Every athlete takes the time to meticulously pick out the equipment needed to be able to compete at the highest level. Whether it is baseball players picking the right bat or basketball players finding the perfect shoe, there is a lot of thought that goes into picking the proper equipment. 

But there may not be a sport that rivals the time and effort necessary in building the proper golf bag tailored to the individual player.

While golfers need the right clothing like other sports do, nothing matters more than the clubs they are swinging, especially when playing as a D1 athlete. 

“Oh, it’s very important,” said Fresno State golfer Joseph Lloyd. “Because if you’re playing, you’re playing [with] golf clubs that are spinning too much or launching at the wrong angles, it affects everything.”

Lloyd, who has been playing golf since he was 4-years-old, knows how impactful having the correct set is. When golfers get to the point where he is at, the 14 clubs in the bag can make all the difference. 

”If you’re not hitting clubs that are correct for you, you’re already at a disadvantage,” Lloyd said.

So, how did Lloyd know which clubs were right for him? 

The answer lies partly with science.

Being that Lloyd is such a long hitter in part by his fast swing speeds, he needs specific clubs fit for his game. 

When it comes to irons, he uses a set of Titleist 620 MB irons from 5 down to his 9 iron.

”[Other irons] spun too less, not enough,” Lloyd said. “So these ones create a little more spin, so I can stop them a little faster on the greens.”

And much like many professional players, Lloyd uses Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts, a stiffer shaft, in his irons.

When it comes to his driver, Lloyd is using a Titleist GT3.

“But for the most part, I play from that 117, 118 [swing speed] cruise number on the golf course,” said Lloyd.

With that fast of a swing speed, Lloyd uses an extra-stiff Ventus TR 6-X black and blue combo shaft in his driver to help maintain a tighter dispersion.

Lloyd continues to play into the numbers game, often using a Trackman launch monitor on the driving range or out on the course. The monitor tracks swing data, showing numerous statistics like carry distance, spin rate, smash factor and many others. 

The use of this new technology helps Lloyd gauge how he’s hitting the ball, backed by science.

While the clubs work specifically for his game, they also need to fit his eyes and feelings in hands.

“I mean, I could hit any type of club or give me anything and I could find a way to hit it,” Lloyd said. “But looks wise, looks and feel are a big part.” 

Lloyd opts to play a Titleist Vokey 48-degree for a pitching wedge, which is less like an iron, a feel that works for him.

As for the irons, his Titleist 620 MBs are a more bladed iron, something often seen being used by the pros. 

“So the MBs has the thinnest offset, which I like, and then the top line is very thin, just more of a look for me,” Lloyd said. 

Lloyd’s bag and golf game is a mixture of utilizing data backed by new technology, but also relying on the feels. 

The golf ball he uses is a prime example of this mixture. Lloyd uses a Titleist Pro V1 ball because of its low spin but also softer feel.  

Having confidence with what’s in the bag helps out on the course, but also knowing what’s going on in your head helps too. Mental strength is as important as any club in the bag and is an aspect of Lloyd’s game he emphasizes.

“I’ve worked on that a lot these last two years or so, and this year it’s been very well where I don’t get as flustered after a bad hole,” Lloyd said. 

Golf is a game of managing misses, something much easier said than done. But putting bad shots behind him has helped Lloyd see the results he works so hard to achieve. 

Keeping the same routine has also allowed Lloyd to maintain calm even in the most pressured situations, like in Fresno State’s playoff tournament win earlier this season.

Whether it’s his pre-shot “waggles” or only using numbered one and two golf balls in tournament play, Lloyd knows what he needs to do to feel comfortable out on the course.

Just this past weekend, Lloyd led the Bulldogs in individual scoring at the Mountain West Tournament. Lloyd finished T9 individually with a score of 8-under over the three-round tournament. 

While not every golfer can play with a set of bladed irons or swing fast enough for an extra stiff shaft in their driver, every golfer should know what works and doesn’t work for them.

Having the proper equipment and mindset work together to see results.