New Stand Bag: Ping Hoofer vs Titleist Players (4 or 5)

[Scooter321]

Hi All. I need to get a new stand bag. I have had my current bag for close to 10 years and it is at the end of its life. I walk/carry and take a cart maybe 50-50 or 60-40% of the time, so want something that works well for both and is comfortable to carry. 

 

I have narrowed it down to either the Ping Hoofer or the Titleist Players either 4 or 5. What have your experiences been with these bags and which do you think is better and why?

 

Thanks in advance.

[chris17]

Very similar situation actually to you.

 

I toyed with the hoofer and players 4 but I think I'm almost certain I'm going for players 4 now (only took 2 weeks to deliberate).

 

Reasoning was I mainly carry and main focus was I wanted something light to my 90s/00s era izzo bag as I get so much fatigue on my shoulders it's unreal. 

 

The players 4 weighs 0.3kg less. I know doesn't sound much.

They seemed to have fixed zip issues by moving to the ykk style.

 

I think the top cuff is better on the titleist. The hoofer style gets such bad feedback for clubs sticking. I've watched alot of YouTubers and noticing ones with hoofers you see them struggling with clubs sticking. 

 

The titleist seems not too. Looking at the style i guess the middle slots the irons will bunch up in corners but still the room looks more. 

 

But again for me it's simply it's lighter. 

 

I tried to research to see if the players 4 can go on a trolley the traditional way so all zips are available. So the stands will be tucked against the trolley but I couldn't find any info.

[Abh159]

Just my opinion, but.... if you're looking for a bag that can last you another 10 years I'd absolutely go with the Hoofer (or Hoofer Lite if you want something a bit lighter).

 

Everyone loves to complain about the club tangle problem with Ping, but it's never been an issue for me. Personally, I think this gets blown wayyyy out of proportion. I walk about 50% of the time and it's so easy just to slide the club in while the bag is vertical as I pick it up to put it on my shoulder.

 

Titleist makes some decent bags, but everyone I know that has had one has only gotten 2 maybe 3 years out of it before it starts to break down. The material they use to make them so light just isn't going to last as long as what Ping uses on the Hoofer/Hoofer Lite.

[Jeff58]

Just my 8 cents or so…

 

Don’t attempt to compromise. It makes too much difference in one’s play to not have a dedicated walking configuration. If you don’t/want two bags, get a hybrid bag and a push cart.
 

Cart bags tend to be round so that they don’t rotate when strapped to the cart. Carry bags tend to be oval/oblong so that they lie flat against your back. They don’t mix well.

 

Two years ago I carried a Hoofer Lite. I don’t ride carts. By the end of the round, I was clearly degraded. By the end of the year, I was getting recurring shoulder and arm numbness. It weighed around 20 lbs. I now use a Sun Mountain 2.5. By removing everything that isn’t absolutely necessary to play, it weighs around 15 lbs. I have no numbness or pain, and scoring at the end of rounds no is no longer degraded.

 

You’re not going to get anywhere near ten years of use out of a light weight carry bag that is consistently strapped to a cart. The material is too light, the shape is wrong, and they have no structural integrity to resist being crushed.

[Streetscape]

Personally, I would recommend the Titleist Hybrid 5. I have carried with it and put it on a cart with no issues, the cart strap tunnel is one of the best features in my opinion.

[Tyler724]

I’m enjoying my Players 5 bag so far. I’m like you, both walk and ride in a cart and I think it is working pretty well for both so far. 
 

Players 5 has a cart strap pass thru, I believe the 4 does not. 
 

To Jeff58’s point above, no idea on what the longevity will look like yet as I’ve only had it for a few months. Although I wasn’t as interested in trying to find a bag based solely on how long it will last. I like to get something new within 3-4 years, so hopefully I will get that out if it.

 

Let me know if there is anything you’d like to know about the Players 5. 

[RobS]

The Players 4 is a nice bag for carrying but it's not nearly as durable as the Hoofer or Hoofer Lite.  My son had one and it lasted only a season.  The divider ripped inside and it looked like a Hoofer would look after about 5 seasons of play.  I think the Hoofer and Hoofer Lite are the gold standards of bags.  I'd personally go with the Hoofer Lite if you're walking half of your rounds.

[Supr3m3]

Whichever you decide, I would check them out in a store in person if you can. I was split between a hoofer lite and the Titleist Hybrid 5. I walk, ride, and carry so I needed a bag that would fit my push cart as well. The way the legs are installed on the Hybrid 5 actually made it so it would not fit my push cart (and actually some of the push carts at the store) since a lot of the push carts these days have a cut out at the top where the legs can kind of slot in. 

 

Without going into the store, I wouldn't be able to test that.

[chris17]

23 hours ago, Supr3m3 said:

Whichever you decide, I would check them out in a store in person if you can. I was split between a hoofer lite and the Titleist Hybrid 5. I walk, ride, and carry so I needed a bag that would fit my push cart as well. The way the legs are installed on the Hybrid 5 actually made it so it would not fit my push cart (and actually some of the push carts at the store) since a lot of the push carts these days have a cut out at the top where the legs can kind of slot in. 

