{"id":298443,"date":"2025-11-21T23:10:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T23:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/298443\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T23:10:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T23:10:13","slug":"the-pga-tours-newest-winner-is-a-certified-gear-degenerate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/298443\/","title":{"rendered":"The PGA Tour’s newest winner is a certified gear degenerate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to GOLF\u2019s Fully Equipped\u2019s\u00a0weekly Tour equipment report. Each Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants),\u00a0GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh<\/a>\u00a0will run you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.<\/p>\n

ST SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. \u2014 The final week of the PGA Tour season brings with it plenty of stress as players look to lock up their playing status for 2026, and it\u2019s led to a very interesting week in gear.<\/p>\n

But being on the ground at Sea Island Golf Club<\/a>, home of the RSM Classic<\/a>, this week also gave us a chance to get to know the newest PGA Tour winner, Adam Schenk, and what he calls his \u201ccomplicated\u201d relationship with gear. We call it life as a gear nerd.<\/p>\n

Schenk won last week with a bag setup<\/a> that didn\u2019t include a fairway wood, and just three clubs (his wedges) released post-2018, including his original Odyssey Tri-Hot Rossie putter from the early 2000s. He had a split set of irons from two brands \u2014 Ping i210 2- through 5-iron and then Mizuno MP-18 SCs 6-PW with an MP-18 MMC 8-iron tucked away in there too.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s just what was in the bag in Bermuda. Schenk is known as one of the most notorious gear switchers on the PGA Tour with a solid rotation of sticks, but rarely anything new.<\/p>\n

At his press conference at Sea Island on Tuesday, I asked Schenk about his relationship with gear and got one of the most insightful answers I\u2019ve heard this season.<\/p>\n

Asked last week’s winner, Adam Schenk, about his relationship with gear after he won with only the only clubs in his bag from post-2018 being his wedges.<\/p>\n

Got one of the coolest quotes on gear I’ve heard this year: pic.twitter.com\/DNzqjbk93K<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Schenk started off by saying he likes to tinker and likes to set his bag up to prioritize accuracy over length. To do that, he needs more spin, which the older equipment gives him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI generally set up my bag to go straight,\u201d he said. \u201cSo like my driver, I launch it lower so I need spin. So I have a lot of speed, kind of created in a little inefficient way, but like I have to have enough spin. So like the older equipment, a lot of time goes shorter for me, and it spins more, so that\u2019s why I generally set up my bag that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spin is also a reason why Schenk says he is one of the last remaining users of the 2017 Titleist Pro V1.<\/a><\/p>\n

The trope isn\u2019t unheard of. Two years ago, Billy Horschel claimed more pros hit fades these days because they don\u2019t have to worry about them over-spinning with modern equipment. Tiger Woods has often complained that the modern golf ball doesn\u2019t spin as much as it used to and because of that, he isn\u2019t able to shape shots to the same degree as he could early in his career.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that almost everyone agrees on, and is why you see many pros weakening lofts to get spin back in the bag. If there\u2019s one thing they can do, it\u2019s take spin off, like Schenk did with his 150-yard 4-irons<\/a> in the heavy breezes in Bermuda last week.<\/p>\n

He also said he\u2019ll switch his driver setup depending on not just what the course presents, but also the weather conditions on a given day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s the John Deere Classic and it\u2019s 95 degrees, I can swing 124 or 125 [mph] pretty easily. If you\u2019re at Pebble Beach teeing off and it\u2019s 52 degrees, good luck,\u201d Schenk explained. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to be able to swing that same driver that fast. You\u2019re going to be able to swing 116, 17 maybe. So like that driver setup that you have when it\u2019s 95 degrees is not going to perform the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to play the same driver if it\u2019s 52 degrees or if it\u2019s 95. I\u2019m going to have to make some small change or I\u2019m going to have to swing the driver that I would play at John Deere significantly different or I\u2019m going to lose it really, really, far right once or twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his plans this week, Schenk\u2019s caddie, Rob Bradley, said he might even use both drivers he has this week \u2014 the Ping G400 he won last week with and a G430 Max. One for draws and one for fades. But for Round 1 on the Plantation course, Schenk just went with the G400. It\u2019s possible that it could change throughout the week, according to Tour reps I spoke with. That\u2019s not an unusual occurrence for him, maybe even more than 50 percent of the time.<\/p>\n


\n \"Adam <\/a><\/p>\n

Adam Schenk\u2019s clubs: What\u2019s in his Bermuda Championship-winning bag<\/a><\/p>\n

