Sports
How should you spend $500 on gear? Our experts weigh in
What should you do with $500 to spend on gear?
That’s a question I recently posed to our trio of equipment experts: Johnny Wunder, Jake Morrow and Jack Hirsh.
These gents live and breathe the gear they write about each day for this website, and there is perhaps no more informed group than them when it comes to what the pros are playing, and the latest and greatest ball, club and shaft technology — not to mention new and notable advancements in footwear, apparel and other accessories.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, when it came to extracting the greatest value from $500, all three Js ended up going with a club. Below, you can read their picks and reasoning, and if you feel inspired, you can click the links to purchase your own iteration of their selections, too.
Callaway Apex Utility Wood
“This club is still, in my opinion, the most versatile ‘tweener club’ to fill the gap between your 3-wood and longest iron,” Wunder said. “It’s efficient, fast, Tour-proven and everyone should at least give it a look. It’s one of one.”
The Apex UW is designed for serious, avid golfers seeking the perfect blend of a fairway wood’s power and a hybrid’s versatility. Engineered with Tour feedback and loaded with performance technologies, it delivers a higher, more neutral ball flight with the control all players demand. TUNGSTEN SPEED WAVE A dynamic, 41g+ tungsten wave structure positions mass low and forward, enhancing ball speed and launch—particularly on low-face strikes where players tend to lose distance. STEP SOLE DESIGN A redesigned sole with a stepped geometry reduces turf interaction, helping to maintain swing speed through impact and promoting more consistent contact across different lies. TRIAXIAL CARBON CROWN The lightweight carbon construction allows for strategic weight redistribution, creating a more forgiving clubhead while refining launch and spin for greater shot-making control. TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING Designed with input from the world’s best, the compact, refined shape and neutral face angle inspire confidence at address and deliver workability from tee to turf.
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PING G440 Hybrid
“I will never not recommend a Ping hybrid to players,” said Morrow. “They’re easy to launch, they’re versatile, and they’re point and shoot. I’ve even got a 5-hybrid in my bag now because it just makes life so much easier. Throw your choice of shaft in it and for under $500 you’ll have a weapon in your bag for the next 5 years if you want.”
The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green. FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power. FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. ROUNDED SOLE Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings CARBONFLY WRAP Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG.
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PING Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset Putter
“Once Ping explained to me their Onset concept for their new Scottsdale TEC putter, I immediately asked for one and I’ve had one of the best putting seasons I can remember,” Hirsh said. “This putter just releases exactly the way I want it to.”
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Have some leftover cash? Browse more of the latest and greatest gear at Fairway Jockey.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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