Every golfer knows the importance of testing equipment and getting fit for the right equipment. This is especially important for players on Tour to get “dialed in” to their equipment so they know their distances and how their golf ball will react. Jason Dufner, the 2013 PGA Champion, is no different. Dufner’s persona might lead some people to believe that his equipment testing sessions would be informal and very laid back where he would hit a few balls and give a “feeling” feedback are in for a big surprise. Jason Dufner is actually maniacally analytical – a facts and figures statistician who uses numbers to find out what equipment is best for him. The above video shows his testing routine for the Titleist Pro V1 2009 versus 2013 golf ball.
Dufner carries a notepad with him to his equipment testing sessions where he writes down an array of figures, with special attention paid to launch angle, spin rate, peak height and landing angle. If his swing is off, he’ll hit balls and fix the problem with his swing before continuing with the testing to ensure the data he collects isn’t compromised. His testing routine is very simple – he starts with pitching wedge and works his way up the bag, hitting three to five balls with each model and then averaging the numbers. Differences in spin and compression, as well as cover hardness and dimple patterns are all information that Dufner collects. After collecting all the data, Dufner “normalizes” the numbers to take the elements (wind, temperature, humidity, etc.) out of the equation to reach a standard set of data – how he does this, we don’t know!
“In high school and college, I had no idea what I was doing with equipment,” Dufner says. “I went by feel, or if it looked good or felt good. Now I prefer data because it tells me what is actually happening. The launch monitor doesn’t lie.” See below to find out all the equipment Dufner used to win the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club!
DRIVER: Titleist 910D2 (9.5°) with a Mitsubishi Diamana ‘ahina 60 X shaft
FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist 913F (13.5°) with an Aldila VS Proto 70 X shaft and 913F.d (18°) with a Mitsubishi Diamana ‘ilima 80 X
HYBRID: Titleist 913H (19°) with a Project X PXI 6.5 shaft
IRONS: Titleist 714 AP2 (4-PW) with a Project X PXI 6.5 shafts
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM4 (54°) and Titleist Vokey Design TVD K Grind (60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner shafts
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Circa 62 No. 6 prototype
BALL: Titleist Pro V1
Source: Golf Digest, Golf.com
