WITB 2023 and beyond (big update 6/23/25)

[Red4282]

Bag is set for 2023, and hopefully much much longer…🤞

Edited June 20 by Red4282

[uglande]

You're not going to tell us what's under those headcovers? 

 

[Red4282]

19 minutes ago, uglande said:

You're not going to tell us what's under those headcovers? 

 

 

The Ltdx headcovers  are exactly that, Ltdx driver (not LS), 9 degree set to 8. Standard Ltdx 3 wood set at 15*. Hybrid is  Callaway mavrik pro. Sometimes I consider dumping it for a 5 wood but for now it stays. Putter is a Cobra Nova double bend. Love it for medium and slow greens for faster greens I struggle a little and looking for a lighter weight mid mallet to rotate in.

 

 

[uglande]

9 hours ago, Red4282 said:

 

The Ltdx headcovers  are exactly that, Ltdx driver (not LS), 9 degree set to 8. Standard Ltdx 3 wood set at 15*. Hybrid is  Callaway mavrik pro. Sometimes I consider dumping it for a 5 wood but for now it stays. Putter is a Cobra Nova double bend. Love it for medium and slow greens for faster greens I struggle a little and looking for a lighter weight mid mallet to rotate in.

 

 

Nice setup. I had a Cobra Nova putter last year and loved it. Switched into something longer, but made a lot of putts with that thing. 

[Red4282]

Ive made 2 changes! New driver and putter. Everything else still there, although the 3 wood and hybrid may get updated this fall
 

 

 

[Red4282]

Ok, 2025 bag is set, and boy am I excited with this setup. 2024s bag was very good to me, as my handicap went from a 2 to a +1.7. Most of that had to do with a small swing change and better play inside 100 with my wedges, but other than the driver switch, all the equipment was solid. 
 

Heres the complete setup (15 clubs):

The plan is to strategically take a club out based on course played and/or conditions. 95% of the time that will be either the mini, the 5 wood or the DI. However if I know I will not have a single 5 iron for example, heck why put it in….?

 

Driver: AI smoke TD 9* set at +1 (10*). Shaft is 2024 Diamana WB 5TX playing at 45.5”. (Posted previously) Love this thing. Can work it anyway I want. Forgiving enough to keep my misses on the course.

 

*New*- MIni: AI smoke mini 13.5. Shaft is Diamana ZF 60TX playing at 43.5”. Have not hit a ball yet with this. I briefly played with a TM Original one mini in the fall, enough to know a mini has a spot in my bag. It was just a matter of finding the right one. Have high hopes this is it.

 

*New*-5 wood: Ping G430 18 set flat. Shaft is Fujikura Motore F1 7x playing at 42.25”. Have had this for a few rounds and does exactly what I want. Consistently mid ball flight without ballooning. I like that its as big as some 3 woods (170cc) and Can even turn it down to play as a 4 wood if needed.

 

*New*- Driving Iron: Mizuno pro 225 3 iron (19*). Dynamic gold 105. Nothing flashy here, just a dynamite fairway finder that goes appx 240-250 for me. Have actually had this since early fall and its been spectacular.

 

Irons: Mizuno Pro 223, 4-pw. Dynamic gold 105. Best irons Ive ever own and will have them til they actually have too much wear.

 

Wedges: Vokey Sm9/sm7. Kind of a sad story is here… my custom sm9 wedgeworks 58 tgrind was left behind near a green and went back to get and it was to never be found… in the meantime bought a cheap sm7 as a placeholder, and low and behold I like it and have performed better with it.

 

*New*-Putter: Lab DF3 Custom Counterbalanced. So this spot changes like the wind…. Lol. Went from a Cobra Nova to a LAB Df 2.1 armlock, then to a couple of Mizuno OMOIs. The OMOI had the spot most of last year and was solid. However, putting has still been a weakness comparatively speaking to the rest of my game and I feel like Im leaving a few putts out there at times. Enter this newly orded custom… Im committed to this one, the start lines and  stability on it are second to none.

 

 

 

Edited January 11 by Red4282

[Red4282]

Wellllll as soon as I say how much I love my bag, I get fitted for all new Wilson clubs.

Quite the conundrum trying to figure out whats going in for this year. So far the Wilson ZM wedges and the dynapower 5 wood have established a spot.
 

After two SIM sessions. The irons and utility could go either way, they literally are both equally good. I need to hit some balls on actual grass and see how the Wilsons get through the turf and that may ultimately be the deciding factor.
 

As far as driver goes, my cally has a slight advantage right now. To hit my best numbers with the Wilson I had to loft the 9 degree up and it noticeable sits closed. Performance, they are close, its just going to come down to looks, feel, and confidence. With the three wood and mini, right now Im keeping both and may interchange depending on conditions and course. They are miles apart, mini spins more, high baby fades. Fairway finder and even a bit shorter. The dynapower 3 wood is a HOT rocket launcher that should be good for windy days or really long par 5s.

 

Lab DF3 is still solid in the bag.

Edited March 3 by Red4282

[radiman]

On 3/3/2025 at 3:58 PM, Red4282 said:

Wellllll as soon as I say how much I love my bag, I get fitted for all new Wilson clubs.

Quite the conundrum trying to figure out whats going in for this year. So far the Wilson ZM wedges and the dynapower 5 wood have established a spot.
 

After two SIM sessions. The irons and utility could go either way, they literally are both equally good. I need to hit some balls on actual grass and see how the Wilsons get through the turf and that may ultimately be the deciding factor.
 

As far as driver goes, my cally has a slight advantage right now. To hit my best numbers with the Wilson I had to loft the 9 degree up and it noticeable sits closed. Performance, they are close, its just going to come down to looks, feel, and confidence. With the three wood and mini, right now Im keeping both and may interchange depending on conditions and course. They are miles apart, mini spins more, high baby fades. Fairway finder and even a bit shorter. The dynapower 3 wood is a HOT rocket launcher that should be good for windy days or really long par 5s.

 

Lab DF3 is still solid in the bag.

How far up in loft do you need to go on the driver? Is it a matter of launch or spin?

[Red4282]

54 minutes ago, radiman said:

How far up in loft do you need to go on the driver? Is it a matter of launch or spin?

When I was fitted, the goal was to get spin down, I was seeing about 2400-2800 on good strikes with my Callaway (with heavy weight back). He put me in the 9* straight in, and spin came way down, like 1800-2200 but launch did too.  Saw similar results in first sim session. Second sim, I lofted up to 10.5 and Launch and spin were bang on ideal. I hit it good, it just sits closed. I kind of wish I would have gave the LS more of a shot but oh well.

Edited March 6 by Red4282

[Red4282]

Alright, time for a big update. Spent the last few months being an equipment junkie, testing several sets of irons, shafts, and think I have finally settled on a setup. I have a tournament in 9 days, first for me in a few years so here is what Im rolling with:

•Driver:

       Callaway AI Smoke TD 

      9 Deg, set at standard and neutral

      12 gram rear, 4 gram front, 45.5”

      Diamana WB 5TX

 

 

Why its in the bag:

Hard to really put my finger on it, but there is just something harmonious about the combo between the shaft, head and my swing. Not the longest Ive ever played, not the most forgiving but its just flat good at everything, and feel in complete command at times and can work the ball as well. Very stable.

 

•Mini/3 wood:

      Callaway AI smoke 340 Ti Mini

      13.5 Deg, down to 12.5 and neutral

      14 gram front, 2 gram back

      Diamana ZF 6Tx, 43.75”

     
 

Why its in the bag:

It was always a fairway finder for me but I found it a bit short on distance hitting off the deck. High, spinny flight. Turning it down to 12.5 and putting the 14g weight up front made a significant difference. It now excels for me, tee, deck, even light semi rough. 
 

•4/5 Wood:
         Wilson Dynapwr Carbon 16.5 deg

         Playing at 16.5 OR 17.5

         Diamana WB 7tx 42.5”

Why its in the bag:

Love at first hit really. Fast, perfect launch windows. Depending on the next spot in the bag, can play this at 16.5 or 17.5, to fit gapping. 
 

•7 Wood/Utility Iron:

        This will depend on wind/course

        and will be rotated accordingly.

 

        Taylormade QI35 Core 7 wood

        Diamana DF 8x 41 5/8”

 

        OR

 

        Wilson Staff RB 3 Utility

        21 Deg, 40”

        Tensei Silver HY 80x

 

 

 

 

Why its in the bag:

 

The 7 wood is brand new. I demo’d a QI35 and hit it well even though the shaft wasn't a great fit for me. I just think this head and profile is perfect, 165 cc, not too big nor too small. Face depth is moderate as well. I need to keep the 7 wood down somewhat, have always tended to hit them really high. Have not hit a live ball yet, just in a net, so jury is still out. The plan would be to use this on calmer wind days and courses that may have longer par 3s, or par 5 approaches of about 230-240 yards.

 

The utility has been excellent and I really love off the tee. It’s surprisingly does well off the ground but i think its ultimately just a bit shorter than the 7 wood, more in the 225-235 range. Plan here would be for windier days (15mph or more), or courses that require tight shorter tee shots. 
 

•Irons:

       Mizuno JPX 925 Forged Black

       5-P, standard loft and lie. 
       MMT 105tx, +1/2” over standard

Why its in the bag:

This is more of a why not than a why. In the past few months I have played around and tested Mizuno 223s, Wilson Dynapwr forged and staff cb, Titleist T100, and now these. The review by Askgolfnut on youtube kinda got me on these and i really like how the black finish masks its “help”. The fact that MMTs and NDMCC grips come as standard option ultimately sold me and bought a set. Only 2 rounds and one range session, but so far, Ive been liking them.

 

•Wedges: 

        Wilson ZM forged

        58/6, 56/12 (bent ti 54/10), 50/08

 

 

Why its in the bag:

No frills here, look good, feel good and hit all the shots I ask it to. 
 

•Putter:

      LAB DF3 counterbalanced

      Pictured above

 

Why its in the bag:

Fully on the LAB train, putting has been a strength lately.

 

Bonus! 
•Bag

        Vessel Player Pro V Black

 

 

Why it is THE bag:

Perfect for the type of golf I play. Mostly cart or push cart. Looks amazing especially with the 925FB.

Edited June 20 by Red4282

[Birdieputt19]

The black finish on the Mizuno irons looks amazing! Nice setup