Taking clubs OUT of my bag.

shimm9 · October 19, 2009

What a revelation. I can't remember where I'd read about it first but the suggestion to remove your least reliable clubs from the bag in order to get better with fewer "go to" clubs has been a success.

Now carry:
Driver, Hybrid 19 degree, 5i, 7i, 9i, Pw, Sw, Lw, Pu

I use my Pw from anywhere between 140ish to 75 yds, then I use my Sw from 75 and in. Lw is strickly for what seem to be short sided recovery shots around the green. Now if I could just learn to chip and putt I'd have a single digit handicap.

**kpaulhus** · October 19, 2009

so you try and adjust your swing for a 6 or 8 iron? Or do you just hit it full with the 9i and then chip on? I know what you mean by go to club, but its essential to carry all the clubs. Some rounds I may not ever hit a 4 or 5 iron, but sometimes I use the 4 or 5 to get to a distance where I feel comfortable with my wedges instead of going long with the hybrid and possibly into a hazzard.

**denver_nuggs_15** · October 19, 2009

What a revelation. I can't remember where I'd read about it first but the suggestion to remove your least reliable clubs from the bag in order to get better with fewer "go to" clubs has been a success.

I never liked the idea of taking clubs out that actually have a use. The fact that you can't hit them means you either need to find a club you can hit or practice more with the club. There was a time when I couldn't hit a 5 iron. Then, two years ago, it became a "go to club" for me. However, I still couldn't hit a 4. This year a 4 became another go to club for me. It's all about practice. Plus, distance control is pretty tough when you're really far away is kind of tough. It's much easier to take a full swing with a 6 than to choke down and take a 3/4 swing with a 5.

But, see what your scores are. It'll probably improve your game, too (distance control), but I wouldn't recommend playing a match without useful clubs.

**wrx_junki** · October 19, 2009

Can't imagine being able to hit everything in the 75-140 yard range with just the pitching wedge. I understand taking out your fairway wood if you don't hit it well but why take the 6 and 8 iron? If you can hit your 5 and 7 iron, I would think that they are just as reliable as the irons that are in your bag.

**sean_miller** · October 19, 2009

What a revelation. I can't remember where I'd read about it first but the suggestion to remove your least reliable clubs from the bag in order to get better with fewer "go to" clubs has been a success.

Sounds good - more golfers should do this (IMO).

My brother has his set pared down to ~ 6 clubs. I've never once seen him use the Titleist GW I gave him 10 years ago - he hits PW or 9 iron from anthing less than 160 and SW only from the sand. We played 9 holes this summer and on on par 5, he pushed (power fade?) his 3 wood onto an adjacent fairway. He launched a 7 iron a mile high over trees back to the fairway (~ 190 yards) then with the same iron he hit a punch shot approach from 130 to about 12 feet. Here I am lugging 14 clubs and about 2 dozen balls and we both shoot 41 - what a p$!$@#$%^#!!

**duffer888** · October 19, 2009

I do this quite often and don't score any worse. However, I don't score any better, so I'm still lugging 14 clubs around...

IMHO, beginners are MUCH better off playing with a half-set of clubs. It's less expensive, lighter to carry and teaches you how to hit a variety of shots under a variety of conditions. But the biz doesn't make any money this way...

shimm9 · October 19, 2009

Yes, I adjust my swing to compensate for distance. I take a 7i that max goes 165 and just swing 3/4s for a 150 yd shot that in the past I would have used a 8i. Now I never really overswing. And, my bag weights much less.

**sethro5hc** · October 19, 2009

I understand maybe leaving a driver at home (ala Tiger that time he won a championship and never used it)... I've actually played several rounds before where I used my driver only on 1 par 5 per side (but luckily I have the luxury of distance and can get my 3 iron hybrid out there 250-255). I don't see a use for leaving out 6 and 8 irons though? IMO clubs that give people trouble are low irons...3, 4 sometimes 5's... woods especially driver, and super low clubs like lob wedges. In between that most people can hit 6,7,8,9 I'd say. not great, but not horrible either. Leaving a driver at home is strategic I think. Leaving a super steep lob wedge at home to keep yourself from trying and failing at those flop shots is another strategic move. But taking one club for anything from 75-145 yards seems like you're creating an unnecesarry difficulty.

