Rahm’s driver setup isn’t all that different from what you’ll find on the retail shelf.
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Jon Rahm completely overhauled his kit setup and didn’t skip a beat when he made the switch from TaylorMade to Callaway in early 2021. The US Open Championship trophy resting comfortably in his Scottsdale residence, in Arizona, is all the proof you need.
Working closely with the Callaway Tour team and engineers, Rahm found a gear setup designed to handle pressure situations. During last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, GOLF.com was allowed to take hand-held photos of every club in Rahm’s bag, including some recent additions.
Below are 7 things that struck me when I inspected his Callaway setup.
Some variables do not change
Rahm has been playing Aldila’s Tour Green driver since turning pro.
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Even though we preach about treating every fitting as a blank slate and leaving bias at the door, having the ability to eliminate variables during the session can make things much easier. In Jon Rahm’s case, the driver’s shaft doesn’t change – and neither do the iron shafts – when he starts testing the new Callaway product.
Knowing that you need to find a head that benefits, in Rahm’s case, an Aldila Tour Green 75TX driver shaft can reduce the search process.
“It definitely makes it easier when we do a driver edit with Jon,” said Jacob Davidson, Callaway’s PGA Tour manager. “Your first objective is to eliminate the variables. If you have too many variables, it can make things difficult to understand. For Rahm, he doesn’t change that [Aldila] tree. He knows this tree and has played very well with this tree. He made it clear he didn’t want to change.
When you have a shaft that works, make the clubhead fit the environment. Recreational golfers can learn a thing or two from Rahm about how to deal with a reliable shaft during a gearing adjustment.
Inventory Setup
Rahm’s driver loft sleeve adjustment is about as common as it gets.
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Rahm’s Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS driver is set up for high launch and low spin. It’s not uncommon for the pros to play a 10.5 degree head and turn the loft down to achieve a fade, but Rahm is more than happy to play his driver in the standard loft, neutral face angle setting. The neutral setting allows him to work the ball both ways.
Adding hot melt glue to the inside of the head is one way to alter launch, flight and spin characteristics without adjusting the loft sleeve, but unless you have a reliable certified club builder at handy, the best way to alter any of the above characteristics is via the loft neck. In Rahm’s case, he doesn’t see the need for a ton of tinkering with the driver.
Flexibility
Rahm’s irons offer a good mix of maneuverability and forgiveness.
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Even one of the best ball-strikers in the world doesn’t hit it from dead center every time. Rahm has relied on a cavity back iron for years and even prefers a touch of offset to the head to help him deal with misfires. The Callaway Apex TCB’s small cavity also allows it to get away with the occasional misfire when the heart races on a Sunday afternoon.
If the best golf player is satisfied with using a set of cavity irons, you have permission to do the same.
tiger gear
Rahm and Tiger use the same putter grip design.
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Rahm’s respect for Tiger is well documented. Following his singles win on Sunday against the 15-time Major winner of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Rahm spoke about the magnitude of the moment and the possibility of playing against one of his idols.
“All year I looked forward to the day I was going to play with Tiger Woods, and it didn’t happen until the singles at the Ryder Cup,” Rahm said in an interview with GOLF.com. “It wasn’t the best time, because there’s a lot of things that come into play with Tiger, okay, a lot of memories that I have, because he’s one of the people that I grew up in. idolizing.”
Knowing Rahm’s admiration for Tiger, it seems fitting that he’s playing a piece of equipment that Woods has put on the map – a traditional pistol-style rubber putter grip. For Tiger, it’s a Ping PP58 grip. For Rahm, this is an Odyssey version that carries many of the same features.
The smaller grip is designed to engage the hands more in the stroke, as opposed to a larger version which puts more stress on the larger muscle, reducing wrist movement.
Custom grinds
Rahm worked with Roger Cleveland on his new lob wedge.
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In one Callaway’s Johnny Wunder video posted on Instagram late last year, Jon Rahm cuts a low spinner off a precarious lie at the Ely Callaway Performance Center that checks hard and runs back to the hole. The wedge used to execute the shot is that of the photo above. Master wedge craftsman Roger Cleveland is the mastermind behind this custom 60-degree Callaway Jaws wedge.
Rahm is surgical around the greens, but even the best corner players in the world can use a bit of leading edge relief, especially on square shots. The material removal from the sole allows the leading edge to effectively impact the turf without digging in. In other words, it stops Rahm from going after tight lies.
release it
Rahm’s White Hot OG Rossie S is free of alignment aids.
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Years ago, I noticed Jason Day walking away from a putter with a lineout on his head. This got me wondering why a pro would opt for a “naked” putter with no lines or dots to help focus on his target after years of success with a line.
“I couldn’t really see the line anymore,” Day said. “Normally when I’m over the putt I can see the line between the ball and the hole. Well, I couldn’t see him rolling and calling, and that’s how I always read putts.
Rahm lives by the same KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle with his Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S mallet. Instead of fixating on multiple alignment aids to find the perfect line to the hole, Rahm relies on his otherworldly feel to match line and speed. It’s very Seve-esque.
Custom equipment
Rahm’s Callaway X Forged UT utility is a custom creation.
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As you’d expect, Rahm offers clubs that you couldn’t find at your local golf store, at least not in their current shape. For example, the 22 degrees of Rahm Callaway X Forged UT is a retail option, but the overall cavity design and plating differ from what you’ll find in the Spaniard’s bag. And there is nothing wrong with that.
When you’re a golf star, custom equipment is an option. In Rahm’s case, his version has more of a blade-like profile and happens to be crafted from raw carbon steel. Hence the rust and patina you see on the head. Rahm’s version is just as reliable as the retail lead, but sometimes the pros want a certain look that’s just not part of the retail offerings. This is where it’s good to have a business card in your back pocket.
