Equipment
Bryson DeChambeau preparing to put 48-inch driver in play
Bryson DeChambeau is on the hunt for his first major this week at the 2020 U.S. Open, but ahead of the second major of the year, the Californian teased a significant equipment change for the near future and the spectacular results it could yield.
Speaking to media in New York, DeChambeau revealed that he plans on using a 48-inch driver which could see him consistently hitting an astronomical 210mph ball speed.
“We’re working on testing a 48-inch driver after this week. It’s just going to happen, too. So we’ll see how far I can go. I’m working with LAGP to build a shaft that’s stable but that I can use to get my ball speed up to 210mph. That would be fun.”
Asked would he be comfortable putting the driver in play on tour, the 27-year-old was transparent in letting everyone know that the change may come sooner rather than later.
“A hundred percent, yeah, why not. If it’s as consistent as what I’m doing now, there’s no reason why. If I was 205-mile-an-hour ball speed, I’d be using it everywhere out here. It would be even more of an asset to me. That’s the way I look at it.
There’s this point of no return where if you’re around like 180 and you try and get faster but it gets that much more drastically off line, it really doesn’t help you that much. You don’t gain that much. But once you start getting 195 to 200 to 205, even though you’re missing it that far off line, you’re so far up close to these greens, it’s too big of an advantage to take away.”
As for this week’s test at Winged Foot, Bryson will have his regular 45.5-inch gamer in play. The strategy for this week probably won’t surprise you either, as the golf scientist plans on using the club as much as he can regardless of whether or not it’s flying straight.
“Even if it’s in the rough, I can still get it to the front edge or the middle of the greens with pitching wedges and nine irons. That’s the beauty of my length and that advantage.
Obviously, if it’s into the wind and there’s some of those situations going on, it’s going to be different. There are certain holes I might lay up on just because of the situation but for the most part I’m going to be trying to go after it as much as I possibly can.
Even if I hit it in the rough, I still feel like I can make birdies out here. I still feel like I can run it up the middle of the green and make a 20-footer.”
DeChambeau tees off for round one of the 2020 U.S. Open at 8.16 AM ET alongside Dustin Johnson and Tony Finau.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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joro
Sep 30, 2020 at 10:45 am
Clown ? What a bunch of dopes who can’t break 120 on a good day. This guy has a goal, how about you. Just cut the BS and mind your own business and leave the guy alone. You know nothing about the game or the people playing it.
HKO
Sep 29, 2020 at 11:56 am
PGA soon to be 5 rounds of 18000 yds double black teed 27 holes on one day and no doping test.
phizzy
Oct 14, 2020 at 9:20 am
PGA tour drug testing is a joke to begin with. I have a buddy who did play on the Mackenzie tour(won’t mention his name) who has the inside scoop on testing and says players are warned ahead of time and keep things hush hush for the most part especially for the top players due to the fact that the tour wants to keep a clean cut image so as to keep sponsors and what not. I like Bryson and what he’s doing. Bomb and gouge. It’s the way I play golf and I will say it makes the game a bit easier having wedges into greens rather than a 7 iron or up.
geohogan
Oct 19, 2020 at 10:37 am
and new commissioner will be Steph Curry
with renaming of PGA to Holey Moley III, Partie trois, Sequela.
Play-by-play commentator Joe Tessitore, color commentator Rob Riggle
finally MC who understand Americans and what they want.
“Make American Golf great Again” MAGGA
JTB
Sep 23, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Bring back shot-making to modern golf courses. This is ridiculous. I have a hard time believing he can control and work a 48″ driver left/right, but if modern day courses don’t require this, then he can just bomb away. Please don’t let Bryson turn the game into a joke.
geohogan
Sep 21, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Tiger was at top of his game and golf swing in 2000. He couldnt leave his swing alone
and tinkered himself into one injury after another.
Bryson isnt the first and wont be the last.
