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What brand would you play?

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In a famous lecture by Alan Watts, a British writer and philosopher (among other things), he asks his audience “What would you do if money were no object.”

His question was posed to invoke deep spiritual thoughts about the meaning of life and the search of true happiness.

I’m taking the question in another, less philosophical (well, depending on your passion for the game) direction: What golf clubs would you play if money were no object?

Professional golf is a business, especially these days. As such, the golfers we watch and cheer for week in and week out are indeed businessmen.

Golf is a game, but at the professional level it is also a means to an end. That is why we see golfers like Rory McIlroy changing sponsors in exchange for a larger bank account, and guys like John Daly, who are walking billboards for the companies they endorse.

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What’s in the bag: Brandt Snedeker used equipment from six different companies: TaylorMade, Tour Edge, Ping, Bridgestone, Titleist (Vokey) and Callaway (Odyssey).

Luckily, for the sake of this argument, money is no object for this story. The only object is brand loyalty.

Here’s the question I pose to you:

If money were no object, which brand of golf clubs would you decide to play for the rest of your golfing days?

This isn’t about contracts or looking pretty for television. It’s about what weapons you want in your arsenal. The catch is that whichever brand you choose, you must play that brand throughout your bag (putter excluded).

That means the driver, fairway woods, utility clubs, hybrids, irons and wedges must all be made by the same company. There is no mixing and matching sets. If you decide to choose a Callaway driver, you can’t have an Adams hybrid. However, you can play any club that the brand manufactured from any year (you can use a new Titleist 913D3 driver with a set of 690.MB irons if you so please).

A lot of the technology junkies are probably thinking, “I can choose whatever driver I want and just change the shaft.” Wrong. You have to keep the original stock shaft in all clubs (you can’t out-smart me, GolfWRX-ers).

Think hard, because in this hypothetical world, it will be the only brand you’ll ever play again.

Vote below for which of the following manufacturers you would use throughout your bag (driver, woods, hybrids, irons and wedges) if money were no object.

What brand would you play?

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

87 Comments

87 Comments

  1. Manny

    Nov 11, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    I’ve hit a sleuth of irons but it all came to an end once I pure’d a Mizuno MP-64 5 iron. The feeling is indescribable.
    Ping 9.5 I25 stiff flex
    Callaway xhot 3 wood stiff
    Mizuno mp flihi 21* stiff
    Mizuno 4-pw dynamic gold x100
    Mizuno mp-t4 wedges 52* 56* 60*
    Scotty Cameron Golo 5 center shaft (black)

  2. Idris Sherrod

    Apr 19, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    To be honest, I love Nike clubs, growing up and watching Tiger dominate with them made a huge impression on me I would go:
    Driver: Nike VR Pro 9.5 loft
    Woods: Nike VRS Covert Tour 2.0 (3 wood and 5 wood)
    Hybrid: Nike VRS Covert 1.0 Tour (3 Hybrid)
    Irons: Nike VR-S Forged Irons 4-PW
    Wedges: Nike VR Pro DS 56 % 60
    Putter: Nike Method Concept
    Ball: Nike 20XI-S
    If I could not go Nike I would then go Mizuno or Titleist

  3. Guantanemo

    Aug 28, 2013 at 5:27 am

    I’m actually surprised Callaway and Adams aren’t higher up on the poll. Callaway’s Razr Fit Xtreme has the 7M3 stock, XHot Pro fairways are good without question, their new X-Forged are really good, so are their Forged Wedges and the Mac Daddy 2’s, and Odyssey makes plenty of quality putters. Likewise, Adams drivers, fairways, and hybrids are all great products with good stock shafts, their CMB’s are some awesome irons, Pugielli wedges aren’t the most famous but they’re decent, and Yes! putters are great as well.

  4. Mike

    Aug 23, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Any Ping iron made in the U.S

    NO OTHER GOLF CO. MAKES AMERICAN

    PRODUCTS OR EMPLOYS AMERICANS IN

    THEIR FACTORIES.

