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I hadn’t beforehand considered the RSM Traditional as one of many PGA TOUR’s seminal occasions however provided that it coincides with the arrival (a minimum of so far as the USGA is anxious) of latest 2024 drivers from COBRA, PING, PXG and TaylorMade, it out of the blue feels (to me, anyway) just like the second greatest event of the yr performed in Georgia.
Right here’s what hit the USGA conforming record.
COBRA
Other than the standard Model 1, Model 2, stuff widespread to the record, COBRA has three new DARKSPEED fashions on the record. When you’ve saved up with COBRA at everywhere in the previous few seasons, what’s on the best way shouldn’t come as any enormous shock.
COBRA DARKSPEED LS
You possibly can financial institution on the “LS” denoting “Low Spin” as that’s grow to be virtually industry-standard nomenclature.
The USGA picture clearly exhibits an up to date three-weight system which suggests COBRA is giving golfers looking for low spin a brand new choice to extend forgiveness past what the AEROJET LS provided.
Different key COBRA applied sciences (PWR BRIDGE, PWRSHELL, H.O.T FACE) are famous within the USGA description.
Whereas not famous particularly, aerodynamics was an enormous a part of the story with the present mannequin (it’s the Aero in AEROJET) and we anticipate that to evolve for 2024.
COBRA DARKSPEED X
For my cash, the LTD X was one of the best of COBRA’s 2022 lineup so it was a little bit of shock when the X disappeared in favor of a regular mannequin that lacked adjustable weights.
For 2024, indications are that the X is is again (DARKSPEED X) together with COBRA’s front-to-back flip weight system that debuted with the FLY-Z.
As with the DARKSPEED LS, a laundry record of COBRA applied sciences is famous within the description.
X ought to show to be the preferred of the DARKSPEED household.
COBRA DARKSPEED MAX
“MAX” is how the tools {industry} sometimes describes their highest MOI choices, so it’s affordable to imagine that would be the case with the COBRA DARKSPEED MAX.
If the MAX moniker wasn’t sufficient, the heel-toe weighting proven within the USGA picture is comparatively widespread in MAX designs because it provides golfers a alternative between slice correction (heel bias) and most forgiveness by means of greater MOI when the heavy weight is within the again place.
PING
It’s a bit unusual, dare I say surprising, to see a brand new PING driver hitting the USGA record. By PING requirements, we’re not notably deep into the G430 driver life cycle and one would suppose they’ve bought the market kind of coated. Nonetheless, right here we’re.
PING G430 MAX 10K
The USGA received’t be successful any images awards for this one so we don’t have fairly the element we’d like.
From the offered materials, two issues are notable concerning the PING G430 MAX 10K.
The primary is that the rear weight seems to be fastened versus the adjustable choices present in present fashions.
Second, the USGA description denotes “CARBONFLY WRAP” printed on the crown. As chances are you’ll recall, CARBONFLY is the time period used to described the carbon-fiber crown which was beforehand distinctive to the G430 LS.
So what concerning the “10K” stuff?
Given its recent collab with Hideoki, I suppose it may counsel gold inlays and a $10,000 price ticket. Extra seemingly, the proof (fastened weight, carbon crown and PING’s model id) counsel a most forgiveness play that exceeds that of the present G430 MAX.
The truth that it’s nonetheless a G430 suggests the present MAX will keep within the lineup. To borrow from a PING competitor, the 10K is probably going simply MAX-IER.
PXG
It’s arduous to know what to make of the brand new PXG drivers on the USGA conforming record. The corporate has beforehand acknowledged a dedication to 0311(mainstream) and 0317 (higher gamers) labeling for its merchandise. After all, all the pieces at PXG can change with lower than a second’s discover.
Is BLACK OPS a prototype (possibly), a mannequin identify below the 0311 umbrella (in all probability) or a golf shaft model that the majority of you forgot about (undoubtedly).
Regardless, the USGA at present lists three PXG BLACK OPS drivers together with a Tour-1 and a Tour-3. The whereabouts of the Tour-2 is perhaps probably the most compelling thriller in all of this.
PXG BLACK OPS
The one PXG itemizing and not using a “Tour” designation hints at mainstream choice. The USGA denotes “0311” on the only real, suggesting we could also be previous the prototype part.
