Table of Contents
ToggleWWelcome to the full range of GOLF equipment.”s Weekly tour equipment report. Every Friday on the PGA Tour (and other times when the news warrants it), golf equipment editor Jack Hirsch brings you the biggest news about the tour’s golf clubs, including changes, tweaks, and launches.
We knew the timing made sense for TaylorMade to greenlight the new Qi4D driver for play. Just days later, it was revealed that two of the company’s biggest stars had chosen the driver for the first week of availability on the World Tour.
Rory McIlroy immediately switched from the Qi10 model driver he has used for all but six rounds over the past two seasons to the new Qi4D Core model driver at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Tommy Fleetwood joined him to game the Qi4D LS model of the previous Qi35 core.
“I felt like the driver was good,” McIlroy said after the first race. “Obviously we had a new driver this week and we felt it worked well.”
It really “worked”.
Pairing well with fellow Long Bomber Marco Penge, the best player on the DP World Tour this season other than McIlroy, the Masters champion did well off the tee, averaging 334 yards on shots with his new driver and hitting 78 percent of the fairways. He also added a new Qi4D 3-wood and 5-wood to his bag.
Rory said today about his new TaylorMade Qi4D driver, “Yeah, I felt like the driver was good. We obviously had a new driver in this week. I felt like it worked well.”
When using the driver, he averaged 334 yards on 68 shots and hit 78 percent of the fairways. pic.twitter.com/s3gectqJHz
— Jack Hirsch (@JR_HIRSHey) November 6, 2025
But most impressive was his 355-yard poke at No. 10, where he cut the corner of the 394-yard par-4 to reach the putting surface for an easy two-putt birdie. Friday’s second round was much the same, averaging 344 yards with the driver and gaining 68 more.
European Ryder Cup teammate Fleetwood also showed a driving performance in the first round, but it was more about precision than power. The reigning FedEx Cup champion only used the new Qi4D LS four times at Yas Links Golf Club on Thursday, but ended the day carding an 8-under 64 while missing one fairway. He followed up that Friday with a 66, tied for the lead with Aaron Rye at 14 under, and McIlroy moved back six spots to tie for 20th.
Neither player has revealed much about the technology or specs of their new big sticks, but from photos from Getty Images and hand-held photos from SMS on Tour, both players appear to be sticking to a similar build to previous models. McIlroy still uses a Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X shaft, while Fleetwood is outfitted with a Ventus TR Blue 6-X on an LS head.
One notable thing about Fleetwood’s driver is that it appears to have reflective markers built into the face for use with the Foresight GC Quad Launch Monitor.
This is a technology that TaylorMade introduced last year with the Qi35 Select Fit Head, and is specifically designed to avoid fitters placing reflectors (known as fiducials). Now it looks like Fleetwood wants to introduce technology to gamers so he and fitter Adrian Rietveld can always get ultra-accurate club data on the GC quad.
This week marked a big debut for the new driver, as four other players (Angel Ayola, Jaden Schaper, Riggs Johnston, and Keita Nakajima) carried the new Qi4D. The driver does not yet have seeding rights for the U.S. Tour.
Ping launches S259 wedge and G440 K driver
PING also had a big week for both its new S259 wedge and G440 K driver.
On the DP World Tour, three players, Joe Dean, John Perry, and Christopher Reitan, used the new K driver, which appears to be the successor to the popular G430 Max 10K driver. But the bigger story on both tours is the S259 wedge.
Five players played the new 259 wedge at the Worldwide Technology Championship in Mexico, including Taylor Moore, Mathieu Pabon and defending champion Austin Eckrot. The number of early adopters was even higher in Abu Dhabi, with nine of PING’s 13 staff players adopting the new wedge.
Again, there isn’t much technical information about the S259. It is clear from the images of the new wedge that the design of the vibration dampening pad at the rear of the wedge has changed significantly from the S159.
Like TaylorMade, PING has not yet begun seeding its new 440K driver on the PGA Tour.
check this out
This section features one great photo I recently took on tour, but didn’t have a reason to share yet. This week, check out an early prototype of Scotty Cameron’s OC hosel that was released this week and used on tour in April.
Jack Hirsch/Golf
Probability and outcome
Other gear changes and notes to track this week.
Erik van Rooyen added a set of Callaway Prototype CB irons to his bag. I’m not sure what that is, but I do know he was the only one on the staff who was quietly letting them play the week of the Sanderson Farms Championship. Gear Director Johnny Wunder has information on what they are and will continue to investigate.
There’s nothing like year-end gear news!!
3 things to read/see
A selection of interesting golf content from the past week..
Scotty Cameron enters low torque market with new OC neck option – Scotty Cameron has finally announced its long-awaited entry into the low-torque putter market with the Fastback OC (onset center) and Phantom 11R OC. Read about the new putter option and why it could potentially find a spot in my bag.
Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback OC Putter
As an extension of the popular Studio Style Fastback design, the Studio Style Fastback OC is a low-torque model that features the same ring weight, high alignment, and multi-material design as other Fastback models, but with Scotty’s tour-proven OC technology package. It features a center shaft positioned behind the leading edge of the putter face, with a straight shaft positioned exactly in line with the putter head’s center of gravity and tilted forward by 1°. This allows for low torque performance and face alignment that remains perpendicular to the trajectory. Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) Face Insert The Studio Style Fastback OC includes a chain-link milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert for a soft sound and feel, treated with electroless nickel plating for increased durability, and aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel, and performance. Custom Black Shaft Custom-made for the new OC putter, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unhindered alignment, and precise feel. Custom Matador Grip Incorporating a debossed chain-link texture, the new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch midsize Matador grip in black with lacy red and cool gray accents.
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Scotty Cameron 2025 Phantom 11R OC Putter
Inspired by prototype models made for tour players, the Phantom 11R OC (“R” for “Round” and “OC” for “Onset Center”) is a new Phantom mallet with rounded corners in an innovative low-torque package. The Phantom 11R OC is designed with a straight shaft mounted along the model’s center of gravity and a heavy head to provide high stability while maintaining very low torque throughout the stroke. Chain Link Face Milling Technology The Chain Link Face Milling Technology texture reduces touch points on the putter face with the ball, softening sound and improving roll characteristics while preserving feel and optimizing feedback. Custom Black Shaft Custom-made for the new OC putter, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unhindered alignment, and precise feel. Custom Matador Grip Incorporating a debossed chain-link texture, the new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch midsize Matador grip in black with lacy red and cool gray accents.
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All gasoline, no brakes! – What’s in LPGA’s Isabella Fierro’s bag? – Jake Morrow met future LPGA Tour member Isabella Fierro at the Epson Tour Championship last month to talk about what was in her bag and how that decision helped her on her path to success.

PING G440 Custom Hybrid
The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each designed to deliver different ball flight characteristics, from a slightly fade-biased 2-hybrid that enhances performance off the tee, to a draw-inducing 5, 6, and 7 hybrid that helps optimize gaps. They all share a new design with a shallower, thinner face that improves face contact, increases ball speed, and allows for high trajectory shots that catch and hold the green. Hit high ground softly. Optimized launch and spin provide stopping power and distance. Free hosel design saves weight and lowers center of gravity, optimizing launch/spin and increasing forgiveness. Rounded Sole Ensures a comfortable face angle in all hosel settings Carbon Flywrap Lightweight carbon crown reduces weight, increases MOI and lowers center of gravity.
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