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Oct 09, 2023

TOUR REPORT: Jon Rahm’s custom Masters

Published on By Well, the Masters is over. I know it hurts to say goodbye, but

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Well, the Masters is over. I know it hurts to say goodbye, but as the countdown already begins for next year's event, the PGA Tour rolls right into the elevated 2023 RBC Heritage Classic this week where the players will compete for a $20 million prize, with a $3.6 million first place check going to the winner. For those counting, the RBC actually has a larger purse than the $18 million dollar Masters purse and $3.24 million winner's cut. Big bucks on the line.

The venue is Harbour Town Golf Links, arguably the most narrow golf course on the PGA Tour rotation.

Ahead of the event, GolfWRX took a look at what the PGA Tour's top players are using this week.

Most notably, we got a look at 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm's Masters-winning gear setup, and we spoke to his fitters. But way more on that later.

In other gear news from the week, we got a look at the WITBs of two active legends: Davis Love III and Ernie Els. We also saw Tom Kim's new putter, Tommy Fleetwood's new TaylorMade "BRNR Mini Driver," Adam Scott's new iron shafts (yes, he changed again!), Joel Dahmen's "new" putter, and Jimmy Walker's new AutoFlex shafts.

Let's get into this week's Tour Report from the 2023 RBC Heritage.

Click here to see all of our photos from this week

If Jon Rahm would have withdrawn from the RBC Heritage this week, I don't think anyone would have blamed him. But, in great form and good faith, he's fulfilling his commitment to play. Much respect.

As an up-close observer myself, it was a king's welcome to Harbour Town for Rahm. He was getting much due love from the fans, from his playing peers, from caddies…from everyone.

Plus, all of us gearheads owe Rahm a big "thank you," because his appearance in the event allowed us to get a look at his Masters-winning gear, just days following the victory.

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

Check out photos of the clubs he brought to the RBC Heritage this week below, and check out GolfWRX/PGA Tour collaborative video of his clubs in the Instagram video above (he changed out the actual Masters-green, limited-edition Callaway staff bag from last week, and went into the new Odyssey staff bag):

The only changes that Rahm's looking at making this week are adding in a Callaway Apex UT 21-degree driving iron (which is a course dependent club already) in place of his Paradym Triple Diamond T-model 5-wood, and also adding in a fresh 60-degree wedge.

Aside from that, Rahm almost never changes his equipment, so it's no surprise that he didn't do any post-Masters tinkering at Harbour Town.

Why does Rahm have the number 10 stamped on his wedges? According to Callaway, the answer is simple: he's a big soccer fan (or futbol, if you prefer), and a soccer/futbol team's main striker or captain typically wears No. 10.

Moving along.

This week over on PGATOUR.com, I dove deep into Rahm's unique irons, and what makes them different than standard. Here's a snippet, as explained by Callaway Tour rep Kellen Watson:

"When he came over [to Callaway], we found out quickly that we needed to have soft-stepped 6.5s in his irons," Watson told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the 2023 RBC Heritage. "Usually what we do with all our guys is do a performance combine. We do about 60 shots using clubs throughout the bag and never two of the same shots in a row. So, it could go 4-iron to 9-iron, 9-iron to 5-iron, 5-iron to 6-iron, 6-iron to wedge. We capture all that data and it’ll give us pretty much everything we need to know. During that process, when he first came over, we did that, compiled the data, we ate lunch, then we went back after bending all the irons loft and lie wise, and we got to the numbers that are his current loft and lie. They might appear like they’re a half-degree weak from standard, but there is no standard on the PGA TOUR. Spin-wise, he's going to be right around 6,000-6,300 in spin [with the 6 iron], and that pretty much stays the same at whatever launch angle he hits it."

Check out Rahm's full WITB on video, or in our photos in the GolfWRX Forums.

Kim has been using mostly Scotty Cameron custom blade putters since coming onto the PGA Tour, but he switched into a T5.5 mallet head at the Masters. The putter was custom built with a plumbers neck to match the neck style of his usual blade putters, and also, the three white alignment lines were placed to match up with an older Scotty Cameron mallet that he used while in Korea, and in his early days on Tour.

Here's what Kim had to say about making the switch:

"I used a mallet head a few years back before I switched to a blade – I was always a blade putter, then went to a mallet for a year, and went back to the blade," Kim told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the RBC Heritage. "I just wasn't feeling comfortable all the sudden. I wanted to go back to something bigger and more comfortable. Obviously they’ve helped a bunch with the neck, because I didn't want to go too far off what I was using with the blade, because I was putting well. It's the exact same look and shape [that I used before]. I practiced with it, putted great, and made the switch. It's looking good. It's what I’ve used before with the lines. It feels like I’ve gone back to an old friend."

Familiarity and comfort can help a lot, especially with the putter.

