Ever watch Shane Lowry pure an iron shot, trapping the ball with that unmistakable thud, and wonder what kind of clubs are in his hands? You're not alone. The 2019 Open Champion is renowned for his superb ball-striking and creative touch, making his equipment choices a frequent topic of conversation among golfers. This guide will provide a full breakdown of an up-to-date Shane Lowry "What's In The Bag" and, more importantly, explain the strategy behind each choice and what lessons you can apply to your own game.
Shane Lowry’s Winning Philosophy: Feel and Control
Before anything else, it's important to understand Shane Lowry's guiding principle: feel. Unlike many players chasing every yard off the tee, Lowry's set is defined by clubs that offer him feedback, control, and workability. His powerful rotational swing, powered by the shoulders and hips, generates plenty of speed. His equipment is selected to harness that power and turn it into precision.
He's not afraid to mix brands or keep an older, trusted club in the bag if it feels right. That's because he understands something every golfer should: confidence matters more than any marketing claim. For Lowry, confidence comes from knowing exactly how the ball will react off the clubface.
Shane Lowry: What's In The Bag (2024)
Shane's bag is a perfect example of a modern player's approach: blending enough forgiveness at the top end with clubs that offer surgical precision when it counts. Let's break it down, club by club.
Driver:
Club: Srixon ZX5 MK II (9.5 degrees) - Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 70 TX
While many golfers gravitate towards the smaller, less forgiving profiles of drivers, Lowry opts for the Srixon ZX5 MK II. This model is Srixon's more player-friendly offering, boasting a bigger footprint and more stability on off-center shots compared to the ZX7. The shaft choice is equally elegant. The Diamana is a classic low-launch, low-spin shaft designed for players with fast swing speeds who tend to overspin the ball. It acts as a controller for Lowry's powerful move, allowing him to unleash off the tee without fear of the ball going too long or taking on too much sidespin.
Fairway Woods:
3-Wood and 5-Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (14°, 19°)
The biggest surprise for many looking at Lowry's bag is his decision to play Srixon for irons and TaylorMade for woods. This highlights his 'feel everything' philosophy. The TaylorMade heads provide him with the best combination of speed, launch, and versatility. The Stealth 2 Plus wood has an adjustable weighting system that allows players to dial in their ball flight, either to promote a draw, a fade, or just to find a neutral setting. Playing both the 3 and 5-woods shows how much he values having options between clubs for long approach shots and as a secondary driver alternative on tighter par-fours.
Irons:
Set: Srixon ZX5 MK II (4-iron, 5-iron) - Srixon ZX7 MK II (6-iron - Pitching Wedge)
This is where Lowry's bag really begins to shine. He plays a combo set, a particularly popular strategy not just for pros but for smart amateurs as well. The Srixon ZX5 is more of a game improvement-style iron with a thicker topline and more perimeter weighting, designed to be easier to launch and more forgiving on longer iron shots. Scoring Irons (6-iron - PW) - He uses the Srixon ZX7 MK II heads. These are more compact, blade-like clubs that offer maximum feel and control of trajectory.
Wedges:
- Models: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack (50°, 54°, 58°)
The "Tour Rack" designation is significant. This means they're raw, unplated wedges that will rust over time. That rust actually increases friction between the face and the ball, resulting in higher spin rates, especially on partial shots and out of the rough. The raw finish also reduces glare on sunny days, a preference for many pros.
Putter:
- Model: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Golf Ball:
Model: Srixon Z-Star Diamond
Key Takeaways for Your Game from Lowry’s Bag
- Forgiveness is a Driver’s Best Friend: Even the world's best ball strikers use drivers like the ZX5 MK II and long irons designed for forgiveness. Do not let your ego choose your club. An honest assessment of what you need is always better than chasing what the pros use.
- Feel is Personal, Not Prescribed: Lowry mixes brands and styles without hesitation because that's what feels best for his game. Be open to trying outside your usual brand. You might be surprised by what you find.
- The Shaft is the Engine: You'll notice that Lowry uses extremely stiff and stable shafts to match his powerful swing. The biggest mistake most amateurs make is not getting fitted for proper shafts. It's not about spending a fortune, it’s about matching weight, flex, and kick point to your swing tempo to deliver the clubhead more consistently.
- Your Scoring Clubs are Your Saviors: His precision where it matters most, from the pitching wedge to the lob wedge, shows he's willing to trade a bit of forgiveness for harder-to-hit longer shots in return for maximum control on the scoring shots. This indicates that you should place emphasis on the clubs you use from 150 yards and in.
Shane Lowry's bag is a great reminder that the best equipment setup isn't just about the newest or latest. It's about a deeper understanding of what your swing needs and finding the tools to complement it. His choices of blending forgiveness and precision reflect a mature, confident approach that any golfer can learn from. Of course, figuring out how these lessons apply to your own bag can be a challenge, but you don't have to do it alone. We at Caddie AI, offer a powerful tool to help you make smarter decisions on the course. Imagine you're stuck between clubs for an approach shot, and you have a handy little note to steer you right. With our app, you can keep on top of your game in an instant, with expert advice on how to handle any situation. It's like having your own personal coach on the course, helping you to think more like the pros and choose the right club for the job at hand.