Equipment

Show Stoppers: Day 1 of the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show

Published

12 years ago

Jan 21, 2014

The GolfWRX team is live from this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. The “Show Stoppers” segment will highlight our favorite clubs, gear, and training aids at the show.

At the PGA Merchandise Show, golf companies show off their latest equipment on Tuesday at the PGA Demo Day at Orange County National, and at the PGA Show inside the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday through Friday. Follow along as we bring you inside the ropes of this year’s events.

Click here to follow along as we update live from the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show.

Bridgestone “True Balance” putters

Bridgestone is releasing a line of True Balance putters, which are “counter” counter-balanced putters, if you will. Instead of having additional weight located in the shaft and grip-section of the putters, the True Balance putters have lighter shafts and grips that the company says adds more feel to the putter head during the stroke, allowing it to square up more easily at impact.

The True Balance Putters ($199) have 360-gram heads made from 304 SS with dual-layered polymer inserts. Their graphite shafts weigh only 35 grams, and their EVA rubber grips are even lighter: 20 grams. And yes, the putter heads are so much heavier than the shaft and the grip that the putters can stand on their own.

Steel-shafted versions of the putters ($149) are also available, including the TD-02, a double-bend mallet version. They’ll be available in March.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Bridgestone putters in the forums

Callaway X2 Hot “5Deep”

Callaway’s “Deep” fairway woods made news in 2013, when Phil Mickelson used the company’s “3Deep” fairway wood as his driver in route to a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open and back-to-back wins at the Scottish Open and Open Championship.

Callaway’s new X2 Hot 5Deep is the next logical step in the deep fairway wood progression. The deep-faced 5 woods target golfers who have downward angle of attacks or tend to contact their fairway woods on the upper part of the face. The 5Deep will give those players more consistent ball speeds because of their larger faces, regulating carry distances

The 5Deep, a refreshed 3Deep and a new 2Deep will be available later this spring for $239 with a “real-deal” version of Aldila’s Tour Green shaft.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Callaway 5Deep in the forums

Golf Pride CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro Golf Grips

Golf Pride’s new CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro grips are the softest performance grips in Golf Pride history. The CP2 Wrap (pictured above in blue) is for golfers who look for a soft feel with the classic wrap-around design. The CP2 Pro (pictured above in red) offers a more parallel design and flatter grip textures. The inner core stabilizer, which measures 2.5 inches in length, is much firmer than the rest of the grip works to stabilize the grip during the downswing. The CP2 Wrap and CP2 Pro will be available in March for $6.99 per club for standard size, $7.49 for midsize and $7.99 for jumbo.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the new Golf Pride grips in the forums

FlightScope Xi

FlightScope’s new Xi is a small, portable, wireless Doppler-radar launch monitor that connects to an iPhone/iPad via WiFi to deliver ball data. No power source, cables, or laptops required. It starts at $2500.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Flightscope in the forums

Ping nFlight

The Ping nFlight Motion fitting process utilizes an attachment that clips onto any golf shaft, which sends information from the swing to an app on the iPhone or iPod touch through Bluetooth. The nFlight software models and digitally analyzes each swing and measures swing speed, path and angle of attack to fit the golfer into a combination of the proper shaft, loft and Ping club head. Only three swings per club are necessary to acquire enough information to fit the golfer properly, and the app provides additional shaft recommendations based on the fitting. Ping also offers an nFlight Mobile that works through an iPad.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Ping photos in the forums

UST Mamiya Elements Chrome Graphite Shafts

The UST Mamiya Elements Chrome shaft relies on a stiffer mid-flex and torque-specific weights that were previously utilized in the ProForce VTS models of recent years. The butt section of the shaft also has a larger diameter with a softer hoop strength that improves energy transfer and stability throughout the swing.

The mid-launch shaft is available for $285 in 12 different flex/weight combinations: 55 grams (A, R, S), 65 grams (R, S, X), 75 grams (S, X), 85 grams (S, X) and 95 grams (S, X).

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the UST Mamiya Elements Chrome shaft in the forums

Vokey SM5 Wedges

Vokey’s new SM5 wedges feature the third generation of the company’s grooves, which have a 7 percent larger groove volume than previous models.

The grooves are deeper and narrower on the 46-to-54 degree wedges to deliver better distance and trajectory control, reducing the chance of flyers from the rough. On the 56-to-62 degree SM5 wedges, the grooves are the same width as the previous generation, but they have a greater depth that adds roughly 400 rpm more spin on full shots from the rough.

The SM5 wedges are cast from 8620 carbon steel, and are available in lofts from 46 degrees to 62 degrees in two-degree increments. They come in six tour-inspired sole grinds (L, T, S, M, F and K), with each model sorted into low-, mid- and high-bounce categories. That creates a selection of 21 different loft, bounce and grind combinations.

The wedges are available in stores on March 14 in three different finishes — Tour Chrome, Gold Nickel and Raw Black — and will sell for $129. The Tour Chrome and Gold Nickel are plated finishes, while the Raw Black finish will rust over time.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Titleist SM5 wedges in the forums

Footjoy D.N.A. Golf Shoes

FootJoy recently unveiled D.N.A. (Dryjoys Next Advancement), the shoe that had golf apparel/equipment enthusiasts abuzz since Adam Scott wore them at the Presidents’ Cup. The shoes feature a 3D foam collar that molds to the foot and ankle, a Snugfit tongue, Microvent technology, a “Nitrothin” TPC (thermoplastic urethane) outsole, an “Xtra-thick” Fine-Tuned Foam (FTF) Fitbed and a Chromoskin Leather System making it waterproof. D.N.A is highly advanced, technology sound, stable and lightweight, with an added splash of color options.

They will be available in six colors on Feb. 15 for $220, with the BOA closure system available on the D.N.A.’s for $240.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Footjoy D.N.A.’s in the forums

Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.