Which tour players are using new clubs in 2019?
By James Savage
It’s the start of a new year which means new clubs are about to hit the market and new equipment deals are being signed left, right and centre.
We’ve already brought you details of Justin Rose’s new deal with Honma but let’s start with the guys who are very much still part of Team TaylorMade in 2019.
Rory McIlroy has got a brand new driver, fairway, putter and ball as he looks to end his five-year major drought.
He’s plumped for the brand new M5 driver which we think could be the model to beat this year.
McIlroy has moved one of the sliding weights back and another into the toe in a bid to hit more fairways.
He’s also using the brand new TaylorMade TP5x ball which the brand say adds more distance thanks to a new ‘speed layer’ system.
So that’s McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm who should all be hitting it further in 2019…
It’s no surprise to see McIlroy testing out a new putter. We will bring you all the details on this new model in the coming weeks.
McIlroy has opted to use the M6 3-wood.
Johnson is also using the M5 driver and new 2019 TP5x ball.
We did see the American using the non-adjustable M4 when he romped to victory at Kapalua last year but he soon switched to the M3.
We expect him to use the M5 driver with the weights set to a fade position throughout 2019.
Rahm has also switched into the M5 driver and 3-wood which is a move from the M4.
But after our initial testing we are expecting nearly all tour players to opt for the M5 driver over the M6.
Rahm has his M5 driver and fairway set up in a neutral position.
He’s also using the new TP5x golf ball and during testing saw a jump from 178mph to 182.5mph ball speed with driver.
And away from TaylorMade?
It looks like Paul Casey could be in the market for a new set of irons.
He has used the Mizuno MP-5 for the last couple of seasons.
But maybe he’s heard how much Rose is getting paid so is using Homna irons in Hawaii.
The free agent was still using TaylorMade woods and Vokey wedges.
Along with Rose you’d say the one player who really didn’t need to change anything was Francesco Molinari.
But we’ve seen the Open champion and Ryder Cup hero testing out some Callaway Apex MB irons.
American Kevin Na has signed a deal with Callaway after his Titleist deal ran out last year.
And fellow countryman Gary Woodland has joined Wilson.
He’ll play their new prototype blades and has been testing out the Cortex driver which won the Driver vs. Driver 2 television contest.
How do the new TaylorMade M5 and M6 drivers perform?
James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