  5. Jerry McHam

    Aug 23, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    I have played Wilson Staff for most of the past 55 years. The only exception was a one year stint with Bridgestone as a staff member and also a one year stint with Callaway when I was on staff with them. I have been a Wilson Staff member since 1965 and I will die with a Wilson Staff club in my hands.

    I only wish Wilson Sporting Goods Company would make a serioue attempt to return to the greatness which was once Wilson Staff … make the 1970″s Staff Forged Blades with todays’ technology and materials and you will have all the best players in the world wanting Wilson Staff equipment … it really is a shame to let the Wilson Staff reputation go any further down the drain …

  6. smoking joker

    Aug 22, 2013 at 7:20 pm

    A Dear deceased friend of mine that played in 4 U.S. Opens told me this…The Most you could use a Driver in a par 72 course is 14 times, Provided your GIR’s were 18 and you shot par thats 36 Putts, 36 +14 =50 shots…with 2 clubs, That leaves you 12 clubs for the remaining 22 shots, Get good with a Driver, Putter, and Wedge, Titleist Drivers, Vokeys, and Scotty Cammeron, I think Titleist sums it up.

  7. smoking joker

    Aug 22, 2013 at 7:13 pm

    A Dear deceased friend of mine that played in 4 U.S. Opens told me this…The Most you could use a Driver in a par 72 course is 14 times, Provided your GIR’s were 18 and you shot par thats 36 Putts, 36 +14 =50 shots…with 2 clubs, That leaves you 14 clubs for the remaining 22 shots, Get good with a Driver, Putter, and Wedge, Titleist Drivers, Vokeys, and Scotty Cammeron, I think Titleist sums it up.

  8. Christopher Kim

    Aug 22, 2013 at 7:28 am

    Great article and question. I actually found it a very philosophical one, as you can easily make a case for any brand on the list. They all have their pros and cons, and that’s the real beauty of the question. There is no be-all and end-all when it comes to golf equipment brands because there are so many brands that excel in making one type of club while not doing so well in others (i.e. Mizuno irons vs. drivers/woods).

    I had to take into account the design of the clubs, as in the overall aesthetics of the clubs. If money were no object, would I play clubs that perform well, but don’t look very pleasing to the eye? Or would I ignore the looks and go for what suits my game? I’m not the best ballstriker out there, but I do love the look of some well-made blade irons. On the other hand, Ping is known for making some of the most forgiving irons on the market, but some people (me included) are turned off by the looks.

    Also, because we’re not worried about who is playing what driver/irons/wedges/ball, it really should come down to what brand we as individual golfers prefer on a personal level. Many people who aren’t too keen on equipment manufacturers and their marketing ploys often fall for the brands that simply have the most PGA Tour players using their equipment, and that is a horrible way to choose equipment. Some might say, “well, if such-and-such is using this driver, it MUST be good, right?” That’s so far from the truth. PGA Tour pros could dominate courses with any brand’s clubs, regardless of what the ads say. It’s all about the look/feel/confidence that the clubs give you.

    In my case, I’m a big Mizuno fan, playing an older set of MP-57 irons and MP-T Series wedges. I just can’t find a set of irons/wedges that give me the same feel/look. But I use Taylormade drivers/woods. I’ve always played Taylormade drivers, and I just have a confidence playing with them that I don’t get from other drivers. However, I would not want to have my entire set of clubs outfitted by either brand, as Mizuno drivers/woods leave something to be desired, whether it’s from the looks or the performance, while Taylormade irons and wedges are starting to come around, with their Tour Preferred lineup. I would definitely go with Titleist, which always has great a great lineup of clubs throughout the bag. While their Vokey wedges are usually considered to be one of, if not the best wedge on the market, they’re never really the “top” choice in any other category, but close to it nevertheless.

