Equipment
Tony Finau signs with Ping, will play a minimum of 11 Ping clubs
We saw that Tony Finau — who’s second on Tour in driving distance at 328.8 yards per clip — switched to a Ping G400 Max driver at the 2018 Sony Open. We also shot photos of all his clubs at the 2018 Farmers Insurance Open, and noticed he had a bag full of Ping woods and irons.
So this should come as no shock; Ping officially announced on Tuesday that it has signed Finau to an equipment deal. More specifically, he has signed a deal to play at least 11 clubs, according to a Ping press release. At the Farmers, based on our photos, Finau had only 10 Ping clubs in the bag, so it will be interesting to see what club he adds to his setup.
Here’s what Finau had to say about the signing:
“I’m honored to become part of the Ping Tour team,” said Finau, according to the press release. “The family atmosphere, people and core values at the company really spoke to me. I’ve played their equipment for the last year and have gotten to know their tour reps and the engineering team in Phoenix very well in the process. I’m most impressed with their passion for designing the best equipment in the game for golfers of all skill levels, and I know that their commitment to properly fitting and building equipment to fit my game will maximize my confidence every time I step on the tee.”
Below are the Ping clubs we spotted in Finau’s bag at the Farmers…
Ping G400 Max Driver (9 degrees)

Ping G400 3 Wood (14.5 degrees)

Ping i200 (3 iron)

Ping iBlades (4-PW)

Equipment
Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. 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.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
Equipment
Members of the Mini Driver Club – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. 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.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
Whats in the Bag
Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g


Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X


Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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HDTVMAN
Jan 31, 2018 at 8:34 pm
The Ping G400MAX is unbelievably long and straight. Need to hit it to believe it!
Bill dunn
Jan 31, 2018 at 7:30 pm
By the way, Tony is not from Hawaii, he’s from Salt Lake City Utah.
gery katona
Jan 31, 2018 at 12:15 pm
I just watched Finau at the Farmers where I was marshaling. I did not know he was such a long hitter. I was on 18 south and he was the only player to hit an iron on his 2nd shot to the green during the first two days when the tee was back as far as possible. Also, he was born in Utah of American Samoa and Tongan descent. The headline here said Hawaiian.
rex235
Jan 30, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Agree with Allan-
Weren’t PING putters a mandatory part of any player with a PING club contract on any Tour?
That would be the strangest ad ever…another PING Putter for the..what? Piretti?
Robert Parsons
Jan 31, 2018 at 11:55 am
His Piretti is a pretty sick putter. But sadly, it’ll probably be replaced.
Allan
Jan 30, 2018 at 1:59 pm
It will have to be the putter right? not sure Ping has signed anyone without the Ping putter being required.