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Whats in the Bag

Inside the bags of the top 3 in the race for the FedEx Cup

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As we head into the thick of things for the FedEx Cup, it’s a perfect time to take a look at the three players who sit atop the points list: Justin Thomas, Webb Simpson, and Sungjae Im.

Although all Titleist staff players, each player implements very unique strategies to get it done. I had a chance to get some intel from Titleist tour reps JJ VanWezenbeeck and Vokey wedge magician, Aaron Dill, on some interesting nuggets for each player.

Let’s take a closer look.

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – JULY 30: Justin Thomas of the United States talks with caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, during the first round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on July 30, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

No. 1 Justin Thomas WITB

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9.5 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX (44 7/8″)

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 80 TX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5-wood: Titleist 915 Fd (18 degrees @ 19.5, B3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 Tour Spec X

Irons: Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (46-10F @ 47.5, 52-12F @ 52.5, 56-14F @ 57), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60T @ 60.5)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron X5 5 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GT Tour

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

JW: He has been a loyal Titleist MB player for a long time. The 620 MB iron was one that he had some input on. Where in the 620MB do we see JT?

JJ: In 716 and 718 JT, we were bending a lot of offset out for JT.  As more players saw JT’s clubs, we moved Jimmy Walker, and Bernd Wiesberger into similar models. JT had also provided good sole feedback along with a few of our other prominent blade users.  So with 620, Marni had the goal of mixing the best of the best—the look at address that players were moving for with very little offset, a good clean sole, and CG location to allow to move the ball a variety of directions and provide amazing feel.

JW: He has an interesting loft/bounce setup. Can you give us a little insight on why his wedges are configured that way?

AD: Justin had taken a few weeks off to rest and freshen up for another long stretch. That time at home was still a daily grind with his coach working hard and keeping things sharp. JT learned some things about his carry numbers and the math needed to hit the yardages he felt most comfortable with. With each wedge shot struck, he made changes and spent a lot of time adjusting his wedges to hit the numbers needed.

After his break ended, Justin came to the van and asked to have his specs checked. After checking his numbers, I was concerned and spoke to him explaining his new lofts and lies and how they were far from what I remembered from weeks past.

We spoke, and Justin explained to me the changes he made and why. This all made perfect sense, since the numbers have been the same no matter what I have built and it’s clear his time home and learning what works best for him has been a tremendous improvement to the growth of Justin’s game.

DUBLIN, OHIO – JULY 17: Webb Simpson of the United States talks with his caddie Paul Tesori on the 13th green during the second round of The Memorial Tournament on July 17, 2020 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

No. 2 Webb Simpson WITB

Driver: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees, A1 setting, draw setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 TX (45.25″)

3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 TX

5-wood: Titleist 913Fd (18 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya VTS 86 TX

Hybrid 1: Titleist 913Hd (21 degrees, B2 setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X

Hybrid 2: Titleist 915Hd (23.5 degrees, C3 setting)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Irons: Titleist 620 MB (5-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (54-14), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM5 (60-06K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser V-Line

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

JW: His bag is a mix of old and new. What’s it like testing new gear with Webb, and how challenging is it to land a new model in his bag?

JJ: I wouldn’t call it challenging, but between Paul (Tesori, Webb’s caddy) and Webb you have a pretty specific checklist to hit. The challenge comes from meeting all those goals.

With the driver we wanted to add some yardage and still maintain or improve his amazing accuracy. TS was amazing the first time we worked together on it. We spent time on the range at Quail Hollow then shot around the course in his cart and hit 2-4 tee shots off each tee trying to shape it different directions and make sure it had all the shots and the distance we were looking for.

Something like his 5-wood, this is more difficult because it has to hit such an exact number, when we put forgiveness and distance in our fairways, sometimes it doesn’t click in the bag setup perfectly for some but does for others—but Webb used to struggle with his 3-wood and after some work with TS2, he has had a winner for some time.

JW: How did his switch to the Vokey K grind come about, and what about that wedge was attractive?

AD: Like many players’ switches, this started with hitting a peer’s wedge in practice. Webb then was playing a 60-10S grind, seeming very content for a long time. He tried another player’s wedge at Harbour Town. The call came in quick—Webb reached out and said please give the same wedge you made for Player X.