Cody
Sep 24, 2020 at 11:43 am
He tinkered his way to 15 majors. You can speculate that he could have won more with his old swing(s), but reality is that his constant search seem to work pretty darn well.
phizzy
Oct 14, 2020 at 9:23 am
I agree. It wasn’t just the PEDS but also his violent swing that put a lot of stress on his back and knees which ultimately led to his injuries and multiple surgeries. I don’t like Tiger as a person, but he has tremendous talent and grit and is a once in a generation golfer. q
geohogan
Sep 21, 2020 at 5:27 pm
There is no way a 48 inch shaft can be controlled the same as 46 inches, unless the diameter of the shaft tip and hosel are increased to maximum currently, 0.370 inches
Question will be whether shaft or his body give out first.
Self destruction either way.
Johnny Penso
Sep 27, 2020 at 11:19 pm
His shafts are as stiff as rebar. Adding another 2 inches won’t make much difference.
geohogan
Oct 1, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Top driver shafts have 0.325 inch tip. This diameter is the limiter
for control as shaft gets longer and longer.
Its why 45 inches is about the longest the pros will play.
Increase thetip diameter and the mechanical properties allow somewhat longer controllable length, but that involves changes to the hosel as well as the shaft.
IMO, the USGA would be smart to get ahead of this madness and limit the tip diameters.
Dennis
Sep 20, 2020 at 12:10 am
Let him search for his ball by himself then, no ball spotters! That would be fun to watch 🙂
james sickels
Sep 19, 2020 at 4:24 pm
It will be great for courses with little ruff, but in deep ruff then the control of the second shot is very poor. He is experiencing that in the US Open on his green approach shots. Also as mentioned by other comments, the kinetic force going into his eco-skeleton is tremendous. He will have TWs banged up body 10 years earlier. Most of the many long drivers have all kinds of injuries to include rib seperation, knees, shoulder, and spinal issues. He’s fun to watch, but he may be in for a world of hurt in the future.
Bryson's Bro
Sep 21, 2020 at 9:14 pm
How’d he do in the US Open?
phizzy
Oct 14, 2020 at 9:27 am
Yes I agree. Look at Jaime Sadlowski and Jason Zubak who have lower back issues now. Putting a tremendous amount of stress on the lower back and knees from such violent swings will eventually give way to serious injuries. I myself am no slouch off the tee and have herniated discs in my lower back due to injuries from doing very heavy squats and dead lifts in my younger years from bodybuilding. My swing also isn’t doing any favors as my joint health is concerned either.
Speedy
Sep 19, 2020 at 1:48 pm
If he wore elevator golf shoes, he could go to 50″. Pray for Bryson.
Jason
Sep 19, 2020 at 11:42 am
What he isn’t taking into account is that at 48 inches, he will probably create more force than his joints can handle, which will cause his swing to breakdown biomechanically.
Trevion
Sep 18, 2020 at 10:59 pm
He’s not wrong. If he can actually hit 200+ mph ball speed and 350y+ carries consistently, he could dominate golf courses. All he’d need to carry around would be a driver, 4 wedges, and a putter. As he gets faster though he really needs to dial in his wedges better or it’s all going to be for nothing, really.
Johnny Penso
Sep 27, 2020 at 11:21 pm
I don’t know. I heard he won a tournament a couple weeks back so he must be doing something right.
Stephen Pearcy
Sep 18, 2020 at 10:59 am
I wonder how many tournaments are considering graduated rough,especially at 325-400 yards. Graduated so a really wayward shot is (at minimum) a 1-2 shot penalty.
KJ
Sep 17, 2020 at 5:37 pm
Sure he’s a bit of a clown, but I really enjoy that he’s willing to tinker at the highest level.
Dave
Sep 29, 2020 at 6:52 pm
me too. he will be trying a 48inch driver. it doesn’t mean he will be making it work & be worth it in tournaments. let’s just wait & see. if it does provide an (unfair) advantage then we can discuss that in the future. my personal metric is if someone drives the first at Augusta then Houston we may have a problem.