[Photo: Kathryn Riley]
It seems like it wouldn’t be a major championship without Bryson DeChambeau trying something new or different or strange with his equipment. Well, he’s at it again, with a potential switch with his most important club in the bag.
According to multiple reports, DeChambeau is testing a new TaylorMade Qi4D Proto 200+ driver that just landed on the USGA’s conforming list on Monday. While TaylorMade was not releasing any details on the club, images on the USGA site show two versions of the driver. One has heel and toe sole weights and the other features heel, toe and centre rear sole weights. Both models only were submitted with 7-degree lofts. That number is significant because it’s close to the stated loft of DeChambeau’s most recent driver, the Krank Formula Fire Pro, which he plays at 6 degrees.
Some of DeChambeau’s thinking about the driver was manifested in his previous relationship with LA Golf, and that had much to do with changing the face curvature (bulge and roll) to work better with his extremely high swing speed. Specifically, DeChambeau’s thinking was faster speeds like his need more curvature, not the flatter faces seen on many of today’s current drivers. While there are no specific details on the bulge and roll of this new TaylorMade driver, visually it appears to have slightly more curvature than the standard Qi4D model. What definitely is visible is a smoother sole versus the standard model, making it potentially more aerodynamically sleek in an effort to take advantage of DeChambeau’s clubhead speed, which has been measured this year at 125.6 miles per hour or what would rank fifth on the PGA Tour this season. (Gary Woodland is first at 127.75mph.)
Like all recent TaylorMade drivers, the Qi4D Proto 200+ model features the word “CARBON” on the face, an indication that it likely features the multi-layer carbon composite face design that the company first introduced in 2022 with the Stealth line of drivers. The Qi4D family is the fifth generation of that face design, although it’s not clear whether the construction of the Qi4D Proto 200+ is a different kind of layering structure for the carbon than is seen on the standard models.
DeChambeau was reportedly testing models on the range at Shinnecock Hills, which is no guarantee that he would put the new model in play. But if the past is any indication, he is not shy about big changes at big events. He debuted new Avoda irons that had to get an emergency conforming status at the 2024 Masters and went on to win the US Open with that “one-of-one” set. He said he built one his own irons with a 3D printer prior to this year’s Masters. He also debuted an entirely new set of LA Golf irons at the US Open last year.
Of course, DeChambeau has yet to make a cut in a major this year, so maybe change is just what he needs. If he’s on the leaderboard, rest assured more details will be coming on this latest driver. Just don’t expect this new thunderstick to be on retail shelves any time soon. A driver that only comes in a 7-degree loft might only have an audience of one.