The wedge was made, and shortly after Webb and caddie Paul Tesori said “this wedge is awesome and fits Webb’s needs really well.” The K grind was a great combo supplying two key elements needed to help Webb’s wedge play jump to the next level. Webb found two things with the low-bounce K, the first being a wedge that sat close to the ground creating confidence and a gliding sensation along the ground. The other was the forgiveness needed to get out of any bunker and increase speed through the sand.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – JUNE 14: Sungjae Im of South Korea talks with his caddie on the first green during the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 14, 2020 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

No. 3 Sungjae Im WITB

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9.5 @ 8.75 degrees, D1 SureFit setting, Draw CG)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7 X (45.25 inches)

3-wood: Titleist TS2 (13.5 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

Hybrid: Titleist 818H2 (19 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X

Irons: Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Raw (52-08F), (56-08M), SM7 (60-04L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom T6 STR
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion 1.0PT Black/White

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

JW: Crazy talent but seems to be all feel. Is he a player who pays close attention to the numbers, or is he more of a ball flight watcher? Also, when dialing in his bag, is he working away from any misses or insuring a shot he likes to see?

JJ: Sungjae is pretty amazing to work with. His sense on what a swing should produce is very impressive. We always watch the numbers for him, but he is a little old school and knows his shot shape and vertical window. He almost exclusively hits a cut with every club, so we need to make sure his setups match the feels he needs to produce that shot.

JW: Very low bounce on the 60L. Can you give us some detail on that “tour only” grind and why that works well for him? Who would a grind like that be for ideally?

AD: When SJ and I started working together, his wedge setup was very different. He was once a 52, 58 player and changed to a 52, 56, 60 player. Over time with testing and course conditions changing, SJ connected with 60-04L. This four-degree bounce option was the balance SJ was looking for when in the fairway and greenside.

The 60-04L is one of the most versatile grinds we make offering bounce square and heel, toe, and trailing edge relief allowing you the freedom and visual confidence to slide the wedge under the ball easily. The grind works well for players playing in former conditions, players who have shallow divots or slide through turf, and players like SJ with impeccable deliveries.

 

 

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11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Dwayne Bretzky

    Aug 1, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    No surprise its 3 titleist bags pretty much from start to finish. They make the best equipment pound for pound in the game. Wedges..putters..drivers/woods…hybrids are meh but udi irons are mint. You can’t go wrong with a full bag of titl from even 10+ years ago…if you don’t think so atleast look at the ball counts…company is legit..even some of the best players in their earlier years used all titleist stuff at some point. Ie tiger woods.

  2. dwayne bretzky

    Aug 1, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    Titleist makes the best golf equipment pound for pound from start to finsih…Wedges…Putters..,Drivers/woods are always great…if anything is ever on the weaker side its the hybrids but if your not into them hit a UDI…great tech in them…Nice work on the ad! all the best players in the world either play a scotty or a Pro v1 product for a reason and if they don’t now..they did in recent years and made a switch for $$$.

  3. Rod Jackson

    Aug 1, 2020 at 5:31 am

    As much as I enjoy reading the descriptions and looking at the photographs of the contents of the players golf bags, I always recall my cricket teacher at school, long, long ago, he said ” its never the arrow, its always the Indian. “

  4. gticlay

    Aug 1, 2020 at 3:23 am

    Not sure of JT’s lengths with his wedges, but it looks like he’s trying to about the same thing I am with my wedges and lofts, gapping out a certain way. Glad to see I’m not crazy! I think too many golfers try to force things to work with ‘standard’ loft sets.

  5. Paulo

    Aug 1, 2020 at 12:06 am

    Come on how much are Titleist paying you to run this random feature ? You can tell us

    • John Wunder

      Aug 1, 2020 at 8:23 am

      Zero. How is it random? We are going into a WGC Event, (The Fed EX nonetheless) and the top 3 players going in happen to be with the same OEM. The randomness is the fact that they are all Titleist guys. Funny that we put together a WITB of 3 great players and the first instinct is that the fix is in and its a paid advertisement. What a world lol.

      • Gianni sucks

        Aug 1, 2020 at 11:54 am

        Dude it’s so obvious when you guys do paid features, don’t act surprised.

        Where’s the original content you’re supposed to be creating?

  6. Mick

    Jul 31, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Shot my lowest round so far with those Titleist 620 MB irons- they are lasers.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X

Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X

Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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