  9. Mark Combs

    Aug 19, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    I play a Titleist driver and I love my Ping irons, I hope Ping never changes, clunky, gunmetal finish, forgiving…..G25 irons are amazing!!!! Ping is one of the few club makers that offers an ultra lightweight senior flex in steel

  10. Chris Downing

    Aug 18, 2013 at 1:43 am

    You are beginning to getto the heart of the original question, which is about having a free choice and whatwould it be. The listing almostlooks likethe same list you’d come up with if you were polling who spent what on marketing. I was reminded of a talk I had with our pro about go,f balls. He had been to a Callaway presentation on balls. He heard all about how Callaway had patents on all sorts of ideas and technologies. How the original Titleist ProV1 had to be redesigned as it breached Callaway’s patents, how the balls Callaway had were as good as, were better then, were the ones you should choose, were the intellegent decision….. You know the way these things go. So I asked did you change? “Well so many pros use Titleist I thought, why bother?” he says.. Seems like what we use is hugely effected by what the pros use – and our perception of a brand created by marketing.

    I’ve been a pro musician for a whole now and when looking for songs for repetoire, we will often seach for writers songs rather than artists performances. So who are the great designers? Who are the up coming new guys in design? Where is their work being used?

    And build quality? Where is the best facilities for building clubs. Perhaps we should even go back to components – surely there are some better graphitebshafts than steel by now. So who makes the best quality heads. Shafts? Best quality assembly?

    The original question raises more questions than a simple brand answer.

  11. Evan

    Aug 16, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    I’d have to go with Callaway.

    I like their mix the best. I like the Irons, woods, & putters on average more than other brands. It’s not all i game, but if i had to pick one it would be them.

  12. Tyler

    Aug 14, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    No point playing one brand IMO. Though I used to be pretty loyal to playing TM equipment but have drifted away from them after RB came out(I’m down to just one TM club in my bag, R1).

    Play what looks good and GET FITTED. I’m 5’11 165 and thought I standard was fine. I played to a low handicap for years but struggled with consistent solid contact due to the fact i was playing a standard lie. I went two degress flat and it changed my ballstriking. Misses weren’t as bad and i picked up one club distance wise.

  13. Fred

    Aug 12, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    Dan: I echo your thoughts on Mizuno. Read the reviews on Golfsmith about the players who have converted over to Mizuno from all the other brands. I was especially impressed with the reviews of the MP-69, which is a tour blade. Average players are using it and loving it. As I’ve mentioned previously – check out the MP-4s and MP-54s when they come out.

  14. Dan

    Aug 10, 2013 at 10:55 am

    Off the Rack, there is only one choice of major brands…Mizuno. Lefties could get their woods from Japan, Mizuno still makes lefties there. Titleist doesn’t even come close off the rack. Mizuno has 128 stock shaft choices (if you include flex options), Their woods are actually fantastic, but they spend no money on marketing of them. Wedges hands down better than Vokey, Titleist may have the woods (I think I would be willing to sacrifice 1.5 yards, though) category, but we hit irons and wedges the majority of our shots, For the 2% of golfers that are 1 handicaps or better, titleist might do, (probably not) but for the rest of us, Mizuno makes a MUCH better product.
    If you want to go with advertising hype, sure, Titleist…Quality and performance, all the way through…Mizuno, hands down. Poll would be better as a 10 or 12 club choice, though.

  15. shawn

    Aug 9, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I wonder why adams didnt get a better representation everytime you watch the senior players ther equipment majority of the time is adams throught the bag

  16. Roddy

    Aug 8, 2013 at 5:46 am

    i myself play with slazenger golf clubs as i am off 21 and have been playing golf for 10 years,i must say that i am outraged slazenger is not on featured list above. Disgusted to say the least. one of the best brands in the world next to the Dougie Dunlops.

