In a new equipment series from Golf Digest, we tested the latest drivers from every major manufacturer on the Golf Laboratories swing robot to determine if they were noticeably better than their predecessors.
Unlike many competitors this week at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy’s equipment setup didn’t change for the 2025 Masters – with one appropriate exception.
The fifth generation of TaylorMade’s players-distance P·790 irons boast a new steel alloy for the face that is 20 percent stronger than in the previous iteration. This allows for a fast, thin face that delivers more rebound at impact.
TaylorMade’s latest version of its Tour Response and Tour Response Stripe boasts a new core, as well as a new mantle layer designed to increase distance for non-elite swing speeds.
The development of TP5 and TP5x Stripe took 42 months and included more than 300 hours of robot testing, nearly 20,000 shots recorded and more than 550 prototypes.
TaylorMade launches two new irons directed at better players, the fresh single-piece forged cavity back P·7CB and a sleek aesthetic upgrade to the fast-faced P·770. But with better players’ demands in mind, both still offer distinct commitments to ball speed and forgiveness.
This all seems pretty bad for the players but pretty compelling for us viewers at home. Pros furious over greens and botched shots is exactly what the US Open is all about.
As always, the driver was a weapon for the four-time major champion. McIlroy ranked first in strokes gained/off the tee, picking up more than six shots on the field with his TaylorMade Qi10 driver.
Australian Golf Digest
