Equipment

Matrix Releases MFS5 Shafts: The New Black Tie, Red Tie and White Tie

Published

7 years ago

Feb 24, 2017

“The way clubs are being built now is different than the way clubs were being built two or three years ago,” says Tom DeShiell, Head of R&D for Matrix Shafts. The changes are especially apparent with drivers, which are now designed with heavier heads to help golfers add more distance to their drives — both through their added mass and adjustability features. So it makes sense that to get the best performance from the latest driver heads, they should be paired with shafts designed with the new heads in mind.

Matrix_MFS5_EI_Chart

That’s the spirit of Matrix’s new MF5 shaft series, which includes updated versions of the company’s most popular shafts: Black Tie, Red Tie and White Tie. The third-generation models use a higher center of gravity (CG), or balance point, which allows golfers to take advantage of new the latest club head technologies.

The changes to the new shafts start at the beginning; Matrix is using new tooling in this generation of shafts. The Black and White Tie use round mandrels, which DeShiell says offered flexibility to fine tune the geometries, flex profiles, CG locations and tip stiffnesses to optimize their performance. The new Red Tie will continue to use Matrix’s 16-sided hexadecagonal internal platform, or “HD Technology.”

In recent years, Matrix’s Black Tie shaft has enjoyed a cult-like following with high-swing-speed golfers, and it’s known as one of the lowest-launching, lowest-spinning shafts golfers currently available. The M5 Black Tie will stay true to its reputation as one of golf’s stoutest shafts, but with its higher CG it’s a better fit for today’s heavier driver heads than previous models. According to DeShiell, its new design can counterbalance as much as 0.5 inches of added shaft length or 3-4 additional grams of head weight to help golfers boost distance.

The design of the M5 Black Tie also includes a tweak based on PGA Tour player feedback. It’s a lower-torque shaft than previous models, particularly in X-flex, which offers increased stability and more feedback to golfers on off-center hits.

Matrix’s best-selling shaft model occupies the opposite realm of the aftermarket shaft space. Its new X5 White Tie is designed to help golfers launch the ball higher, which often leads to big distance gains for golfers in fitting bays. Maybe golfers don’t go looking for a higher-launching shaft, DeShiell says, but “when they go hit them all the White Tie often gives them the best performance.”

Matrix Launch/Spin Comparison Chart

As seen in the chart above, the Q5 Red Tie fits between the Black Tie and White Tie shafts in terms of launch conditions; it’s a mid-launching, mid-spinning shaft.

The beauty of the MFS5 shaft platform is the three distinct options it provides. Since all three shafts provide tour-level stability, golfers can objectively choose the model that gives them the best performance in a fitting. DeShiell described the ideal fitting process this way; once golfers select their favorite adjustable settings on a driver, they can go about searching for even better launch conditions with a Black Tie, Red Tie or White Tie shaft.

“One of these shafts is going to get them closer to their optimal numbers,” he says.

Matrix_MFS5_Feat_3

The M5 Black Tie and X5 White Tie are currently available through the company’s network of certified custom club fitters, and the Q5 Red Tie shaft will be available April 12. All three will sell for $375.

Visit Matrix’s website to see full shaft specifications.

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

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Equipment

Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Gianni Magliocco

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 Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ 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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