Fewer than 14 clubs?

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Jeff M — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:48:19 GMT

Coming to this thread after playing with a reduced set for fun the other day. Another forum I'm on has this handmade sunday bag that travels around the world and we take it for loops wherever we can, I went 8 clubs: driver, 3 wood, 4i, 6i, 8i, pw, sw, putter. I knew I would need the 3 wood a few times so I kept it, otherwise it would have been out with that and probably added a hybrid.

Overall the small set was a lot of fun, and something I'll probably do in the summer evenings after work quite a bit when I'm just looping a quick 9.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Lou G — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 03:25:40 GMT

The thumbnail shows my full bag. If I want to play minimalist and still have a good setup I can go driver-7W-23H-27H-7-8 iron- 44-50-56-64 and putter. If I want to go with 10 clubs, use the 25H and a CB 7 iron (bent to 32) in place of the hybrids and the 6-7 irons.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

MICHAEL C — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:25:52 GMT

I've played 12 clubs for over 50 years, Driver, 4-wood, 3-PW, SW, putter. Played in a national championship with this set-up.

Modern lofts have changed this slightly, now Driver, 18* hybrid, 4-PW, AW, SW, putter. I bet if I measured the old sticks they'd be within a degree club for club, just have different numbers now.

I really appreciate the light bag now that I'm in my sixties and still hoofing.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

MWells — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 13:27:37 GMT

I play with a driver, 3 wood, hybrid, 5-9 iron, Vokey 46,52,56,62 and Scotty putter. Almost 14.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Seth P — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 16:18:55 GMT

I was carrying 12 for the longest time but did have a few gaps that needed filling. Recently added 818H2 19degree to fill my biggest gap but still only carrying 13 if that makes me minimalist; cannot think of time I've had 14 in the bag.

Also, occasionally it is fun to play a round of 9 holes with 4-5 clubs to see the course in a new light and hit some different, more creative shots.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Dennis M — Wed, 29 May 2019 23:04:48 GMT

Since I have a love/hate relationship with every lob wedge known to man, I often ditch that and my 54* sand wedge in favor of a 56* SW, so I carry 13 clubs. I just know if I try to hit a lob wedge, I'll cost myself strokes.

As for people who carry a handful of clubs, there must be enough out there to justify the space taken up by the selection of tiny 6" round carry bags at my favorite golf store. (Planet Golf in Miami, FL) Somebody must be buying them...

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Frank P — Wed, 29 May 2019 02:59:18 GMT

Reworked my set makeup due to loft overlap. I now carry 13 clubs. Driver, 3 & 5 woods, hybrid set to 26 deg., AP1 6 iron thru W-wedge, Vokey SM7 54 & 56 and a Scotty X-5R.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Alex — Tue, 28 May 2019 20:11:44 GMT

I use a one strap quiver bag with a small collection of clubs. D2 917, 913 3 wood, 4,6,8,PW,54 and Scotty. I switch it to odds so the irons wear even.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Luke H — Tue, 28 May 2019 19:58:23 GMT

12 clubs for me.

Driver
4W,
4 Driving Iron
5-PW
52
58
Scotty

I barley have time to master the 12 I have in my bag, let alone add 2 more and try to find time to practice with those.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

John B — Tue, 28 May 2019 16:43:47 GMT

Sometimes...

913D3 10.5
913F 19.0
22.0 HB
5-PW AP2 716
56 SW Putter

11 Clubs

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Chuck Zirkle — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 19:29:51 GMT

Have to re-address this post. Have made a recent change in my setup. Still have 14 clubs but recently did away with my 917f 15*. Realized that I very seldom use it and that I used my 816H more, so changed it to a 16*. Iit is a more versatile club and off the tee can come close to the fairway club with better accuracy. New set up as follows: 917D2 11.25*, 861h1 16*, 816h1 18*, 818h1 22.50*, 716AP1 5-52W, SM6 56.10 or 56.14 F grind (depends on sand), SC Newport 2 Notchback Select .... the first day I used this set up I had four birdies.... hope this trend continues and I can get my game in check....

