World No. 4 Xander Schauffele’s approach to his equipment is about as precise as can be. The quiet, measured 27-year-old from La Jolla, California, plays few games when it comes to his gear. For any component to be considered, it has to be dialed to the nth degree.

I went to my crew to get all the answers, and this is what Callaway tour manager Jacob Davidson, Odyssey’s Joe Toulon, and Vokey wedge master Aaron Dill had to say.

Xander Schauffele WITB 2021

Driver: Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7 X (Custom Black)

Jacob Davidson:  The Epic Speed Triple Diamond fit right into what Xander loves to see. He likes a slightly lower spin profile and something that helps eliminate the left side. Our Triple Diamond heads have a straighter top line and a more player-friendly (compact) shape that our staff loves.

• Loft (actual): 8 degrees
• Length: 45 1/2 inches
• Setting: NS
• Weight: 194.2-gram head weight, D3 swing weight
• Tipping: 1 inch

3-wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (15 degrees @14.1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

Jacob Davidson: The Rogue fairways seem to be something Xander always goes back to. In the past, he has tested and put in play some of our other models but always seems to fall back into this one. He not only loves the shape, but the leading edge has a bit more camber that lets him get into the turf a bit better. 

• Loft (actual): 14.1 degrees
• Length: 43 inches (cut)
• Lie: 57.1 degrees
• Swing weight: D3
• Tipping: 1.5 inches

5-wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (18 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X (Black)

Jacob Davidson: 

• Loft (actual): 17.7 degrees
• Length: 42 inches (cut) 
• Lie: 56.4 degrees
• Swing weight: D3
• Tipping: 2 inches

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon NS Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X

Jacob Davidson: The Apex TCB is similar to the Apex Pro “dot” heads he had success with, but in this case, he liked the feel a bit more, and the longer irons gave him a few more RPM’s of spin, which is always welcome.  

• Loft (4-PW): 22.5, 26.5, 30.75, 35, 38.5, 43, 47 degrees
• 6-iron spin: 6,600 RPM
• Swing weight: D1.5 (4, 5) D2 (6-P)
• Lie (4-PW): 60.5, 61, 61.5, 62, 62.5, 63, 63.5 degrees
• Length: Standard Callaway length

Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (52-10S), Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (56-10 @57), Titleist Vokey Design SM8 WedgeWorks (60-T @61)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Jaws MD5 Specs

• Length: 35.5 inches
• Loft: 52 degrees
• Lie: 63.5 degrees
• Swing weight: D3

Vokey Specs

• Length: +1/8 inches over standard
• Loft: 57, 61 degrees
• Lie: 63.5 degrees
• Swing weight: D3

Jacob Davidson on (52-10S): “The MD5 JAWS 52-10S was a wedge Xander loved right away. This wedge gives him the ability to really flight it down on off-speed shots, which can be a tough combo to find.” 

Aaron Dill on (57, 61): “A little back story: Xander and I started working together when he was a TaylorMade staffer at the Greenbrier in 2017.” 

“On Monday, he and I spoke for the first time and he showed interest in working together and testing Vokey wedges. I was thrilled and said I would help him whenever he was ready. His schedule was limited so we didn’t get to work on wedges till Tuesday afternoon. We spoke and I made him some options. 

“The same options I made him were good but needed to be lower in swing weight by two points. He said they were good. They went in the bag, and he ended up winning his first PGA Tour event that week.” 

JW: Why do players like Xander stay in an older model as opposed to switching into the new?

AD: Most players who play and older model like Xander do for one of the following reasons

1. They love the model too much to leave 
2. Nothing we make matches it close enough to justify a switch
3. Superstition 

In Xander’s case, he made it very clear he really liked this wedge. It had the look, feel, and performance he was looking for.  I would not consider him to be the type of player to goof around much with his equipment—once he finds something good, it stays.  

JW: From a grind preference, why do the S and T work for his delivery and needs?

AD: The grinds Xander has chosen have specific value and purpose. Most PGA Tour players spend time with me building a matrix and choosing specific wedges. Part of that process is me encouraging and sharing that having different wedges opens up shot windows they may not have. In this case, the 56-10S @57 carried the right number but also gave him a sole he could hit full but also chip with—a double threat. 

Xander started with a 60M back in the day, but as time has gone by, we have tested some other styles of wedges to improve shots or reduce stress on shots where he may not feel comfortable. What we came up with is a 60T for when it’s firm and a custom 60-06K for when things soften. Both 56, 60-degree models serve as many purposes as Xander needs. The 60-degree models are decided based on the venue and the conditions that week.  

JW: He was in a LB K grind for a good while, what did he gain by going into the T?

AD: The 60T was an option discussed when Xander told me he had difficulty in firm conditions.  Most would say the 60-06K is a fairly low bounce option already but sole width increases bounce as you open the face and this was exactly the style of shot Xander had trouble with.  He wanted to open the face and have the wedge hug the ground and create some confidence to slide under the ball with ease. The K wasn’t able to do this and what he saw visually forced him to change his technique.

Putter: Odyssey O-Works #7 CH Red

Specs

• Model: O-Works Red 7 CH
• Loft/lie: 3.5/71.5  degrees (backup putter is at 4 loft)
• Alignment: Top and tracers in white
• Insert: White Hot
• Length: 34 3/8 inches to end of grip
• SuperStroke Traxion 2.0 Tour (10 grams)
• Swingweight: D7.5
• Weight: 516.5 gams
• Shaft: Black stepped shaft

*His loft varies week to week depending on grass/green conditions. He works on Quintic with his putting coach Derek Uyeda to determine what loft is necessary each week

Joe Toulon on Xanders Odyssey

JW: What about the O-Works CH #7 does he respond to?

JT: Alignment features. The top line and back tracer lines really work with his eyes. The CH provides him a little bit of toe hang and it matches up nicely with his path and arc. He’s used face balanced options in #7’s before and will typically only use something with little-to-no toe hang. 

Ball: 2020 Callaway Chrome Soft X

Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord