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TaylorMade M5 & M6: Just in time for Dustin Johnson and other staffers to put it in play at the Tournament of Champions TaylorMade’s M5 has been introduced. The M5 and M6 which hit the USGA List of Conforming clubs last week have individually measured resin inject behind the clubface to improve Characteristic Time, the measure the USGA uses for compliance with the Rules.

Brand & Model:
TaylorMade Golf M5, M5 Tour, M6 and M6 D Type drivers
Key Features:
Twist Face with Speed Injected resin
M5 T-Track sliding sole weights – two 10-grams
460cc head except for 435cc in M5 Tour
Larger by 10% carbon composite sole and crown areas
Pricing & Availability:
M5 & M5 Tour $550 in shops Feb. 1
M6 & M6 D0Type $500 at retail Feb. 1
Need to Know:
TaylorMade is staking out its new drivers for the battle against Callaway and using new resin injection measured for each clubhead to allow the maximum CT for better ball speed. Twist Face is a proven aid to straighter tee shots is thinner while the adjustable sole weights in the M5 can be placed for more help to recreational golfers with excessive side spin and better launch trajectory. Composite carbon panels in the crown and sole are larger saving weight that was moved to the sole. The slot, Hammerhead 2.0, behind the face has been enlarged to give more flex at impact. All models have a loft adjustable hosel.

GEN2 Drivers from PXG: The word had been on the street and now we know officially, PXG has announce a new family of woods and hybrids under the name GEN2. Most significantly the GEN2 drivers are priced at $575 in contrast to the 0811 model they replace which carried a list retail of $850. Two driver versions, the 0811X and 0811XF, lead the GEN2 family that also has the 0341X fairway wood ($425) and the 0317X hybrid ($375).

Brand & Model:
PXG 0811X GEN2 driver and 0811XF GEN2 driver
Key Features:
Multi-level crown with variable thickness
New configuration of tungsten and titanium sole weights
Selection of shafts and grips
Retail Price & Availability:
$575 in custom fitting shops Jan. 15
Need to Know:
0811X and 0811XF price is $275 lower than previous models. Crown is very different looking at address with multi-level variable thickness construction designed to stiffen area near the face to put more energy into face at impact for more ball speed. Sole weights on the sole are silver and black made from tungsten and titanium respectively – larger in size so when they are switched around there is more effect on both the side to side curvature as well as launch angle and spin rate.

X designed placing emphasis on distance and with the heavier weights towards the front the center of gravity is more forward, and spin is much less since CG is low. In 9-degree clubhead it is 0.160 inches below neutral axis when tungsten weights are in the three forward positions. Nine weights, down from the 16 in the 0811, are placed in clusters of three each at rear of sole, towards the heel and behind the face. XF made to be more forgiving with weights (there are five) at the sole rear, putting the center of gravity deeper in the head and increasing the moment of inertia that PXG testing showed a vertical axis value of 5900 g-cm2, the USGA maximum allowed. Off center impacts are more consistent and launch is higher

In Case Anyone Should Ask

Equipment at the Sentry Tournament of Champions
For the ninth straight PGA TOUR event TaylorMade Spider Tour was the number one putter model.
The just introduced TMaG M5 driver was used by Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy.
Titleist was the most played golf ball in the 33-man field with 18 players compared with four for the Callaway Chrome Soft. Two played the 2019 Pro V1 and five the 2019 Pro V1x which were introduced on TOUR in November and will be publicly announced at the PGA Show.
With nine Titleist was the most played driver, eight bring either the new TS2 or TS3 model. They also had the most played fairway wood with 12 including four TS2s and three TS3s.

Xander Schauffele looked unbeatable with a 62 on Sunday to pass third round leader Gary Woodland by a stroke. Schauffele and Marc Leishman (T4) both on the Callaway staff played the new Epic Flash driver and the just announced Apex 19 irons.

Xander Schauffele’s winning sticks:
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (9°) – Graphite Design BB 7X shaft
Fairway wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (15°, 18°) – Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8X shafts
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro 19 Irons (4-PW) – True Temper Dynamic Gold X 100 Shafts
Wedges: Callaway MD 4 wedge (52°), Titleist Vokey SM 6 Wedges (56°, 60°) – True Temper Dynamic Gold X 100 shafts
Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red #7 CH
Ball: Chrome Soft X

TMaG TP5/TP5x: The updated TP5/TP5x golf balls have a new layer configuration of four increasingly stiff layers over an extra-large low compression core. Cover is cast urethane matched with a 30% more rigid inner cover. The TP5 has a softer feel (85 compression), launches lower on iron shots and has more spin around the greens (+300 rpm compared to TP5x at 100 yards & +200 rpm at 30 yards). The TP5x has a firmer feel (97 compression) and will generate higher launching iron shots. Both will be at retail Feb. 15 for $44.99 per dozen.

Justin Rose Leaves TMaG for Honma: Currently ranked number two in the world Justin Rose has opted to not sign with his longtime equipment supplier TaylorMade Golf and has chosen a multi-year contract with Japanese club maker Honma Golf. Rose is the first player on the PGA TOUR to sign with Honma. In what may or may not be a coincidence Mark King, the former CEO of TMaG, is acting as a “strategic advisor” to help Honma grow business in the U. S.

Reports say Rose has a ten club deal and though the exact make up of his bag has not been revealed it is probable the following will be included:
Driver: Honma Golf T//World TW747
Irons: Honma Golf T//World TW747 V prototype (4-6); T//World 747 Justin Rose forged muscle back (7-9)
Wedges: T//World TW Forged wedges (47°, 56°, 60°)

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