New series on THP TV where we take an inside look at WITB of those in the golf industry and have them walk through why they made the decisions they did from their lineups.
Today Michael Vrska from Callaway Golf and known as the vgolfman, takes you through his 2023 WITB and how he constructed it for his game.
For more information on any of the clubs that are found in Michael Vrska’s bag, check out their website at www.callawaygolf.com.





This is pretty damn cool.
Love this, awesome breakdown and great detail.
May have to start following [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] on Arccos 🙂 Great WITB thank you! Love these new series
I don’t know many others who are so excited to talk about their golf bag than [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] Love how he explains not only the club, but the reasoning behind each one and why it works.
That’s good stuff right there.
Long time, first time.
Im curious when standing on the tee box, when does [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] decide UW vs FW or vice versa. The tee box is not always based on a gapping number, so there has to be a little bit of confidence in play with one over the other.
Really cool.
Love this WITB series. Keep ’em coming.
This is a really cool series. Can’t wait to see many more
I found [USER=24739]@vgolfman’s[/USER] driver shaft choice interesting. I had the chance to play a round with him at Torrey Pines on the Saturday before the U.S. Open. It actually was the last day that the course was open to the public before the big event. Michael is a great player in his own right and as he said in the video, definitely has the club speed to fit an X profile shaft, yet he chooses an S flex for his shaft. It is another illustration of why our club speed is not the sole determining factor for what shaft is best for us.
Awesome walk though the bag, great video and i look forward to more in the series
Good stuff, can’t wait to check out more of these. Love how he threw the hole in one stuff in there, I would like to talk about it as well if I had one.
That was an awesome watch this morning and one heck of a bag set up. I truly need to get on board with “every club in the bag should have a purpose” motto.
Fabulous WITB presentation! That’s the way it should be done. Sounds like someone who loves his stuff and what he does. ??
Dang, fantastic. Thanks.
[USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] is a true #InternetGolfer
Love the set up and headcover game.
That was a blast! Fun and thoughtful setup, and I appreciate the why this or that discussion. ?
I also enjoy following vgolfman on twitter. (y)
Tell me you are a fitter without telling me you are a fitter. Love this bag it literally has everything! Baller Bag!!
Always love listening to Vrska talk about clubs, gapping and fitting.
Really interesting to hear him talk about shaft length and choice of shafts.
Anyone seen any good golf videos lately? 😉
Fire away with questions! I will do my best to answer them all.
[QUOTE=”vgolfman, post: 11403777, member: 24739″]
Anyone seen any good golf videos lately? 😉
Fire away with questions! I will do my best to answer them all.
[/QUOTE]
How do you connect your Arccos to that putter grip?
12-13 years with the same iron shafts? 😳
[USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] your pretty tall right? 2* flat based on swing not the typical methods I assume?
Gear junkie to the max haha love it!
My guy!!!
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 11403540, member: 3″]
Long time, first time.
Im curious when standing on the tee box, when does [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] decide UW vs FW or vice versa. The tee box is not always based on a gapping number, so there has to be a little bit of confidence in play with one over the other.
[/QUOTE]
Great question, especially from a first time caller! :sneaky: I am a believer you should hit should driver almost all the time…. bigger face, higher MOI, longer distance leads to lower scores, etc. When I drop down to 3-wood or UW its because driver can reach a hazard (water, bunkers, OB, trees, awkward lies in the rough, dogleg, etc.) that the FWW or UW won’t. The 3-wood goes about 20 yards farther on a well struck shot and will run more, so where the hazards are is the biggest factor. But if I need to hit less than driver and there is trouble on both sides I will usually hit the UW due to its shorter length, more loft and basically complete confidence in that club.
[QUOTE=”vgolfman, post: 11403806, member: 24739″]
Great question, especially from a first time caller! :sneaky: I am a believer you should driver almost all the time…. bigger face, higher MOI, longer distance leads to lower scores, etc. When I drop down to 3-wood or UW its because driver can reach a hazard (water, bunkers, OB, trees, awkward lies in the rough, dogleg, etc.) that the FWW or UW won’t. The 3-wood goes about 20 yards farther on a well struck shot and will run more, so where the hazards are is the biggest factor in. But if I need to hit less than driver and there is trouble on both sides I will usually hit the UW due to its shorter length, more loft and basically complete confidence in that club.
