Equipment
Wilson’s Driver vs. Driver is back for a second season, entries now open
Wilson announced today that The Golf Channel has given the go ahead for season two of Driver vs. Driver — a reality show that follows the process of designing a new driver while its contestants compete for a cash prize. The new season is set to premiere in the Fall of 2018 and the “Call for Entries” is now open.
#DriverVsDriver is set to return! Submit your design by 6/4 and you could be a Season 2 contestant!#WilsonStaff
? https://t.co/O8pjtUtk86 pic.twitter.com/wInahEoraP
— Wilson Golf (@WilsonGolf) May 2, 2017
To enter your driver design, you or your team are required to submit a “short video” describing your concept and why you believe it to be golf’s next great driver innovation. No experience as an engineer or inventor is necessary, but it certainly will help since the competition will be stiff based on season one. The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. ET on June 4, 2017.
In case you forgot, last season’s winner was Eric Sillies who helped produce Wilson’s Triton driver. As promised, Wilson brought that driver to market, although it didn’t hit stores without a hiccup. Retail versions of the Triton were initially deemed illegal, but Wilson made slight adjustments to the sole plate of the driver to make it conforming.
You may also recognize the driver sketches in Wilson’s promotional images from somewhere. Ahead of season one, I visited Wilson’s headquarters to learn about the challenges of designing a driver, as well as the difficulties of making the driver not only legal, but effective and marketable. I can attest the entire process is far from easy, so season two’s winner will certainly earn their victory.
Good luck to all entrants and contestants of season two!
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Sandy Bunker
May 5, 2017 at 7:26 am
I’d like to submit my 25 year old Wilson Invex driver remodelled to today’s specs ( 460cc TI head & tricked up shaft ) and see how it goes on the Trackman , GC Quad etc. Man that driver was ahead of its time.
H
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
“it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
H
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
“it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Michael
May 4, 2017 at 11:05 am
There are currently no titanium driver heads manufactured in the US. The last one made here were prior to the Ping G-series drivers. There are persimmon drivers still being made in the US though.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 8:53 am
Wow, That was boring!
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 11:26 am
Nope, just boring.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Yep. too bored with your comment to bother.
ooffa
May 4, 2017 at 6:51 pm
ZZZZZzzzzzzz
rebfan73
May 4, 2017 at 7:43 am
Zzzzzzz
Mad-Mex
May 4, 2017 at 2:28 am
How about this, make it a K-Sig driver theme, Tour Grade quality for less than $199!!!
Then you will have me watching!
setter02
May 3, 2017 at 11:16 pm
Simple, 99% of it isn’t made in the US, happy shopping!
joro
May 3, 2017 at 11:58 am
Not again, I just got my Triton setup for my swing. It was okay when I got it but it get a lot better when I worked with the settings and got it just right. It is now my best Driver, better than the BB or the M2. Not another one!!
Dj
May 3, 2017 at 8:18 am
The Triton is actually a decent driver. My biggest surprise of demo day for sure
Mr Muira
May 3, 2017 at 7:12 am
If the engineering gonzos had a brain you would forget about the exterior looks and think about what they could do internally to make a driver work better than the $40 hollow pieces of crap they sell for $600.
H
May 3, 2017 at 2:17 am
I guess Wilson must have some money lying around not doing anything to throw it away on more junk that nobody will ever buy
H
May 5, 2017 at 2:13 am
We know its you Smeagol, why don’t you just go ahead and jump into the cauldron and fizzle
Rex
May 2, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Stop!
tlmck
May 2, 2017 at 5:43 pm
I would like to submit my new/old Titleist 909 D3 for consideration. Far superior to any new tech on the market.
taco breath
May 2, 2017 at 9:13 pm
i was thinking of something similar but for me its the 905r
Dj
May 3, 2017 at 8:17 am
Lol that thing wouldn’t come within 5 mph of ball speed of the m1 and epic
golfraven
May 2, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Please learn from series one and don’t f.. with R&A and USGA so next driver actually has a chance in the market. I like that Wilson are bold and give this a shoot though.
JS
May 2, 2017 at 2:13 pm
the tv money must outweigh the money they lose on these drivers.
chinchbugs
May 2, 2017 at 1:53 pm
***Conforming drivers not required***
Blake
May 3, 2017 at 4:53 pm
This was what i said also. Someone should go in and tell wilson “Why are you trying to compete with tit, tmag,etc on conforming drivers when 99% of golfers never play in a usga sanctioned event. Own the non conforming driver market. And therefore own the amateur market”
TR1PTIK
May 5, 2017 at 4:11 pm
How many guys in your foursome use non-conforming clubs (that were purchased as non-conforming clubs)? Wilson would be dealing themselves a much quicker death if they followed your advice.
Robert
May 2, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I would think season 2 will be much better now that it’s a known entity. They should get way more entrants. I was surprised at some of the teams that actually made the show and thought the WRX Driver you guys built was the best of all of them.
setter02
May 3, 2017 at 11:18 pm
Wilson is a known entity, how’s that working out for them?