OPINION: Let’s Bag the “What’s in the Bag” Stories

It usually happens about an hour or two after a PGA TOUR pro snags a victory. The articles start to fly across multiple golf media: what’s in (insert tour player)’s bag?

If I may speak frankly here, and in the words of Family Guy lummocks Peter Griffin, “Oh my God! Who the hell cares?”

When I first started playing this game is when my eyes became completely transfixed on the celebrity and the endorsement angle. It’s also why I never forget what my dad told me time and again at the driving range when I was trying a myriad of clubs from the pro shop: I’m not going to swing like Tiger Woods just because I’m swinging Tiger Woods clubs.

The same thing goes for what’s in the bag. Just because Golf Digest is now showing me all the models and specs for Dustin Johnson’s club selections doesn’t mean squat because my name is not Dustin Johnson (no matter how many times I’ve asked the Zoltar machine for this).

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I mean it’s cool to see what’s in the bag but it doesn’t help me who has trouble striking his 4-iron. But these articles are gangbusters for the manufacturers because Joey Bagofodnuts sees Brooks Koepka swing Mizuno JPX919 irons and think they need these to get to the next level. (FYI, this is no knock at Mizuno as their JPX line has a butter soft feel when struck right).

The brilliance of the marketing message delivery today. I know this because I’m around a 25-handicap and working to get sub-20 as soon as I can. None of those fancy what’s in the bag articles has ever worked for me because those sticks were never meant for any of us except the pro who just won $1.5M for a weekend’s work. 

What does work?

• Fittings – if you can afford to do it, have a true professional specialist fit you for your set so they can be custom calibrated to your mechanics. And if possible, have this done for your golf ball and putter as well. Every tool is needed to maximize your game.
• Lessons – finding a coach who’s right for you can be hard but the results may show faster when you do. If you can’t afford a coach then be sure to look up some of the amazing instructors on YouTube to see if you can replicate what they teach.
• Time – making time is the biggest thing I struggle with but good practice habits need to be consistently repeated over a long building period of time.
• Openness – no matter how much I loved one brand’s looks, I simply struggled to really enjoy hitting their wares. Never be afraid to mix it up brand wise as TaylorMade drivers might be tailor made to your swing but not their irons, and a Titleist might actually work better ball wise than a Callaway, even if it means sacrificing cool soccer ball graphics.

Much like TV infomercials for any product (including as seen on TV golf clubs), the best tools for the job are the ones fitted to your game with time invested to get there. The what’s in the bag segments are amazing for manufacturers and retail but they aren’t meant for repetition of purchase by 99.9% of the public per se. Well, they are, but they’re not right for everyone.

Cover Image via Instagram