The article below was written by Hannah Holden of National Club Golfer.
If you’re going to spend all that money on a new set of clubs, the least you can do is make sure the fitting is carried out properly. Hannah Holden has a few tips.
Golf club fitting mistakes: getting fit with a range ball
Range balls are range balls for a reason. They are a cheaper product that don’t fly as far or have the same spin and flight characteristics as a premium golf ball.
If you’re going to get fitted, spin is a big variable that helps with precision and control. Not being able to measure this accurately could be detrimental to your overall performance.
So, if possible, always do your research and go somewhere where you can hit a premium golf ball.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only getting fit inside
Swing rooms are great for when you are working on technique and getting coaching, but compared to the golf course they are very artificial. Generally you hit off a square mat in a square room which will completely change your alignment and sometimes even your swing. Because of this you definitely won’t see how that club is performing for you.
That is before we even take into account that you cannot see the ball flight or see how the outside elements are reacting with the ball. Personally I like to try and get a fitting outside or on a driving range where I can hit out and see the ball flight.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only trying clubs from one brand
You’ve got fourteen clubs, plus a golf ball in your bag. The chances of each one of those pieces of equipment performing the best for you, from one brand, is very slim. So I would always recommend going somewhere and trying out different options.
There are loads of great driving ranges and fitting centres that have loads of options of different brands available. So go in, test them out and see which is your favourite. Then if there’s one brand you really like go ahead and head to their local fitting centre and get really dialled in.
Golf club fitting mistakes: testing putters on short putts
We’ve all picked up a putter in the pro shop that has caught our eye, hit a few short putts with it inside and decided it is the one. Then inevitably you get out on the golf course and it doesn’t perform.
Pace putting is crucial to scoring well so you need to test a putter out on a wide variety of length putts as well as on different slopes to see if it really suits your game. So when you’re out testing a putter, you really need to go to those long distances and check if the putter works for you from there.
Golf club fitting mistakes: not testing all the options available
It’s really easy to go into a fitting with a preconceived idea of which club is right for you. Maybe it’s Rory’s blades or maybe it’s the most forgiving offering on the market.
You should be exploring all the options available. After all, different clubs perform completely differently for all golfers. Each year there are also more interesting options to help your game. Take the Wilson Launch Pad irons, for example. They have a hybrid-like performance in an iron shaping to deliver forgiveness and ease of use.
It’s worth going into a fitting very open minded and testing out all the options available so you get the clubs that suit you the most.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only testing a club once
Think how much your swing and performance changes from day-to-day. Testing clubs on just one occasion probably isn’t going to give you the best reflection of how they will help your game.
I always try to test things out twice, even if it is just once on your own at a range with demos and then again in a proper fitting environment. If you have a pro shop that has demos it can also be a great idea to play a few holes with a club to see how it performs for you out on the course.
Carrying a golf stand bag can be a burden if it is
poorly designed.
Not only can its weight slow you down, but limited
storage space could mean carting an extra bag around the course with you. Or a
lack of extra padding on the shoulder straps could leave you in pain the
following day.
Your gear could even become damaged or lost if it
isn’t secured within a good quality bag. This includes your clubs and valuables
such as your keys or smartphone.
Here you’ll find the best golf stand bags on the market, from high-end products to more budget-friendly options, so you and your gear can remain in top shape.
A Golf Monthly’s Editor’s Choice product is kicking
off our list, which sets the tone for the standard we look for when making
recommendations.
Not only does it offer plenty of storage, but it
will also keep your gear dry, thanks to the 100% waterproof material and sealed
zippers.
There are five different pockets, one of which is an
integrated cooler pocket, meaning you can keep your food and drinks cold when
on the go. This is particularly useful during the warmer season.
If you hope to take advantage of its hybrid design,
you’ll be pleased to know the trolley-compatible bottom will keep the bag
perfectly square during transit. The bag only weighs just over 4lbs, so when
you need to carry it by hand, you won’t be overly exerted.
