Equipment
What equipment are college golfers using? We polled 61 coaches to find out…
Editor Andrew Tursky and I decided to set out to better understand what brands college players are using. In order to gather statistics, we created a survey and collected the following data from coaches:
- What level of golf do you coach?
- Do you coach men’s or women’s golf?
- What best describes your attitude towards equipment?
- Is it ethical for coaches to accept money from club manufacturers?
- Among the top 5 players on your team, what drivers do they play?
- Among the top 5 players on your team, what irons do they play?
- Among the top 5 players on your team, what wedges do they play?
- Among the top 5 players on your team, what putter do that play?
- Among the top 5 players on your team, what golf ball do they play?
The survey was created using Survey Monkey and then placed on my business Facebook account. The survey was completely optional. In 48 hours, 61 college coaches responded to the survey. Of them, 78.6 percent of them coach Division I, 8.2 percent of them coach Division II, and 13.1 percent coach either DIII, NAIA or NJCAA. Of the respondents, 77 percent coach men’s golf, while 23 percent of the respondents coach women’s golf.
Of the respondents, 64 percent believe it was ethical for coaches to accept money from club manufacturers, 99 percent believe that players should play whatever they want, and 87 percent preferred that the product should be fit properly. Only 1 percent (one respondent), suggested that they try to influence players and their equipment decisions.
In terms of different equipment played by the top 5 players at these schools, here’s what we found out…
Drivers
- 10 schools reported exclusively using TaylorMade
- 3 schools reported exclusively using Titleist
- 1 school reported exclusively using Ping
- 1 school reported exclusively using Callaway
For the other respondents, we examined the percentage of players on each team using product:
- 42 percent TaylorMade
- 23 percent Callaway
- 17 percent Titleist and Ping
- PXG, Bridgestone and Nike combined made up 1 percent.
Irons
- 7 schools reported exclusively using Titleist
- 2 schools reported exclusively using TaylorMade
- 2 schools reported exclusively using Callaway
- 2 school reported exclusively using Ping
- 1 school reported using exclusively Wilson Staff
For the other respondents, we examined the percentage of players on each team using product:
- 30 percent Titleist
- 20 percent Ping
- 16 percent Callaway
- 14 percent TaylorMade
- 9 percent Mizuno
- 4 percent Srixon
- 3 percent PXG
Please note Miura, Cobra, Bridgestone and Nike were also mentioned, but made up less than 3 percent combined.
Wedges
- 12 schools reported using exclusively Titleist
- 2 schools reported using exclusively Callaway
- 1 school reports using exclusively Mizuno
- 1 school reported using exclusively Ping
For the other respondents, we examined the percentage of players on each team using product:
- 34 percent Titleist
- 21 percent Cleveland
- 18 percent Ping
- 16 percent Callaway
- 9 percent TaylorMade
- 2 percent rest of manufacturers
Putter
- 8 schools reported using exclusively Scotty Cameron
- 6 schools reported using exclusively Odyssey
- 3 schools reported using exclusively Ping
- 1 school reported using exclusively Bettinardi
For the other respondents, we examined the percentage of players on each team using product:
- 34 percent Scotty Cameron
- 24 percent Odyssey (including Toulon)
- 19 percent Taylor Made
- 17 percent Ping
- 2 percent Edel
- 2 percent Bettinardi
Golf Ball
- 32 schools reported using exclusively Titleist
- 3 schools reported using exclusively Bridgestone
- 1 school reported exclusively using TaylorMade
- 1 school reported using exclusively Callaway
For the other respondents, we examined the percentage of players on each team using product:
- 33 percent Titleist
- 27 percent TaylorMade
- 25 percent Callaway
- 10 percent Bridgestone
- 5 percent Srixon
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...
ChipN'Run
Mar 19, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Possibly of interest to the golf merchandising crowd.
But, we have no information on:
* Shaft models and flexes
* Actual models of irons and woods
Barfly
Mar 18, 2023 at 4:35 am
Golfers are like sheep. Whatever the new trend is they follow so whatever’s in Rory’s, Rahm’s, and Scheffler’s bag are most likely in these college teams bags. Minus the personal club rep and designer on call.
Tom Medlin
Mar 9, 2018 at 6:10 am
Memories from the University of Maryland, mid 60’s. Our coach had an affiliation with US Royal, we were supplied with their ball for each match. They had a ” different ” dimple pattern that resembled that of a 1930’s ” mesh “‘ I don’t think anyone actually used them.
jack baker 3
Mar 2, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Most golfers including college, play not whats best for them, but what the herd uses. Generally if you pay a loy of money for something its always the best.
