PGA Tour player gear-testing habits are changing

Relating to PGA Tour golfers, they’re like F1 drivers in some ways — they present as much as occasions with a complete staff ready to leap in and assist out when wanted. And, similar to an F1 automotive, a tour participant’s gear is finely tuned to suit their wants, and when there’s any doubt, there’s a military of apparatus reps prepared to assist, similar to a pit crew.

On this week’s Fully Equipped podcast, the entire staff, together with True Spec Golf’s Kris McCormack and Golf Laboratories’ Gene Parente, sat down to debate a rising development that has been noticed early this yr on the PGA Tour — and that’s the giant discount in week-to-week tools modifications being made on website.

As GOLF’s equipment managing editor Jonathan Wall discovered this week whereas attending Bay Hill, the location of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a number of sources confirmed that gear modifications have occurred loads slower than they’ve previously. “Having been out on tour for near a decade now … you used to have the ability to grasp your hat on tools modifications taking place in January and February, however with out gamers like D.J. (Dustin Johnson) and Bryson DeChambeau, it has felt loads quieter.” Wall stated. “This has been the primary week that I’ve talked to 3 completely different reps independently they usually all advised me the identical factor, in that it has felt loads quieter than in years previous … and gamers appear to be testing much more at residence somewhat than at occasions.”

McCormack, who has labored with a number of PGA Tour gamers over time, talked about his expertise with how participant’s testing habits have modified. “I’ve seen gamers on all ends of the spectrum,” he stated. “Some simply need to work with an unbiased fitter, whereas others will check with what seems like a full entourage, together with a swing coach. However, to verify what Jonathan has witnessed on tour, we’ve got been listening to from extra gamers who need to do unbiased testing at residence, as an alternative of at occasions.”

Whether or not this implies OEMs will modify the best way they workers PGA Tour occasions with the massive tools vans sooner or later is but to be seen, however it will likely be one thing we’ll proceed to observe.

For those who’re trying to take a look at your entire dialog, head over to GOLF’s Fully Equipped YouTube page for the episode or hear wherever you get your podcasts.

Need to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Golf.com Editor

Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s senior editor for equipment. He has an extensive club-fitting and -building background with more than 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Before joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, in Toronto, Canada.