Equipment
Nike Golf signs Dave Stockton
Nike Golf has signed short-game guru Dave Stockton to assist with its product development and design, particularly with the company’s putters.
Stockton has worked with several of golf’s best players on their putting in recent years, including Phil Mickelson and Nike’s own Rory McIlroy and Suzann Pettersen.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of what I believe is one of the most innovative brands in sports,” said Stockton. “I look forward to sharing my putter insights with Nike engineers so they can continue to create amazing product that help golfers putt better.”
Stockton currently runs Stockton Golf — a golf instruction program — with his two sons, Ron and Dave, Jr. Stockton. He was previously associated with TaylorMade, where he also assisted with product development and design.
Stockton was known as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour during his professional golf career, which started in 1964. He won 11 Tour events, including two PGA Championships (1970 and 1976).
In 1991, he joined the Champions Tour, where he won 14 events including three majors. Stockton was also a part of three winning U.S. Ryder Cup teams — in 1971, 1977 and in 1991 as a captain.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
chris
Aug 22, 2013 at 12:42 am
dave stockton is an amazing putter and coach. he will do great things for nike’s putters and would not have signed with nike if they had not assured him a decent level of control/influence over their putter development.
dude knows what he is talking about. i was fortunate enough to have a couple hour session with him, his son and laurie hammer this summer and it has helped my putting immensely. if you ever have the chance to chat with him or get a lesson, jump on it.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:30 am
how much did it cost?
chris
Aug 28, 2013 at 11:16 pm
nothing.
Deacon Blues
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Lucas Glover won the 2009 US Open with a Method just a few weeks before Cink won at Turnberry.
I think Suzann Pettersen also uses a Method, though I don’t think they had come out yet when she won her only major (the 2007 LPGA Championship).
Zak Kozuchowski
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Stewart Cink also won a major with a Method — 2009 British Open
– Zak
Todd
Aug 21, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Tiger seems to be the only guy on staff that can use that Method Putter. I bet they bail on that and start making a Stockton brand of milled putters similar to Scotty Cameron. Seems like the other guys who play these Methods either don’t like it (Rory switching) or can’t hit the broad side of a barn (Stanley, Watney, Noh)
Blaise
Aug 21, 2013 at 3:03 pm
I like the idea of the stockton brand from nike, but they seem like to stubborn of a company. they thought they hit it big with this method, problem is it isn’t working for anyone. has anyone won a major with it? maybe Schwartzel did but he isn’t known for his putting either. I know when majors roll around tiger putts like he’s fresh out of that scandal.
GGG
Aug 21, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Cink won the British with the Method and Shwartzel won the masters, correct. I think the method line is phenomenal to be honest, its nike though and has a hard time selling. But you are right, If tiger or rory put a few of them together, they might sell..maybe too late.
Mark
Aug 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
It’s not the putter Todd, The biggest difference that these players have experienced since switching to Nike is definitely the golf ball. Tiger still uses the Tour D and these guys are all using the 20XI. ProV1 to 20XI is a radical change. I think the Method line of putters is one of the best putters on the market today, but the same cannot be said about their golf balls (or wedges for that matter).
Kyle
Aug 22, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Their wedges are unreal. Way better than vokeys. My opinion of course but don’t say Nike’s wedges aren’t good because they are one of the best, no doubt.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:27 am
I’ve tried their wedges on a demo day once at my local course and i have to say their great for attacking pins from afar but are terrible when used around the green but other than that i’m a pure nike head and also i love my method core it always has a good forward roll and a nice soft feel to it. i chose the core over the milled one because of feel the core just felt better to me.