Equipment
Are staff bags becoming obsolete?
Earlier this year at GolfWRX, we had some very interesting debates about golf bags and the features and styles that you – the golfer prefer. Opinions were strong and few were swayed but nonetheless, some very interesting discussions were had:
- The great divider debate: What’s your perfect number?
- The great bag debate, Part 2: Single or double strap?
- The great bag debate, Part 3: Stand or no stand
Stand-bags on tour?
The one topic that we never quite got into was a discussion on staff bags. Sure, we see pros use them all the time on TV because they are big, bold and are great for promoting sponsors. But what about regular golfers, do we really need them for day to day use? We don’t get paid to use clubs so why carry around a giant billboard?
This brings us to the PGA Tour, where many trends are born, whether it be clubs, balls, or in this case bags, because a few weeks ago at Sea Island and the RSM Classic, we saw an uptick in caddies and players using what are known as “tour” carry bags—larger “staff-like” stand bags with the full branding of a tour bag, except in a smaller stand bag package.
Both Dylan Frittelli (Callaway – title image) and Nick Watney (Mizuno) are using versions of their companies stand bags this week and we have seen other players using them more frequently, like Camilo Villegas, although under a different set of circumstances since he doesn’t have a current bag sponsorship deal in place. Camilo’s situation is interesting because generally, even sponsorless players use a staff bag, even if it just features their name.
Tour stand bags at the consumer level
There must be something about these tour-like bags that golfers love because many golfers can’t get enough. Ping recently released a Tour Staff bag (above) to serious fanfare with it selling out quickly across most channels and actually being resold online for over MSRP—which is a pretty unusual thing to happen in the golf bag market beyond very limited release items. Other companies also offer larger staff like stand bags including Wilson, Titleist, and Srixon, to name a few.
The only drawback to these larger stand bags is their extra size brings with it extra weight, and for golfers who prefer walking over riding, any extra weight is generally avoided at all costs. This makes tour stand bags a great option for occasional walkers, or for those who use a pushcart, or ride but still enjoy the convenience of a stand bag when going to the range or practice area.
What do you think, GolfWRXers? Do you like the convenience of a larger stand bag or would you still rather use what most tour players use? I mean if you don’t have to carry it—why not?
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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 accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
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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...
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Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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Gary
May 3, 2021 at 5:51 am
Just sold traditional staff tour bag because on the back of shared motorised cart it is just a monster and eats cart sharers space.
14 slot cart bag is best and fitted with strap. Some of the real lightweights no good because wind can blow them over in car park when arriving at course.
Frank Crowe
Dec 8, 2020 at 5:57 am
I have a PING staff bag at home filled with clubs but like to go out for 9 holes with a single strap pencil bag and 7 clubs Driver, 4 wood, 4, 6, 8, PW & putter. The sand is so hard at Portobello near Edinburgh in Scotland a sand wedge is no good. Learn to fiddle shots. I hate double straps. Bring back the PING rigid strap bag which was easy to pick up. I wish I had bought that leather pencil bag I saw one evening in San Gimignano. Why should I give free advertising to a firm whose clubs I have to buy? Mind you I would like a big Tour bag with “Psycho” written on the sides!
Imafitter
Dec 7, 2020 at 5:50 pm
I prefer the cart bag, as I no longer walk, with 15 dividers and enough pockets to carry my complete winter outerwear closet! I use the Ping Pioneer, and see no issues with Pro’s and caddies using Tour Carry Bags with legs. Much lighter, easier on the body to carry, and most have enough pockets for everything the pro needs.
Milo
Dec 6, 2020 at 2:31 pm
I want to get a staff bag, I usually ride nowadays, if I get a clearish course I can play in under 2.5 hours.
Jordan
Dec 6, 2020 at 9:23 am
It helps people who want the quality of a staff bag, but not the pretentiousness of carrying one.
Michael
Dec 6, 2020 at 1:56 am
look, i’m pretty bad at golf…i’ve been playing for about 30 years, was playing about twice a week for several years before we started having kiddos…i love playing and now have started introducing our kiddos to the game (13,11,7)…the very first thing i learned about golf was etiquette…i’ve passed that on to my kids…so even though i’m horrible, i keep pace of play and i follow the rules, no mulligans for me…as lousy as i am, i still like to look good on the course and that includes my bag…after my first beginner back 30 years ago, i’ve always had a staff bag, including my current Nike staff bag…i absolutely love staff bags!…and i would hate to see them disappear!
Gene
Dec 6, 2020 at 12:40 am
I don’t walk anymore, but I would be interested in this type of bag, for the reasons you stated.
Jeff
Dec 5, 2020 at 10:05 pm
I never understood the decision for a company that is so profit driven to miss such a massive opportunity to advertise a product that people actually buy. I know a staff bag offers more “space” to advertise but not really and few people actually buy them anyways.
Also, poor Fluff being forced to carry such a heavy bad. lol