Click here to read the full article over on PGATOUR.com

Over the past several years, Walker has run the gamut of shaft options in his drivers, using everything from a stiff steel shaft to the new ultra-whippy AutoFlex, and everything in between. He said his club pro back home recently built up the heads with AutoFlex XX shafts, and he's been using them for the last several weeks. Walker told GolfWRX on Tuesday that the AutoFlex shafts are different than anything he's ever tried, and he loves them so far.

Walker has AutoFlex XX shafts in his Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond 9-degree driver head, and in his Paradym 15-degree fairway wood.

See what GolfWRX Forum members are saying about Walker's AutoFlex switch

As a reminder, just days before the start of the 2023 Masters last week, Adam Scott said he was "winging it," with a number of last-minute equipment changes.

So, he changed his golf ball to a new 2023 Pro V1x golf ball (after using the 2015 Pro V1 previously). He then changed his driver shaft to a Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X in his TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver, and he changed into new Project X LZ 6.5 iron shafts in his entire Miura AS-1 iron set.

Fast forward to this week ahead of the 2023 RBC Heritage Classic, and Scott is continuing to switch things up. This week, he switched out of the Project X LZ 6.5 shafts he used at Augusta National, and he's switching into True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts.

Scott isn't letting up on the equipment switches, and personally, I’m finding it extremely entertaining. The GolfWRX members are weighing in with their similar opinions here.

It's seriously pretty cool, and informative, to follow along. We’re seeing the equipment fitting process happen in real time. He's changing a number of variables on the fly and trying to figure out what works exactly right.

Making a golf ball switch can be a big change for PGA Tour players who rely on their precision. In their minds, it's not just a "golf ball." It needs to hit certain spin and launch windows. That's how these guys get so dialed in on their targets, while also maximizing distance off the tee.

Here's what Scott said himself about all the changes, following his opening round 68 at the Masters (he ultimately finished T39):

"I did some pretty major overhauling of my equipment, actually, that may not be a hundred percent comfortable, but certainly I saw some benefit from doing that. I changed some shafts in my irons and my driver, and my golf ball, so I’m kind of winging it a little bit out there. But it all feels pretty good. I putted very nicely today and that's always helpful around here."

"Things change and evolve, and a couple pieces of equipment in my bag have changed over the last year or so, and it's having some influence as well as me swinging the club maybe slightly differently on my impact conditions. And with a shaft change and the (2023) Pro V1x, it's balancing out really nicely and keeping that new ball in the window I like. Whereas before it was a little bit higher window and this is now sitting in a window that I feel much more comfortable with, which is nice. It's very tight on the iron spin. I’m getting a really tight performance there, which is a good feeling for me. And also I get the added benefit of a higher ceiling with the driver. I’m gaining without doing anything by just using this ball off the tee. So hopefully I can make a few little gains here and there by using the Pro V1x without having to change anything else in my game, just putting it in play."

My takeaway is that we as amateurs should pay attention to what the pros say about changes like this, and apply it to our own games. The best way to go about picking a golf ball for yourself is to get with a professional fitter or your local pro, tell them you’re trying to pick a golf ball and you want a proper fitting, and they’ll surely be willing to help – possibly for $free.99, possibly for a fee, it just depends where you go. Some companies do free fittings in your area if you don't have a local simulator or outdoor range fitting access, so in that case, Google is your friend there to find a deal. But either way, it’d probably cost less than a dozen golf balls to get a fitting. Then, going forward, you’ll know which golf ball is truly best for you. There are real benefits to be found, like distance, spin and forgiveness, and all companies make slightly different balls designed to do different things. Test everything!

Then, hopefully you use the same golf ball for eight years like Scott has until you find something truly better.

Davis Love III, a five-time winner of the event, has a bag full of Titleist equipment in the bag this year, including a new TSR3 driver, an older TS3 fairway wood, a T200 driving iron, a set of T100 irons, new SM9 wedges, and a Scotty Cameron TourType Masterful blade-style putter with a dot for the alignment aid.

Click for DL3's full WITB

GolfWRX took a look into another legendary golfer's bag this week, too: Ernie Els.

Els is currently using a XXIO driver and 3-wood, Srixon ZK7 Mk II irons, Cleveland RTX-6 Tour Rack wedges (the rust game is strong), and an Odyssey O-Works putter that's loaded up with lead tape on the sole.

See more photos of Els’ WITB here

A number of players tested and used a new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver model at the Masters (including Freddie Couples!), and it's expected that Fleetwood will join the list of mini users this week.

Although TaylorMade is staying quiet for now about the technology and design, the BRNR appears to feature TaylorMade's old school logos, nostalgic colorways, and it has a hint of burnt orange/bronze coloring on the crown in the sunlight, as pictured above. According to Fleetwood's caddie Ian Finnis, Fleetwood "smashes" the new 13.5-degree club, and it's going into the bag this week along with a driver, 5-wood, 3-iron setup configuration at the top end.

