I know it's more fun to peek inside the bags of Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and maybe even the up and coming Bryson Dechambeau, but what you don't get with each of these "WITB" editions are explanations as to why certain things are kept in their bags. I thought it might be helpful to other golfers to briefly talk through my entire bag and explain some of the various things that I use at a competitive level to improve my game. So without further adieu, here is my current WITB (April 2019):
Where to Buy Clubs
Before I get started, I just wanted to mention that a great place to get used golf clubs online is at Global Golf. I have personally purchased several clubs from the site and have had a positive experience!
My Must-Have Items
I'll go through these in later sections, but these are the items in my bag that I cannot play without (excluding clubs obviously).
- Bushnell Tour V4 Rangefinder
- Alignment Sticks
- The Putting Tutor
- Iphone and Tripod (for recording video)
Clubs
- Driver - Titleist 913 D3 9.5 degrees w/Matrix 6M3 Black Tie (X-flex)
- 3-Wood - Ping i15 (15.5) w/Oban Devotion (X-flex, 85 g)
- Irons - Callaway X-Forged w/Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X-100s (standard length, tipped 1/2 inch)
- Wedges - Cleveland 588 2.0 Tour Satin w/S400 (Stiff) shafts (52, 55, 59)
- Putter - Odyssey White Hot Pro #7 w/SuperStroke Flatso 3.0
- Grips - Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord (3 extra wraps)
The clubs in my bag are fairly straight-forward. Anyone with some club making experience will realize that much of the information above is merely customization. All of these specs have happened over the course of several years and certainly could not have occurred overnight. For example, it took me 3 years of switching between different grips and grip sizes before I settled in on the Z-Grips with 3 extra tape wraps (just shy of midsize). Additionally, I spent a good deal of time experimenting with the lofts and bounces of my wedges before I found a combination that offered both reliability from a multitude of lies AND good gaps between my distances.
The point is, finding a good set of golf clubs takes TIME, and there is no substitute for this. Even the professionals who have the luxury of custom fitting at the highest level still tinker around with different combinations and setups in attempts to improve their performance.
Accessories
- Game Golf - This is an amazing product that I have used for the last 6 months to track my stats with. I have written an entire review here.
- Range-Finder - I am currently using a Bushnell Tour V4, but quite honestly, I preferred the never-ending battery life of the Leupold GX-3 that I lost a few years ago. Investing in a range-finder is a must, because not only does it speed up play, but it also improves your distance control by always giving you exact yardage. Whatever you decide on, definitely go with a laser range-finder rather than a GPS range-finder.
- Ball - Titleist ProV1x (I have not done much ball testing, but can't complain about the performance of this one)
- Glove - Footjoy Sci-Flex Tour (ML)
- Mittens (for cold weather) - Footjoy Cart Mitts (these are a MUST HAVE for anyone playing in cold weather)
- Rain Gear - FJ Tour XP pants, HydroLite Jacket, and FJ Rain Gloves (I only use the left-hand glove - see this post on how to play golf in the rain for more details)
- Towel - I've used anything from bath towels to hotel towels to towels I find in the back of my car trunk. Whatever the case, having a towel on the bag is crucial.
- Club Cleaner - Frogger Golf Brush (I absolutely love this thing)
- Ball Mark - I wish I could list off some rare coin like the pros do, but I lose these too often to own something expensive...
- Line Drawing Tool - Although I often switch back and forth between lining the ball up and not lining it up, I carry this at all times.
- Sharpie (green and black) - I use the black sharpie for drawing a line on my ball, and the green sharpie for marking my ball for tournament play.
- Plastic Bag - Yes, I always keep a gallon plastic bag to store gloves and other valuables during a rainy round.
Training Aids
- Alignment Sticks (x2) - Find them at Home Depot or Lowes for $2-$3. If you don't have alignment sticks in your bag yet, it is time for you to re-evaluate your golf game. Sure, using clubs works, but for the price, these are indispensable, and can be used for a wide range of things. At minimum, put them on the ground for alignment and ball position.
- The Putting Tutor - This is the only thing that has stayed in my bag for over 6 years. In my opinion, there is no better way to train yourself to line the face to the target, get your eyes over the ball, and read greens all in one tool! Check out my post on this device here.
- The Putting Arc - I don't use this quite as often as the putting tutor, but if my stroke starts to feel a bit off, I will hit a few putts with it to get back that nice arcing feeling of a proper putting stroke. I find this useful for winter practice when it is impossible to get out on real putting greens.
- Tripod - I bought this simple little tripod on Amazon, and absolutely love it. I bring it to practice with me and film swings with my I-Phone.
**Many of the links on this page are affiliate links, and if you decide to purchase, I will make a small commission. That being said, I personally use EVERYTHING linked on this page, and recommend these tools with the greatest of confidence.
