Equipment
Rory McIlroy spotted testing a new TaylorMade “PROTO” 4-iron at the 2024 Valero Texas Open
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TaylorMadeRoryProto4iron.jpg)
Update, 5:30 p.m.: Regarding his prototype iron, McIlroy offered this in his pre-tournament press conference:
“Yeah, I went out, spent a couple of days with the TaylorMade guys at the Kingdom. Yeah, they just produced these couple of proto, I guess like are they the MC replacements maybe…
“They performed really well. It’s just as fast as the 760 that I was using. Launch is a little higher actually, which was surprising, and it’s just sometimes I felt like when I hit my 5-iron in the blade and then the 4-iron in the 760 it was such a different feel. To go from a 5-iron now to that 4-iron, it feels a little closer to what I feel in the 5-iron. So just a little bit more responsive, but didn’t lose any performance from it, which is great. Yeah, it will be in the bag this week.”
————————————————————————-
Now just what do we have here?
On Wednesday at the 2024 Valero Texas Open, GolfWRX.com spotted Rory McIlroy testing a new, mysterious TaylorMade “PROTO” 4-iron.
Clearly, the 4-iron is a prototype, but since it doesn’t say “Rors Proto” or “RM” on it, then maybe it’s a prototype for an upcoming iron release from TaylorMade. Or, maybe it’s an upgrade for a previous or existing iron model from the company.
For reference, the photo below shows what McIlroy’s previous P760 4-iron looks like…
If the new prototype was an upgrade on the former P760 design, that would certainly be a large design departure, aesthetically speaking. It’s not impossible, but the new proto definitely looks significantly different.
McIlroy’s new proto – aesthetically, at least – looks more similar to TaylorMade’s P7MC irons, a model that Collin Morikawa uses for his 5 and 6-irons, as pictured below.
The new proto is also reminiscent of TaylorMade’s old P750 and P770 irons:
So what could McIlroy’s new TaylorMade “Proto” be? Is it a one-off prototype for McIlroy? Is it a re-design of an older model? Is it a harbinger of a bigger release in the future?
What is it?!
Unfortunately, TaylorMade hasn’t yet commented publicly on the prototype iron, so for now, we wait. And enjoy the photos of McIlroy testing it on Wednesday in San Antonio.
Here’s what it looks like from address…
And here’s what McIlroy’s numbers looked like while testing it on the range…
Uhh, yeah. Those are pretty good 4-iron numbers.
Will McIlroy make the switch into the new prototype 4-iron this week? That remains to be seen, but it should be noted that it was the only 4-iron in his bag on Wednesday.
*We’ll update this post as further information becomes available
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron here, plus more photos!
- LIKE83
- LEGIT12
- WOW9
- LOL4
- IDHT2
- FLOP3
- OB2
- SHANK10
Whats in the Bag
Morgan Hoffmann WITB 2024 (July)
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screen-Shot-2024-07-10-at-2.49.04-PM.png)
- Morgan Hoffmann what’s in the bag accurate as of the Ascendant Presented by Blue. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X Red 6F5
3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (16.5 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Irons: Srixon ZX Mk II (3), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-9)
Shafts: Accra TZFive 105D M5 (3), Project X 6.5 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 58-08M, 62-08M @64)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-62)
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
See more in-hand photos of Morgan Hoffmann’s WITB here.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Luke Clanton WITB 2024 (July)
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/luke-clanton-witb-2024.png)
- Luke Clanton what’s in the bag accurate as of the ISCO Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (8 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70 TX
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 70 TX
Driving iron: TaylorMade Stealth UDI (2)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), P760 (4-6), P7MB (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46, 50, 54, 58)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125 X
Putter: TaylorMade Spider GT
Clanton on his iron setup: “I love the blades with the low irons because I can kind of feel a little more around the greens, and if I have a little feely shot from like 150 I can hit a 7 iron there,” Clanton said. “It’s one of those things where I like to feel a little more with the lower irons. Then with the upper irons I like a little bit more forgiveness, especially when you’re hitting it from 210. You don’t really want a blade looking down at the ground, so it’s been a great setup for awhile.”
Clanton on his TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver: “My favorite club in my bag is my BRNR Mini Driver. This club has been a life saver off the tee, and off the deck, as well…the first week I ever put it in was actually at Cherry Hills for the U.S. Am. I think it was literally right when they came out with the Mini Driver, and a bunch of my teammates said I never liked 3-wood because I never hit it, and it was true. I hit this [mini driver] off the deck a couple times and it flew perfect. Then I was like, ‘Let’s hit it off the tee,’ and it was flying 285-290 off the tee. I was like this thing is pretty sweet. I’ve kept it in the bag ever since then, and no matter if it’s off a tight lie out of the rough, anything, it’s been awesome. I think it’s probably one of the better clubs I’ve ever received from TaylorMade.
“…I could take out the driver and have the BRNR in and still play well all week. It’s just one of those golf clubs you can hit it off the tee and still hit it far, I can draw it, cut it, hit it low, hit it high. It’s definitely one of my favorites for sure… I don’t think it’ll ever come out of the bag. I really don’t. It’s one of those golf clubs that I absolutely love.”
See more in-hand photos of Luke Clanton’s clubs here.
- LIKE3
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (7/10/24): Callaway Ai-Smoke Mini-Driver
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-10-at-12.10.15.png)
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that 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, there is a listing for a Callaway Ai-Smoke Mini-Driver.
From the seller: (@Mclancy94): “Callaway Mini. 13.5”. 43.25”. Denali 60X. $425 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Callaway Ai-Smoke Mini-Driver
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
News2 weeks ago
Experts on understanding ground force and how shoes can impact your golf game
-
19th Hole1 week ago
‘You’re right, we’re always wrong!’ – Sergio Garcia receives warning during Open qualifier
-
News3 days ago
Highlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst
-
Equipment1 week ago
Q&A: The truth behind Bryson DeChambeau’s new Avoda irons from company founder Thomas Bailey
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
The golf-related tweet that has led to Dave Portnoy’s Twitter account being locked
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Scottie Scheffler’s winning WITB: 2024 Travelers Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week ago
Cam Davis’ winning WITB: 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Jhonattan Vegas WITB 2024 (June)
Kinny
Apr 5, 2024 at 7:44 pm
That is a refashioned callaway legacy black!?
Roy
Apr 4, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Somehow I don’t think it’s the 4 iron holding Rory back…
Matthew Caraway
Apr 4, 2024 at 10:10 am
It almost looks like the old forged taylormade 300 series,
gery
Apr 3, 2024 at 11:26 pm
For all practical purposes, that is the 20-yr-old RAC TP forged design.
billy baroo
Apr 4, 2024 at 9:39 am
literally said the same thing when i saw it.
Luv
Apr 3, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Bringing back that RAC look. Love it