Equipment
Do you own your set of clubs or do they own you?
By Greg Moore
GolfWRX Staff
Do you own your set of clubs or do they own you?
If you’re a mid-to-high handicap player and you truly owned your set, then you would have taken the time to get them custom fit.
During a custom fitting session, golfers are fit for shaft material (steel or graphite, maybe both in a mixed set), shaft flex, length, lie angle, overall weight, swing weight, grip size and style. Recent technology in hybrids and long irons means that set make up is something golfers should be aware of when selecting a new set of clubs — it is where a lot of players make the decision to let their set “own” them. But some players are more worried about the price they can get when they sell or trade their new set of clubs before they even buy them.
If most mid-to-high handicap players built their set make up around their weaknesses and not their egos, they would likely have a set made up of two or three different models of irons, and as many as four wedges (48 degree, 52 degree, 56 degree and 60 degree, probably with steel shafts). Their 8 iron and 9 iron might be a muscle back or cavity back with little to no offset and steel shafts. Their 6 iron and 7 iron (and maybe 5 iron) would then have a bit more offset and be a cavity back game-improvement model.
Next, they might have a couple of hybrids — at least 4 hybrid with a graphite shaft.
Their driver would have the correct amount of loft to allow them to maximize launch angle, as well as the correct shaft flex and length to help reduce the spin to optimize carry and roll-out. The fairway woods that they are fit for will allow them to once again launch the ball up into the air — their 3 wood might be a 15 degree or 16 degree, possibly even higher. The set make up might also include a 5 wood and 7 wood.
Just because the USGA Rules of Golf limits you to 14 clubs in the bag at one time doesn’t mean you can’t own more than 14 clubs. Changing out clubs, based on the course and conditions you are playing, means you might have a 5 wood in the bag one day and a hybrid the next. Or you could have four wedges in the bag one day and four woods (for a different course). Maybe you would include a strong lofted 3 wood (around 13 degrees) and no driver for that short, really tight golf course that eats up all your golf balls that you hit off line trying to steer your 9 degree driver, when distance isn’t the major factor in scoring.
Is this my opinion? No, professional golfers do it on tour all the time.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with set make up, but most importantly, spend the time and money to get a set that fits you.
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...
Big O Rick
Sep 17, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I went through a Hot Stix fitting in Orlando and bought what they spec’d only to learn later I paid about $500 too much. To top it off they put me in a regular shaft and a somewhat forgiving club. I did hit that club farther but very generic results. I then went to my local Edwin Watts and bought their recommendation with much better results. Bottom line fitting is good but you don’t always get what you pay for. I would never go back to Hot Stix again.
2putttom
Sep 14, 2012 at 1:55 pm
It took me over a hundred rounds to get what I wanted outta my fitted set. The over all benefit is a more enjoyable round of golf.
pablo
Sep 13, 2012 at 3:54 pm
great article. when i got new clubs i deleted my old 10.5 degree driver, 3 metal and 3-SW set, and instead got a 11.5* degree driver, 15* 4 metal, 3h, 4h, 5-pw cavity backed forged irons, and bought used 48,52,56,60* old ping ist solid copper wedges to fill it out. never played better!
Chico
Sep 13, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Good article. This is very true. Somedays I will play four wedges and others three and two hybrids. Just depends on the course and conditions I will be playing in. Once you get fitted don’t be afgraid to do some research and use the information that the pro gave you to go out and piece together a few new clubs. After all this is the best place to do it!