Aesthetics are an important factor to many golfers, and this bag comes in a modern, sleek design. It’s also available in six different colours, so you can customise your purchase to ensure it matches the rest of your gear.
Despite its low price, this product offers many of
the same features seen in high-end models.
If comfort and endurance are your priorities, we’d
recommend taking a closer look. Not only is it super lightweight weighing only
4lbs, but it also comes with an ergonomic double strap for a comfortable fit.
Aside from the club storage compartment divided into
four sections, there are multiple pockets for storing the rest of your gear.
These include:
full-length garment pocket
valuables pouch
insulated drinks pocket
four accessory pockets
There’s also an umbrella holder, Velcro glove patch,
and a towel ring, demonstrating the attention to detail that has gone into the
design of this budget-friendly option.
One of the best cheap golf stand bags on the market,
the only downside to this product is that it isn’t fully waterproof. However,
it comes with a rain hood, which may suffice if you tend to plan your rounds
according to the weather forecast.
Weighing just 5lbs, the PING Hoofer Lite is 0.5lbs
lighter than the original, so you’ll benefit from increased endurance during
your games if you opt for this model.
You’d struggle to find a more organised golf stand
bag, as it comes with multiple pockets that are spacious and specially designed
to cater to every golfer’s storage needs. There’s a full-length apparel pocket
for storing a change of clothes, a secure pouch for valuables, and even a
customisable golf ball pocket.
Its design is stylish yet innovative for those who
want their golf stand bag to prioritise comfort. The double shoulder straps can
be converted for single-strap use, and there’s a cart-strap channel included as
part of this model’s design—so transporting this bag is easier than ever.
Other useful features include:
glove attachment
towel clip
umbrella loop
built-in lift assist
As you can see, this is one of the best golf stand
bags in terms of the range of features it offers.
However, the one downside to this product is that it isn’t waterproof—but if this is a deal-breaker, you could opt for the PING Hoofer monsoon for a slightly higher price.
The clue is in the name, this golf stand bag from
Titleist is fully waterproof thanks to the StaDry Waterproof construction and
its seam-sealed zippers for added protection against moisture.
Despite its waterproof capabilities, it still weighs
only 3.8lbs and is the lightest golf stand bag on our list. So, if you’re
planning on carrying it by hand, you needn’t worry about it being too much of a
burden.
In terms of design, the bag is sleek and has a
premium, classic feel. It comes in seven different colour options, each with
the stylish Titleist logo emblazoned on the side, so you can customise your
purchase to match the rest of your gear.
The stand is of a brilliant quality thanks so its high-grade aluminium legs and hinged bottom, so you shouldn’t have any issues with stability.
This is hands down one of the best cheap golf stand
bags available due to its expansive range of features.
The 14-way divider top provides a designated space
for each of your clubs, which is a nice addition for those who like to be extra
organised.
There are also 11 pockets, including those specially
designed for mobile phones, valuables, and even scorecards. This shows the
thought that has really gone into its design.
MacGregor has developed this bag to be fully hybrid
so that you can easily transport it manually or via a cart or trolley. They
also incorporated anti-slip fabric into its design, which helps to protect it
and keep it in place during transportation.
While it’s not fully waterproof, it comes with a quick-fixing hood to protect your gear during random bouts of rain.
You’re going to be carrying this bag for a while.
The average 18-hole round of golf takes four and a half hours, so you don’t want to choose a bag that will wear you down.
Look out for bags with padded straps and ensure the
harness can be adjusted to the right size for your frame. An ill-fitting golf
bag can cause more trouble than one with limited padding.
Some bags even come with padding around the hips and back. So, if you’re currently looking to replace a bag that’s not up to scratch in terms of comfort, this feature should be a priority.
2. Weight
Leading on from comfort, weight certainly matters if
you’re going to be wearing the bag for an extended period.
While you’ll mainly use the stand during the round,
a heavy bag will quickly become a burden when moving between holes, not to
mention the walk back to the car park after a heavy round.