    • Dan

      Aug 10, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Thought you were serious, until I read the last line…

  17. eric

    Aug 8, 2013 at 3:43 am

    It’s hard not to pick Titleist on this, they are just too solid from top to bottom. Another company that is kind of a creeper as of recently is Cleveland. The 588 CBs feel and perform like a dream. Sounds crazy but I would that set up against Mizuno. The Classic Custom XL driver is pretty hot too. Top to bottom, this year Cleveland can compete.

  18. KCCO

    Aug 7, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    It’s a shame Mizuno and Miura (honorable mention) doesn’t put as much into fairways/drivers as their irons, but in my opinion that’s what makes TITLEIST the most well rounded company of all. From driver to putter to shoes Titleist/Acushnet. It’s a wonder how they develope the best of the best players and let them loose.

  19. Jon Silverberg

    Aug 7, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    I reject the condition that it must be one brand. That condition bears no relationship to the real world. If money were no object (which it isn’t when it comes to my clubs, balls, etc.), I’d do exactly what I do now: my clubs are made up of 5 different brands (PING driver, TM fairway & hybrids, Mzuno irons, Cleveland wedges, Odyssey putter), and the ball is a 6th (Bridgestone).

    • headymonster

      Aug 7, 2013 at 7:11 pm

      Stop trying to find loop holes. I think the question was pretty clearly – which brand do have the most faith in to keep you happy across all sticks moving forward. Obviously this choice might come with some compromise. Love my PING woods and irons, but also love my cleveland wedges. However, I’d trade in the Clevelands in if I could only have one brand due to my overall trust in PING.

  20. Tim

    Aug 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    I love the Titleist stuff, maybe not the hybrids so much, but I just can’t afford it right now. Even on Ebay.

  21. Marc

    Aug 7, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Bridgestone J-40’s. Had mine for over one year. PX-6.0 shafts, same with wedges. Fairway woods: TM SuperSteel, 5 & 3, Driver: Cobra S Pro with Diamana ‘ahina 60 stiff shaft. Yes Natalie putter.

  22. JB

    Aug 7, 2013 at 11:49 am

    Serious golfers would never need more than Titleist or Wilson Staff. Seriously. W/S are superior but no one plays them. The rest is personal preference but no better quality. That’s a fact actually though I will get flamed. Taylormade is the Jersey Shore of golf equipment. Do any of you honestly actually think in the era of the supercomputer and manned space flight that driver technology is changing every 6 weeks? The question is fun to ask but really just lets people get riled up. (or RIFED)

  23. Cynthia

    Aug 7, 2013 at 11:28 am

    Rife for Life!

  24. Scott

    Aug 7, 2013 at 9:00 am

    Nike ranked poorly on the list. I’m a Titleist player. Other than Nike clothing, I dont think anyone takes their equipment seriously. Nike should consider buying out Rory, get him out of contract. Let him go back to Titleist and win something. It would be a win win for both.

  25. dan

    Aug 6, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    Just a thought, if money being no object is supposed to allow us norm
    al players to think like tour pros in regard to bag set up, how many pros have mixed bags that WORK for them? HEAPS do!!

  26. Will o'the Glen

    Aug 5, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    Adding the “one brand throughout the bag” restriction makes the question pointless. If you are going to go for the best clubs for your game, brand loyalty is an unnecessary restriction.

    I currently play a 2007 Callaway Big Bertha Titanium 454 driver (with a NOS duplicate in reserve), Big Bertha 3W from the same year — and a 5W that goes in and out of the bag depending upon where I’m playing — Taylormade Burner 4H and 5H (4H sometimes replaced by the Callaway 5W – see above), Bridgestone J40 Dual-Pocket irons 5i through PW, Hogan Riviera 5006 GW, Sure Out 5406 SW and 6006 LW, and a Taylormade Tight Lies Putter.

    I play what works for me — and you’d be a fool to do otherwise.

