What They Have in Common
These two are nearly the same bag. Both stand bags, both 4-way tops with full-length dividers, eight pockets, a premium double strap, stand legs, and a cart strap tunnel. Both use YKK zippers and the redesigned stand system. Titleist publishes no top size, material, or rain hood information for either one.
Where They Differ
Weight
The S4 comes in at 4.8 lbs empty; the StaDry at 5.0 lbs. That's a 0.2 lb gap — not nothing over 18 holes on your shoulder, but not the kind of difference you'll feel until the back nine in August on a hillier course. If you're choosing primarily as a walking bag, that gap is real but small. On a cart, it's irrelevant.
Waterproofing
This is the whole argument. The StaDry has what Titleist calls StaDry waterproof construction with seam-sealed zippers and a waterproof valuables pocket. The standard S4 makes no waterproof claim — Titleist's lineup is explicit that the StaDry version is the waterproof one. So the S4 is not sold as waterproof, and you'd be wise not to treat it as such.
What that means practically: if you play through morning dew, occasional drizzle, and light rain a few times a season, the S4 with a rain cover (if Titleist or your shop includes one — Titleist doesn't say) might be fine. If you're regularly out in proper rain, or you keep valuables in the bag and hate wondering about moisture, the StaDry's seam-sealed construction is doing something real.
Price
The S4 lists at $270. The StaDry lists at $340. That's a $70 gap at list for 0.2 lbs and a waterproof claim. Whether that's worth it is essentially a question of how often you play in wet conditions and how much you care about your bag and its contents staying dry.
Titleist also doesn't list the S4's integrated hip pad and external water bottle pocket for the StaDry. Worth checking before you buy if either matters to you.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Titleist Players S4 Stand Bag if:
- You walk some rounds and ride others, and want the lighter option of the two.
- You mostly play in fair weather and aren't worried about a bag with no waterproof claim.
- The $70 list-price gap matters, and you'd rather spend it on rounds or gear.
- You want the hip pad and external water bottle pocket that appear in the S4's feature set.
Get the Titleist Players S4 StaDry Stand Bag if:
- You play regularly in wet conditions — early morning tee times, rainy climates, or both.
- You keep valuables (phone, wallet, rangefinder) in your bag and want the waterproof pocket for genuine peace of mind.
- The $70 premium for seam-sealed construction and a waterproof valuables pocket is the right insurance for how you play.
- The extra 0.2 lbs doesn't move you.
The Bottom Line
Same bag, two versions: one for most conditions, one for wet ones. The 0.2 lb weight difference is a footnote. The waterproofing is the whole decision. If you're playing in serious rain with regularity, $340 for seam-sealed construction and a waterproof valuables pocket is a real argument. If you're not, paying $70 more at list for weather protection you'll rarely need is hard to justify. The S4 has the same organization, same strap, same stand system, and same cart tunnel for less money.
Get the Titleist Players S4 Stand Bag.