What is the reason that pro's use the staff bag. Wouldnt it be easier on the caddy to use a stand bag? I know they carry rain gear and all that stuff but you can get pretty nice stand bags these days. Just wondering what everyones thought was on this.

something like this........

Because they're not the ones carrying them and staff bags are basically a billboard. It's an advertisement for a sponsor and the bigger the better. Just my thoughts, i'm not positive.

2nd on the billboard approach - the other thing is that pros carry ALL KINDS of junk in their bags - way more than you or I take with us on a normal round... And the caddy has nothing better to do than stand next to the bag and keep it from falling over after he/she has stepped away from the pro while the pro is taking the shot. No reason to have a stand when the caddy is going to stay with the bag.

But the caddy does lay the bag down when they get on the green and when he is raking the sand etc. Its hard to see the LOGO when its laying on the ground!!!!!

Might be old school thinking. Just like pros don't wear shorts even if it is really hot out. But it is OK to strip down to your underwear to hit a ball out of a water hazard.

I have to agree with the billboard idea. I know in Nascar the drivers get paid depending on how many shots they got of the car on tv with the logos showing because they were in the top 10 during the race, etc. so it definitely does matter and I'm sure they have a contract that says they must carry the bag.

I suppose that is true - I would say tradition has a role to play.

Advertising, there is no other logical reason. You can get everything you need in a regualar carry bag.

Staff bags have way more storage then carry bags do, even the one pictured above. You would be amazed of all the stuff they have in there

the logo is on the bottom of the bag as well, they've got it all covered

so maybe we should change the subject too..... "what do Pro's carry in their bag that it needs to be so big"

1. Clubs
2. golf balls
3. rain gear
4. extra gloves
5. tee's
6. extra cleats
7. umbrella

any other items? I fit all that in my small stand bag, so what else do they carry that most of us dont?

I guess is what I am wondering is why wouldnt say Titleist want them to use a bag that more people would want to own? I think a lot of people are like me that think the staff bag is really cool looking, but too impractical to own. just too big and bulky to be lugging around without a caddy. But you take a bag like the one I posted and people will like the size and be more apt to spend the extra cash to get one like their favorite golfer is using.

Now i am babling! I worked all night and need to get some sleep.!!!!!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't an extra pair of shoes, or some other kind of spare clothing. They don't get to walk off if they get their shoes wet like we can, so they need to prepare for all eventualities.

Clubs go in an out of the hard sided staff bag much easier than any stand bag.

Other than the advertising on the bag, I would think a large part has to do with tradition and image of the professional game.

One thing I like about staff bags is the ease of getting clubs in and out of the bag. I have one that was given to me and never use it just because its a pain to lug around from the car to the house but its nice to having to fight to get clubs out of the bag.

you left out food for the pro, as well as rain gear and food for the caddy as well.

On rainy days im sure an extra towel to add to the list..
and they also are pretty durable,
and i agree alot with the easy ability to get clubs in and out without stress

They could make it so when the stand deploys a sponsors flag pops out of the top !
And a banner between the legs too.

Stand bag seems pretty win win to me.

What is the name of that bag?!

Exactly. If the Tour guys started carrying smaller bags with stands, they would be relabeled "Staff" bags.

i dunno. it's so hard to see....does that say callaway or nike?

It says one expensive a$$ seat...

no, i actually meant what is the name of that bag, ie to purchase! :p sorry for the confusion!

i think you mean the bag that started the topic, its a titleist japan stand bag, nice bag buy highway robbery when you see a price of $350+shipping and shipping is another $40+ so your looking at a $400 bag. RIDICULOUS

I wonder why we do not see these bags released in the USA? I would buy one like it in a second if the price was around the $200-$250 mark. very sharp!!!!!

second that, i would buy one in a second for $200 which still is on the upper price teir in the bag world.

Does a Staff Bag fit on the back of a riding cart?

yes.

Ok its a lot of years but I have Caddied for the Pros and carried Staff Bags

Jerry McGhee and Fred Marti to be specific it was a long time ago

As and assistant at a private club in Wisconsin one of my jobs Caddy Master and training caddys


First off most of the Pro's could care less what you carry or how heavy it is

But strangely enough most Caddies in my day preferred big bags easier to get the clubs in and out of and keep them organized.

I had a kid that caddied for me in the big tournaments and I offered him the choice one tournament when the final round was 36 holes he chose the staff bag

I to this day prefer playing out of a staff bag and they fit fine on a cart. I just do not like carrying them from the car.

Well thats my attempt to lay a little light on this subject

Thanks for the info! I just got new irons (MX-200's) and love the Mizuno Staff Bags.

Good morning Jason,

Thank you for writing in to Frank Thomas. He has replied to your comments
below.

Don't forget to check out Frank's new book, "Just Hit It" at
www.franklygolf.com where he talks about golf/equipment and where it has
come from, where it is, and where Frank thinks it is going.

Take care,


Vanessa Buttery
Frankly Golf LLC.
Tel: 407-396-4004
Fax: 407-396-0440
8390 ChampionsGate Blvd # 100
ChampionsGate, FL, 33896

JUST HIT IT........ Frank's new book now shipping..... click to learn more
www.franklygolf.com



Jason,
The caddies can ask for a double strap if they want one. In fact IZZO have
convinced many to use this very much more efficient and ergonomically
designed strap system.

I agree that bags are too big but this is an ego thing. "You are not a real
pro unless you have a BIG bag". They are so big you can lose two dozen
balls in one of the side pockets.
Believe it or not, it is a choice that caddie has and he/she can get a
double strap if he wished and these can be retro fitted to the bag.
Hope you have a copy of my book because I know you will enjoy it.
Frank

Frank Thomas
"Helping Golfers"
www.FranklyGolf.com
(407) 396 4004

8390 ChampionsGate Blvd #100
ChampionsGate
FL 33896



-----Original Message-----
From: Jason E. Dorfler [mailto:JDorfler@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 5:11 PM
To: letsbefrank@franklygolf.com
Subject: Tour Bags


Frank,
I've been reading your thoughts and posts for about two years now, and
you have answered a lot of my questions. I have one question I can't
find an answer to, and I'd like to know what you think. Why do tour
players have their caddies carry those huge, out of date, monstrosity
tour bags? We both know that the one strap on this huge thing isn't
enough support for a caddy's back, and with everything else in the world
using modern technology to better life and make things more
ergonomically correct from pencils to backpacks, why can't caddies carry
better bags? Heck, even us weekend warriors have better bags for
walking, and they even have cart bags that fit carts better. Not to
mention having cooler pockets to keep our favorite beverages and snacks
nice and cold.

If I can buy a double strapped bag with padding for my lower back that
carries everything I need for 40 bucks at Wal-Mart, why can't the tour
pros find a nice easy to carry bag for their caddies. Heck, the one's
you can buy at Wal-Mart even have a stand system so your towel and other
nick nacks don't have to drag on the ground.

Is there some kind of rule? I mean, come on. If they allow the caddies
to wear shorts and Crocs shoes, couldn't they lighten up on the poor
guys? Not all of them are Steve working for the world's number one. A
lot of these guys are living from paycheck to paycheck.

Thank you in advance for your answer.
-- Jason E. Dorfler




Copy of the same question I asked on the Frankly Golf website.

You don't have to carry your bag from the car. If you play the right courses, you just pull up to the front door and they take the bag out of the trunk and put it on the cart for you. Even at most munis, you can go get a cart and return to your car to get your bag. I love staff bags. The bigger the better.

Aspirin, food, energy drink, extra towels, many things. Also its so much easier getting the clubs in and out of the staff bag.

Reasons for tour staff bag:
1. you can store way more stuff in it. Keep also in mind a tour player will also carry back up rain gear in case of rain. They also need more room so that they do not have to stuff said rain gear in so that it is all wrinkly and bunched up, need to look good for sponsors.

2. If you have ever owned a staff bag, slipping my irons and clubs in and out was pretty darn easy, my vaporlite stand bag is a pain in the (you know what). Every time my clubs get stuck, grips against grips, i end up in a mini sword fighting battle trying to thrust and parry my clubs into bag.

3. advertising. Why did phil wear that stupid bearing point hat, with a logo that covered the entire cap? advertising. When bag is by green you can still clearly see it. I often if interested in clubs a pro plays, who i do not know, will look at their bag as one sign of what they play, if i can clearly see the brand, i might go further and look up/buy what they play.

4. as a last note, in some cases the weight is not such a big diff. The asian titleist you gave as an example weighs 8.6 lbs, a tour staff bag is 10-12 lbs so not such a big diff, (Edit: thought that nice asian one was 3.9kg, it is actually 4.2kg, so it is 9.2lbs) (obviously if they chose a really light stand bag, then they would be lighter but with a severe problem for storage).

Don't forget TRAVEL. These guys carry extra clubs and gear from tourney to tourney every week, and there's way more room.

You all are missing one key thought...


My name in big letters, on the top, on the belly, and on the bottom....

I am a pro, here is my name. It would be lost on a stand bag.

Here's a question that begs asking: Why do amateurs use staff bags??

For cart riding large staff bags are the best. Clubs go in and out much easier than with any other style of bag.

Where did you get that bag??? Japanese issue???

This is completely untrue.