Viktor Hovland is poised to break his 574-day winless streak, and a key factor in his bid for victory could be the new driver he’s added to his arsenal. The Norwegian star has switched to the G440 LST with the Velocore Plus shaft, citing its increased forgiveness and tighter dispersion as the reasons for the change. “I guess that new shaft is a little bit stiffer at the bottom, and with the G440, it’s way more forgiving,” Hovland said on the latest Masters press conference, highlighting the benefits of his new driver.

He also noted that with the new driver, he’s able to maintain ball speed even on mis-hits, saying “So the heel strikes and the toe strikes I’m able to keep the ball speed up compared to the other mis-hits. And the spin is just way tighter. If I hit it off the toe, it doesn’t drop down to 1,700; and if I hit it off the heel, it doesn’t go to 3,200.”

Hovland’s equipment setup is a carefully curated mix of clubs that fit his playstyle. His driver is the G440 LST with the Velocore Plus shaft. He also uses the TaylorMade Qi10 (15°) with a Fujikura Ventus Blue 7X for his 3-wood, which offers high forgiveness and good levels of flight, priced around $270. His irons are the Ping i210, providing great forgiveness and consistency, with the entire set costing around $570. Additionally, he uses the Titleist U505 as a driving iron.

With his new driver and trusty equipment setup, Hovland is looking to make a statement at the Masters. “If it just feels good and I can see it performing better… that’s enough for me to convince myself that it’s going to work,” Hovland said, emphasizing the importance of equipment confidence.

His partnership with PING has been a long-standing one, and with his new driver, he’s ready to take on the best golfers in the world. But wait, that’s not all that Hovland carries on the greens.

Viktor Hovland’s choice of wedges and putter

Viktor Hovland’s wedge setup consists of the Ping S159 (50°, 56°) and the Ping Glide 2.0 (60°) with a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft. The S159 wedge costs $179 and provides a good level of spin, making it suitable for mid-to-low-level handicapped golfers. However, it may wear out quickly. The Glide 2.0 wedge costs $150 and offers upgraded spin and consistency, with a solid impact sound and feedback.

Hovland’s putter of choice is the Ping PLD DS72, a high-end model priced at $449. Despite its cost, the putter has a clean and unshakeable feel, with proper alignment and feedback. The Norwegian golfer uses Titleist ProV1 balls, which cost $55 and provide a consistent and soft feel, although they may lack carry distance. The ProV1x model offers better spin for the short game. In terms of footwear, Hovland wears Puma’s Ignite Elevate 2, which costs $130 and features FLOATPLATE technology for stability. His apparel partner is J. Lindeberg, providing high-quality clothing for comfort and ease of use on the course. So, do you think his bag will work in his favor and he’ll take home the green jacket this year? Let us know in the comment section below!