Welcome to Our Picks, where we fill you in on the newest and hottest golf equipment and accessories. Today we’re featuring 9 favorite golf clubs our staff added to their bags this year.
Last time, we featured 10 favorite golf things our staff recently added to their bags, which you can read by tapping here.
Here at GOLF, all of us are constantly trying new golf clubs, accessories etc. and paying incredibly close attention to who is using what on tour. On top of having a passion for golf in general, we do this so we can let you know what’s truly the best of the best.
9 favorite clubs GOLF’s staff added to their bags
Maybe you’ll love these clubs as much as we do. If you see one (or a few) that catch your eye, you can purchase all of these clubs and customize them to perfectly fit you and your golf swing according to your specs. If you don’t know your spec, we always advise to get fit by a professional. One of the best places to get fit is True Spec, where you can book an appointment and get fit by globally trusted professionals.
Ping G430 LST Custom Driver
Ryan Barath (Senior Editor, Equipment)—As someone who gets to test a lot of clubs, there is nothing I love more than finding the right driver and the G430 LST is the perfect combination of low spin performance and forgiveness in one club.
PING G430 LST Custom Driver
The PING G430 LST Driver features an exclusive Low Spin Technology (LST) Carbonfly Wrap, a lightweight composite that covers the crown and wraps into the heel/toe sections of the skirt to save weight and lower the CG for more ball speed, less spin and higher MOI. The 8-layer, one-piece composite saves four grams and weighs 11.5g fully installed. A moveable 22-gram, high-density tungsten backweight influences shot shape ±7 yards between the Draw, Neutral and Fade settings. At 440cc, the smaller tour-style LST is available in 9° and 10.5° lofts (adjustable +/-1.5° and lie up to 3° flat from standard) and best fits faster swing speeds.
THE DISTANCE DIFFERENCE. MORE BALL SPEED.
A shallower, variable-thickness face is thinner to create more face deflection for generating faster ball speed for our biggest distance gains to date.
THE SOUND SOLUTION
A new integral rib structure and increased curvature of the crown, skirt and sole fine tunes clubhead frequencies to produce a desirable sound and impact experience.
SPINSISTENCY
A variable roll radius, with less loft low on the face, enhances spin consistency and carry distance.
CARBONFLY WRAP
Lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe of the skirt to save weight and lower the CG for more ball speed with higher MOI.
MOVEABLE BACK WEIGHT
A 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable backweight influences shot shape +/-10 yards between the Draw, Neutral and Fade settings.
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Ping G430 Custom Hybrid
Nick Piastowski (Senior Editor)—Before these, I struggled with longer irons. And other variations of hybrids. It was maddening. Specifically, the miss with hybrids had been an awful top. But no more! I’m extremely confident in the Ping G430 Hybrid. And it wasn’t just me. I went to a range recently with a friend who also mishit hybrids — and she was hitting the Pings pure.
PING G430 Custom Hybrid
The PING G430 Hybrid is loaded with innovations like Carbonfly Wrap, PING’s newest technology and the key to more distance and green-holding stopping power. Alongside proven technologies Facewrap Technology and Spinsistency, they deliver the speed and performance golfers need to take on any approach shot. With six loft options (2H/17°, 3H/19°, 4H/22°, 5H/26°, 6H/30°, 7/34°) they are ideal mid- and long-iron replacements to help fill distance gaps in a player’s game.
CARBONFLY WRAP
The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams which are reallocated to achieve the lower the CG and increase ball speed. The composite also plays a role in the pleasing sound.
FACE WRAP TECHNOLOGY
FaceWrap Technology, a variable-thickness, high-strength maraging steel face wraps into the sole and crown of the stainless steel head, generating more flexing for faster ball speed and higher launch for greater distance.
SPINSISTENCY
The variable roll radius of Spinsistency improves performance across the face (especially on thin shots) by reducing spin to increase ball speed from the maraging steel face.
TUNGSTEN BACK WEIGHT
A tungsten back weight extends the perimeter weighting to ensure maximum forgiveness.
TRAJECTORY TUNING
The lightweight, 8-position hosel enables adjustments for loft (±1.5°) and lie (3° flatter than std.) to further dial in ball flight for the best results.