By:<\/p>\n


\n Jack Hirsh <\/a><\/p>\n

Nor is playing a split set of irons from two different manufacturers in a model progression that might not even make sense \u2014 such as how there is an MP-18 MMC 8-iron tucked into his 6-PW set of MP 18-SCs. Why is the 8-iron a more forgiving model? Schenk\u2019s answer was on-brand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was having problems with my 8-iron not spinning enough so that was the first 8-iron that I found,\u201d he said. \u201cI was looking for the split cavity (SC) 8-iron, I couldn\u2019t find a new one. The one new one I have has a big rock mark in the middle of it. I was like, I don\u2019t know if that really matters but it\u2019s big enough to where it could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schenk probably exhausted all options looking for an MP-18 SC 8-iron replacement. A rep told me he has no problems trying to buy what he\u2019s looking for on eBay or elsewhere if he can\u2019t find it on a truck. <\/p>\n

But this 8-iron also carries some sentimental value.<\/p>\n

Also noticed a single Mizuno MP-18 MMC 8-iron within his 6-PW set of MP-18 SCs that he used last week (both from 2017 btw).<\/p>\n

“I was having problems with my 8-iron not spinning enough so that was the first 8-iron that I found. I was looking for the split cavity (SC) 8-iron, I\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/W0goclqYPb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 18, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I made my first cut ever on the PGA Tour, funny enough, with those Mizuno MP-18 MMCs, multi-material cavity. That\u2019s the 8-iron that I played in Jackson, Mississippi, my first cut ever on Tour and that was my third or fourth event with it in the bag. My other 8-iron was just going way too far, not spinning enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m pretty biased, but as a gear reporter, it\u2019s really cool to hear a Tour pro be so passionate about his or her equipment. I think everyone has a relationship like that with their first nice putter or the driver that won them a club championship. <\/p>\n

Adam Schenk might have that with every piece of gear he owns and that\u2019s awesome. It\u2019s very clear he thinks about gear way differently than most PGA Tour pros.<\/p>\n

TaylorMade Qi4D, Ping G440 K make PGA Tour debuts<\/p>\n

The last official PGA Tour event of 2025 featured the debuts of two new 2026 drivers on the U.S. circuit.<\/p>\n

TaylorMade\u2019s Qi4D driver made its way into the bags of two of the company\u2019s young, rising star staffers in Karl Vilips and Luke Clanton.<\/p>\n

Karl Vilips (First 2 photos) and Luke Clanton (second 2) are both carrying the new @TaylorMadeGolf<\/a> Qi4D driver this week. Both their caddies Tim Butler (Vilips) and Jason Wiertel told me they were a go for competition this week.<\/p>\n

Won’t know for sure until tomorrow, but it seem’s\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/2sBjU0a0s3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Ben Polland, this year\u2019s PGA Professional Championship winner, also had the new driver in the bag. Both Vilips and Polland had 9.0-degree heads while Clanton had an 8.0-degree head.<\/p>\n

Conversion for the Qi4D family has been very strong<\/a> with six players gaming it the first week it was on the conforming list<\/a> two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, including Tommy Fleetwood (LS) and Rory McIlroy<\/a>. This week was the first week the new heads were seeded on the U.S. Tour and to get both Clanton and Vilips into it right off the bat is significant.<\/p>\n

Vilips gained .737 strokes off the tee in Round 1 on the Seaside course \u2014 the only course with ShotLink this week \u2014 and heads into the weekend at 10-under after consecutive 66s to start the week. Also on Seaside on Thursday, Clanton gained .972 shots off the tee in an opening-round 67.<\/p>\n

Also seeing strong conversion is Ping\u2019s new G440 K driver, which saw three players bag it this week.<\/p>\n

Taylor Montgomery, Trey Mullinax and Kevin Streelman each put the new driver in play, which is presumably the successor to the popular G430 Max 10K used by Ben Griffin to win three times this year.<\/p>\n

Mullinax is in the top 30 on the leaderboard after two rounds and picked up .883 SG: Off-the-Tee in Round 1 at Seaside as he fights to retain his playing status for next year.<\/p>\n

Scottsdale Tec putters draw lots of intrigue<\/p>\n

Ping\u2019s Scottsdale Tec putters made their debut on the PGA Tour this week. <\/p>\n

The line features all white mallet models in several hosel configurations, including two in Ping\u2019s Onset low torque setup. The low torque options are the Ally Blue Onset, which has been part of the PLD offerings on Tour, and the Ketsch Onset, which is a new shape to Ping\u2019s Onset offerings.<\/p>\n

