Equipment

GolfWRX Insider: Inside the bag of Bryson Dechambeau

Published

4 years ago

Jun 19, 2020

To say that Bryson Dechambeau has elevated himself is an understatement. Since his debut, he has put on more than 40 pounds of bulk (20 over the COVID-19 lockdown) and over the past two weeks has shown off what that extra size can do—build a TON of speed.

In recent years, BDC was a mid 170s ball speed player, above average by Tour standards, but not in the same class as the Rorys and DJs of the world. As a player who refuses to leave ANY meat on the table, he knew to compete at the level he wanted, he was gonna have to transform. In this case, it’s exactly Bruce Banner to the Hulk—that comparison is too perfect actually.

If you watched any of the coverage from Colonial, the ball speed numbers were insane. His fairway finders were high 180s, full out low 190s…those are Cam Champ numbers. Even more, the goal is 200 MPH. So as this transformation is impressive, there is another mountain for Bryson to climb to get there.

It needs to be addressed that YES, Finau, Champ, and some others get ball speeds up there, but what Bryson is trying to do is play with the accuracy he is used to and hit it like that. I’m sure that’s the goal of every player but this Bryson DeChambeau, he wants to become “End Game” Hulk…not the other guy. If you know, you know. I have a hunch in his mind the end game (no pun intended) is a Golf Machine.

But what will a transformation like this do to his equipment DNA? What would need to change to optimize it all? Ball speed, control, descent angle, spin, feel, all of it.

Ben Schomin (tour operations manager for Cobra Golf) is a friend and is also one of the most knowledgeable and respected tour reps out there. As head of the Cobra staff, he is also responsible for managing not necessarily a large staff, but it’s a staff that has four very unique personalities in BDC, Fowler, Dufner, and Lexi. All world-class but all very discerning when it comes to their gear.

As you can imagine with Bryson, as with his game in general, getting it right takes work, but that’s what these reps love, not so much the challenge as much as the process.

I had a chat with Schomin on BDC about that process, and this is what he had to say.

JW: He switched back into the SpeedZone. What was that process like, and what did he gain from his older model?

BS: The main difference in this SpeedZone head is the lower loft. We had to completely design another head to accommodate the low lofts. We do the same for 9 and 10.5-degree heads so doing the same for a 7.5 degree wasn’t really difficult, but did take some time.

For clarification, our engineering team doesn’t just design a 10.5-degree head and then press a button in CAD to make a duplicate 9-degree head with a lower loft. There’s a lot of design/CAD work that goes into each individual lofted head. Our engineering team works very hard to get these details dialed in, and they’re the unsung heroes when a product works well.

JW: Why did he switch out of SZ in the first place? Was it cosmetic, feel, launch numbers?

BS: Every year we make a new driver with the design intentions that it will be better than the previous generation. This may not sound difficult to the average golfer, but rest assured this is no small feat. I’m proud to say that we make this happen year in and year out.

Typically, players (tour-level, single digits, and weekend players) don’t see massive changes in their swings or body compositions. In Bryson’s case, it’s being well documented how much he’s changed in the course of the last 12-18 months. That makes our job (tour and R&D) very difficult to adapt to these changes. Our smaller team operates quite efficiently, but getting it right still takes time.

JW: What is the testing process like with Bryson? I imagine its quite detailed…

BS: Honestly, it’s very detailed with every player we work with. He tends to ask more questions and challenge us more often with ideas, but overall paying close attention to details is what helps us make better products for our team—which in turn helps us make better products for our customers.

JW: With his recent physical transformation, did you have to make any adjustments to his equipment to match up with the speed?

I would say the biggest change is making lofts stronger across the board and getting those lofts to match/coincide with spin and carry distances. Bryson, like all tour players, has a set of goals with his bag

numbers they need to hit with each club,
windows they need to fly out of
controllable spin and descent angles
feel

It’s the combination of them all that makes the right fit for them. In this case with Bryson, it’s all about dialing in spin with each club. When BDC feels like his spin is dialed, the distances will be dialed.

JW: Thanks, Benny!

BS: You got it

Bryson Dechambeau WITB current specs

in regards to wood lofts, there is some tour truck manipulation that happens to get a 14.5 head to 12.25.

