What’s In The Bag: Sam Burns
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What’s in the bag of Sam Burns, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion and 2023 Ryder Cup star.
Sam Burns is a five-time PGA Tour winner and has been a Callaway staff player since turning pro in 2017. All 14 clubs in his bag are made by the brand, including the Paradym driver – one of the year’s best drivers. He also plays the Callaway Chrome Soft X ball and wears apparel and shoes made by Callaway-owned brands TravisMathew and Cuater.
The American has rocketed up the Official World Golf Rankings since 2021, from outside the Top 100 to consistently being among the Top 20, with a career-high of 9th.
The 26-year-old is a former Louisiana State University college player and NCAA Player of the Year. He turned pro in 2017, and joined Callaway ahead of making his PGA Tour debut at the Sandersons Farms championship.
He tasted victory at the Web.com Tour’s Savannah Golf Championship in 2018 but had to wait until May 2021 for his first PGA Tour win, when he lifted the Valspar Championship.
Another win followed in October 2021 at the Sandersons Farms Championship, and he successfully defended the Valspar in March 2022.
Burns then beat Masters champion Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to win the Charles Schwab Challenge in May 2022.
His first win of 2023 came at the last WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. He won all seven of his matches across five days, including victories over Scheffler in the semi-final and a dominant 6&5 win over Cameron Young in the final.
Victory at the WGC will likely mean Burns makes his Ryder Cup debut for Team USA at the Marco Simone Country Club in Rome in September. He was part of the USA side that won the Presidents Cup in 2022.
Burns will hope to take his fine form into the Majors and improve on his best Grand Slam finish of T20th at the 2022 US PGA Championship.
Let’s delve into Burns’ Callaway golf bag and take a more detailed look at his golf equipment. Find out how all of Burns’ clubs performed in our tests of the year’s best equipment, including the best golf irons.
What driver does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses a Callaway Triple Diamond driver (9°) with a Fujikura Ventus Blue 7TX shaft
The Triple Diamond is also the only model without an alignment aid and target the better player. Burns uses the extremely popular Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X shaft.
The low-spinning Paradym Triple Diamond driver is a popular choice with tour pros, with many Callaway players seeing an increase of 2-3mph ball speed over the previous Rogue ST model.
In our driver’s test, we found that the Paradym Triple Diamond will be a cracking driver when it’s in the right hands. If you swing with the speed and consistency of Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, this may be the perfect driver for you. The chances are that many of you reading this don’t swing as precisely as these tour players so may want to look for a low-spin driver with a little more forgiveness.
TG’s test pro-Neil Wain said when hit out the middle the Paradym Triple Diamond is a rocket. This is proven in our test, with the Paradym Triple Diamond ranking second for carry distance. However, testing also showed that anything hit off-center was punished severely by the Paradym, resulting in a 59-yard-left-to-right dispersion.
Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver review.
Pros
Cons
| Lofts: | 8° / 9° / 10.5° |
| Stock shaft: | Aldila Ascent, HZRDUS Silver, HZRDUS Black, Mitsubishi Kai’li White |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 (50g) |
| Adjustable hosel | Yes |
What fairway wood does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond fairway wood (16°) with a Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft
The Triple Diamond is compact but has a deeper face and helps players reduce spin and keep the ball lower. The Callaway Paradym fairway wood is popular among tour pros, including Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim, and Justin Rose.
Just like the Paradym Triple Diamond driver, the fairway is fast and long when hit from the middle. At 254 yards it was the second-longest on test.
However, while it looks neat and attractive at address, there’s no hiding that it hit shots into an area twice the size of our test average. It also launched shots with 700rpm less spin, flew four yards lower, and hit the ground at a five-degree shallower angle than our test averages.
Put simply, the majority of club golfers will struggle to launch and live with this model on the golf course.
Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond fairway wood review.
Pros
Cons
| Lofts | <meta charset |
| Stock shafts | <meta charset |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 |
| Adjustable hosel | Yes |
What hybrid does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses Callaway Apex UW hybrids (21°) with a Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X shaft
Burns has enjoyed great success with the Apex UW in the bag for the past couple of seasons and it's a popular club on tour.
Phil Mickelson helped develop the club before his move to LIV and it's designed to be a club that better players can use from the tee, fairway, or rough. Like Burns' driver, he has a Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X shaft in his rescue.
Read our full Callaway Apex UW'24 review.
| Lofts | 17º, 19º, 21º |
| Stock shaft | Custom-fit only – MCA MMT 70g (Reg, Stiff), 80g (X-Stiff) |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Z Grip Firm (Standard – 50g) |
What irons does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses Callaway Apex TCB Irons (4-PW) with Project X Rifle 6.5 shafts and (AW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts
As well as Burns, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele play TCB. Burns' clubs use the Project X Rifle 6.5 shafts, which he's played throughout his pro career, and have been tweaked to sit one degree upright.
He's also added the TCB pitching wedge, which replaces the 46º Callaway MD5 Jaws Raw wedge he'd used last season.
It's quite rare to see a pro using an AW (Approach Wedge), but this Burns says the addition helped his transition from his irons into the scoring clubs.
"The A-wedge is just a little bit better through the turf," he told Golf WRX. "I was looking for a little more consistency, and those clubs provide that very well… I think there’s more forgiveness in those for sure than with the other wedges.”
Read our full Callaway Apex TCB irons review.
What wedges does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses a Callaway Jaws Raw wedge (56°, 60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts
The American uses True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts – a very common and popular wedge shaft on Tour.
