The Quick Verdict
Get the S4. At $270 list, it does almost everything the S5 does — full-length dividers, double strap, cart strap tunnel, stand legs, YKK zippers — for $40 less. The S5's two extra pockets and an additional divider slot are real upgrades, but they cost 0.2 lbs and $40 at list. Walk two rounds with each bag and you'll notice the $40 more than the weight; you probably won't notice the pocket count at all. The S5 is worth it if you genuinely need that extra organization, but the S4 is the bag for most rounds. Check price at TGW →
What They Have in Common
These are the same bag in most ways that matter. Both stand bags, 4.8 and 5.0 lbs empty, both with full-length dividers, a double strap, a cart strap tunnel, a magnetic tee pocket, an integrated handle, a redesigned stand system, and YKK zippers. Titleist publishes no top size, material, waterproof claim, or rain hood information for either one.
Where They Differ
Top organization
The S4 runs a 4-way top; the S5 goes to 5. Both have full-length dividers, so every slot runs the full depth of the bag — grips don't tangle, and you can pull a club without fighting its neighbors. The practical difference between four slots and five is mostly about how you like to sort things. Four slots means more clubs share a channel; five gives you one more dedicated slot, which some golfers want for a putter or a second wedge. Titleist doesn't say whether either has a putter well.
Pockets and storage
Eight pockets on the S4, ten on the S5. That's the clearest spec gap between these two. A 14-way top makes a missing club obvious before you drive off; the same logic applies to pockets — ten means more dedicated homes for range balls, valuables, snacks, a jacket. Whether two extra pockets change your round depends entirely on how much you carry. The S5 also has a velcro glove landing patch, which Titleist doesn't list for the S4. Small thing, but if you're the kind of golfer who tucks a glove under a strap and loses it by the fourth hole, it's not nothing.
Weight and price
The S4 is 4.8 lbs; the S5 is 5.0 lbs. That 0.2 lb gap is unlikely to register over 18 holes with a bag full of clubs, balls, and whatever else you carry. The $40 list price gap is more real. The S4 lists at $270, the S5 at $310. If you're choosing between them, you're paying $40 for two pockets, one extra divider slot, and a glove patch.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the S4 if:
- You want a walking stand bag at a lower list price and don't need maximum pocket count.
- You carry a normal load — clubs, a sleeve of balls, a glove, some tees — and eight pockets covers it.
- You ride occasionally and want the cart strap tunnel without paying for features you won't use.
Get the S5 if:
- You carry more stuff and genuinely use every pocket you have — rain jacket, rangefinder, snacks, extra gloves, the works.
- You prefer sorting clubs across five slots rather than four, and that extra divider changes how your bag feels at the top.
- The $40 gap doesn't factor into the decision.
The Bottom Line
The S4 and S5 are close enough that the honest answer is straightforward: get the cheaper one unless you have a specific reason for the other. Ten pockets and a 5-way top are real if you use them; they're dead weight at list price if you don't. The S4 hits the same structural notes — full-length dividers, double strap, cart tunnel, stand legs — for $40 less. If you know you pack a bag to the brim and want the extra slots, the S5 earns its $40. Otherwise, keep the money.