Tag Archives: TaylorMade Golf

DP World Tour, TaylorMade Golf, What's in the bag…

TaylorMade Golf – What’s in the bag of Jon Rahm as he seals the victory at the end of 2017 European Tour

November 20, 2017 – Jon Rahm ended the 2017 European Tour campaign in spectacular fashion by sealing victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Relying on a full 14-club bag of TaylorMade Golf equipment, the Spaniard – who was named the 2017 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year earlier in the week – fired a final round 67 to finish on 19-under-par for the week, a shot clear of his nearest rival.

“It’s been an incredible year, and to finish this way is a great achievement. I will enjoy the moment, but I want to keep working hard to improve my game and kick on again in 2018,” said Jon Rahm.

Rahm’s victory was his third as a professional, with previous wins coming earlier this year at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July. He only turned professional in June 2016.

With an average Driving Distance of 313.4 yards, Rahm – using the M2 driver – finished atop the field in that category for the week. TaylorMade’s 2017 drivers have now accounted for 31 victories across the worldwide tours this year.

In addition to his stellar work off the tee, Rahm’s success also came from his wizardry on the greens, as he finished in the top three for the week in Putts per Green and Putts per Round categories, trusting his Spider Tour Red in the process. Red is definitely his colour, like the putter and the adidas Golf polo shirt he usually wears on Sundays.

The victory is the third in four weeks for TaylorMade players, following Justin Rose’s wins in China and Turkey. Jon Rahm now moves up to No.4 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

What’s in the bag of Jon Rahm?

  • Golf ball: TaylorMade Golf TP5x (#10)
  • Driver: TaylorMade M2 2017 (10,5º, Aldila Tour Green 75X)
  • Fairway Woods: TaylorMade M1 2017 (15º & 19º, Aldila Tour Green 75X)
  • Irons: TaylorMade P750 (4-PW, True Temper Project 6 6.5)
  • Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind (52º & 56ºSB, True Temper Project X 6.5; Milled Grind Hi-Toe, 60º, True Temper Project X 6.5)
  • Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red
  • Clothing: adidas Golf
  • Footwear: adidas Golf

Pictures: ©Getty Images

Equipment, Irons, TaylorMade Golf

Irons Guide – TaylorMade Golf 2017, which irons suit your game?

November 13, 2017 – Since September, TaylorMade Golf now covers the whole range of players with its complete range of irons. The last three introductions, the M CGB, P790 and P730, extend the collection to 7 models, all loaded with technology, going from larger profile distance and forgiveness irons for medium to high handicaps (M CGB, M2 and M1), up to smaller profile high-performance forged irons for the skilled player (P770, P750 and P730), bridged by the innovative P790, a revolutionary iron that fuses the best of both profiles.

Deciding on a new set of irons can be exciting but disconcerting at the same time, as there are many options to choose from. The right decision will provide you with a set of personalized clubs that complement your game, with the potential to reduce some shots on your card in each round. On the other hand, the wrong decision will make you less efficient on the golf course, adding shots to your card because your equipment isn’t quite right.

The best thing is to go to an authorized TaylorMade dealer and get a professional fitting, but to help you make a first selection, here is a guide where you can discover which irons of the range are the ones that best suit your game, with the detailed recommendation of our MGW site.

TAYLORMADE M CGB IRONS

This one is for players looking for the ultimate in distance, height and forgiveness throughout the set, especially for those with mid to slow swing speeds. The M CGB is tuned for loft, CG and MOI specifically for this golfer providing long, straight and high shots with every club in the bag. Its explosive impact is a pleasure in the hands of any medium to high handicap golfer.

MGW: Recommended for 15 handicap and higher. Set: 4-PW, AW, SW, LW. RH/LH. Shaft/flex: Steel S, R; graphite S, R, A, L. RRP: 7 irons steel shaft, 1.199 €; graphite shaft, 1.399 €.

