We knew the timing of TaylorMade getting its new Qi4D drivers approved for play was meaningful. Just a few days later, we now know two of the company’s biggest stars have put the driver in play for its first week of availability on global tours.
Rory McIlroy made an immediate switch from a Qi10 model driver he used for all but six rounds the past two seasons to a new Qi4D core model driver at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Tommy Fleetwood also joined him, gaming a Qi4D LS model from his previous Qi35 core.
“I felt like the driver was good,” McIlroy said after Round 1. “Obviously, a new driver in the bag this week. Felt like that worked well.”
“Worked well” indeed.
In a marquee pairing with fellow long-bomber Marco Penge, the DP World Tour’s best player other than McIlroy this season, the Masters Champion impressed off the tee, averaging 334 yards on shots with the new driver and hitting 78 percent of his fairways. He also added new Qi4D 3- and 5-woods to the bag.
But most impressive was his 355-yard poke at the 10th, where he cut the corner on the 394-yard par-4 to reach the putting surface, to set up an easy two-putt birdie. Friday’s second round was much of the same, averaging another guaty 344 yards with driver on his way to another 68.
His European Ryder Cup teammate, Fleetwood, also put on a driving display in Round 1, but through accuracy instead of power. The reigning FedEx Cup champion used his new Qi4D LS just four times Thursday at Yas Links Golf Club, but finished the day missing one fairway while carding an eight-under 64. He followed that Friday with a 66 and is tied for the lead with Aaron Rai at 14 under, while McIlroy is six back in a tie for 20th.
Neither player has divulged much about the tech or specs of their new big sticks, but from what appears in Getty Images photos and in-hand photos by SMS on Tour, both players are sticking with similar builds to their previous models. McIlroy still has a Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X shaft, while Fleetwood has a Ventus TR Blue 6-X in his LS head.
One notable thing about Fleetwood’s driver is that it appears to have reflective markers for use with the Foresight GC Quad Launch Monitor built into the face.
This is a technology that TaylorMade introduced last year with their Qi35 Select Fit heads, specifically designed to help fitters avoid placing reflectors (known as fiducials). Now it looks like Fleetwood wants the technology in his gamer so he and fitter Adrian Rietveld can always have super accurate club data on the GC Quad.
Four other players this week have a new Qi4D in the bag — Angel Ayora, Jayden Schaper, Ryggs Johnston and Keita Nakajima — marking a huge debut for the new driver. The driver has yet to be seeded on the U.S. Tour.
Ping Launches S259 wedges and G440 K driver
Ping also had a big week for both its new S259 wedges and G440 K driver.
On the DP World Tour, three players — Joe Dean, Jon Perry and Kristopher Reitan — put in the new K driver, the apparent successor to the popular G430 Max 10K driver. But the bigger story on both tours is the S259 wedges.
In Mexico at the World Wide Technology Championship, five players, including Taylor Moore, Matthieu Pavon and defending champion Austin Eckroat, put the new 259 wedges in play. In Abu Dhabi, the number of early adopters was even higher, with nine of Ping’s 13 staff players in the field adopting the new wedges.
Again, there is not much tech info out there on the S259. What’s apparent from images of the new wedge is a significant design change to the vibration-damping pad on the rear of the wedge from the S159.
Like TaylorMade, Ping has not yet begun seeding the new 440 K driver on the PGA Tour.
Check this out
This section is dedicated to one cool photo we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out an early prototype of Scotty Cameron’s OC hosel, which was released this week and caught on Tour in April.
This Circle T Fastback putter was likely a prototype for the new OC hosel.Jack Hirsh/GOLF
Odds and Ends
Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.
Erik van Rooyen added a set of Callaway prototype CB irons to the bag. Not certain on the what of it all, but we know he is the only staffer with them in play, having quietly put them during the week of the Sanderson Farms Championship. Director of gear Johnny Wunder has intel on what they might be, but will continue to dig as we go along.
Nothing better than year-end gear news!!
This article originated on Golf.com
