2024 – Some New Faces, Some Old Friends
Last year, I did a WITB feature [find it HERE] because of the unprecedented amount of changes in my bag. Despite taking a measure of pride in keeping my bag consistent, 2024 saw even more changes than 2023, so here we are again. A number of things have stayed the same, but there are nine new clubs in play, so let’s dive in.
Note: This post is accurate at the date of publication. Changes will continue to be made. I keep my WITB up to date HERE
The Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Driver
PXG won the driver spot last year, and they retained it with the new Black Ops driver [review HERE]. It’s a bigger profile than the 0311 GEN6 that I played last year, but Black Ops has better ball speed and more forgiveness. Once I got the weighting dialed in, making this change was an easy choice.
One thing about the driver set up did not change: the shaft. The Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Pro White continues to be the absolute best thing going for my swing [review HERE].
The Fairway Wood: PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairway Wood
The fact that I’m consistently carrying a fairway wood might be the biggest change to my bag this year. There have been FWs over the years that I’ve thought about bagging, but the Black Ops [review HERE] is so forgiving and easy to hit that it got me over the hump. My fitter put me into a 17 degree head, which I hit just as far as the 15 degree but with a softer landing angle. The shaft is a Mitsubishi Diamana S Limited, which helps to keep the ball in front of me.
The Hybrid: PXG 0311 XF GEN6 Hybrid
This is the first carryover from 2023. Everything that impressed me during my fitting and review [details HERE] has remained true – this club is long, easy to hit, and I love the ability to put some fade bias into it with the adjustable weights. Like my driver, this hybrid is shafted with a Mitsubishi TENSEI White shaft, which gives me a great combination of feel and control.
Generally, I don’t play courses that require me to carry a hybrid and a fairway wood, so I’ll typically carry one or the other, depending on my mood and how the clubs performed in the last range session.
The Irons: PXG 0317 T Irons
The majority of my bag turnover comes from switching to the PXG 0317 T irons [review HERE]. The PING Blueprints fought off more forgiving challengers for several years, but these irons are simply too good. The lofts are fairly traditional, they look and feel great, and they’re built for consistency over distance. These are a few yards longer than my Blueprints, but the reason for the change was the forgiveness: the 0317 T makes my “off” days a lot more enjoyable.
Just as with the driver, I changed the head but not the shaft. This set was built with PURE’d Nippon Modus 115 shafts [review HERE].
The Wedges: Edison 2.0
My Edison 2.0 wedges were never in danger of losing their spot in my bag. These remain the best wedges I’ve ever played [review HERE]. There are a lot of things I love about them, but the number one thing is how they don’t care if I practice or not. In my first rounds of the year, these wedges are helping me to get up and down like I was grinding all winter. If you haven’t tried Edison, you’re really missing out.
These wedges have the same Nippon Modus 115 shafts as my irons.
The Putter: SWAG Handsome Too
I flirt with a broomstick and a traditional mallet, but when I need to head to the course, this is the putter I pick up. This is my favorite putter shape, and I think this is the best version of it that exists [full review HERE]. One day this putter will be relegated to a backup role, but today is not that day.
The Ball: PXG Xtreme
The PXG Xtreme golf ball does everything I need it to – goes long off the tee, spins into the greens, and feels great – at a cost that’s below almost every comparable ball [full review HERE]. As someone who is constantly beating the drum for more accessibility in golf, how could I play anything else?
Technology – Shot Scope V5 & Pro ZR Rangefinder
Shot Scope made two non-club changes to my bag this year with their latest rangefinder and shot tracking watch. The Shot Scope V5 [review HERE] has the same tech as the X5, but I find the old school buttons to be a better fit than the touchscreen for my large fingers. Shot Scope’s Pro ZR rangefinder [review HERE] is super easy to use with dedicated buttons for each function, and its durability is unbeatable.
The Bag: Koger Sunday Bag
This is the perfect Sunday bag [full review HERE]. It’s light, but the material is incredibly durable. It has just enough structure to make it easy to slide clubs in and out. There’s enough storage for the necessities and nothing more. Carrying this bag makes me happy, which is the single best reason to have any piece of gear in your kit.
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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15 Comments
Let’s see, the only thing we have in common, probably due to your speed and lower hc, is the Koger Sunday Bag ( have the larger one). Its 2 lbs will fend off rain and the single strap stays on your shoulder. No bells or whistles, just a great walk.
I thought PXG would eventually get its driver and fairway wood game together. I had the original hybrid and thought it was their best first gen club. You’re a PXG/Edison player. I am a Ping/Artisan Wedge player.
You indicated that you pured all your modus 115 iron shafts.
Does your set consist of irregular logo orientation on the irons? Or are they generally all the same logo orientation?
Thanks
Glen,
The logos are not all aligned with the PURE orientation.
-Matt
So they are randomized where you’d see the left side or right side of the logo on different irons at address?
That would definitely disorient me, but I guess one could just wipe the decal off with acetone after the install.
Hi Matt, just curious what flex Modus 115 you’re using. We’re similar speed and I want to give them a try in a fitting.
BTW, I recently got the larger Koger bag after reading your review. It really is a fun light bag to carry and my bag of choice for summer walking rounds.
Thanks!
Paul,
I play the Modus 115 in X flex.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Koger!
Best,
Matt
Neat bag! I’m surprised the Blueprint S can’t dislodge the PXGs, though…
Are you sponsored by PXG? Everything, excluding specialty clubs, is PXG. Even down to the ball. I wouldn’t expect you to say that you were, because it would throw bias into your reviews and WITB. But it certainly appears as though you’ve taken on a sponsor.
Jeremy,
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see that PXG is a sponsor of Plugged In Golf, as are Nippon, Mitsubishi, Club Champion, and several other golf companies. We have never hidden our sponsors.
That said, what goes in my bag is not part of that sponsorship. I play what I like and what works well for me.
Best,
Matt
Matt, I love Plugged in Golf! The 50 word reviews are my go to for when something new comes out.
However, I just noticed that your bag is made up of the the website sponsors. Is it really about the clubs winning out, or making the sponsors happy?
Either way, keep up the great work on the site
Anonymous,
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy the site.
I play what works for me. Matt Meeker games a TM driver, some Titleist woods, and Cobra irons because that works for him. Several of us game SWAG putters, and they rarely respond to our emails, forget sponsoring the site.
Best,
Matt
These posts are so interesting. Is there anyone on your staff that plays regular flex shafts? Just looking for someone more relatable to my game.
Larry,
Matt Meeker plays primarily regular flex.
Best,
Matt
Just picked up a Black Ops driver! Curious which weights you have and where – I was fitted for the stock 12.5 in the heel and 2.5 in the toe and rear, but thinking about buying a weight set to tinker more with weight and loft sleeve orientation. I find with driver fittings (and range sessions too), that I hit my best drives early on and then get tired and start making bad swings, so tried to primarily find a shaft I liked during the fitting and didn’t mess with the weights so much. Primarily I’m curious to add a bit more weight as overall this set up feels a bit light to me.
Mike,
I’d have to check to be sure, but I’m pretty certain it’s 12.5 in the rear, 2.5 in the heel, and either 5 or 7.5 in the toe.
Best,
Matt