Hey Team Titleist!
The days are getting longer. The azaleas are blooming. And the world’s best are gathered in Augusta, Ga.
The Masters is here.
This week, tucked alongside Washington Road just steps from Magnolia Lane, sits the Titleist tour truck where our team has been on-site making sure players are dialed in for Augusta National. From new grips, to loft and lie checks, to new Vokey Design T grinds, fresh grooves and custom stamping – step inside the Titleist tour truck to see how our team prepares the world’s best as they compete for a Green Jacket.
First things first. If it’s the Monday of a Major, we can expect a visit from Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay and the bag of Justin Thomas. This time, for a loft and lie check on JT’s 621.JT prototype irons and a grip change on his Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Nuckle Neck tour prototype.
Entering the Masters with a win and five top-10 finishes in 2023, Max Homa arrives at Augusta in search of his first Major title. So far this season, Homa is 3rd on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Total, and 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach.
What will Max be gaming this week? His caddie, Joe Greiner, visited the Titleist tour truck to give us the caddie POV on Max's setup. Spoiler: Hang around until the end to see what Joe has in the bag, too.
Joe’s favorite club in Max’s bag? The 7-wood, which Homa added to his setup at Torrey Pines in 2021. This time, he brings a TSR2 21.0° with a Fujikura Ventus Red TR 8 X-Flex to give him some added loft into the firm greens at Augusta.
“This is for sure my favorite club in his bag,” said Greiner. “Anytime he gets to hit it or it’s a perfect number I get excited. It’s really good for long rough because it has a lot of loft. Anywhere from 235 to 255 from the fairway, this is a huge club for us.”
Also adding a 7-wood to the bag this week is 2022 Asia-Pacific Champion and Masters debutant Harrison Crowe.
“I got the Titleist guys to fit one up for me just to take over there and try out,” Crowe said. “I really like it... really like it. I’m not a naturally high ball flighter and I think coming into some of those greens you definitely need to be coming in with some height.”
The grind quite literally never stops for Vokey Wedges’ own Aaron Dill. Augusta National's firm and fast setup, even with the looming threat of cold, wet weather on the weekend, has many players making the choice between a T grind and low bounce K grind when it comes to their lob wedge.
“It’s always important to have plenty of spin around this golf course,” said Dill. “It tends to be on the firmer side regardless of the weather patterns. The way this golf course is setup and the technology this golf course has; they can dry out the golf course in a hurry.”
Let’s start with the wedges Jordan Spieth is gaming this week.
Jordan has his Vokey Design Wedges in a familiar setup, gaming an SM9 46.10F, 52.08F and 56.10S in addition to his trusted WedgeWorks 60 T grind.
“We’ve got a 60 T, which is a low bounce four-degree option that’s fairly thin.” said Dill. “The emphasis is on the trailing edge being very very low. This wedge allows you to open up the face, it sits very close, and it makes you feel like I can slide this thing under any ball or any scenario or lie I get into.”
Will Zalatoris will also be trusting the low bounce WedgeWorks 60 T grind this week, preferring the versatility the wedge gives him.
“It lays super close to the ground,” said Zalatoris. “I’m able to lay it open, I’m able to trap it, hit it low, put a bunch of spin on it, it’s really versatile for me.”
Another favorite this week is the K grind. So, what’s the difference between these low bounce options?
Both grinds are considered low bounce wedges but achieve low bounce with unique sole designs. The T Grind features an aggressive heel, toe, and trailing edge grind with the bounce focused towards the leading edge, whereas the WW Low Bounce K Grind features a very wide, highly cambered (rounded) sole similar to the SM9 K Grind with the bounce spread across the entire sole.
“The six-degree K, this is also a low bounce option,” said Dill. “Where this wedge is really good is in a bunker. If you get into a golf course scenario where bunker play is extremely important, if you’re gonna be in a lot of bunkers, if you feel like the lips are really tall and you need to create lift and stopping power this is a great option.”
One player mulling over the decision between T and K? Justin Thomas. He typically travels with both lob wedge options in the bag, making a game-time decision depending on course conditions. Hear from Aaron on why:
With plenty of storylines to tune into this week, be sure to follow along on our social channels to keep up with everything #TeamTitleist at the Masters.