Ever wonder what’s in the bag of one of golf's most consistent and respected players? Steve Stricker’s equipment setup offers a fantastic lesson for golfers of all levels, proving that sticking with what works is often more valuable than chasing the latest technology. This article will give you a full breakdown of the clubs and gear Steve Stricker trusts on the PGA Tour Champions and see what practical lessons you can apply to your own game.
Who is Steve Stricker and Why Does His Equipment Matter?
Steve Stricker isn't just another tour professional, he's a living legend whose career is a testament to longevity, precision, and an unbelievably smooth tempo. Known for one of the most envied putting strokes in the game and a short game that can only be described as surgical, Stricker has built a stellar career by mastering the fundamentals. He’s a winner on both the PGA TOUR and the PGA Tour Champions, a Ryder Cup stalwart, and a respected Cup Captain.
So, why is his "What's in the Bag" (WITB) so compelling? Because unlike many pros who swap out equipment annually, Stricker is famously loyal to his clubs. His bag is a carefully curated collection of modern tech and trusted old favorites. It’s a perfect example that demonstrates a vital lesson for every amateur golfer: find what works for you and build confidence with it. His setup isn’t about playing the newest gear, it’s about playing the *right* gear for his game. Let's take a look inside.
Steve Stricker's 2024 Golf Bag: A Complete Breakdown
Driver
What He Plays: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft He Uses: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X-Flex
Stricker currently has the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver in the bag. The "Triple Diamond" models are typically designed for elite players who want to reduce spin and prefer a more compact, traditional look at address. It's a low-spin bomber for players who consistently find the center of the face.
However, the real story here is the shaft. The Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X is a classic shaft that has been around for many years. Stricker has trusted this model across different driver heads, proving an essential point: the engine of the golf club is the shaft. While driver head technology changes rapidly, finding a shaft profile that matches your swing tempo, speed, and feel is golden. Once you find it, you can often use it for years.
What You Can Learn:
- The Shaft is King: Don't underestimate the importance of a proper shaft fitting. The head gets the hype, but the shaft dictates feel, launch, and spin. If you find a shaft that feels perfect, don't be afraid to stick with it, even when you upgrade the head.
- Familiarity Breeds Confidence: Stricker knows exactly how this driver combination will perform under pressure because he's used it for so long. The confidence this brings is more valuable than a few extra yards promised by a brand-new model.
Fairway Woods & Hybrids
What He Plays: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 3-wood (13.5 degrees), TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft He Uses: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX (in 3-wood)
Stricker’s setup at the top of the bag is all about filling specific distance gaps. He carries a powerful 3-wood and a versatile hybrid, and notably, they are from different manufacturers. His Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero is another club that has been in his bag for a while. It’s a lower-spinning head that allows him to hit piercing shots off the tee or attack par-5s in two.
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue shows his pragmatism. He recognized a yardage gap between his 3-wood and his longest iron and filled it with the club that performed best, regardless of brand. This particular hybrid model also features an adjustable hosel, allowing him to fine-tune the loft and ball flight to his preference.
What You Can Learn:
- Smart Gapping is Everything: Don't just carry a standard set of woods. Know your distances. Do you have a big gap between your driver and 3-wood? Or between your longest iron and fairway wood? A hybrid or a higher-lofted fairway wood could be the most valuable club in your bag.
- Don't Be Afraid to Mix & Match: Your loyalty should be to performance, not one specific brand. Test different clubs for each slot in your bag and choose the one that gives you the best results.
Irons
What He Plays: Callaway Apex CF16 (4-iron), Callaway Apex TCB '(5-PW)
Shaft He Uses: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Here we see a perfect example of a modern "combo set," a strategy many club golfers should consider. Stricker uses a Callaway Apex CF16 for his 4-iron. The CF16 is a forged "cavity back" iron known for being exceptionally soft-feeling while offering a good deal of forgiveness. This gives him a bit of extra help with consistency and launch at the top end of his iron set, where it’s needed most.
From the 5-iron down to the pitching wedge, he transitions into the Callaway Apex TCB irons. "TCB" stands for "Tour Cavity Back," and these are designed with direct feedback from tour pros. They are more compact than the CF16, with less offset, offering maximum workability and trajectory control for dialed-in approach shots. He has these paired with the timeless True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, a heavy and stable profile trusted by strong players for decades.
What You Can Learn:
- Consider a Combo Set: Most amateurs can benefit from more forgiving long irons and more precise, blade-like short irons. This setup gives you confidence where you need it and scoring precision where it counts.
- Play What Suits Your Eye: The thinner topline and reduced offset of a player's iron like the Apex TCB can inspire confidence for better ball strikers. Find an iron shape that you feel good looking down at.
Wedges
What He Plays: Callaway Jaws Raw (54 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-T)
Shaft He Uses: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
As one of the world's best short-game players, Stricker's wedge selection is highly personalized. He blends a 54-degree gap wedge from Callaway with a highly specialized 60-degree lob wedge from Titleist's WedgeWorks program. This shows he isn't just playing off-the-rack wedges, he is picking the exact combination of loft, bounce, and grind that serves his needs.
The "T-grind" on his 60-degree Vokey is a low-bounce option with significant relief in the heel, toe, and trailing edge. This grind is perfect for firm conditions and players (like Stricker) with a shallow angle of attack. It allows him to open the face and slide the leading edge under the ball without the back of the club "bouncing" off the turf. Interestingly, he uses a slightly softer S400 shaft in his wedges compared to the X100 in his irons to maximize feel and feedback around the greens.
What You Can Learn:
- Get Fitted for Your Wedges (Especially the Grind): The "grind" is the shaping of the sole of the wedge and has a huge impact on how the club interacts with the turf. A good fitter can match you with a grind that fits your swing (shallow or steep) and the typical course conditions you play (soft or firm).
- Shaft matters here, too: Many players benefit from a slightly different, often softer, shaft in their wedges to enhance feel on delicate shots. It’s worth experimenting.
Putter
What He Plays: Odyssey White Hot Versa #2
Grip He Uses: Odyssey Midsize Pistol
If Steve Stricker is known for one club, it’s this one. He has used a version of the Odyssey #2 blade-style putter with its iconic White Hot insert for the better part of two decades. It is synonymous with his name and success. The White Hot insert is legendary for its soft, responsive feel, and the heel-toe weighting of the #2 model suits a putting stroke with a slight arc.
The #2 model here also features "Versa" technology - the distinct black-and-white alignment stripes. This high-contrast look is designed to help a player's eyes and brain more easily see if the putter face is square to the target line, a simple but effective visual aid.
What You Can Learn:
- Find a Putter You Love and Never Let it Go: Putting is all about confidence. If you find a putter that feels good, looks good, and helps you roll the ball on your line, cling to it. Don't feel pressured to switch just because something new comes out.
- Feel Trumps All: You have to love the way the ball comes off the face. Test different inserts and face milling patterns to find what gives you the best distance control and feedback.
Final Thoughts
Steve Stricker’s bag is a masterclass in practicality, personalization, and playing with confidence. It proves that awesome golf isn't about having the absolute newest equipment, but about having the right equipment for your swing, your eye, and your strategy. His loyalty to trusted models shows us that consistency and feel often outweigh the latest marketing claims.
Building that same confidence in your own equipment strategy and on-course decisions is an essential step to playing better golf. I've found that one a great way to build this personalized knowledge is by using a tool like Caddie AI. The app can function as your personal caddie and coach, helping you understand your yardage gaps, offering smart club recommendations based on live conditions, and even giving you tailored advice for tricky shots on the course. It allows you to make smarter, more confident decisions, just like a seasoned pro.