Equipment
Bagging the right bag
By Shane Downey
GolfWRX Contributor
Every year the major OEMs usually come out with new staff bags and a couple even make special release bags just for the majors. I have to be honest, the bags that coincide with the Masters are, in my opinion, the best. It could be due to the fact that I have lived in Augusta and walked the pristine fairways in April, there is truly something special about living there leading up to the Masters. Another reason could be due to the fact my son was born in Augusta. The first time he was at Augusta National, he was still in the womb. I have such fond memories of the place I once called home. With these memories in mind, either way, the Master release staff bags are a personal favorite.
While the majority of the GolfWRX community, including myself, are admitted club and shaft aficionados, it would be extremely difficult to tote these weapons of madness around without the benefit of our bags. I must admit that I have a bag addiction. At least I have taken the first step in admitting it (only eleven more to go)!
The golf bag has been around as long as the game itself. During this time they mainly consisted of a leather or canvas bag with a leather strap and quite possibly a pocket or two. They have evolved with time and technology into three main categories; cart bags, stand bags and staff bags. All three come in a variety of sizes, colors and configurations.
The cart bag is just that, a bag that is designed to either fit on a golf (or pull) cart and yet possesses all the advantages of the larger staff bags. Pockets are plentiful for a variety of necessities you may need while enjoying your round. Sun Mountain and Ogio are two brands that quickly come to mind when mentioning cart bags. Although they have usually one strap, they come in a myriad of colors, styles, and construction materials. So if you are one that consistently uses a cart of some sort, then definitely look into getting a cart bag.
A bit before my time when caddies were the norm, they carried the bag dutifully following the player no matter wherever he may have hit his ball. Caddies soon lost out to electric carts, which is a shame. Quite a few golfers still enjoyed walking and carrying their own bags, which created a niche for bags that eventually evolved into the stand bag. The stand bag is usually a very lightweight bag that when set down and pushed forward, two legs are propelled out to create a tripod of sorts. Most also have dual shoulder straps such that the weight can be distributed evenly on both shoulders, much like a backpack. Most major OEM’s make dual strap stands bags, which are adjustable to your height with regard to the shoulder straps. These also come in many sizes, types and colors. If you abhor the idea of any type of cart, the stand bag is perfect for you.
The last major type of bag, and my personal favorite, is the staff bag. The staff bag is a large, multi-pocketed, usually logoed bag that you see inside the ropes on the PGA Tour. I have owned many staff bags in the short twelve years of playing this game and seem to never tire of having one. They are usually 9.5 – 10.5 inches wide and have five or six large pockets. The staff bag can carry just about everything you may or may not need while playing your round. I have personally put two-dozen balls, six gloves, laser range finder, a complete rain suit, an extra pair of shoes, tees, Band-Aids, Motrin, sunscreen and snacks into one staff bag. This may seem like overkill, but I love the staff bag for this purpose.
There are quite a few individuals who play “tour equipment” on the forum, from drivers to irons with x-flex shafts and “tour only” shafts and heads that I could only dream of hitting. However, with my slow swing speed, a tour staff bag is about as close as I will ever get to use tour equipment.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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 Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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
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Dustin
Mar 17, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I currently use the 2008 Callaway Masters bag…and it is Beautiufl!
Bill
Feb 24, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Get the midsize Tour Bag, they are more practical and still look nice.
Angel
Feb 14, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I really want one, but for some reason i think they are way too bulky for a riding cart. I like to ride, and i’m not sure my partner will appreciate his bag mashed into the back of the cart. Any opinions?
Rj
Feb 13, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Love a staff bag… New seem to not have what you need when you need it. Ahhhhh pockets galore!
1mizunofan
Feb 13, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I have to admit, I’ve been a tour bag junkie for more than 30 years! The first ever staff bag I bought was the old Wison Staff bag(red & white) from the 80s. Just watch the 86 Masters with Tom Kite, I have that same bag. It’s now retired & sitting in my basement(don’t really know what to do with it). I also have the old Macgregor staff bag like Nicklaus had when he won the 86 Masters. That bag is doing the exact same thing as my Wilson bag.
Now I used to feel silly carrying around these big bags in my hay day, but I’ve always liked them. I finally switched to stand bags but never really warned up to them. So with “my addiction” I switched back to a staff bag in 08 with the purchased of a Mizuno staff bag, which is still my current bag. I don’t carry anymore but use my Clicgear cart or power cart.
You cant knock the space or ease of getting your clubs in & out of your bag.
Like Shane has mentioned this is as close you will get to “pro equipment”. 30 years ago it was much harder to get your hands on what the pro play. Now in every pro sports genre that has become a big market. “Play what &’wear what the Pros play”. How many times have you heard that sales pitch? Obviously it works!
Greg
Feb 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm
O so with you! Srixon staff bag. Love it. Keep it my office as conversation starter when not playing.