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Anthony C — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 20:12:59 GMT

I play 13 clubs; I thought about adding another wedge, but I like my creativity without it. I think its fun to really work my 56 for a variety of shots.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Craig D — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 20:22:58 GMT

When carrying, 10 clubs for me to reduce the weight, but also fun to hit a few more creative shots. 917D3, 816H1 19, TMB 3i, 718 AP2 4,6,7,8, PW, 54 SM6, SC putter. I walk all year round, but find in the winter or when very wet, easier to carry and not push the cart.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

JAM — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 18:46:41 GMT

This year I turned 75 and moved to the forward tees and continued to use a Titleist 1.9 lb carry bag with either eight or nine clubs: 915 D2 8.75, 915F 16.5, T-MB 3, 5, MB 7, 9, Vokey 52, Vokey 60 and Cameron Napa or Newport 2. The eight club bag changes the iron configuration to T-MB 4, MB 6, 8, PW, Vokey 56. It works out well and I will continue this arrangement in the 2019 season.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Tim Cup — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:05:53 GMT

I'm at 13 clubs,
Driver
3 wood 16.5
hybrid 21
ap3 5-48deg
vokey 54 & 58
putter

So far this setup is working well without any noticeable gaps for my game.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Deno — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 05:24:38 GMT

I carry 16 clubs...

I play with a weekly group that has one guy who occassionally plays with us. He is a rules nut. I had forgotten to remove an extra wedge that I re gripped for a friend the first time he played with us. Sure enough, this guy explained the rule on the first tee ad nauseum. Now, every time I play in the guys group, I see him hawking my bag and counting clubs. I finally decided to load 2 headless shafts upside down in my bag making my 14 club count. It may take him a few holes but he can't resist the peak.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Len D — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 01:50:01 GMT

Summing up my game at the end of the year:

Club total went from 14 to 12.
Handicap went from 8 to 6.

What’s in the bag?

Driver
16.5 degree 3 wood
21 degree hybrid
5-PW
50 and 56 degree wedges
Putter

Happy Holidays everyone!

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

RYoung — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 19:56:39 GMT

I love the minimalist approach of fewer clubs. I feel we as amateurs, can’t hit the club on the number as a professional would every time. Most of the time, amateurs are at 1 club short or more. An it leaves fewer decisions for a person. I play Titleist 915D2, 714 mb 3, 5, 7, 9, 50 degree wedge, and putter. Enjoy your walk.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Frank P — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:09:52 GMT

Playing at PGA Golf Club which has 3 courses, it's hard to operate with less than 14 clubs. I wish that I could carry 15 in order to put another wedge in.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Gary D — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:23:10 GMT

My group plays a 2 club tournament every year. And you have to putt with one of the 2 clubs. Funny thing is that I don't play much worse with 2 clubs vs 14 clubs. About 2-3 strokes more per side. Usually 37-38 per nine and with 2 clubs I do 39-40 per nine. The most important thing is making sure you can putt with one of the 2 clubs.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Dan S — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:47:22 GMT

13 with the new AP3s. Putter, DR, 3W, 3H, AP3 4-PW(47) and Vokeys 48, 55, 58

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Lou G — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:40:31 GMT

20 yard gaps are not hard. You choke down 1/2" to shave 10 yards off your distance on a full swing. For 3 years I played with a 47* PW and 55* SW. About a 25 yard gap. On executive courses, a driver isn't needed.

I might note that I played with 3-4 woods, 3-5-7-9 irons, Dual Wedge (about 57*) and putter between 1972-1979. I broke 90 with this in 1975.

I played with driver-7W-5H-7H-9-PW-54-60 and putter before. When I broke 80, I had a 19 fairway and a 9 wood. Still 10 clubs.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Lou G — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:21:44 GMT

This is Torrey Pines ready. Lofts are 12-18.75-23-27.75-32-36-42-49-57-64. The minimalist setup is to leave the 5 wood and 32H out. I also played between 1972-1979 with 8 clubs: 3-4 wood, 3-5-7-9 irons, dual wedge and putter. www.titleist.com/.../bjg5d4ik1vi7qkrb84iw

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

greg p — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 01:17:04 GMT

I often play with 7 clubs. (Driver, 3,5,8,pw, sw, putter.) I think doing so has made me a better player because I must be able to hit those clubs different distances.

RE: Fewer than 14 clubs?

Chuck Zirkle — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:30:05 GMT

Still carrying 14 clubs. Still learning to hit them all. Like to play local tournament golf and never know when I might need one. As we get older and play from the shorter tees (seniors in particular) we do tend to use less clubs. I did take my 15 degree fairway out of my set but replaced it with a 816h1 16* and getting good results both off the tee and short grass, plus two other hybrids, a 816h1 19* and a 913H 23.25*. They help out on the par fives.