Ever watch Tony Finau launch a golf ball and wonder how he generates so much effortless power? A big part of his game is his one-of-a-kind swing, but the other half of the equation lies in the meticulously chosen tools he uses to execute it. This article breaks down every single club in Tony Finau’s bag, explaining not just what he plays, but why these specific clubs are a perfect match for his world-class game.
Before we look at the hardware, we have to understand the player. Tony Finau is an exceptional athlete who could have played professional basketball. That athleticism translates into incredible clubhead speed. What makes him so interesting is that he generates this world-class power with a a notoriously short, compact, and abbreviated backswing. Many coaches might have tried to "fix" this and lengthen his swing, but Tony has embraced it, proving that there isn't one perfect way to swing a golf club.
His motion is powerful, efficient, and rotary. Because he's so strong and generates speed so quickly in a short amount of space, he needs equipment that can keep up. His club selection is not about finding more distance - he has plenty of that - but about controlling that distance and spin. His bag is a masterclass in blending precision tools with just the right amount of forgiveness to support his powerful, aggressive style of play. Understanding this makes his equipment choices make so much more sense.
Tony's bag is a fascinating mix of the latest technology and some old, trusted companions. It shows he isn't just playing what his sponsors pay him to play, he's playing what gives him the most confidence on the course. Here’s a club-by-club look at what's in the bag for Tony Finau.
At the top of the bag, Tony wields the powerful Ping G430 LST driver. The "LST" stands for Low Spin Technology, which is the key piece of the puzzle here. Players with incredibly high swing speeds, like Tony, generate a lot of backspin naturally. Too much spin can cause the ball to "balloon" up into the air, losing distance and control, especially into the wind. The G430 LST head is engineered with a more forward center of gravity to specifically reduce spin and produce a more penetrating ball flight.
The 9-degree head, likely adjusted even lower, helps him launch the ball in an optimal window. He pairs this with a very stout, tour-level Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft. The "TX" stands for Tour X-Stiff, which is an extremely rigid profile designed to prevent twisting and keep the clubface square for players who swing at max horsepower. It’s a combination built for one thing: turning his raw speed into controlled, low-spin power.
Your Coaching Takeaway: You might not swing like Tony, but the principle applies. If you have a decent amount of clubhead speed (over 100 mph) and see your drives climbing too high and dropping out of the sky, testing a low-spin driver head could be a revelation. You might find you gain significant yardage and control just by optimizing your spin rate.
While long affiliated with Ping, Finau recently put a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond T 3-wood in the bag. This tells you he is all about performance over brand loyalty. The "Triple Diamond" models from Callaway are traditionally their most compact, "player-focused" heads. They are typically lower-spinning and feature a deeper face, making them a preferred option for better players off the tee. The smaller profile also enhances workability, allowing players like Tony to shape shots - a high fade or a low draw - on command.
This club serves two distinct purposes for him. It's a "fairway finder" off the tee on tight par 4s where a driver might bring trouble into play, but it's also his primary weapon for attacking par 5s in two. The power to get home from 280+ yards requires a club that is both hot off the face and supremely controllable, which is exactly why this tour-proven head earned a spot in his bag.
Your Coaching Takeaway: Many amateurs fear the 3-wood, especially off the deck. If this is you, don't feel like you need a compact tour head. You may benefit greatly from a larger, more forgiving standard model or even a higher-lofted 5-wood. A club that gives you confidence is one you’ll hit well. Finding the right fairway wood for your game can turn long, intimidating holes into real birdie opportunities.
This is arguably the most interesting part of Finau's bag. He uses a "combo" or "split set" of irons, and the crown jewel is his trusty Nike Vapor Fly Pro 3-iron. Nike stopped making clubs years ago, but Tony continues to hang on to this one. Why? Because it works perfectly for him. The Vapor Fly Pro had a hollow-body construction, which makes it perform almost like a hybrid. It's incredibly forgiving for a 3-iron, launches higher, and lands softer than a traditional blade-style long iron would - perfect for long approaches into firm greens.
