Tour Equipment - Worth the Hype?

Good morning, beloved congregation of the fairway. As we gather on this Monday, the dawn bathes the course in golden light, and the grass shimmers with morning dew. Golf, like life, is a profound teacher, revealing truths through each swing and every wayward ball. We stand at the tee, hearts full of intention, yet the game, in its wisdom, often leads us astray into the rough or the bunker’s embrace.

Consider this: each shot is a moment of divine renewal. The past, whether a triumphant birdie or a humbling bogey, holds no sway over the present. Golf demands our presence, our patience when the wind opposes, our humility when the putt falters, and our courage to swing boldly despite setbacks. It mirrors the eternal rhythm of grace, where every challenge is an invitation to grow.

As we embark on this week, let us reflect on our next stroke, in golf or in life. What wisdom will it impart? How will it refine us? Stand firm, breathe deeply, and swing with purpose. The fairway beckons, a canvas of opportunity. May we walk it with faith and resolve. Amen.

A note from the desk of BTG - This is the article that was teased in last weeks newsletter. The author is a current mini-tour pro who also has an autist-level knowledge of golf equipment. He will impart his knowledge here and in following articles (Every other Monday or so). Enjoy.

Dear BTG readers,

Welcome to my first article on equipment. I am a new columnist to the newsletter but excited to codify my expertise here. This first column will explore what “tour issued” means, and why it exists in the first place.

A little background on me, I am a young professional golfer who has had access to some of the best builders in the world, by way of sitting on PGA TOUR trucks the Monday before TOUR-sanctioned events. I’ve picked the brains of some of the smartest people in golf, including the legendary Mike Taylor, owner of Artisan golf and famously known to be Tiger Woods’ “club guru.” 

Tour Issued or Tour Only means the following:

In the manufacturing process, each piece of equipment has a tolerance set upon it. If you go to your local golf galaxy and bring a gram scale and a protractor (yes I’m a giant golf dork sue me), you’d be dumbfounded at the discrepancy that exists from one club head to another.

Some driver heads would weigh in at 193g others would weigh in closer to 205g. Heads that were marketed as 9 degrees of loft could be 8 or 10.5 degrees without any adjustments from the standard setting.

That is a MASSIVE change in weight and static loft. T

The clubs on the tour trucks; however, have very tight tolerance in head-weight and loft or can be adjusted with special methods like hot melt or perimeter weighting to fit the best players in the world to exactly their preferences. The tour issued heads also tend to have thicker faces than clubs that are sold off the rack, as pros hit more golf balls than the average player, and also have to adhere to driver testings at random (sorry Rory.)  

But are the clubs that are Tour issued better?

The only true difference in the heads that you see on the truck versus off the rack is the consistency head to head. You can still find good clubs and good equipment for your game in the real world, you just have to know how to find it. (Stay tuned for the next article).

As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed my normally long, flowing swing has begun to shorten. To combat this, I’ve been stretching a bit more frequently and working on a few drills to get my shoulders turning fully. I stumbled upon this one which has been relatively useful to feel a good solid shoulder turn.

The embedded ball rule, outlined in Rule 16.3 of the USGA Rules, addresses situations where a player's ball becomes lodged in its own pitch mark in the general area of the course. This niche rule allows free relief if the ball is embedded in the ground, but only in areas like fairways or rough, not in bunkers or penalty areas. To qualify, the ball must be stuck in its own impact crater, typically after a high shot. Players can lift, clean, and drop the ball within one club-length of the spot directly behind the original position, no closer to the hole, without penalty. This rule ensures fairness when ground conditions affect play, but it requires careful judgment to confirm the ball is truly embedded, avoiding misuse in soft or muddy conditions.

Let’s make 100 three-footers in a row this week. Set up shop on a quiet part of the putting green, bring 5 balls with you, and make 20 sets of those 5 in a row. Harder than you think!

My intention with BowtiedGolf is to grow it as the elite clubs do — through referrals.

If you’ve improved your look, laughed a little bit, or learned something because of this newsletter… why keep it to yourself?