TAYLORMADE M2 IRONS

The M2 is the ultimate all-rounder. This iron has incredible speed and forgiveness in the long and mid irons while providing a nice level of workability and precision in the shorter irons. The most popular TaylorMade iron overall, the M2 will suit golfers of most handicap levels from a 10 and up. 

MGW: Recommended for 10 handicap and higher. Set: 4-PW, AW, SW, LW. RH/LH. Shaft/flex: Steel S, R; graphite S, R, A, L. RRP: 7 irons steel shaft, 849 €; graphite shaft, 999 €.

TAYLORMADE M1 IRONS

If you’re looking for M2-type performance but have always craved something a little more compact and workable, then the M1 is your iron. The M1’s thinner sole and reduced offset vs M2 provides more shot shaping for a player in the 5-15 handicap range.

MGW: Recommended for 5/15 handicap. Set: 3-PW, AW, SW. RH/LH. Shaft/flex: Steel X, S, R; graphite S, R, A. RRP: 7 irons steel shaft, 1.049 €; graphite shaft, 1.249 €.

TAYLORMADE P790 IRONS

The P790 is your definitive cross-over iron, a bridge to the forged irons that will surprise you. The P790 is your ultimate cross-over iron. For the first time, there is an iron that combines true players iron look and feel with the ‘at-the-limit’ speed and distance of an M- iron. P790 will appeal to golfer in the low-single digits all the way to 12 or even a 15 handicap, thanks to its surprising amount of forgiveness and playability. If you are in this range, you really must try it.

MGW: Recommended for 12/15 handicap and lower. Set: 3-PW, AW, SW. RH/LH. Shaft/flex: Steel X, S, R (custom graphite options available). RRP: 7 irons set steel shaft, 1.249 €.

TAYLORMADE P770 IRONS

For good ball-strikers, not many irons will offer the feel and consistency of the P770. Head shaping is driven by low offset and shorter blade length but the moderate top-line hints at the forgiveness inherent in the 70-gram tungsten sole. This iron is a favorite with sub-10-handicap skilled amateurs, club professionals and Tour players alike. 

MGW: Recommended for 8/10 and lower. Set: 3-PW, AW, SW. RH/LH. Shaft/flex: Steel X, S, R (custom graphite options available). RRP: 7 irons set steel shaft, 1.249 €.

TAYLORMADE P750 IRONS

The P750 Tour Proto is designed for very skilled golfers offering the ultimate blend of workability, feel and control. The compact blade design with minimal offset makes this is our most preferred iron among TaylorMade Tour players. Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm, Jason Day and many others play it and it was the Nº1 played iron model at The Open and US PGA Championship.

MGW: Recommended for 2/4 handicap and lower. Set: 3-PW. RH (custom only). Shaft/flex: Steel S (custom graphite options available). RRP: 7 irons set steel shaft, 1.799 €.

TAYLORMADE P730 IRONS

Only the absolute best ball-strikers need apply here, even if you are a Tour player. The P730 was designed to exacting requirements of the very best players in the world – Dustin Johnson, Rory and Justin Rose. It offers a very short blade length in a clean and precisely engineered shape to execute shots with the ultimate in precision and finesse. 

MGW: Recommended for 0 handicap and professionals. Set: 3-PW. RH (custom only). Shaft/flex: Steel S (custom graphite options available). RRP: 7 irons set steel shaft, 1.249 €.

Putters, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – Expanding on the successful TP Collection arrives the TP Red Putter Collection

September 29, 2017 – TaylorMade Golf has announced the expansion of the TP Collection of putters with the introduction of TP Red. Comprised of 6 performance mallet models, the new collection has been designed for the discerning player who seeks the performance of TaylorMade’s renowned Pure Roll technology in an aesthetically appealing Tour Red colorway that the company became the first to roll out in 2016. Since then, the Tour Red colorway has seen its demand grow exponentially global tours following the success of TaylorMade staffers Jason Day, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia.