  27. Matt M

    Aug 4, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    If the company doesn’t make woods could you use a different woods? If that’s the case I’d go Scratch irons, wedges and putter and Adams woods.

  28. lloyd duffield

    Aug 3, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    IM USING TAYLORMADE CLUBS WHICH ARE R1 BLACK DRIVER and RBZ STAGE 2 FAIRWAY & HYBRID WOODS / ROCKETBLADZ TOUR IRONS / ATV WEDGE / 2013 TM SPIDER PUTTER . WHICH IS ALL TOP SPEC CLUBS BUT I WAS USING NIKE CLUBS AT THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR WHICH INCLUDED ALL THE NEW COVERT WOODS AND FAIRWAYS WHICH ARE GOOD BUT I FIND THE R1 AND RBZ2 MUCH BETTER BUT WOT I DO MISS IS MY NIKE VR PRO COMBO IRONS WHICH ARE VERY GOOD INC THE NIKE VR PRO BLADZ IRONS 2 OF THE BEST SETS OF IRONS ON THE MARKET WITH OUT A DOUGHT .

  29. shannon

    Aug 3, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    I wouldn’t be able to game any for the simple fact I don’t hit off the rack shafts. Why would I play something that doesn’t fit my game. Tour pris don’t play stock shafts either. There’s not one company that offers a full bag of clubs I like. The poll is a little too limited.

  30. Jarred

    Aug 2, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    I’d go crazy trying to use one manufacturer.
    Driver-Callaway X Hot
    3 wood – Taylormade V Steel
    Hybrid – Cobra Baffler
    Irons – Adams ProA12
    Sand Wedge – Scratch Golf
    Lob Wedge – Titleist
    Putter – Ping Zing 2

  31. mkc

    Aug 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    Kind of a burn for me as a lefty. My first instinct is to go with Mizuno but they don’t even offer a current driver/fairway in left hand. Never hit the old ones…

    What about iron shafts? If we are stuck with stock then that rules out Titleist, not a DG fan.

    I guess it’s a toss up between Callaway and Ping for me.

  32. joe

    Aug 2, 2013 at 10:59 am

    What a pointless poll.

    Is this site becoming that desperate for content?

    • Peter Reich

      Aug 2, 2013 at 12:35 pm

      Why respond if you have nothing to add? As a golf junkie myself I love the question to get me thinking about what is really important in a set of clubs… Roy from “Tin Cup” only needed a 7 iron and Harvey Pennick says the 3 most important clubs are the driver, the wedge, and the putter.

      • Fred

        Aug 12, 2013 at 8:54 pm

        Peter: this “golf junkie” has to agree with you. Hit a great drive; get on the green with the wedge, and sink it. I played in a pro-am with Ben Crenshaw a few years back, and when I thanked him for turning a lot of us on to Harvey after he won the Masters, I thought he was going to choke up. The putting lessons, alone, that day, were worth the experience of playing with him.

  33. Jeff

    Aug 2, 2013 at 10:45 am

    You can tell a right-handed person made this game up.

    I’ll say Mizuno just for the wedges, irons, and putters by Bettinardi. Never even tried one of their woods or hybrids, mostly because I think I’ve only seen one Mizuno fairway wood and driver in a store. Do they even make a left-handed driver anymore? I stopped looking. I’d love Miura or Epon but I can’t fill a complete bag with their limited (or non-existent) lefty offerings.

    • Jack

      Aug 6, 2013 at 12:18 am

      Well or you could go opposite lefty and play right handed clubs? It’s like switch hitting.

  34. The Infidel

    Aug 2, 2013 at 10:43 am

    The need for pros to game a single brand or in fact the newest gear can often compromise their performance. Tiger (signing a weekly deal with Nike at the outset), Rory (seems drunk) and G-mac to name a few who have struggled post change. Though much of this is based on a change to their ball I think.

    Testing based on performance and results is all that matters, Rory gamed a $30 fairwary metal while winning tournaments, now his $500 driver couldnt hit a barn.

