What’s in my golf bag
Over the last few years I’ve been gradually updating my clubs, and I’m now in a place where I’m genuinely happy with what’s in my golf bag. Here’s the full setup — every club, why it’s there, and where I had it fitted.
This is a real club golfer’s setup, not a tour bag. What’s in my golf bag has been built up gradually through fittings, trial and error, and occasional happy accidents — and most of it was bought from sources I’d recommend to anyone.
Driver
Callaway Rogue ST Max — 9°
I got fitted for this at Silvermere Golf Store in July 2022. I’d been playing the Callaway XR, which was fine, but the numbers on the launch monitor told a clear story — the Rogue ST Max was a significant step up. It’s a forgiving club, and when I’m swinging well I’m getting good carry and distance — though I still work on consistency with swing trainers and speed training at home.
Fairway Woods & Rescue
Callaway Rogue ST Max 5 Wood & 7 Wood | Callaway Rogue Max OS 4 Rescue
The 5 and 7 woods replaced a TaylorMade M2 3 wood and TaylorMade M1 3 rescue that I never quite clicked with. They could go well when struck properly, but the mis-hit rate was too high. After the driver fitting at Silvermere, the pro at Clandon Regis took me over to Callaway’s fitting centre in Chessington, and I came away with both woods after a really productive session.
I don’t use them every round, but they earn their place — particularly when the wind is up, on shorter holes from the yellows where the driver brings trouble into play, and in four-club competitions.
The rescue came a year or so later. My trusty Yonex Z Force 4 Rescue had done its time, so I went back to Silvermere to find the Rogue equivalent. They only had the Max OS in stock — a quick try on the range confirmed the numbers were better than the Yonex, so that was that.
Irons
Callaway AI Smoke — 5 iron through to PW
I’d been playing TaylorMade M6 irons since early 2020 and wasn’t unhappy with them, but in early 2024 I started looking at whether I could do better. Clandon Regis had a small studio where the pro could run fittings using TrackMan, so I booked a session.
What happened next was a happy accident. The pro attached a slightly longer-than-standard shaft to the Callaway AI Smokes, and I was carrying the 7 iron noticeably further than the M6 — and further than anything else we tried. At 5ft 6ins, a longer shaft isn’t the conventional recommendation, but the data was clear. When we switched back to the standard shaft the numbers dropped off. The longer shaft went in, and I haven’t looked back.
Wedges
Callaway AI Smoke Gap Wedge — 50° adjusted to 48°
The pitching wedge in the AI Smoke set sits at 42°, so the gap wedge was bent to 48° to keep the gapping consistent. It bridges the distance between the PW and the Sand Wedge without leaving a hole in the middle of the bag.
Titleist SM Vokey 10 — 54°
This replaced my SM Vokey 7 54°, which had taken a battering. The Vokey 54 is the workhorse of the short game — bunkers, pitching and chipping around the green. The SM10 is a noticeable improvement in feel and spin compared to the worn-out SM7.
Titleist SM Vokey 7 — 60°
Still in good condition and not going anywhere yet. I use it for wet bunkers, flop shots, and chipping off tight lies. The 60° is a specialist club but when you need it, you really need it.
Putter
Cobra King Sport 45
This was my first ever putter fitting, which took place at American Golf. I’d been using an Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball for years, but the quick, sloping greens at Clandon Regis were making me question whether it was the right fit. I’d never warmed to blade putters, but the fitting process is revealing — the data pointed clearly to the Cobra King Sport, and I’ve not looked back.
I’ve kept the thick grip. I putt with my right hand below my left, which helps keep the wrists quieter through the stroke — something the thick grip reinforces. For drills at home I use a few of the putting training aids reviewed on this site.
Balls
TaylorMade TP5
I’d be lying if I said I could feel the difference between every ball on the market, but I prefer playing a premium ball and the TP5 is what I’ve settled on. That said, I picked up some Callaway CXR balls over the winter and they were perfectly decent for the conditions — if you’re looking for a more affordable option for the colder months, they’re worth considering.
A note on what’s in my golf bag and why it matters
Every club in here earned its place through a fitting or genuine on-course experience. I’m not paid to play any of these brands, and the older, discontinued models (the Rogue ST Max line in particular) are still in the bag because they work — not because they’re the latest thing. If you’re thinking about an equipment change, a proper fitting at somewhere like Silvermere or your own club’s pro shop is worth more than any blog post or YouTube review, this one included.