The TP Red Collection is comprised of five new variations of the Ardmore putter as well as the Chaska model. Each of the six new models feature milled 304 stainless steel heads with Tour Red finish for a premium look and feel with high-contrast colouring and a variety of sightline options to promote improved alignment.

TP RED PUTTER COLLECTION MODELS

  • Ardmore: A face-balanced mallet designed with dual sightlines for a linear stroke and easy alignment.
  • Ardmore CTR: A center-shafted, face-balanced mallet designed to emphasize perfectly centered alignment.
  • Ardmore 2 (“L” Neck): A progressive mallet designed with single top, double cavity sightlines and 27º toe hang for a flowing stroke and enhanced alignment.
  • Ardmore 2 (double bend): A progressive, face-balanced mallet featuring single top, double cavity sightlines for a straight back, straight through stroke and enhanced alignment.
  • Ardmore 3: A progressive mid-size mallet incorporating 40° toe hang for a flowing stroke and simple alignment.
  • Chaska: A larger, face-balanced, semi-rounded mallet with a three top sightlines to encourage a confident stroke.

World number 13 Justin Rose, who first saw the putter at a company photoshoot earlier this month, put the Chaska into play the following week at the BMW Championship, where he finished T2 and recorded a remarkable strokes gained: putting of 2.393.

Each putter in the TP Red Collection has a head weight of 355g, a 3.5° loft, a 70° lie angle and comes available in 34” & 35” lengths. Each model in the collection also features interchangeable sole weights to enable the adjustment of mass for optimal performance.

Similar to the original TP Collection, each new model utilizes a new milling process along with TaylorMade’s proprietary Pure Roll insert to deliver optimal forward roll with a desired firm feel.

PURE ROLL INSERT

The 6061 aluminum Pure Roll insert combines 45° grooves with a softer polymer between the grooves to promote better forward roll and reduce skidding across varying surfaces. The composition and construction of the 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 also serve in part to strategically soften the insert’s structure. Together, these factors make the insert perform at a very high level.

Currently, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose all play putters incorporating Pure Roll technology.

  • Availability: At retail the 16th October.
  • Grip: Each putter comes equipped stock with a Super Stroke Pistol GTR 1.0.
  • MSRP: €289.
Golf Companies, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – Brian Bazzel, appointed as Vice President of Product Creation of the company

September 27, 2017 – TaylorMade Golf has announced it has appointed Brian Bazzel, an influential figure within TaylorMade’s product creation teams for the last seventeen years, as its new Vice President of Product Creation.

Bazzel, whose product creations have earned the highest accolades in the industry and are played by the best players in the world, will lead product strategy and development efforts for all of TaylorMade’s product lines, including metalwoods, irons, balls, putters, wedges and accessories.

One of the most well-respected product experts in the industry, Bazzel began his career at TaylorMade in 2000 as a member of the company’s research & development team, where he played a critical role in developing the MATT fitting system in addition to SelectFit, considered the ‘most comprehensive fitting system in the industry’ at its launch in 2007.

In subsequent years, his role has shifted into the product creation sector and has since been responsible for the efforts of a variety of TaylorMade’s most prominent and successful product lines, including the highly-popular Burner 2.0, RocketBladez and Tour Preferred irons lines as well as the widely acclaimed and most winning drivers on the PGA TOUR over the last two years, the M1 & M2.

Concurrently, succeeding Bazzel as Senior Director of Product Creation for metalwoods is Tomo Bystedt, whom like Bazzel, has vast experience with many of the company’s product lines which include putters, wedges and most recently, leading iron creation, a position he’s held since 2013 and whose most notable products include RSi, PSi and most recently, the P700 Series. Bystedt, who first joined TaylorMade in 2006, will now lead the company’s efforts in the development and creation of all metalwoods.

In his new role, Bazzel will now oversee one of the most prominent product creation teams in the golf industry, which, in addition to Bystedt and the metalwoods team, includes Bill Price (putters & wedges) and Mike Fox (golf balls & accessories). Bazzel and his team will report directly to CEO David Abeles.

