic gimmicks?
Matty
Nov 16, 2016 at 9:21 pm
They seem of release TP irons every 3 years, so I think these are the new TP irons.
Wow.....
Nov 16, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Interesting that there’s tungsten in every head even the short irons (tungsten model).
Like everyone else said I really hope they don’t “eff” them up with badging and horrible color schemes. I hope this is the final product.
gunna22
Nov 16, 2016 at 3:17 pm
It seems like the address pics for the 7 and 4 irons have been switched?
gunna22
Nov 16, 2016 at 9:08 pm
Looking again, and yeah it definitely seems like you have the “tungsten” vs non-tungsten ones mixed up
Rich
Jan 20, 2017 at 4:42 pm
I thought the same thing
MIKEYP
Nov 16, 2016 at 9:53 am
It looks the the 2005 Rac tp’s and the 2014 Tour preferred CB’s had a child together.
D
Nov 16, 2016 at 10:37 am
the 2005 Rac TP’s were great
Dat
Nov 16, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Called it! Finally got rid of the slots!
Bofhus
Nov 16, 2016 at 4:47 am
Looks so clean and nice. Expect them to ruin it with tacky colours…
Mat
Nov 16, 2016 at 2:18 am
Anyone want to tell me that everyone’s reaction to Ping this year hasn’t influenced the market? Those look quite nice. If they’re not totally jacked, they’d be a very respectable addition.
How about that… a TM release that doesn’t make you want to roll your eyes!
Guia
Nov 15, 2016 at 10:48 pm
My guess is much of the same thing already available, but with new packaging. After so many years of the same old jargon, it is hard to believe that there is another 6 month tech breakthrough.
TMBob
Nov 15, 2016 at 9:53 pm
All sneak peaks….New tread for TM it seems….same thing happened with the M2 last year