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The post Why we may start seeing fewer driver models | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

On this week’s’ episode of the Fully Equipped Podcast with Johnny Wunder, we talked about the prospect of the LS model being on its way out and the questions that its potential exit raises. Let’s explore the theory and the implications.

There’s a few things at play here.

1.) The death of the LS driver

Johnny and I talked about this last week as well. Jack also did a good write-up on the topic that you can read here. The idea is that we’re starting to see less use of LS-style drivers such as the TaylorMade Qi4D LS, Cobra OPTM LS, and Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond. Players are opting instead for Qi4D Core, Cobra OPTM X, or Callaway Triple Diamond Max profiles.

The main reason is that ‘core’ style heads, those that sit in the middle of a woods lineup, have gotten so versatile. With any of the ‘core’ style heads I have mentioned, I have been able to fit them into the same numbers I would get out of their LS counterparts but with far more forgiveness. The looks have also been significantly improved as well. The idea of playing smaller, pear-shaped LS-style heads was never especially appealing, but that’s not as much of a factor as it used to be. In fact, many LS style heads are getting bigger to boost forgiveness, like the Cobra OPTM LS. The new Titleist GTS 4 is also rumored to be a bit bigger than it has been traditionally.

The one category I believe is being overlooked, though, is the high-spin slice golfer. This is the golfer who traditionally steer clear of the LS head models because they worry about a lack of forgiveness. But with the modern heads that’s not such a problem anymore. I’ve fit quite a few higher handicap golfers into more forgiving LS models, like the OPTM LS or the Wilson DYNAPWR LS models, and it’s gone quite well. The big advantage is to take a 9-degree head and turn it all the way up on the sleeve to add loft and, even more importantly, close the face. A closed face with lower spin results in a much more friendly ball flight.

Is the LS head dead? No. Could it possibly be on its way out, or find itself in an increasingly niche market? I think it already has.

2.) The spawn of the Triple Diamond Max

A big reason why the lines between driver models are starting to get blurred was the emergence of the Callaway Triple Diamond Max model driver, which started in 2024 with the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max. As a special release item, the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max gave players a Triple-Diamond feel and flight bias but with a larger head for more forgiveness, a touch of added spin to complement the low-spin tendencies of the standard Triple Diamond head, and an easier time turning the ball over. It did all of that without losing the speed that the Triple Diamond is known for. The setup was the same as it was for the Triple Diamond: one weight forward in the head, and one weight in the rear of the head. This helps to control not only spin and launch, but also start line.

Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Max Custom Driver

$699.99 from Fairway Jockey

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The normal in-line Triple Diamond head has always had a right-start bias with a tendency to support a fade for a right-handed golfer. By adding more weight to the front of the head, that feeling was intensified, and by adding weight back, start lines would get a bit more neutral and the face was easier to close so the player could manufacture a draw. Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max was a monster. Non-contract athletes like Justin Rose and Sepp Straka won multiple times with the model. Fast forward to the new Quantum Triple Diamond Max, and many golf writers and equipment reviewers are wondering why the other heads in the Callaway lineup even need to exist. I said the same in my own launch video. I don’t think there’s a reason for fitters to take a second look at the Triple Diamond or the standard Max heads. Just go straight to the Triple Diamond Max for nine out of 10 players. That’s my opinion.

Gear

What makes the Triple Diamond Max so good is its versatility. You can add front weight or back weight, the head starts neutral and can be useful for players work work the ball either way, and spin is incredibly manageable on mis-hits across the face. If you look at the market over the last three years, you can see the response to the success of the Triple Diamond Max. TaylorMade’s new Qi4D core head shares lots of similarities. The OPTM X is a wonderful head that can change characteristics when you move the weights and play around with the FF33 adapter settings. There have been others. Wilson released its DYNAPWR MAX+ as a direct competitor to the Triple Diamond Max, and Ping’s new G440 K came into the fray as the new 900-pound gorilla in the room. All of these designs had the same goal: Make the platform as versatile and “fittable” as possible without sacrificing an ounce of forgiveness. Each company also happened to do this without sacrificing speed. Which was one of the original wins that we claimed for the new G440 K when we first tested the product.

Right now, we’re living in the best imaginable driver market for consumers. Having categories or types of heads that overlap or blur lines only means more chances for an incredibly detailed fitting. Each one is going to do something different, and because no two swings are the same, that can only be a good thing. Do I think that we are going to start seeing models taken out of lineups? No. But I do think the models are going to get more specific. There’s going to be a ‘core’ style head in each lineup that will work for 90% of golfers, something that wasn’t true even five years ago. And then you’ll have niche heads specific to golfer needs in specific areas. Which is nothing but fun, useful, and encouraging for the future of golf equipment.

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The post These clubs were built just for Augusta National | Masters Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

The post These clubs were built just for Augusta National | Masters Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.

Augusta National presents a unique challenge to the best in the world every year, but with near-perfect conditions, the test is even more demanding.

With a fairly dry lead-up to the Masters and the rare occurrence of no rain in the forecast for this weekend, Augusta National will be as firm and fast this weekend as the club wants it, meaning pros are searching for more height to stop the ball.

That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 11 players chose to drop 4-irons this week in favor of high-lofted fairway woods or hybrids. A few of those players are guys who don’t typically play a 4-iron, like Tommy Fleetwood, Zach Johnson and PGA Tour Champions players Vijay Singh, Mike Weir and Freddie Couples, who has his normal three-hybrid setup this week.

But other players, including Akshay Bhatia, Brian Campbell, Jason Day and Matt Fitzpatrick, have all dropped the 4-iron for clubs they’ve had built specifically for Augusta National.

Bhatia added a new Callaway Apex UW ’26 21-degree this week in place of his normal 22-degree X Forged UT 4-iron.

“Basically, he was looking at incoming second shots to Nos. 13 and 15 and needing something hitting a higher apex to land softer on those greens,” Callaway Tour Content Manager Johnny Thompson told GOLF.

Bhatia’s gamer OG prototype UW, which is closer to 17 degrees in loft, remains in the bag as his 5-wood alternative. Despite the roughly three-degree gap between the two clubs, the new UW is more than two inches shorter, which provides an optimal carry yardage gap.

Akshay Bhatia’s new Apex UW specs
Apex UW ’26
Loft: 21˚ @ 20˚
Lie: 58.2˚
Sole weight: 14 g
Hot melt: 2 g crown
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10-X
Length: 39.375”
Tipping: 2”
Swingweight: D1.8

Campbell, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour last season, like Bhatia, also does not play a traditional 4-iron week-to-week, opting instead for Ping’s iDi long iron replacement. But this week, he’s got a G440 Max 9-wood to help him get even more stopping power on the firm greens.

“When he hits it on No. 4 or into 5, that 9-wood is just going to allow it to stop so much faster than even that [iDi]4-iron,” Ping Tour Rep Kenton Oates told GOLF. “The 4-iron gets in there fine, but it still spins like a 4-iron — it’s just not going to react the same.”

Oates said the spin is the real difference maker when it comes to switching from an iron to a fairway wood or hybrid. He could build a 4-iron that nearly reaches the same height a high-lofted metal wood, but it’s the extra spin that really gives a player control on the greens.

PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4-wood) to provide more gapping solutions.  HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness.  FLEXING FACE Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin.  TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. 

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“It’s probably not a huge difference on a TrackMan peak height number — maybe only about 15 feet — but that extra height is coming from spin. When the height is coming from spin, that’s when you really start to see the ball actually react on the green and stop. That’s the difference,” Oates said. “That extra 15 feet can end up being 15 feet closer to the hole when it lands.”

Ping had three 9-woods in play this week, 10+ 7-woods and Carlos Ortiz gamed a 26-degree G440 5-hybrid.

Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Jason Day all used TaylorMade 7-woods, but the interesting note there was that Fitzpatrick and Day both kept the 5-woods they already had in the bag, bucking the trend of either having a 5- or a 7-wood. Lowry dropped his Srixon ZXiU 3-iron for the Qi4D 7-wood.

“Sometimes I feel like you need it, especially with the added length,” Day said on Wednesday of the extra fairway wood. “You kind of need a better gap at the top end for some of these holes around Augusta National. So nothing too dramatic, but just the top end.”

TaylorMade’s Adrian Rietveld told GOLF that both Day and Fitzpatrick have shorter builds on their 7-woods, but otherwise, there’s nothing different about the spec for it to cover both a 3-iron and 4-iron distance. Rietveld said both players are using shot-shaping to hit higher, more floaty shots when they need to cover 4-iron yardage.

Basically, the 7-wood acts as two clubs in one.

Mini Mania at Augusta National

Mini driver usage has been growing steadily on the PGA Tour over the past two years, but it seems like it might be peaking at the Masters.

A total of 23 players played a mini driver at Augusta National and it seems the consensus is that the clubs are built for the modern game at the historic course. Callaway lead the way with 10 while TaylorMade had eight.

While several of those mini drivers were from players like Fleetwood, Max Greyserman and Min Woo Lee who game one every week on the PGA Tour, other players like Justin Rose, Harris English and Tom McKibbin had them built in the weeks prior specifically for this course.

“I think it’s all about predictability when it comes to a mini driver,” Callaway Tour Representative Kellen Watson told GOLF. “You have a driver where you know it’s going to carry this bunker, but you don’t know how much it’s going to roll out. With this, you want to know the carry number and have the total be very tight — like nine yards or so — which is perfect.”

Even as the Masters tees have been lengthened over 500 yards in the last 20 years, the bends in the fairways — and the firmness of those fairways — make several holes ideal for players to use a mini driver.

The most obvious case is the long downhill dogleg left par-4 10th, where a drive down the left benefits from the steeper slope. But because a mini driver is easier to work right-to-left, it’s also favored on Nos. 5, 7, which have awkward run-outs and slants in the fairways.

TaylorMade R7 Quad Custom Mini Driver

PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER Inspired by one of the most iconic models in TaylorMade history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what’s come before, while creating its own modern identity in the same breath. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give golfers versatility and playability. R7 QUAD WEIGHTING SYSTEM The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide the ultimate in spin management and shot shape control. Forward CG creates a penetrating flight best suited for maximizing distance whereas rear CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. Shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustability. INFINITY CARBON CROWN A new satin Infinity Carbon Crown has been added to the R7 Quad Mini Driver chassis creating a stunning look while saving weight for better mass optimization. The cosmetic package is clean, elegant, and confidence-inspiring.

$479.99 from Fairway Jockey

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For many longer players, there’s also only one hole where a 3-wood off the deck comes into play: The uphill par-5 8th. But No. 8 allows players to hit a low approach and chase it up, a shot well-suited to a mini driver.

“If you’re a longer player, there are basically no 3-woods off the ground here,” said Oates. “So now the mini driver fills that gap, especially when you combine that with the number of tee shots where you have to work it right-to-left. That combination makes it really valuable.”

Oates said English, who primarily plays a fade with his driver, was hitting his mini driver on 6-7 different holes during practice rounds.

Max Homa also tested out a Cobra King Tec mini that Ben Schomin said was to give him an option off the tee to move the ball right to left.

“The idea was to be able to make a stock swing and have the ball turn over without having to do anything differently with setup or alignment,” Schomin said. “But also have the ability to really swing it around when you need to, like on 10. He felt very comfortable doing both.”

Schomin and Homa had the club dialed for an 8˚-10˚ launch and 2800-3100 spin, but Homa ultimately decided on a 3-wood instead.

Quiet week on the trucks

One common theme with all of these new clubs players have in their bags this week is that the vast majority weren’t built this week.

In fact, Masters week, like most major weeks, is a fairly quiet one on the Tour Trucks.

“There’s really not much going on. I mean, there’s really not much we can do,” Watson said. “At this point, if you haven’t done your job already, then you probably shouldn’t be here.”

Much of the work is validating or re-validating clubs that were built for this week, or minor maintenance jobs like re-grippings and loft and lie checks.

Justin Rose is a perfect example as he had clubs, like his Callaway Quantum Mini Driver and prototype Cleveland RTZ wedge, built for him weeks ago specifically to get ready for the Masters.

The Ping Tour Truck built 109 clubs this week, but the majority of those were players like Vijay Singh, who doesn’t get serviced regularly, or guys like Sandy Lyle, who aren’t even playing this week.

“A lot of the stuff you’re seeing built this week is for past champions or guys we don’t see as much,” Oates said. “The Conners and the Hovlands, they’re already dialed. There’s really not much for us to do.”

Harry Hall goes nuclear on the bag after Round 1

Harry Hall started his Masters with a brand new driver, a Ping G440 LST, one that helped Ping tie Titleist for the lead in driver count for the week, a first in roughly two seasons for Ping.

He also had Ping’s prototype mini in the bag as he continues his torrid pace of gear switches throughout this season.

Already this year, Hall has switched between no fewer than four different drivers, two sets of irons, three sets of wedges, two putters and a golf ball change just for this week.

After Round 1 at Augusta, where he shot 77, he seemed ready to do all of that between then and his Friday morning tee time.

“I’m going to change my driver. I’m going to put two drivers in play tomorrow, different ones. I’m putting a new putter in play and going to figure out on the range,” Hall said Thursday. “I don’t think I spin my irons enough either. I went into a spinnier ball this week, but I still, you know, can’t stop it on a dime like I need to. So I probably need to add off to my irons or do something to compete in these majors.”

Hall appeared to only use the TaylorMade Qi4D driver he was playing most recently before this week and he did switch from his longtime Odyssey O-Works putter to a TaylorMade Spider that he started using at Bay Hill.

After all of that, Hall had a wild Round 2 of five birdies, five bogeys and eight pars for an even-par 72 that puts him at five over for the week and likely to miss the cut.

Golf Pride continues major dominance

No surprise here as Golf Pride continues to dominate grip counts at majors.

Of the top 10 betting favorites heading into the week, eight of them used Golf Pride grips with multiple models represented, including the Tour Velvet, MCC and Align Max families.

Overall, 80 of the 91 players in the field are using a Golf Pride grip.

Check this out

This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out some more of the Cleveland prototype RTZ offset wedges that are sneaking into multiple bags on the PGA Tour. Take a guess who this one is for. Check out the full story behind them.

Odds and Ends

Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.

Justin Thomas (GTS2), was among three players to add a new Titleist GTS driver this week. The others were Dustin Johnson (GTS2) and Cam Smith (GTS3) … Cameron Young added a Titleist GTS3 7-wood in place of his GT1 hybrid … Thomas also gamed a Vokey WedgeWorks 60L lob wedge, a grind that sits between his normal 60T and 60K* gamers … Vokey had 114 gap, sand and lob wedges … Ping and Titleist tied for the driver count lead with 25 and the G440 LST was the most played model… Vijay Singh had a new Ping G440 K … Keegan Bradley tested a TaylorMade Qi4D LS driver but stuck with his G430 LST … Wyndham Clark has a new TaylorMade Qi4D Tour 3-wood, replacing his G440 Max … Justin Rose has one of Cleveland’s prototype RTZ wedges with a 588 Wide sole … Aldrich Potgieter has a new TaylorMade Spider, one of 16 in the field … as he continues a search for a new putter … U.S. Mid-Am champ Brandon Holtz asked the USGA to send him his Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke TD that he won the Mid-Am with an donated to the USGA Museum, but chose not to use it … TaylorMade had 79 fairways in play, including two from Rory McIlroy, who switched back to his Qi10 3-wood … Odyssey led the putter count with 28 … Fujikura swept the counts for driver (36/39.6% of field), woods (116/41.3%) and hybrid shafts (10/62.5%)

3 things you should read/watch

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.

Cameron Young’s bag is constantly evolving. Dive into how he got here | Bag Spy – In the latest edition of Bag Spy, take a deep dive into Players champion Cam Young’s golf bag, with his high-lofted driver, game improvement wood and hybrid and prototype golf ball.

Titleist GT3 Custom Driver

GT3 – Speed-Tuned Distance & Control GT3 offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization. With a speed-tuned design that allows you to precisely match performance to your most frequent contact location, you can make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping. For players with a relatively consistent impact location, GT3 offers a precisely adjustable CG Track to max out distance and directional control. Seamless Thermoform Crown A reimagined ultra-lightweight design, born from a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer. The tunable acoustic properties of this unique composite allow Titleist engineers to realize new material gains while maintaining our signature sound and feel. All wrapped in a clean look that inspires total confidence. Split Mass Construction A breakthrough in internal weighting unlocks longer drives and enhanced directional control in GT3. The Adjustable CG Track now sits closer to the face for more dynamic CG control, while additional discretionary mass is pushed to the back of the club to maintain optimal stability through impact. Advanced Aerodynamics GT3 features a new raised tail contour that represents a dramatic shift in driver aerodynamics. Previously impossible to execute due to design constraints, this advanced shaping results in a driver that swings faster while still providing optimal CG control.

$649.00 $449.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Why Rory McIlroy decided on these clubs – Take a deep dive in Rory McIlroy’s bag as he defends his Masters title with his fitter, Adrian Rietveld.

‘Failure’s not an option’: Augusta National chairman reaffirms club’s rollback stance – At his annual Masters press conference, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley called for action to end the uncertainty around golf’s rollback.

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post These clubs were built just for Augusta National | Masters Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

The post Why this driver does so well at popular fitting house | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post Why this driver does so well at popular fitting house | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

Fitters have gotten two full months to work with this year’s crop of new drivers, and for this popular fitting house in Florida, there’s a clear winner so far.

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Johnny Wunder asked fitter Bryan LaRoche of BryanGolf in Fleming Island, Fla., which driver has been doing the best so far.

His answer was pretty emphatic.

“The winner? Callaway, across the board though,” LaRoche said. “Yeah, I would say this is the first year in a while, not just with Callaway but with any company where legitimately every one of their drivers is fitting players and outperforming other drivers in a way.”

LaRoche went on to say that Callaway’s Quantum line isn’t just selling well because it’s the fastest. He made it clear that his fittings focus on what is going to help the golfer shoot lower scores, whether that be through improving speed, launch conditions or dispersion.

Callaway Quantum Max Custom Driver

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He said Callaway’s Quantum Max D, Triple Diamond and Triple Diamond Max have been his top three selling heads, but then mentioned how much he loves the Qauntum Max core model.

“The core model, which is their best, I think, core model as long as I’ve been fitting for the last 8, 9, 10 years,” LaRoche said. “So maybe Epic, the first Epic core model was pretty good.”

LaRoche also mentioned how well Cobra and TaylorMade’s drivers are selling this year.

The TaylorMade drivers are an interesting case study because with all the weight options in the head, it can take a little more time to unlock them, but for someone willing to give it that time, it usually ends up paying off.

For more from Wunder and LaRoche, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here, or watch it below.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Why this driver does so well at popular fitting house | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Sungjae Im finally switched to Titleist’s ‘Faster Player’s Iron’ | Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Sungjae Im finally switched to Titleist’s ‘Faster Player’s Iron’ | Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.

Sungjae Im is back on the PGA Tour and for the first time since his rookie season, he’s breaking in a new set of irons.

Im made his first start since last October (wrist injury) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, and did so with a new set of Titleist T150 irons. That represents his first iron chance since he moved to his first-generation T100 irons shortly after their release in 2019.

“Sungjae really loved that first-gen T100,” Titleist Tour Rep Nick Geyer told GOLF. “It was probably a combination of things, a little bit of size and the profile. It was a little longer heel to toe than the current generation, and it had a slightly wider sole, so a little more bounce. And to be fair, he just hit them great and probably didn’t see a reason to change.”

Not only did Im make the move while at home in Korea rehabbing from injury, but he also made the switch to Titleist’s larger T150 platform at the same time.

After all this time with the original T100s — Russell Henley still plays the same model — what made Im finally switch?

Im, a notably hard switcher of gear who is still playing Titleist’s TSi2 driver from 2020, also famously never takes time off. He’s played 26 or more events in each of his first seven seasons on the PGA Tour, including 35 in both 2019 and 2021. So with the forced time off to rehab his wrist, Geyer said Im took some time to evaluate where his game was at and reached out to Titleist’s Korea team once he was able to make full swings this winter.

“The Korean team and all of our worldwide teams do a great job of communicating,” Geyer said. “Any time a player is spending time at home or somewhere else, we’re always kind of up to date with each other, and we got great reports and feedback from Sungjae when it came to all his testing during that time.”

The winner for the fitting was clearly a set of T150, the larger of Titleist’s two tour cavity-back irons, bent one degree weak.

PGA Tour players using a full set of T150s, an iron many would consider in the players distance category, isn’t unheard of, but it’s rare. Will Zalatoris also uses a full set of T150s and Geyer has said more pros have “dabbled” in this generation of the T150 than the previous one. Titleist actually lengthened the blade of the T150 to make it more similar to the proportions of the T100.

But the larger profile, specifically the wider sole, is actually most similar to Im’s original T100s.

Titleist 2025 T150 Custom Irons

T150 Irons are crafted for added distance with unwavering accuracy. Forged into a player’s shape with progressive blade lengths, T150 offers a precise blend of speed, stability, and consistency—providing the confidence to hit and hold greens from anywhere.   Confidence-Inspiring Forged Design  Forged into a player’s shape with a slightly larger head size for pure feel with extra stability. Elevated Ball Speed 1° stronger lofts (vs. T100) combine with an improved muscle channel through 7-iron and lower long-iron CG to help improve speed, launch, and carry. Superior Flight and Stability  Split high-density tungsten produces optimal CG with remarkable stability for precise shotmaking. Consistent Speed & Spin   New VFT technology and progressive groove design provide consistent spin and speed across the face in variable conditions. 

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

“The blade length and a little bit more overall size just looked very familiar to him right away. That familiarity was the first positive, and then the performance gains kind of stacked on top of that,” Geyer said. “The numbers were really good — a little higher, a little faster, and with a steeper descent angle. Especially in the long irons, being able to launch it and send it higher was a big benefit. Pair that with turf interaction that felt like his old iron and it made a lot of sense.”

With the additional loft, the irons actually play to a same stock loft as the T100, just in the larger shape.

Im uses the same Dynamic Gold X100 shafts as his previous set, but he personally made the addition of a strip of Titleist-branded lead tape to the head of each iron. That was a choice he made on his own.

“That’s just Sungjae being Sungjae,” Geye said. “My notes don’t have anything about lead tape so that’s just him fine-tuning.”

Im was shaking off the rust with an MC at Bay Hill but gained strokes on approach in his second round and each of his first two rounds at the Players this week.

A ‘Mini’ tune-up for Augusta

Justin Rose added a new mini driver to the bag this week, but it wasn’t just for the tight confines of TPC Sawgrass.

Rose approached Callaway Tour Rep Kellen Watson at the Genesis Invitational last month, looking to get the top of his bag set for the Masters.

That meant making sure everything with Rose’s now two-year-old Paradym Ai-Smoke driver was as dialed as can be and making sure he had a secondary tee option. Rose played a mini driver at times last season, including his win in Memphis, and Watson had just gotten some validation on the new prototype Quantum Mini driver from Min Woo Lee.

Rose wanted to make sure he had an option well beforehand, as opposed to getting a new club built once he got to Georgia.

“These days most players already have the things they might take to Augusta in the travel bag somewhere,” Watson said. “It’s less about building something new at the last minute and more about having everything tested ahead of time.”

Rose tested 11.5˚ prototype Mini at 11˚ with a Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73TX shaft and liked what he saw immediately.

“We probably only hit it about ten times in L.A., but the numbers were really good and the pattern was exactly what he wanted to see,” Watson said. “That was enough for him to keep testing it.”

With 172-173 mph ball speed out of the mini, it represents more of a second driver than a 3-wood replacement, which is exactly what Rose was looking for at TPC Sawgrass, where accuracy is at a premium. It’s also advantageous at a place like Augusta National, where accuracy is important, but you don’t want to necessarily give up distance to do it.

That’s a reason Watson said more players than you might expect opt for an 11-degree mini as opposed to a 13-degree mini. The 11-degree is a true second driver while the 13-degree still retains the ability to hit the ball from the deck.

“You’re not losing much in ball speed, but you’re gaining a club that’s easier to control and place where you want it. For guys who want something they can lean on off the tee, pushing the loft down like that tends to make more sense,” Watson said. “Gone are the days where the 3-wood absolutely needs to be in the bag. Guys are hitting 5-woods 250 to 265 now, so you start asking where the 3-wood really fits. At that point, it can make more sense to give yourself another tee option instead.”

Justin Rose’s Quantum Mini Prototype specs

Actual Loft: 11˚
Lie: 57˚
OptiFit4 Setting: ++ Lie
Weights: 9 g front, 7 g back
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73TX
Length: 43.25″
Tipping: 1.25″
Swingweight: D3
Grip: Superstroke Revel Blk/Grey

Wyndham Clark’s golf shop visit results in a new putter

Newly minted equipment free-agent Wyndham Clark is just like us.

When he’s struggling with his putting, he goes to his local golf shop and buys a new putter.

The difference is that Clark is a major championship winner who really doesn’t ever need to buy any golf clubs.

But as GolfWRX reported this week, that’s exactly what Clark did as he showed up with a new Bettinardi Antidote SB1 with a slap of lead tape caked on the sole.

“I hadn’t been putting my best, so I wanted to try some different putters, and I kind of narrowed it down to two or three, and I went to go put lead tape on one of them at the pro shop at Whisper Rock,” Clark told GolfWRX. “As I was kind of waiting there and looking, they had this putter and I said, ‘You know, can I try this?’”

Bettinardi 2025 Antidote SB1 Custom Putter

SIMPLY BALANCED™ TECHNOLOGY G With a precisely engineered pocket and 6061 Aluminum insert, the SB1’s Center of Gravity (CoG) lies perfectly at the center of the putter, creating a zero-torque head that stays naturally on path and square from start to finish. F.I.T. FACE™ (FEEL IMPACT TECHNOLOGY) FACE MILLING G Milled from 303 Stainless Steel. This exclusive Bettinardi face milling removes 55% of the face material, resulting in a soft, responsive feel. DIAMOND BLAST AND SAPPHIRE BLUE FINISH G The Antidote SB1 has a Diamond Blast finish which reduces glare at address and features a Sapphire Blue T-Alignment and Anodized 6061 Aluminum pocket insert.

$450.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Clark has been using a L.A.B. putter this season and recently switched the orientation of the grip to play upside down.

The Bettinardi, which still had the price tag of $399.99 on the shaft has a regular SuperStroke grip. Clark goes into the weekend at 1-under par and 71st in putting through two rounds.

Putters aren’t the only thing he’s been switching around this season as he used four different drivers in four weeks earlier this year. This week he entered with the same Qi4D driver he played with at the Genesis Invitational.

Check this out

This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out Maverick McNealy’s custom P7CB irons.

Odds and Ends

Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.

Aldrich Potgieter became the first player to game L.A.B.’s new Link 2.1 HS blade … Maverick McNealy went back to an Odyssey Toulon blade putter after a one-week trial with the TaylorMade Spider … Ben Griffin switched back to Ping G440 K driver after switching back to his 430 Max at Pebble … Marco Penge is gaming the Ping Prototype Mini driver and switched his iron shafts to the KBS C-Taper 130 X from the VTen to lower his ball flight … Denny McCarthy switched to a Ping G440 LST with Project X Titan … Gary Woodland switched out of his Scotty Cameron Phantom 9 OC prototype to a prototype GoLo center-shaft … Justin Thomas switched back to a Titleist GT2 after debuting last week with an old TS3. He was in GT3 toward the end of last season … Sepp Straka went back to his Odyssey Tuttle … Max Greyserman switched to a shorter-build Quantum TD 5-wood … TaylorMade had 103 of the 220 fairway woods in play and every winner so far this season has played at least one.

3 things you should read/watch

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.

Could Charles Howell play Quantum irons!? – In the latest edition of Tour Validated, Charles Howell tests the Callaway Quantum game-improvement irons to see if they’re up to snuff for a Tour Pro.

Callaway Quantum Max Custom Irons

$164.28 from Fairway Jockey

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Akshay Bhatia’s not-so-secret weapon? A 50-inch putter – After Akshay Bhatia’s big win at Bay Hill, we look deeper at his Odyssey Jailbird DB Broomstick.

Odyssey Ai-DUAL 1/2 Ball Square 2 Square Max Broomstick Cruiser Putter

$449.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Your wedge selection is all wrong… – Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill walks Johnny through the process pros use to select the right wedge around the green.

Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Wedge

Titleist Vokey Design’s new SM11 wedges feature a new precise CG position across each grind in a loft, meaning every wedge will now perform the same way with the same strike.

$199.99 from PGA Tour Superstore

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Why Sungjae Im finally switched to Titleist’s ‘Faster Player’s Iron’ | Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s new Quantum driver is how fast? | Fully Fit 2026 Ep. 5 appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s new Quantum driver is how fast? | Fully Fit 2026 Ep. 5 appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences.

ICYMI: Ep. 1: Ping’s G440 K driver makes surprising first impression
ICYMI: Ep. 2: TaylorMade’s Qi4D driver, Spider putters steal the show
ICYMI: Ep. 3: Titleist shows off TPI, SM11 wedges, Scotty Cameron putters
ICYMI: Ep. 4: Cobra brings great vibes and new 3DP irons

***

We’re almost to the end of our fitting journey, but our second-to-last stop took us to Callaway’s Ely Callaway Performance Center where we got to see first-hand just how fast Quantum speed is.

Callaway’s new Quantum driver was the undisputed star of the show with every panelist getting fit into either the Quantum Triple Diamond or Triple Diamond Max drivers.

Jake actually got fit into both heads and now not only has to pick from which brand, but also which driver from within that brand if his gamer ends up being a Callaway.

Maddi got by far his fastest ball speeds and longest drives of the trip in a Triple Diamond Max as she started getting comfortable and swinging faster.

Like Jake and Maddi, Wadeh also came in with a previous Callaway driver, the unique Elyte Triple Diamond Tour Draw. But thanks to the adjustable weight on the Quantum Triple Diamond Max, Wadeh was able to lower the swing weight to match his gamer and find a fit.

Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Max Custom Driver

$699.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Johnny also came away with a Triple Diamond Max that was 2 mph faster than his gamer, and I hit my fastest ball speed of the trip, 175 mph, with one as well. I also saw my dispersion reined in with the spin consistency of the new Tri-Force Face.

In Sean’s fitting, he discovered that with less loft on his Triple Diamond Max, he could maximize his carry distance while tightening up his dispersion as well.

Just about everyone saw pretty big distance gains in a Quantum driver, but will they be enough to make the bag? There’s only one stop left!

Ready to overhaul your bag in 2026 like our Fully Fit panelists? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Callaway’s new Quantum driver is how fast? | Fully Fit 2026 Ep. 5 appeared first on Golf.

The post Si Woo Kim’s golf bag is one-of-a-kind. Just like him | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

The post Si Woo Kim’s golf bag is one-of-a-kind. Just like him | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Bag Spy, a GOLF series devoted to understanding the crucial equipment choices that define a player’s bag. With the help of players and/or their expert fitters, we dig deep beyond the photos to examine setups, specs and the thinking behind them. In this installment, GOLF Associate Equipment Editor Jack Hirsh takes you inside Si Woo Kim’s bag and new equipment setup for 2026.

***

At first glance — and depending on what course you catch him — Si Woo Kim has a pretty old-school bag.

Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 3-iron through pitching wedge and just two wedges, a 52˚ and a 60˚. We don’t see a lot of that set-up on the PGA Tour anymore.

But a deeper dive and conversation with Callaway Senior PGA Tour Player Development Representative Kellen Watson shows Kim actually has a unique relationship with gear. He focuses strictly on looks, and if it passes the first couple of swings, there usually won’t be much hesitancy with putting it in the bag.

“If there’s something that fits his eye very nicely, you can be damn sure that either the wedge that it might be or the set of irons or the driver or whatever, it’s going in play like right away,” Watson told GOLF. “The performance stuff, we’ll incrementally get exactly where we need to get to. But aesthetically, if it’s pleasing to his eye, there’s nothing bigger. If it goes through the ground perfectly, it’s going in the bag.”

Watson called Kim a “corporate dream” because he’ll put almost any club in his bag as long as it meets his eye test.

That’s notable because Kim held onto his Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond driver for two years before moving into the Quantum Triple Diamond this season.

But he’s not afraid to try anything, and, in fact, Watson has to prevent him from trying too much.

“He gets some ideas, and he’ll just do it behind my back,” Watson said. “That’s why I try to stay in front of him all the time so we don’t allow him to do anything like that.”

Watson also has to rely on Kim’s caddie, Manny Villegas, to help maintain Kim’s clubs. It’s usually Villegas who asks for regrips or loft/lie checks.

“Manny’s almost playing offensive coordinator and Si Woo’s just the quarterback, just taking the play calls,” Watson said.

So far that’s been working well this season, as Kim, despite a bulky putter, had four top-11 finishes in his first four starts this season, including two top-5s. He’s 9th in the FedEx Cup standings and second in Strokes Gained: Approach with Callaway’s yet-to-be-released Apex MB ’26 irons.

Kim and Villegas, the brother of five-time Tour winner Camillo Villegas, form one of professional golf’s most unlikely player-caddie duos, but they’re also perhaps the most laidback and fun.

“I still think they should make a TV show of him and Manny, almost like there’s a sequel of ‘Rob & Big.’ I would watch that. I would watch them talk to each other all day long, every day,” Watson said. “I don’t think there’s anybody there you want to be around more than Si Woo when you’re playing golf. And that just kind of goes for every day anyway. Some of it’s just because you never know what he’s going to say next.”

Kim’s golf bag embodies much of that persona.

Keep reading below to dive into the bag of one of the PGA Tour’s best characters, Si Woo Kim.

Breaking down every club in Si Woo Kim’s bag

Ball

2022 Callaway Chrome Tour Dot

As a player who plays a fade and generally plays at a spin surplus throughout the bag, Kim is one of the many users of Callaway’s Chrome Tour Dot golf ball, a Tour-only version of the Chrome Tour X.

“Just the higher spin guys — it’s just the flight’s a little bit better for him. The spin control is a lot better for him,” Watson said of the ball, which is also played by Xander Schauffele.

The Dot has an identical aero package to the Chrome Tour X, but it reaches a slightly lower peak height due to reduced spin. Otherwise, it flies similarly.

Players who play a fade generally are going to spin the ball more than players who draw it, so being able to retain control and wind performance with a touch lower spin, while keeping launch, speed and feel the same, is a good match for Kim.

Callaway 2026 Chrome Tour X Golf Balls

SPEED TECHNOLOGY Revolutionary new Tour Fast Mantle that increases distance through an optimized core/layer system. ADVANCED SEAMLESS TOUR AERO® Incredible distance and flight consistency on every shot.   PRECISION TOUR URETHANE COVER   Incredible feel and wedge control.     PRECISION TECHNOLOGY  Provides the ultimate in consistency. Every detail in the design, manufacture, and testing of the Chrome Tour X ball has been engineered to ensure maximized performance throughout your game.

$57.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore

Driver

Specs
Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 9.0
Actual Loft: 8.9˚
OptiFit Setting: N/-1
Weights: 7 g front, 9 g back heel, 1 g back toe
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 6-X
Length: 44 15/16″ EOG
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D3.4

Stock Carry: 290 yards

When it comes to his driver, there isn’t much unique about Si Woo Kim’s, but it is notable given he did not switch to Callaway’s Elyte driver last season.

You would think, after Kim hung onto a Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond for two seasons, that it would have been a long and arduous testing process to get him into a new Quantum Triple Diamond for this season.

But it took Watson only three swings.

“We did kind of a preliminary fitting at Sea Island,” Watson said. “I think we gave him the 8.5. I remember every interaction with him and Manny because they’re some of my most fun times on Tour. But I think he hit it twice. Little low spin. Nine-degree first shot, and it was like, ‘Can we play this this week?’”

The start line was also important for getting Kim to switch from his Ai Smoke, which is why you’ll see above in his specs he keeps the back weight on the heel side of the club to encourage a left start line.

Unfortunately, at the RSM Classic last fall, where Callaway annually does testing with their staff players for the new driver, the Quantum was not yet on the USGA conforming list.

But Kim got his driver in mid-November and he was one of the first to put it in play the first week of December at the Australian Open when it hit the conforming list.

One thing that Watson struggled with, however, was getting him to test a backup driver.

“He hates to do like a backup head, and I forced him to do like a backup head today (Tuesday at Bay Hill),” Watson said. “He’s like, ‘Nothing’s wrong with this one. This one will not fail.’ I’m just making sure, dude.”

Kim moved into the updated Fujikura Ventus Black with VeloCore+ during testing with the Elyte driver as they found the slightly softer profile had a better feel for him. It also aided his timing for a fade.

“If anything, a little less catch-up in the shaft, just being just like a touch softer is probably better for him, where the club will stay behind him at impact and he can kind of hit that fade a little bit better,” Watson said.

Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Custom Driver

$699.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Mini Driver

Specs
Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver 11.5
Actual Loft: 11.2˚
Lie: 57˚
OptiFit Setting: -1/N (Flat Cog)
Weights: 14 g front, 5 g back
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 7-X
Length: 43.125″
Tipping: 2″
Swingweight: D3.1

In some ways, the mini driver has become synonymous with Kim, as he is famous for his DODs from anywhere.

Fairway, rough, other, you name it, Si Woo Kim has probably tried to hit a driver off the deck from it.

That was the impetus for Kim in sticking with his Paradym Ai-Smoke mini driver, because it was much easier for him to hit off the fairway.

Watson intends to show Kim the new Quantum Mini Driver soon, but wanted to get more insight from the club from Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman, both of whom already have it in the bag.

Kim loves the ability to swing the Mini Driver flatter and not down on it like a 3-wood.

Fairway Woods

1/2

2/2

Specs
Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 3-wood*
Loft: 13.2˚
Lie: 57.3˚
Shaft: Fujikura OG Ventus Black 8-X
Length: 42.875″
Tipping: 1.5″
Swingweight:

Stock Carry: 258

*The Mini Driver is primary, but the 3-wood goes in on courses where he thinks he might need it

Specs
Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 5-wood
Loft: 16.4˚
Lie: 58˚
Shaft: Fujikura OG Ventus Black 10-X
Length: 42 1/16″ EOG
Tipping: 2″
Swingweight: D4

Stock Carry: 237

While Kim doesn’t use the 3-wood often in favor of the longer Mini Driver, when he does, he likes to be aggressive with it. It’s to the point where Watson compared his divots to Sergio Garcia, one of the best and also steepest fairway wood players of all time.

The 5-wood is a better story as Kim previously played a Rogue ST LS 5-wood since the club came out in 2022.

That club was a “complete weapon,” Watson said, and was the club he used to make the longest hole-in-one in major championship history last year at Quail Hollow’s 252-yard par-3 6th.

But in the fall, Kim wanted to shorten the club and did so while in Japan for the Baycurrent Classic. Why?

“I don’t know. I have no idea!” Watson said. Remember when Watson said he had to get between Kim and some of his “ideas?” This is why.

The club never felt the same to Kim after that. Watson built him a new 5-wood before the start of the season and the 3-wood just so he has options and doesn’t have to look for a new club in the middle of the season.

Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Custom Fairway Wood

$449.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Irons

Specs
Callaway Apex MB ’26 3-PW
Shafts: KBS Tour V 125
Lofts: 19.3/21.4/24.9/28.5/32.3/36.6/40.5/44.5
Lies: 60/60.3/61.1/61.5/61.7/62.3/62.9/62.6
Length: 7-iron 37″ EOG
Swingweight: D3 (“Or whatever feels good sometimes” – Watson)

3-iron Stock Carry: 221
7-iron Stock Carry: 174

Kim is one of a growing number of players on Callaway’s unreleased Apex MB ’26 prototype irons. He has played blades at times throughout his career, but not since his first year with Callaway in 2018.

But when Kim first tested the new blades, like all of his other changes, the decision to switch was almost instant. Again, the swap was driven more by visuals.

Watson says the new MB has a longer blade length and a more Japanese-inspired pinched toe shape, similar to the X Forged, which was all familiar to him. Kim was one of just three staffers previously playing the Apex CB ’24, primarily due to the longer blade length.

“I think the longer the blade length for him, I think the better the results he gets,” Watson said. “For him, a longer blade length, the higher toe, the matched window of launch and spin being pretty much exactly where you need it — I think that is the determination of, is it going in play?”

In testing, Watson said the new MB “hits more of that CB kind of window” launch conditions which made the switch simple for Kim.

Looking at his specs, you’ll notice his irons are all bent 1-2 degrees strong. That’s not done for launch/spin or even turf interaction reasons. Keeping with the theme here, that’s all done to fit Kim’s eye. He’s played the stronger lofts since before he signed with Callaway in 2018.

“If there’s something that really fits his eye — he’s a lot about aesthetics — if there’s something that fits his eye very nicely, you can be damn sure that either the wedge that it might be or the set of irons or the driver or whatever, it’s going in play like right away,” Watson said.

Kim’s high-spin tendencies allow him to play the blades all the way through to the 3-iron, a rarity on the modern PGA Tour where even 4-irons are starting ot become extinct.

But the 3-iron doesn’t actually get used that often and, Watson said, sometimes he’ll even be content with rolling with just 13 clubs.

Callaway Apex MB Custom Irons

The new Apex MB Irons are developed for the absolute best in the game who are looking for a high level of performance in a modern Tour blade. With our Dynamic Sole Design, it provides more efficient turf interaction, enhanced workability, and the classic feel that elite players expect. A PURE BLADE IN A MODERN DESIGN The new Apex MB Irons are developed for the absolute best in the game who are looking for a high level of performance in a modern Tour blade. With our Dynamic Sole Design, it provides more efficient turf interaction, enhanced workability, and the classic feel that elite players expect. PURE FORGED PERFORMANCE The Apex MB body and face are forged as one-piece in a proprietary forging process from 1025 carbon steel, creating the purest feeling iron imaginable. PROGRESSIVE CG DESIGN FOR ADDED CONTROL A progressive CG throughout the set improves trajectory control. The long irons feature a lower CG that promotes towering shots that land soft into greens while the short irons utilize a higher CG for a lower trajectory with more spin for added control. DYNAMIC SOLE DESIGN FOR ENHANCED TURF INTERACTION These irons feature a dual chamfer on the leading edge to cut through the turf more efficiently. A trailing edge chamfer provides relief from the turf after contact for enhanced feel. This Dynamic Sole Design maintains speed through the turf and promotes consistent contact on all shots.

$222.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Wedges

1/2

2/2

Specs
Callaway Opus SP RAW
Lofts/Grinds: 52/10S @ 51.5˚, 60/8C @ 59˚
Shafts: KBS Tour V 125
Lie: 60.8/63
Length: 35″ EOG/34.625″ EOG
Swingweight: D3 (“Or whatever feels good sometimes” – Watson)

52˚ Stock Carry: 114
60˚ Stock Carry: 89

Just two wedges?! Yes! just two wedges.

While the conventional wisdom for a player with strong lofted irons is to usually add more wedges, Kim plays just a couple and relies on feel to gauge the proper distance.

“I think that has more to do with the incredible set of hands that Si Woo just has,” Watson said. “I think he does more of it just with his hands. Totally feel.

“He’s more of an artist than people kind of would lead you to believe.”

Unlike most pros on the PGA Tour, Kim doesn’t use a clock system to hit distance wedge shots.

Like the rest of the bag, Kim had little issue switching into the new Opus SPs.

“I think he picked up both of them, just put them in the bag, like, ‘Okay, you take these two. I’ll play these two,” without even the waiting,” Watson said. “It’s like… ‘Yeah… Cool.'”

His stamp job, done by Callaway’s legendary Anthony Taranto, is uniquely Si Woo. If you don’t get the reference, recall this clip of Jordan Spieth from the 2017 Presidents Cup.

Callaway Opus SP Custom Wedge

SPIN POCKET™ CONSTRUCTION A re-engineered 2-piece construction head design strategically reshapes mass to optimize CG locations. The Spin Pocket redistributes weight higher, raising the CG, and promoting a lower, more penetrating launch. The result is more spin and enhanced control, especially when you need to flight shots or attack tight pins. NEW SPIN GEN 2.0 FACE™ The most advanced face in OPUS history. A new 17° groove angle with tighter pitch spacing delivers more groove edge contact for more consistent spin across a variety of lies. Combined with a deeper cross-hatch laser pattern across the face, Spin Gen 2.0 produces enhanced friction for more bite and stopping power on all types of approach shots. SHAPE 6 – TOUR-VALIDATED PROFILE Trusted by Tour players for its clean, confident look at address, Shape 6 offers precise leading edge shaping and refined sole geometry. Shape 6 is the 6th and final iteration in the Opus prototype shaping phase, validated by Tour players and major champions. OPUS SP introduces progressive shaping in gap wedges to seamlessly blend with modern iron sets—creating a more cohesive setup from top to bottom. X GRIND – VERSATILITY WITH BOUNCE Back by popular demand, the X Grind returns in OPUS SP. Designed for shotmakers who want added bounce for forgiveness, without giving up versatility, the X Grind is ideal for players who like to open the face around the greens or play in firmer turf conditions. It’s the perfect blend of playability and performance in a wide range of shots and conditions.

$199.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Putter

Putter: Odyssey O-Works 3T
Loft: 2˚
Lie: 70˚
Length: 33.5″
Insert: Microhinge
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Claw 1.0

The flatstick has been a club holding Kim back this season as he ranks second in Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green this season, but is losing nearly seven-tenths of a stroke on the greens. While this year is one of his worst, Kim has never gained strokes putting since joining the PGA Tour in 2016.

This Odyssey O-Works 3T is new this season and Kim loves the look of it, but this week, he’s testing out a new Odyssey prototype TRTL mallet putter.

It’s the same putter that Min Woo Lee is using and it obviously passed the eye test for Kim to consider using it this week. The specs match his current O-Works 3T.

Putter has been a revolving door the past two seasons for Kim after he stopped using an Odyssey 2-Ball 10 Broomstick.

Watson doesn’t know exactly why the run with the broom came to an end — nobody does, he said — but he has his guesses.

“He might have been getting sick of the look and just wanted to look at something different,” Watson said. “That would be my answer… and that wouldn’t be odd as an answer to the question about Si Woo with anything.”

Will the new TRTL be the next one to have staying power? We’ll see if it even makes it to the bag at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Odyssey’s Cody Hale said it’s likely the move this week.

“He has actually been testing this new putter since Pebble,” Hale said. “He likely just needed a new look and liked the way this one setup along with the added stability of this head.”

Extras

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Blackout 58R

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Si Woo Kim’s golf bag is one-of-a-kind. Just like him | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

The post The 8 hybrids and utility irons our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post The 8 hybrids and utility irons our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), check out the hybrids and utility irons that each of our Fully Fit 2026 panelists chose for their golf bags. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:

Jake Morrow (0 handicap) | Johnny Wunder (2) | Wadeh Maroun (2) | Jack Hirsh (2.4) | Maddi MacClurg (5.6) | Sean Zak (7.8)

MORE FULLY FIT: Fully Fit hub page | Why we’re ‘testing’ golf clubs differently this year | Inside 6 days of fittings and testing | Browse 2026 drivers | Browse 2026 irons | How 5 days of club fittings changed my mind on golf equipment

The spot between a player’s fairway woods and irons can be tricky, and for many of our Fully Fit panelists, hybrids and utilities were where they had to make the toughest decisions.

This category is crucial for players to gap out the rest of their bag. Have a utility club that goes too far and you’ll struggle to gap your iron set after it. Have one that goes too short, and you’re going to be left with lots of awkward fairway wood yardages.

Not everyone will need a club in this space, but all six of our panelists did.

Everyone was looking for something different. Johnny and Sean wanted 4-iron replacements that went higher and farther. Johnny stuck with his longtime gamer hybrid, while Sean found a new utility iron. Wadeh and I were looking for secondary wood options that we can land softer than our mini drivers.

There was something for everyone.

After fittings with six manufacturers, here are the hybrids and utility irons our six panelists chose for their bags in 2026.

Jack Hirsh’s 3-Hybrid

Head: Ping G440 3H
Shaft: Nppon N.S. Pro Modus3 GOST Hybrid TX
Loft: 20 @ 19
Trajectory Tuning 2.0 Setting: Flat –
Length: 40.25″ EOG
Tipping: 0″
Swingweight: D3

PING G440 Custom Hybrid

The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.  FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.  ROUNDED SOLE  Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings  CARBONFLY WRAP  Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG. 

$319.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore

Why it’s in my bag: I struggled to find a replacement for my 3-wood for a long time until I got fitted for this hybrid last year at the Proving Grounds. Surprisingly, during Fully Fit 2026, I walked away with three other really good options for this spot in the bag, including a 21-degree Callaway UW, an 18-degree Cobra OPTM hybrid and a 19-degree TaylorMade Qi4D hybrid. But honestly, the G440 has such an advantage with a year of playing with it already in my back pocket.

I’m stoked to have four great options here, so while I’m happy with the Ping right now, I wouldn’t be shocked if I make a change when I start playing more regularly again in the spring. I do have some lead tape on the toe just to guard against that left miss, but for the most part, it keeps me on the right side of the golf course. This thing also explodes off the face.

1 key data point: 254 to 224 yards carry distance. That big of a carry dispersion is usually not considered a good thing, but the fact that I’m able to dial up a 250-plus carry out of a club that fills my 240 gap is super advantageous when I’m far away from the green. While I’m rarely hitting the mini off the deck, knowing I can still get pretty close to the target if I’m just inside a comfortable yardage and even chase it up with the hybrid is awesome. That shot is pretty low spin, but when I’m trying to close the gap between my Mini driver and 4-iron, versatility is key.

See Jack’s full bag here

Jack Hirsh’s Utility Iron

*Utility Iron swapped for hybrid on a course/conditions-dependent basis

Head: Titleist U505 3-iron
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Hybrid Gen. 4 80 g 6.5
Loft: 20˚
Lie: 58.5˚
Length: 39.25″ EOG
Swingweight: D4

Titleist 2025 U•505 Custom Driving Iron

U505 plays like an iron but performs like something more. From threading the needle off the tee to getting home from unfathomable distances, U505 gives players the speed and control to hit clutch shots with confidence.  Pure Muscle Look   A hollow high-strength steel body concentrates immense power in a pure package. Long-Range Speed  A new forged L-Face design heightens ball speed and launch to take on distant targets with confidence.  Consistent Performance  Improved Max Impact Technology helps generate consistent launch, speed, spin, and carry to expand your shotmaking ability. Controlled Trajectory  Split high-density tungsten produces optimal CG with high stability for more forgiving shotmaking. Iron Set Blending The U505 and T250U feature a player-preferred profile with minimal offset, allowing you to blend into the top end of a mixed setup seamlessly.

$279.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why it’s in my bag: If I’m going to play a utility iron, then I want it to actually be a utility club and not a one-trick pony. Yes, hitting it high is almost never an issue for me, but the shots I can hit with the U505 are just silly. I can hit as high as all of my other irons, and I can hit down below 70 feet when I need to hit a frozen rope into the wind. I really just didn’t hit anything that has come close to it. I got fit for this club when the 2025 T-Series was launched and it took about three swings.

1 key data point: 157 mph ball speed. This was the fastest ball speed number I’ve recorded with this 3-iron. I was trying to get this number, but I’m more typically in the lower 150s. Just to be able to have that kind of speed with an iron tells me I can hit it off the tee and not have to worry about leaving myself way far back.

See Jack’s full bag here

Jake Morrow’s Driving Iron

Head: Ping iDi #3
Shaft: Ping Tour 2.0 Black 90 X-Stiff
Loft: 20º
Lie: Black Color Code – 59º
Length: 39.25″
Swingweight: C9+

PING iDi Custom Driving Iron

The iDi marks a big step forward in driving iron and long-iron performance, giving better golfers the flexibility of three loft choices to fit their distance number and trajectory window. Loft offerings are optimized for launch and spin in 2, 3 & 4 irons with a thinner, forged maraging steel face that flexes to increase ball speed and distance. The 2 is a traditional driving iron, delivering low launch and spin. The 3 (mid launch, mid spin) is designed as a driving iron or long-iron replacement. The 4 launches higher with more spin, making it easier to hold greens and is also recommended as a long iron replacement. The 17-4 stainless steel head is both deeper front to back and shallower, which allows for 15% higher MOI on high/low impacts, and makes room for the new inR-Air technology. inR-Air is a pocket of air in the clubhead that damps sound and improves feel. The covered cavity and i-Beam structure help reduce vibration. In addition, iDi is shorter heel-to-toe to make it easier to tun over. For control in shot making, each iDi is approximately 1/4″ shorter and 1° flatter. 

$269.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore

Why it’s in my bag: I haven’t had a driving iron in the bag for a while. I’ve toyed with the Mizuno FliHi (the new one is really good, fyi) and the older Ping iCrossover (of which I was internally at Ping called the biggest fan of), but they just didn’t really stick after I found love in the Qi35 5-wood and a Ping G440 hybrid. When we tested the iDi, though, it just felt super easy. I could choke up and hit low cutty fairway finders or play it at length and hit super high draws. It also feels much better off the face than you might expect. I have to give credit to Adam Harding on the Ping PGA Tour truck for this. He’s the one who told me that I absolutely needed to hit it, and that’s really the only reason that I did when we went for our fittings. Turns out, he was correct.

1 key data point: Not really a data point, but how easy it is to change flights is what ended up selling me. The one downside to hybrids is that they are sort of one-trick ponies. Into the wind, or shots where you have to make a certain flight happen, aren’t really their strong suit. The iDi checks that box.

See Jake’s full bag here

Johnny Wunder’s 4-hybrid

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Head: Ping G430 4H
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI HY 9X
Loft: 22
Setting: Flat
Length: 39.5 EOG
Tipping: 0
Swingweight: D3

PING G440 Custom Hybrid

The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.  FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.  ROUNDED SOLE  Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings  CARBONFLY WRAP  Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG. 

$319.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore

Why it’s in my bag: Security blanket. I’ve had this in the bag for two seasons now, and it’s become my favorite club. It can get up, go down, hold ball speed up and down the face, and it spins. It’s the most efficient 4H I’ve ever tested, and I really tried to kick it out. Contenders were Cobra OPTM (really close) and a TaylorMade Qi4D (also really close). Where they fell short was on their ceiling, with the 430, I can chip it and hit it 205, or munch it and hit it 225. The other had the floor, but the ceiling was 218. I’ll take the extra few yards.

1 key data point: 138-143 mph, 4200-4800 RPMs, 212-225 yard carry

See Johnny’s full bag here

Maddi MacClurg’s 4-hybrid

Head: Callaway Quantum Max
Shaft: Denali Frost Silver 70G 6.0
Loft: 21º
OptiFit4 Setting: NS
Lie: 59.375°
Length: 40.125″
Swingweight: D2

Callaway Quantum Max Custom Hybrid

$349.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Why it’s in my bag: I’ve never had the kind of reliability with other hybrids that the Quantum Max gives me. Standing over shots, I feel confident because I don’t have to worry about my ball speed dropping on off-center hits. It also launches the ball high with a penetrating trajectory, making it easier to carry hazards on the course. Between the forgiveness, consistent speed and high launch, I can see this quickly becoming a club I rely on round after round.

1 key data point: I’ve always struggled with consistency when hitting hybrids, especially on off-center strikes. But the Quantum Max was a different story. Even on shots that were slightly off the toe or low on the face, the ball still carried with consistent, predictable speed. This makes it easy to trust the club from both the fairway and off the tee. That kind of reliability will be a game-changer for me —especially in competition rounds.

See Maddi’s full bag here

Sean Zak’s Utility Iron

Head: TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron
Shaft: KBS Tour Lite S
Loft: 22°
Lie: Standard
Length: 38.75″

TaylorMade P-UDI Custom Utility Iron

Tour inspired shaping for a playable and balanced look at address. Strategically positioned CG for a penetrating ball flight with backspin for players who demand shot making with long irons. INDIVIDUAL MASS OPTIMIZATION Featuring advanced thick-thin back wall construction, sound stabilization bar, and deliberately distributed mass to maximize forgiveness. Each iron is uniquely designed with every gram strategically placed to achieve specific performance goals with premium forged feel. OPTIMAL LAUNCH AND FORGIVENESS Designed to deliver easy launch, increased forgiveness and enhanced consistency. The new internal weighting structure combines with proven technologies such as the forged 4140 OptiFace, Speed Pocket™ and up to 26g of tungsten. THRU-SLOT SPEEDPOCKET The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ provides increased face flexibility while preserving ball speed and distance on low face strikes.

$249.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

Why it’s in my bag: I play a lot of golf in Scotland. Have been making the annual (and privileged) Open Championship pilgrimage for the last four years, and I find myself hitting a lot of 4-irons on that trip. It’s such a great exercise — to play firm courses for weeks at a time. It forces you to understand your carry distance, but also to understand how far your shots can run if you just get them started on the right line. So I really enjoy having a club I can hit extra shots with, low and hooking at times, higher and fading at others. This club has a good bit of meat on the bone, if you will. Some real mass that sits behind the clubface and helps me launch it. But I can also get plenty of distance out of that mass simply by pulling it back in my stance a bit and stinging one low and striking. Versatility is what we love.

1 key data point: This may not feel like a data point, but there is something particularly pleasing about just filling in the gap, loft-wise, in my bag. If we were to remove that Adams driving iron, which I really should have done years ago, then there was about a 13-degree gap in my set when it came to modern clubs. The 22-degree 4-iron (and the 16.5-degree 5-wood) work hand-in-hand to make my gapping more sensical. We like that!

See Sean’s full bag here

Wadeh Maroun’s Hybrid

Head: Callaway Apex UW 2021
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7-X
Loft: 19˚
Length: 41”
Tipping: 2”
Swingweight: D0

Callaway 2025 Apex Custom Utility Wood

The Apex UW is designed for serious, avid golfers seeking the perfect blend of a fairway wood’s power and a hybrid’s versatility. Engineered with Tour feedback and loaded with performance technologies, it delivers a higher, more neutral ball flight with the control all players demand.  TUNGSTEN SPEED WAVE A dynamic, 41g+ tungsten wave structure positions mass low and forward, enhancing ball speed and launch—particularly on low-face strikes where players tend to lose distance. STEP SOLE DESIGN A redesigned sole with a stepped geometry reduces turf interaction, helping to maintain swing speed through impact and promoting more consistent contact across different lies. TRIAXIAL CARBON CROWN The lightweight carbon construction allows for strategic weight redistribution, creating a more forgiving clubhead while refining launch and spin for greater shot-making control. TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING Designed with input from the world’s best, the compact, refined shape and neutral face angle inspire confidence at address and deliver workability from tee to turf.

$369.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Why it’s in my bag: This has been in my bag for three years now, and it is my most trusted club in there. I use it for 240-yard distances, mostly hitting into greens on par 5s. The new 2025 UW is great. I just have so much confidence in this club; I didn’t feel the need to make a switch.

1 key data point: The north and south dispersion is so tight that a fitter from a different OEM, who will not be named, said, “If anyone tries to tell you they can beat this club, they are lying to you.”

See Wadeh’s full bag here

Wadeh Maroun’s Utility Iron*

Head: Srixon ZXiU
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-VF Hybrid 95-S
Loft: 18˚
Length: 40”
Swingweight: D0

Srixon ZXiU Custom Utility Iron

$249.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Srixon

Why it’s in my bag: Living in Arizona, you play a lot of desert golf, which usually means tight and hard fairways. I have this in my bag for when I am playing tight courses where I need 240+ off the tee and I know it is going to go straight. I do not use this a lot as it’s very much the “15th” club and used on a course-by-course basis.

1 key data point: Ball speed was the highest out of any of the driving irons I hit. I also love the mirror on the back, which removes the bulk through an optical illusion.

*Utility iron goes in for UW based on course/conditions

See Wadeh’s full bag here

Watch Fully Fit 2026 below!

Ready to overhaul your bag in 2026 like our Fully Fit panelists? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post The 8 hybrids and utility irons our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

We all want to hit low, spinny wedge shots and wrap skip once and rip back on a putting green. Callaway’s new Opus SP+ wedge is built to do exactly that.

So should everyone be seeking out Callaway’s newest short game option?

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Johnny Wunder explained why Callaway is now offering this unique wedge with an ultra-high center of gravity.

As Wunder explained, modern wedge design was primarily influenced by the Cleveland 588 wedge, which didn’t really have a super high CG. But in order to generate those low launch and high spin shots, a player could adjust their technique to play the ball back in their stance and trap it to produce the trajectory they wanted.

Callaway Opus SP+ Custom Wedge

Introducing the all-new Opus SP+ with Spin Pocket™ Construction + Tungsten, a new extension of our Opus SP family. Tour-preferred shaping with an even higher center of gravity for more spin and precision. 

$229.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

“It kind of relied on the player to, if you needed to get it up, you get it up. If you need to hit it down, technique was going to allow you to do that,” Wunder said. So, SP+ is kind of baking that in for you. So, if you’re a player, if you’re a good player with good hands that wants to hit it even lower and doesn’t really want to have to play it off your right foot and just kind of hit a stock shot and bring the launch down, then that’s a great wedge to have.”

This wedge instantly becomes a great option for players who like to drive the CG as high as they can with lead tape on the top of the club, like Akshay Bhatia.

The interesting thing is the Opus SP platform already had a high CG with the hollowed out sole of the club to remove weight low in the head. SP+ takes that concept a step further by making that cavity larger and adding tungsten in the topline.

It’s not a huge difference in launch and spin, maybe a degree, Wunder said for his testing, but it gives you the option. It’s also not a replacement for the Opus SP, just another option in the family.

“It’s kind of like the comparison I would draw between if you are a [Qunatum] TD Max player and you like how that flies but you need slightly less spin, then you would go to the TD head,” Wunder said. “It just gives you that little silo over there that you can go to if you want to drive it, drive the launch down even more.”

For more from Wunder,

For more from Wunder, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here, or watch it below.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post The 6 fairway woods and mini drivers our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post The 6 fairway woods and mini drivers our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), check out the fairway woods and mini drivers that each of our Fully Fit 2026 panelists chose for their golf bags. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:

Jake Morrow (0 handicap) | Johnny Wunder (2) | Wadeh Maroun (2) | Jack Hirsh (2.4) | Maddi MacClurg (5.6) | Sean Zak (7.8)

MORE FULLY FIT: Fully Fit hub page | Why we’re ‘testing’ golf clubs differently this year | Inside 6 days of fittings and testing | Browse 2026 drivers | Browse 2026 irons | How 5 days of club fittings changed my mind on golf equipment

If there’s one club that’s tough to fit, it’s the fairway wood.

When fitters see certain fairway woods in a player’s bag, they know they might have a hard time beating them, regardless of how good the player is. That’s a good reason, even after six full bag fittings at each of the major OEMs, half of our Fully Fit panelists left with the same mini driver or 3-wood they already had in the bag.

Speaking of mini drivers, they throw a wrench in the whole process as they serve as specialty clubs at the top of the bag. While two of our panelists have a mini driver in the bag all the time, two others rotate one in depending on the course.

After fittings with six manufacturers, here are the fairway woods and mini drivers our six panelists chose for their bags in 2026.

Jack Hirsh’s Mini Driver

Head: TaylorMade r7 Quad Mini
Shaft: Fujikura OG Ventus TR Blue 7-X
Loft: 13.5˚ @ 12.75˚
FCT setting: 1 Click Lower (2.0˚ sleeve)
Front weights: 7 g toe, 4 g heel
Back weights: 15 g toe, 10 g heel
Length: 43.75″ EOG
Tipping: 0″
Swingweight: D5

TaylorMade R7 Quad Custom Mini Driver

PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER Inspired by one of the most iconic models in TaylorMade history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what’s come before, while creating its own modern identity in the same breath. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give golfers versatility and playability. R7 QUAD WEIGHTING SYSTEM The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide the ultimate in spin management and shot shape control. Forward CG creates a penetrating flight best suited for maximizing distance whereas rear CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. Shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustability. INFINITY CARBON CROWN A new satin Infinity Carbon Crown has been added to the R7 Quad Mini Driver chassis creating a stunning look while saving weight for better mass optimization. The cosmetic package is clean, elegant, and confidence-inspiring.

