What’s in my bag – Equipment
Mark Soltau
Tiger Woods
`I like learning about equipment.’
A lot of people acted like it was a big deal when I changed my irons in September at the WGC-American Express Championship. It really wasn’t. Sure, there was a lot involved in deciding to make the change. But because I don’t make changes lightly and because of how involved I was in the development of my new irons, it wasn’t that big a leap for me to put the clubs into play. I worked with Tom Stites and the people at Nike to get my new irons the way I wanted them. I like learning about equipment. When you’re testing new clubs, there’s trial and error–you make progress, you go backward–but that’s how you learn. I knew the clubs were good when I was hitting them at home, so I went out there with full confidence that they would perform in a tournament. I won’t say I expected to shoot a 65 in my first competitive round and end up winning the tournament, but I wasn’t surprised. If you prepare properly and get a set of irons the way you like them, you’d better play as well as or even better than before. Otherwise, why change?
DRIVER
Nike Forged Titanium. I improved my accuracy by cutting down my steel shaft to 4311/42 inches before the NEC Invitational. I was able to draw the ball without reducing my clubhead speed. I changed to a graphite shaft late in the year, but I kept the length at 4311/42 inches.
PUTTER
Scotty Cameron by Titleist, Studio Stainless, Newport 2, standard loft and lie, 35 inches long. I played my first competitive round with it at the ’99 Byron Nelson and haven’t switched. It’s like the Ping Anser 2 I used when I was a kid.
3-WOOD
Titleist Pro Trajectory, 15 degrees. I love hitting knockdown tee shots with this club. The head’s come loose three times this year, so I’ve gone to my backup.
IRONS
Nike Forged, 2-PW, 1 degree upright with a D-4 swingweight. I use standard-size Tour Velvet grips. The shaft on every club is a True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 steel. I haven’t changed my set makeup since I was 14, which was the last time I carried a 1-iron.
WEDGES
Titleist Vokey Design, 58 degrees (bent to 56) and 60 degrees. I almost always use my 60-degree wedge from greenside bunkers. I get a new one three or four times a year because I wear out the bounce angle.
IRONED OUT
Though similar to my old Titleist irons, the new Nike irons are a little more square. The biggest difference is the overall balance and consistency.
HEADS UP
My mom gives me a new Tiger headcover for my driver every year with the words “Love, from Mom” in Thai embroidered on the top.
TOUGH GLOVE
My hands sweat a lot, so I carry 10 Nike Dri-Fit Tour gloves for every round. It’s not unusual for me to go through six in a round.
BETTER BALL
Nike Tour Accuracy TW (only 1s with TIGER on them). I control the spin and trajectory of a solid-core ball better than a wound ball. I’ll switch balls after I scuff one, usually after a shot with my 60-degree wedge.
BETTER BALL
Nike Tour Accuracy TW (only 1s with TIGER on them). I control the spin and trajectory of a solid-core ball better than a wound ball. I’ll switch balls after I scuff one, usually after a shot with my 60-degree wedge.
My yardage (carry)
WOODS
Driver: 285
3-wood: 265
IRONS
2-iron: 245
3-iron: 230
4-iron: 220
5-iron: 208
6-iron: 190
7-iron: 172
8-iron: 158
9-iron: 142
PW: 128
SW: 106
LW: 92
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