Equipment
Everything you need to know about TaylorMade’s new GAPR Lo, Mid and Hi clubs
The Golden Years of wood-style hybrids and hybrid innovation in the marketplace are over, Tomo Bystedt, the Senior Director of Product Creation for TaylorMade, told GolfWRX.
Based on data collected from the company’s myRoundPro app and TrackMan data from its fitting facility, called “The Kingdom,” Bystedt says TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron, and while some hit the 3 wood very well, they struggle with 5/7/9 woods and hybrid-style clubs. Bystedt also acknowledges that Tour players have moved away from hybrid-style golf clubs as we know them, and into driving-iron-style clubs instead; they provide better control and offer greater distance in certain conditions, he says.
So, golfers of all skill levels need to fill the gap between a 5-iron and a 3-wood, and thus, TaylorMade has designed a new family of golf clubs called GAPR, pronounced “gapper.”
The family consists of a GAPR Lo, a GAPR Mid and a GAPR Hi. The clubs are made with C300 faces and 450 stainless steel bodies, with the company’s familiar SpeedFoam between the faces and bodies for durability of the face and to improve overall sound and feel due to the vibration dampening qualities of the foam. They also have “blind slots,” according to Bystedt, or in other words, speed slots on their soles that are not bore-thru slots. Each of the GAPR irons have adjustable loft sleeves, as well.
TaylorMade’s new GAPR clubs will be available on August 24 and sell for $250 apiece with stock KBS graphite shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips. More specs and info on each of the offerings below.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about GAPR irons in our forums.
GAPR Lo
We’ve spotted Tiger Woods testing a GAPR Lo at Carnoustie, and Bystedt says other big name pros including Dustin Johnson are testing it, as well. There are a few GAPR Lo irons that have a fixed hosel that are floating around in Tour bags, but the retail versions have an adjustable hosel.
The GAPR Lo irons have a weight port (filled with either steel or tungsten weights) placed in the back for head weight purposes and are not interchangeable weights by the user. The head shape of the GAPR Lo is slightly bigger than the P-790 UDI clubs, according to Bystedt, and more similar to the Tour Preferred UDI. That’s because player feedback suggested the P-790 UDI was a bit too small, and players wanted a slightly bigger size.
Retail offerings of the GAPR Lo will include 17, 19 and 22 degree options, ranging from 40.25 inches to 39.25 inches, respectively.
GAPR Mid
The GAPR Mid iron has a bigger profile than the GAPR Lo, and has CG (center of gravity) lower in the club head for higher launch and more forgiveness. The weight port is on the sole of the club, as opposed to the back cavity as seen on the GAPR Lo iron. The soles are also wider, making these more playable for players from the turf.
The GAPR Mid irons are offered in 18, 21 and 24 degree lofts, ranging from 40.25 to 39.25 inches, respectively.
GAPR Hi
TaylorMade’s GAPR Hi irons have an even bigger profile and wider soles than the GAPR Mid irons, and the CG is lower and deeper for an even higher launch and greater forgiveness. The shaping of the club is like the child of a driving iron and a wood-style hybrid; according to a TaylorMade press release, it “features modern Rescue shaping with a high-toe, peanut shaped clubhead.” It also has bulge and roll on the face to help with off-center hits. Additionally, the SpeedFoam in the GAPR Hi is slightly less dense than the rest of the offerings, according to Bystedt, because the density of the original foam was raising CG and deadening sound too much; he calls it “SpeedFoam lite” in the GAPR Hi.
The GAPR Hi is offered in 19, 22, 25 and 28 degree lofts, ranging from 40.75 inches to 39.25 inches, respectively.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about GAPR irons in our forums.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
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
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KC
Nov 11, 2021 at 10:06 am
I have purchased the GAPR Lo 2 and it is amazing. The club has a smaller head which I like, the profile at address is very reasonable. The feel off the club face is slightly deadened but still very acceptable. The most amazing part is, I can’t seem to miss the center of the club face with it. Believe me I am very capable of missing the sweet spot on most clubs but this seems to square itself on every shot and the ball goes a mile. On what I consider poor swings, it still travels a very respectable distance.
Tom
Aug 29, 2018 at 10:37 pm
The hollow GAPR is filled with some kind of gooper? WOW!
JR
Jul 26, 2018 at 3:53 am
TM contradict themselves with every new release. Hybrids were supposed to be the cure for those who struggle with long irons. Now we have this eyesore for those who struggle with hybrids?! If you can’t play long irons or hybrids then you aren’t going to fare any better with this – better to spend the money on some coaching.
Jim McPherson
Aug 11, 2018 at 1:05 pm
That doesn’t sell clubs to the sheeple though!!! Lessons are for morons that don’t want manufacturers to get rich. Where would these executives get their huge bonuses from if we all paid for lessons?
Mat
Jul 23, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Who “struggles” with a 9-wood?
GC
Jul 18, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Their marketing team needs to be fired. GAPR? really? Twistface? c’mon man
Don
Jul 31, 2018 at 5:18 pm
“RocketBallz”
Jim McPherson
Jul 18, 2018 at 2:01 am
WTF does GAPR mean? Gap Rescue? Is it an acronym for something?
Either way, it’s ugly. Should’ve kept it looking like the 790.
And TM says players have a tough time with anything past a 5 iron and struggle with hybrids. Yet the GAPR Hi looks just like a hybrid! So why is this hybrid better than any other hybrid?
commoner
Jul 17, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Carnival barking with no shame. Simply cannot see an 8 to 16 handicapper getting what he hopes for from this stick. For this group, nowhere is it explained the source of this wand’s magic that makes others inferior and obsolete.
Max
Jul 17, 2018 at 11:16 am
“Everything I need to know….” except what they look like at address.
Rand
Jul 17, 2018 at 10:15 am
“TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron and … struggle with … hybrid-style clubs.”
So TM came up with two long irons and a hybrid to solve that problem. TM Marketing at its finest. Lol
Man
Jul 17, 2018 at 3:35 am
No Twist Face on the GAPR Hi? Why not? Perfect opportunity to put one in, if it has bulge and roll. Why didn’t they?
Evan
Jul 19, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Bingo!
Geohogan
Aug 16, 2018 at 11:49 am
Twist face will be next marketing blitz (pronounced “suckers”) in 2019.
Fingers
Jul 17, 2018 at 1:57 am
I feel like Taylormade has become “that guy” at the party that doesnt stop talking and when they realize nobody is listening they just start yelling louder.
saveva
Jul 16, 2018 at 11:18 pm
“TaylorMade has found that most golfers are “not very good” with irons higher than a 5-iron and … struggle with … hybrid-style clubs.” So to solve this problem we developed “long driving style irons” called GAPR lo and GAPR mid and a “hybrid-style club” called the GAPR Hi but they aren’t long irons or hybrids, they are GAPRs so no more problems.
Man
Jul 17, 2018 at 3:35 am
Yeah so? What’s the problem?
DB
Jul 17, 2018 at 8:42 am
To be fair, what do you expect them to come up with? If they are saying players struggle with traditional long irons and also hybrid-style clubs, then it does make sense that another choice would be a high-tech driving-style long iron. It’s basically a “hybrid” between hybrids and long irons.