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The drivers used by the top-10 longest hitters on the PGA Tour in 2017-2018

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What drivers do the PGA Tour’s longest golfers use to bomb their tee shots? Now that the 2017-2018 PGA Tour season is behind us, we can do a thorough examination.

First, here’s a tally of what the top 10 in driving distance on Tour are using by driver manufacturer. Interestingly, only two OEMs figure.

  • Ping: 4
  • TaylorMade: 6

But this is GolfWRX, so of course you want to know more. Below is a breakdown of the driving-distance leaders on the PGA Tour in 2017-2018, the specifics of their drivers, shafts and how far their average tee shots flew.

10) Keith Mitchell

Driver: TaylorMade M1 440
Loft: 10.5 degrees (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 7.5 (tipped 1 inch)
Length: 45.25 inches
Swing weight: D3
Grip: Golf Pride Victory Cord 58R
Average driving distance: 312.6 yards

9) Bubba Watson

Driver: Ping G400 LST
Loft: 8.5 degrees (7.6 degrees)
Shaft: Ping BiMatrix-X (tipped .50 inch)
Length: 44.5 inches
Swing weight: D4
Grip: Ping 703 Gold
Average driving distance: 312.9 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Bubba’s clubs

8) Brooks Koepka

Driver: TaylorMade M3 460
Loft: 9.5
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70TX
Average driving distance: 313.0 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Koepka’s clubs

7) Gary Woodland

Driver: TaylorMade M3 440
Loft: 9 degrees (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra RPG 80X (tipped 2 inches)
Length: 45.25 inches
Swing weight: D5
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord Mid
Average driving distance: 313.4 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Woodland’s clubs

6) Dustin Johnson

Driver: TaylorMade M4
Loft: 9.5 degrees
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution 2.0 Tour Spec
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Average driving distance: 314.0 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Dustin’s clubs

5) Luke List

Driver: TaylorMade M4
Loft: 8.5 degrees
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana White D+ 80TX
Average driving distance: 314.7 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about List’s clubs

4) Tony Finau

Driver: Ping G400 Max
Loft: 9 degrees (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Accra Tour Z X485 M5 (tipped 1 inch)
Length: 45.25 inches
Swing weight: D5
Grip: Custom Lamkin UTX Mid
Average driving distance: 315.3 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Finau’s clubs

3) Tom Lovelady

Driver: Ping G400 Max
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: TPT MKP 15.5
Length: 44.75 inches
Swing weight: D3+
Grip: Golf Pride V55 Full Cord 58R
Average driving distance: 315.9 yards

2) Trey Mullinax

Driver: Ping G400 Max
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: Mitsubishi KuroKage XT 60-X
Length: 45 inches (tipped 1 inch)
Swing weight: D4
Grip: Golf Pride V55 Full Cord
Average driving distance: 318.7 yards

1) Rory McIlroy

Driver: TaylorMade M3 460
Loft: 8.5 degrees
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 70XTS
Length: 45.625 inches
Swing weight: D8
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R
Average driving distance: 319.8 yards

See what GolfWRX members are saying about Rory’s clubs.

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29 Comments

29 Comments

  1. Ron Roulhac

    Jan 9, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Appreciate the article. It’s nice to have all of this golf club information in one place. To improve you golf game, it’s not just about clubs, but your approach is very important. After visiting http://www.golfswingpundit.com my golf game improved dramatically.

  2. Benny

    Nov 3, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Many great points in here. Does show me that the long ball hitters are all under 9* loft. Low loft, low spin drivers and getting that launch angle up. I saw this video with Thomas on pressure scales. At impact he is posted up on his right/rear leg around 90% and behind the ball. So add all that up amd you get some added distance boys. My 13* 430 won’t get me there lol.

  3. Chris Bunting

    Oct 17, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Woodland, lol. 80tx, tipped 2″. Id use that shaft to stake a new tree in my yard. F’n animal.

  4. Cliff

    Oct 8, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    Ben:

    Thanks for the good stuff, but for us mortals with swing speeds of under 120, how about the drivers used by the shortest hitters on tour. That info may give us some insight into what clubheads and set ups are generating the most distance. Probably would be good to do the seniors and women, too, but for me I am going and get my x shaft tipped 2 inches so I can hit my driver under the tee markers. Lot of hot air in town (Washington DC) these days.

  5. dave

    Oct 8, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    The engineers make their big money designing shafts, all those guys can use the same heads with their “made for them shafts” and get similiar results.

