News
Retail versions of Wilson’s Triton driver ruled non-conforming by USGA
Retail versions of Wilson’s Triton driver — the winner of Golf Channel’s Driver vs. Driver reality TV show — were ruled non-conforming by the USGA, as reported by Wilson on Monday, Dec. 12.
The major concern is with the two interchangeable sole plates but it’s possible the issue will be rectified as early as Dec. 19, according to the company. Wilson has made an adjustment to the sole plates, indicated by “DvD” printed on the sole, which would make retail versions of the drivers legal by swapping out the old sole plates for the new. The Triton comes with two different sole plates — one is titanium and one is carbon; both were ruled non-confirming.
Related: Read more about the technology used in the Triton driver.
Due to the confidential nature of the television show, circumstances were different than a normal club release, according to Michael Vrska, Global Director of Innovation at Wilson.
Wilson explained further in a statement released on Monday.
While a traditional product submission process would afford Wilson Golf and the USGA the opportunity to review a product several months prior to its commercial launch, the timeline for testing, modifying, manufacturing and shipping a final, comprehensive Wilson Staff Triton driver was compressed. This shortened timeline was due to the nature and confidential format of the show. Since the time of our submission, we have worked closely with the USGA on its review of the Triton driver.
Crown: What Wilson hopes will be conforming by Dec. 19 (left), and the current retail version
The rear edge of the sole plate has been reduced “by a few millimeters,” according to a press release from Wilson.
The USGA has assured us this small modification to the sole plates will bring all three lofts into conformity with its “Plain in Shape” Rule. Further, this small reduction is consistent with the sole plates of the Wilson Staff 9-degree Triton DVD model.
The Triton 9-degree DVD model referred to in the statement above is the driver that’s expected to be played by Wilson staffers Kevin Streelman and Ricky Barnes, which is conforming under the USGA rules.
Sole: What Wilson hopes will be conforming by Dec. 19 (right), and the current retail version
While there was no concern from Wilson as drivers hit shelves on Nov. 22, it turns out the USGA had issue with the sole plate creating “two cavities” in it, according to Vrska. He maintains that there is only one cavity, which would make the driver legal, but apparently, the USGA disagrees.
A secondary concern by the USGA with the Triton driver deals with a particular setting, using a 12-gram adjustable weight in the 10.5 and 12-degree heads. The Triton driver has three weight ports in its soles, where the player can make adjustments to the center of gravity (CG) to give it a draw, neutral or fade bias. In a setting that has a 6-gram weight in the rear port, a 6-gram weight in the heel port, and a 12-gram weight in the toe portion for a max-fade bias, the driver did not pass the USGA’s inspection when hit on a certain area on the club. In this setting, “the USGA observed a CT (Characteristic Time) that was slightly above their allowable limits and testing tolerance,” according to a press release from Wilson.
To rectify the issue with that particular weight setting, Wilson will no longer offer the 12-gram weight in its adjustable weight kits that come with purchase of a Triton driver. To make up for that, Wilson is giving a dozen Duo golf balls to those who have purchased a Triton driver.
Wilson will also offer any refunds on drivers purchased, although Vrska doesn’t believe consumers will want to.
“We stand by the performance of the driver, and we know people believe in the technology,” Vrska said. “This is just a slight hiccup.”
Related
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
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...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Egor
Dec 15, 2016 at 11:14 pm
The top view of the driver strikes me as ugly. Even their own website product images barely show the top of the driver. Of all the rotation images, 5 are of the bottom, one of the side, none of the top. They have to know it is ugly looking down at it and for me, something has to go sideways in my swing for me to look at the bottom of the driver at address or during my swing. Tmag, ping, Callaway, Mizuno, all fairly pretty (some may say ‘sexy’) drivers from the address position.
jgpl001
Dec 13, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Conforming or non-conforming who cares???
This is piece of rubbish like all Wilson drivers, it will be long forgotten in a few months
Move on, and stop wasting valuable website time on this “nothing” club
Tom
Dec 14, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Booooo
tzed
Dec 14, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Try hitting it. I did at my shop and the ball flies.
jgpl001
Dec 14, 2016 at 5:46 pm
In the shop?
There are no scorecards in the shop, and everything flies on a monitor….even a Dunlop!
I am not against Wilson, I learned to play with a set of staff blades
But this driver is still rubbish, absolute rubbish
The Rules of Golf
Dec 13, 2016 at 8:29 am
See what I have to put up with?
Mike Honcho
Dec 13, 2016 at 7:18 am
Here’s a dozen Wilson Duo balls for your trouble….Hey Rusty, here’s shiny new nickel if you will rub Granny’s feet.
jon
Dec 13, 2016 at 1:28 am
Absolutely agree with you there, what a joke, Subjective rubbish – they were obviously butt-hurt because Wilson didn’t follow standard procedure and send in samples to the USGA before release. They got their retribution by claiming it doesn’t fit in with their “Plain and Simple” rule which has no quantifiable value. WS could probably sue here.
Alan
Dec 13, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Even stupider, golfwrx mixed up the driver heads in the 2nd picture. Even they can’t properly tell what is conforming or not. The one on the right is the conforming driver head not the one on the left. They had issues with the sole plate sticking out as a “lip”. so shaving it down to have a less rounded shape but no lip is more in line with “plain in shape.” “plain in shape” is a stupid term when it is purely subjective. Whether the sole plate sticks out or not probably has effect on the club performance I bet, its just a dumb way to keep golf archaic as its always been.