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Mizuno S23 Custom Wedge
Jack Hirsh (Assistant Editor)—I was initially turned off by the idea of a cavity-backed wedge, but boy was I wrong. As I wrote about in my 2023 ClubTest, the cavity allowed Mizuno to move the weight into the center of the head in the S23 wedge, making for a great feel and performance.
Mizuno S23 Custom Wedge
ENGINEERED FOR SPIN
ONE-PIECE GRAIN FLOW FORGED / CENTRAL SWEET SPOT
Comprehensively engineered for extreme backspin – the S23 combines the precision and playing profile of a player’s bladed wedge with the aggressive performance of a toe-weighted design. A shorter hosel and heel-orientated cavity allow greater mass pushed towards the toe and a centered sweet spot (located heel-side in conventional wedges) . The centered sweet spot contributes to longer impact time, less head deflection and higher spin from both full and partial shots. Delivered with the unmistakable feel of a Mizuno one-piece Grain Flow Forging.“That check and spin you see from the pros isn’t purely because of newer grooves – most of us don’t have the consistency of strike to get that kind of action. For the vast majority, a centralized sweet spot is much easier to find and get that repetitive action.” David Llewellyn
FORGED IN HIROSHIMA JAPAN
One-piece Grain Flow Forged HD at Mizuno’s iconic facility in Hiroshima Japan – where Mizuno irons have been produced since 1968.
SPIN CENTRAL
Weight pushed to the toe delivers a more centred sweet spot, more consistent strike and reliable high-spin numbers.
TOUR-READY DESIGN
The S23’s partial heel-cavity and short hosel, centralizes the sweet spot, whilst maintaining a players preferred versatile look at address.
LOFT SPECIFIC PROFILE
Stronger lofts feature a tear-drop straight edge. Flowing gently into a more rounded lob wedge – with grinds to suit.
WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE
Mizuno’s HydroFlow Micro Grooves are laser etched to release moisture and reduce spin drop off.
PRECISE GROOVES THAT LAST LONGER
Quad Cut Milled and loft specific – cut into Boron infused 1025 mild carbon steel for a longer effective lifespan.
WHITE SATIN BRUSH CHROME OR COPPER COBALT
Two durable finishes to purely suit your visual preference.The expanded grind options include:S Grind – with minimal sole grind for fuller shots and lower loftsD Grind – with moderate heel and toe relief, allowing gentle manipulation of the clubfaceC Grind – with heavy heel and toe relief for more skilled players and firmer conditionsX Grind – with extreme heel and toe relief for the real short game maestros.
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Titleist T100 Custom Irons
Dylan Dethier (Senior Writer, Podcaster)—They’re really good. I got fitted and ended up with basically a coin flip between the T100s and T150s, so I’d recommend either. But the T100s are the best iron I’ve ever played. Low profile but way easier to hit than a blade. Get fitted so you dial in the right shaft! And take advantage of Titleist leaning into split sets. Can’t go wrong.
Titleist 2023 T100 Custom Irons
The preferred iron for more touring pros now rewards players with an even more solid feel, along with subtle refinements that continue to make T100 the standard for modern Tour iron performance.Feel is essential for the best players in the game. The refined, fully forged dual-cavity construction of Titleist T100 produces a more solid feel at impact, while the precision CNC face milling process leads to more consistent contact for greater control.
ENHANCED FEEL
The latest evolution of the T100 dual-cavity forged construction features an enhanced back bar to produce a more solid feel at impact. Informed by modal testing and Tour input, T100 irons are tuned to provide the exact stability and sensation the world’s best players desire from a well-struck shot.
REFINED FOR GREATER CONTROL
In addition to the improvements made to the body construction, T100 benefits from a new precision CNC face milling process. Combined with a subtle shift in CG the result is more control and consistent ball flight, especially when moving from fairway to first cut.
EFFORTLESS TURF INTERACTION
Working with Tour Pros and the grind experts at Vokey Design, our engineers were able to further improve our Variable Bounce Sole by smoothing and softening the trailing edge to allow the club to flow faster through the turf, even after contact. A simple but surprisingly meaningful improvement.
BETTER TUNGSTEN FOR BETTER FLIGHT
By utilizing dense D18 tungsten and a 2000º aerospace brazing process, Titleist engineers can eliminate weld points and be more precise with CG placement to give you the benefit of modern engineered performance with a solid forged feel.
