Bryson DeChambeau tinkers with conventional clubmaking

They are Jackie and Juniper, not to mention Gamma, Tin Cup and the King. And they’re all identical twins.

OK, they’re not exactly twins. More like decuplets, or whatever you call 10 siblings who all look like each other. Same height, same weight.

In this case, they are Bryson DeChambeau’s irons. And they may be the most revolutionary idea in golf clubs since woods went metal.

“If we can get a single-length set to perform at a high level,” the 22-year-old Californian said, “I think the game of golf could go in a whole new direction.”

They’ve worked well for DeChambeau, who last year became only the fifth man to win NCAA and U.S. Amateur titles in the same year. On Sunday, he finished as low amateur at the Masters, even flirting with the lead on Friday.

This week he’ll make his professional debut, putting those irons to the test again at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

“I think it personally fits me quite well,” DeChambeau said of Harbour Town Golf Links. “I’m a straight driver and like to hit a lot of low shots and control my golf ball. It’s definitely a ballstriker’s golf course, and I look forward to making my professional debut there.”

It might be the most highly anticipated professional debut since Jordan Spieth, who won two U.S. Junior Amateur titles and finished 16th in a PGA Tour event before even applying to college. In 2013, Spieth became the first teenager to win a PGA Tour title since the 1930s.

It would be difficult to project anyone to approach that kind of quick success. But DeChambeau does have a runner-up finish at last December’s Australian Masters, and held a share of the first-round lead two months ago in Abu Dhabi.

“He’s obviously got a lot of confidence, a lot of belief in himself,” said Jim Furyk, who opened Heritage Week by hitting Monday’s ceremonial tee shot into Calibogue Sound.

“His golf swing’s a little unique. It’s real simple, but it seems like it’s easily repeatable. It looks to me like it’s something that can last for a long time.”

And isn’t that the crux in golf, to hone a swing that can be trusted to repeat itself no matter the circumstances?

This is where the mad scientist in DeChambeau – he majored in physics at SMU – steps to the forefront. The typical length of a 3-iron is 38 inches; a sand wedge might be 34 inches. Wouldn’t it be easier to develop a repeatable swing if he didn’t have to change his posture with every club?

“That didn’t make sense to me,” DeChambeau said. “You have to subconsciously change every single time.”

DeChambeau is a disciple of “The Golfing Machine,” Homer Kelley’s 1969 instructional book that sets out to create a swing that fits any golfer. He first delved into the book at age 15, given to him by longtime swing coach Mike Schy.

“He actually threw it at me,” DeChambeau recalled, “and said if you want to be a better ballstriker, check this out.”

It wasn’t long before DeChambeau started asking the question about single-length irons. Taking apart a set of old Nike irons, he and Schy set out to fashion everything to a 6-iron length.

“We went through probably about 15 belts on the grinder and about $150 worth of lead tape,” he said.

Then it was time to take them on the course. On the first hole, DeChambeau ripped an 8-iron 160 yards that came to rest near the hole. “That was perfect,” he said. “It didn’t go 170 yards, which is my 7-iron.”

At the next hole, he striped a 5-iron 205 yards just short of the flagstick. “Now I’m thinking this actually works,” he said.

Eventually, DeChambeau got a new set made without all the grinding and lead tape. Upon putting them into competition, rivals were skeptical. They’re not so much now.

Oh, those names? Every one of them has meaning.

King is DeChambeau’s 60-degree wedge, named after 1960 Masters winner Arnold Palmer. Jackie is the 9-iron, set at 42 degrees -- Jackie Robinson’s number. Gamma is the 3-iron, named after the third letter in the Greek alphabet.

Hey, there’s method to his madness. And it just might work.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 8:31 AM with the headline "Bryson DeChambeau tinkers with conventional clubmaking."