Equipment
Six players switch to TaylorMade’s R1 Black in Memphis
In the days leading up to the start of the FedEx St. Jude Classic, golf fans were treated to a fury of buzz about the debut of TaylorMade’s new R1 Black driver.
“Who was testing it?,” they wondered. And was anyone going to switch?
PGA Tour players are guilty of being some of worst window shoppers on the planet. They look, they touch, they test and they might even take a club home with them. But for most players, the commitment level to a new product, especially in its debut week, is very low.
That’s why we’re shocked that six PGA Tour players decided to put the R1 Black driver in play this week in Memphis, a club that is virtually identical to the R1 White drivers that the players have been using in 2013. The only difference is that the R1 Black has a glossy black-painted crown, while the R1 White has a matte white-painted crown. The players who made the switch this week are:
- Dustin Johnson: Loft (10.5), Shaft (Fujikura Fuel 2.0X), Length (45.75 inches), Sole Plate (Neutral), Weights (7 heel, 7 toe).
- Brian Gay: Loft (9.5), Shaft (Oban Kiyoshi Purple 65X), Length (45.75 inches), Sole Plate (O1), Weights (6 heel, 6 toe).
- Robert Allenby: Specs coming
- Peter Hanson: Loft (8.75 degrees), Shaft (UST Miyama Accra 65X), Weights (7 heel, 8 toe) Sole plate (O2).
- Scott Verplank: Specs coming
- Casey Wittenberg: Specs coming
With the exception of Wittenberg, every player who made the switch to an R1 Black made the cut in Memphis.
Gay’s reason for the change was the most unusual. During testing on Trackman, he saw an 2-mph increase of club head speed with the R1 Black. While no two drivers are ever exactly the same, Gay had the drivers dialed into the exact same specs as his R1 White driver that he used to win this year’s Humana Challenge, making the increased performance even more baffling.
Charlie Kautz, TaylorMade’s social media manager, said that it’s tough to point to an exact reason for Gay’s faster club head speed with the R1 Black, but it’s not unheard of.
“If the visual cues of R1 Black naturally inspire faster swing speed/ball speed for Brian and he picks up a few yards, the analytical testing on Trackman is completely worthwhile,” he said. “And, you could argue, necessary, to evaluate which driver is better beyond just looks.”
There were 26 of TaylorMade’s R1 White drivers used in Round 1 of FedEx St. Jude Classic for a total of 32 R1’s in the field. That means that nearly 19 percent of R1 users decided to tee it up with TaylorMade’s black version.
We expect that number to grow as the year goes on, as several other players such as Brandt Snedeker (Click here to see photos of him testing the driver), Sean O’Hair, Chad Campbell, Boo Weekly, Matt Bettencourt and Ken Duke all tested the R1 Black but decided not to put it in play this week.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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leftright
Dec 31, 2014 at 10:48 pm
I rest my case. I get tired of telling everyone “I told you so.”
Dunno, Jack
Jun 13, 2013 at 8:10 am
Cool. Does anyone know if this new black version will come in white?
John
Aug 26, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Yeah, i heard it’ll be released as soon as they’ve implemented their revolutionary I.C.T (Inverted Color Technology). Apparently it’s gonna change the game and give all of us 17 extra inches and a stiffer shaft..
Jack
Jun 9, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Good job TMag! You found a new way to make drivers obsolete without even coming out with “new tech”. Great.
Austin
Jun 9, 2013 at 12:06 pm
back in black. I hated the white look. will be testing taylormade product again when I am ready to buy this fall.
Greg
Jun 9, 2013 at 5:36 am
I have ordered my black R1 and can’t wait. White just didn’t suite my eye at address. Having the options to dial in the loft and face angle should help my driving ability and accuracy.
erkr
Jun 9, 2013 at 2:41 am
The white looks better. It is what makes R1 stand out
1puttwoods
Jun 8, 2013 at 9:24 pm
I find it interesting that Brian Gay and his 103 mph swing speed play an x flex….
Blanco
Jun 8, 2013 at 10:18 pm
The folks at UST Miyama Accra must be stoked.
Taylormade Rep
Jun 9, 2013 at 9:36 pm
at 103 mph your supposed to play x, or you can play taylormade TP S which is the same as x. Get your facts right
Kmax™
Jun 8, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Didnt Sneds put the black R1 in the bag too?
URNS
Jun 8, 2013 at 2:45 pm
The shiny finish is more aerodynamic, whipping through the air, rather than the matt finish which causes more friction as it is not as smooth.
Burddz
Jun 9, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Pure genius…
jgpl001
Jun 10, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Don’t be stupid – everyone know it’s due to TM’s new reverse, inverted R bi-concial cone, cold melted, plasma arc, seam free Molybdenum oxide face
You need to keep up with the new technology man..
PS I hear there is a new green TP “B” version on the way next week with an interchangable sole
Can’t wait and it’s only $1199 on special order!
I just wish TM would get lost and stop the nonsense
Jake A
Jun 18, 2013 at 7:24 pm
So every manufacture does that, it doesn’t mean there not high quality equipment….that’s why Justin rose just won the us open, so get out of here, you don’t know anything about golf you dumb*^%, every manufacture has to advertise some way
MFB
Jun 8, 2013 at 12:31 pm
I am sure Taylormade lining a few guys pockets with money to play the new R1 black had nothing to do with it.
Launcher
Jun 8, 2013 at 2:14 pm
TaylorMade pays players to use their stuff? Get outta here!
Taylormade Rep
Jun 9, 2013 at 1:11 pm
all company’s do that
lloyd duffield
Jun 9, 2013 at 4:57 pm
i agree taylormade will sign and pay any old tom dick and harry to use there products so the public is brain washed in to thinking its the best gear on tour so u will spent your months rent on a shiny new R1 driver.
all clubs are the same and always will be its down to u wot u want to be seen using.
Taylormade Rep
Jun 9, 2013 at 9:34 pm
all company’s do that, that is the reason that rory maclroy switched to nike