Golf enthusiasts are often curious about the “behind the story” of golfers’ success. They try to find out what the experts use, how they lead their life, how they practice, and many more. We are one of those who are looking forward to finding out what golf clubs they use.
Top-level golfers invest heavily in their equipment, with some spending tens of thousands of dollars annually on the latest gear. There are thousands of club models of several top brands available in the market, and it is hard to choose from them. When we search for the best golf clubs, experts have different opinions. They have their perception of them. But it gets complicated at times to choose based on multiple opinions. So then had questions like, “What clubs do the professionals use?”
When we searched for the answers, we found people were asking such questions too. And there were hardly any proper answers. So, we designed this article to provide you with such answers. We have analyzed the golf clubs the top 100 PGA Tour golfers used over the past four years. Our research includes data on the brands and models of clubs, the frequency of club changes, and the reasons behind these changes.
We spent hours collecting and analyzing the data and constantly updated the article to keep you updated with the latest trends. By analyzing this data, we aim to provide valuable insights into the preferences of the best golfers in the world and help amateur golfers make informed decisions when selecting their clubs. So, let’s crack the code and explore the world of golf clubs used by the top 100 PGA Tour golfers.
Table of Content
Methodology
We have collected data from several reliable sources over the internet and accumulated them in a sheet to sort them properly. And then, we analyzed the data and found answers to the earlier queries. Furthermore, we have verified the data and crossmatched it to be very sure about our findings.
Sample of the study
Every year, there are several tournaments organized worldwide. And different players win them. But we took the top 100 ranked golfers of 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019, according to the PGA Tour Ranking, and collected data regarding what’s in their bag; you have a better overview of the findings and interpret them to the best.
Demographics of the sample
Reports from the National Golf Foundation suggest that 77% of the golfers are male, so we primarily conducted our research on male golfers. Unfortunately, we don’t have any lady golfers in our sample of this research. But we are planning to include them in our future projects.
What is the average age of top-ranked professional golfers?
The average age of the top 100 pro golfers was 32 in 2022. However, as per our research, 38.7% of golfers were aged between 26 and 30. Meanwhile, 14.5% of the golfers were under 25, 16.1% were between 31 and 35, 17.7% were between 36 and 40, and the remaining 12.9% were above 40.
Golf is accessible to people of all ages, as evidenced.
The research data indicates that golf is a sport that individuals of varying age groups can enjoy and compete at the top level. It reveals that golfers aged 20 to 50 participate in competitive golf tournaments. However, the age group of 26 to 30 years had the maximum number of golfers; the other age groups were just slightly behind.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that golf is a sport that requires physical and mental skills. The physical aspect of golf involves a lot of walking and swinging, which can help improve cardiovascular health and muscle strength. Meanwhile, the mental aspect of golf requires focus, patience, and strategic thinking. Therefore, golf can provide a holistic approach to improving physical and mental well-being.
Chapter 1: The Golf Drivers
Drivers play the most crucial role in a round of golf, especially in a par five-hole or more. It helps you get a good start by covering a healthy distance. Top golfers were found carrying at least one driver in their golf bags. And they are very concerned about choosing their driver. They prefer to use the latest technologically advanced golf clubs. Here are some significant findings of their golf driver.
What is the most popular brand of golf drivers?
Our recent study of the top 100 professional golfers found that Titleist has maintained its position as the most popular brand among professional golfers, with 29% of users. This slightly increased from our previous study in 2021, where Titleist had 27% of users.
Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade are still the most popular golf driver brands among golfers in 2022. However, the popularity ranking has shifted slightly compared to our previous study. Callaway comes in second with 23%, a slight increase from 21% in the previous year.
On the other hand, TaylorMade has seen a decrease in popularity, with only 18% of users compared to 21% in the previous year. The remaining 30% of professional golfers use a variety of other brands, including Ping, Cobra, and Mizuno.
Now you know the top brands and how they performed in 2022 compared to 2021. But we collected the data for the last four years for a better view. The following graph illustrates the highs and lows of brand popularity over the last four years.