From the 4-iron through the pitching wedge, he transitions into a modern player’s muscle-back iron, the Ping Blueprint S. These irons are forged and designed for maximum feel and control, allowing him to manufacture any shot shape or trajectory he needs. They provide the control and feedback great players want on their scoring shots. What's clever about the Blueprint S model is that it incorporates a small amount of forgiveness with its pocket-cavity design, making it slightly easier to hit than a pure blade.
This split set is the epitome of smart course management built right into the equipment. He has forgiveness where he needs it most (at the long end of the bag) and precision where it's most valuable (in the scoring clubs).
Your Coaching Takeaway: A combo set isn't exclusivity for pros! This is one of the smartest and easiest adjustments any amateur can make. Do you love your short irons but struggle with your 4- and 5-iron? Swap them out or a more forgiving cavity-back model or even a hybrid. No rule says your whole set has to match. Customize your bag to mask your weaknesses and highlight your strengths.
Once he’s inside 140 yards, Tony relies on a mix of precisely gapped wedges. He uses a 50-degree Ping Glide Forged Pro to bridge the gap perfectly between his pitching wedge and his more specialized wedges. Below that, he turns to the most popular wedges on tour: the Titleist Vokey SM10s, in both 56 and 60 degrees of loft.
For pros, wedges aren't just about loft, they're about grind and bounce. These specs determine how the sole of the club interacts with the turf. A player like Tony, who has a relatively shallow angle of attack, will use grinds that sit flush to the ground and allow him to open the face for delicate flop shots or close it down for low, flighted spinners. He tests different combinations depending on the course conditions - firmer conditions might call for less bounce, while softer turf requires more bounce to prevent digging.
Your Coaching Takeaway: Knowing your wedge yardages is one of the fastest routes to lower scores. Instead of guessing between two clubs, take the time to learn your carry distance for a full, half, and three-quarter swing with each wedge. This eliminates indecision and lets you swing with confidence on those critical scoring shots.
The club that seals the deal for Tony is a custom Ping PLD Anser 2D Prototype. "PLD" stands for Putting Lab Design, Ping’s tour program where putters are milled to the exact specifications of the best players in the world. While it appears to be a classic Anser blade, the "2D" designation means it has a deeper flange - wider from front to back - adding a little bit more stability and MOI (Moment of Inertia) than a traditional Anser 2.
This is essentially a blade putter with a touch of a mallet’s forgiveness. It provides the great looks and feel of a classic blade that many great putters prefer, but with modern stability that helps it resist twisting on slight mishits. Paired with a classic Lamkin Pistol-style grip, this is a setup built for a pure, confident stroke under pressure.
Your Coaching Takeaway: Don't just choose a putter that looks cool or that your favorite pro uses. Experiment with different head shapes - blades, mid-mallets, and mallets - to find what best suits your arcing or straight-back-and-through stroke. The right putter is the one that frames the ball well to your eye and feels stable through impact.
The Titleist Pro V1 is the gold standard for a reason. Tony uses it for its consistent performance from tee to green. It offers a perfect blend of high speed and low spin off the driver, while still providing the immensecontrol and soft feel needed for iron approaches and greenside shots. The ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every single shot, so finding a consistent, reliable model is fundamental.
As you can see, Tony Finau’s bag is not just a random collection of high-end clubs. It’s a carefully curated system of tools, blending the latest low-spin driver tech with an iconic long iron from a defunct brand, all designed to complement his powerful and unique swing.
Perfecting your own bag can feel overwhelming, but understanding your own tendencies is the first step. That’s where we come in. Rather than just guessing which club to pull or what shot to hit, you can get instant, on-demand advice from Caddie AI. By analyzing the situation on the course, we can suggest a smart strategy for the hole or even give you a club recommendation between shots, helping you play with more confidence and clarity every time you tee it up.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