Driver: Cobra SpeedZone 7.5°@5.5 w/ LA Golf VD1 Proto 75x tip 1” (45.5”, D3)

3-wood (for bombs) : Cobra LTD [email protected] w/ LA Golf VD3 Proto 75x tip 2” (43, D5)

3-wood (for normal shots): Cobra SpeedZone Tour 14.5@14 w/ LA Golf VD3 Proto 85x tip 1” (41.5, D5)

Irons: Cobra King One Length Utility (4, 5), Cobra King Forged Tour One Length w/ LA Golf Texas Rebar Proto

All irons and wedges are at 37.5” length and 66″ lie angle

Wedges: Artisan Custom (50@47, 55@52, 60@58) w/ LA Golf Texas Rebar Proto

LOFTS:

4i @ 18°
5i @ 22°
6i @ 25°
7i @ 29°
8i @ 33°
9i @ 37°
P @ 42°
G @ 47° (A
S @ 52°
L @ 58°

Grips: JumboMax Bryson Custom (51 gram)

Putter: Sik Prototype w/ LA Golf Proto Putter Shaft

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X

Your Reaction?

LIKE249
LEGIT33
WOW27
LOL16
IDHT9
FLOP10
OB10
SHANK42

Related Topics:featured

Up Next

VOTE! Members Choice: Best wedges of 2020

Don't Miss

Ball on the fringe of the green and pin is 15 feet from the fringe – What club do you use GolfWRXers?

John Wunder

41 Comments

geohogan

Oct 6, 2021 at 9:02 pm

Lie angle of the putter must be under 80 degrees. Rules of Golf

Cant watch Bryson putt without questioning his 90 degree look.
Does anyone see 10 degree angle to his putter shaft relative to the ground.

Reply Report comment
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (August) | GolfTechie
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (August) – GolfWRX
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (May) | GolfTechie
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (May) – GolfWRX
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 Masters – draft – GolfWRX
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (The Players) | GolfTechie
Pingback: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2021 (Arnold Palmer Invitational) | GolfTechie
Jerry

Sep 22, 2020 at 10:12 am

What are his lie angles? I would think there has to be a big variance between 4i and 58 degree!

Reply Report comment
Koen

Jun 22, 2020 at 5:50 am

I watched a lot of Bryson these last two weeks (He was getting a lot of air time in the coverage). Each time he was faced with a ‘touch-shot’, like one of those 40/50 yard pitch shots or a bunker shot, it looked mighty awkward with his 7-iron length lobwedge. His approach seems to work well on softer PGA set-ups where wind doesn’t seem to factor. But I don’t see him winning a Masters or US Open without incorporating more feel in his game. Although, he might surprise me.

Reply Report comment
- Ian
  
  Sep 20, 2020 at 6:59 pm
  
  Does crushing the field at Winged Foot count?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Mar 18, 2021 at 5:52 pm
  
  Too bad for your theory as he already won the US Open…try and keep up!
  
  Reply Report comment
Jarnio Bubly

Jun 21, 2020 at 8:26 pm

Who painted that brown mark onto his putter face?

Reply Report comment
AO

Jun 21, 2020 at 2:42 am

BDC just debunked the loft BS I keep hearing on posts ( ie what? That new 7 iron is my former 4 iron) who cares! Get it delofted, most clubs can be bent 2 degree lower if it bothers you that much. Personally I could care less. As for BDC time will tell. The big caveat hear is that he is a science nerd. This is not some random guy on the tour, NO he is a GEEK with game to match. Whether he is on juice or not, you dont know. With roids there is no eye test. My brother is a personal trainer for a pro club and he has said ppl get confused thinking its all about muscle. Sometimes its about performance. If you were to inject roids and train normally you wouldnt gain nada. What roids crtain roids do is allow you to train back to back instead of taking 2-3 days off for the muscle to repair. I personally dont think he is on anything. My only concern is the way he is going about it, pure POWER. There is a moment when diminishing returns kick in and since this is golf, a game of percision, how do you recover. If this swing holds up and his body does too ( since one must wonder if this is healyth long term, fact is golf is NOT good for the body PERIOD).

Reply Report comment
- AO needs to read more
  
  Jun 21, 2020 at 7:26 am
  
  You need some education. If you are going to argue subjects do some reading first. Taking steroids is something most males over the age of 50 are taking these days. You and I will probably be on some hormone treatment. But when you take more than what your body “should be producing”, regardless if you train will get you bigger. It also matters what types someone is taking. But when your body receives much more testerone than what your body is/supposed to be producing the muscles (all muscles) grow.
  Its not rocket science even for the “Scientist” that a longer drive = more birdy chances.
  I challenge any of you to gain 25lbs over 8-12 weeks. Mark Mcgwire, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa all where strong dudes before the juice. Then they all gained 25lbs over night and look wat happened.. a baseball traveling 90mph at them suddenly went the other direction way more often than EVER before.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - AO
    
