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.
- LIKE234
- LEGIT16
- WOW12
- LOL3
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK12
- Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX
Driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees), TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X, Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (21 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Black 9 X
Irons: Srixon ZX Mk II (3), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (5), Srixon Z-Forged II (6-9)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 54-08M), SM9 (LW), WedgeWorks (LW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-54), S400 (LW)
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Proto
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
See the rest of Adam Scott’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE18
- LEGIT4
- WOW4
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (3), TaylorMade P7MC (4-6), and TaylorMade P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 54-11SB, 58-08LB)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Reserve Juno
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
Check out more in-hand photos of Pierceson Coody’s WITB here.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Ben Griffin might be a little too young to remember some of the iconic Maxfli golf balls that won on tour, but that isn’t stopping him from putting the newest Tour X ball from the brand in play. Today, Maxfli and Griffin announced an exclusive partnership that will see the PGA Tour player using the company’s four-piece golf ball.
While Griffin might be the first PGA Tour player to put a new Maxfli golf ball in play, he isn’t the first profesional golfer to do so. Lexi Thompson has been playing the Maxfli Tour golf ball on the LPGA Tour since the beginning of the 2024.
View this post on Instagram
We caught up with Ben at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas this week to ask him about the new ball switch.
“I was able to finally get my hands on some and try it and immediately I saw faster ball speed with the driver, which is always something every golfer wants to see.
“Then I had to test a lot around the greens and test irons, test spins, test everything like that. Basically, I came to the conclusion that I thought this was probably one of the best golf balls for my game.
“And so I decided to make it official and partner with them and very excited to help kind of launch this golf ball and see where it takes us.”
Griffin’s ball of choice is the Maxfli Tour X, a four-piece golf ball that is made for highly skilled players that want consistent distance off the driver and spin around the green. An updated core design helps add the ball speed that Griffin mentioned and two ionomer mantle layers separate low spin driver shots from higher spin iron and wedge shots. Maxfli uses Center Of center-of-gravity balancing to ensure each ball has consistent flight in the air and roll on the green. Like all golf balls on tour, the Tour X features a cast urethane cover for maximum performance, and it has a tetrahedron dimple pattern to enhance aerodynamics.
It is exciting to see a golf ball at a lower price point — $39.99 at Golf Galaxy — being used by a top 100 ranked player in the world like Ben Griffin, and equipment junkies will be keenly watching his performance with the new ball.
- LIKE14
- LEGIT4
- WOW2
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
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
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)...
WITB Time Machine: Billy Horschel’s winning WITB, 2017 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
The tournament bearing the name of one of golf’s all-time greats is now known as the CJ Cup Byron Nelson....
Austin Cook WITB 2024 (April)
Austin Cook what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
-
19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
-
Equipment3 weeks agoWhat we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
-
19th Hole6 days agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
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.