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John “The Lion” Daly is one of golf’s most colorful characters. He has entertained for three decades with his Santa Clause-style beard and statement-making fashion at free living. By the end of this post, you will have a clear idea of the John Daly WITB 2023 setup.
The gentleman from Carmichael, California, had a tough outing in 2022. However, he ended the year on a high, tying for second at the PNC Championship with his son John Daly II.
My goal in this guide is to expose you to the golf clubs the big man uses and what to expect from him on the PGA Tour Champions in 2023.
🏌️♂️ Related: The Most Interesting Pro Golfers Who Smoke
John Daly Quick Facts Table
| Full Name | John Patrick Daly |
| Birthday | April 28, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Carmichael, California |
| Age | 58 |
| Year Turned Pro | 1987 |
| Tournament Wins | 19 |
| Major Wins | 2 (1991, PGA Championship) (1995, Open Championship) |
| World Ranking | 69 |
| Equipment Sponsor | Ping |
⛳️ Fun Fact: Daly is known for being pretty handy with a guitar and has had live performances with Kid Rock.
John Daly WITB Quick Summary
| Club | Make | Model | Shaft |
| Driver | Ping G425 LST (9 degrees) | Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 TX |
| 3 Wood | Callaway Rogue ST LS (15 degrees) | Graphite Design Tour AD-UB 8 X |
| Hybrids | Ping G425 (19 and 22 degrees) | KBS Tour Hybrid 90 X |
| Irons | Ping Blueprint Forged (5-9 iron) | KBS Tour 120S |
| Wedges | Titleist Vokey (46, 50, 54, and 60 degrees) | Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 125S (46, 50, and 54 degrees), KBS Tour Wedge (60 degrees) |
| Putter | Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K One | N/A |
To round out the quick summary of John Daly WITB, his golf ball of choice is the Titleist Pro V1x, and SuperStroke S-Tech Club Cord Oversized Grips on his golf clubs.
Lead Tape
Before I dive into his golf equipment setup, I must mention Daly’s unique addition to every golf club. Golf’s very own Santa Claus employs lead tape on his clubs to add an extra 30 grams to the total weight, which he feels enhances balance. At times, the golf club lead tape is so immense you can barely decipher what brand or range of club he is swinging.
John Daly What’s In the Bag
John Daly Driver of Choice | Ping G425 LST Driver
Overview
The two-time Major champion swings Ping G425 LST Driver with a 9-degree loft. This is the lowest spinning driver in the Ping G425 range, which sports Low Spin Technology for maximum distance off the tee. The LST also carries a 445 cc head, smaller than the game improvement 460cc models.
Its reduced head size encourages improved workability off the tee but also results in less surface area for mishits. This feature better suits the precision of low handicappers.
In addition, the G425 LST features an explosive clubface and aerodynamic clubhead to accelerate swing and ball speed for superior distance.
PROS
- Promotes low spin
- Generates rapid ball speed
- Aerodynamic, fast clubhead
- Produces superb distance17-gram weight enables the center of gravity (CG) to shift
CONS
- Pricey
- Not suited to slower swing speed
John Daly’s 3 Wood | Callaway Rogue ST LS 3 Wood – 15 Degrees
Overview
Long John sticks with low spin technology for his 3 wood opting for the Callaway Rogue ST LS Fairway Woods.
Daly swings the 15-degree model, which Callaway dubs its longest fairway wood. I find it offers superb stability at impact and generates explosive ball pace on all strikes.
Callaway engineers employed C300 maraging steel for a combination of flex and stability across the clubface. In addition, a 28-gram, high-density Tungsten Speed Cartridge repositions mass low and forward to restrict spin, boost ball speed and increase long game distance.
The Callaway Rogue ST LS has been favored by other golfers on the tour, including Stuart Appleby and Justin Leonard.
PROS
- Creates low spin
- Produces explosive ball spin
- Forgiving
- Clean turf interaction
- Generates incredible distance
CONS
- Moderately expensive may launch too high for those with faster swing speeds
John Daly WITB Hybrid | Ping G425 19 Degrees
Overview
The University of Arkansas graduate switches to a 19 and 22-degree hybrid to transition into his mid-game. Daly operates a 19-degree loft which is relatively easy to launch and delivers super speed, forgiveness, and distance on approach shots.
