Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my gear a lot lately, trying to dial everything in. I saw Taylor Pendrith had some updates to his bag for 2024, and it got me thinking… maybe I should document my own tinkering process. So here’s what I did, start to finish.
The Inspiration (and a Little Research)
First, I spent some time online, just generally looking at what the pros were using. Pendrith’s setup caught my eye. I made some notes of what he had in his bag.
Taking Inventory
Next, I dumped out my own golf bag. Literally, everything came out onto the floor. This is important, I think. You gotta see everything you’ve got.
- Drivers: I have two, my trusty old one and a newer model I’ve been testing.
- Fairway Woods: A 3-wood and a 5-wood, both pretty standard.
- Irons: My set is a few years old, but I’ve generally been happy with them.
- Wedges: Gap, sand, and lob. The usual suspects.
- Putter: This is where things get interesting… I’ve got, like, four putters.
The Testing Phase
I spent a couple of days at the range. It’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary.
I hit a ton of balls with different combinations. Tried the new driver against the old one, really focusing on distance and accuracy. Not just how far, but where they ended up.
I also spent some serious time on the putting green. This is always a struggle for me. I tried different grips, different stances… the whole nine yards. One putter felt okay, but nothing magical.
Making Some Decisions
This is the hard part. You have to be honest with yourself.
- Driver: I am going with the newer model, it just feels more forgiving on off-center hits.
- Fairway Woods: Sticking with my current setup. They work.
- Irons: No changes here, for now.
- Wedges: Adjusted the lofts on my gap and sand wedges a little.
- Putter: Ok, I select the putter with the best feel on that day.
Documenting the Changes
Write it all down!. That way, I have the records that I can go back and look at. Maybe next year I can refine it even more.
The Final Result (For Now)
It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not the same as what Taylor Pendrith is using, but it’s my setup. And I feel good about it. That’s what matters, right?
Now, I have to remeber, equipment is only part of the equation. I still gotta put in the work on my swing, my short game, and my mental game. But having the right tools, that feels dialed in, definitely gives me a little boost of confidence.
