Viktor Hovland What's in the Bag? (2023)
Posted by GolfBox on 21st Sep 2023
With his unorthodox swing and an ever-present grin on his face, Norway’s Viktor Hovland is the antithesis of a cookie-cutter tour pro.
He readily confesses to diving down the rabbit hole of internet instruction to hone his formidable swing and his famous "double pump" driver drill nearly blew up the internet.
Hovland made his Ryder Cup debut for Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021 and became known for winning in the PGA Tour’s tropical destinations: back-to-back wins in Mayakoba, Mexico, and the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, and a victory at the Puerto Rico Open.
In 2023, he finished runner-up at the PGA Championship before going on a late-season tear, winning the Memorial, BMW Championship and Tour Championship, where he claimed the FedEx Cup and its US$18 million bonus.
When it comes to choosing his clubs, it seems he’s slightly more orthodox than his swing suggests.
What clubs does Viktor Hovland use?
Let's take a look what's inside Viktor Hovland’s bag:
Viktor Hovland Driver
PING G425 LST DRIVER (9˚@7.75˚)
Hovland is a flusher and his skilful use of the driver gives him a big edge.
He averages over 300 yards - at an incredible accuracy of 62 per cent - with his PING G425 LST driver, which has the smallest head (445cc) and produces the least spin in the G425 range.
It’s a driver suited to fast swing speeds and it’s an excellent fit for Viktor, which explains why he hasn’t upgraded to the latest PING G430 LST driver yet.
A new forged titanium Ti-S9+ face boosts ball speed and distance yet the G425 LST is the most forgiving low-spin driver in golf – a perfect combination when Viktor needs to chase it off the tee.
The PING G425 LST also has a weight adjustability channel that provides flight shaping bias, to correct or encourage a fade or draw (Hovland has his driver weighted for a draw).
A Fujikura Speeder 661 TR X shaft completes the picture.
Viktor Hovland Fairway Wood
TAYLORMADE STEALTH PLUS+ THREE WOOD (15°)
Viktor’s TaylorMade Stealth Plus+ three wood happens to be one of the most versatile fairways in the game.
The Norwegian can flight his Stealth Plus+ fairway low off the tee to gain some distance or hit it high from the fairway or rough – two good reasons why he tends to chew up long par fives out on tour.
While the Stealth Plus+ fairway has since had an update (Stealth 2), the Plus+ is TaylorMade’s most compact fairway wood model (175cc).
A ZATECH titanium face, which is studier and more flexible than regular titanium, helps Viktor extract precious ball speed out of his Stealth Plus+ fairway, while a steel sole and carbon fibre crown work together to concentrate the centre of gravity low for a high-launching and long ball flight.
Viktor has a Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X shaft paired with his Stealth Plus+ fairway.
PING G425 MAX SEVEN WOOD (20.5˚)
Meanwhile, Viktor uses his PING G425 MAX seven wood to hit greens, with its easy-launching distance and high flight.
A thin steel covering wraps the crown and face of the G425 MAX, which is the major contributor to the high-flight and distance characteristics Viktor requires.
The MAX is the most forgiving model in the PING G425 line-up, with its tungsten sole weight elevating forgiveness.
Viktor Hovland UTILITY IRONS
TITLEIST U505 (#3)
Viktor will occasionally carry play a Titleist U505 driving iron, which he’ll use off the tee as a fairway finder and use for long approach shots into par 5s.
The U505 offers hybrid-like performance but features a sleek appearance that is more like an iron.
Viktor’s U505 has a three iron loft but its hollow-bodied construction means it launches much higher and longer than a regular three iron.
Viktor Hovland Irons
PING i210 IRONS (#4-PW)
PING i210 irons are compact, cavity-back irons designed for big-time shotmakers like Viktor. Released in 2018, i210 irons feature a big, soft elastomer insert positioned inside the rear of the head.
The insert delivers a highly precise feel, which is a non-negotiable element of iron performance for elite golfers like Viktor. But the insert also helps transfer energy from the club head to the ball at impact more efficiently to max out distance.
While i210 irons are no longer available (replaced by the new i230), Viktor has also played PING’s iBlade and new i59 irons.
Viktor Hovland Wedges
PING GLIDE 4.0 WEDGE (50˚, 56˚)
PING’s Glide 4.0 wedges complement Viktor’s game, with their precise feel helping him finesse his laser-like approaches stone dead.
They are more compact than their predecessors (PING’s Glide 3.0 wedge) and feel and turf interaction have been upgraded with the choice of four sole grinds (S, T, W and Eye2).
An Emery Blast textured finish on the face improves friction at impact for more spin while PING’s HydroPearl 2.0 finish helps maintain spin rates when it’s wet.
PING GLIDE 2.0 WEDGE (60˚)
Viktor’s 60˚ PING Glide 2.0 wedge sees a lot of action out of greenside bunkers, around the greens and inside 70 yards.
Viktor Hovland Putter
Viktor’s PING PLD DS 72 putter has been involved in some big moments of his career, with the flatstick used to drain birdie putts at the final hole in both of his PGA Tour victories.
A mid-mallet putter with an Anser-type hosel, Viktor’s PING PLD DS 72 has a moderate amount of toe hang.
Viktor has paired his putter with a counterbalanced Winn grip, which smooths out his stroke and improves speed control.
Viktor Hovland Ball
2023 TITLEIST PRO V1Less spin is preferable to too much in Viktor’s world, which is why he chooses the Titleist Pro V1 over the higher-spinning Pro V1x.
The new Titleist Pro V1 is a three-layer ball that helps Viktor pound his drives long but it offers plenty of stopping power on the greens.