[/QUOTE]
And this is my reasoning for two drivers explained well.
This really has me pondering swapping out my wedge shafts to match my irons ?
[USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] when do you think players should drop in length with driver? Rory just did it last weekend and had amazing results. Doesn’t that mean everyone should run out and do it? :ROFLMAO:
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 11403789, member: 5944″]
12-13 years with the same iron shafts? 😳
[/QUOTE]
Yep. I get that its cool to try different things, but how many tour player got into TT Dynamic Gold or Project X or KBS Tour or whatever steel shaft they use in their mid to late teens and then play that shaft throughout their career? A lot and that includes new irons literally every year and probably a few different brands over the years. How long as Jon Rahm been playing the same Aldila shaft in his driver and fairway woods, again through multiple heads and two golf companies (he’s now with the right one ;))? Years!
If you want to play your best, take lessons, hit balls, get fit, get the best/latest head tech possible and stick with what has proven to work for you. Doesn’t mean you can’t switch or that you shouldn’t try new things, but the constant switching of shafts every year (or even every few months with a few of you on here – you know who you are :oops:) isn’t helpful. If a new shafts helps you hit it farther or more consistently on the face, GO FOR IT! Otherwise, what you have a lot of reps in and confidence in, stay with that.
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 11403793, member: 5944″]
[USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] your pretty tall right? 2* flat based on swing not the typical methods I assume?
[/QUOTE]
I would not consider myself tall. I’m 5′ 10″ or maybe a touch over. My swing was very flat growing up and the first time I was fit (back with lie boards were the determining factor – they shouldn’t be!), I was fit in 2 flat. Now I know that ball flight should be THE MAJOR determining factor for lie angle. It affects start line mainly. You do not want severe toe or heel digs on divots, but remember, the ball should be long gone before the sole of the club touches the ground. So, for lie angle, ball flight first and foremost with ground interaction/feel second.
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 11403818, member: 5944″]
[USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] when do you think players should drop in length with driver? Rory just did it last weekend and had amazing results. Doesn’t that mean everyone should run out and do it? :ROFLMAO:
[/QUOTE]
Short answer, rarely. And in my experience, it’s better/faster swing speed players that may occasionally benefit from a shorter shaft, like Rory seemed to this weekend. Interestingly, for players who come over the top and hit severe slices, we have seen longer shafts help shallow them out some and even improve tempo, leading to much better shots overall. Now that doesn’t mean every 22+ handicap should go get an 1″ longer driver shaft, but the only argument for shorter I have ever heard is that it leads to more consistent face strikes. If it does for you, then yes, that is a valid reason for going shorter. However, many players don’t hit the ball noticeably more consistently so if they go shorter they lose speed and the strike doesn’t make up for it. So, should some players go shorter? Of course! Should some players go longer? Of course! Is the stock length a happy medium for a vast majority of players? Yes or something very close to it.
Great breakdown from [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] and a cool bag of clubs!
[QUOTE=”vgolfman, post: 11403838, member: 24739″]
I would not consider myself tall. I’m 5′ 10″ or maybe a touch over. My swing was very flat growing up and the first time I was fit (back with lie boards were the determining factor – they shouldn’t be!), I was fit in 2 flat. Now I know that ball flight should be THE MAJOR determining factor for lie angle. It affects start line mainly. You do not want severe toe or heel digs on divots, but remember, the ball should be long gone before the sole of the club touches the ground. So, for lie angle, ball flight first and foremost with ground interaction/feel second.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks I thought you were close to my height at 6′ but its been a while since we’ve run into each other haha, the reason I asked is because at one point in my life I was fit for 2* up, then later on I was fit to standard. I know its manufacturer dependent and typically play “standard” now without any issue but every time I hit my buddy’s irons which are 2* flat typically I flush them. Its very odd to me.
This was a great WITB and really liking this series. Was awesome to hear the thought and reasoning behind each club and how it works into the game.
Also, since I am already vocal about ferrules and big condiment, it’s time for me to be vocal about sock type covers
Great video, love the WITB and hearing [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER]’s reasonings for each club choice. Unsurprisingly, it’s a very well thought-out bag top to bottom. I have to admit I got a little joy out of seeing the PM Grind still holding on to a place in the bag, such a great club!