See what the GoflWRX members are saying about the BRNR

Dahmen was already a fan-favorite before he was featured in Netflix's new Full Swing series, and his star power has only grown since. And, if he continues to use awesome custom putters like this Scotty Cameron Round Back proto, he may just win over all the gearheads, too.

The sole of the putter may appear to feature green paintfill (look where it says "Round Back" and "Proto"), but it's actually a result of the torching process on the bronze putter. GolfWRX Equipment Expert Brian Knudson already went in-depth on Dahmen's putter, so click here if you want more information.

And, with that, we unfortunately say goodbye to Harbour Town and the 2023 RBC Heritage. We’ll be back in action next week for the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is a 2-man team event.

Enjoy the weekend of golf, and don't forget to get out there on the course yourself (and don't forget to talk to a local fitter or club pro about a golf ball fitting!). Happy testing.

Click to see all of GolfWRX's photos from the RBC Heritage this week

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Callaway launches Chrome Soft 360 Triple Track golf balls

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

JP

Apr 13, 2023 at 9:41 pm

What is the lie angle on Rahms irons? It says they bent all the loft and lie on the irons and that the loft ended up a half degree weak but no mention of what they did with lie angle.

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The story below seeks to answer the question: "What are the most commonly used driver shafts by the top-50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings?"

The story below does NOT answer the question: "What driver shaft should YOU use?"

It's an important distinction to keep in mind before continuing.

Golfers at the top level of the game are, of course, some of the most influential tastemakers in the sport. Their equipment decisions, fashion choices, and even swing changes help to shape the golfing decisions of the general public, whether it's for the better or worse. For some golf fans, the equipment that the top players in the world use help to determine the clubs and shafts they test or buy for themselves.

The mentality goes something like, "Hey, if it's good enough for Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm, it's probably good enough for me."

The flaw in that line of thinking, at least when it comes to driver shafts, is that McIlroy currently averages 326.2 yards off the tee on the PGA Tour so far in the 2022-2023 season, and Jon Rahm averages 311.5 yards. The AVERAGE driving distance on the PGA Tour in 2022-2023 is 298.7 yards, and the AVERAGE ball speed off the tee is 172.95 mph.

The top golfers in the world do not play golf, or swing the golf club, anything like an everyday golfer who pays greens fees.

In reality, PGA Tour players don't swing like each other, either. Even though most of them hit the ball over 300 yards on the regular, they each have different speeds, swing transitions, release patterns, angles of attack, launch angles, spin rates, and they even have different goals in mind for how to achieve maximum efficiency with their driver swings.

The point is, it's extremely likely that your personal golf swing, and launch monitor data, looks nothing like any of the players on the list below.

I know…but you drove it 330… on that one hole… during that one round… a couple weeks back. Great drive, and I hope you made birdie, but I do hope you understand that driver fitting works to help minimize your typical misses and optimize your average drive – not to fuel a sense of pride by playing a shaft that's too stiff and too heavy for you because you caught the speed slot on hole 14 last month and now you think you’re knocking on top-20 PGA Tour speed.

I’m not trying to be mean, either. I’m trying to say the best driver shaft for you is the one that actually helps you hit it long and straight, not the one that most closely resembles a PGA Tour player's driver setup.

So, my suggestion is to use this story as either pure entertainment, or as a starting point of information gathering on what shafts you would like to test during your next fitting or testing session. I’ve provided a link to each shaft in the story so you can explore the shaft profile and see if it's in your wheelhouse to test.

Every single golfer on this list is using the driver shaft they’re using because they hit a multitude of shafts with varying lengths, weights, flex profiles, torque profiles, and a myriad of other characteristics. They tested various shaft offerings with the help of a fitter, and they tracked each shot with a launch monitor, ultimately determining that a particular shaft best suits their game and preferences, and works in conjunction with their driver head and grip of choice.

Everyday golfers can most easily find their perfect driver shaft by getting with a fitter and trying out different models for themselves. It's also important to keep in mind that each model comes in different flexes and weights, and each family of shafts typically has different design categories. For example, maybe the low-spinning "Fujikura Ventus Black" flies a bit too low for your swing and speed, but maybe the higher-spinning "Fujikura Ventus Red" is right in your window. There's a lot of moving parts when it comes to shafts, which is why I so strongly suggest consulting a professional fitter.

OK, now, with that being said, let's get into the results.

The scientific process for this story was simple: I looked up the top-50 golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings, and then cross-referenced each player with the extensive GolfWRX.com WITB database to see what driver shaft each player has used most recently. The full list is down at the bottom of the story, and the shafts that appeared most often in the top-50 list were awarded the "most popular" tag below.

