Skratch Attests: Titleist Players 4 Carbon Golf Bag

I love golf bags. I love them almost as much as I love golf clubs. And, much like golf clubs, a properly fit golf bag can make or break your experience on the golf course, depending on the type of golfer that you are - and I’m not talking about your golf swing or handicap.

Are you a walker? Are you a walker who uses a push cart? Are you a minimalist? Do you love to have storage? Are you a mudder and will play in anything? Do you exclusively play golf in a driving cart?

The important thing to know here is that there is no wrong answer to how you play, but there can be a wrong answer to how you choose your golf bag, and if you’re a walker who is looking to lighten the load, look no further than the Titleist Players 4 Carbon.

Why the Titleist Players 4 Carbon?

If you play a pretty average 6500-yard golf course, and then factor in the extra walking you do from green to tee and around the course, there is a very good chance you’re going to walk anywhere from 4-6 miles, if not more, during a round of golf. Now I’m no expert, but if you’re looking to reduce fatigue and make that 4-6 mile walk as enjoyable as possible I can bet that doing it with less weight on your back can help a lot - this is where the Players 4 Carbon comes in because it weighs less than 4 pounds.

I didn't take Titleist's word for it either, I personally checked with my kitchen scale just to make sure.

Ok so it's light - big deal, there are lots of lightweight golf bags on the market, but the big differentiator with this lightweight golf bag option is that it doesn't sacrifice features or comfort to save on weight. It can be tough to find a full-feature golf bag without the full-feature weight. Golf bags generally weigh between three and seven pounds sans clubs. Those extra five pounds will make a difference, especially considering that a bag full of clubs and accessories can start weighing in over 20 pounds—and that's a lot to shoulder for 18 holes.

Having used the bag for a number of walking rounds where I carried, even though I’ll admit to being someone that tends to use a pushcart these days for anything more than 9 holes, I found the bag to be extremely comfortable. I even employed a second opinion from another walker I know, my wife Dana, who said she liked the pocket layout and said the bag was comfortable and easy to adjust. Considering we have very different body types, this demonstrated that the bag is ergonomic for different types of people.

(Sometimes golf bags aren't the only thing we carry on the course)

Comfort is especially noticeable thanks to the wide straps and padded hip pad, something that I have found to not be as pronounced or effective on other lightweight bags that I have tried in the past.

The other thing is, for a lot of lighter weight bags, durability is sacrificed in the name of shedding valuable ounces, but even at its lighter weight, the Titleist bag feels sturdy and stable thanks to the ripstop material used in the bags construction.

Plus it has (as the name suggests) carbon fiber legs to help reduce as much weight as possible while also being stronger than traditional aluminum ones.

It's Not Perfect, But It's Close

Look, you gotta take the good with the bad, and when it comes to golf bags I’m picky—like real picky–so I have one small issue I have to mention - the top divider compartment.

But let me preface this criticism with the overall divider system is very good, and clubs move in and out of the bag with ease. My issue with the top divider is something I notice because I use a slightly larger grip on my putter, and because the top divider is smaller top to bottom, it can feel a little snug at times.

Once you add in a couple of covers from a driver and a fairway wood, it gets crowded - nothing that’s make or break by any means, but hey, you came here for the nitty gritty details and I’m here to deliver.

To add another perspective, my wife used this bag on multiple occasions, uses a long putter with a larger grip, and never mentioned the bag feeling crowded, and she has more head covers in her set than I do, so maybe I’m just too picky.

The Verdict

If you’re a golfer who walks and is looking for a lightweight stand bag, that puts a premium of comfort and features, the Titleist Players 4 Carbon is fantastic choice.