Annika Sörenstam, a name synonymous with golfing greatness, uses a strategic and carefully selected set of golf clubs to maintain her legendary precision. This article provides a complete breakdown of Annika’s current equipment for 2024, from her driver to her putter. We'll examine the specific models she trusts and, more importantly, offer insights into *why* these clubs suit her game, providing you with practical lessons for your own bag.
Annika's Philosophy: Precision over Power
Before we list the hardware, it's essential to understand Annika's approach to the game. Winning 72 LPGA Tour events and 10 major championships wasn't achieved through sheer brute force. Annika built her hall-of-fame career on a foundation of relentless accuracy, strategic course management, and a swing so repeatable it looked like it was engineered in a lab. Her rhythm is famously smooth, and she has always prioritized finding the fairway and hitting the middle of the green.
Her return to competitive golf in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and other professional events hasn’t changed this philosophy. Her equipment choices reflect a desire for consistency, feel, and predictable performance. As you look at her bag, notice how each club is designed to complement her tempo and support her goal of hitting a specific number, time and time again. This mindset is perhaps the most valuable lesson you can take from one of the greatest to ever play.
Annika Sörenstam’s 2024 Golf Clubs (WITB)
Annika has been a long-time staff player for Callaway Golf. Her bag is filled with their latest technology, custom-fitted to her swing. Here’s a detailed look at the tools of her trade.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke MAX
Loft: 10.5 degrees
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 R-Flex
Annika’s driver showcases a perfect blend of modern forgiveness and classic control. The Paradym Ai Smoke MAX driver is designed with an AI-engineered face that maximizes ball speed and forgiveness across a larger area. For a player like Annika, who consistently finds the sweet spot, this technology acts as a safety net, ensuring that even slight mishits fly straighter and nearly as long as perfectly struck shots.
Her choice of a 10.5-degree loft is common for players seeking a balance of optimal launch and lower spin for maximum carry and roll. It’s the Fujikura Ventus Blue R-Flex shaft, however, that really tells the story. The "Blue" profile is known for its smooth feel and mid-launch characteristics. Using an R-Flex (Regular) shaft is also revealing. Annika doesn't rely on overpowering the ball, her swing is rhythm-based. A stiff or extra-stiff shaft would feel harsh and could rob her of feel. The R-Flex allows her to load the shaft properly with her smooth tempo, transferring maximum energy without sacrificing control. It's a prime example of matching the shaft's "engine" to the golfer's swing.
Fairway Woods: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke MAX
Clubs: 3-wood (15 degrees), 5-wood (18 degrees), 7-wood (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 R-Flex
Annika carries three fairway woods, which is becoming increasingly popular among both pros and amateurs. Why? It's all about versatility and gapping. A 3-wood serves as a secondary option off the tee on tight par 4s and is her go-to for reaching long par 5s in two.
The 5-wood and 7-wood are where she gains a significant advantage. These clubs are more forgiving and easier to launch high than long irons. A 5-wood bridging the gap between a 3-wood and her longest hybrid is standard, but the addition of a 7-wood is a masterstroke in course management. A 7-wood is a fantastic utility club. It's easy to hit from the rough, offers a high trajectory that stops quickly on greens, and fills a crucial yardage gap that might otherwise exist between her 5-wood and her first hybrid. By carrying matching shafts across her driver and fairway woods, she ensures a consistent feel and performance from all of her longest clubs.
Hybrid: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke
Club: 4-Hybrid (24 degrees)
Shaft: KBS Tour-V 60
Annika replaces what would traditionally be a 4-iron with a modern hybrid. This is a choice that countless golfers should emulate. Hybrids have a wider sole and a lower, deeper center of gravity than a comparable iron. The benefit is simple: it makes it much easier to get the ball airborne, especially from imperfect lies. It launches higher, travels a similar distance to the iron it replaces, but lands much more softly, giving her more stopping power on approach shots into greens.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrid continues the theme of forgiveness and predictable distance. It’s her trusty club for long par 3s or for navigating a precise distance on a second shot. Switching to a KBS Tour-V steel shaft in her hybrid helps create a more iron-like feel and trajectory, preventing the ball from ballooning too high, which can sometimes happen with graphite shafts in hybrids.
Irons: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke
Clubs: 5-iron through Pitching Wedge (PW)
Shafts: SteelFiber FC 70 F3
Annika uses the standard Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke irons. These clubs are a fantastic representation of the modern "player's distance" category. They have a shape that looks clean and compact at address, which appeals to a skilled ball-striker. At the same time, they are packed with technology designed to increase ball speed and forgiveness.