Keep a tab on the weight of the golf bags you’re considering, and opt for a lightweight model if you cannot attach it to a trolley or cart.
3. Storage capacity
If you’re looking for a bag you can use to store
away all your golf gear, it goes without saying that you should choose a
product with a decent storage capacity.
Some bags come with more pockets than others and even have those specially designed to hold valuables or different forms of equipment.
4. Quality
Perhaps one of the most important factors to look
for in a golf stand bag is the quality of its design.
Since the golf equipment market is saturated with knockoff products, it’s easy to fall into the trap of what you think is a good bargain.
We’d recommend scouring the review section of any
product you’re considering and seeing what other customers say about its
quality.
It’s also worth steering clear of cheap knockoffs and opting for a well-known brand or one that appears reliable through an abundance of good reviews.
5. Waterproof
Let’s face it, golfing in the UK has a significant
risk of getting caught in the rain.
If you’re concerned that this could damage your gear
or, at the very least, inconvenience you, it may be best to opt for a
waterproof golf stand bag.
We’ve included a few high-quality options in our list, and we’d recommend spending the extra money if you want to keep your equipment safe and dry.
Head to the practice range during a tournament, and you’ll see a lot of alignment sticks. You may have a couple you keep slotted away in your bag, in which case you probably have a good idea of how to use them. Alignment sticks, or drill sticks as they’re also referred to, are an essential piece of golf kit. In fact, anyone taking up the game would do well to buy a couple straight away—it would certainly help ingrain the basics from the very beginning.
The clue
is in the name—alignment sticks are designed to help your alignment. However,
there are several ways you can use them and a whole variety of drills that
require alignment sticks to help you improve. In short, they do a lot more than
the name suggests.
Here’s how to use golf alignment sticks.
1. Shot shaping
Set two
sticks down parallel, one for your feet and one for your club (see video below).
To work on a fade, aim the stick nearest you to the left (for right-handed
golfers). Align your feet with the stick and simply take your swing—hopefully,
you’ll hit a nice, soft fade (left to right shape).
If you want to hit a draw, aim the stick nearest you to the right. Align your feet with the stick and take your swing. Of course, there are various other aspects to the golf swing, such as the grip, but if everything else is in order, you’ll hopefully hit a draw (right to left shape).
2. Ball position
You can never spend too much time working on the basics—ball position being one of them. This drill can help to identify any flaws you might have in your set-up. Set two alignment sticks up like crosshairs. With a 7-iron, you want the ball in the middle of your stance. Take your set-up and hit some balls, keeping the alignment sticks in position.
You can
also use the crosshairs to help shift the ball back in your stance, which will
encourage you to punch down on the ball—a useful shot to have if you’re looking
to keep one under the wind.
Perhaps someone has told you that you have the ball too far back in your stance when you’re driving. Again, you can use the alignment stick to line the ball up just inside your lead heel, which is where it should be.
3. Swing plane
Set an alignment stick in the ground behind you at approximately 45 degrees. On your backswing, get that feeling as though you’re taking the club over the stick and then under it on the way through. Many club golfers tend to go ‘under and over’, which creates that cutting-across-the-ball action. This alignment stick drill simply encourages you to get back to neutral.
4. Holing out
Here’s a simple drill that can work wonders for multiple parts of your putting technique and one that Jordan Spieth frequently uses. To start, find a flat spot on your putting green and set your alignment stick up parallel to your target line and just on the right edge of the hole (just switch around if you’re a left-hander). You can use varying distances, but 5-6 feet is a good place to start.
Set the ball up just inside the alignment stick so that the edge of your putter is almost touching it. The drill provides a fantastic visual aid. If you move the clubhead out and away from its natural arc, it will cross over the alignment stick, and you’ll be able to see that instantly. If you can see the clubhead moving slightly on the inside away from the alignment stick on the way through, it will move on the correct arc.
As well as helping you to groove the right path, the alignment stick will also show you whether your clubface is square at impact. It’s so simple to set-up, and it can help eradicate your pushes or pulls very quickly.
