The gear crew at GOLF.com spends a lot of time at Tour events snapping photographs of the tools used by the best players in the world. Posting club images online without context sometimes works, but it doesn’t help the weekend golfer understand the why behind a pro’s setup. In a new GOLF.com series, equipment editors Jonathan Wall and Ryan Barath answer those questions by highlighting interesting clubs in players’ bags, unique weighting, loft sleeve settings and more. Welcome to “Bay Spy.”
If you want to know what gear is trending on Tour, simply look at the clubs used by pros who don’t receive a steady check for their clubs. Adam Scott’s setup is a small sample size, but it’s a reminder that going the brand-agnostic route — in other words, not hitching your game to one brand — generally leads to success on the course. Provided, of course, the setup is tailored to your swing and game.
For the latest edition of Bag Spy, we take a look at the former Masters champ’s current equipment setup at the Wells Fargo Championship. As you’d expect from someone who enjoys gear, there’s a lot to highlight and discuss. Let’s get right to it.
Options
MIZUNO PRO FLI-HI
With the PGA Championship on tap, Scott was spotted with three different utility irons in the bag at the Wells Fargo — Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi, Srixon Z U85 and TaylorMade Stealth UDI. Two of the hybrids (Srixon and TaylorMade) featured Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105X graphite shafts, while the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi included a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 steel shaft.
Graphite and steel will produce different flights and feels, so it’s fair to say Scott was doing more than just an apples-to-apples test. Opting for Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi — he used a graphite-shafted ZU85 most recently at the RBC Heritage — tells us Scott likely wanted to maintain a similar feel and predictable gapping through the irons, where he also plays X100.
For golfers who are toying with the idea of adding a utility iron to the bag, graphite will generally produce a bit more speed, launch and distance. Distance is never a bad thing, so long as it doesn’t negatively affect your carry yardage gaps and fits the course setup. No doubt Scott was taking all three into consideration during testing.
Only one
A custom set of Miura AS-1 blades are another reminder that it’s good to be Adam Scott. Co-developed with Miura, Scott’s one-of-a-kind irons were recently released in limited quantities — and promptly sold out. The blade length is longer than what you’d find on many of today’s modern musclebacks, but that’s how Scott likes them. The same thing goes for the additional offset found throughout the set. Scott grew up in Australia playing irons with a longer blade length and some semblance of offset, and the look stuck.
“I can look at a lot of offset,” he said. “So, I feel like I was pushing the [Miura] team to go more and we can always come back. The offset came out really nicely on the first set of irons.”
A majority of today’s pros prefer blades with little to no offset, but if you think offset in a blade is for “hackers,” just remember Scott and Webb Simpson have something in the bag with additional offset.
Something special
Leave it to Vokey Tour rep Aaron Dill to create something unique for pros like Scott. The “AD+,” named after Dill, denotes a special grind on the 60-08M lob wedge that’s a recent addition to the bag. So what’s so special about the AD+? On Vokey’s M-Grind, Dill removes the high spot on the sole that catches the ground, thereby reducing the bounce angle by 4 degrees. The custom job also adds camber to the sole and increases the speed with which the head goes through the turf.
At a place like Quail Hollow Club where the turf can be soft and the bunkers fluffy, the AD+ is a versatile option that can handle the conditions. When things firm up, Scott has a Vokey WedgeWorks T-Grind at the ready. It’s good to have multiple options to handle different setups.
New addition
Scott’s recent decision to swap KBS Tour 130 iron shafts for True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100/S400 just happened to coincide with another change near the bottom of the set: Scott officially replaced his Miura AS-1 pitching wedge for a 48-degree Titleist Vokey Design SM8.
We’ve discussed the differences between a stock pitching wedge offering and the blade version OEMs tend to offer as part of their wedge lineup in the past, but the general consensus amongst pros is sole design and face technology on the blade version makes it easier to manage flier lies from the rough.
Titleist Vokey Design wedges
Scott isn’t giving up anything in the way of workability and forgiveness going from a muscleback pitching wedge to a Vokey blade, so it’s an easy sell. He’s essentially gaining an advantage in one area while not having to sacrifice in others.
The only one
True Temper’s Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 is arguably the most popular wedge shaft on the PGA Tour. For many players who already play Dynamic Gold in their irons, it’s common to drop down in flex from X100 to S400 with the wedges. Scott does the same thing — except it’s not with the entire wedge arsenal.
Instead of switching to S400 in the pitching wedge or gap wedge, Scott puts a single S400 shaft in his 60-degree lob wedge. A softer shaft flex is ideal for feel shots around the green, and considering the Aussie prioritizes versatility and imagination with the highest lofted wedge in his setup, it makes sense to use something other than X100.
Special delivery
TaylorMade Stealth Fairway Wood
It’s easy to look at Scott’s 21-degree TaylorMade Stealth fairway wood (yes, that’s a 7-wood) and wonder why his wear pattern is shaded towards the toe. A lot of it has to do with how Scott delivers the club at impact, so don’t think he’s “missing” it out on the toe.
As one of the best ball-strikers in the world, Scott knows what he’s doing through the bag. The tight wear mark is the only proof you need.
Heavy metal
L.A.B. Mezz.1
How do you keep the putter head from twisting at impact? If you’re Adam Scott, you load it up with weight in the sole to eliminate unwanted torque. Scott has been playing a long L.A.B. Golf putter in the broomstick style since last year. The latest version he’s using features some personalization, including a kangaroo, his logo and an outline of Australia.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