The usual BLACK OPS encompasses a three-weight system and, because the case has been with the final couple of PXG releases, the weights are positioned to the acute (or is it XTREME?) heel and toe.
In previous iterations, the place of the weights has functioned to maintain MOI extraordinarily excessive whereas preserving spin in examine.
PXG BLACK OPS TOUR-1
Essentially the most obvious distinction between the usual and the TOUR-1 mannequin is the place of the weights. The TOUR-1 nonetheless affords a three-weight system however, on this model, the heel and toe weights are positioned extra centrally whereas the rear weight is behind the pulled-down part of the only real.
To me, this implies a extra ahead middle of gravity design which presumably affords decrease spin, albeit with decrease MOI.
Whereas the USGA’s images are something however conclusive (scale is at all times a problem), they might counsel a driver that is a little more compact front-to-back than the others.
The present 0311 lineup doesn’t supply something that may problem the lowest-spinning drivers in the marketplace so there may be room within the PXG lineup.
PXG BLACK OPS TOUR-3
It’s unlikely that each the 1 and the three will make it to retail (I’m nonetheless holding out for that 2). The underlying tech seems equivalent to the TOUR-1 although the 1 has sole accents which are lacking from the three. As famous, the USGA images counsel the three is a bit longer front-to-back however, once more, with scale missing and the three exhibiting a bit extra loft within the picture, that’s something however a certainty.
TaylorMade
2023 was an off yr for TaylorMade, each by way of gross sales numbers and the faces on their Stealth 2 drivers. The corporate has mentioned in no unsure phrases that it’s dedicated to carbon-face tech so our assumption was that that tech would keep on however after two years (Stealth and Stealth 2) in the marketplace, TaylorMade would rebrand its driver flagship carbon/metalwoods lineup.
TaylorMade Qi10 LS
The one new driver from TaylorMade at present on the USGA conforming record suggests TaylorMade has ditched the +/plus naming conference in favor of the “LS” designation.
Adore it. Isn’t it higher when everyone seems to be on the identical web page? Now, let’s speak shaft adapters and shaft flex.
No?
Transferring on.
When you can guess there’s a narrative behind Qi (and doubtless 10 too), I’m prepared to exit on a limb and say the LS would be the lowest-spinning Qi10 driver and, whereas they’re at present unlisted, there are virtually sure to be a minimum of two extra choices when the embargo lists.
The images counsel the TaylorMade Qi10 LS will once more pair a hard and fast rear weight with TaylorMade’s signature sliding (SLDNG?) heel-toe/draw-fade weight system.
What’s attention-grabbing is that the images counsel a comparatively compact weight monitor. That might imply TaylorMade is offering much less potential to maneuver the middle of gravity round or that it’s utilizing a heavier weight to perform the identical outcome over a shorter distance.
To depart little question about its dedication to the know-how, CARBONWOOD is famous on the only real which is a heavy suggestion that carbon-face know-how persists.
BONUS: Costco
This one was technically added to the USGA record final week, however, given the affinity amongst our readership for each Costco and cheap alternate options to the mainstream (I suppose these two go hand-in-hand), we felt the necessity to embrace this.
Kirkland Signature Driver
I suppose it’s affordable to name this the one you’ve been ready for. Just like the irons which have seemingly been on the USGA record perpetually, we don’t have a launch date for the driving force. Frankly, we don’t have the best of hopes for this one however the target market isn’t prone to care.
The USGA picture suggests a no-frills design with only a single fastened rear weight. In contrast to mainstream manufacturers who pepper soles, crowns and skirts of drivers with buzzwords, the Kirkland providing is devoid of any signature tech.
Solely a single loft (10.5 levels) is listed and I don’t anticipate that can change. I’m additionally not anticipating a lot in the best way of shaft choices although the Kirkland Signature driver will supply hosel-based adjustability.
The play right here is nearly actually value-first. If the Costco can ship efficiency inside sniffing distance of the massive names with a price ticket considerably beneath $600, it ought to just do tremendous.
Ideas?
2024 is shaping as much as be a surprisingly wealthy yr for drivers. From what you’ve seen to this point, what are you most trying ahead to attempting?
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