  6. Billy

    Oct 6, 2018 at 6:05 am

    I have the LST. I am 65 and hitting the ball longer than I ever have. For some reason the 65g stock shaft fit me perfectly. Not surprising with Ping.

  7. CrashTestDummy

    Oct 5, 2018 at 5:27 pm

    You put any brand driver in their hands that is fitted for them with a good shaft, they would still be the longest guys on tour.

    • Just k

      Oct 5, 2018 at 9:25 pm

      Not necessarily. It’s hard to get the launch/spin combo with a Callaway or other as ping and TaylorMade atm

    • Brandon Miller

      Nov 13, 2018 at 12:20 pm

      I agree it’s great to see what the longest hitters in tour are using and there set ups but ultimately they could interchange the club heads and have similar results.

  8. big jones

    Oct 5, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    This is interesting. How about providing lists of wedges and putters. That’s a great idea about the drivers of straight hitters. Thanks.

  9. Vas

    Oct 5, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Made the move to the Ping LST this year. If I smash one with both, my Rogue SZ was probably 5 yards longer, but the LST does NOT go left… like ever. I’m a believer. Also, everyone I know who has tried the G400 Max that isn’t brainwashed into having the absolute lowest spin setup loves it. The original G400 is probably useless now, but the LST and Max are ridiculously good.

  10. dat

    Oct 5, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    PXG? Nope.

  11. Tom

    Oct 5, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    All these driver heads perform the same, rules of golf ensure that. Just depends on who is paying each guy…

    • Joe

      Oct 7, 2018 at 10:08 pm

      No they don’t. Heads are very different. They are absolutely designed to accomplish different things.

  12. John Krug

    Oct 5, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Driver specs are personal to the individual. Is it accurate to say the information provided is as relevant as the shoe size of a player?

  13. Martin

    Oct 5, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    The shafts interest me most. Amazing that there are two Accra’s, such a small company!

    • Brett

      Oct 25, 2018 at 10:55 pm

      Been using Accra shafts for years now! Seriously underrated!

  14. John

    Oct 5, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    I doubt the list would change much if they hit a different brand driver.

  15. Aaron

    Oct 5, 2018 at 12:32 pm

    Rory’s driver is D8! Even with his Tensei Orange shaft, that’s a lot of extra head weight being added.

    • Matt

      Oct 5, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      More a result of length. Every half inch is 3 ticks on the scale. So if he was at 45″ his SW would be a shade over D4.

    • Murv

      Oct 5, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      His driver is almost 46 inches long. Accounting for almost all of the swing weight.

    • Dave

      Oct 9, 2018 at 2:40 pm

      The reason the SW is d8 is because of the extra length. BTW SW is an artifical number. I can build a d0 with same head weight and shaft.

    • Redundant Ray

      Oct 11, 2018 at 10:54 pm

      I think that extra swing weight is probably just the result of the extra length. He plays a longer driver, like 46″ I read somewhere.

  16. Jack Nash

    Oct 5, 2018 at 12:31 pm

    As a result of last weeks Ryder Cup, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to list the Drivers used by the Top 10 Most Accurate Drivers on the PGA?

    • Mike

      Oct 5, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Agree with Jack Nash – accuracy far more important than distance. Ryder Cup teams as follows: Europe : 8.5 x4; 9.0 x5; 9.5 x1; 10.5×2
      USA: 7.6 x1; 8.0 x1; 8.5 x3; 9.0 x2; 9.5 x3 10.5 x2

      If Casey, Rahm, DJ & Simpson are at 10.5 deg drivers – those of us playing amateur golf should be at least 13 deg ,,, yet, we are being sold drivers to imitate the top professionals !?!?

      • Scott

        Oct 5, 2018 at 3:14 pm

        Mike, there are more factors than loft. Shaft flex, kick points weight, etc. If you were fit for your driver vs. buying one off the rack, you would understand.

      • Craig

        Oct 5, 2018 at 7:10 pm

        Sometime the lofts described may not be accurate, they will take a 10.5 degree driver and adjust the loft down which depending on driver also creates a slightly open face many pro’s prefer.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/28/24): L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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 L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick putter with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft.

From the seller: (@hibcam): “L.A.B. GOLF Mezz.1 Max Broomstick- LA Golf Paige Spiranac Shaft- 44″/79.5. Brand new, never used brown leather cover. The head was professionally anodized from Orange to Blue (Orange looked bad with the Pink shaft so I had it changed). Only a few rounds on this combo. Please see last pic- slight ding on back corner. 8.5-10 condition. THE SHAFT COST $475/ THE PUTTER $625. $799 shipped in the US. ONLY $699 SHIPPED.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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