Titleist
Rory McIlroy, who finished third last week in Abu Dhabi, has switched from playing Titleist ZB muscle back blades to the company’s new MB irons. McIlroy is carrying a 3- through 9-iron, 1 upright, with True Temper Project X Rifle 6.5 shafts. Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Karlsson have also recently switched to the new clubs.

Nike
David Duval and Jamie Lovemark both experimented with an 18° Nike Victory Red Hybrid before the start of the rain-soaked Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

Nike also reports that Sweden’s Carl Pettersson had tour reps make him a Victory Red Split Cavity 4- and 5-iron last week. Pettersson, who plays Victory Red Forged Blades (5-PW), joins a group of several other Nike staff players who have created combo sets using various Nike clubs.

Paul Casey — Pro Combo OS (3), Nike Forged Blades (4-PW)
Stewart Cink — Pro Combo OS (2, 4), Victory Red Split Cavity (5-PW)
Justin Leonard — Pro Combo Tungsten (3), Nike Forged Blades (4-PW)
Pablo Martin — Victory Red Full Cavity (3-7) and Nike Forged Blades (8-PW)
Anthony Kim — Victory Red Full Cavity (3), Nike Forged Blades (4-PW)

TaylorMade
Martin Kaymer (right) won last week’s European Tour event in Abu Dhabi. The win, which moved the German to a career-high sixth position in the world rankings, was his first using TaylorMade clubs. Kaymer had previously played Titleist equipment.

Kaymer played a TaylorMade R9 460 driver (8.5°) with a Ping prototype 824-X shaft, an R9 3-wood (13°) with a Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki 73 X shaft and aBurner TP 5-wood (17.5) with a Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki 83 X shaft. He also played TaylorMade’s RAC TP irons (3-9) and wedges (54°, 58°) and the company’sPenta ball. Kaymer’s putter was a Ping Karsten Series Anser 2.

At Torrey Pines this week, TaylorMade will be debuting the newest Kia Ma putters. According to the company, the new putters will have weight ports that will allow for easy and quick customization.

[Via Golf.com]

Right now there is very little information about the new Titleist AP2 Irons, but we were able to dig up this spy pic. (Click pic to enlarge)

What we see:

It seems to have a longer heel-toe and a slightly different sole grind than the original AP2. The pocket cavity is also different. And from this angle it looks like there is a little less offset. The Tungsten weight looks to be the same size and placement. Head has Smoother/tapered/refined edges.

As always, we will post more pics and a release date, as soon as they become available.

(Click “Continue Reading” for Picture Update: July 20, 2009)

Continue reading

These Titleist ZM Forged Irons are very similar to the Titleist ZB irons. The main and just about only difference is that these clubs maintain the same blade back throughout the entire set. The ZB’s on the other hand are a progressive blend, similar to the Nike Pro Combos. Both are great sets of irons and very slick looking. You just need to decide if you want a more forgiving club in your higher irons or if you want the extreme blade stlye workability throughout.

The F2 and F3 are the newest in fairway woods for the Titleist 2009 line up. The main differences are in head shape and size.

The F2 has a more “fairway” styled head with an extended face that produces higher launch with mid spin. (thinner) Available Lofts: 13.5°, 15.5°, 18.5°

The F3 has a more “tee box” styled head with a deep face that produces mid launch with low spin. (thicker) Available Lofts: 13°, 15°, 18°

These are still relatively new so we haven’t had a chance to hit them yet, but if they retain the same tour precision that Titleist Fairway Woods are known for, they should make for some very solid clubs. They also look great and have a chrome finish that appears to be the same that’s used on the 909 Drivers.

The AP2 Irons are a recent update that contribute to Titleist’s constant reach for an all around slicker club.  They also have the slit in the cavity back similar to the Mizuno MP-52. This design is intended to give the club a better center of gravity allowing it to be slighlty more forgiving, while maintaing the playability of the muscular back design.

The Titleist ZB Irons are a combo style iron set that also add to the already sleek line up coming from Titleist. They tend to be a bit pricier than most other irons, but then again they are some of the most well made clubs on the market.

The 909H is the newest hybrid from Titleist and will be available this November. It will definetly be one of the sleekest looking hybrids on the market, and the few people that have hit it already say its really solid.