Hopefully this list can provide a jumping off point for your next driver shaft testing session!

According to Fujikura, the Ventus TR Blue is a mid-launch, low-spin shaft

"A powerful combination of stability and feel, TR Blue maintains an ultra-stiff tip section for superior control at impact," Fujikura says. "Increased torsional stiffness creates a profile with enhanced load capabilities for more aggressive swings while maintaining a smooth overall feel."

Read more here

According to Fujikura, the Ventus Black is a low-launch shaft.

Fujikura speaks on the Ventus technology: "The exceptionally engineered Ventus is designed to significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed especially on off-center shots. Ventus is a Tour-inspired profile and the first to include Fujikura's all-new VeloCore Technology in an accelerated taper, ultra-stiff tip profile. Maximum energy transfer from the tip section boosts the clubhead's performance and a straight taper design enhances loading and feel."

Read more here

According to Fujikura, the Ventus Blue is a mid-launch shaft, and is constructed with the same VeloCore technology as the aforementioned Ventus Black.

Fujikura explains more about VeloCore: "A multi-material bias core construction that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact (maximizing clubhead MOI) – increasing velocity and smash factor. The multi-material core is crafted with full-length, ultra-high modulus Pitch 70 Ton Carbon Fiber — 150 percent stronger and more stable than T1100g — for ultimate stability, and 40 Ton bias layers ensure incredible feel."

Read more here

According to Graphite Design, the Tour AD-DI (which stands for "Deep Impact") uses NanoAlloy material and aerospace-quality carbon fiber t0 promote shaft stability and greater speed without the loss of feel. It has a soft mid-section to create load, but a stiff tip section to encourage high launch and low spin.

Read more here

*Each of these shafts appeared more than once on the top-50 list:

Check out GolfWRX.com's full WITB database here

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Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees @9.25)Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 60 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (16.5 degrees, 0.75 degree upright lie)Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 6.5 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 130 S (2, 4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-10S, 60-08M)Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 130 S (46, 50), Modus3 N.S. PRO 125 Wedge (54,60)

Putter: Sik Flo C

Grip: Iomic

More photos of Lanto Griffin's WITB in the forums.

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Tour Edge has proven that its Exotics line pushes the limits of club performance over the years. This year, the Exotics line has two new hybrids to suit your game and help you hit more greens or fairways. The E723 is a hybrid designed for maximum forgiveness and high launch while its sibling, the C723, is adjustable and made for players looking to work the ball.

To listen to the full review, click on the YouTube or podcast link below or search GolfWRX Radio on your favorite podcast platform.

The C723 is exactly as Tour Edge describes — compact and adjustable — for the more skilled player who is looking to add a hybrid to the bag. I love adjustable hybrids so you can dial in the performance to your setup with ease. The 19-degree head I was hitting can play between 17.5 and 20.5 degrees of loft with the lie angle ranging between 57 and 60 degrees. Now the loft and lie are not fully separate and some loft settings only have a specific lie, but still very useful.

The C723 went right to the course and on the first hole I noticed a flatter trajectory that had a more boring flight off the tee. Shots off the deck are actually easier to elevate than I thought but again offer that flatter ball flight. Ball speed is great and distance is effortless when you strike it in the center, or close to it. I also noticed impressive distance on shots off the toe when you would expect to see a bigger decline in a smaller club head. Shot shape is very neutral, and the C723 isn't looking to help you draw the ball. Forgiveness on off-center shots is better than you would expect and shots stay online fairly well. Overall, this is a great option for players looking for a players hybrid that offers adjustability and added distance.

If your hybrid needs include distance, higher launch, and forgiveness, then the E723 might be the hybrid for your bag. I might actually like the larger look of the E723 hybrid compared to its smaller sibling, it gives you the confidence that you don't have to hit perfect shots to see great results.

Out on the course, or range, you can immediately see the launch difference as the E jumps up and off the face quickly. The flight is high, and I could tell the descent angle was steeper than the C. The Ryzersole gives you solid turf interaction on tight fairway lies and gets through that nasty rough fairly easily. Just like the C723, this hybrid offers some really good ball speed even when you miss the center. Those off-center shots stay online really well thanks to the weight in the head being back and low. Draws are much easier to hit with the E723 and straight shots wanted to fall just a little left of target.

Sound and feel are great with both heads and shots are met with that familiar stainless steel "ting" that we know so well. I think the E723 fits a wide range of players that can benefit from some extra distance and a little higher launch to reach those greens in two.

Tour Edge has again done a really good job with giving golfers some exciting hybrid options with the new Exotics. Whether you are looking to work the ball and adjust your hybrid to fit your bag or you just want a hybrid that is long and easy on your poor swings, I think you need to try out an E723 or C723 hybrid.

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