The onion emblem belongs on McIlroy’s putter cowl belongs to Ohoopee Match Membership, an ultra-exclusive hideaway designed by Gil Hanse in Cobbtown, Georgia.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
The gear crew at GOLF.com spends a variety of time at Tour occasions snapping images of the instruments utilized by the most effective gamers on the planet. Posting membership pictures with out context generally works, however it doesn’t assist the weekend golfer perceive the why behind a professional’s setup.
On this GOLF.com collection, gear editors Jonathan Wall and Ryan Barath reply these questions by highlighting fascinating golf equipment in gamers’ baggage, distinctive weighting, loft sleeve settings and extra. Welcome to “Bag Spy.”
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Roughly seven weeks stay within the PGA Tour season, which is difficult to consider when you consider it. With the ultimate main on faucet subsequent week now looks like time to take stock of things that caught our eye whereas perusing the golf baggage of the tour’s elite this season.
Some finds are apparent, whereas others took some digging to unearth. Let’s get to it.
Gear large
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Current BagSpy reviews confirmed one thing we’ve recognized for years: Golf Satisfaction has a stranglehold on tour grip utilization. I’d enterprise a guess that it’s upward of 80-plus p.c of the sphere many weeks. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott, Viktor Hovland — and the record goes on and on.
Throughout a current deep dive into tour grip specs, we observed solely Akshay Bahatia, Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson employed a non-Golf Satisfaction grip. You’d be hard-pressed to discover a piece of substances with an even bigger stranglehold on tour utilization.
Golf Satisfaction MCC Grip
$11.99
The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an modern hybrid grip that fuses the optimistic efficiency of rubber and rope. The MCC boasts the Golf Satisfaction® unique Brushed Cotton Twine within the higher hand space for agency all-weather management, and a efficiency rubber materials within the decrease hand for final really feel and responsiveness.
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Tour Velvet stays the most well-liked Golf Satisfaction grip amongst professionals, however New Decade MultiCompound has quietly discovered its means into the baggage of Scott, Schauffele and Hovland. And don’t neglect about McIlroy who helped put the MultiCompound on the map.
Stepping down
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Skilled golfers are gear tastemakers, significantly on the subject of the newbie crowd. No matter is profitable, fashionable and visual on the PGA Tour has likelihood to do nicely at retail. The identical will be stated for shaft setups which have carried out nicely over time, together with probably the most in style: Choosing a softer flex shaft within the scoring golf equipment.
Undergo the present high 10 within the Official World Golf Rating and also you’ll discover seven gamers who presently use a barely softer shaft flex of their wedges versus the irons.
True Mood Dynamic Gold Tour Problem Iron Shaft
$44.99
The True Mood Dynamic Gold Tour Problem is right for the participant in search of a low launch, low spin shaft designed for optimum management and accuracy. You should purchase the True Mood Dynamic Gold Tour Problem constructed to your required specs.
The True Mood Dynamic Gold Tour Problem is the Gold Customary by which all different irons shafts are measured. It’s the most profitable shaft within the historical past of golf and nonetheless continues to dominate on skilled excursions each yr. The Tour Problem shafts maintain the industries tightest weight tolerances for exacting efficiency demanded by the most effective gamers. You should purchase the True Mood Dynamic Gold Tour Problem within the following flexes: S400, and X100.
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What number of are using an identical setup? It’s inconceivable to present a precise share as a result of gamers are continuously testing new wedges and shafts, however it’s in all probability someplace within the neighborhood of near half the sphere throughout a given occasion. Popularized by Tiger Woods — True Mood Dynamic Gold X100 within the irons and S400 within the wedges — throughout his heyday, there’s a profit available with this shaft make-up when you’re an newbie golfer.
Whereas it varies from participant to participant, most will discover a barely decrease ball flight and extra really feel within the palms with a softer flex. For some, it might additionally assist keep spin in comparison with utilizing the identical shaft throughout the board.
Contemplating many Tour gamers prioritize really feel, consistency and management on shorter method pictures, it’s straightforward to see why so many drop down in flex with the wedges.