Jimmy Ray
Mar 2, 2018 at 10:48 am
How would you like to be at that school that uses exclusively Mizuno wedges: “OK, guys, our colors are orange and blue, so we’re ALL gonna use these sweet blue Mizuno wedges, not to win tournaments, but to look cool. I don’t care if you can’t get out of a bunker with any of the grinds, just shut up and let me count my payoff cash…”
Nate
Apr 11, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Mizuno makes some pretty darn playable wedges. If someone offered me a new set of free mizuno wedges and told me I had to play with them, I highly doubt I would be having issues getting up and down with them, especially hitting a wedge out of a bunker… I think you could hand a good golfer any wedge in the sand and see positive results… That being said, Mizuno wedges are not considered to be the pro’s choice when compared to vokey or muira.
HDTVMAN
Mar 2, 2018 at 10:45 am
Hey, have TaylorMade give me a seven figure check and my dog will use their equipment!
Ben Jones
Mar 1, 2018 at 5:22 pm
We used to get 6 balls of our choice or 9 of the ones that the school budget covered. That Nicklaus yellow ball was horrible.
Gomer’s Pile
Feb 28, 2018 at 11:35 pm
These guys need to get paid ASAP. They are so talented and do so much for our game. This is golf in its purest form. NCAA tournaments should have $100,000 purse minimum. Take from the rich sports and give to the poor. These golfers need cash more than football and basketball players.
ProD1
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:58 pm
That’s exactly what is happening. Basketball and football revenues subsidize all other sports for the vast majority of big time programs.
Thomas Murphy
Mar 2, 2018 at 12:05 pm
??? they need more cash? purses? doesn’t that make it less pure? football and basketball have TV contracts and big donors. Every other sport is a leach and should be grateful.
DaveyD
Feb 28, 2018 at 10:27 pm
It appears that Taylormade has the favoured drivers, but Titleist leads the iron/wedge/putter parade.
Matt
Feb 28, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Those ball numbers should scare titleist like crazy….
glfhsslr
Feb 28, 2018 at 8:27 pm
The players get clubs either free, or PUD pricing, Super cheap….a cameron per say is only like $180 total
mr3puttz
Feb 28, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Wow thats a lot of Camerons. I guess college kids have a bit more cash than I remember having around.
Lk
Feb 28, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Not to sound snide, but it wouldn’t surprise me if over 75% of D1 college golfers grew up in a country club.
RS
Mar 30, 2018 at 5:15 am
If you golf in college $400 is not a lot of $ for a putter that will last 5-10 years. Really, cmon now.
Brian
Feb 28, 2018 at 7:31 pm
No ball retriever or manual score counter?!
Aaron
Feb 28, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Am I understanding the numbers correctly? Some schools “exclusively” use specific brands for different types of clubs? How likely is it that five players from one team all use TM drivers? Five players from another school all use Titleist irons?
More recently I’ve heard of schools signing with one specific brand. But I’ve never heard of five players on any team all agreeing to use one brand of driver and another brand of irons.
Or am I misunderstanding something?
Judge Smeills
Feb 28, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Not every school get deals or free clubs from every company
Brent
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Lots of schools sign with a brand and the coach receives a bonus if his starting players use that brand. Basically, some kids are forced into playing a brand.
Joe
Feb 28, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Pro V’s suck and are over priced. TP5 TP5X and Chrome Soft Chrome Soft X are by far better golf balls.
Joel R
Feb 28, 2018 at 5:54 pm
They actually don’t suck and to suggest they do is bananland.
bb
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:31 am
where is bananland?
usuk
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Bananland is where TP5 is being made
Crazy About Golf
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:37 pm
False
James T
Feb 28, 2018 at 3:29 pm
I am curious why coaches would think it’s ethical to accept money from manufacturers???
Thomas A
Feb 28, 2018 at 4:38 pm
How do you think football and basketball coaches get paid? Big East basketball coaches were paid millions by Nike, most of the time more than doubling their school salary. Happens at every school.
James T
Feb 28, 2018 at 5:51 pm
… still doesn’t make it ethical. I played college golf and if my coach had told me to play anything other than what I was playing I’d be pissed. Though I did appreciate the brand new sleeve of Titleists before every match.
Jack
Mar 6, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Well if I got a real custom fitting and free new clubs, it would be actually beneficial to my game and I’d do it. Just shoving off the rack clubs to players would definitely be unethical.
This of course comes down to the same dilemma (to a lesser extent but still exists) for college players not being paid. Like basketball, they are amateurs and don’t make money. But really they should be paid directly by the brands rather than the brands paying the schools. What does amateur status really matter? That they can play in amateur tournaments? The NCAA just needs to changes their rules to allow pro student athletes to compete. It’s pretty simple if not for the school money grab and greed.
Drive for Dough
Feb 28, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Don’t even play Titleist but will be the first one to say that they make the most solid equipment outside their Drivers.
Not surprised by the breakdown tbh.
Stump
Feb 28, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Can you break out the numbers for women golfers?
Women golfers...
Mar 7, 2018 at 9:23 pm
Lol!
Roger
Feb 28, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Those numbers are close for un-sponsored golf balls. Love to see that!