With Vokey, TaylorMade, and Cleveland Golf shouting so loudly about their wedges it’s really easy to forget wedge legend Roger Cleveland has loads of input into each of Callaway’s new models.
Jaws is a tour-level model, designed from feedback garnered by their wedge supremo from working with the world’s top players.
It has a very sharp leading edge, which will be great for nipping shots from the tightest of lies, but makes it much more likely to dig into heavy damp turf too.
We’re big fans of how the Raw rusts only on the face, cutting out glare in bright sunlight. If you believe rusty faces spin more, then you get the best of both worlds – additional performance with wedges that don’t immediately look old and worn out. A very tidy, but pretty costly option.
Read our full Callaway Jaws Raw wedge review
Pros
Cons
| Lofts: | 46° / 50° / 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60° |
| Grind options: | Z, S, X, W |
| Finishes: | Chrome, Black Plasma |
What putter does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses an Odyssey O-Works Black #7S Putter
The Odyssey #7 head shape is a classic when it comes to MOI putters. Weighted alignment wings increase MOI and stability. The O-Works micro hinge face insert lifts putts into a better roll. A short slant neck (the #7 is also available face balanced with a double-bend shaft) and slight toe hang mean the #7S is well suited to slightly arcing putting strokes.
We loved the bold and simple alignment spots and sightlines, and our test pro was particularly impressed with how the two black lines that run from the top edge to the back-flange show when the sole’s flat on the ground and your eyes are correctly aligned above the ball. The #7 head also comes in a red paint job for those looking to jazz things up.
Find out which model is best for you in our guide to the best Odyssey putters.
| Style | Mallet |
| Weight | 350g |
| RRP | £189 |
What golf ball does Sam Burns use?
Sam Burns uses a Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball
It suits players who swing fast and produce low spin. It uses a larger inner core and an outer core that is infused with graphene to create a higher launch and lower spin.
Callaway has been manufacturing tour standard golf equipment for over 30 years, which has made them one of golf's major brands. Chrome Soft golf balls were first introduced in 2015 and over the years Callaway has added the Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS to the line-up. The Chrome Soft X is the most successful ball of these three having won major championships and an Olympic gold medal.
The Chrome Soft X is designed to offer distance off the tee by reducing spin while delivering impressive spin and control around the greens - being the highest-spinning model out of the Chrome Soft range. Having a compression rating of 100 the Chrome Soft X (and Chrome Soft X LS) are targeted toward tour players and better players. However, if you have a slower swing speed the Chrome Soft may be the best option in this range for you.
Making the Chrome Soft X golf balls an option for more golfers is the addition of alignment aids and visibility assistance. My personal favorite is the 360° Triple Track which makes putting much more straightforward.
If you prefer a slightly softer ball with lower compression (slightly cheaper too) then take a look at the Callaway ERC Soft golf balls.
Read our full Callaway Chrome Soft X golf balls review.
Pros
- Good distance off the tee and in the long game
- Incredible spin and feel
- Outstanding feedback from the club face
- Range of alignment aids and visibility assistance
Cons
- Soft feel won't be to everyone's liking
| Construction | Four-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Compression | 100 |
| Feel | Medium |
| Flight | High |
| Colors | White; Yellow |
| Alternative Models | 360º Triple Track; Triple Track; Tru Track; Truvis |
- Precision technology
- Construction optimization
- Hyper elastic softfast core
- New tour aero
What golf shoes does Sam Burns wear?
Sam Burns wears Cuater The Ringer Golf Shoes
The discreet tour-quality spiked shoe built for every occasion
The athletic-looking, tech-packed golf shoe worn by The Masters champion Jon Rahm. The Ringer is a great all-rounder. It has a fully waterproof upper and the breathable mesh liner helps to keep your feet comfortable when the temperatures soar.
The molded insole is designed by orthopedic experts and ensures the Ringer is as comfortable after 18 holes as it was on the 1st tee. On my feet, the first thing that struck me was how light and supportive they were. They looked great with trousers and shorts too!
I love the clean and simple look that's coupled with the discreet branding and it will appeal to a huge number of us who don’t want loud and brash. The excellent Softspikes, felt like they really hunkered into the turf during my swing, and are easily replaceable when required, which should extend the shoe’s life.
Pros
- Subtle branding
- Supportive insole
- Breathable
Cons
- Not too many color options
| Sizes | 8 – 14 |
| Colors | 3 |
| BOA | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
What golf apparel does Sam Burns wear?
Sam Burns wears TravisMathew golf apparel
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About the author
Rob Jerram
Digital Editor
Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. He specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.
He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.
Rob has been a journalist for more than 23 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.
He joined Bauer Media in September 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.
During his time in the golf industry, Rob has interviewed and played golf with some of the biggest names in the game, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Rick Shiels.
He has been playing golf for almost three decades and is a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland and Spalding Golf Club in Lincolnshire, playing off a 9.7 handicap.
In his spare time, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching Peterborough United FC, going for long walks, flying his drone, cooking, and reading.
Rob uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 irons (2, 4-PW), TaylorMadeMG3 wedges (52º, 58º), Evnroll ER2 putter, and TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.
You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.
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We review what's in the bag of Sam Burns.
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Sam Burns uses the Callaway Apex UW.
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Sam Burns TravisMathew apparel
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Sam Burns Ball
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Sam Burns driver
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Sam Burns is part of Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup
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Sam Burns won back-to-back Valspar Championships in 2021 and 2022.
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Sam Burns Odyssey Putter
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Sam Burns shoes
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Sam Burns wedges
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Sam Burns won the WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay.