“For five years, Brian has been the driving force behind our metalwoods product creation team, leading to groundbreaking products that have invigorated the industry. His vision has helped position TaylorMade as the industry leader in metalwoods innovation and performance, and it is my great pleasure to welcome him to his new role as VP of Product Creation. There’s no doubt in my mind that under his guidance, the TaylorMade brand will continue to see exceptional growth and forge a lasting position as an industry leader across all product categories”, said David Abeles.

Irons, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – New M CGB Irons, designed to push the limits for maximum distance and power in every shot

September 7, 2017 – TaylorMade Golf has announced today the release of the all-new M CGB irons. Featuring consistently high COR throughout the entire set, an extremely low and back centre of gravity and many of the company’s most prominent iron performance technologies, M CGB delivers powerful and forgiving playability in their fastest iron set (4-PW) to date. (*)

“The CGB name is iconic and represents some of the longest and most forgiving irons we’ve ever created at TaylorMade. The concept has now been re-created with all our latest technology to bring never-before-seen performance to golfers of all skill levels,” says Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director, Product Creation, Irons of the company.

With the introduction of M CGB, TaylorMade enhances the M Irons family with a new super game-improvement option. In each iron throughout the set, golfers will discover the signature technologies that made both the M1 and M2 irons so successful — Speed Pocket, Face Slots, 360° undercut, Inverted Cone — in addition to new technologies that launch M CGB to the next level of performance. These proven technologies are combined with a clubhead designed with high-MOI using Tungsten weighting and an ultra-thin leading edge to deliver full-face forgiveness like never before.

By complementing the low CG position with strategically adjusted lofts, TaylorMade’s engineers have produced optimal distance gapping emphasizing higher peak height throughout the set. In fact, M CGB achieves the highest peak trajectory of any TaylorMade iron since 2012 (including the 2017 M2), allowing golfers of all swing speeds to produce higher, softer landing shots.

To further differentiate M CGB from the competitive set, TaylorMade’s engineers deviated from standard practices to advance their performance capabilities. While traditional game-improvement irons feature a progressive COR that reaches closer to the max in longer irons, M CGB utilizes a consistent COR model with every iron capping out at a substantially high COR limit. A constant COR is achieved using consistently thin face thicknesses and utilizing Face Slots and Speed Pocket technology all the way through to the PW. This produces optimized launch conditions throughout the set, regardless of which iron in the set the golfer is playing.

Each M CGB iron features four weight ports that house milled MIM (metal-injection-moulded) tungsten weights. These tungsten weights work to increase MOI and move the centre of gravity low and back for higher launching shots.

To deliver increased draw-bias and tighter overall dispersion, the Inverted Cone has been redesigned and relocated to a slightly off-centre position (closer to the toe). Additionally, a newly redesigned Speed Pocket provides for flexibility for the generation of faster ball speed. Last but not least, M CGB irons utilize TaylorMade’s Geocoustic technologies to create a fine-tuned sound and feel. The precision-shaped head geometry combines with an ultra-stiff 3D sound management badge and a soft Hybrar damper to reduce unwanted vibrations and produce superior sound and feel.

Taking decades worth of irons innovations and uniting them with new technologies, M CGB delivers a complete set of high-performance irons that are long, high, forgiving, and incredibly easy to hit.

  • Availability: At retail on 16th October.
  • Configuration: Offered in a 7 piece set with Nippon NS Pro 840 steel shafts or UST Recoil 460 ES graphite shafts. Additionally, a variety of custom shaft and grip options are also available.
  • RRP: Steel shafts, 1.199€; graphite shafts, 1.399 €.

(*) Fastest refers to measurement of COR vs. previous TaylorMade models.

Irons, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – Expansion of P700-Series Irons lineup with the introduction of P790 and P730

August 22, 2017 – TaylorMade Golf, the industry leader in iron technology and innovation, announced today the expansion of its globally successful P700-series iron lineup with the addition of the P790 irons, a forged players distance iron engineered with new SpeedFoam Technology for golfers seeking the forged look and feel of a players iron with increased distance, forgiveness and playability.

With P790, TaylorMade’s engineers have answered the challenge of creating a forged iron that delivers remarkable distance and playability combined with remarkable feel in a medium-compact head design with a thinner topline and reduced offset preferred by discerning players. This was accomplished by incorporating technologies that improve on feel, sound and consistency while delivering significant distance. The P790 features a soft, 8620 carbon steel body combined with a high-strength forged 4140 carbon steel WrapFace in a hollow body design.

The P790’s hollow cavity uses SpeedFoam Technology, a new proprietary construction which serves a dual purpose of generating ball speed as well as the management of sound and feel. Injected into the clubhead, SpeedFoam provides the face support and damping properties that make the performance of the P790 unlike any other iron in the TaylorMade family.

The incorporation of the WrapFace creates a cut-thru Speed Pocket on the sole with extreme flexibility in the lower part of the clubface; it’s this flexibility which creates greater forgiveness and consistency than is typically seen in a distance iron design.

The P790 also features an ultra-thin 1.75mm face thickness with re-engineered Inverted Cone Technology optimised for the slightly smaller face area. Whereas the company’s previous ICT which had a larger, heavier profile, the new, smaller Inverted Cone allows for reduced face thickness at the edges of the face, thus increasing flexibility from heel to toe and low on the clubface, resulting in more ball speed across the entire face.

For forgiveness and playability, P790 irons feature strategically placed internal metal-injection-molded (MIM) tungsten weighting for precise CG placement and higher moment of inertia (MOI).

“With P790, we created a forged iron that meets the demands of discerning players and delivers distance performance never before seen in a players iron”, says Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director, Iron Creation of the company. “By combining our new SpeedFoam filler and WrapFace technology with a clean, classic design, we have effectively engineered an iron that is as beautiful as it is powerful – setting the new standard for all-around iron performance.”

Availability: 16th October 2017 in Europe.

RRP: P790 irons in 3-PW, AW, SW equipped with True Temper’s Dynamic Gold 105 steel shafts, 1.249 € for 7 irons; or UST Mamiya’s Recoil 760/780 ES SmacWrap graphite shaft with Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips, 1,549 € for 7 irons. Numerous other custom shaft options are also available.

P730 IRONS, HERITAGE OF MAJOR WINNING BLADE IRONS

TaylorMade has also announced the release of the P730 irons. The P730 was designed to build off of the company’s storied heritage of major championship winning blade irons, especially with the ’11 & The shaping improvements evo’14 Tour Preferred MB. The design team’s primary objective was to retain the features that were iconic to the Tour Preferred MB ’14 – notably sole camber, offset flow, sole radius and hosel length – while at the same time improving its performance in two subtle ways; shaping and mass properties.

The shaping improvements evolved from previous MB with direct feedback from Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and other PGA TOUR players over the past several years. The overall blade profile is slightly smaller with cleaner and crisper lines, particularly in the 7-8-9 iron transition. The leading edge profile was also tweaked to improve turf interaction across the set. TaylorMade Golf’s Tour players are already noticing the improved look at address, commenting on the improved shaping across every iron in the set. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose currently play a milled version of the 730 (the Rors Proto & Rose Proto, respectively), while Dustin Johnson is currently testing a forged set (which will be the version at retail).

In terms of the mass properties, the goal was to slightly raise the inertia (MOI) in the vertical direction (IXX) without increasing it in the horizontal direction (IZZ). This is important in order to improve on forgiveness on shots struck slightly high or low on the blade while maintaining the level of workability and shot shaping ability that TaylorMade’s top professionals require. This was achieved by reducing the overall blade length and creating a milled channel in the back of the blade, which moves some mass away from the centre of the blade.

Availability: At retail on 1st November 2017.

RRP: P730 3-PW, 1.249 € for 7 irons.

Blog, Golfstyle, TaylorMade Golf

MyGolfWay – Drive a sports car and a golf club, together in an exclusive TaylorMade Golf event

August 21, 2017 – While on Summer holidays in London, we received an e-mail invitation of the sort that you just can’t turn down. In essence, an exclusive event of… ‘cars and golf’.

TaylorMade Golf invited us on Wednesday 16th of August, along with a select group of European golf journalists, to the heart of Surrey to live the AMG Driving Experience at the Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands, and then hit a few shots in the Silvermere Golf Club. A good plan to crown the holidays.

Obviously, Mercedes-Benz and TaylorMade Golf have quite a lot in common when it comes to the high quality and great performance of their products. No wonder they have joined their logos for this event to promote their sports that, with very different technologies, are focused on speed engineering.

Mercedes-Benz World is the home of the brand in the United Kingdom, located in the famous Brooklands, in Weybridge (Surrey), next to the pioneering circuit where car racing began more than a hundred years ago. Its museum allows you to contemplate the historical trajectory of the German brand, from the first gasoline engine automobile of 1885 to the spectacular Mercedes GP Petronas Formula 1 of Lewis Hamilton.

After a instructional briefing with information about the different car models and circuits, we went across to the track and got into a Mercedes-AMG GT. Guided by a professional driving specialist in the passenger seat, we experienced every inch of the circuit at maximum speed and braking power, through the curves and along the straights, as well as the control of the vehicle by sliding it on a wet skid surface. Adrenaline running wild!

After catching a breath, we took a look at the fabulous first six months of 2017 for TaylorMade Golf, not only because its continuous leadership as Nº1 Driver on Tour, a position maintained now with both the M1 and M2 2017 drivers, but mainly for the gigantic step it has made in the golf ball category, with the TP5 and TP5x, and also in the putter category, with the Spider Tour. These are star products in the golf market, in the hands of great players such as Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm.

To end the day with a good taste of golf, TaylorMade Golf took us to the Silvermere Golf Club to try out the latest products. The facilities are awesome! In the passage leading the driving range we saw two golf shops: Two? You might ask… Yes, because one of them is specifically dedicated to left-handed equipment!

The club enjoys a fantastic 60-tee range in a double floor, each tee equipped with a launch monitor for you to know every detail about every shot. Impressive – it’d be great to have something similar in Spain! Two buckets of 50 golf balls hit with wonderful golf clubs in the driving range left us more than satisfied, and we return home with more than a touch of envy for all the good things surrounding the golf industry in this wonderful country.

Golf Companies, TaylorMade Golf

adidas – TaylorMade, Adams Golf and Ashworth, sold to KPS Capital Partners

May 11, 2017 – adidas has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its TaylorMade, Adams Golf and Ashworth golf brands to a newly formed affiliate of KPS Capital Partners, LP for a total consideration of US$ 425 million, around half of which will be paid in cash with the remainder in a combination of secured note and contingent considerations. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed later in 2017.

As a result of the transaction, adidas will record a non-operational negative P&L impact in the high-double-digit to low-triple-digit million euro range, which will be reported in discontinued operations as part of the company’s 2017 results.

“TaylorMade is a leading global golf brand with an exceptionally strong market position. We would like to thank all TaylorMade employees for their many contributions to our company and wish them all the best for a successful future under their new ownership. At the same time, we welcome all adidas Golf employees who will be integrated into our adidas Heartbeat Sports Business Unit,” said Kasper Rorsted, CEO of adidas AG.

“Within our long-term strategy ‘Creating the New’, our focus is clearly on our core competencies in footwear and apparel and on our two major brands adidas and Reebok.” 

While – as already detailed-out in the adidas 2016 Annual Report – the divestiture of the golf hardware business changes some specifics of the company’s outlook for the current year, adidas continues to expect to increase its net income from continuing operations to a level of between € 1.200 billion and € 1.225 billion in 2017. In addition, the strategic divestiture of the three golf brands has also already been reflected in the company’s updated long-term outlook. As announced in March 2017, adidas aims to achieve net sales of € 25 billion to € 27 billion and an implied operating margin of 11% by 2020.

Guggenheim Securities LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to adidas AG and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP served as legal counsel.

PGA Tour, TaylorMade Golf, What's in the bag…

TaylorMade Golf – Driven by performance, Rory McIlroy choose to play a new full bag equipment

May 9, 2017 – TaylorMade Golf has announced today that four-time major champion and two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Rory McIlroy, has chosen to sign a long-term agreement with TaylorMade after testing with nearly every major club manufacturer.

With his new full bag plus golf ball deal, McIlroy joins a Tour staff that now includes the top three players in the world and 6 in the top 12 of the OWGR. The signing of the 28 year-old Northern Irishman is yet another decisive move by the company that reaffirms its commitment to fielding the strongest Tour staff in the industry and putting the highest performing equipment in the hands of the best players in the world.

McIlroy joins Team TaylorMade with an impressive CV of accomplishments that already puts him in an elite class of golfers and rivals any active player on Tour. As one of the most tenacious, performance-driven players the game has ever seen, the 13-time PGA TOUR & 13-time European Tour winner is looking to reclaim his position as the #1 player in the world with an arsenal of new TaylorMade products in the bag as he embarks on the next stage of his career in pursuit of his fifth major championship and beyond.

“My future rests firmly in my hands – that’s why I choose TaylorMade. I’ve been around the game long enough and have tested most clubs on the market, but I have never been as excited about equipment as I am right now,” says Rory McIlroy.

In the summer of 2016, McIlroy stated that he intended to spend a full year playing and testing product from nearly every major manufacturer, but commented at the Barclays that if he came across a product that he liked and was comfortable with, he’d accelerate his decision and consider signing a long-term deal. His decision became clear after experiencing the performance of TaylorMade and realising the noticeable benefits over the equipment he was previously playing.

TP5x GOLF BALL

Critical to McIlroy’s decision was the performance of his golf ball, particularly in windy conditions. In the past, Rory has had to decide between playing a ball with good iron performance at the expense of greenside control and more recently, a ball that offered control around the green but didn’t have the trajectory and distance he was looking for with his irons. Knowing what his previous ball was capable of doing for every shot he hits, Rory tested the new ’17 TP5x golf ball and instantly realised an improved trajectory that will give him better, more consistent iron performance, especially into the wind. It was after testing with TaylorMade that McIlroy’s commitment to play TP5x materialised almost immediately.

’17 M2 DRIVER

Rory’s length off the tee is one of the strongest parts of his game, so the optimisation of a driver for him in testing was very important. A variety of driver heads, lofts, shafts, swingweights and adjustability settings were all tested, with McIlroy keen on finding his optimal setup. In the end, the team landed on a 9.5º ’17 M2 driver.

As evidenced by the following chart, his average numbers after multiple shots hit during his testing period were remarkable:

  • 181 MPH ballspeed
  • 12.3° launch angle
  • 2119 RPM spin rate
  • 315.8-yard carry average, 338.5 total average

’17 M2 TOUR FAIRWAYS

Similar to driver testing, Rory took the opportunity to test multiple heads in both the ’17 M1 and M2 fairways, which included different loft configurations, weight settings and shafts. It was critical to fit McIlroy into a fairway that, per his preference, could be used both for positioning off the tee and going after par-5s in two. His desire for the M2 Tour fairways was evident at the Masters, where he had two of them in the bag and commented how easy they were to turn over compared to his previous product. In testing, his sentiment echoed those statements, as he was elated about the versatility and turf interaction they provide him.

P700 SERIES “RORS PROTO” IRONS

Rory has played muscle-back irons throughout his career and worked closely with TaylorMade’s R&D team in testing a new prototype the iron team in Carlsbad has been developing. Characterised by a shorter blade length, reduced offset and revised shaping, the “Rors Proto” iron has not only exceeded McIlroy’s performance expectations but also aesthetically suits his eyes perfectly, too. In addition to his new irons, he’s opted to play the 3 & 4 irons of the P750 Tour Proto.