    Jun 21, 2020 at 3:28 pm
    
    I wont get into a discussion on how much I know about this topic since you have already made up your mind that I need to read more about it, fine your opinion, you have right to this. But please dont say this to anyone who has basic understanding of steroids as they may look at you funny. TRT I think is what you are referring to, which is simply ONE type of steriod. If you re-read I mentioned and I reconfirm this and standby it, that steroids are different. Since you are the expert, I take it that you have heard of Gonane. So according to you when I take this I will automatically get bigger. Interesting. What about cholestrol, is that a steroid too? Since we are on the topic, what about plant or fungi steroids. No sir, stop using bro science. Not all steroids will cause you to get large. In fact they have 2 main purposes, transport with cell membrane and signalling. Not all are part of proteing synthesis which is what you are reffering to. But hey its a free world, believe what you want, but its a big arrogant to think someone doesnt know what they are talking about based on lines typed on a forum.
    
    Reply Report comment
Shallowface

Jun 20, 2020 at 8:07 pm

With all of the extra strength, the fairly standard swingweights, the huge grips (although no longer heavy) and the super stiff shafts, I’m surprised he has any feel for the golf club at all. One would think it would be like an average guy swinging a dowel rod.

Reply Report comment
matt

Jun 20, 2020 at 7:51 am

I don’t really get the lofts… 6 degrees strong? With his length he’s probably hitting that 8 iron 190 easily, without even going at it. Does he have enough long shots in a round to devote that much of his bag to to 190-240 approach shots?? I don’t see it

Reply Report comment
- Sean Palmer
  
  Jun 20, 2020 at 1:16 pm
  
  Has he been tested for steroid use? His physical transformation is quite freakish.
  
  Reply Report comment
No One

Jun 20, 2020 at 2:31 am

What… no one gonna get on him for loft-jacking his irons?

Reply Report comment
Simms

Jun 19, 2020 at 11:41 pm

With the exception of instructors like Tim and Todd Graves how long will it be before we are flooded with “Single Plane” swing instructors…Single plane swinger are normally not the longest because of a shorter swing that is easy to keep on plane…Bryson is using his body to blow past the usual single plane swinger and putting everything he has into that driver swing…

Reply Report comment
Ewfnick

Jun 19, 2020 at 2:34 pm

Didn’t golf used to be a game of skill? Now I am not saying Bryon isn’t skillful, but that part of the package seems to be low in his priorities.

Reply Report comment
- Jordan
  
  Jun 19, 2020 at 3:28 pm
  
  could not DISAGREE more, i’m not a fan of this guy but if you read beyond this article you will find tons of material going over his swing, training and practice to perfect it and enhance his SKILLS.
  
  Reply Report comment
Wrx won’t allow me to post this

Jun 19, 2020 at 2:15 pm

Bryson is on the juice. No one can gain 25lbs of muscle while dieting. Body builder gain sometimes twice their weight in the offseason because to gain muscle you have to have double the calorie intake.
But when the body builder cut their diet and eat healthy to show their muscle fibers they lose fat and a ton of muscle as well.
Its possible to get fit, drop weight and gain muscle mass. But NO way someone already fit and in s mid 20’s can gain 25lbs. Not to mention in all my days lifting and being around body builders (2 Professional and 12-14 AM) when someone starts the juice 20-25lbs is that “new weight” someone earns with their first cycle.
But the media is salivating about this as if its normal.

Reply Report comment
- TO
  
  Jun 19, 2020 at 9:32 pm
  
  I’m not saying he’s definitely not on the juice, but by the eye test, the 20-25 lbs is not all muscle.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Carolyn
    
    Jun 19, 2020 at 11:33 pm
    
    That waist looks like a few cup cakes may have been eaten with the protean shacks.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Benny
    
    Jun 20, 2020 at 7:10 am
    
    Apologies for the multiple posts but wasn’t showing up when I submitted.
    
    Does anyone know how the PGA tests?
    
    Our bodies and DNA only allow us to gain so much. Works the otherway as well. Linemen and strongmen cannot just cut all their weight and become a wide receiver who can run a 4.3. Even the little fat he Bryson has still is no where enough for the 25lbs of weight gains. I can promise you this is not possible w/o substances.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Rwj
      
      Sep 20, 2020 at 8:40 pm
      
      He was a big guy to begin with. He has gained less to his standard size thwn tiger has to where he began.
      
