Guides

Compiled by Rory Hansen. How we count

Each guide counts what players were reported using in the past twelve months and ranks it, with the report behind every name. Nothing here is a reviewer's pick.

1. DriversBest golf drivers of 2026: what tour pros playThe driver each tour player was last reported using this past year. Different lofts and versions of one model are counted together, so two Qi4D heads make one Qi4D.
2. Long & utility ironsBest driving irons of 2026: what pros carryHow many tour players make room for a driving or utility iron, and which ones they choose. A player with both a 2-iron and a 3-utility counts toward each model.
3. IronsBest irons of 2026: what tour pros playThe iron set each tour player was last reported using, from muscle-back blades to players' cavity backs. Long irons and utility irons have their own guide.
4. WedgesBest wedges of 2026: what tour pros useWhich wedges tour players carry. Most carry three or four of the same model, so a player counts once per model however many lofts are in the bag.
5. PuttersBest putters of 2026: what tour pros usePutters are grouped here by line. Nearly every putter in play on tour is a one-off prototype, so a Phantom 5 and a Phantom 11 both count toward Phantom.
6. Golf ballsBest golf balls of 2026: what tour pros playThe ball each tour player was last reported playing over the past twelve months. Someone who changed ball counts once, for the one they play now.
7. Pro V1 vs Pro V1x: which do tour pros play?Titleist's two tour balls, compared by how many players use each today. Left Dot, Double Dot and other versions count toward the ball they are built on.
8. ShaftsBest driver shafts of 2026 on tourThe shaft in each tour player's current driver. A shaft only counts here when the report places it in the driver; one listed without its club is left out rather than guessed.
9. Best iron shafts of 2026 on tourThe shaft in each tour player's current irons, grouped by line. Flex and weight are the same shaft here: an X100 and an S400 both count as Dynamic Gold.
10. GripsBest golf grips of 2026: what tour pros useGrips on tour players' clubs and putters, ranked by how many players use each model. Putter grips are included, which is why SuperStroke ranks so high.
11. ShoesWhat golf shoes do tour pros wear?What tour players were last reported wearing on their feet. Shoes are reported far less often than clubs, so the brand split is the firmer answer and the model list a snapshot.