Ever wonder what powerhouse clubs Patrick Reed uses to hit those big shots under pressure? Known as Captain America for his Ryder Cup passion, Reed's game is built on a foundation of raw power, incredible short-game touch, and unwavering self-belief. This article will go through his complete bag, from a unique driver choice to his trusted putter. More importantly, we'll look at the why behind his selections and provide some coaching advice on what you, the average golfer, can learn from his equipment philosophy.
The best AI golf app: Caddie is your personal AI golf coach. Get expert-level golf advice instantly, 24/7 to help you play like a pro. Try it free →
Patrick Reed’s Equipment Philosophy: A Mix of Old and New
Unlike many tour professionals who are locked into lucrative contracts with a single manufacturer, Patrick Reed is a true free agent when it comes to his equipment. His bag is a fascinating collection of clubs from different brands, a style often referred to by gearheads as a "mixed bag." This approach says a lot about him as a player: he's a pure performance-based tinkerer.
Reed doesn't play a club because of the logo on its head. He plays a club because it works for him - because it flies the number he wants, feels the way he needs, and delivers under the most intense pressure. Over the years, he's rotated clubs from major players like Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade, but he's also known for playing lesser-known or older models simply because he trusts them.
Coaching Takeaway: This is perhaps the greatest lesson any amateur golfer can learn from Reed's setup. Don't be swayed by marketing or what your friends are playing. The best set of clubs for you is the one that gives you the most confidence and produces the best results. Be your own tinkerer! Test different brands and models, and don't be afraid to build a bag that looks a little unconventional if it helps you shoot lower scores. Learning how to choose the right golf clubs is essential for any player looking to improve their game.
Get pro-level golf advice instantly, 24/7
Ask Caddie anything. From “what club should I use?” to “how do I play this shot?” and get instant answers.
Patrick Reed's current "What's In The Bag" (WITB) is a perfect example of his mix-and-match philosophy. It combines high-end, custom-designed irons with off-the-rack woods and wedges that have proven their worth over time. Let's break it down.
Driver: Grindworks PROTO (9.5 degrees)
This is probably the most interesting club in Reed's bag. Instead of a major manufacturer, he plays a driver from Grindworks, a high-end Japanese golf equipment company known for precision manufacturing and quality materials. This choice underscores his commitment to finding the absolute perfect fit for his game, even if it means using a brand many casual fans have never heard of.
He pairs this head with an Aldila Rogue Silver 125 M.S.I. 70TX shaft. The "TX" stands for Tour Extra Stiff, meaning this is a very stout shaft designed to handle the incredible forces Reed generates with his powerful swing. It helps him minimize spin and dispersion, leading to more control off the tee.
Coaching Takeaway: You are not Patrick Reed - and that’s okay! Most amateurs would struggle mightily with a shaft this stiff. The key is to get fitted. A fitter can match your swing speed and tempo to the right head and shaft combination. A shaft that's too stiff will feel harsh and likely cause you to lose distance and leak shots to the right (for a right-handed golfer). The right shaft can absolutely transform your driving. Understanding what is golf club fitting is crucial for optimizing your equipment.
Fairway Wood: Callaway Rogue ST LS (15 degrees)
For his 3-wood, Reed sticks with a more familiar name: the Callaway Rogue ST LS. The "LS" stands for Low Spin, a common preference among high-speed players looking to hit penetrating fairway-finders. This has been a mainstay in his bag for a while, showing that when he finds something he trusts, he sticks with it.
The shaft is a heavier version of his driver shaft, the Aldila Rogue Silver 125 M.S.I. 80TX. Using a similar shaft profile in his driver and 3-wood helps maintain a consistent feel between his two longest clubs.
Coaching Takeaway: Your 3-wood needs to be one of the most versatile clubs in your bag, useful both off the tee and from the turf. Find a model that inspires confidence when you set it down behind the ball. For many amateurs, a standard or slightly more forgiving model (not the low-spin version) will be easier to launch from the fairway.
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (20 degrees)
Long gone are the days when tour pros sneered at hybrids. Reed carries a 20-degree Callaway Apex Pro hybrid, a club that bridges the gap between his fairway wood and his longest iron. The Apex Pro line tilts more towards a "player's" look and feel - less bulky than some game-improvement models with a more compact head that allows for better workability.
Coaching Takeaway: If you struggle to consistently hit your 3-, 4-, or even 5-iron high enough to hold a green, a hybrid is your best friend. They are far more forgiving than long irons due to their lower center of gravity, which helps get the ball in the air easily from various lies. Understanding what are hybrid clubs used for in golf can significantly benefit your game.
Irons: Grindworks Patrick Reed Forged (4-PW)
Here's where Reed's "have it your way" philosophy is most evident. He plays a set of custom-made prototype irons from Grindworks, designed specifically to his visual and performance preferences. These are forged blades - or perhaps a very minimal cavity-back - crafted to give him the ultimate in feel, feedback, and shot-shaping ability. When you see him flight a low draw or a high fade into a tucked pin, these are the tools he's using to do it.
They are shafted with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100s, a heavyweight steel shaft that is arguably the most successful and popular choice on Tour for decades.
Coaching Takeaway: Blade-style irons look beautiful, but they are the least forgiving option available. A mishit will lose significant distance and feel harsh. It's vital to be honest with yourself about your ball-striking. Most amateur golfers will benefit enormously from playing a more forgiving game-improvement or player's-cavity iron that offers help on off-center strikes.
