Mixed Bag? Yes or No and how does a long time "single brander" break the habit?

[IUHoosierMatt]

I struggle with this every season. I have been a huge Titleist fan for a long time and typically play them through the whole bag. I finally broke down last year and played some Ping iBlades and the G400 LST driver after spending time on Trackman and being told my Titleist set up was not the best for my high spin. I hit the Ping set up great, but then found myself filling the bag with all Ping. I have made several switches over the last two seasons but now I'm back to either full blown bag of Titleist or trying to force myself to play a mixed bag of "the best club for each spot/category". Anyone else struggle with this disorder, ha. Or am I hopeless of every breaking the Titleist (Apple like) strong hold on my golf game?

[cgr]

I play a super mixed bag. When I started to play enough to realize I could get to a single digit handicap, I went and got fit, since my off the shelf stuff felt awkward. I took whatever I hit best in every category. At the time, I couldn't drop $500 on a driver, so I kept the Nike Vapor. For everything else, I took my best in each category. 3W ended up being the Taylormade M2 because it performed best. 3 hybrid was a Callaway Apex. Irons were Mizuno because though other clubs were as accurate and decent with distance, every time I switched back to the Mizunos, my shots were back on line. Other irons had a 1-2 shot window where I had to dial back in the accuracy. Wedges I just made match my other newer wedge.

 

tl;dr, I don't think any single set would perform as well as what I found that was the best for me in each category.

[cgr]

As at as breaking the habit... do you want to meet your potential as a golfer, or do you want to have everything match?

[rondre3000]

Cally D, 3w, 22* h, Mizuno 25* h and 6-gw, Ping 55 and 60 wedges with Odyssey putter. Play what works best.

[jvincent]

> @IUHoosierMatt said:

> I struggle with this every season. I have been a huge Titleist fan for a long time and typically play them through the whole bag. I finally broke down last year and played some Ping iBlades and the G400 LST driver after spending time on Trackman and being told my Titleist set up was not the best for my high spin. I hit the Ping set up great, but then found myself filling the bag with all Ping. I have made several switches over the last two seasons but now I'm back to either full blown bag of Titleist or trying to force myself to play a mixed bag of "the best club for each spot/category". Anyone else struggle with this disorder, ha. Or am I hopeless of every breaking the Titleist (Apple like) strong hold on my golf game?

 

It's pretty easy to play a mixed bag if you try.

 

Find a set of irons that you like the look of. Then find a driver/fwy from a different brand that gives you the best performance. Then look for some wedges.

 

After many years of being a Wishon guy Cobra moved into the driver spot for me, then the 4w, then a utility. I added Cleveland wedges last year and just moved to Srixon irons a week or so ago.

 

 

[Yuck]

I have never figured out how to have less than 4 or 5 brands in bag. Current Titleist Driver, TEE 3 metal, Cally 18 degree hybrid, Mizuno Fli hi 21 degree, Ping S55, Vokey, and various brand putters. So currently six brands. (Vokey and Titleist count as one)

[BetterAtBingo]

My best friend suffers from the same issue. I have seem him struggle for years with inferior (for HIS game) equipment. This past season, he broke down and played 3 different brands that better suited him and had one of his most consistence scoring seasons in years. Grind off the name if you need to but play what WORKS!

[jah7838]

I play a TM driver, Cobra 4w, 2 Adams Hybrids, Hogan irons, 2 Cleveland wedges and a Kingston putter. Every brand has some club that I could see myself playing, but there isn’t one brand that I could see myself playing all 14 clubs.

[cardoustie]

Match your shoes, hat and belt ,.. not your brands of golf clubs

[Chadwickog]

I was a single brander for a while until I realized the glory that is having a mixed bag. It also helps that I can’t seem to bring myself to keep any of the major OEMs in my bag lol

[chisag]

... When I was teaching full time I was on staff with Tommy Armour, Wilson and finally Titleist. But I started going to the PGA Show and writing reviews of only what I thought were the best new clubs so I hit everything on Demo Day making the circle twice, the second time narrowing down my favorites. What I found was there was almost always a club that was not on my radar but the combination of performance and look at address just blew me away. That was when I started playing any club that I demo'ed and loved, regardless of what company made it.

[farmer]

Adams driver, TEE fairway, Adams hybrids, Ping G30 irons, Ping wedges, Odyssey putter, and a Ping bag. Assorted balls, (like to try them all) and a Cally glove.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Theres always something Special out there...a Scotty..a wedge..a 4 wood...a shaft....and after 7 or so years they are cheap but still Special!

[tannyhoban]

I've played for over 50 years and not once had a full bag of one brand.

[craz-e]

If I test something and it out performs what I currently have it makes it into the bag, doesn't matter what brand.

[NoTalentLefty]

Yes to the mix. Love Titleist wedges . The rest is up for grabs.

