What They Have in Common
These are the same bag in most ways that matter. Both stand bags, both 4.x–5.0 lbs empty, both with full-length dividers, a premium 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. Neither publishes 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 the S4 doesn't list. 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.
Get the Titleist Players S4 Stand Bag.