Alright, so I spent some time today digging into Dustin Johnson’s setup, you know, the classic WITB deep dive. It wasn’t about buying his exact clubs or anything, more about understanding the choices a top player makes and seeing if any ideas rubbed off on my own practice.
Getting Started – The Curiosity
It started pretty simply. Watched some highlights, saw DJ striping it as usual, and got curious about what tools he was using these days. You hear about his driver all the time, but I wanted a refresher on the whole bag. So, first step was just pulling up some recent info. Didn’t go crazy deep into spec sheets, just wanted a general overview.
Hitting the Range – Driver Thoughts
Naturally, the driver is the big one with DJ. That Taylormade Stealth thing he games, or whatever the latest version is. I took my own driver out to the range. I wasn’t trying to copy his swing – impossible, obviously – but I thought about his setup. He has that slightly closed face, strong grip, that powerful move.
So I experimented a bit:
- Tried teeing it slightly differently.
- Focused on making a full, committed turn, really feeling the coil like he seems to.
- Messed with ball position just a touch.
Didn’t suddenly start hitting 330-yard bombs, shocker, I know. But it got me thinking about generating power smoothly rather than just swinging hard. Felt like I made better contact on a few, focusing on that sequence.
Irons and Wedges – Precision Tools
Next, I moved to the irons. DJ usually plays blades or something very close, demanding precision. My irons aren’t blades, thankfully, but I took inspiration from the idea of precision.
What I focused on:
- Hitting the center of the face. Sounds basic, but really concentrating on it.
- Controlling trajectory. Tried hitting some lower, more piercing shots, imagining the control he has.
- Worked through the wedges, focusing on consistent distances. His wedge game is sharp; mine needs constant work. Just trying to dial in those 50-100 yard shots.
Putting Green – The Money Maker
Finished up on the putting green. DJ’s used a few different putters over the years, often some kind of Spider mallet. Doesn’t matter what he uses, really; the key is confidence and repetition.
I grabbed my own putter and just worked on basics:
- Tempo. Tried to keep it smooth back and through.
- Starting line. Picked spots and focused purely on rolling the ball over them.
- Drilled some short ones. The kind you just have to make.
Didn’t think much about his specific technique, just the pro mindset of making the putter a reliable tool.
Wrapping Up – The Takeaway
So, that was my DJ WITB-inspired practice. It wasn’t about copying him piece by piece. It was more about using his setup as a jumping-off point to think about my own game and equipment. Seeing what a top pro uses makes you evaluate your own choices, your swing thoughts, your weaknesses.
End of the day, you gotta play what works for you. But looking at what guys like Johnson do? It’s a good way to spark some ideas and maybe find a little something to improve your own game. Good session overall. Got the gears turning.