      Reply Report comment
Benny

Jun 19, 2020 at 2:13 pm

Guys Bryson is on the juice. No one can gain 25lbs of muscle while dieting. Body builder gain sometimes twice their weight in the offseason because to gain muscle you have to have double the calorie intake.
But when the body builder cut their diet and eat healthy to show their muscle fibers they lose fat and a ton of muscle as well.
Its possible to get fit, drop weight and gain muscle mass. But NO way someone alresdy fit and in s mid 20’s can gain 25lbs. Not to mention in all my days lifting and being around body builders (2 Professional and 12-14 AM) when someone starts the juice 20-25lbs is that “new weight” someone earns with their first cycle.
But the media is saying “oh he just started lifting over Covid and added 25lbs…”. How stupid can people be?

Reply Report comment
- Realist
  
  Jun 19, 2020 at 5:13 pm
  
  There is no way he put on 25 lbs of muscle. He added fat. Had too. He’s most likely not juicing because he really doesn’t have that impressive of a physique, he just looks like he finally got some muscle plus a lot of soft fat. He’s probably over 20% body fat now. When he talks about all the muscle he gained, he comes off sounding uninformed.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Benny
    
    Jun 20, 2020 at 7:18 am
    
    Depending on the chcle there is a lot of other attributes that come with them. For instance most testerone add a lot of water weight. The water weight can look like fat but when cut the water weight drops off in a few days.
    There is many ways to stack and cycle guys. But because everyones body is different results vary just like certain drugs work for someone but maybe not you.
    But there is no way stuffing your face and doing the lame workouts Bryson does will net 25lbs. You couldn’t even gain 25lbs of fat in a couple months. Look at the dude who ate McDonalds for a month.
    People are uneducated because of body builders. But when you see all natural body builders they look completely different than the Pro Bodybuilders like Mr Universe who do not test.
    
    Reply Report comment
Benny

Jun 19, 2020 at 2:12 pm

Guys Bryson is on the juice. No one can gain 25lbs of muscle while dieting. Body builder gain sometimes twice their weight in the offseason because to gain muscle you have to have double the calorie intake.
But when the body builder cut their diet and eat healthy to show their muscle fibers they lose fat and a ton of muscle as well.
Its possible to get fit, drop weight and gain muscle mass. But NO way someone alresdy fit and in s mid 20’s can gain 25lbs. Not to mention in all my days lifting and being around body builders (2 Professional and 12-14 AM) when someone starts the juice 20-25lbs is that “new weight” someone earns with their first cycle.
But the media is saying “oh he just started lifting over Covid and added 25lbs…”. How stupid can people be?

Reply Report comment
Delbert

Jun 19, 2020 at 11:46 am

He’s got a baby kangaroo in that belly. That’s the difference. I don’t like watching him swing. Looks like he is going to get hemorrhoids, so it makes me itch.

Reply Report comment
Pelling

Jun 19, 2020 at 10:16 am

The grips are what amaze me. He’s holding the club in his palms, like a baseball bat. Don’t see this ending well for Bryson…

Reply Report comment
- jeff
  
  Jun 19, 2020 at 1:14 pm
  
  ????
  
  Reply Report comment
Jordan

Jun 19, 2020 at 10:07 am

Those lofts so crazy for a tour player, I love it. Coupled with the fact that it’s one length he shouldn’t even put numbers on the club, should just put distances. This guy is hilarious, but I admire the disruption of the norms.

Reply Report comment
joro

Jun 19, 2020 at 9:58 am

I had read he wemt to a 48″ Driver yet the article said 45.5″bit it does look long when he tees it up. So what is the truth.

Reply Report comment
Rob

Jun 19, 2020 at 9:35 am

Sorry, I love the articles here but this was pretty weak. That guy didn’t answer anything. It sounded like he was reading off the marketing material at Cobra and avoided addressing anything about why he went back to older model heads. When you asked why he switched out of the SZ, he didn’t even give a real reason why. Bryson didn’t even just go back to the F9, he went all the way back to the LTD. From what I understand he was cracking heads in the SZ. Why didn’t they just say that and explain that they had to make a lower lofted version and with a stronger face? Long drive guys crack heads all the time and I have quite a few friends that swing fast enough that they break normal drivers after a while. I was hoping for a real discussion about the details of Bryson’s process and instead it feels like we got marketing fluff.

Reply Report comment
- JP
  
  Jun 19, 2020 at 10:25 am
  
  ????
  
  Reply Report comment
  - JP
    
    Jun 19, 2020 at 10:27 am
    
    Was supposed to say 100%… not sure how it turned into question marks
    
    Reply Report comment
- Brandon
  
  Jun 21, 2020 at 4:00 pm
  
  I noticed that too. Evasive in his answers. Rickie didn’t last very long in the SZ either.
  
  Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

2 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?