Curry’s custom Callaway Jaws wedges.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
You can learn a thing or two about team trends and intriguing club constructions that are potentially worth trying by looking at the team being played on the PGA Tour Y LPGA tour. But what about an NBA champion? In addition to being arguably the best shooter in NBA history, steph curry has an impressive golf resume with multiple beginnings in Korn ferry ride. Curry’s game travels from the court to the field.
During the American Century Championship, GOLF.com got an up-close look at Curry’s Callaway team. Unsurprisingly, weekend golfers can still learn a thing or two about the gear by looking at the setup used by an accomplished athlete who doesn’t hold a Tour card.
mavrik fan
The pilot of Curry’s Mavrik has circled the block.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
Curry signed a multi-year partnership with Callaway in 2019, so access to new gear is always just a phone call away. That said, I have to give the sniper credit for holding up with the Mavrik driver and Callaway’s 3-wood. With heavy brush marks and paint chips visible around the skirt, it’s clear that Curry loves the look and performance of the Mavrik.
Curry’s driver loft sleeve is designed to produce a draw.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
Another thing worth noting is the OptiFit loft sleeve setup. The “D +1” means that Curry is adding one degree of loft, 10 degrees of true loft, with a draw bias in his driver settings. Generally, the draw setting is used to help straighten out a cut, but I’d venture to assume that he’s trying to get more head distance. Curry has no problem squaring his face at impact, so adding a bit more camber will induce a lower trajectory topspin. The 10 degrees of loft ensures that you can still maximize transport and spin.
tour atmosphere
The variety of shaft markings and flexes in the Curry setup gives off a Tour vibe. There’s Fujikura’s Ventus Blue in the driver (7X) and 3-woods (8X), KBS Tour 130X in the utility iron, Project X 6.5 in the irons and 6.0 in the wedges. Looking strictly at the shafts, it’s easy to see that he spent a lot of time at the Ely Callaway Performance Center being marked for every club in the bag.
The best players understand the importance of matching the head and shaft to the throw of the club. Treat this note as a reminder that everybody golfers should undergo a custom fit to get the best bang for their buck, not just NBA superstars and Tour pros.
Utilitarian
Curry’s Callaway X Forged UT has a declared loft of 18 degrees.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
Fairway woods, hybrids and utility irons all serve valuable purposes, but when it comes to the gap between the strong-lofted Mavrik 3 wood and Steph Curry’s Apex Pro 4 iron, he’s the utility iron of the team. The X Forged UT is a popular choice on Tour with a profile that pairs nicely with his long iron. And with 18 degrees of loft, Curry doesn’t have to worry about a potential carry gap between the 13.5-degree 3-wood and 4-iron. He has more than enough speed to send a utility iron.
tools not jewelry
Curry’s Callaway Apex Pro irons have seen a lot of use.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
The scratches and dents on Curry’s Apex Pro irons give you an idea of the rounds he logged during the offseason. With a membership to San Francisco’s famed California Golf Club, Curry has good reason to play as much as possible.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m playing too much golf and sometimes I feel like I’m not playing enough,” Curry said.
Based on wear marks, Curry sticks rarely accumulate a layer of dust.
standard stuff
All Curry’s Jaws wedges feature Callaway’s S-Grind.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
Master wedge craftsman Roger Cleveland is one of the best in the business, so when he shares some sage advice, listen up. “Bounce is your friend,” he told me. If he has never heard the term “rebound” or rebound angle, it is the angle between the leading edge, the ground and the sole when the shaft is perfectly vertical. Depending on his delivery and the conditions of the field he normally plays on, having more or less rebounds can be a good thing.
In Steph Curry’s case, it’s the best there is. All three of their Callaway Jaws scoring tools have the company’s standard S-Grind, including the lob wedge. The mid-width sole is a good option for many different playing conditions, which comes in handy when you’re traveling around the world playing a wide variety of courses. Consider it the cheeseburger in Callaway’s grind line – it generally satisfies most golfers.
different strokes
Curry’s Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas features a double-bend shaft that is ideal for a straight back and full swing.
Jonathan Muro/GOLF
Curry’s Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas winged putter is one of the most recognizable head shapes. But let’s forget about the putter model and focus on the double curve hosel. Going off the assumption that Curry was fit for his current wand, he most likely has a straight back and strike with minimal neck-based face rotation. The double-bend shaft is designed to accommodate golfers with a limited arc in their stroke.
With three alignment lines on the crown, as well as the section between the wings that help frame the ball, Curry relies on visual aids to help him locate the line.
Do you want to renew your bag for 2022? Find a suitable location near you at GOLF’s affiliate, True Spec Golf.
