Equipment
What GolfWRXers are saying about dropping a middle club from their bag
In our forums, our members have been discussing the validity of dropping a middle club from their bag. WRXer ‘joostin’ is considering leaving his 5-iron out of his bag in favor of adding an extra wedge or long club, and our members have been having their say on the strategy in our forums.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Christen_The_Sloop: “It makes more sense to take one from one of the ends as they are more “extreme.” It really depends on the course, if you are a better player, which I am not these days. It doesn’t matter which 14 I take out I wish I had to two different or vice versa.”
- Rapidcat: “I don’t play a 5 iron, my gapping between 5 and 6 is only 8 yards in carry. I lengthened my 6 iron by half inch and as such gapping is workable between 7 to 6 to 4. May choose to weaken my 4 iron by a degree but need to do some testing post-Covid.”
- hagimihale: “I took my 5i out of the bag. Choke down on a 4 where needed (and I don’t miss the 5). Gives me an extra spot to use depending on the course I’m playing. Currently go back and forth between a 3rd wedge, or a DI for windy days when I want a low-running shot off the tee.”
- MelloYellow: “There is something that feels distinctly temporary about removing an iron, like even if it works it’s not destined to last very long. I can’t say there’s anything wrong with it given that my 4i and 5i are far and away my least-used clubs. But I still don’t think I would ever permanently remove one. Again, I think this only makes sense if you (1) play the same course all the time and (2) never seem to hit it off the tee or on approach shots. If that’s the case, it’s hard to believe a soft 4 or a firm 6 could suffice as said above.”
- LCP: “Technically, I jump from a “strong” 5 iron to a 2 iron (G410 5 iron at 22º with an X100 shaft to a U85 2 iron at 18º with a Modus 105X shaft). That’s with 4 wedges at the short end, and a strong 5 wood, strong 3 wood and driver at the long end. I feel there’s a bit of a gap there, but it’s really due to the low launch of the 2 iron making its distance inconsistent because of launch angle and rollout varying so much. But it’s the club I want off the tee on tighter par 4’s that aren’t too long. With X-flex swing speed, you really have to make some compromises on gaps if you’re not playing 15-16 clubs.”
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...
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Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
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T.Bob
May 19, 2020 at 2:09 am
Still have the 5 iron in my bag but it’s probably the club I use the least.
Set up is:
Driver
Hybrid 2, loft 16 (hit it about as long as my previous 15.5 degree spoon, but is much easier to hit and more versatile)
Hybrid 4, loft 22,
5 iron-PW
4 wedges (48, 52, 56 and 60 degrees)
Putter
I think a lot of golfers would benefit from throwing out one of their woods (need for 3W and 5W?) and replace them with a long hybrid instead.
Bob Jones
May 17, 2020 at 11:36 am
Driver, 16.5* and 20.5* fairway woods, 4-9i, PGSL wedges, putter. If you want four wedges, there they are, and there are no gaps in the set.
NormW
May 15, 2020 at 10:35 am
Honest question: In your reaction poll: what does IDHT mean?
ChipNRun
May 13, 2020 at 6:35 pm
When lots of people went to four wedges, here’s how people got space: They went to Driver, 3W, 5W, 3i, 5i-PW, GSL, putter.
Basically, people dropped the 4i, strengthened 5i loft, and kept the 3i as a driving iron/rough exit tool.
Likewise, the early circa-2016 “Hogan resurrection option:” 22*, 27*, 32* and four-degree loft increments up through the wedges. With 5-degree loft gaps in the longer irons, easy to squeeze out a club.
But, Hogan eventually went to 4* loft increments up and down the line.
If you really want to see some customized iron-set surgery, go to Pelz: The Short Game Bible, Chap. 10, Section 1: Generic set make-up (and how to tweak it).