    Titleist is at the very top for good reason and I voted for them with only 2/14 clubs in my bag being from their brand. Serious clubs for serious golfers, not flashy average kit for average flashy players *cough* Taylormade!

  35. Martin

    Aug 2, 2013 at 7:22 am

    I picked Titleist, but in reality I wouldn’t do it.

    My bag is full of clubs chosen by trial and error.
    Ping Rapture (maybe new cleveland custome XL)
    Callaway xhot 3 wood
    Cobra hybrids of two different vintages
    Mizuno JPX800 irons
    Cleveland CG12 52 & 58
    Oddyssey putter

  36. Jack

    Aug 2, 2013 at 5:10 am

    I love that Titleist is number one. They have the best stuff throughout the entire lineup. Ping is also great but their image of being game improvement (is that really a bad thing? I know I can’t get around it either) hurts them in this exercise. I didn’t have much experience with Mizuno’s drivers and putters, so not sure how those would work. Taylormade has good stuff all around, but their gimmickiness hurts them too. Nike has gotten better, and I think their putters and driver/woods are getting there, but their irons and wedges just don’t look that great. Callaway is really good too. They have great woods, irons, wedges, even their odyssey putters are good (maybe ranked below titleist though in terms of appeal), down to their ball. I think they are the closest match to Titleist along with Taylormade. Although all three attract different buyers.

  37. kakashi54

    Aug 2, 2013 at 3:11 am

    I have always wanted to have set of all non mainstream clubs that most people have never head off. like Scratch irons and wedges or Edel, Bombtech driver, Machine putter not sure what hybrid and fairway wood I would choose.All in a Jones golf bag with Seamus or Stich head-covers. And I would also have a Japanese set also. not mizuno because everybody knows them probably Fourteen or ONOff. I would just love to have clubs that nobody else has especially here in Australia because zero people I know have heard of Scratch golf.

  38. Jack

    Aug 2, 2013 at 2:40 am

    What’s wrong with Epon?

  39. Desmond

    Aug 1, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    C’mon, what is Epon doing in that group?

    • Yamaha Freak

      Aug 1, 2013 at 11:21 pm

      Have you ever play an Epon set? fantastic drivers, woods and iron sets, each of them has the quality of Japanese tour issue. Only 1 problem, they r expensive

  40. yo!

    Aug 1, 2013 at 9:59 pm

    if money were not an object, why would i just play one set of clubs. i probably would play 100. as it is, being the golf ho, i’m playing about 15 sets

  41. 8thehardway

    Aug 1, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    TaylorMade irons gave me trajectory I couldn’t get anywhere else and I broke par twice since getting them three years ago, when previous 15-year low was four over par. They get my vote and my gratitude.

  42. Matt

    Aug 1, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    titleist produces the best equipment, throughout the bag, hands down without the marketing gimmicks or obscene claims other brands *taylormade* rely on

  43. The Real James

    Aug 1, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    I’d start my own OEM. I’d hire Byron Morgan, Don White, James Patrick, and Tiger Woods to be on the R&D team.

  44. Andres

    Aug 1, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    Actually made change to almost dream set.

    Adams Launch Lab 8.0 – Matrix Black Tie
    Adams Super LS 13 – Matrix Black Tie
    Adams Super LSP 18 – Matrix Altus green Black Tie
    Adams DHY 24 – Matrix White Tie
    Miura CB-501 – KBS C-Taper (5-PW)
    Renegar Graphite (50, 54, 60) (Testing)
    TM Daddy long Legs 37 – would love Futura X 37 Tour Only
    Sun Mountain H2No white orange – would love new Miura Staff White Orange
    Head Covers Rocket Tour – would love Iiac

    Would like to try Miura woods and hybrids. Other alternative could be Epon.