When it comes to the scoring clubs, Reed turns to the undisputed master of wedge design: Titleist's Vokey. His setup includes an older SM9 model for his gap wedge and the newest SM10 models for his sand and lob wedges. This shows that while he values the latest tech, he isn't afraid to stick with an older model if he prefers the feel and turf interaction.
Notice the lofts: 51, 57, and 61 degrees. This creates gaps of 6 and 4 degrees. This precise and slightly unusual gapping ensures he has a specific club for every "in-between" yardage inside 120 yards. Each wedge also has a specific sole grind - the shape of the bottom of the club - that is honed to match his steep angle of attack and the course conditions he typically faces.
Coaching Takeaway: Pay attention to your wedge gapping! Far too many amateurs have a huge 8-10 degree gap between their pitching wedge and their sand wedge, which creates awkward, full-power swings on partial shots. A good rule of thumb is 4-6 degrees of loft between each wedge. Also, learn about sole grinds. A wider sole (higher "bounce") is great for soft sand and players who dig, while a narrower sole (lower "bounce") is better for firm conditions and players who sweep the ball.
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro 3
Patrick Reed has made countless clutch putts with his trusty Odyssey White Hot Pro 3 blade putter. This is an older, off-the-rack model that has been in and out of his bag for years. It features a simple design and the legendary White Hot insert, famous for its soft feel and pure roll.
Coaching Takeaway: Putting is all about feel and confidence. Reed's choice proves you don’t need the latest, most expensive "mallet of the month" to be a great putter. If you have an old putter that you trust, stick with it! Finding a flat stick that matches your stroke and looks good to your eye is far more important than any marketing claim.
Plan every shot like a pro
Describe your situation and Caddie AI helps you pick your target, shot shape, and club with confidence.
To round out his setup, Reed plays the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball. It's the gold standard on tour, offering a superb combination of distance off the tee, high spin with wedges, and soft feel around the greens. His grips are the Golf Pride Tour Velvet, a simple and effective rubber grip that has been a PGA Tour favorite for years. It provides a consistent feel in all weather conditions.
Coaching Takeaway: Playing a consistent, high-quality golf ball is one of the easiest ways to improve your scoring. Different balls spin and fly differently. Pick one model and stick with it. Secondly, don't neglect your grips! They are your only connection to the club. If they are worn, slick, or cracked, you will unconsciously squeeze tighter, creating tension and ruining your feel. Replacing them once a year is a cheap and simple "game-improvement" upgrade. For more tips on maintenance, learn how to clean golf grips effectively.
Play Golf like a Pro with Caddie
Learn and improve your golf game as you play. Get pro-level tips, strategy and guidance anytime.
Patrick Reed's bag is a masterclass in personalized performance. From niche Japanese brands to trusted tour classics, every club is there for a reason: because it helps him score. His setup serves as a powerful reminder that equipment is a tool, and the goal is to build a toolkit that gives you confidence in every situation.
While selecting the right clubs is vital, making shrewder decisions on the course is what truly lowers your handicap. For those moments when you're stuck between clubs or face a perplexing lie, Caddie AI acts as your on-demand course expert. Our app provides instant, tour-level strategy for any situation, removing the guesswork so you can commit to every swing and manage your game with renewed confidence. Improving your golf swing speed can also lead to significant gains in your game.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
Other posts you might like
What Are the Dots on a Golf Ball Called?
The tiny dots covering a golf ball’s surface are called <strong>dimples</strong>. Far from being a simple stylistic choice, they are a masterpiece of aerodynamic engineering designed for a single purpose: to help you hit the ball farther and straighter. This article will explain the fascinating science behind how dimples work, why a smooth golf ball would be a disaster for your game, and what this all means for your choices on and off the course.
A hooded golf shot is a powerful, low-flying punch that can be your best friend in a challenging headwind or your get-out-of-jail-free card from under a tree. Mastering this shot gives you a versatile weapon for handling tough course conditions and difficult lies. This article will show you exactly what a hooded shot is, when to use it, and provide a clear, step-by-step guide to adding this game-saver to your skills.
Your grip is the only connection you have with the golf club, and its size can have a profound impact on every single shot you hit. Getting it right can promote a square clubface at impact, while getting it wrong can force compensations that lead to frustrating hooks and slices. This guide will walk you through the different standard grip sizes, show you why finding your fit is so important, and give you a simple, do-it-yourself method to find your perfect size.
Trying to find the best Pinnacle golf ball isn’t about picking just one winner, it's about matching the right ball to your specific game. This guide will walk you through the entire Pinnacle lineup, explain the strengths of each model, and give you a simple framework to confidently choose the perfect ball for your swing.
Deciding between an overlap and interlock grip is one of a golfer's foundational choices, and it has a bigger impact on your swing than you might think. Getting this one connection point to the club right can lead to more consistency, better feel, and even a little more power. This article will break down exactly how each grip works, the pros and cons of both, and give you a simple process to figure out which one is the perfect fit for your game.
PXG clubs, with their distinctive look and premium price point, often spark an immediate question from golfers: who exactly are these clubs for? In this article, we’ll move beyond the marketing and break down the technology inside PXG clubs, identify the specific types of golfers who play them, and help you figure out if they might be a match for your own game.
