![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GT2-2-1024x576.jpg)
Cantlay and Scott switched to Titleist’s GT2 driver on the U.S. Open.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
If you wish to know what gear is trending in skilled golf, look inside the luggage of the choose few untethered to an tools producer. That’s gearspeak for “free brokers.” When you’re keen to play one thing with out compensation, then it’s usually assumed the membership beat out all comers throughout testing. There’s no motive to pressure a change.
Testing on the highest stage {of professional} golf takes time. Golf equipment should be vetted on the course and vary earlier than ever gaining a everlasting spot within the bag. After all, some golf equipment buck the testing timeline.
Final week on the Memorial Event, Brandt Snedeker, Denny McCarty and Patrick Rodgers put Titleist’s GT driver straight within the bag. They have been three of the 13 to take action forward of the opening spherical at Muirfield Village Golf Membership. In addition they occur to be free brokers.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Whereas 13 driver converts may not appear to be a major quantity, it’s essential to level out Titleist noticed 18 change to TSR two years in the past on the Memorial — and that was earlier than it became a limited-field occasion.
It’s all the time tough to pinpoint membership developments when a product has solely been round for one week, however it’s secure to say GT is already making waves, even with the minimal pattern dimension. The development continued this week on the U.S. Open the place Adam Scott (a gear “free agent”) and Patrick Cantlay added their names to the listing by putting GT2 in play.
The Aussie’s gear habits are well-documented, however the change nonetheless raised some eyebrows. A professional hardly ever feels comfy sufficient to vary drivers at a serious championship, not to mention the U.S. Open on a punishing structure like Pinehurst No. 2. For Scott, an additional 2 mph ball pace and a tighter spin delta on mishits sealed the deal.
Cantlay noticed comparable numbers throughout testing and felt safe with GT2 to bench TSR2. For somebody who hardly ever adjustments the golf equipment in his bag, the change confirms one thing we’ve rapidly realized about GT because it landed on Tour: The membership does a variety of issues proper for various participant varieties.
“When you may have a great factor, you don’t need to wait till the Fall to convey it out right here,” JJ Van Wezenbeeck, Titleist’s director of participant promotions, advised GOLF.com. “We’re seeing higher numbers on the misses and constructive suggestions on the shaping. It’s been extremely constructive to date.”
Throughout testing final week on the Memorial, Billy Horschel witnessed GT’s efficiency improve first-hand on the vary. For Horschel, a low miss tends to extend spin from 2,200 to 2,900 RPMs, resulting in a dip in distance normally. For somebody who presently ranks 93rd on Tour in driving distance, each yard counts when making an attempt to clear a bunker at 300 yards.
However this explicit low miss was popping out of Horschel’s common launch window (10-11 levels) with 2,400 spin. (Horschel’s clubhead pace elevated from 115 to 116.5 mph and ball pace ticked up from 173-174 to 175-178 throughout driver testing between TSR3 and GT3.)
“When you may have a man like Rory [McIlroy] who’s cruising within the higher 180s [ball speed], he can carry issues 300 yards no matter whether or not he’s spinning it 2,200 or 2,800 [RPMs],” Horschel advised GOLF.com. “That ball remains to be going 310-plus yards. For somebody like myself who carries it 295, I can carry issues at 300 yards, however I’ve to have the ability to launch it and have the best spin.”
The efficiency enhancements already appear to be working for Scott and Cantlay. The latter is main the way in which at Pinehurst No. 2 as he seeks to win his first main championship.
