Golf Digest’s equipment team firmly believes that neglecting to get fitted for your clubs is a major disservice to your game. In addition to ensuring the correct shaft, length, and lie angle, part of this fitting process involves selecting the proper 14 clubs for your bag.
Thinking of one’s golf clubs as a “set” is an error that amateur players often commit. Rather, it is more effective to consider them as 14 distinct tools, with each suitable for fulfilling particular functions. This perspective proved crucial in Peter Malnati’s triumph at the Valspar Championship.
“What’s that, you ask? There happens to be a backstory behind the 5-iron shot made by Malnati on Sunday at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course which resulted in a birdie and secured his lead for the remainder of the game.”
Malnati’s golf club lineup includes a combination of Titleist irons, consisting of the T200 4-iron, T150 5-iron and T100 for his sixth through ninth clubs. He opts to pair these with True Temper AMT Tour White S400 shafts and rounds out his set by using a Vokey SM10 wedge at 48 degrees as his pitching option.
Malnati reached a tie for the lead on the 198-yard par 3, where he employed his T150 5-iron and landed it just six feet, two inches from the hole. He then scored birdie and went ahead by one with only one more play left to go. The brand new addition in Malnati’s bag this season was his T150 iron which provided him better elevation and leniency during Sony Open games.
a golf expert] has suggested I try out the T300 5-iron as it could be a smooth transition for me. It may offer slightly more forgiveness and effortless lift, which would complement my playing style well.”
The Titleist Director of Player Promotions provided me with an experimental club, which demonstrated consistent carry distance but a slightly higher launch and height. Although I am able to adjust the shot for lower trajectory if necessary, achieving greater height is not as effortless. Given its resemblance in appearance and feel to my T100 5-iron while also offering improved launch without any adverse effects on speed or distance covered, it was an obvious choice for me.”
Recalling his 5-iron shot on Sunday at hole 17, Malnati stated that he had informed his caddie about the need for a score of two and hitting it to cover a distance of 208. Although this range was exceptionally large for him while facing such an intense situation, hitting a full 5-iron towards the TV tower seemed like regular procedure in hindsight. He enjoyed living in that moment without overthinking much; watching the ball fly perfectly with precision towards its destination produced satisfactory emotions within him as well.
What sets the players iron apart from Titleist T100 is not just its stronger lofts – it’s also empowered by a unique channel behind the face, which adds extra oomph that will impress recreational golfers. But we didn’t want to compromise on feel and forgiveness either: That’s why we incorporated dense tungsten and reinforced stability with a slightly thicker topline and sole. To add even more tactile sensation, we thickened the lower part of the clubface compared to T100 models.