Titleist has emerged as the most popular brand among professional golfers in 2022, surpassing TaylorMade, Callaway, and others in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In contrast, Callaway’s popularity declined after their Epic series drivers failed to impress golfers. Titleist’s TSi series drivers, specifically TSR3 and TSi3, with their ultra-low spin performance, remarkable ball speed, and distance coverage, have gained popularity in 2021 and 2022, especially among golfers with moderate swings.
The study shows that the golf equipment market is dynamic, and manufacturers must continuously innovate and adapt to remain competitive. And our next section will discuss the models.
What is the most popular golf driver?
Callaway Rogue ST and TaylorMade Stealth Plus
Our latest research on the most popular golf drivers shows that the Callaway Rogue ST, TaylorMade Stealth Plus, and Titleist TSi3 are the top three models, with 16% of professional golfers using the Rogue ST and an equal number of users belonging to Stealth Plus.
In comparison, Titleist users are divided across 3-4 different models. Additionally, the PING G425 has 13% of users, indicating its growing popularity among pro golfers.
The Callaway Rogue ST driver is known for its high MOI and low center of gravity, providing maximum forgiveness and control to the players. It features Jailbreak Technology, like the previous Epic and Mavrik series, which increases the ball speed, making it a top choice for pro golfers looking to maximize their distance and accuracy. The Rogue ST model was trendy for its deep blue color scheme that stands out on the course.
On the other hand, the TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver has a more prominent sweet spot, enabling players to hit longer drives even if they don’t hit the ball with the center of the clubface. The Stealth Plus model features a pear-shaped head that is visually appealing to many players, and its matte black finish gives it a sleek and professional look. The driver also provides the right combination of speed, accuracy, and distance, a critical factor in making it a top choice among pro golfers.
The Titleist TSi3 driver was the most popular golf driver in 2021. It was known for its adjustable features, enabling players to fine-tune the driver according to their unique swing preferences. It allows players to adjust loft and lie angles, giving them ultimate control over their shots.
Interestingly, these top-performing models are not limited to a single brand, with Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist each offering popular models well-received by professional golfers. The increasing popularity of these models may be attributed to their advanced technology and performance benefits, making them a wise investment for golfers looking to improve their game.
Now we know the top brands and models of golf drivers in recent years. But we must determine how often they change their clubs and how that impacts their play.
How often do professional golfers change golf drivers?
Our study found that most golfers change their driver almost every year or two. Specifically, 58% of golfers changed their golf drivers in 2021 from 2020. And more than 40% of golfers changed it in 2020 from 2019. So, they change their golf drivers annually and switch to the latest clubs.
So why are professional golfers choosing these particular brands and models? One reason is the advanced technology that these brands incorporate into their drivers. Advanced materials and innovative design allow golfers to achieve longer distances, greater accuracy, and more control over their shots.
Another factor is the adjustability and customization options offered by these brands. Golfers can fine-tune their drivers to match their swing and playing style, enabling them to achieve the desired level of performance on the course.
Golf club manufacturers are introducing beneficial features that professional golfers find helpful. Not just the club heads, they change the shafts too. And in most cases, it helped them improve their performance. Changes in clubs and shafts are not the only criteria for identifying individual performance graphs.
Most Popular Shaft brand
Fujikara
In our study, we found that Fujikura has overtaken Mitsubishi as the most popular brand for golf driver shafts. This trend was reflected in the usage of pro golfers, with 34% using Fujikura and 25% using Mitsubishi. The remaining percentage was split among other brands like Project X, Graphite design, and others.
There was hardly any competition for Mitsubishi for driver shafts. For the last three years, our data of the top 100 golfers in 2021 showed that more than 36% of top golfers use Mitsubishi shafts for their drivers.
So, why are pro golfers switching to Fujikura from Mitsubishi in 2022? One reason could be the launch of the Ventus shaft, which has received rave reviews and has been used by some top-ranked players. Another reason could be the focus on ball speed and increased distance, crucial for success in modern-day golf.
