From banned drivers to ultra-short putters and major brand moves — 2025 was a big year in golf equipment.
The 2025 golf season delivered plenty of drama on the course, but it was also a landmark year for equipment stories. From controversial rule checks to bold innovations and record-breaking deals, here’s a look back at the gear that made headlines.
McIlroy’s Driver Fails the Test
Rory McIlroy’s 2025 PGA Championship campaign began with a surprise. His driver failed a USGA test due to excessive face flexibility — not because of cheating, but because wear and tear had pushed it beyond the legal limit. After thousands of swings, even the best clubheads can change. McIlroy had to make a last-minute switch just before a major championship.
TaylorMade Qi4D: Tour Testing Before Launch
Later in the year, TaylorMade drew attention with its unreleased Qi4D drivers spotted in play during the Abu Dhabi playoffs. Models like the Core (with four weights) and LS (low spin) were seen in the bags of top players like McIlroy and Fleetwood. Whether they used them in competition was secondary — the real story was how early pros get involved in development and how quickly new gear hits the course.
Unusual Putters and Big Business
Philippe Gariepy turned heads with a putter shorter than a pitching wedge — just 58 cm long. Inspired by a kids’ club during a casual round, he cut down his Scotty Cameron to improve control and green reading. It was one of the quirkiest gear stories of the year, proving that sometimes less really is more.
At the U.S. Open, J.J. Spaun’s dramatic birdie putt on 18 spotlighted L.A.B. Golf’s Direct Force 3 (DF3) putter. Its lie