August 20, 2019 – In addition to the new MG2 wedges, TaylorMade Golf has also announced the addition of the Hi-Toe Big Foot to the rapidly expanding line. The company’s Hi-Toe wedges, which first launched at the beginning of 2018 and have seen phenomenal success both on Tour and at retail, now welcome a game-improvement option with Hi-Toe Big Foot.
Designed to deliver the same optimal short-game control for a multitude of shots and conditions around the green as the original Hi-Toe, it’s now even easier to play with its super wide sole.
“We have one of the best wedge line-ups on the market but realised that there was still one golfer out there that wasn’t catered for, with Big Foot we now have a game improvement wedge that’s easier to play regardless of course conditions, especially for those who struggle out of bunkers. The Hi-Toe Family of wedges now cover every aspect of the game; versatility, playability and game improvement,” said Bill Price, Senior Director of Product Creation, Putters & Wedges of the company.
Built for versatility around the green, Hi-Toe Big Foot wedges offer an asymmetric C- Grind that is both flatter and has a wider sole at 32mm (compared to traditional wedges which have a sole width of 26mm). Combined with an anti-dig leading edge with maximum bounce of 15°, Hi-Toe Bigfoot significantly enhances playability and ease of use from the sand and rough.
The leading edge of the Hi-Toe Bigfoot is blunter and has a bevelled leading edge radius. Additionally, the middle is now flatter at 32mm wide and with added bounce towards the toe apex to help golfers with an outside in swing path and tendency for the strike location to be towards the toe. The trailing edge offers relief with a slight heel side reduction to help keep the leading edge low alongside allowing for versatility.
Deep CG pockets have been developed to increase spin, flight control and allow for mass to be redistributed to the sole. By creating bigger chambers this has allowed engineers to maximise the width of the sole.
Hi-Toe Big Foot benefits from the same Hi-Toe design technology with an increased toe height upwards of 5mm allowing a higher centre of gravity for a lower launch and more spin. Big Foot’s full-face scoring lines ensure consistent ball contact out of the rough and help increase spin on off-centre strikes.
Availability: At retail beginning September 6, Hi-Toe Big Foot wedges will be offered in 58º & 60º lofts (RH only) and come equipped with a KBS Hi-REV 2.0 115g (steel) or UST Recoil w/SmacWrap 65g (graphite) shaft with a Golf Pride Tour Velvet burgundy 360 GEC grip.
January 29, 2019 – A decade after introducing the putter that shifted the paradigm of putter creation toward high-MOI design mallets and has since become the most popular putter in company history, TaylorMade Golf has announced today the 10th generation of its globally transcendent Spider putters with the introduction of Spider X. Continuing the longstanding heritage of Spider performance in a completely re-designed frame, Spider X putters utilise a new dedicated weighting system and optically engineered sightline (OES) featuring TaylorMade’s new True Path alignment system.
“When we first introduced the original Spider putter in 2008, we never could have anticipated the global phenomenon it has become. With widespread adoption on tours around the world, not only has it become one of the company’s top-selling putters of all time, it has truly shifted the paradigm of putter design toward high-MOI mallets. I’m proud to have played a role in the evolution of Spider and what it has become today,” says Bill Price, Senior Director, Product Creation, Putters & Wedges of the company.
THE X PHILOSOPHY – TRUE PATH ALIGNMENT SYSTEM
The genesis of the Spider X philosophy lies in research derived from more than ten thousand putts from a distance of twelve feet, with results illustrating that golfers strike the ball toward the toe of the putter 66% of the time – this is the result of a parallax effect. As a result, engineers strove to re-engineer the mass properties of the putter head while simultaneously introducing a new alignment system – True Path – for easier alignment enhanced focus, leading to more putts struck on the centre of the face and thus eliminating the parallax effect.
THE X DESIGN
The new Spider X features an optically engineered vision system designed for improved path, clearer vision and enhanced visual perception through colour sensitivity.
