Jonathan Wall / Golf
The gear crew at GOLF.com spends a lot of time at tour events taking pictures of the tools used by the world’s best players. Posting clubhouse photos online without context sometimes works, but it doesn’t help the weekend golfer understand why the pros are setting up. In the new GOLF.com series, equipment editors Jonathan Wall and Ryan Barath answer these questions by highlighting fun clubs in players’ bags, unique weight, upper sleeve settings and more. Welcome to “Bay Spy”.
If you want to know what gear is trending on the Tour, just look at the clubs used by the pros who don’t receive consistent scrutiny of their clubs. Adam Scott’s setup is a small sample size, but it’s a reminder that going the brand agnostic route—in other words, not tying your game to one brand—generally leads to success on the course. Provided that the setup is, of course, tailored to your swing and game.
for the latest version of spy bagIn this article, we take a look at the current equipment setup of the former Wells Fargo Masters champion. As you would expect from someone who enjoys gear, there is a lot to highlight and discuss. Let’s get right to it.
Options
With the PGA Championship, Scott has been seen with three different irons in the bag at Wells Fargo – Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi, Srixon Z U85 and TaylorMade Stealth UDI. Two of the hybrids (Srixon and TaylorMade) featured Design Tour AD DI 105X graphite shafts, while the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi included a steel shaft for the Dynamic Gold True Temper Edition X100.
Graphite and steel will produce different flights, so it’s fair to say Scott has been doing more than just apples-to-apples testing. Choosing a Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi—the ZU85 used graphite recently at RBC Heritage—Scott likely tells us he wanted to maintain a similar feel and predictable gaps through the iron, as he also plays the X100.
For golfers toying with the idea of adding a utility iron to the bag, graphite will generally produce a bit more speed, release, and distance. Space is never a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t negatively affect your storage space gaps and it fits your course setup. No doubt Scott had all three in mind during his audition.
just one
A custom set of Miura AS-1 blades is another reminder that it feels good to be Adam Scott. The unique Scott Irons were recently developed in limited quantities – co-developed with Miura – and sold out immediately. The blade length is longer than you’d find in many modern back muscles, but that’s how Scott likes it. The same goes for the extra offsets found throughout the group. Scott grew up in Australia playing irons with a longer blade length and some appearance of offset, and the appearance is stuck.
“I can look at a lot of compensation,” he said. “So, I feel like I’ve been pushing [Miura] A team to go more and we can always come back. The offset turned out really nice in the first set of irons.”
The majority of professionals today prefer blades with little to no offset, but if you think offset in a blade is for “hackers,” just remember that Scott and Webb Simpson have something in the bag with extra offset.
something unique
Leave it to Vokey Tour actor Aaron Dill to create something unique for professionals like Scott. The “AD+,” named after Dill, refers to a proprietary grind on the 60-08M double-lobed wedge that is a recent addition to the bag. So what sets AD+ apart? In Vokey’s M-Grind, Dill eliminates the high point on the sole that grips the ground, thus reducing the bounce angle by 4 degrees. The custom post also adds camber to the sole and increases the speed at which the head goes through the turf.
In a place like Quail Hollow Club where the grass can be soft and the bunkers tender, the AD+ is a versatile option that can handle the conditions. When things get steadfast, Scott has the Vokey WedgeWorks T-Grind ready. It’s nice to have multiple options for dealing with different settings.
A new addition
Scott’s recent decision to swap the KBS Tour 130 iron shaft for a True Dynamic Gold Tour Edition X100/S400 just so happened to coincide with another change near the bottom of the group: Scott officially traded in his Miura AS-1 wedge for a 48-degree title Foki Design SM8.
We’ve debated the differences between the stock width wedge and the blade version that OEMs tend to offer as part of their wedge lineups in the past, but the general consensus among pros is the only design and flip technology on the blade version makes it easier to manage flying lies than rough.
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Scott gives nothing in the way of workability and forgiveness by going from a muscular wedge to a Vokey blade, so it’s an easy sell. It basically gains an advantage in one area while not having to sacrifice in others.
the only
true mood Dynamic golden tour version The S400 is arguably the most popular wedge shaft on the PGA Tour. For many players who are already playing Dynamic Gold in their irons, it is common for them to come down in flex from the X100 to the S400 with the wedges. Scott does the same thing—except not with his entire wedge arsenal.
Instead of switching to an S400 in the swingarm or gap wedge, Scott puts the S400 shaft one in its 60-degree wedge. The softer flex shaft is ideal for concrete shots around the green, and given that the Aussie prioritizes versatility and imagination with the highest high wedge in his setup, it makes sense to use something other than the X100.
Special delivery
It’s easy to look at Scott’s TaylorMade Stealth 21-wood (yes, it’s 7-wood) and wonder why its wear pattern is shaded toward the toe. A lot of that has to do with how Scott delivers the club on impact, so don’t think he’s “missing” it on the toes.
As one of the best tacklers in the world, Scott knows what he’s doing from the bag. A narrow wear mark is the only evidence you need.
heavy metal
How do you keep the club head from twisting on impact? If you’re Adam Scott, you load it by weight into the sole to remove unwanted torque. Scott has been playing long LAB putter broomstick style since last year. The latest version using it features some customization, including a kangaroo, its logo, and the outline of Australia.
Want to fix your bag for 2023? Find a suitable location near you at True Spec Golf.