The key here is the shaft choice: Aerotech SteelFiber FC 70. SteelFiber shafts are a high-tech composite material, blending the stability and consistency of steel with the lightweight properties and vibration-dampening qualities of graphite. This is perfect for a player who wants to maintain control without putting unnecessary stress on their body. The lighter weight can help maintain clubhead speed throughout the round, while the steel core provides the stability and tight dispersion Annika demands. This iron-and-shaft combination is built for one thing: hitting greens consistently.
Wedges: Callaway JAWS Raw
Lofts: 50°, 56°, 60°
Shafts: Varies
A legend’s short game is often their greatest weapon, and Annika’s wedge setup is all business. Carrying three specialized wedges allows her to control every distance inside 120 yards and handle any greenside situation.
- 50° Wedge: This is her "gap" wedge. It fills the yardage gap between her pitching wedge (around 45°) and her sand wedge. It’s mainly used for full shots where she needs to hit a precise number that’s too long for a sand wedge but too short for a PW.
- 56° Wedge: This is her primary sand wedge. An absolute workhorse, it's used for bunker shots, mid-range pitches, and longer shots out of the rough around the green. The 56° is arguably the most versatile wedge in the bag.
- 60° Wedge: This is her lob wedge. Reserved for the most delicate shots requiring maximum height and spin - think short-sided bunker shots or flops over a hazard. It has the highest loft, allowing her to get the ball up quickly and stop it dead.
Using Callaway JAWS Raw wedges gives her maximum spin and control. The "Raw" finish means the face is un-plated, so it rusts over time. This roughness helps grab the cover of the ball, imparting more spin for better control on chips and pitches.
Putter: Odyssey Ai-ONE Milled #7 T CH
Annika uses a modern classic: the #7 "fang" model from Odyssey. This head shape has been trusted by professional golfers for years because of its stability and excellent alignment properties. The two "fangs" extending from the back increase the Moment of Inertia (MOI), which means the putter head is less likely to twist on off-center hits. This makes it incredibly forgiving and helps the ball roll true, even when the strike isn't perfect.
The "Ai-ONE" insert is Odyssey's latest innovation, designed to normalize ball speeds across the entire face, leading to much better distance control on your putts. Her specific model also features a crank hosel (CH), which provides a moderate amount of toe-hang, suiting a putting stroke with a slight arc. It’s a sophisticated tool for a golfer who makes her living on the greens.
Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Great striking is only part of the equation, the golf ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every single shot. Annika plays the Callaway Chrome Tour X. This is a premium, multi-layer, urethane-covered golf ball designed for high performance. The "X" version is slightly firmer and offers lower spin off the driver for players with higher swing speeds seeking maximum distance, while still providing exceptional spin and control around the greens. It delivers the perfect combination of tour-level distance and an excellent, soft feel on iron and wedge shots.
Applying Annika’s Wisdom to Your Game
You probably shouldn’t run out and buy Annika’s a full bag of clubs. However, you can absolutely borrow from her philosophy when building your own set.
- Prioritize Gapping: Look at the top of her bag - three fairway woods and a hybrid. She has eliminated any big yardage gaps. Do you know exactly how far you hit each club? Are there situations where you're "between clubs"? Consider adding a 7-wood or another hybrid to make your set more versatile.
- Match Shafts to Your Tempo: Annika doesn't use the stiffest shafts available, she uses shafts that match her smooth swing. Many amateurs default to "stiff" shafts because they think it means "better." In reality, a shaft that’s too stiff for your swing will rob you of distance and feel. Be honest about your swing speed and tempo.
- Embrace Hybrids: If a 10-time major champion has largely sworn off long irons, you probably should, too. Replacing your 3, 4, or even 5-iron with a corresponding hybrid will almost certainly make the game easier and more enjoyable. They are simply more forgiving and easier to launch from a variety of lies.
- Pick a Putter that Inspires Confidence: Annika’s mallet putter is all about stability and alignment. Find a putter that makes you feel like you can't miss. Whether it's a blade or a mallet, a line or a dot, find what helps you line up squarely and make a confident stroke.
Final Thoughts
Annika Sörenstam's golf bag is a masterclass in purpose-built equipment choices, favoring precision, gapping, and feel. Her Callaway clubs are tailored to her smooth-tempo swing, reinforcing the idea that the right equipment is what best complements your game, not just what's newest or most powerful.
Understanding *why* a pro like Annika uses certain clubs is a great first step. When you’re trying to apply that same strategic thinking to your own course management, our app, Caddie AI, can act as your personal gear and strategy expert. If you’re stuck between your 5-hybrid and 6-iron for a tricky approach shot, or unsure of the right play a from a tough lie, you can get an instant recommendation, helping you make smarter, more confident decisions like a professional.