The design of the Spider X features a more streamlined design than both the Spider Tour and Spider Mini putters that came before it. The more stable head shape provides more weight on the outside of the frame (36% on both perimeters v. 30%). The head design of the Spider X is more stable than ever, with a deeper centre of gravity (37mm), which is three times deeper than a traditional blade putter.
For the first time in 10 years, the new frame of the Spider X incorporates a modern, seamless and dedicated weight design featuring three new weights: aluminium (2 grams), steel (6 grams) and tungsten (12 grams) to allow for optimised weight preference.
Additionally, the Spider X features a composite core weighing a mere 15 grams. The putter’s new head design was created using multi-material construction, delivering a slightly smaller head shape compared to the Spider Tour. Engineers reduced the size of the Spider X by 5% but were able to maintain the same MOI as Spider Tour within its new construction.
RE-ENGINEERED PURE ROLL INSERT
Spider X putters incorporate a new, thicker 5mm Pure Roll white surlyn insert for improved sound, feel and roll characteristics. The 12-groove Pure Roll insert promotes forward spin for smoother roll, greater accuracy and better distance control.
The composition and construction of the new Pure Roll insert is specially engineered to bring the grooves into direct and active contact with the ball during impact, even on short putts. The grooves in the face — just .5mm deep — also serve in part to strategically soften the insert’s structure. Together, these factors are designed to make the insert deform at impact, putting the grooves into direct contact with the cover of the ball.
Pure Roll inserts are played on the PGA Tour by TaylorMade staffers Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, among many others.
Specifications: Spider X putters will be offered in two colorways with both right and left-hand options: copper & white or navy & white. The copper & white model will be available in a short slant or single bend (right-hand only) hosel option, while the navy & white model will be available exclusively in a short slant offering. Each is available in 33”, 34” & 35” lengths and comes equipped with SuperStroke’s Pistol GTR 1.0 grip.
February 7, 2018 –Mizuno, the Japanese golf equipment manufacturer, founded in Osaka 1906, has announced the launch of a precision-adjustable GT180 metal wood series to partner its ‘flat out’ low-spinning ST180. Both will be available from February 2018.
The Japanese equipment manufacturer made headlines throughout 2017, with a wave of high-profile tour players returning to, and winning with, its forged irons. Mizuno is now predicting that this trend will follow in metal woods too, a category in which it has a track record of introducing many of the industry’s most influential innovations. Mass production of Titanium (Ti100), the impact of low spin (T-ZOID), lightweight graphite crowns (MP-001) and sliding weight adjustability (MP-600) have all been embraced by other manufacturers.
The new ST180 Series announced in late 2017 is on point for today’s generation of high ball speed players now prevalent on tour. Approaching the science of driving head-on, the ST180 has a simple weight forward, low-spin profile, engineered to reduce spin rates. The new GT180 is a more sophisticated design with an expanded capacity to manipulate weight throughout the head – ideal for fitting studios and players looking to squeeze the last few yards from their swing’s motion.
The GT180 and ST180 both take advantage of a high ball speed, exotic Forged SP700 Ti face and improved shaft offerings – including the Mitsubishi Tensei CK, KURO KAGE Silver Dual-Core TiNi and BASSARA E-SERIES 42 (full list available at golf.mizunoeurope.com). Every shaft in the line is an authentic version available on the custom component market. No shaft within the offering is an exclusive ‘made for’ stripped-down version of the original.
Mizuno engineers are also keen to point out that the brand’s approach to ‘bulge and roll’ is also current, if rarely discussed. R&D Director David Llewellyn puts it simply: “We’ve been compensating for golfers’ regular mishit patterns for years by giving the toe and heel sides of the face a bit more bulge than the centre of the face. This counteracts the greater amount of gear effect that occurs further from the face’s centre, thus giving the ball the appropriate amount of side spin to curve back to the centre. It’s a big topic of conversation now – but not something we’ve advertised. Just one of those design increments that happens over time.”