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TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver
Jonathan Wall (Managing Equipment Editor)—TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver – As someone who can’t find a consistent 3-wood to save their life, the BRNR Mini has given me a legit secondary option off the tee. The head is bigger than a fairway wood (more forgiveness) and comes with a shorter 43.75-inch shaft that makes hitting the fairway a reality. On tight courses, I’ve gone to relying almost exclusively on this club off the tee. It’s an absolute game-changer.
TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver
Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge
Marley Sims (Assoc. Commerce Mngr)—Want to execute perfect flop shots and crisp pitch shots? Try this club. The milled grind helps to improve contact with the grass or sand, and wow… you will notice the difference. Plus, the raw finish is so classic. But you can also snag the Vokey SM9 in 5 different versions including chrome, jet black and brushed steel.
Paradym Triple Diamond Fairway Woods
Joshua Berhow (Managing Editor)—Never in my life have I used a 5-wood, always jumping from a 3-wood to a 2-iron hybrid. But this summer I added one to my bag and it’s become one of my favorite clubs. This one from Callaway is easy to hit and launch, the latter a major selling point for a middling golfer like myself.
Titleist U505 Custom Driving Iron
Tim Reilly (VP of Digital Programming)—While I don’t possess the game our own Dylan Dethier has to play the Titleist T100 irons, the T200 options are really good, too. Like Dethier, I went through a fitting earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed by the entire line. The cherry on top of my T200 set up is my U-505 utility 4 iron. What was once a club I dreaded hitting is now a preferred club in my bag.
Titleist U505 Custom Driving Iron
An extremely versatile, high-launching utility iron that now looks and feels dramatically better.U•505 lets you reclaim your long iron game. Drawing on Tour input, the refined design provides the high, explosive launch you expect from a utility, now with a remarkably solid feel and sound.U•505 is the ultimate, high-launching utility. A new, cleaner design creates more confidence at address, while the refined Max Impact Technology, reengineered chassis and new Variable Bounce Sole all improve the feel and overall performance. It all adds up to a versatile utility that plays like an iron.
TOUR-VALIDATED LOOKS
With a shorter blade and shallow face, U•505 sets up the way Tour Pros feel a utility should. Now with an even cleaner design, there is nothing to distract you from hitting the exact shot and shape your playing position demands.
ENHANCED FEEL
With distance as a priority for a utility, engineering feel becomes a unique challenge. For U•505, Titleist engineers use a refined Max Impact Technology with added dampening in the polymer muscle badge to guide the frequencies created at impact into the ideal player range.
IMPROVED OFF-CENTER ACCURACY
U•505 features a more stable, reengineered chassis and a lower CG position to help maintain speed and stability on strikes made away from center. The new single taper face improves performance towards the heel for tighter overall distance dispersion.
EFFORTLESS TURF INTERACTION
Working with Tour Pros and the grind experts at Vokey Design, our engineers were able to further improve our Variable Bounce Sole by softening the trailing edge to allow the club to flow faster through the turf, even after contact. A scoring iron refinement for one of the longest clubs in your bag.
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Odyssey Toulon Design Chicago Putter
Sean Zak (Writer, Podcaster)—I don’t know what it was about the heavy mallet I was using, but I was hooking putts. I needed something with some girth to it, but also wasn’t so bulky. This putter was the perfect middle ground. Also, I’m from Chicago.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
Odyssey Toulon Design Chicago Putter
The Toulon Design Chicago is a wide blade putter best suited for strokes with minimal arc and face rotation. Deep Diamond Groove mill pattern, split weighting system, Stroke Lab shaft and midsize pistol grip. This putter is equipped with two 10 gram adjustable weights.
Btw…here’s a great gift
This gift set is everything you need in one box—the perfect gift for anyone who loves hitting the fairways. In the set, you get 2 Vice Pro Bear golf balls and one golden ball as well as two special edition ball markers and the Vice Gator Gold divot repair tool.
Vice x Nicklaus Gift Set
Inspired by Jack Nicklaus, embrace your inner bear with this special brand collaboration between Vice Golf and the Jack Nicklaus Companies.