  45. baudi

    Aug 1, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    Irons: Ben Hogan Apex Plus.
    Currently waiting for a modern version but Callaway is not apt to use the brand.

  46. T.Rhee

    Aug 1, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    Dang, have been playing Titleist woods and wedges, and Mizuno irons forever. And there is no way that I would part with my Whitlam putter, but I guess if I had to choose, leaning towards Titleist.

  47. Dick

    Aug 1, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    Easy choice in either titleist or Miura. Hopefully they release their SIT fairways soon.

  48. Donovan

    Aug 1, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    Since 99% of us on this site aren’t professionals, aren’t we already playing the brands we prefer? Just sayin…

    • brian

      Aug 1, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      most of us are playing brands we can afford

      • t120

        Aug 3, 2013 at 11:52 pm

        Donovan, not to say “money is no object”. but I agree with you. We are ALL playing brands we want. Doesn’t mean we’re willing to settle forever on it, but it’s what fit us best or what we like to look at – and for me, as with you, I wouldn’t change a club in my bag I wasn’t paid to change; even if that rotation were to change from course-to-course, it’s that way for a reason.

        Brian. I don’t agree with your statement at all. If everyone took your idea of purchasing gear…why purchase it? Why not just rent a set of clubs, or buy some off CL? Because you’re obviously not that serious, or looking for an argument if you believe that people just throw down $300 and say “Well, it’s all I could afford, better make this Nike slingshot thing work out!”. I highly doubt more than 2% of the members on this site buy and play on price alone.

  49. Rob

    Aug 1, 2013 at 5:20 pm

    I would play the clubs that best suite my eyes, my feel, and my ball flight regardless of the name stamped on the bottom. Right now I’m rocking 5 different brands of clubs in my bag – Nike, Nickent, TM, Vokey, and Odessey. I’m very picky and all my clubs have been carefully selected for certain reasons and that would not change, even if money was no object.

  50. Jtriscott

    Aug 1, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Um… Play which one gives you a better contract…

    • michael

      Aug 1, 2013 at 4:57 pm

      well the questions is “choose a brand if money is not a option”

  51. Josh

    Aug 1, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    Epon currently outranks Wilson/Staff.

    There is no justice.

  52. Joe Watson

    Aug 1, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    Callaway owns Hogan still, right? Hogan made great forged irons and wedges. All of the many models Callaway drivers, woods and hybs over the last few years can fit anyone.

  53. Duncan

    Aug 1, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Wishon. Because the money is spent on what really counts: custom-fitted performance. http://wishongolf.com/

  54. Peter Reich

    Aug 1, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    I would like to know what the rules would be for a brand like Miura who in my opinion makes the best irons and wedges but doesn’t even have a fairway wood in production.

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Aug 1, 2013 at 3:33 pm

      Miura has drivers, fairway woods and hybrids in production. No doubt that the irons and wedges are more popular though.

      Here’s our review of Miura’s SIT460 driver: http://www.golfwrx.com/37707/miura-sit460-driver-review/

      – Zak

      • Peter Reich

        Aug 1, 2013 at 8:58 pm

        I would like a link to a fairway wood, I’ve seen their driver and love it! The deep face took away my most common miss (low on the face) and l whole heartily think their irons, wedges, and even putters are the best clubs I have ever played! It’s like the filet wrapped in bacon of golf.

  55. Jon

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I figured ping or titleist would win this one

  56. Mikko U

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    Mizuno, hands down. Bettinardi putters to choose from, MP-650 woods, MP T-11 wedges and more beautiful irons you’d ever ask for.

    Ping would be #2…

    • Santiago Golf

      Aug 1, 2013 at 6:35 pm

      Mizuno does not own Bettinardi any more. But u could still use the old mizuno bettinardi putters

      • ANDREW

        Aug 2, 2013 at 12:59 pm

        Putters are excluded, so that shouldn’t be a factor.