While Ping unveiled their super soft Scottsdale line in March, it garnered much interest on the PGA Tour, though it did get some action in Europe. The new Scottsdale Tec putters appear to have a new, more responsive insert.<\/p>\n

Sahith Theegala was among the pros giving them a long test on the practice green and ordered one to be sent home for him to continue testing in the offseason.<\/p>\n

Busy week for Tour Reps<\/p>\n

Perhaps no one was busier this week at Sea Island than Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill. Actually, that probably applies to all the Tour reps onsite this week at the RSM Classic, as all of the players in the field likely hadn\u2019t seen any of the Tour trucks for three weeks, since the Bank of Utah Championship.<\/p>\n

Trucks weren\u2019t at the last two PGA Tour stops in Bermuda and Mexico as they were outside the U.S., and the logistics were too challenging.<\/p>\n

\"Titleist<\/p>\n

Titleist Vokey SM10 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge<\/p>\n

Adding Vokey Design\u00ae SM10 Wedges to your bag opens a world of scoring opportunities. Between the crisp contact, optimal flighting, incredible spin \u2013 and those magical Bob Vokey grinds \u2013 they give you everything you need to grow your short game skill. From the simple to the sensational, SM10 are made to make great shots happen.
\nImproved Flighting & Feel
\nGet lower, more attacking flight in a wedge that feels amazingly solid at impact with SM10. A precise shift in the center of gravity gives you even more control and stability for greater confidence over every shot.
\nUltimate Shot Versatility
\nYour swing is unique and requires the right tools. Finding your ideal mix of grinds will provide you with flawless contact and maximum versatility so you can be prepared for everything the course demands.<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore<\/a>, Titleist<\/a><\/p>\n

With around 90 to 100 players in this week\u2019s 156-player field who play one or more Vokey wedges in their bags, that\u2019s a lot of work for Dill and the Vokey team to catch up on any service needs from the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

But then add to it that many players are playing for their jobs this week<\/a> with the cut off of the FedEx Cup Fall top-100 to retain full status for next year and that many players are looking for fresh gear to break in and practice with over the offseason, Dill and team were slammed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty nice to have a lot to do and a lot of players to work with,\u201d Dill told GOLF. \u201cIt\u2019s just a sign that we\u2019re doing good work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dill said players were mostly focused on fine-tuning the clubs they already had, or getting fresh grooves for the week in their lob wedges, but one trend Dill noticed was some players looking for more bounce in their sand wedges at Sea Island Golf Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers that are in a .08M-grind or a .10S, those players have the ability to increase bounce,\u201d Dill said. \u201cBut we want to make sure that they\u2019re doing it in a specific and calculated way. We\u2019re not just trying to throw more bounce at them for everything. It\u2019s where do we need more bounce? While still maintaining some versatility or some sort of short game component. So you\u00a0just got to ask questions and find that balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were also plenty of players looking to order new gear for next year. <\/p>\n

Odyssey\u2019s Cody Hale said many players fighting for their status<\/a> aren\u2019t looking to break in new gear, just have their specs checked and maybe fresh grips here and there. But there are also plenty of guys ordering new stuff for next year.<\/p>\n

\"Odyssey<\/p>\n

Odyssey Tri-Hot Square 2 Square Jailbird Custom Putter<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve moved Zero Torque Forward.
\nOdyssey\u2019s new line of S2S TRI-HOT putters is a revolution in the \u201cZero Torque\u201d category. Using multi-material construction, we have been able to move the CG of these putters far enough forward to get the shaft entering the head on the topline eliminating the need for shaft lean and thus eliminating one of the biggest barriers to entry for this style of putter.
\nForward CG and Hosel Position\u00a0
\nBy moving the CG forward we were able to position the hosel\u00a0spud on the topline, much closer to the face than typical \u201cZero\u00a0Torque\u201d putters for a more natural, intuitive and comfortable\u00a0set up position.
\nMulti-Material Construction
\nBy strategically using Aluminum, Steel, and over 140 grams of tungsten we have been able to design a \u201cZero Torque\u201d putter with more than 80% of its weight under the topline and allowing for our forward CG and hosel position.
\nNew FRD Groove
\nThis new Forward Roll Design Groove is deeper and more\u00a0aggressive. With a 19\u00b0 slope it works in conjunction with the\u00a0dual layer design to improve forward roll up and down the\u00a0face.<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore<\/a>, Odyssey<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re taking a lot of orders and getting them prepared to send out for testing for the start of the year,\u201d Hale said. \u201cWith new product coming out, that\u2019s always a good time to pique their interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a few new products that we\u2019ll start sending out in the next couple of weeks that aren\u2019t on the [practice] green.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Callaway team was also busy on the back end of the range, doing their annual testing of the new 2026 driver line. This is something that happens every year at RSM and while I couldn\u2019t witness it, it should get everyone excited for what is coming in 2026.<\/p>\n

