Why Valspar winner uses 10-year-old irons

Matt Fitzpatrick’s transformation from a grit-and-grind specialist to a bona fide ball-speed monster reached its logical conclusion this week at the Copperhead Course. Watching the Englishman navigate Innisbrook isn’t just watching a golf tournament; it’s a masterclass in data-driven precision. He doesn’t just play the course; he solves it.

At the Valspar, the “Sheffield Steel” in his bag was on full display. Fitzpatrick dominated the metrics that define the modern power game, finishing the week ranking 5th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and gaining a consistent +3.32 strokes on the field. But the real story was the surgical nature of his approach play. Ranking 2nd in SG: Approach (+5.939), hitting a staggering 72% of his greens in regulation on one of the most penal layouts on the PGA Tour.

Here is the highly specific, slightly eccentric setup that fueled Fitzpatrick’s victory.

Quick List: Matt Fitzpatrick’s gear

Driver: Titleist GT3

Specs: 9 degrees (A1 setting) with Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei AV Raw Orange 65 TX shaft.

There was a time when Fitzpatrick was considered a “short” hitter who relied solely on a world-class short game. That version of Matt is gone. By optimizing his move and leaning into the high speed tech of the Titleist GT3, he has climbed the distance charts, currently averaging over 300 yards off the tee. The counter-balanced Mitsubishi Orange shaft is the secret sauce here—it allows him to swing with aggressive intent while maintaining the face-angle control required to thread the needle through the Snake Pit.

Titleist GT3 Custom Driver

GT3 – Speed-Tuned Distance & Control
GT3 offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization. With a speed-tuned design that allows you to precisely match performance to your most frequent contact location, you can make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.
For players with a relatively consistent impact location, GT3 offers a precisely adjustable CG Track to max out distance and directional control.
Seamless Thermoform Crown
A reimagined ultra-lightweight design, born from a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer. The tunable acoustic properties of this unique composite allow Titleist engineers to realize new material gains while maintaining our signature sound and feel. All wrapped in a clean look that inspires total confidence.
Split Mass Construction
A breakthrough in internal weighting unlocks longer drives and enhanced directional control in GT3. The Adjustable CG Track now sits closer to the face for more dynamic CG control, while additional discretionary mass is pushed to the back of the club to maintain optimal stability through impact.
Advanced Aerodynamics
GT3 features a new raised tail contour that represents a dramatic shift in driver aerodynamics. Previously impossible to execute due to design constraints, this advanced shaping results in a driver that swings faster while still providing optimal CG control.

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Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi35 (Bonded)

Specs: 15 and 18 degrees with Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 75 TX and Tensei 1K Orange 80TX

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TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Fairway Wood

PROVEN RECIPE

TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.

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ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE

Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts.

REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES

Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence.
Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels.

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TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES

New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.

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Irons: Ping i210 (4), Ping S55 (5-9)

Specs: PING CFS X shafts.

In an industry obsessed with the “new,” Fitzpatrick is a refreshing anomaly. His choice to stick with the Ping S55 irons—a model that debuted over a decade ago—is the ultimate testament to performance over marketing. Fitz has ventured into other sets over the years but he’s told me that these offer the best combo of forgiveness and responsiveness that hes found, all while maintaining the spin he requires as a lower hitter.

These irons are workaholic blades that offer the specific turf interaction he demands. His steady striking this week and last proves that when you find a set that speaks your language, you don’t trade them in just because the calendar flipped. The Ping CFS shafts (Control, Feel, Stability) are a lighter 105-115G shaft that are proprietary to Ping. IMO it’s an interesting case study on OEM specific shafts, Ping has a tremendous amount of success in this regard, Lee Westwood has also been a “Ping shaft guy” for years using their JZ Stiff for almost three decades.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10

Specs: 46.10F, 52.12F (True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 X100 shafts); 56.08M, 60.08M (Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 shafts)

The bag is rounded out by a specific blend of Vokey SM10 wedges, featuring the “M” grind on his higher lofts for the versatility he’s famous for around the greens. These specialized grinds allow him to manipulate the face on the tight, grainy lies common in Florida.

Putter: Bettinardi BB48 Prototype

Despite a season of statistical fluctuations, his Bettinardi BB48 Prototype caught fire at Innisbrook, where he ranked 1st in the field in scrambling. When a player with Fitzpatrick’s ball-striking starts rolling and short-gaming it, the rest of the field is in for a fight.

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x (2019)

Fitzpatrick continues to trust the 2019 iteration of the Pro V1x. For a player who tracks every data point, this specific model provides the exact spin window and flight height he has built his entire yardage book around.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip

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Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord Grip

OUR VAN ACCESS: The winningest cord grip on Tour. The Tour Velvet Cord Midsize was trusted to win two majors in 2019. It features Brushed Cotton Cord Technology (BCT) – a woven cotton twill fiber material that increases traction and performance in all weather conditions.

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Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.