One of the primary reasons for their success is their numerous models. We found about 50 different models of shafts used within our sample. And that illustrates the difference in the number of users is insignificant. These models also offer several flex choices. And here is the most favorite model.
Most Popular Shaft model
Fujikara Ventus and Speeder
Pro golfers are choosing Fujikura’s Ventus and Speeder models for their stability, consistency, increased ball speed, and low spin, which are essential for success in modern-day golf. So, if you want to improve your golf game, consider the Fujikura brand for your golf driver shaft.
Let’s analyze the top two brands and their models of shafts for a golf driver. Mitsubishi has been a top choice for many years and has models like Tensei CK Pro and Kuro Kage that have been popular among pro golfers. Tensei CK Pro is designed to provide stability, consistency, and control, and it is an excellent choice for those who want to optimize their launch and spin.
On the other hand, Kuro Kage offers increased stability and control with a higher launch and lower spin. It’s designed for golfers who want to hit a straight ball flight with a high launch angle.
While Fujikura has gained popularity recently with its Ventus and Speeder models. The Ventus shaft is known for its stability, consistency, and increased ball speed, which makes it a top choice for pro golfers. The Speeder shaft is designed to reduce spin and increase distance, and it has a low torque, which makes it perfect for players with a quick swing.
Chapter 2: The Golf Irons
Unlike drivers, golfers carry more than one iron in their bag. To be specific, they carry a minimum of 5 pieces of irons. Because not all irons deliver the same result, golfers carry them to have the best iron for any situation. And that makes our study more enjoyable. Why? Have a look at what we found in our study.
What is the most popular brand of golf irons?
Titleist was the most popular brand of golf irons among top-ranked pro golfers in 2022. In our study, 25.5% of golfers have Titleist irons. Callaway and PING follow closely, with 19.1% and 15.9% users, respectively.
Regarding the shift in popularity between brands, golfers continuously seek better performance from their clubs. In 2022, Titleist took over Callaway’s position with their irons, indicating that they have successfully introduced new and improved products that have caught the attention of top golfers.
Comparing this data with 2021, we can see that Callaway had the top golfers using their golf irons in 2021, but Titleist has overtaken them. The competition between brands for irons has been intense, with narrow margins between Ping, Titleist, and TaylorMade. However, these brands have very marginal differences when considering consistency over the last four years.
Looking specifically at the Callaway brand, they have had a strong position in the iron market for the last three years. The Callaway Apex series of irons has held a share of more than 20%, making it a popular choice among pro golfers. TaylorMade also had a good year in 2020 with their P760 series irons, which about 24% of top golfers used.
What are the most popular golf irons?
Callaway Apex TCB series irons were the most popular golf irons in 2022, with 33.3% of Callaway users. Which was 8.51% of the total sample. Titleist T100 and T200 were the nearest competitors, with 8.5% and 7.4% users. The competition was intense here.
Callaway launched their Apex series, Irons, back in 2013. After that, they often include new models in this series for several years. The TCB is their latest addition. It is designed for forged performance, shot-making, accuracy, and control. As a result, golfers have recently switched to this club.
The Callaway Apex TCB irons are highly regarded among golfers and industry experts. They are designed for the more skilled player who values precision and workability, offering a classic look and feel with a modern twist. The Apex TCB irons are forged from high-grade materials, giving them a soft feel and incredible responsiveness on the course.
The Titleist T100 and T200 irons are highly praised for their exceptional feel and precision, as well as their forgiveness and playability. The T100 model is designed for more skilled golfers who value precision and control, while the T200 model offers more forgiveness and distance for players looking to improve their game.
How often do professional golfers change golf irons?
According to our survey over the last four years, on average, professional golfers change their irons every year or two. However, this can vary depending on the golfer and their preferences. Some golfers may change their irons more frequently, while others may stick with the same set longer.
One of the main reasons why professional golfers change their irons is to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Golf club manufacturers are constantly introducing new models with improved technology and features to help golfers hit the ball farther and more accurately. Professional golfers are always looking for an edge, and changing to the latest and most fantastic irons can give them that edge.
