When amateur golfers build out their bags, one of the first things they check is the loft on each club. “Make sure your lofts don’t overlap,” right? In most setups, lofts are separated by at least 3 to 4 degrees to ensure consistent yardage gaps.
PGA Tour veteran Chris Kirk takes a different approach. He’s carrying a 5-wood and a hybrid with virtually the same loft.
Kirk, who has six PGA Tour victories (most recently the 2024 Sentry) and has made more than $34 million in official earnings, is known for his clean ball striking. Here’s a look into his golf bag and what you may be able to learn from it.
Chris Kirk WITB (2025 Season)
Driver:
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond – 8.5°, Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX3-Wood:
TaylorMade Qi35 – 15°, Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TX5-Wood:
TaylorMade Qi35 – 18°, Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TXHybrid:
Callaway Apex – 18° (set to 19°), Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TXIrons:
Callaway Apex MB – 5–9, True Temper Project X LZ 125 6.5Wedges:
Callaway Opus – 46-10S (bent to 47°), 50-10S, 56°, True Temper Dynamic Gold S200Wedge:
Callaway Opus Raw – 60°, True Temper Dynamic Gold S200Putter:
Odyssey Ai-ONE #7SWhy two clubs with the same loft can work
At first glance, Kirk’s 5-wood and hybrid look like they are redundant. While the hybrid is set to 19 degrees, that one-degree loft difference is minimal. However, loft alone doesn’t dictate performance. Things like shaft length, head design, center of gravity and face technology all play a role.
5-wood – Longer shaft, larger head and deeper CG help launch and provide more carry distance. Perfect for tee shots on tight par-4s or reaching a par-5 in two.Hybrid – Shorter shaft, smaller profile and more compact head give more control from the rough or tricky lies. Ideal for long par-3s, escape shots and windy conditions.
Takeaways for amateur golfers
If you are struggling with what clubs to keep in your setup, here are a few important things to remember.