WAY TO GROW THE GAME R&A….
James
Dec 13, 2016 at 7:48 pm
And the big cavity in one of the past Nike drivers was OK?
Haamess
Dec 15, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Eggggggggggggggzactly!
Chris C.
Dec 12, 2016 at 8:42 pm
How can any amount of cavities or shape of a sole plate violate USGA’s artistic interpretation of “plain shape”? How can sole weight distribution impact the ability of the face to flex? Finally, the elimination of the 12 gram weight will result in swing weights less than D-0 when using the carbon sole plate. My local GG had the titanium sole driver set up at D-6 and the carbon sole set up at C-6.
James
Dec 13, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Again how did Nike get away with that huge cavity in their past model? Also 12 years ago there was the driver with the big hole in the bottom (which still sits in my garage)..
Yearight
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:57 am
I agree. The USGA’s usefulness as an organization is really waning. Maybe it’s time for a different ruling body to watch over golf with a more modern take on the game. Let’s make golf great again 😉
McPickens
Dec 14, 2016 at 6:25 pm
I know just the guy, unfortunately he’s busy for at least 4 years
Dugan
Dec 12, 2016 at 8:17 pm
“A secondary concern by the USGA with the Triton driver deals with a particular setting, using a 12-gram adjustable weight in the 10.5 and 12-degree heads. The Triton driver has three weight ports in its soles, where the player can make adjustments to the center of gravity (CG) to give it a draw, neutral or fade bias. In a setting that has a 6-gram weight in the rear port, a 6-gram weight in the toe port, and a 12-gram weight in the heel portion for a max-fade bias, the driver did not pass the USGA’s inspection when hit on a certain area on the club. In this setting, “the USGA observed a CT (Characteristic Time) that was slightly above their allowable limits and testing tolerance,”
I’m curious about one thing. If they don’t allow this weight configuration, what happens when someone sticks six grams worth of lead tape on the heel and uses it?
KK
Dec 12, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Wow. Punch to the gut for Triton and Wilson’s Driver vs Driver program. At least the dude gets to keep his $500k.
Guia
Dec 12, 2016 at 7:17 pm
The TV show was a joke and boring and Wilson’s decision to produce this Driver really hurts their credibility. For a company so long in the equipment business to make this mistake is unbelievable.
At one time they produced some of the best equipment available and of course ruled the forged iron sales for many years. This mistake will cost them many customers.
Someone needs to be fired!
Jeff D.
Dec 12, 2016 at 9:05 pm
I’m with you and that someone is Tim Clarke – President of Wilson Golf. I’d love to tweet him but he’s blocked me from direct tweeting him after I criticized him and the show, lol.
DM
Dec 12, 2016 at 9:19 pm
I cannot fault Wilson for taking a chance… if folks did not think outside the box we would still be using Persimmon Drivers and Bullseye putters with a wound ball…
If equipment makers stop innovating, why buy new equipment…
Rd
Dec 13, 2016 at 3:28 am
Er, no DM, we wouldn’t. People have always tried to make things better, go far, faster and hit straighter with all kinds of materials that are malleable. But it took a lot of technology advances to make them be cost-effective and feasible for mass production. Look at the way computers and electronics developed from the 50’s and 60’s and into the 70’s, and what they cost. The 70’s nearly killed the world with its oil crisis. Look at the weapons and rocket and airplane tech developed in the 60’s during the Vietnam period. It all coincides. It took a long time for all that tech to become small enough and skills to be good enough to manipulate the materials to get to where we are today.
Jerry
Dec 12, 2016 at 9:55 pm
Come on Wilson has been a joke all the way back to 1965 when they did not re-sign John Daly. How much do you think trying to get this club to market because Nike bailed may have led to a product not being tested properly, who else would release a club without it being on the USGA Conforming list…someone is looking for a new job today I would bet…
tzed
Dec 14, 2016 at 2:29 pm
John Daly didn’t resign in 1965? Ok then. I have an Infinite putter and two PMP wedges. I’ll put them up against anything.
jon
Dec 13, 2016 at 1:27 am
you aren’t serious right?
Remember when the Wilson Staff FG Tour F5 Driver was released? Nope, of course you don’t, because NOBODY was talking about it. This has been an absolute master class in brand awareness marketing strategy. You are talking about the new Wilson Staff driver. That man deserves a raise – not fired lol. This is why you make peanuts and they make millions my friend.
3PuttTerritory
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:27 pm
A darn, darn shame. I’ve seen people hit this driver well.
They still don’t buy it, but you know, not bad.
4puttfor90
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Poseidon called, he wants his copy-write back.
Wilson
Dec 12, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Nice of them to offer a refund, those 5 people that bought one will be very happy.
Boobsy McKiss
Dec 12, 2016 at 8:00 pm
ROFL.
alan
Dec 13, 2016 at 1:04 pm
“ROFL” ?? is this 1995 and we are in an aol chat room ttyl
new stuff!!
Dec 12, 2016 at 4:59 pm
it’s ok Wilson – at least this is something that can be fixed with out replacing the whole driver head.
silver lining = fixable + more press – this is the most I’ve ever heard about Wilson golf ever.
Jerry
Dec 12, 2016 at 9:58 pm
You missed John Daly winning the British Open with that odd looking Wilson Driver….
tzed
Dec 14, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Or Padraig winning 3 majors with Wilson.
DevilDog18
Dec 12, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Whoops $$$$