5. Bunker basics
Lay two alignment sticks down in a bunker, a ball’s width apart. Pop down two balls and set up so you have a club head’s width between the lead stick (ideally, this will be a different colour). Flare your feet, hold your sand wedge in the air, open the face slightly, and put your hands on the club.
At this
point, the clubface is aiming really far to the right. However, as you settle
down into position (see video below) with the weight forward, the loft goes
from pointing to the right to pointing towards the target.
Make an impression in the sand where the alignment sticks are, and then take them out. The aim now is to work along the two lines left by the alignment sticks. Take your set up away from the golf ball. You want to develop a feel as though this is an upper body-driven movement with the lower half staying relatively quiet. You should be looking to impact the back line, taking out the sand through the forward line.
As you work along the lines, you’ll get instant feedback on whether you’re striking too far behind or too far in front. This visual aid will help you to groove a consistent strike where you’re taking the right amount of sand each time.
6. Hip rotation
If you’re
struggling to strike your irons cleanly, you might want to try this one. This
drill will help you to understand how exactly the lower body should work in the
backswing.
Put two balls down and build your stance around the one closest to you (see video below). The ball should be in the middle of your heels. Put the alignment stick on the ground just outside the other ball and place it into the belt buckle on your trousers. As you stand, you should be able to place your arms across your shoulders, and the alignment stick should be in the middle of your stance.
From here,
make what you feel would be a normal rotational move into the backswing—so
allow your hips and shoulders to move. Keep your eye on how the alignment stick
moves in relation to the golf ball between your heels.
The most common fault among club golfers is swaying, where the hips move laterally off to the right away from the target. If you’re guilty of this, you’ll see the alignment stick move behind the ball.
You should
try to make a rotation but keep the alignment stick centred, pretty much over
the ball. The idea isn’t to try and keep the alignment stick still by hardly
moving. You want the hips to be allowed to rotate.
Rehearse this over and over again, and it will highlight any excessive movements. You’ll learn how to get yourself a lot more centred over the ball at the top of your backswing, and you’ll find it a lot easier to shift your pressure onto your lead side, which will deliver the golf club with a more descending blow. In short, you’ll start to hit the ball more cleanly and with greater accuracy.
7. Pitch drill
This drill
might look a little awkward, but it’s one that could transform your short game.
This drill aims to reduce wrist action to promote shaft lean. Someone may have
called your action a little ‘flippy’, which is where the right-hand takes over
(see video below). However, using an alignment stick can tidy all this up.
If you can put the stick down the shaft through the grip, that’s ideal. However, you can just put it alongside. Rehearse some pitch shots and get used to the stick being out of the way—it shouldn’t be hitting you in the side. It’ll help you groove the correct action and promote a cleaner strike, and you should see more of your pitch shots finishing closer to the hole.
It’s never too late to add a pair of shorts or two to your wardrobe, and you needn’t worry about whether you’ll look smart either—there are numerous styles to choose from that all guarantee a polished appearance.
Golf shorts don’t come much smarter than white. It’s a colour that’s easy to pair with many different colour tops. So, with that in mind, here’s our selection of the best white golf shorts (men’s and women’s) on the market.
But a word of warning before we start: always apply plenty of sun cream, especially if your legs haven’t seen the light of day for some time!
These contemporary golf shorts have a performance construction, making them suitable to play in. They’re designed with a stretch twill fabric with a slim-fitting and slim leg to provide an athletic appearance. As well as front side pockets, they also have a back zip pocket for extra storage. The integrated rear pocket is detailed with a BOSS logo for added style.
FootJoy’s
Lite trousers are constructed from nylon fabric, giving you superior
breathability and comfort. One-way moisture transfer properties wick moisture away
from the skin, and the modern, tapered fit cut is very easy on the eye.
You get FootJoy’s subtle branding by way of a woven label on the rear right pocket, too.
White but with a distinctive pattern, these shorts have a knee-length design and are constructed with a double weave fabric with added stretchiness. As well as that, they’re lightweight, breathable, fast-drying, and water resistant. The front and back pockets provide ample space for accessories. Meanwhile, the logo on the knee stands out without being too garish.
