Outspoken PGA Tour pro busts huge (!) golf equipment myth

If you're not familiar with PGA Tour pro Michael Kim then you probably should be. 

The 30-year-old American has just shy of 70,000 followers on X but he is well worth a follow. 

Kim provides some gems into what life is like on tour.

Most recently he revealed one pro deliberately took a two-shot penalty despite being three inside the cut line. 

There was also the time he blasted the famed PGA National by describing the greens as having  'more sand than grass on them most of the time'. 

His latest? Well he's busted an equipment myth. Specifically, that more rust on your wedges gives you more spin. 

"Raw gives you the most spin since any finish will only make the grooves less deep," Kim claimed, according to the Titleist reps. 

Kim broke down his entire WITB and even dropped a few funny stories. 

Take, for example, the fact that Steve Stricker was implored in 2013 by a Titleist rep to switch from the 2007 version of the Pro V1. 

Titleist had stopped making the 2007 version and were going to run out. 

Stricker did change his golf ball for that season's Tour Championship and came second in the 30-man field. 

Despite the good result, Stricker, so the story goes, then asked the rep to send him 'all the 2007 you got'. Amazing. 

Let's take a look at Kim's WITB:

Golf ball: 2021 Pro V1 X

Golf ball

2021 Prov1X: Full disclosure, I have a ball deal with Titleist and that’s why its the first one up because I’m a company man and its the most important one in the bag. I am getting paid by Titleist but I would still play their ball even if I didn’t have a deal with… pic.twitter.com/7JYhBGaZf3

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Driver: Callaway Triple Diamond

Driver: Callaway Triple Diamond S 10.5 +1 setting (295yd carry)

I’ve used this driver just one week. LOL But I finished inside top 10 in SG OTT at Wyndham so it worked great. I believe the triple diamond S means slightly smaller head. I had the Callaway Rogue for over a yr and… pic.twitter.com/AhnM2HJgeP

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Putter: L.A.B. Golf Link

Putter: LAB Golf Link.1 37in Accra shaft



I’ve always been a Scotty guy. I grew up wanting a cool circle T putter and was a loyal Scotty person until this last yr. I’ve always had trouble with pushing putts and I absolutely hated it. I happened to just try a lab putter at Boise… pic.twitter.com/PhH6OoFVzb

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

3-Wood: Titleist TSi2

3WD Titleist Tsi2 16.5 D1 setting (260yd carry):

I’ve gone back and forth between this one and a callaway paradym one. The Callaway doesn’t quite spin enough for me so I’ve switched to this one. The reason I’m picky about the spin is without enough spin, it’s hard for me to hit… pic.twitter.com/nqpHZXh9zF

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

3-Iron: Titleist T-200

3I Titleist T-200 Tour AD IZ-95 X (235yd carry)



This is easily one of my favorite clubs in my bag. I used a hy or 7w for most of my pro career but Larry Silveira at Titleist gave me this one to try out at Zurich last yr and I’ve loved it ever since. The reason I like this one… pic.twitter.com/XAoDNpMAVE

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Irons: Titleist T-200 

Irons: T-200 4i, 5i, T-100 6i-PW



I used to be T200 only in the 4i but i liked it so much that i tried out the 5 and was sold on it as well. The T200 are just so much more forgiving off mishits than the T100. I’ll hit a shot with pretty bad contact, one handed finish and it still… pic.twitter.com/2Ij72O697T

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Iron shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3

Iron Shaft: NS Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S-Flex



I hate heavy iron shafts. Nippon makes great light weight shafts and the only interesting part is that I still use a S-300 shaft (not even tipped). The X-stiff shaft is too stiff for me and I’m slightly above average in swing speed on… pic.twitter.com/CUdkBbyndI

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9

Wedges 60L-56F-52F



I’ve used this combo for prob 6 years now? I also do not change wedges based on the grass of the type of course whether it’s for the Open champ or grainy Bermuda or west coast kikuyu. I like having consistency and knowing how my wedges will react and I’ll… pic.twitter.com/mBDebBLHmR

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 3, 2023

Read more:

• Best Golf Drivers
• Best Golf Fairway Woods
• Best Golf Putters
• Best Golf Irons
• Best Golf Wedges
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• Best Golf Tees
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