I appreciate the Spinsistency technology, which combats low-face strikes to optimize spin and launch. In addition, the Ping G425 3 and 4 hybrid features a high-density tungsten back weight, which boosts MOI for stability and forgiveness. Finally, an 8-position hosel allows you to adjust your loft and face lie.
PROS
- Provides maximum forgiveness
- Launches easy
- Produces clean turf interaction
- Creates rapid ball zip
- Adjustable hosel
CONS
- Moderately expensive
- Nothing else negative to say
John Daly Irons | Ping BluePrint Forged 5-9 Iron
Overview
The Ping Blueprint Forged Golf Club Set is the irons of choice for the two-time major champion. My compatriot Louis Oosthuizen consulted Ping on the design and created a compact set of pure muscle back irons.
These clean irons feature a compact profile to enable better maneuverability to shape your shots on approach. In addition, the Blueprint range produces a buttery-soft feel on strikes out of the middle and crisp acoustics. Finally, it delivers clean turf interaction, but the compact design offers limited forgiveness.
PROS
- Compact and attractive look
- Buttery soft feel
- Encourages shot shaping
- Clean turf interaction
- Crisp acoustics
CONS
- No forgiveness for the average golfer
- Priced at a premium, as custom clubs for John Daly WITB
Golf Wedges | Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedges (46, 50, 54, 60 Degrees)
Overview
The man from Carmichael places his faith in the famed Titleist Vokey SM9 wedge range, swinging a 46, 50, 54, and 60-degree profile. The Vokey SM9 promotes rampant spin, clean turf interaction, and controlled flight on short game shots.
Added to its exceptional spin is a soft feel and enhanced feedback to better judge the power of each strike. As a result, it promotes greater distance control. Finally, the Vokey SM9 range is available in up to 5 sole grinds in lower lofted options.
Read Next: Titleist Vokey SM8 vs SM9 Wedges: Which is Best for You?
PROS
- Generates exceptional spin
- Compact profile
- Produces a lower flight
- Multiple sole grinds offered
- Crisp turf interaction
CONS
- Limited forgiveness
- The lower flight may trouble some golfers
John Daly’s Putter | Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k One Putter
Overview
Capping off the bag of the John “The Wild Thing” Daly is the lesser employed Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K One Putter. The blade putter is crafted from high-quality stainless steel, tungsten, and 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. These materials combine to deliver a pure feel and clean roll.
Despite its compact blade design, my experience led to greater friction, consistent spin, and optimal roll. 120 grams of tungsten situated behind the putter face increases stability at impact to prevent spin and speed dropoff.
PROS
- Enhances friction
- Produces a clean roll
- ForgivingClean
- Compact blade profile
- Soft feel
CONS
- Priced at a premium
- Not built for straight or extremely arched strokes
Final Thoughts on John Daly WITB
Now you have a clearer picture of the John Daly WITB setup for 2023, can you see yourself swinging any of his clubs?
The last couple of years have been less than desirable for “The Lion,” but the big guy is due a trip to the winner’s circle, which last occurred in 2017.
After tying for second at the PNC Championship, “Long John” went under the knife for knee replacement surgery. This put him out of action for the first quarter of 2023. He underwent rehabilitation with physical therapy and sports medicine. With new his newfound stride, I look forward to seeing the larger-than-life character hit the links imminently.
Who makes John Daly golf clubs?
John Daly prefers to use Ping as his golf club manufacturer of choice.
What driver does John Daly use?
The two-time Major champion swings Ping G425 LST Driver with a 9-degree loft. It is the lowest spinning driver in the Ping G425 range, with Low Spin Technology for maximum distance off the tee. This golf driver is best suited for low handicappers.
Why does John Daly put tape on his golf clubs?
Some professional golfers, including John Daly use lead tape, to manipulate golf club weight for balancing purposes, feel, and supposed optimal performance. Oftentimes, his club head is unrecognizable due to the amount of tape on it.