These shorts
are built with a shirt gripper waistband and a built-in stretch function for
comfort and a perfect fit. The stretch fabric gives you complete freedom of
movement while playing.
They’re also quick-drying with UV protection 20+, and the regular fit will suit a wide range of golfers.
These standard fit shorts are made from a four-way stretch fabric with dri-fit technology, helping to wick moisture away from your body and keep you comfortable. A ‘v-notch’ in the back of the waistband also provides extra stretch. Nike’s signature swoosh features above the back right pocket.
These regular-fit shorts are made from a stretchy, quick-drying material. They have front and back pockets for small item storage and a silicone gripper tape inside the waistband to help keep your shirt in place. The signature Kjus logo is embroidered above the back right pocket.
You’ll look a million dollars in the Jackpot shorts, which feature slash pockets with duramesh lining (tee proof), belt loops and the iconic PUMA Cat silicone brand logo. They have a mechanical stretch and waistband to increase mobility and comfort as you play golf. They also feature dryCELL technology, which helps draw moisture away from the body to keep you dry and comfortable.
The lightweight Margot short is a performance short engineered specifically for comfort. Its stretch properties ensure freedom of movement, while Ping’s Sensor Cool technology helps you stay comfortable even in the hottest conditions.
These
stylish shorts feature a blended cotton fibre and a soft inner lining to ensure
you can swing freely with ease.
The timeless 5-pocket design is a popular style. With GOLFINO, you get various extra design touches oozing premium quality, including metal buttons and rivets, plus a ball marker attached to one of the front belt loops.
The lightweight
Puma Pounce shorts are constructed with a comfortable material with dryCELL
technology, so golfers remain dry and less distracted as they play.
Meanwhile, a half elasticated waistband stretches with the body during the swing to deliver even greater comfort.
The regular-fit
Petra shorts are technology-packed to deliver the type of comfort and
performance you expect from Galvin Green.
They’re designed with stretch inserts for optimum freedom of movement, while Ventil8 plus technology makes them lightweight and breathable. These shorts also have the added protection of UV protection 15+. The metal buttons with the embossed Galvin Green symbol perfectly round off the premium look and feel.
There’s a lot to like about UA’s Links shorts—they’re light, durable and super stretchy. The stretch-engineered waistband with adjustable inner elastic also helps you perfect the fit to your body shape.
The article below was written by Hannah Holden of National Club Golfer.
There are a number of rules club golfers are guilty of getting wrong. So what are they, and are you guilty of breaking them?
There are so many Rules of Golf that it is almost impossible to know each one inside out. But there are some very common rules that golfers constantly break. So what are they and are you breaking them?
Advice on the course
Deciding your own course strategy and tactics is considered a fundamental part of the challenge of golf. This means in competition play, there is certain advice that you can’t give or receive from your playing partners.
The main part of this that golfers constantly break is discussing club selection. In individual stroke play, before you hit a shot you must not give anyone advice on what club to hit or ask them for advice on what you should hit.
Unless of course, you have a caddie with whom you can discuss this.
This advice doesn’t just stop at club selection though. You can’t discuss anything that influences how a player picks a club, hits a shot or decides how to play the hole.
Lots of posts and artificial objects on the golf course are moveable obstructions, so it would be easy to presume out-of-bounds posts fit under this same rule. Any boundary object, be it a wall, fence or post is treated differently.
Even if these are physically moveable, they are ‘artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds’ and therefore are treated as immovable. They have to stay put and you also can’t get free relief if they impede on your stroke.
You will either have to take a penalty drop or find a different way to hit the golf ball.
This comes under Rule 8.1a, a breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play as you are deemed to have ‘improved the conditions affecting the stroke’.
If there is sand or loose soil on the putting green which affects your stroke you are allowed to remove it. But if the sand or soil lays off the green, leave it where it is as under the rules it cannot be removed.
