Ever wonder if the clubs in an LPGA Tour pro's bag are the same as what you can buy off the shelf? The short answer is yes, but with some very important differences. This article breaks down the exact brands and models the best female golfers in the world are using today. More importantly, we’ll look at how their setups are customized and what practical lessons you can apply to your own game.
Dispelling the "Women's Clubs" Myth
First, let's clear up a common misunderstanding. LPGA Tour professionals are not playing with the boxed sets labeled "women's clubs" you might find at a big-box store. Those sets are designed for beginners or players with slower swing speeds, featuring lighter components and more flexible shafts.
Instead, LPGA pros use the exact same high-performance clubheads as their PGA Tour counterparts. A PING driver head used by Brooke Henderson is the same model technology that a male tour pro might use. A TaylorMade iron used by Nelly Korda comes from the same line as those used by PGA Tour pros. The difference isn't in the model of the clubhead, it's in the meticulous custom fitting and component selection.
Their clubs are built piece by piece by master club fitters to match their unique swings. This involves dialing in:
- Shafts: They often use shafts that are lighter and slightly softer than what many men on the PGA Tour use, but typically much stiffer than a standard "ladies" flex shaft. Regular or stiff flex shafts are very common.
- Length and Lie Angle: Every club is built to a precise length and lie angle to promote a consistent setup and solid contact.
- Lofts and Gapping: Lofts are adjusted to create perfect distance gaps between each club in the bag, especially in the scoring clubs (wedges and short irons).
Thinking that they use "women's clubs" is a disservice to their athletic ability. These are elite athletes choosing the absolute best equipment on the market and having it fine-tuned for their high-level performance.
Who Makes the Clubs for the LPGA's Best?
Just like on the men's tour, a handful of major manufacturers dominate the equipment landscape on the LPGA Tour. While there is a wide variety of gear out there, players tend to gravitate towards the brands with the biggest research and development budgets and the most robust tour support teams. Here’s a general look at the most popular brands you'll see on any given Sunday.
The Main Players
- Callaway/Odyssey: A powerhouse on the LPGA, Callaway consistently has a large number of players using their drivers, fairway woods, irons, and Odyssey putters. Players like Minjee Lee and reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Yuka Saso trust their equipment.
- PING: Known for their engineering and forgiveness, PING has a long history of success on the LPGA tour. Major champions like Brooke Henderson are longtime PING loyalists, often using a full bag from driver to putter.
- TaylorMade: Home to perhaps the biggest star in the women's game, Nelly Korda, TaylorMade has aggressive made inroads on tour. Their drivers and woods are especially popular amongst players seeking distance.
- Titleist/Vokey/Scotty Cameron: The #1 ball in golf is also the #1 ball on the LPGA Tour by a huge margin. Beyond the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, Titleist drivers and irons are tour staples, their Vokey wedges are the benchmark for short game control, and Scotty Cameron putters are common sights in the winner's circle.
- Mizuno: While perhaps not as widespread as the other "big 4", Mizuno holds a special place, particularly for its irons. Known for their incredible feel, plenty of elite ball-strikers on the LPGA will play Mizuno irons even if they have endorsement deals for other parts of their bag.
A Look Inside the Bags of LPGA Stars
Theory is one thing, but let's get specific. Seeing the exact setups of the world's best players shows how they mix and match brands and models to optimize performance. Note that these setups can change week to week based on course conditions!
What's in Nelly Korda's Bag?
As one of TaylorMade's highest-profile athletes, Nelly's bag is a showcase of their latest technology. She is a phenomenal ball-striker who relies on equipment that gives her both power and a high level of workability.
- Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10.5 degrees)
- Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi10 (15.0 and 21.0 degrees)
- Hybrid: PING G425 (26 degrees)
- Irons: TaylorMade P770 (5 iron), TaylorMade P7MC (6-PW)
- Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (50, 54 degrees), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58 degrees)
- Putter: Scotty Cameron Super Select Squareback 2 SSS Prototype
- Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
What to notice: Nelly uses what's called a blended or combo set of irons. A more forgiving P770 5-iron for higher launch on longer shots, transitioning into the more player-focused P7MC models in the shorter irons for precision. Also interesting is her choice of a non-sponsored PING hybrid, proving that even staff players will use what works best for them.
What's in Minjee Lee's Bag?
Minjee Lee is a Callaway staffer with one of the purest swings in golf. Her equipment is chosen for consistency and feel, allowing her surgical precision to shine.
- Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
- Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (15 degrees)
- Hybrids: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (18, 21 degrees)
- Irons: Callaway Apex CB '24 (5-PW)
- Wedges: Callaway JAWS Raw (50, 54, 58 degrees)
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-ONE Milled Three T CH
- Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
What to notice: Lee carries two hybrids instead of additional fairway woods or long irons. This is a common strategy on the LPGA Tour to achieve higher launching, softer landing shots into long par-4s and par-5s, a strategy many amateurs could benefit from adopting.
Key Equipment Strategies You Can Learn from the LPGA
Watching these players is about more than just seeing what's new. Their equipment choices reveal smart strategies that any golfer can use to build a better bag.
1. Embrace the Hybrid
Look at the WITB lists above. Hybrids are everywhere. For golfers who don't generate elite PGA Tour-level speed, a 3, 4, or even 5-iron can be difficult to launch high enough to stop quickly on a green. LPGA pros understand this perfectly. They replace those hard-to-hit long irons with easier-to-launch hybrids that fly higher and land softer. If your long iron shots tend to come in low and run through the green, swapping them for a hybrid could be a game-changer.
2. The Power of a Blended Iron Set
Nelly Korda's setup is a perfect example. A more forgiving, cavity-back style iron in the longer clubs (4, 5, 6-iron) helps get the ball airborne with more forgiveness on slight mishits. A more compact, blade-style head in the shorter scoring clubs (8, 9, PW) offers a premium feel and precise distance control. Most major manufacturers now offer their iron families in models that can be easily blended together. You get the best of both worlds: help where you need it and control where you want it.
3. Custom Fitting is Not a Luxury
This is the most important lesson. LPGA pros don't have magical abilities that make their stock clubs work better, their clubs are built precisely for their swings. You might not have a tour van following you around, but a professional club fitting is accessible to everyone.
A good fitter will analyze your swing speed, launch angle, and spin rate to find the right head and, most importantly, the right shaft for you. The difference between a properly fitted driver and an off-the-rack one can be 15-20 yards and a significantly tighter dispersion. It is the single fastest way to buy a better game.
4. Know Your Gaps
Pro golfers know their exact carry distance with every single club. They build their set makeup, specifically their hybrids and wedges, to cover specific yardage windows without leaving any large gaps. Take a look at your own bag. Is there a big difference, say 20-25 yards, between two of your clubs? That's a "gap" an opponent can exploit. Having clubs precisely spaced in loft (often 4 degrees between irons and wedges) ensures you always have the right club for the shot in your hands.
Final Thoughts
In short, LPGA players use the very best equipment that all the major brands offer. They play the same models as the men on tour, forgoing "women's sets" in favor of component heads that are then expertly custom-built with carefully selected shafts and specifications to fit their powerful, athletic swings.
Making tour-level decisions about equipment and strategy can feel intimidating, but that’s precisely where we want to give you an edge. With Caddie AI, you get instant, expert advice right on your phone for every shot you face. If you're stuck between a hybrid and a fairway anapproach shot, or faced with an intimidating tee shot, you can ask for a recommendation based on the yardage and conditions. For a really difficult shot from a tricky lie, you can even snap a photo of your ball, and our AI will suggest the smartest and safest way to play it, helping you make confident swings just like the pros.