Being on staff with Callaway has been a great experience so far. It has also meant an almost complete overhaul of my bag from one manufacturer (Titleist) to another. In case you missed it, here’s a link to my Epic fitting experience at the Ely Callaway Performance Center in Carlsbad back in March. And, as a result of that fitting, here’s what’s in my bag:
Irons
Specs: Callaway Apex CF 16 (4-iron through PW bent one degree strong, True Temper XP 95 S300, standard length and lie angle, Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound blue grips).
Now, I love the feel of these irons, but it took me a while to get used to the sound and the larger sole width of these clubs. Because they’re bent one degree strong, I find I get a little more distance out of them without having to swing harder.
Driver
Specs: Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero (9.0 degrees, draw bias, 45.5 inches, Aldila Rogue MAX 65g S-flex).
I started out with the Project X HZRDUS Yellow 65g, but when I got back to Arizona, it felt heavy and hard to swing. Thankfully, we had an Aldila Rogue MAX in one of our demos, and once I hit it, I knew it was the right one for me. Plus, it matches what’s in my fairway woods.
Fairway Woods
Specs: Callaway GBB Epic 3+ wood (13.5 degrees, 43 inches, Aldila Rogue MAX 75g S-flex) Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero 5-wood (18.0 degrees, 41.75 inches (3/4″ short), Aldila Rogue MAX 75g S-flex).
The 3-wood is 15 degrees, but the 3+ wood is 13.5 for a little more distance out of the same-looking head and exact same shaft.
Wedges
Specs: Callaway MD3 Milled Chrome (50 degree bent one degree strong to 49, 10 degrees bounce, S-grind; 54 degree, 10 degrees bounce, S-grind; 60 degree, 8 degrees bounce, C-grind; True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 Tour Issue, standard length and lie angle).
Originally, I started out playing the Mack Daddy Forged Slate wedges but ended up making a change because I didn’t like the straight leading edge after having been used to playing the Titleist Vokey series. The MD3 Milled wedges have a much rounder leading edge, which seems to fit my eye.
Putter
Specs: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 (33.25 inches, 4 degrees of loft, 70-degree lie angle).
As a Callaway Professional Staffer, I’m contractually obligated to play at least 12 Callaway clubs. That hasn’t been an issue. This putter is the one club I simply couldn’t swap out. When I went through my fitting, we settled on an Odyssey O-Works V-Line Fang CH, but again, when I rolled it back home, it just didn’t fit my eye. Turns out it didn’t really match my stroke either. Switching to a fang-style head would have been a major departure for me as I’ve always played a Scotty Cameron Newport or other blade-style model.
Ball
I play the Callaway Chrome Soft. I used to play the Titleist Pro V1, but I find the Chrome Soft to be exceptionally soft around the green and into the green. It really bites! It’s also costs about $8 less per dozen. Oh, and I prefer to go unmarked if at all possible.
Club (Carry Distances Coming Soon)
Driver
3+ wood
5-wood
4-iron
5-iron
6-iron
7-iron
8-iron
9-iron
PW
50 (49)
54
60
Blogger’s Tip:
Usually, when you get a new set of clubs, the lofts and lies are all off. Even if you order a customer set following a fitting, they can vary significantly. That’s why I always recommend that you get them checked once they arrived. My clubs were no different. There were all just a little off.