Another reason professional golfers change their irons is to adjust their ball flight and trajectory. Golfers may change their irons to improve their distance, accuracy, or ball flight. They may also change their irons’ weight, loft, or shaft to suit their swing and playing style better.
Finally, some professional golfers may change their irons simply because they are worn out or damaged. The amount of wear and tear that professional golfers put on their equipment is significant; eventually, even the best golf clubs will need to be replaced.
Most Popular Shaft brand
True Temper is the most popular shaft brand among pro golfers, with 55.81% of golfers using it. Interestingly, golfers use different shaft brands and models for different clubs. This may be because each club requires a specific shaft type to optimize its performance.
True Temper is a well-known brand in the golf industry, and its shafts are known for their consistency, feel, and performance. Dynamic Gold, in particular, is a popular choice among golfers who prefer a heavier shaft with low launch and spin. On the other hand, Project X is known for its stability and consistency, making it a good choice for golfers who want to reduce their shot dispersion.
KBS and Nippon also have a reputation for producing high-quality shafts that cater to the different needs of golfers. KBS shafts are known for their balance, feel, and control, while Nippon shafts are famous for their lightweight design and high launch characteristics.
Most Popular Shaft model
Dynamic Gold and Project X from True Temper are among the most popular shaft models. Dynamic Gold from True Temper takes the lead, with 38.37% of pro golfers using it, while Project X from the same brand has 17.4% of users. KBS and Nippon have a fair market share with 17.44% and 11.63% users, respectively.
Chapter 3: The Fairway Woods
Fairway woods are one of the most versatile golf clubs with unique features and technologies. It helps golfers hit long and high from the tee and chip the ball from the rough or short grass.
Unfortunately, such versatility makes the fairway woods complicated and tricky to find the best one that serves your purpose.
What is the most popular brand of golf fairway woods?
Our research showed 38.29% of the top 100 PGA tour golfers TaylorMade woods in 2022. Titleist and Callaway are other well-known brands that have gained popularity among golfers. With 22.34% of the top golfers using these brands on each, the brand has a significant presence in the golfing world.
In 2021, TaylorMade was the most popular brand of fairway woods. But the other brands were close. For example, both Callaway and Titleist are selected by 22% of the top golfers, whereas 31% of golfers choose TaylorMade. We saw the same trend in 2022 as well.
Not just in 2021, TaylorMade had the maximum user in 2020 and 2019 too. But if we look into the models of fairway woods used by top golfers, we found the Callaway epic series woods being selected most times over the years.
Most Popular Shaft brand
Mitsubishi
For the last four years, our data show that over 33% of top golfers use Mitsubishi shafts for their fairway woods among the top 100 golfers. There are only Mitsubishi shafts for fairway woods used by most professional golfers. Fujikara was the closest in 2022. One of the primary reasons for Mitsubishi’s success is its numerous models of shafts. We found several models of shafts used in our sample. And here is the most favorite model.
Most Popular Shaft model
Mitsubishi Diamana series shafts
Most golfers use the Diamana series shafts with their drivers. The Graphite design tour AD series has the most significant number of users among the top 100 ranked golfers. We found about 50 different models of shafts used by our sample. And that illustrates the difference in the number of users is insignificant.
Chapter 4: The Golf Wedges
Wedges are a subset of golf irons but feature higher lofts, heavier clubheads, and shorter shafts. Sometimes they are very effective at playing challenging shots, especially when you are in trouble, like bunkers or roughs. There are four types of wedges available in the market.
However, do you know, Out of 14 clubs, how many wedges do pro golfers carry in their golf bags? Think about it. We will share our findings by the end of this chapter.
How often do professional golfers change golf wedges?
Wedges are one of a kind that pro golfers hardly change often. Our study shows that top golfers change their wedge models or brands once in 4-5 years. Our research also illustrates that less than 5% of golfers change their wedges regularly.
So, it can be very beneficial for golf club manufacturers to make their mark on golfers’ minds with their top-quality golf wedges. Let’s find out which brand models are favorites of the top 100 golfers. v
What is the most popular brand of golf wedges?
Titleist
For wedges, most pro golfers prefer Titleist golf clubs over other brands. And the number of people loving this brand was enormous. In 2022, over 40% of top golfers used Titleist Wedges. More specifically, all of them were using Vokey. Callaway was the second in the competition, with just 18% of users, and PING had 17%. That’s less than half of what Titleist achieved. There are no better alternatives to the Titleist Wedges.
Not just in 2022, In 2021, 35% of top golfers chose Titleist, it is the most popular golf wedge brand among top PGA golfers, whereas the second-best brand Callaway had only 17% of users.
The Titleist golf wedges look unique and are certainly a feature that golfers consider before buying a golf wedge. But the best thing the Titleist golf wedges provide is the bounce, spin, and consistency of over-controlled swings. These features are very effective for a wedge, especially a sand wedge and lob wedge. Let’s find out the most popular model of golf wedge first before going deep about the reason for Titleist success.
What are the most popular golf wedges?
Titleist Vokey Design
Pro golfers’ top 3 picks for golf wedges are Titleist Vokey Design, TaylorMade Milled Grind, and Callaway Mack Daddy. In our study, this model of golf wedge is leading the chart. It looks great and offers impressive performance.
Most golfers love its accuracy, loft, and distance. It is also versatile, with six different grinds customization options. These grinds give golfers plenty of options for aligning selection with purpose, swing type, and typical turf conditions. This is one of the most compelling reasons why most tour golfers choose this model.
But there are 4 different golf clubs, and most golfers carry at least three of them in their bags. And among those three, Sand wedge and Lob wedge is typical in almost all golfers’ choices.
Most Popular Shaft brand,
True Temper,
Over 70% of the top golfers use True Temper wedge shafts. Our study found 5 different brands of wedge shafts selected by the top 100 golfers. Almost three-quarters of them prefer True Temper wedge shafts with their golf wedges. However, regardless of which wedges golfers choose, they love using it with the True Temper shaft. Let’s find out the most popular model of Wedge Shaft, then.
Most Popular Shaft model
True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Considering all types of wedges used by pro-golfers, we found the True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft is the favorite wedge shaft by most golfers since 2019. Apart from this model, Project X Hzrdus has been consistent in the last few years.
Chapter 5: The Golf Putter
The putter is the most talked-about golf club. You just can’t afford to have a poor golf putter in professional golf. And our study reflects on the statement too. All the pro golfers use only the best quality golf putter. Odyssey and Scotty are the best golf putters brands. There is hardly any competition except for these two brands.
Odyssey is a sub-brand of Callaway, and Scotty is a sub-brand of Titleist. Both these two brands have been producing top-quality golf putters for many years. We found tour golfers carrying only one putter in their golf bags. So the contest would be fascinating. Let’s look at what we found in our study.
What is the most popular brand of golf putter?
In our study, Odyssey is the most popular brand of golf putter, with 38.7% of users among the top 100 golfers. Not just in 2022, this brand has been leading the chart for the last three consecutive years. And Scotty Cameron is their closest competitor, with a 30.1% share. Look at the pie chart that illustrates the percentage of golfers preferring the most popular brands.
The reason behind such success is the accuracy of these putters. Both brands produce golf putters that provide the best accuracy. And then the look of these putters plays a significant role in their success. But when we narrow it down to a specific model with the most popular, Scotty from Titleist wins. Here is what we found in the study.
What is the most popular golf putter?
Scotty New Port
When it comes to the specific model of golf putter, the result is fascinating. Though Odyssey and Scotty are leading the market by far, there is no such model of a golf putter. Instead, these brands have several models scattered among the top hundred golfers. Among these, most golfers select the Scotty New Port.
And the reason behind such success could be the top golfer’s performance in the last years.