On the subject of how golfers should choose between GT180 and ST180, Llewellyn points to personality over ability. “Most players like to keep things as uncomplicated as possible – to stand there and give the ball a rip. The ST180 is for them. Then you have players who enjoy the process of dialing in a driver and getting it optimised to the yard – that’s the GT180. Everything else is very similar – playability, ball speed. Chose a model based on your attitude to the game – it’s not about ability.”
GT180 DRIVER
Mizuno’s new GT180 is the ultimate fine tunable driver blessed with the dual ability to help golfers squeeze every last yard out of their drives and evolve with them as their swings evolve. The extreme levels of adjustability on offer mean that the GT180 can help all golfers optimize performance from their existing swings, and then keep pace with swing changes and course conditions as the season unfolds.
The GT180’s high-speed performance platform is built around a Forged SP700 Ti Face, a precise multi-thickness face that promotes accelerated ball speeds. It is this speed, coupled with ultimate adjustability, that allows every golfer to get the very most out of his or her game.
The GT180’s ultimate adjustability paves the way to an expanded range of draw, neutral and fade settings in low, mid and high spin flights. The twin movable 7g weights have a wider span of locations for greater impact on spin rates and fade / draw bias, while the Quick Switch Adjustable Hosel allows 4˚ of loft adjustment and 3˚ of lie adjustment to match every golfer’s unique launch conditions and visual preferences. A Quick Switch adapter offers eight different locations to allow precise customisation of loft and lie and to fine tune ball flight like never before. The finishing touch is an expanded line of high-end shafts that can be fitted at no extra cost.
“With its wider range of settings, the GT180 can hold the key to squeeze out those last few seemingly unobtainable yards,” says Bill Price, Custom Fitting Manager at Mizuno. “Being able to fine tune your launch angle and spin rate is the final element in the equation to find your most efficient flight.”
GT180 FAIRWAY WOODS
Just as with the driver, the GT180 fairway woods promise a new law of gravity on account of the ultimate customisation they offer, providing the scope to vastly reduce or increase spin rates as the situation demands. Evolution of both the Mizuno Wave sole and sliding weight technologies reduces the lower end of spin rates for a more efficient trajectory at higher ball speeds.
The amplified first wave in the sole and Internal Waffle Crown combine to push weight low and forwards for a flatter trajectory, while also generating low spin and increased ball speeds. The thinner, more responsive 1770 Maraging Steel Face then boosts ball speeds yet further.
Adjustability comes via 17 grams of sliding weight that create a wider potential span of spin rates to fine tune ball flight, with the Quick Switch Adjustable Hosel allowing 4º of loft adjustment and 3º of lie adjustment to match every golfer’s unique launch conditions and visual preferences. An expanded line of high-end shafts can again be fitted at no extra cost, and the GT180 fairway wood is also available in a TS (tour style) model with a more compact, lower-lofted head.
“We’ve managed to significantly reduce the lower end range of spin rates but keep the overall range of adjustability,” says Bill Price. “Players at the faster end of swing speeds are going to see a much flatter trajectory – but have the possibility of increasing their spin should the conditions dictate.”
ST180 DRIVER
The ST180 is the first Mizuno driver to feature Wave sole technology, with the ST180’s Wave sole committing every available gram of weight low and towards the face – dropping spin rates for even the fastest, downward ball-strikers. The Amplified Wave sole, originally engineered in Mizuno’s fairway woods, contracts and expands to increase the energy imparted to the ball for elevated ball speeds, while also pushing weight forward to vastly reduce spin rates.
A new Forged SP700 Ti multi-thickness face promotes accelerated ball speeds that take the ST180’s performance noticeably past its predecessors, while the striking blue head’s Internal Waffle Crown is a weight-saving design that allows more grams to be relocated low and forward to promote efficient low-spin performance.
“This was the biggest shock we’ve had in testing,” says Jeff Cook, PGA Tour Manager. “The spin rate and ball speed of this driver caught everybody out. The ST180 comes off so fast, with so little spin – it’s going to make a lot of good players question what they really need in a driver.”