 

Without going into the store, I wouldn't be able to test that.

 

Out of curiosity what bag did you go for?

 

I really don't want to give up carrying. Especially for nights after work doing 9 holes. But for weekend 18 holes need something that eventually will go on a cart. 

 

Superlight is they key. 

 

Looking at specs. Hoofer lite is no where near what I would call lightweight. It's 2.2kg 

[Pepperturbo]

Been a devoted Titleist equipment guy, including Bags, for a long time.  The last few years the quality of Titleist bags has gone down; not sure why.  Returned the last two bags multiple times and said, no more.

 

Anyway, I happen to be in a Pro shop of my favorite course when I saw this eye-candy bag.  I asked the pro who makes it, he said Ping Hoofer, with one Ping logo on the bag, rest were course logos.  Plenty of well-designed pockets, 5.5lbs, cart strap feed, good carry straps.  It was overpriced, but I bought it anyway and happy.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[Supr3m3]

On 5/24/2023 at 3:26 PM, chris17 said:

 

Out of curiosity what bag did you go for?

 

I really don't want to give up carrying. Especially for nights after work doing 9 holes. But for weekend 18 holes need something that eventually will go on a cart. 

 

Superlight is they key. 

 

Looking at specs. Hoofer lite is no where near what I would call lightweight. It's 2.2kg 

I did get the Hoofer lite. It's definitely not the lightest bag on the market, but it's a lighter version of the Hoofer. The new Taylormade Flextech Lites have gotten good reviews, may be worth checking that out.

[Ripken08]

On 5/24/2023 at 4:26 PM, chris17 said:

 

Out of curiosity what bag did you go for?

 

I really don't want to give up carrying. Especially for nights after work doing 9 holes. But for weekend 18 holes need something that eventually will go on a cart. 

 

Superlight is they key. 

 

Looking at specs. Hoofer lite is no where near what I would call lightweight. It's 2.2kg 

Being light isn't the only issue.  Hoofer lite and hoofers carry effortlessly so don't go by weight alone.  They are more comfortable than many of the "lighter" SM bags.

[tleader]

Long time Sun Mountain user, 4.5 and recently 3.5

 

Tried the Titleist 5, and Hoofer Lite.

 

Hoofer line up is solid. Material and zippers felt higher quality (to me) than others and the club tangle issue is overblown. 

[payerasjl]

I have both in my current rotation, and I will be sticking with ping hoofer from now on. 
the players carbon is great but have had a couple of quality control issues and I feel like this hoofer is built like a tank 

[Frank_Kasule]

I have a Titleist Players 4+ which I bought in February 2021 and its ripping where it comes into contact with my lower back.

I've always had Titleist stand bags and tbh there's always some minor problem but they look so good. 

Next time I'm going to try a different brand, could well be a hoofer as they have such a good rep. 

[ParadiseGolf]

I like bags that can stand upright for space saving purposes. Nikes are solid with this. The two hoofers I have tip over way too easily (14 and Tour). The tour surprised me. You’d think it’d be able to stay up but no. Hinge design. 

 

My Titleist Players 4 has a small base (tips over unless I add footing) but lighter

 

Not on your list but Nike straps have elastic cords and air that cushion your shoulders. I recommend checking them out for comfort

[getair23]

On 5/29/2023 at 5:26 AM, Frank_Kasule said:

I have a Titleist Players 4+ which I bought in February 2021 and its ripping where it comes into contact with my lower back.

I've always had Titleist stand bags and tbh there's always some minor problem but they look so good. 

Next time I'm going to try a different brand, could well be a hoofer as they have such a good rep. 

I just had the exact same experience with the carbon 4 bag.  Titleist was kind enough to replace it even after the 1 year warranty.  It is lighter than my ping bags, but could easily go back to the hoofer.

 

My biggest issue with the Players Carbon 4 is the drink holder.  

[Scooter321]

Saw them in person today, going to move ahead with Hoofer. Even though Titleist is lighter, Hoofer feels more durable, the straps are MUCH more comfortable and so is the padding on the back, so feels like a more comfortable carry. Plus the top on the Titleist feels a lot more compact and tighter.

[Nixhex524]

I had a logo-less Players 4+ in play for a while.  I loved this bag for a lot of reasons... great storage, good drink holder, range finder pocket was easily accessible, no club tangle, looks great, light weight... BUT... pulling out a hybrid one round and theres a plastic piece at the base where the fabric dividers connect... the whole thing came disconnected from the base.  I knew it was only a matter of time as the bag feels weak on material.  Sad to see it end but I now have a Hoofer Lite and it is tough to beat.  Very durable.  My only concern is if I should have gone with the Hoofer instead for a little more room, but the HL is not disappointing.  Hard to say anything bad about it.