Jason Day’s New Club Setup: 13-Club Bag with Prototype Curved-Face Irons
Picture this. A golf superstar fresh off a break from the circuit, boldly revamping his entire arsenal right in the middle of a tournament. It’s a move that could redefine his game and spark endless debates in the golfing world. Jason Day, the former world number one and 13time PGA Tour champion, did just that at the Bank of Utah Championship, and fans are buzzing. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this kind of high-tech experimentation pushing the boundaries of fair play? Or is it simply innovation at its finest? Stick around as we dive into his radical changes and what they might mean for the future of golf. After stepping away from competitive golf for 2 months, Jason Day made his triumphant return on the PGA Tour at the Bank of Utah Championship. That downtime gave him the perfect opportunity to reflect deeply on his performance and tackle any weaknesses headon. The result, a comprehensive overhaul of his equipment that included brand new prototype irons, updated shafts, redesigned grips, and even a fresh hybrid club. By Thursday at Black Desert Resort in Ivans, Utah, Day was teeing off with a streamlined setup of just 13 clubs. Yes, you read that right, 13 instead of the usual 14. We’ll unpack that intriguing detail shortly. Despite all these adjustments, Day showed no signs of being out of practice. He carded an impressive three under 68 in the first round, nailing 12 of 14 fairways and coming oh so close on for Greens in regulation. Yet, he openly acknowledged that his iron play had been far from ideal throughout the season. I hadn’t been hitting my irions great at all, Day shared post round. I decided to have a chat to my coach Colin Swatton and say, “Do you reckon we can go out and just maybe have a look.” This willingness to evolve isn’t new for Day. He’s experimented with various blade and cavity back designs from brands like Tailor Made and Ping earlier in the year. But what he’s brought to Utah this time is a gamecher quite literally. At the heart of his new bag is a set of 3D printed irons from Avoda Golf, a company he co-designed with and stumbled across through his coach. These aren’t your everyday irons. They incorporate curved face technology much like the ones Bryson Dambo used to claim victory at the US Open on Pinehurst number two. For beginners curious about this tech, think of it as a smart design tweak. Normally hitting a golf ball off center can cause it to spin sideways, a phenomenon called gear effect, leading to shots veering off course. The curved face counters this by minimizing that unwanted side spin, helping even imperfect strikes fly straighter and more reliably toward the target. Day, who operates as an equipment free agent, always on the hunt for the best of the best, was sold after chats with the Evoda team. His coach raved about how thorough and knowledgeable they were, saying, “Man, in all the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never come across the guys the way they explained everything. After collaborating on multiple 3D air printed prototypes, Day’s ions now feature progressive face curvature tuned to his swing.” PGA Tour live host Lisa Cornwell described the technology as phenomenal, noting how Day instantly saw his shot dispersion tighten, meaning his balls landed closer together, even on misses. Unlike Dchambo setup with uniform shaft lengths across all irons, Day stuck with standard varying lengths, giving him more control over different clubs. He’s still tweaking though. After this week, we are obviously going to get back together and see what needs to kind of be improved. He added, I think currently right now, I would like to see a little bit a tiny bit more offset. Try and get a little bit more turn. If that has a little bit more offset, it will actually elevate the ball a little bit more in the air, which would be nice. Complnting the irons are Jumboax JMX Zen light grips for better feel and KBS graphite shafts, a lighter alternative to his previous heavy dynamic gold X7 136 g shafts. The switch to the 110 g KBSTGI Tour Graphite felt a definitely easier on the body, Day explained, reducing strain while maintaining power. He aims for consistency in shaft profiles from his 60deree wedge all the way up to his driver, allowing one seamless swing motion to produce desired ball flights, whether it’s a draw or a fade. For him, it’s all about that reliable draw shot. And this is the part most people miss. Despite the full refresh, Day confessed he’s actually playing 13 clubs here this week as he figures out distances with a new Callaway Apex UW hybrid in the mix. This means he’s temporarily skipping the 14th club. A bold choice that could raise eyebrows. Right now, I think we’re in the testing phase. He said, you know, we still got to get the gappings right. Have to get the spins right. So, obviously, that is going to be more testing coming up for me. With his signature event status secured for 2026 after a 41st place FedEx Cup finish, the full season is prime time for such experimentation. Day’s last win came at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in 2023. So, this could be his ticket back to the winner circle. He even joked about wishing for that 14th club on the pod 59th where he finished with a bogey. Watch his bag closely on Friday to see if he sneaks it back in. But here’s the controversy brewing in a sport where tradition reigns supreme is adopting prototype tech like curved faces giving players an edge that’s too unfair. Some might argue it’s cheating the game, while others see it as evolutionary progress. And what about that 13 club setup? Does it blur the lines of the rules, or is it just smart strategy? Do you think golf elite should have access to such cuttingedge gear, or does it make the playing field unequal? Share your opinions in the comments. Do you side with innovation or tradition? We’d love to hear your take.
Jason Day returns to the PGA TOUR with a brand-new bag setup after a two-month break. He debuts a 13-club setup, featuring 3D-printed Avoda Golf irons with a curved face design, inspired by Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open win. Day discusses the changes with his coach, Colin Swatton, and shares his thoughts on the new technology.
The Australian golfer also reveals his strategy for optimizing his swing with the new irons, aiming for consistent ball flight and improved dispersion. He adds JumboMax grips and KBS graphite shafts to his setup, prioritizing comfort and swing consistency.
Will these equipment changes help Day return to the winner’s circle? Stay tuned as we follow his journey at the Bank of Utah Championship and beyond.
