Auston Kim, ranked fourth in driving distance on the LPGA, shares insights on how she selects her golf clubs. Her impressive average of 290 yards per drive necessitates a tailored fitting process.
Key points
Auston Kim ranks fourth in LPGA driving distance
She averages 290 yards per drive
Club selection is tailored to her power
Scotty Kim is her PXG LPGA tour manager
The fitting process is crucial for performance
Mentioned in this story
PXG
Auston Kim
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Auston Kim is ranked fourth in driving distance on the LPGA, but how does she decide what clubs to play?Sarah Stier/Getty Images
PXG staffer Auston Kim, who averages 290 yards per drive, is one of the LPGAâs longest hitters. And her power dictates a special fit. Recently, I had a chance to get some range time with Kim and PXG LPGA tour manager Scotty Kim and got a look into their process when it comes to getting clubs in her bag.
Hereâs what I learned.
The bottom of the bag
Auston Kim started the bag with a 58-degree lob wedge, choosing to play PXGâs 3x Forged Sugar Daddy III wedges and opting for a lower bounce C-Grind offering in the lobber. She said sheâs never used a 60-degree wedge because she prefers to chip with the 58 degree. At one point, she played just 52- and 56-degree wedges until a round with Hollis Stacey at a junior tournament.
âShe looked at my wedges,â Kim said, âand said, âWhat are you doing?â So she told me to go 50, 54, 58 and Iâve just stuck with it.â Wise advice.
PXG Sugar Daddy III Custom Wedge
PXG Sugar Daddy III Custom Wedge
PXG Sugar Daddy III Custom Wedge
Artfully engineered for versatility, customization, and insane accuracy across all playing conditions. PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy III Wedges are 3X forged, 100% CNC milled, and feature three innovative sole designs to allow players to find their perfect fit while experiencing the quality and precision only PXG can deliver. Available right and left-handed in both Chrome and Xtreme Dark finish. BENEFITS Versatility Outstanding Control Customization Innovative Adjustability Unmatched Precision
She continued the wedge set with a 54- and 50-degree S-Grind, also in the Sugar Daddy III wedges. I thought it was interesting that she chose the lower-bounce C-grind in the lobber, but Scotty Kim gave some insight.
âYou know I think for her, with the shots that Auston hits around the green, the C-Grind provides some versatility for her,â he said. âBeing able to open it up and still have the right bounce to get through the turf and not get stuck.â
Irons
Auston Kim had the PXG 0317ST irons, which are easily some of the nicest irons that PXG has ever made. Itâs an iron that has stood the test of time over the years, and hasnât been replaced yet by PXG, but we hear there may be something new coming soon. The 0317ST heads are what I would consider a âplayerâs blade.â Itâs a narrow-sole option thatâs meant to launch a little bit lower and spin a bit more while providing optimal control for the player.
A golfer wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a white vest swings a golf club outdoors, with a blurred green background.
Auston Kim hits her PXG 0317ST 9-iron during play at Shadow Creek. David Becker/Getty Images
Since Kim is a player who hits a cut shot and works the ball with plenty of spin, something like the ST provides her the feel, feedback and launch that she wants to feel in control of the ball. âIâm a stock cutter â I have to see the ball work left to right.â she said. She also talked about a recent iron switch that happened purely because Accra no longer makes her old Accra Tour 90 shafts. Sheâs now in the Accra TZi 95 iron shafts â itâs a fantastic graphite offering for stronger players looking for more of a ProjectX type of feel.
Long game
Kim really shines once you put some metal woods in her hands, and it starts with the hybrid, the hero of our story here. PXG has always made a really good hybrid. Even through a couple years of some iffy metal woods, the hybrids were always a good standout in the lineup. Kim, however, isnât exactly the normal hybrid candidate. Hybrids are extremely popular on the LPGA, but a lot of that comes out of a need for speed and launch, not something that Kim concerns herself with. For her, itâs more about confidence.
âPersonally, I think that I struggle with hitting the ball high sometimes,â she said. âI know I can get it up there, but the 4-iron just doesnât look good to me. Iâve tried it a bunch before and I just â I believe that a hybrid has more versatility. I just like the look of this better.â
A golfer swings a club on a grassy course, with a red and blue trajectory path shown. An overlay displays golf stats like ball speed (142.8), launch angle (12.0°), back spin, carry distance, and more.
Even as a high-speed player with plenty of ball-striking prowess, the versatility of a hybrid isnât lost on Austonâs game. GOLF.com
We had Kim hit a couple fun shots with her PXG Lightning 4-hybrid, and she hit the nail on the head when she talked about how versatile the club is. Hitting it through all windows is stress-free for Kim, and it gives her the confidence behind the ball that she needs to perform on course. With ball speeds reaching 143 mph, she gets plenty of distance out of the club as well. With her stock shot getting to about 80 feet in the air, I challenged her to hit the ball up to 100 feet and then hit it as low as possible. She hit one to 100.9 feet in the air and hit a low stinger to 21.4 feet. Versatility? Check.
She then followed up the Lightning 4-hybrid with a Lightning Tour 5W and Lighting Tour 3W before jumping to her Lighting Tour driver.
Auston Kim and Scotty Kim worked together last fall when the new Lightning product came out and ended up fitting her into a Lightning Tour 9-degree Driver in the PXG FLAT setting with a Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Black 5-S. Auston Kim works with plenty of spin, so using their Lightning Tour model helps to control her misses a bit better and makes sure that sheâs not over-spinning her stock shot. The Ventus Velocore+ Black shaft helps keep up with her aggressive transition and helps stabilize the head through impact. Itâs a setup she has a lot of trust in and has plenty of speed. Ranked fourth in driving distance on the LPGA doesnât come easy, but clearly Scotty Kim has helped her build up a workhorse here.
A golfer swings on a sunny course as a screen overlay shows ball data: speed 161.7 mph, launch angle 11.2°, carry 268.8 yards, back spin 2248, descent angle 33.4°, and other detailed stats.
Auston Kim has got PLENTY of power. GOLF.com
âI already liked Black Ops a lot, and when I first tried the Lightning Tour that was â I mean I saw an immediate jump in ball speed and carry so it was a no-brainer,â Auston Kim said.
A female golfer and a male golfer fist bump next to a golf bag labeled âAUSTON KIMâ on a sunny golf course. They stand on green grass surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
A nice fist-bump with Auston Kim to end the session. GOLF.com
