Tommy Fleetwood entered the final round at TPC River Highlands having already made a subtle but strategic adjustment to his bag: a swap in both his driver and mini-driver shafts.
After rounds of quiet consistency, his decision to replace the Fujikura Ventus Red with the Ventus TR Blue–along with integrating TaylorMade’s R7 Quad mini-driver–proved instrumental in his performance.
Fleetwood’s decision wasn’t about chasing distance. Instead, it aimed to reduce spin and sharpen feel–a move guided by Tour rep Adrian Rietveld, whose collaboration helped “unlock the code” toward what might become Fleetwood’s first PGA Tour win.
“Adrian was a big part of why I signed with TaylorMade, and I do feel like we have grown and continue to grow together in all aspects of the game,” Fleetwood said.
From Trust to Tangible Gains
The impact was immediate. Despite ranking only 82nd in total driving, Fleetwood hit 21 consecutive fairways heading into the final round—remarkable accuracy on a course that demands precision.
As he himself noted, the driver and mini-driver swaps allowed more confidence off the tee. The Ventus TR Blue shaft in his Qi35 driver lowered spin to around 2,400 RPM, stabilizing launch and tightening dispersion. Meanwhile, the R7 Quad mini-driver gave him penetrating flight and carry–critical for TPC River Highlands, one of the shorter Tour venues.
Under the hood, these gear modifications were nuanced. The Qi35 head and Ventus Blue TR shaft in Fleetwood’s standard 10.5° driver combined to produce a refined center of gravity and optimal spin loft. On the mini-driver side, the R7 Quad’s quad weighting system, paired with the same shaft, produced a flatter launch with extended carry–up an estimated five yards–without sacrificing control on approach. These shifts were not radical overhauls but intelligent, targeted enhancements.
“Originally it was the mini driver shaft that I changed. I went back to the original shaft that I played last year, that’s always been such a strong club for me. New head this week as well, the R7 head, so that’s been great,” Fleetwood said.
“We just ended up fiddling with some shafts, and sometimes it’s nice to have the opportunity to do that, sometimes those things come up and you can spend some time on it and, yeah, it’s been good.”
Real-Time Results at Travelers
The payoff was evident on Saturday. Fleetwood carded a flawless bogey-free 63, pulling clear of his competitors after Scottie Scheffler’s triple-bogey and Justin Thomas’s collapse opened the door. He held a three-stroke lead at 16-under, clearly gaining maximum value from his equipment tweaks. His repeat of that driving performance Sunday further underscored the move’s success.
In an age where marginal gains matter, Fleetwood’s mid-tournament equipment update exemplifies the modern golfer’s approach: incremental improvements based on data, expert fitting, and real-time feedback. It’s fitting that after 41 PGA Tour top‑10s, this adjustment–rather than a swing overhaul–might tip him into the winner’s circle.
What the Competition Is Using
While Fleetwood’s shaft change drew attention, several other top contenders at the Travelers Championship brought equally calculated setups to TPC River Highlands. Scottie Scheffler stuck with his reliable TaylorMade Qi10 driver paired with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft, known for its low spin and stability–ideal for his consistent, controlled swing.
He also carried a Qi10 fairway wood and a Qi35 7-wood, each configured to maintain consistent ball flight and feel. Scheffler’s setup has remained largely unchanged in 2025.
Russell Henley and Xander Schauffele also leaned into precision over power. Henley, who posted a blistering 61 on Saturday, used a control-focused driver setup to thrive on the course’s tight fairways and receptive greens. Schauffele, typically equipped with Callaway gear, made subtle shaft and weighting adjustments for added launch control.
Across the leaderboard, players prioritized stability and dispersion over distance–echoing Fleetwood’s logic and underscoring a broader shift in Tour setups where small tweaks can lead to big results.
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