Preserving it private
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Headcovers stay the most well-liked technique to specific your persona on the course. Certain, some professionals play it secure and go along with covers emblazoned with the title and emblem of the gear producer chopping them a examine, however greater than ever earlier than, we’re seeing completely different appears to be like from a few of the largest names on tour.
The blue and grey putter cowl defending McIlroy’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet (above) isn’t one thing you’d be capable of discover at your native professional store. The onion emblem belongs to Ohoopee Match Membership, an ultra-exclusive hideaway designed by Gil Hanse in Cobbtown, Georgia.
Adam Scott is one other professional who makes use of a singular set of covers by Golden Soul Golf. The Aussie’s driver and fairway wooden covers are traditional, no-frills creations produced from cowhide, wool and corduroy.
The present protector of Viktor Hovland’s wand is a menacing Viking staring straight into your soul. Look intently and also you’ll see just a few extra Easter eggs dotting the edges which are symbolic of his life and pursuits. The orange and black stitching is little doubt a nod to his time spent at Oklahoma State College. And by the best way, he nonetheless resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Easy scoring instruments
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Wedge stamping has come a great distance because the days when initials have been hammered into the again of the top to present the scoring golf equipment come semblance of a persona. Then alongside got here Rickie Fowler and singer Carly Rae Jepsen to shake issues up in 2012.
At the moment, Fowler was already disrupting the business with vibrant colours and flatbill hats. Hoping so as to add some aptitude to his wedges, Fowler and Titleist Vokey Tour rep Aaron Dill began kicking round some stamp concepts earlier than hitting on just a few that caught — particularly a catchy chart-topper by Jepsen titled, “Name Me Possibly.”
Dill proceeded to stamp “Name Me Possibly” on the again of Fowler’s 60-degree Titleist Vokey Design SM4 lob wedge and watched as his creation went viral on social media.
Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks SM10 A+ Grind Customized Wedge
$225
The A+ Grind is a model new addition to the Vokey WedgeWorks lineup.
The A+ Grind comes from related origins because the A Grind. Each are related in the truth that they each got here from smoothing out the grind strains on some traditional Vokey grinds.
The title A+ comes from the concept it’s a related grind to the A Grind however has extra width and extra bounce than the A grind. Therefore the plus. The A+ will nonetheless have a clean, quick really feel by the turf however will swimsuit gamers who want the membership to dig lower than an A Grind.
The A+ Grind is performed by tour gamers worldwide in addition to current tour winner Davis Riley.
The WedgeWorks A+ Grind contains a mid-bounce sole and is obtainable in 58° and 60° lofts in Proper Hand with a Uncooked end.
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Wedge stamping stays a preferred means for professionals to indicate off their hobbies, favourite songs or no matter else is on their thoughts, however we’ve seen a return to less complicated creations on the again of the top. Suppose initials, child names and music lyrics.
“I really feel like they modified as a result of they at all times need sharp grooves,” stated GOLF’s Ryan Barath on the Totally Outfitted podcast. “I bear in mind Aaron telling me if it’s a sluggish day they’ll do funky stuff, however once they’re cooking, they will’t make it occur.”
Alive and kicking
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Advances in shaft expertise have made it simpler than ever to justify making an attempt the most recent and best. That being stated, not everyone seems to be embracing the modifications. Brian Harman’s Titleist TS2 3-wood, as an illustration, is supplied with a Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution II S shaft that dates again to 2016.
Not solely is Harman utilizing an older mannequin 3-wood, however the shaft selection confirms he hasn’t made modifications to the general construct. As soon as once more, stick to what works. It’s a mantra different professionals dwell by as nicely on the subject of their shafts.
As a gearhead, the shaft selection makes me downright giddy as you seldom see older mannequin shafts within the wild on Tour. However they’re nonetheless on the market. Speeder 661 Evolution II was a highly-anticipated product that featured a metallic purple, orange, and yellow end that glistened within the solar.
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