Chapter 6: The Golf Balls
In a game of golf, golfers are allowed to carry their golf balls. According to the USGA rules, a golfer can carry nine balls in a round of golf. This means having the best golf balls is equally vital as golf clubs. So, we gathered similar data on golf balls too. And analyzed them to figure out the best results.
And there is a clear winner in this segment. Over 66% of Top 100 Tour Golfers use balls from Titleist.
What is the favorite ball of pro golfers?
Titleist Pro V1
This is the most popular golf ball among 100 golfers. Our research found that over 66% of the top golfers prefer Titleist golf balls over any other brand. There is only one brand that 20% or more golfers choose.
And the pro v1 and pro v1x are the top picks among them. Among those Titleist users, 62% use the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, and the rest choose Pro V1x.
It is a remarkable achievement for Titleist, especially when you consider the price of it. The Titleist golf balls are much more expensive than most other golf balls. Yet most golfers prefer using their golf balls. Not just pro golfers but also beginners love using this ball too. It’s a versatile golf ball.
Chapter 7: Findings Summary
Apart from the golf clubs’ brands, models, and golf ball brands, we found other information to help you. Have a look at those here.
What is the favorite golf club brand among pro golfers?
Titleist
We have discussed the favorite brands of golf clubs based on each type of golf club. Usually, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist made their name among the top 3. And Ping is the other Brand that performed well enough to mention. But if we search for one brand overall, it would be Titleist. This is because they have the maximum user among the top 100 golfers in 2022.
Do they use the same brand for all types of clubs?
No,
Top golfers tend to use different brands of golf clubs. However, they prefer to pick the best for each shot, no matter which brand it represents. Moreover, some golfers use different golf clubs for the same clubs, such as Irons, wedges, and woods.
Which type of golf club is carried most by professional golfers?
Our survey found that most golfers use at least five irons in their bags. The 9-iron and 7- iron is often found in their golf bags. Most golfers replace their 3-iron with a hybrid or 3-wood. We also found that most golfers use three kinds of wedges in their golf bags. They like to carry one of each type of golf wedge. Interestingly, pro golfers carry hybrid golf clubs as a replacement for iron or wood.
Recommendations
After a rigorous study of the top golfers’ data, we found some amazing facts we already knew. Based on that, here are some feedbacks that can help the brands and stakeholders to improve in the coming days.
- Top Golfers hardly hesitate to change their clubs when they struggle to score well. If better features are available, that can benefit their performance. So brands should try to deliver advanced features to gain more top users.
- Very few top golfers use the exact golf club offered by brands. Instead, they like to customize it. Therefore, brands that offer more customization options tend to have a better market share.
- It is found that the most popular models of clubs tend to have better performance metrics. Therefore, you can select your golf club on that basis as well.
- Having the best golf ball is as important as having a golf club. And Titleist Pro V1 is such a versatile golf ball that most people find this ball perfect for them. You should try this golf ball too.
- Most tour golfers arrange their 14 golf club sets in the following order:
5 irons, 3 wedges, and driver, putter, fairway wood, and hybrid each. The rest 2 golf clubs vary based on individual preferences. - Combining a golf club and club shaft is essential for better performance. Club manufacturers need to pay attention to producing better golf clubs.
- Not only are the clubs, shafts, or golf balls crucial, but you must be skillful and swing appropriately for the best performance. This equipment plays a crucial role in improving your performance.
Concluding Remarks
We did the hard work for you to find out the brands and models of golf clubs and golf balls that top professional golfers prefer. We collected data from pgatour.com, golfwrx.com, golfmonthly.com, nationalclubgolfer.com, pgaclubtracker.com, golfcentraldaily.com, todays-golfer.com, golfshake.com and analyzed them to find answers to specific queries, as you have read already.
These findings will surely help you as a golf lover. Besides, several brands can take the lead from here and hopefully work on it to improve their performance. This report is entirely based on actual data, and it’s an unbiased analysis that we figured out to help you get the correct information.
I hope this helps you. Let us know if you think we should include more information and develop more research reports. Then, share it with your friends.
