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Wunder: Launch season is coming – Top 4 things I’m excited about

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In normal times, October represents the kickoff to one of the best times of the year: launch season!

OEMs will start to tease, release, seed, and ultimately get the golf heads of the world all jacked up on what’s coming.

Golf is bigger than ever, and from the rumblings I hear from marketing, engineers, and tour reps, the excitement around what’s coming is a few ticks short of total pandemonium. We always talk about “best ever,” and I have heard that term thrown around more than normal.

I guess we will only know when we know, but from where I sit, I’m fired up. I know these people well, and I can tell when something special is coming. Even late last year, the whispers about TaylorMade’s new “P790B” and Titleist’s “new idea” driver was something that brought smiles to the folks that were dying to discuss but just couldn’t yet. In those cases, the excitement was real as both products are top of the class.

So, what else is coming?

Here are my top 4 things to get excited about and why

New TaylorMade Driver

I’ve heard very little, but what I have heard is TaylorMade has something serious coming to market. In my opinion, SIM was TM’s best driver to date, so to hear that something is coming that makes SIM a potential afterthought is certainly newsworthy.

I’m not sure what direction they will go after the leap they took with SIM, but I guess we shall see. The point is, when I hear whispers like this (and it’s not very often) history has shown me something special is coming. The last time I heard anything like this was in the summer of 2018 and the buzz was about some new Cobra driver…

The Ping I210 and IBlade Replacement…or a new idea

The driver cat is out of the bag with the USGA posting pics of the soon to be released G425, so no need to dive into that quite yet.

Ping is Fort Knox when it comes to early info. So much so to the point that I personally don’t even chase it down—it’s a fool’s errand.

Personally, all my info on what Ping has coming is pure speculation and personal opinion. That’s it. What I do know is, based on launch cycles, Ping is due for a new players cavity back and something to fit in between that and the Blueprint.

However, If I was to guess, I’d bet they blend the two ideas and make a players type version of the I210 and give players a chance to either blend or for the traditionalists get into the Blueprint.

That leaves room for Ping to focus on its hollow body category and make that more appealing to better players. In that scenario, the lineup would have all boxes checked off and options that can be mixed and matched to fit any player’s needs. Just a thought. It’s kind of the way to go these days.

Callaway’s New Apex MB/CB Line

I got my first glimpse of the idea back at RSM late last year. Aaron Price was testing the new MBs with the screw in the muscle, and up close, the profile looks pretty amazing. The idea of putting more mass behind the hitting area is not a new one, but it’s one that has proven to work. Callaway has always done a great job in the MB category, like Titleist, engineers keep things fairly simple and try to make something that satisfies the tour staff.

The official version can be seen in our tour photos, and it’s almost identical to the prototype—beyond the raw finish.

Spy pics of the CB are floating around on different platforms, but any info on them is nil. The Apex Pro is still an iron the tour staff adores, and my hunch is Callaway had to really dig deep to find its replacement.

New Srixon Irons

Ask any fitter across North America, and I’d bet a good majority would say Srixon more or less rules the conversation in the players iron category. Not to say that other OEMs aren’t competitive, but for the last four or five years, Z series irons have been the darlings for fitters and builders. Feel, quality and consistency are the keywords used and now finally the popular Z785 has its new iteration. The ZX7.

No details as to when they will hit the market or the story behind them, but what I’ve heard is, they took the cult classic Z745 and last year’s Z785 and blended them together to make an iron that finally converts the die-hard Z745 user into the ZX7. The 745 has been an iron that even Tour staff have had a hard time getting out of. Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell. Jerry Kelly, Brian Gay, and a few others still have them in play—and keep in mind Srixon has launched two new irons since that time. That’s why the ZX7 needed to be a game-changer.

 

 

 

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Kris Dunn

    Oct 5, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    Excited to see Srixon irons, 765 are the best thing I’ve ever hit. Apex MB’s don’t look as nice as the New Hogan Ft Worth (Apex). Taylor Made has a new driver every 3-6 months, and none ever go straight, Sergio was hooking or fading everything yesterday from Driver – 5W. He’s one of the best drivers on tour. Gotta get a TSI or Ping driver.

    • Trevino

      Oct 5, 2020 at 9:19 pm

      Twist face is something Taylormade needs to figure out how to get away from ASAP. They boxed themselves into a corner with twist face being “more accurate,” but it’s significantly less accurate. They need to do some serious marketing spin to get themselves back into a traditional face.

      • Craig

        Oct 6, 2020 at 5:43 am

        Agree with the TM drivers, not sure how the author thinks SIM is their best to date. The last couple of models since the 2017 have basically been terrible off the rack and need some serious fitting to get right.

  2. Cobralegit

    Oct 5, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    FYI the new COBRA line will be called RAD. The color scheme is neon yellow but they kept matte black in line.

  3. Dan

    Oct 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    I was a titleist guy until I saw the Z785’s in a pro shop and was sold on the profile alone. Now I game Z785 with Modus3 Tour 105R Hard-Stepped and love them. I can’t wait to see the new Z’s in person. Srixon irons are a best kept secret around my area.

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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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. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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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”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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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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