What’s In The Bag: Brian Harman
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What golf clubs and balls does Brian Harman use? We review what’s in the bag of the 2023 Champion Golfer of The Year.
At the age of 36, Brian Harman may be passed his so-called prime, but he certainly isn’t showing it. The American’s last win was at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2017 but after six years of waiting he has made it back to the winner’s circle.
Harman went into the final round of The Open at Hoylake with a five-shot lead over fellow American Cameron Young and he managed to maintain that gap through the last 18 holes, winning by six shots with a total score of 271 and becoming 2023’s Champion Golfer of The Year.
Since turning pro back in 2009, Harman has amassed three PGA Tour wins and with one at The 2023 British Open Championship at Hoylake where he became Champion Golfer of the year. He has made 238/346 possible cuts, had 26 Top 5 finishes, and made over $30 million in prize money, so you could say his career hasn’t been too bad. Now he’s got the major he longed for, too.
Harman is a golfer that sticks to what he likes and is a big fan of his old-school Titleist setup. He is still gaming the Titleist TSi2 model in his driver and 3-wood and has now upgraded to a newer Titleist TS2 in his 5-wood.
He opts to carry two Titleist driving irons before rounding out his iron set with the Titleist 620 CB irons. Rather remarkably, he has been using Titleist Vokey SM7 wedges for years but has finally swapped into the new SM9 model.
If you are a fan of Harman or have ever watched his game his putter is the standout in the bag. He uses an old-school TaylorMade Spider, the OS Counter balance version which he has had in his bag for countless years, and can’t see him changing anytime soon after making 55/56 putts from within 10 feet at The Open.
Today’s Golfer’s ‘What’s In The Bag’ insight is brought to you in association with Fujikura.
What driver does Brian Harman use?
Brian Harman uses a Titleist TSi2 driver (9°) with a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ TX shaft
What fairway wood does Brian Harman use?
Titleist TSi2 & TS2 Fairway Wood
Brian Harman uses a Titleist TSi2 (13.5°) & TS2 (16.5°) fairway wood with a D4, Fujikura Evolution II 661 S shaft
What utility iron does Brian Harman use?
Brian Harman uses Titleist U500 (4,5) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 Shafts
Best driving iron for hybrid feel
Titleist designed the U505 to help players reclaim their iron game, drawing on input from Tour pros. The internal tungsten weighting and wide sole draw the CG to the back of the head to help get the ball airborne. This driving iron will appeal to those looking for something that reflects half iron, half hybris.
Pros
- High launching
- Wide sole and large head
- Retains iron-like looks
Cons
- May feel too much like a wood for some
| Lofts | 1-16°, 2-18°, 3-20°, 4-22° |
| Stock shaft | Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black Graphite |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 White Flat Cap |
What irons does Brian Harman use?
Brian Harman uses Titleist 620 CB irons (6-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 shafts
We’d put the Titleist 620 CB as comparable to the Callaway Apex TCB and TaylorMade P7MC.
A super-weak 7-iron loft that matches the 620 MB means the CB and MB are well-suited for a combo set but we’d maintain that even very strong golfers should consider the more forgiving Titleist T100 as well.
Read our full best Titleist irons review.
Pros
- Highly workable for high-level players
- Superb feel
- Traditionalists will love the weak lofts
Cons
- Minimal forgiveness
| Availability | 3-iron to GW (50°) |
| 7-iron loft | 35° |
| Stock shafts | True Temper Project X LZ Steel (see Titleist for multiple options) |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360° White Flat Cap <meta charset |
| Flex | Stiff |
What wedges does Brian Harman use?
Brian Harman uses Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges (50°, 54°, 60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Shafts
Vokey’s years of research and experience have helped him determine that the optimum wedge strike position is between grooves two and five, which produces a lower, more consistent flight with higher spin. Shots struck above launch higher and fly shorter with less spin.
The SM9 further improves upon the groundbreaking Progressive Centre of Gravity (CG) design concept originally introduced with the Vokey Design SM8 in 2020.
The forward CG has been raised vertically by adding weight to the topline, where a tapered pad at the back of the toe helps align the CG properly without being visible from the playing position.
Read our full Titleist SM9 wedge review.
| Lofts | 46º-62º |
| Grinds | Six options (F, S, M, K, L, D, T) |
| Stock shafts | True Temper Dynamic Gold S200, KBS Tour Lite, Tensei AM2 Red |
What putter does Brian Harman use?
Bran Harman uses a TaylorMade Spider OS CB Putter
What ball does Brian Harman use?
Brian Harman uses a Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball
Both balls are extremely long off the tee and perform incredibly well approaching greens and in the short game. The Pro V1x is a firmer ball compared to the Pro V1 but still provides a lovely feel off every club in the bag. The Pro V1 and Pro V1x are much loved by many of the world's greatest golfers for their overall high-quality performance and feel, which warrants a premium price. To some, this is understandable because they are arguably the best golf balls.
For those golfers who require a lower compression golf ball that flies lower and spins less in the long game, the AVX is definitely worth trying as an alternative to the No.1 ball in golf.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1 review
Pros
- Tighter dispersion than the previous model
- Brilliant distance for quicker swing speeds
- Exceptional spin on approach shots
- Fantastic feel off the club face
- Played by a host of the world's best golfers
Cons
- Urethane cover marks quite easily
| Construction | Pro V1 - 3-piece | Pro V1x 4-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane elastomer |
| Compression | Pro V1 - 87-90 | Pro V1x - 97-100 |
| Dimples | Pro V1 - 388 | Pro V1x - 348 |
| Feel | Pro V1 - soft | Pro V1x - firm |
| Flight | Pro V1 - mid | Pro V1x - high |
| Long game spin | Pro V1 - very low | Pro V1x - low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Pro V1x Left Dash |
- High gradient core design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Cast thermoset urethane cover
- Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
- New dual-core dimension (Pro V1x only)
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About the author
Will Shreeve-Peacock
Golf Equipment Writer
Will Shreeve-Peacock is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in golf shoes, GPS watches, rangefinders, and training aids.
He has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and four years of experience working in golf retail with American Golf. Will was part of the sales and fitting team, making him the perfect man to review golf equipment.
Trained by a range of manufacturers, including Titleist and TaylorMade, to enhance his product knowledge, Will has all of the skills required to recommend the perfect equipment for amateur golfers.
Will started playing golf more than a decade ago at Thorney Lakes Golf Club, Cambridgeshire and is now a member at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincolnshire. His handicap index is 5.8, largely thanks to his scratch-standard short game.
Away from golf, Will enjoys going to the gym, cooking, spending time with his friends, and watching his beloved Manchester United.
Will uses a Cobra LTDx Driver, Cobra LTDx 3-Wood, TaylorMade P790 2-iron, Callaway X Forged 18 Irons (4-PW), Wilson Staff Model Wedges (52°, 58°), TaylorMade White smoke IN-12 Blade putter and the TaylorMade TP5x Golf ball.
When he’s not testing golf shoes, he chooses to wear FootJoy Hyperflex or Under Armour Charged Phantom. He uses a Shotscope Pro L2 rangefinder, and his favorite training aid is the PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer and mat.
You can contact Will via email or follow him on Twitter here.
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Brian Harman What's in the bag.
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Brian Harman is part of Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup
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Titleist TS2 Fairway wood.
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Titleist U.500 Utility Iron.