There is an exception to this rule, though. Players are entitled to the conditions affecting their stroke when the ball comes to rest. If there was no sand on the fringe affecting your shot when your ball landed, but your playing partner took a stroke and subsequently added some, you can create the original lie you had by removing the sand.
This comes under Rule 13.1c (1), which prohibits a player from improving conditions affecting the stroke, a breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play.
The Rules of Golf state that the course must be played as it is found. Rule 8.1 restricts any actions which improve the conditions affecting your stroke. Most golfers are aware they can’t improve the lie immediately around their golf ball. But this also applies to anything in your line of play.
If you stand behind your ball and look down your intended line to the target you can’t alter anything on this line. So if there is a divot just in front of your ball that hasn’t been replaced its best to leave it there until after you have played your shot.
You may think this rule doesn’t come in often, but at final qualifying for The Open, one player lost his spot at St Andrews by raking a bunker in his line of sight before hitting his shot!
This comes under Rule 8.1a, which prohibits a player from improving conditions affecting the stroke. A breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play. It is important to note this does not apply to the removal of loose impediments or movable obstructions.
Known or virtually certain
A player can take penalty relief from a penalty area as long as it is known or virtually certain that the golf ball is in the penalty area. This is often categorised as having 95% certainty the ball is in the penalty area.
If it is not known or virtually certain that the ball is in the penalty area, it is considered lost. You must take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.2. This would be the case if there is somewhere else your ball could reasonably be, such as in grass, bushes or trees that aren’t inside the penalty area.
This comes under Rule 14.7a. A breach would mean you have played your shot from the Wrong Place. The penalty for this is loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play.
Lifting ball without marking it
Not sure if the ball you have found is yours? You are allowed to lift the ball for identification purposes, BUT the spot of the ball must be marked before the ball is moved.
This comes under Rule 14.1a. A breach would lead to a one-shot penalty.
Under Rule 16, you are entitled to free relief if you have interference from an abnormal course condition such as the path below. In this scenario, you get a free drop, but it must be taken at the nearest point of full relief.
The nearest point of relief is the nearest place you can get complete relief for the next shot. This means the ball and your stance must no longer be impeded by the abnormal condition. While most golfers understand this, they still end up taking relief in the wrong place as they simply drop to the side that will give them the nicest lie and or angle for their next shot.
So think carefully before you race to pick up your ball if you see it on a path. You may be better off playing it as it lies. Alternatively, you can take an unplayable drop, giving you two club lengths, no nearer the hole, or a stroke and distance option.
The article below was written by Hannah Holden of National Club Golfer.
Approach play is statistically one of the most important areas in relation to scoring. So I look at what equipment the best iron players on tour are using this season by analysing the PGA Tours Strokes Gained Approach to the Green data.
While many of the names were obvious, there were a few surprises. There are also notable omissions, including Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, who narrowly missed out on the Top 10.
Who are the best iron players on tour?
10 – Shane Lowry
Lowry has always been a great ball striker, but his rise up the rankings in recent seasons has been impressive. His approach play was 20-shots better in 2022 compared to 2020. He gains nearly three-quarters of a shot a round on the average PGA Tour player. That’s three shots in 72-holes of stroke play.
Lowry loves a combo set in his irons. This year he has the Srixon ZX5 in his 4 and 5-iron before switching to the Srixon ZX7 irons for the rest of his set.
Pereira made quite the name for himself on tour this year with some stellar performances. He has jumped 56 places up the Official World Golf Rankings to break into the Top 50 for the first time. His approach play has been a massive part of this, as statistically, it is the best part of his game.
Mito carries a full set of Ping iBlade irons from 4-iron down to 9-iron.
JT ranked 8th in Strokes Gained approach despite ranking 34th in greens in regulation. Interestingly he ranked 1st on Tour for three strokes gained approach categories: 50-125 yards, 75-100 yards, 75-100 yards. From these distances, he averages 13.68 feet from the pin, so next time you hit it to 15 feet with a wedge in hand and feel disappointed, maybe don’t be so harsh on yourself.
He carries a Titleist T100 4-iron before transitioning into the Titleist 620 MB blades from 5-iron down to 9-iron.
A category Xander has seriously improved since he first came on tour. His approach play was 39 shots better this season than when he first came on tour in 2017. His proximity from 200-225 yards is 34.6 feet. I’m just happy if I find my ball when I’m hitting in from those distances.
Xander carries a full set of the Callaway Apex TCB irons from 4-iron down to pitching wedge.
Rather remarkably Hideki has been in the Top 10 for Strokes Gained approach for eight of his nine seasons on tour! That is incredible consistency. This season he ranks first on tour for approaches from 125-150 yards, his average proximity from this distance? 19.1 feet.
Hideki carries a full set of Srixon Z-Forged irons from 4-iron down to 9-iron.
If you’re winning Majors you’re doing something seriously right, for Cam Smith that seems to be iron play consistency. He is ranked in the Top 25 on Tour for each of the following approach play categories: 50-75yds, 75-100yds, 100-125yds, 50-125yds, 125-150yds, 150-175yds. No wonder he’s World Number 2.
Cam opts to carry a Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 3-iron and then the Titleist T100 irons from 5 to 9-iron in an all-black finish that is to die for.
It is no surprise to see Scheffler here, given he is the Number 1 player in the World right now. He also topped the rankings for the most greens in regulations hit on Tour this season. (72.29%) That accounts for 1093 out of a possible 1512 greens hit.
Scottie carries a Srixon ZX7 4-iron before transitioning into the TaylorMade P7TW irons from 5-iron down to pitching wedge.
Morikawa has been publicly struggling with his swing this year. He admitted earlier in the season he had lost his trusty cut shot and was having to work with hitting a draw. He has still managed to sneak into the Top 3 for best approach play on tour. I wish my ‘bad’ golf was that good!
He ranked 1st in approaches from 225-250 yards, second from 125-150, third from 200-225, fourth from 50-125 and eighth from 100-125 yards. That will help get the job done.
Collin carries a seriously mixed bag of irons. He uses a TaylorMade P770 4-iron, then a TaylorMade P7MC 5, 6, and 7-iron before he switches to the TaylorMade P730 irons from 8-iron down to pitching wedge.
Perhaps not a name you would have guessed but this is the third straight season Henley has been in the Top 10 for approach play on tour. He is also inside the Top 10 for greens in regulation percentage (70.94%) and approach play proximity to the hole (34.1 feet).
Henley carries the original Titleist T100 irons from 4-iron down to 9-iron. Interestingly he has different shafts in his 4, 5 and 6-iron compared to the rest of the set. He uses the True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT shafts in these longer irons. What’s different about these is the weight. As you move up the bag, each shaft is 3 grams lighter than the previous, making it easier to hit those long irons higher and further.
SG:APP Average: 0.969 SG:APP Season: 61.050
1 – Will Zalatoris
I’m sure you’re not shocked to see Zalatoris at the top of this list. After all, he is known for his stellar iron play. His average approach shot finishes 27.9 feet from the pin when hitting from the fairway. If that wasn’t good enough, from 50-200 yards, his average proximity is 19.9 feet. He must miss some birdie putts to make it fair on everyone else.
Zalatoris carries a T200 3-iron as it launches higher and has more ball speed. He then opts for the original 2019 Titleist T100 irons from 4-iron down to 9-iron.
What you can learn from the best iron players on tour?
So statistically, if you want to improve your iron play, it looks like Titleist irons are the way to go. Four of the Top 10 had Titleist irons in play to help them dial in their approach play. The T100 model was a particular favourite.
It’s also clear to see when players get a set of irons they love; they keep them in the bag for as long as possible. Everyone in the Top 10 has had their current iron model in play for at least two seasons, often longer!
It is interesting how many players choose not to carry a pitching wedge and instead carry lower lofted wedges. I imagine this gives them more feel and control, making it easier to hit three-quarter and half shots.
