Golfers, perhaps more than any other athletes, rely on a balance between their skills and proper equipment to be successful in their sport.
This idea rings true for LSU senior All-American John Peterson, who cites trust in his clubs as a major contributor to his rise to be one of college golf’s premier players.
The Driver
Peterson is in the process of switching his driver to Titleist’s current model, a 7.5 degree 910 D2. But comfortability, especially with the driver, is key to Peterson, and it has delayed his switch.
“This driver here I’ve been hitting left. But it is the newest one, and I know it goes farthest,” Peterson said. “I’ve been trying to work with it, but all these new wrenches and technology to move the face around I can’t figure out.”
For now, Peterson is sticking with the driver he has been using for the last three years because it is a reliable club. But Peterson has shifted his gaze back to the new driver.
“I want to hit this one. It goes the farthest, but I just haven’t been able to trust it so far, and golf is 100 percent about trust,” Peterson said. “If you don’t trust your club, you’re not going to hit good shots.”
The Irons
Peterson brandishes his 4-iron like an expert swordsman.
“Honestly, this thing looks like a butter knife to most people,” Peterson said.
When the Fort Worth, Texas, native describes his clubs, he sounds like an auto mechanic telling you about an obscure fix on your car that you’ve never heard of.
“These are Titleist 710-MB’s. They’re full muscle-back player’s club,” Peterson said. “You won’t find these in most people’s bags because they’re so hard to hit.”
His 6-iron is his go-to club in clutch situations, and it shows. The face has a well-worn circular spot where he consistently grooves pure shots.
The Short Game
Peterson admits putting has been the weakest part of his game. But his new putter may be the favorite club in his bag.
He got it a week and a half ago, and it isn’t one that’s found in many bags.
“It’s a custom-made Scotty Cameron Circle T, which means you’re not supposed to get them until you’re on the PGA Tour,” Peterson said.
What makes the putter truly special to Peterson is the cover. It didn’t come with the new putter — Peterson had to earn it.
In the fall semester of his sophomore year, former LSU great David Toms came to an LSU football game and gave his personal putter cover to the team.
LSU coach Chuck Winstead told the team that if somebody wanted the cover — which is the only one ever made — then they would have to earn it.
“I ended up winning a six-round qualifier, so I felt good that I didn’t get it just handed to me,” Peterson said.
“It’s pretty cool, because it was Toms’ and he used it. He’s the best player ever to be here.”
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contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]