[GolfManCollin]

My TEE CB Pro F2s and vokeys will always throw off me trying to match so I don’t even bother trying

[Swvehaun]

Tried a set of Cobra's after playing Titleist for years and refusing to try anything else. Struck it so well it made me willing to try out anything. Settled on Mizuno irons and hi toe wedges only kept the Titleist woods. Still love the Titleist logos and FJ apparel

[xkilgorextroutx]

Could there be one OEM that, if properly fitted, would work for you from top to bottom? Very possible.

 

Could it be better to try multiple brands to see what works best for your game, your swing, AND your wallet? Almost certainly.

 

Don't get the desire to only play one brand. If you had an amazing customer service experience with them, OK. I can get behind that. However with so many great lines out there, if you're not getting paid for the logo on the clubs or the bag, then why limit yourself?

[Exactice808]

Make your self broke or have kids.....then you face a bunch of challenges.

 

1) Getting wife's approval to buy clubs

2) Kids tuition or a new driver or matching set

3) Dead broke so you only look at used stuff and SPECS of clubs rather then buying clubs sets to make it look good.

 

Titliest Driver

TM Woods

Cobra Irons

Vokey Wedges

Scotty Putter....

 

outside of Vokey and Scotty....they DONT MATCH ....all used clubs.... all from the bargain bin @ Roger dunn...... cant afford anything else....

[shortstop20]

TM woods

Adams hybrids

Mizuno irons

Vokey wedges

Odyssey putter

Srixon ball

 

I'll play everything from the same brand when they start paying me.

[Frisco Kid]

I had an all Titleist bag then switched to an all Ping bag...now playing Taylormade driver, woods and hybrid...switch between Maltby DBMs/Honma irons...Ping wedges...Odyssey putter.

[SammyShaf]

Until a single OEM is cutting you a check to use their clubs exclusively, play what works best. I have always played a mixed bag of clubs. I found clubs that worked best for me and have between 4-5 different brands based on course layout.

[Longballjock]

I was the same boat always played titleist as a junior and through college, but my bag now is crazy mixed ...

Cobra F8 driver

Ping g25 4 wood

Taylormade p790 2iron

Taylormade gapr hi 22.5*

Lynx VT 5-pw

Mizuno s18 51* &57*

Taylormade hi-toe 63*

Nike 001 even flowneck putter

Srixon ball

 

Cant get much more mixed than that , but my golf is back to where it should be.

 

Hit em straight and between the trees

[Kale_m]

Is a company paying you to play all their clubs? No? Then mix it up and play whatever is best for your game

[chal0072]

I don’t see a lot of single brander, but when I see one always Titleist.

[Fried Slice]

I've never had a matched bag but I have played with many good players (single digit to plus HIs) that have a matching bags. Either way you go, just be happy and confident with the way they look when you're addressing the ball.

[JohnKHawk]

I have been trying to make a perfect single brand bag for a few years know. I'm such a club ho that I could actually almost game every major brand in their own bag top to bottom. As much as I would like to accomplish the single brand bag it has never worked out. Right now I'm set up with Ping Driver & fairway, Cobra hybrids, Callaway irons & wedges with a Ping putter. My buddy refers to it as a mutt bag. That same buddy plays a one brand bag to his own detriment. He will have clubs in his bag that clearly do not work for him but they are the correct brand. Obviously his OCD is worse than mine. I draw the line at performance. Yes I would love to have the one brand bag but when push comes to shove I have to play what works best regardless of the name on the club. Of course that won't stop me from chasing this unicorn. That's part of the fun.

[Yuck]

Remember, If you game a single brand bag, you are required to have iron covers.

[rkelso184]

> @IUHoosierMatt said:

> I struggle with this every season. I have been a huge Titleist fan for a long time and typically play them through the whole bag. I finally broke down last year and played some Ping iBlades and the G400 LST driver after spending time on Trackman and being told my Titleist set up was not the best for my high spin. I hit the Ping set up great, but then found myself filling the bag with all Ping. I have made several switches over the last two seasons but now I'm back to either full blown bag of Titleist or trying to force myself to play a mixed bag of "the best club for each spot/category". Anyone else struggle with this disorder, ha. Or am I hopeless of every breaking the Titleist (Apple like) strong hold on my golf game?

 

Sounds exactly like my last year/ early this year bag dilemma. I have rediculous OCD and it always got the better of me. Way I fixed it? Went to a coach/ fitter and we just started at the top and worked our way down. Each time we tried to make the brand name work BUT then would hit alternate brands. Each time he would use trackman and show this is your preference and this is my recommendation. The numbers were to large to ignore. We still matched wedges or fairway woods in models but that was about it. He never pushed one thing and tried to work with my OCD and I feel he done a good job. I'm happy! Now it's

 

Mizuno driver

Pxg woods

Mizuno hybrid

Mizuno irons

TaylorMade wedges

TaylorMade putter

TaylorMade ball glove and bag

 

I still have the OCD issue with ball and glove having to match or shoes and hat etc but with the clubs knowing everything is there for a reason gives you confidence every single time. My handicap is dropping weekly also!