Check this out<\/p>\n

This section is dedicated to one cool photo we\u2019ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven\u2019t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out the latest Scotty Cameron Circle T putters on the green, which now all feature stamping to indicate the insert material. This Tel3 Newport 2 has a Teryllium insert.<\/p>\n

\"Scotty
\n Scotty Cameron is now stamping the insert materials on all their putters.<\/p>\n

Jack Hirsh\/GOLF<\/p>\n

Odds and Ends<\/p>\n

Some other gear changes and notes we\u2019re tracking this week.<\/p>\n

Odyssey saw its first three S2S Tri-Hot putters go in play on the PGA Tour this week<\/a> with Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Rossie), Joel Dahmen (Jailbird) and Greyson Sigg (Rossie) gaming the low torque mallets. Sigg is just two shots off the lead after 36 holes \u2026 Speaking of Dumont de Chassart, in his first start on the PGA Tour since re-earning his card on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, he becomes the latest PGA Tour user of the mysterious Callaway Apex MB \u201926s \u2026 Tommy Gainey got into the field this week as an alternate with a cool set of Rouge ST and Paradym Ai-Smoke game-improvement irons \u2026 Brice Garnett is playing a set of Callaway X Forged Max irons \u2026 Project X Titan shafts debuted this week<\/a>, although prototypes have been floating around, including in the bag of Austin Eckroat.<\/p>\n

3 things you should read\/watch<\/p>\n

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.<\/p>\n

The unsuspecting beneficiary of the 64-degree wedge | Bag Builders<\/a> \u2013 Jake Morrow tells you why you shouldn\u2019t discount Vokey\u2019s latest limited edition lob wedge.<\/p>\n

\"Titleist<\/p>\n

Titleist Vokey SM10 Black Vapor Limited Edition Custom Wedge<\/p>\n

The limited edition SM10 Black Vapor introduces a premium ultra-dark finish for the most played wedge on Tour. The Titanium Carbide Vapor coating produces a pitch-black sheen with smudge resistance and enhanced durability\u2014keeping your wedges looking as pure as they play.<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

Srixon returns to game-improvement market with new ZXiR irons<\/a> \u2013 Srixon is bringing it\u2019s first game-improvement irons to the market in 10 years and it\u2019s first ever set of game-improvement irons. Why these irons could be a huge hit in their category.<\/p>\n

\"Srixon<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

Bettinardi adds new SB3, SB5 putters to Antidote lineup<\/a> \u2013 Bettinardi is adding to its Antidote \u201cZero Torque\u201d lineup with the new SB3 and SB5 shapes.<\/p>\n

\"Bettinardi<\/p>\n

Bettinardi 2025 Antidote SB5 Custom Putter<\/p>\n

The Antidote Series was first introduced to simplify putting through advanced zero torque\u00a0design. With the addition of the SB3 and SB5, Bettinardi brings new options to golfers who demand tour-proven stability with head shapes that inspire total confidence at address.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Antidote SB3 \u2013 A high M.O.I., fang-style mallet engineered to stay square through impact. Its modern shape enhances alignment and framing, while Simply Balanced\u2122 Zero Torque Technology eliminates twisting for consistent roll.
\nAntidote SB5 \u2013 A compact mallet featuring sweeping shoulders that flow into the\u00a0rear flange, distributing weight evenly to the perimeter for exceptional balance and control in a refined silhouette.<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Bettinardi<\/p>\n

Bettinardi 2025 Antidote SB3 Custom Putter<\/p>\n

The Antidote Series was first introduced to simplify putting through advanced zero torque\u00a0design. With the addition of the SB3 and SB5, Bettinardi brings new options to golfers who demand tour-proven stability with head shapes that inspire total confidence at address.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Antidote SB3 \u2013 A high M.O.I., fang-style mallet engineered to stay square through impact. Its modern shape enhances alignment and framing, while Simply Balanced\u2122 Zero Torque Technology eliminates twisting for consistent roll.
\nAntidote SB5 \u2013 A compact mallet featuring sweeping shoulders that flow into the\u00a0rear flange, distributing weight evenly to the perimeter for exceptional balance and control in a refined silhouette.<\/p>\n

View Product<\/a><\/p>\n

Jack Hirsh welcomes your comments at\u00a0Jack.Hirsh@golf.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want to overhaul your bag in 2025?\u00a0Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

“><\/p>\n