MILLED GRIND WEDGES

It’s no secret that McIlroy can overpower golf courses with his length; it’s this length that will leave him with more wedges into par-4s than the average tour player, so finding the optimal wedges & grinds to hit all the shots he needs is important. After a thorough process, McIlroy will eventually play the Milled Grind wedges that will be machine milled to his personal specification. The result – a competitive advantage over the competition with wedges engineered for unparalleled accuracy, optimal turf interaction and consistent performance.

PUTTER

Over the coming weeks, TaylorMade’s Tour and product teams will be working closely with McIlroy to find a model that is optimal for him.

“It’s incredible when a 4-time major champion who expects nothing but the finest performance from his equipment and golf ball reaches out to your company requesting the opportunity to meet with you. Our tour staff and product teams have been working closely with Rory for months and after extensive testing, we’re elated that he has chosen to join Team TaylorMade as he embarks on the next chapter of his career,” says David Abeles, President & CEO of TaylorMade company.

A closer look to what is in Rory’s bag this week at THE PLAYERS:

  • Driver: M2 ’17 (9.5º, MCG Kuro Kage Silver 70 XTS)
  • Fairway woods: M2 ’17 Tour (13.5º, MCG Tensei CK Blue 90TX); M2 ’17 Tour (19º, Fujikura Composites Pro P95X)
  • Irons: P750 Tour Proto (3-4, True Temper Project X 7.0); P700 “Rors Proto” (5-9, True Temper Project X 7.0)
  • Wedges: Milled Grind (48º, 54º & 60º, True Temper Project X 6.5)
  • Golf Ball: TP5x #22
DP World Tour, TaylorMade Golf, What's in the bag…

TaylorMade Golf – Edoardo Molinari claims the 14th win in 16 weeks for M Drivers at Trophee Hassan II

April 17, 2017 – The Italian player Edoardo Molinari finished his fourth round with a stunning eagle at the 18th of Trophee Hassan II, held at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat (Morocco). Hitting his 2017 M1 TaylorMade Rescue catch the green in two on the par 5 to hole the putt and post the clubhouse lead. But with his nearest opponent, the Irish Paul Dunne, holding his nerve to card a birdie at the last to get to nine under, the contest was set to be decided in a play-off.

On the first extra hole, Molinari calmly got up and down from just off the green, rolling in the winning putt from two feet for par to beat his opponent and claim his third European Tour victory. With Molinari having fought back from a combination of serious injury problems and two visits to Qualifying School, this win shows his sheer determination to succeed.

“It just shows that you should never give up, you should always keep trying, keep working hard”, said Edoardo Molinari.

Having recently switched to the new TaylorMade TP5x golf ball, Molinari commented: “I am very happy man with the new TP5x golf ball. I tested it thoroughly last week and now see a slightly higher launch, a lot less spin and higher ball speed. I have gained 4-5 yards with the Irons and up to 7-8 yards with my Driver!”

This was the seventh win this season for the new TP5/TP5x ball. TaylorMade was the Nº1 Driver Brand in play this week at the Trophee Hassan II. Molinari’s win is the 14th win in 16 weeks for TaylorMade’s ’17 M drivers, more than any other manufacturer at the season.

Molinari’s Trophee Hassan II Winning Bag:

  • Golf Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
  • Driver: TaylorMade 2017 M1 (8.5º, Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Silver 60-X)
  • Fairway Wood: TaylorMade 2016 M1 (14º, Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Silver 80-X)
  • Rescue: TaylorMade 2017 M1 (17º, Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Silver 80-X)
  • Irons: TaylorMade Psi Tour (3-PW, X100 SL)
  • Glove: TaylorMade Tour Preferred
  • Clothing: Colmar
  • Footwear: adidas Golf