If All You Took From This Tour WITB Was Gear, You Missed The Real Lesson

I love Tour WITB videos but it’s not because of the clubs.

What I’m really listening for are those little hidden bits of insight Tour pros drop when they talk about their bag. Sometimes it’s about preparation. Sometimes it’s about decision-making. Sometimes it’s just about how they think through a round of golf.

Bud Cauley recently walked through his 2025 Titleist WITB and here’s what I learned.

The ball is the most important piece of equipment — and you shouldn’t change it often

Cauley said it plainly: the golf ball is the only piece of gear you use on every shot.

He emphasized how much he values familiarity with his ball: same spin, same feel, same trajectory window every time. In addition, Cauley mentions that changing balls too often introduces variables you don’t want.

Amateurs often buy golf balls on sale or try every new model but this creates too much inconsistency.

Trajectory control > raw distance

When Cauley talked about why he plays the Pro V1 over the Pro V1x, he didn’t mention distance. It was all about how the ball flies. He wants a lower window with a ball that’s easier to control, better in the wind and provides a more consistent landing angle.

If your goal is scoring, you may want to focus less on how far the ball goes and more on how it flies.

There’s a shot-shape strategy behind every club

Cauley said he typically hits a fade with his driver and specifically uses the mini driver when he needs to hit a draw off the tee. He’s not just swapping clubs based on distance. He’s making decisions based on what shape he wants to play.

Some clubs make it easier to hit a certain shape than others. You may not need to be able to shape the ball with every club in your bag. Instead, figure out which clubs make it easier to get the shape you want.

Familiarity builds confidence

You know we’re all about the data and numbers, showing you what works and what doesn’t. However, more than once, Cauley mentions how long he’s played certain clubs. He doesn’t keep them in the bag because they are better than the new models; he’s just confident with them.

He has a Titleist TSi2 5-wood, the Titleist 620 MB blade irons and an older Scotty Cameron putter.

Build your bag for the courses you play

Cauley doesn’t carry a 3-iron or a 5-wood full-time. He rotates them depending on the conditions, especially the wind. When it’s breezy and low shots are key, the 3-iron goes in. If it’s a course that requires height and carry, the 5-wood is the club he carries.

Your bag setup shouldn’t be fixed. Adjust based on the course, weather and how you’re playing that week.

Wedge grinds matter—but only if you know why

Instead of just picking bounce numbers, Cauley chose each grind based on how it moves through the turf. He explained why he chips with the 56-degree wedge, but not the 48, and how the low-bounce 60L helps him on tight lies, firmer bunkers, even in rough.

The right wedge isn’t just about loft. It’s about how the sole reacts to the shots that you like to hit. Go for a wedge fitting. Don’t just guess on the grinds, they make a big difference.

Final thought

WITBs are easy to scroll through and focus just on the clubs in the bag and even the specs. But the real value? It’s in the way Tour players think about their equipment. Bud Cauley just gave some great lessons in how to build a bag with purpose and most of it had nothing to do with the clubs themselves.