$479.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

Why it’s in my bag: This was my gamer coming in, and it was going to be tough to leave the bag. I can draw it, I can fade it, I can hit it off the deck or from the tee. I have a couple of 3-woods I could use if I ever played a course where I felt I might need one, but I rarely find myself needing one anymore. I keep the weight back in my R7, which gives me that off-the-deck performance.

1 key data point: 3288 RPM spin rate (Off tee and deck). I actually spin this a good bit more than my previous 3-wood (~2600), which actually makes it fly shorter, but that works out better for my gapping as the 3-wood was going too far and forcing me to either back off or take less club.

See Jack’s full bag here

Jake Morrow’s 3-Wood

Head: TaylorMade Qi4D
Shaft: Tensei 1k Black 75 TX
Loft: 15º
FCT Setting: Lower
Front weights: 8 g
Length: 42.5″
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D2

TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Fairway Wood

PROVEN RECIPE TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility. The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight. 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts. REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence. Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels. TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance. Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.

$379.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

Why it’s in my bag: It’s honestly just because I can hit it. I did find a couple of others during testing that could have worked, but none of them gave me the big off-the-deck performance that the TaylorMade Qi4D did. And it doesn’t hurt that I played the Qi35 5-wood for most of last year. That was an easy switch (that we’ll talk about next), and it’s nice to have the same visual in both fairway woods in the bag.

1 key data point: This is a pretty easy one. I actually hit the center of the face, and the ball goes up in the air.

See Jake’s full bag here

Johnny Wunder’s 3-wood

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2/2

Head: TaylorMade Qi35
Shaft: Fujikra Ventus Black Velo+ 7X
Loft: 14.5˚
Setting: Bonded bent 1˚ flat
Length: 43″ EOG
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D3

TaylorMade Qi35 Custom Fairway Wood

$349.99 $299.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

Why it’s in my bag: Pretty simple, TaylorMade core fairway woods are the fastest, most forgiving in golf. If Ping is the most forgiving and Callaway has the fastest, TaylorMade is both but in one club. No more to it than that.

1 key data point: 152-155 mph, 3200-3600 RPMs, 245-255 yard carry.

See Johnny’s full bag here

Maddi MacClurg’s 3-wood*

Head: Callaway Quantum Max
Shaft: Denali Frost Silver 60G 6.0
Loft: 15º
OptiFit4 Setting: NS
Length: 43″
Swingweight: D2

Callaway Quantum Max Custom Fairway Wood

$399.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

Why it’s in my bag: This club really surprised me. I don’t normally carry a 3‑wood. In fact, I tried one in my “old” bag and rarely used it because I just wasn’t in love with it. But during my fitting at the Ely Callaway Performance Center, I was blown away by what this one could do. I usually hit a low ball flight with 3‑woods off the deck, but this club launched nicely without feeling too “lofty.” Off-center hits still carried well, and even the occasional thin strike was totally playable. There’s a real balance here between distance and playability.

1 key data point: I was impressed by how easily this club launched the ball. The trajectory was high and penetrating without feeling like it ballooned, which instills confidence — especially if I need to carry a hazard or want to go for a green.

*I choose between Mini Driver and 3-wood depending on course/conditions

See Maddi’s full bag here

Sean Zak’s Fairway Wood

Head: Titleist GT2
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS 6.5, 80g
Loft: 13.5°
SureFit Hosel Setting: A1
Length: 43″
Tipping: 0″

Titleist GT2 Custom Fairway Wood

Experience high-launching distance from the tee and off the deck. GT2 Fairways leverage a proprietary crown and new forged face to produce consistently impressive speed and trajectory on every swing. Built for added confidence, these fairways are designed to boost performance — no matter where you hit it. For players looking for extra confidence in their fairway, GT2 delivers consistently impressive speed and launch—no matter where you hit it. Deeper, More Forward CG Launch it from any lie. GT2 Fairways push performance higher and farther by shifting CG even lower and closer to the face – generating maximum distance through higher launch and lower spin. Forged L-Cup Face GT Fairways introduce a forged face into the club construction to bolster performance on low-center impacts. The new insert wraps around the bottom of the club to preserve ball speed, maintain launch conditions, and enhance sound and feel — even when you’re trying to pick it clean from a tight lie. Redesigned Internal Hosel To extract every ounce of performance in GT2 Fairways, Titleist engineers pursued every gram of weight savings. The redesigned internal hosel achieves subtle mass improvements that unlock real benefits on every swing.

$399.00 $329.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why it’s in my bag: Ball go far. Seriously! I’ve always been very good at sweeping fairway woods off the deck, off tees, and elevating them from hairier lies, too. So much so that I played with a 3-wood as the longest club in my bag for multiple years. The biggest challenge of my fittings was showing up at Titleist with a GT2 3-wood that I already hit really well and saying, “Try and beat it.” We went through those motions at every fitting — me really liking that club and the striking trajectory it takes — and while plenty of the other 3-woods work fine, none could outright beat the one I was already playing.

1 key data point: 13.5 degrees. I used to play a 16-degree 3-wood and was helplessly in love with it, but have been rocking the 13.5-degree for a couple of years now. That move made room for the 5-wood gapping to follow, simply getting another club into my bag, which is the whole point of getting fully fit.

See Sean’s full bag here

Wadeh Maroun’s Mini Driver

Head: Cobra King Tec Mini
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6-X
Loft: 13.5˚
Future Fit 33 Setting: G4
Front weight: 12g
Back weight:  2g
Length: 43.75”
Tipping: .5”
Swingweight: D0

Cobra KING TEC Custom Mini Driver

$479.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Cobra

Why it’s in my bag: I have been using a mini driver instead of a 3-wood for two years. Both of those years, I used the TaylorMade Burner Mini exclusively. You could not pay to get it out of my bag. The Cobra is the first to rival it and, honestly, compete in both numbers and performance. Looks-wise, they are very similar, and they use the same weighting system, front and back. The extra pop and ball speed are why I am moving into the Cobra.

1 key data point: Ball speed was up consistently with the Cobra King Tec.

See Wadeh’s full bag here

Watch Fully Fit 2026 below!

Ready to overhaul your bag in 2026 like our Fully Fit panelists? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post The 6 fairway woods and mini drivers our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedges aim to help you hit low spinners appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedges aim to help you hit low spinners appeared first on Golf.

Callaway has taken the design of their new Opus SP (Spin Pocket) wedges and quite literally put it on steroids.

With the addition of the new Opus SP+ wedges, Callaway has carried over the Spin Pocket design from Opus SP, which hollows out the sole to raise the center of gravity, and then pushed the CG even higher by adding 18 grams of tungsten to the toplines. The Spin Pocket itself is also 25 percent larger than it was on Opus SP.

“Opus SP+ takes on the best qualities of Opus SP, with lower launch, more spin, and engineering control,” said Brian Herr, Callaway R&D Manager for Wedges. “The higher CG helps us flight the ball lower, which is control.”

Keep reading below for more on the Opus SP+ wedges, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Callaway Opus SP+ wedges — and why you should care

The most glaring change to the Opus SP+ is the addition of the exposed tungsten plate just below the top of the flange on the back of the head.

That tungsten takes 18 grams of weight and moves it above the strike point, helping players to flight the ball down and increase spin. If this sounds familiar, it’s actually a concept Callaway used two years ago in the Opus Platinum line, where they placed tungsten underneath the topline to raise the CG of that wedge.

With Opus SP+, Callaway is using 23 percent more tungsten than in Opus Platinum.

To get that mass, Callaway designers made the hollow Spin Pocket cavity in the sole of the wedge 25 percent larger than in the Opus SP wedge.

Also, like in the Opus Platinum, Callaway is using a separate MIM’d (Metal Injection Molding) face construction.

Otherwise, the new Opus SP+ has all of the same technology as the Opus SP wedge line, including the tour-validated Shape 6 profile and the new Spin Gen 2.0 face technology with a tighter groove pitch and 17˚ groove angle.

Callaway Opus SP+ Wedges

What is it: A supercharged version of Callaway’s Opus SP wedge with a larger Spin Pocket and the addition of 18g of tungsten to the topline to raise the center of gravity. The SP+ also has a multi-piece construction with a MIM face and a cast 8620 steel body.

Available lofts: 54˚, 56˚, 58˚ and 60˚

Who it’s for: Players who want to lower launch and increase spin with their wedges.

My take: Higher CG is the next frontier of wedges

It’s probably a step too far to say we’ve maxed out what can be done to get more spin out of the groove system on the face of a wedge, but everyone seems to be taking aim at CG these days.

With Opus SP+, Callaway seems to be doubling down on it.

Flighting those 3/4 wedge shots and getting them to stop on a dime and even rip back is super easy to do with the SP+, and that has usually been a challenge for me as someone who doesn’t cover the ball very well.

With the SP+, it gives me the feeling that the ball is going to come out low with plenty of spin, so I don’t need to try to force it by getting too steep and allowing the ball to scoot up the face.

I think you’re going to see more companies focus on raising CGs on wedges to generate more spin, which will lead to players having more control around the greens. Right now, Opus SP+ might be the most extreme example yet.

Price, Specs and Availability

Callaway’s new Opus SP+ wedges are available for pre-order starting February 24 and will arrive at retail locations on March 6.

Each wedge will cost $229.

Opus SP+ Wedges are available in four lofts: 54˚, 56˚, 58˚ and 60˚. Each loft is available in three different grinds: Z, X or S. The stock configuration is with True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 shafts and True Temper Icon Velvet Grips.

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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