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 11403855, member: 5944″]
Thanks I thought you were close to my height at 6′ but its been a while since we’ve run into each other haha, the reason I asked is because at one point in my life I was fit for 2* up, then later on I was fit to standard. I know its manufacturer dependent and typically play “standard” now without any issue but every time I hit my buddy’s irons which are 2* flat typically I flush them. Its very odd to me.
[/QUOTE]
Its been way too long! Need to fix that.
And good point on there being no industry standard. Just because you are 2 flat in Brand A does not mean you will/should be 2 flat in Brand B. But again, ball flight should be king in lie angle fitting. Your “every time I hit my buddy’s irons which are 2* flat typically I flush them” could be for many reasons – head, length, shaft, weight, swingweight – but if you are hitting your currently irons more left than you want, then yes, going flatter would be an easy/cheap way to potentially help/fix that. If your miss is right now, then going flatter isn’t for you.
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 11403859, member: 3″]
Also, since I am already vocal about ferrules and big condiment, it’s time for me to be vocal about sock type covers
[/QUOTE]
[media=giphy]7T8NmIA0q9oaQKUu5f[/media]
[QUOTE=”vgolfman, post: 11403864, member: 24739″]
[media=giphy]7T8NmIA0q9oaQKUu5f[/media]
[/QUOTE]
Nit Poms are the best! Pure class!
Great setup [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] like the selection of shafts in the irons, as well as the grips. (y) Glad to see you concentrating on the gapping. Most amateurs don’t understand the importance of it.
[QUOTE=”vgolfman, post: 11403838, member: 24739″]
I would not consider myself tall. I’m 5′ 10″ or maybe a touch over. My swing was very flat growing up and the first time I was fit (back with lie boards were the determining factor – they shouldn’t be!), I was fit in 2 flat. Now I know that ball flight should be THE MAJOR determining factor for lie angle. It affects start line mainly. You do not want severe toe or heel digs on divots, but remember, the ball should be long gone before the sole of the club touches the ground. So, for lie angle, ball flight first and foremost with ground interaction/feel second.
[/QUOTE]
PREACH!!! Lie boards are terrible!! If you ever pay for a fitting and they pull a lie board. Ask for your money back and leave.
[QUOTE=”templeton80, post: 11403873, member: 53139″]
Nit Poms are the best! Pure class!
[/QUOTE]
I knew you would like them.
If Cosmo Kramer did a WITB he would have them too ?
I really like this new feature and am fascinated with the why certain choices are made. I was surprised at how long he’s been playing the Recoils and the DI, given all the options available to him. It’s always educational and fun to hear Michael talk equipment.
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 11403877, member: 3″]
I knew you would like them.
If Cosmo Kramer did a WITB he would have them too ?
[/QUOTE]
Well. There is a right way, a wrong way, and the best way.. nit pom covers are the best way.
[QUOTE=”templeton80, post: 11403881, member: 53139″]
Well. There is a right way, a wrong way, and the best way.. nit pom covers are the best way.
[/QUOTE]
Nothing in there says hipster so I can’t believe it ?
Didn’t hear about the weight increase in the shaft’s along the bag [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] . Totally agree, my reasoning is probably wrong?.
Great recap and explained very well!
I thought for sure your driver head cover was for the white V, then I realized it wasn’t an actual V when you brought it closer. Very nice.
Well done sir!
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 11403890, member: 3″]
Nothing in there says hipster so I can’t believe it ?
[/QUOTE]
I am not sure I would ever be considered a hipster. I think Pom headcovers are the opposite of hipster. lol. But we digress. We should be talking about [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] s awesome bag..
What club did you hit to get your hole in one at Goat Hill?
[QUOTE=”templeton80, post: 11403903, member: 53139″]
I am not sure I would ever be considered a hipster. I think Pom headcovers are the opposite of hipster. lol. But we digress. We should be talking about [USER=24739]@vgolfman[/USER] s awesome bag..
[B]What club did you hit to get your hole in one at Goat Hill?[/B]
[/QUOTE]
Tell me you skimmed the video without telling me you skimmed the video. :ROFLMAO: