Before we jump into what I am actively doing to improve my golf game, we should identify the clubs that I am doing it with. As changes come and clubs are swapped in and out, I’ll be sure to add some context as to why I did it and what I expect from it.

I should also add that much of what I do with golf is either superstition or I believe it will provide some sort of confidence when I am standing over the ball and about to swing the club. This applies to the shoes I wear, the outfit I choose, the ball I am hitting, and the clubs to hit it with. My warmup routine, to the time I get there. Golf is a confidence game, in my opinion, and the more confident I can be about the things that may or may not matter, the better I will play.

With that context taken care of, let’s dive into what I have in my bag.

Driver

A little backstory to how I arrived at this one. It had to have been 15 years ago when I bought a Nike VR S Covert driver from Dicks Sporting Goods. It looked pretty sweet, with the red finish and design. It was a demo model, marked down to around $200. I picked it up, didn’t bother hitting it, lest being embarrassed by my slice in the simulator, and paid for it. I and this club did not see eye to eye. In the infrequent times I played between buying that club and the summer of 2020, I maybe hit it on par 5s. Instead, I deferred to a Hybrid off the tee, which was fairly effective.

Upon playing more consistently, I knew I needed to upgrade most of my old clubs, and this is where I started. I saw the pros hitting the SIM and figured if it’s good for them, probably good for me. A quick note to anyone reading and looking to improve – this is the wrong mentality to have. I used that driver, with arguably minimal better success than the Nike, for around 18 months. In the early summer of ’22, My Golf Spy (which is an amazing site), published their annual best driver list. On top was the Ping G425 Max. The important call-outs to me upon reading were the increased distance, over notably the SIM 2, and the reduced side spin upon impact.

Shortly after reading this article, I was able to take advantage of a promotion Golf Galaxy runs in which you can rent a demo club for a week. I took advantage, trying out the Ping and the new Taylor Made Stealth. I saw immediate returns of distance and hitting it straighter. So, the TLDR was – I ordered the Ping G425 Max, 9.0 degree with a stiff shaft, and haven’t regretted it a day since.

Fairway Wood

That was way too many words to say I hit a certain club, so maybe we will shorten the description of each one going forward. In the bag, I use the Taylor Made SIM 2 Max, with a stiff shaft.

Hybrid

I love the hybrid. I will use it in many circumstances, from the rough, fairway, or tee depending on my rollout concern. Recently changed this club from the Mavrik 3H to the Taylor Made SIM 2 with a stiff shaft.

Irons

Last year, I upgraded my irons from the Callaway X-14 Steelheads to the Mizuno JPX 921. I cannot express how much I love these irons. I kept the grips and shafts stock. I have a 4-iron through gap wedge, but, am debating on taking the 4-iron out for a driving iron.

Wedges

I have found I switch out my wedges more than any other club. Is this common? I now keep the Mizuno T22 54 & 58-degree wedges. At previous times, I have had 56, 60, and 64 all at one time. It wound up being overkill and would create confusion with shorter distances.

Putter

The newest club in my bag is the Oddesey Tri-Hot 5k. I was struggling with my putting. I did a fitting through Golf Galaxy, which recommended I move from a mallet style to a blade. The jury is still out, but I am more consistent with distances.

As I swap out or change clubs, I will update here and share my reasoning. For example, I am debating removing the 4-iron in favor of a driving iron.