Bryson DeChambeau 3D printed his own 5-iron and plans to use it at Augusta National during the 2026 Masters.
Ben Hogan started a golf equipment company as his playing career was winding down. Now it seems that fellow Texan Bryson DeChambeau has similar aspirations.
As first reported by ESPN, Bryson DeChambeau has begun his quest to win the green jacket at the 2026 Masters with a 5-iron he designed and 3D-printed himself. “That’s the plan as of now,” DeChambeau said to ESPN on Wednesday. He didn’t share any details about the iron, and photos weren’t available before he teed off in Thursday’s first round of the Masters.
Several manufactures have employed 3D printing to make clubheads, or at least parts of clubheads, in recent years. But even if you have a spare $100,000 (or more) to buy a 3D printer that can make metal objects, there is more to adding a homemade golf club to your bag than just designing it and then pressing “PRINT.” Every driver, fairway wood, hybrid, iron, wedge, putter and ball has to be tested by the USGA and R&A to be sure it conforms with the Rules of Golf. DeChambeau’s creation is no exception.
Golfweek reached out to the USGA on Thursday and received the following response: “We can confirm that the club has been evaluated to conform. Information regarding the submission, including the timing of the submission, is kept in confidence and we do not share that information.”
The USGA maintains a public-accessible database of clubs and balls that have been tested and that conform to its standards for play, but you don’t find DeChambeau’s iron.
Beth Major, the USGA managing director of communications & content, explained, “It is not listed. There is no requirement that an iron must be listed. It simply must conform to the Rules. The player assumes the risk of non-conformance if a club hasn’t been evaluated by a governing body.”
The rest of DeChambeau’s irons are made by Avoda and are also 3D-printed, and all of them are extremely strong-lofted. DeChambeau has said his old Avoda 5-iron has 17 degrees of loft. Ordinarily, that’s the loft of a 2-iron or a 5-wood. Typically, a 5-iron designed for an accomplished golfer has a loft between 25 and 27 degrees. On a YouTube video, DeChambeau said his 5-iron has 17 degrees of loft because it generates about 4,000 rpm of spin, which at DeChambeau’s swing speeds produces the trajectory and yardage he’s looking for.