The ST180 driver will be available in men’s 9.5º and 12.5º models plus a ladies’ 12.5º model.
ST180 FAIRWAY WOODS
The new ST180 fairway woods share much of the driver’s technology including the hugely amplified Wave sole technology that commits every available gram of weight low and towards the face – dropping spin rates for even the fastest, downward ball strikers. The Internal Waffle Crown’s weight-saving design again allows more grams to be relocated low and forward for efficient low-spin performance.
The Amplified Wave Soleplate features a huge first wave that contracts and expands on impact for increased energy transfer and elevated ball speed, while also pushing weight forward to vastly reduce spin rates. ST180 fairway woods feature a thinner, more responsive, high-energy 1770 Maraging Steel Face to further increase ball speeds and deliver a flatter, more efficient, controlled ball flight. The head’s larger footprint generates a bigger-than-average profile that both looks, and is, highly forgiving.
“If you like a wider, larger-looking profile, but don’t necessarily want a high-spinning flight, the ST180 is a really interesting option,” says Jeff Cook, PGA Tour Manager. “Over the years a lot of our tour players have bucked the trend for smaller fairway woods and this plays nicely into their hands.”
ST180 fairway woods will be available in 15º and 18º models for both men and ladies.
All ST180 metal woods feature a Quick Switch Adjustable Hosel that allows 4 degrees of loft adjustment and 3 degrees of lie adjustment so the clubs can be fine-tuned to the unique launch conditions and visual preferences of all golfers. A new expanded line of high-end shafts can also be fitted at no additional charge.
Mizuno has strived to “create the best products for consumers” for 111 years, and the new ultra-adjustable GT180 drivers and fairway woods, along with the ST180 high-speed, low-spin metal woods, adhere firmly to that original spirit and desire, while offering the best performance benefits that modern technology can bring.
January 24, 2018 – To say Spider Tour putters took the world of golf by storm following Jason Day’s triumphant victory at THE PLAYERS 2016 would be an understatement. It was a victory that catapulted him to a then world #1 ranking by way of the best statistical season putting on Tour on record and sent the Tour into a frenzy. Almost overnight, the demand for Spider Tour seemingly exceeded supply, with both TaylorMade Golf staffers and non-staff players clamouring to get their hands on one.
Following Jason’s success with Spider, fellow TaylorMade stablemates Dustin Johnson — who has taken firm control of world #1 with Spider in the bag — and Jon Rahm, whose unprecedented rise to world #2 following his 2nd career PGA TOUR victory at the CareerBuilder Challenge, have since put Spider into play.
Whereas Johnson, Day & Rahm have specific preferences for their models, consumer feedback led to the creation of the expanded line up combination of sightlines, toe hangs and hosels for a wide array of alignments to fit any stroke. The most in-demand putter in TaylorMade’s lineup now has more options than ever before.
SPIDER TOUR RED
#1 L-Neck: full sightline, 21º toe hang, full shaft offset (RH/LH)
#3 Small Slant: no sightline, 32º toe hang, half shaft offset (RH only)
#3 Small Slant: full sightline,32º toe hang, half shaft offset (RH/LH)
#1 L-Neck: full sightline, 21º toe hang, full shaft offset (RH/LH)
#7 Double Bend: full sightline, face-balanced, half shaft offset (RH/LH)
All new Spider Tour models feature 3º of loft and a 70º lie angle, aside from the double bend #7 which has a head weight of 350g, each model is 355g. Similar to current Spider Tour models, each of the new Spider Tour models is made of a 304 stainless steel frame combined with a lightweight 6061 aluminium body, which enables weight to be positioned at the extremities for high MOI to ensure the face stays square to path.
As with all Spider Tour models, each of the five new variations incorporate a milled aluminium Pure Roll insert with a gunmetal finish to promote better forward roll, increased directional accuracy and improved distance control. Vibration damping PU foam embedded between the body and frame delivers enhanced sound and feel, and Moveable Weight Technology allows for the player to adjust weight settings to desired headweights.
“Putters are unique, perhaps the most unique of any club in the bag. What we continue to experience inside the TaylorMade putting lab is that different players line up better with and without sightlines as well as different hosels. We’re now able to offer consumers the opportunity to experience the Spider Tour putter with the ability to match their eyesight with a variety of hosels and sightlines,” said Bill Price, Senior Director of Product Creation for putters and wedges.
Each of the new models are available in 33”, 34” & 35” lengths, and come equipped with a SuperStroke GTR 1.0 grip and a black finish steel shaft. The new Spider Tour models are available at retail starting January 26, 2018 at an RRP of €329.
TaylorMade Golf is also introducing Spider ARC, a full arc mallet design with Tour-proven performance engineered to be TaylorMade’s highest MOI Spider putter for increased stability, alignment and forward roll. Originally a Japanese release only, Justin Rose put the Spider ARC prototype into play en route to his runner-up finish at Augusta last April, praising its performance on longer putts and speed control.
Spider ARC’s unique construction features a 3.65 inch heavy stainless steel ring for better MOI and an arced geometry cup design for better visual alignment. Paired with the stainless steel ring, Spider ARC is constructed with an aluminium body for high MOI to ensure the putter’s face stays square to path. To promote improved forward roll and better distance control, Spider ARC employs TaylorMade’s popular Soft Surlyn Pure Roll Insert. Both Spider ARC Red & Spider ARC Silver employ a combination sightline with face-balance and a ¾” shaft offset.
Spider ARC Red and Spider ARC Silver will be offered in 33”, 34” & 35” lengths, and come equipped with a SuperStroke GTR 1.0 grip and a black finish steel shaft. Each model is available in both right and left-handed models.
Available at retail starting January 26, 2018 at an RRP of €329.
January 23, 2018 – Having already played a significant role in World #1 Dustin Johnson’s runaway victory at Kapalua as well as being relied on by World #2 Jon Rahm during his rookie season-closing victory in Dubai, TaylorMade Golf formally announced today the new Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedge, designed to deliver optimal short-game control for a multitude of shots and conditions around the green. Following Johnson and Rahm’s successes with the new wedge, fellow TaylorMade stablemates Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose have also added the Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedge to their bags early in their respective 2018 campaigns.
Featuring a higher, more centrally-located centre of gravity, the new Hi-Toe wedge launches the golf ball lower while generating more spin and control from a variety of lies. The result, a wedge that gives golfers full confidence standing over full strikes, delicate chips, bump-and-runs, controlled pitches and precision-based flop shots, as well as providing excellent escape options from greenside bunkers.
“Our Tour players couldn’t wait to put this in the bag; Dustin Johnson praised the performance of the Hi-Toe following his dominant victory at Kapalua; we’re confident that this wedge will benefit golfers of all abilities around the green, regardless of what style of course they’re playing on,” says Bill Price, Senior Director of Product Creation Wedges in the company.
The Hi-Toe’s full-face scoring lines ensure consistent ball contact out of the rough, while the high bounce leading edge and channel cut midsole make for a more efficient turf interaction which provides cleaner contact with the golf ball for optimal short-game accuracy and control.
The enhanced heel and toe relief of the Hi-Toe wedge allows golfers to accomplish a wide array of shots without the club digging into the turf, while the sole cavity features three trapezoid-shaped pockets that optimise weight distribution, which in turn enhances the wedge’s feel.
Engineered from 8620 carbon steel, the Hi-Toe wedge features a new, aged copper finish with ZTP-17 full-face grooves. Offered in 58°, 60° & 64° lofts (64° in RH only), each Hi-Toe wedge has a D5 swingweight and is equipped with KBS’ Hi-REV 2.0 115g shaft with a Golf Pride Tour Velvet burgundy 360 GEC grip.
The Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedge will be available at retail on March 02, 2018 at an RRP of 179€.