    • Fred

      Aug 12, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      Have to agree with Mikko about Mizuno. I don’t think there’s a smoother club out there, except, maybe, for Miura, which a lot of players don’t know about or can afford. The new MP-4 may very well be the most beautiful blade I’ve ever seen.

  57. Wayne

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Does TM’s TP shafts count? I know there’s that debate, but TP is the “real deal” right..?

  58. Andrew

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    You should break this poll up – I’d play different brands between drivers, irons, putters, etc if given the choice

    • Jtriscott

      Aug 1, 2013 at 4:46 pm

      You should read this article again.

      “This isn’t about contracts or looking pretty for television. It’s about what weapons you want in your arsenal. The catch is that whichever brand you choose, you must play that brand throughout your bag (putter excluded).

      That means the driver, fairway woods, utility clubs, hybrids, irons and wedges must all be made by the same company. There is no mixing and matching sets. If you decide to choose a Callaway driver, you can’t have an Adams hybrid. However, you can play any club that the brand manufactured from any year (you can use a new Titleist 913D3 driver with a set of 690.MB irons if you so please).”

      • Andrew

        Aug 1, 2013 at 6:26 pm

        I can read jtriscott. I just merely thought it would produce more interesting results than a one brand bag. True, it makes the choice more difficult because you can only pick one brand, but it makes it less realistic because that isn’t how most people (aside from tour pros w/ contracts) pick their equipment. Further, it would show more than public opinion about overall brand; it should show who the public (at least the GolfWrx public) thinks has the best of each category.

        • Matt

          Aug 2, 2013 at 1:12 am

          Yeah I agree with you Andrew, left with the choice of only one brand for all my equipment I choose Titleist. However I’m currently playing the equipment I would play if money was no object and interestingly enough only my 3 wood is Titleist. For me I’m not one brand loyal and currently have 6 brands in my bag.

        • Jack

          Aug 2, 2013 at 2:38 am

          I think it’s done this way to minimize the number of different combinations and results.

        • Jtriscott

          Aug 2, 2013 at 10:46 am

          You should write your own article

    • Dave

      Aug 7, 2013 at 6:20 am

      Agreed also since there are a lot of TOUR players who pick and choose, often times contracts are 10 club minimum or something like that. What about a poll based on preferences regarding each category? i.e. Driver, Fairways, Hybrids, Irons, Wedges, Putter, Golf Ball, Shoes? AND shafts! Again, if money was no object… Not trying to nit pick, just spitballing.

    • To: Andrew

      Aug 13, 2013 at 7:37 pm

      That would then be “a dream bag if money was not an option”….ur missing the point, just go to WITB if you don’t get it….in reality 99% players on this site make well thought out decisions on their bag, which are majority a mix of sticks that they figure out a way to purchase/obtain to suit their needs and likes. 1 Brand, simple enough.

  59. JJ

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    “you can use a new Titleist 913D3 driver with a set of 690.MB irons if you so please.”

    Has someone been peeking into my bag?

    • Josh

      Aug 1, 2013 at 4:06 pm

      Same set up as me until earlier this year. Just switched to the AP2s and have never had one regret

    • RRS

      Aug 13, 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Still play the 690.MB’s and love them to death.

  60. Jeff

    Aug 1, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    Since TaylorMade owns Adams, could one choose an SLDR and a PNT?

    • Dave

      Aug 7, 2013 at 6:10 am

      Actually, TaylorMade and Adams are both subsidiaries of Adidas. Adams is the newly adopted, red-headed stepchild.
      I’d have to say that Titleist has the most complete line with Scotty Cameron, Vokey Wedges, ProV1 (I guess we’re including balls as well?) so on and so forth. If we’re also including apparel then the same is true. You might have to go shoeless though, unless Footjoy counts…

      However, this question depends on the golfer’s individual skill level. Titleist doesn’t have the best lineup for the higher handicapper. If we’re talking about more novice players, it would have to be TaylorMade or Ping.

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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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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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