I'm still a bad man!

[golf_junkie27]

I've been looking at pics of what PGA Tour pros carry in their bags. Most of them are carrying blades, some type of prototype, irons without logos, etc.

Much of it was not surprising until I came across some Senior PGA photos: lots of musclebacks/blades, some full cavity backs but hardly any game improvements. I would think as players got older they would look for an edge. Nope, did not see any of this.

Finally, I came across Arnold Palmers' and Jack Nicklaus' bags. Arnie is using the new Callaway X Muscle and Jack is using a combo of cavity and musclebacks from his company. He also had some lead tape on his irons. Interesting, to me, that after all these years they are still "traditionalists."

Is there a piece of equipment that you've seen a player use that surprised you or were taken aback?

[rudygu]

I'm surprised that Jack was using any cavity backs at all. I remember seeing a clinic he did on the Golf Channel a while back where he said he couldn't imagine hitting anything much different than what he had always played.

[thumper07]

trevor immelman won the master's with a set of nike cci's, definately game improvement irons.

-matt

[GaijinGolfer]

I was very much surprised back in '99 when Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open and didnt even carry a driver in his bag. His, "driver" was a 3-wood.

[FlopShotArtist]

I was very much surprised back in '99 when Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open and didnt even carry a driver in his bag. His, "driver" was a 3-wood.

Phil wishes he could do that...

[GaijinGolfer]

Phil wishes he could do that...

Now that you mention it, didnt Payne beat Phil that year to win the U.S. Open?

[x-forged]

Rocco played x-20's(not the tour model) at the US Open and that suprised me. Those are a game improvement club with a large face, thick topline, fairly wide sole, and quite a bit of offset.

[Dub]

You raise a great point.

I've been devouring golf magazines these past two months after starting playing again after laying off a couple of years. My night stand is loaded with stacks of golf and hunting mags.

Anyway, I enjoy the "what's in my bag" articles in them. I've been surprised seeing the amount of cavity backed sticks in there.....pleasantly surprised. That should tell folks something....if the pros don't use blades, then.......

That being said....I've always drooled over Mizuno irons. I suspect that I'll never be completely happy until I buy a set. Perhaps a forged cavity back set is in the cards for me next year....

[chingali]

Is there a piece of equipment that you've seen a player use that surprised you or were taken aback?

Yep. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player both used Slazenger equipment in the 60's when they came down here to Australia and in the UK. I think Jack continued doing this in to the 70's, however player stopped the Slazenger deal some time in the 60's.

How hard must it have been to go to a different country and not only have the different customs, the different food, the different time zones etc to deal with, but then have to use different equipment? And no, the clubs they used weren't just rebadged versions of whatever they used at home, they were the real deal. I remember speaking a few times to the bloke in Sydney who used to prepare their equipment for them and asking him about it, and apart from sticking with their putter and driver they'd be using different equipment. Of course it was all built to their specifications, but it was different.

[clemsontiger]

I see what you are saying with Jack using a Cavity back. That is probably the easiest to hit with him at his age. I am sure that he could kick my butt, but he probably needs some help.