My personal view, and the view of most I think, is to always hit a full shot when you can. No reason to try and do a 60% swing on a 9 iron if a full SW gets you there perfectly you know?

I understand completely the thought behind the idea, but seems to me you took it a little to the extreme? But hey, whatever works. If I could shoot 72 with just a 5i, PW and putter I'd do it!

Chris Stack · October 19, 2009

Agree with a bunch of people on this. I took my 3W and 5W out because I was much more reliable with my hybrid off the ground, and never bothered to hit my 3W off the tee (I'm decent with the driver.)

But I also agree that I don't get why you take the 6i and 8i out. Doesn't really seem like there would be any benefit. I don't think my swing changes for my 5-9i, I just let the loft of the club do the work. It seems like if you could hit one of those, you could hit any of them.

I could also stand to take my 3i and 4i out of my bag, as I'd rather reach for the hybrid or the 5i, but since I have plenty of room in there, I leave them in, if only to work on at the range.

**sean_miller** · October 19, 2009

Agree with a bunch of people on this. I took my 3W and 5W out because I was much more reliable with my hybrid off the ground, and never bothered to hit my 3W off the tee (I'm decent with the driver.)

Why wouldn't you take out irons you never use? People commonly discuss hitting full, 3/4 and 1/2 shots with 4 different wedges yet they can't understand somone backing off and hitting a 3/4 shot with a mid iron. There was a time when golfers carried a handful of clubs and learned to hit a multitude of shots with each one. That was perhaps when men were men.

**Sherlockian** · October 19, 2009

If it works for you, then that is all that matters. I rarely play with all 14 clubs in my bag. I only play 2 courses regularly, and know exactly which clubs never see the grass. I agree that clubs are designed specifically, but sometimes that design can get you in trouble. I have a playing partner that is an excellent chipper but insists on using his 60 all around the green. Man I love taking his money.

**NormH3** · October 19, 2009

my grandfather played with 3,5,7,9 MacGregor MT550 (Roy Knoll..I think) a Spalding wedge and a few different woods. I don't know how good he was, but he enjoyed the game.
I have them in my basement now.

Chris Stack · October 20, 2009

Why wouldn't you take out irons you never use? People commonly discuss hitting full, 3/4 and 1/2 shots with 4 different wedges yet they can't understand somone backing off and hitting a 3/4 shot with a mid iron. There was a time when golfers carried a handful of clubs and learned to hit a multitude of shots with each one. That was perhaps when men were men.

I guess because I don't see the point. Take out clubs to make room for other clubs, sure; take out clubs when you already have <14...why, exactly? So you don't hit them? To make your bag lighter? I mean, what are you accomplishing? That's why I left my 3i and 4i in; I already have an empty space (to be filled either by a GW or a lower hybrid, not yet determined) so why take out more clubs just to have 11 instead of 14? No point, IMO. As others have said, better to take a full swing.

**Supermanwoot** · October 20, 2009

I think the point is that if you lets say hit a 3-iron well only 10% of the time then either get a hyrbid or ditch the 3-iron. I carry a 3-hybrid and ditched the 3-iron, also dont have a 5-wood because I hit the 3-hybrid the same distance basically so really no point when if anything i hit the hybrid more consistently.

But if you are getting rid of clubs that you use often and can hit well then thats a mistake.

I lost my 8-iron on an old set of clubs and that would hurt me on a few holes and I'd make bad shots, that right there told me that having all the clubs really helps.

**sean_miller** · October 20, 2009

I guess because I don't see the point. Take out clubs to make room for other clubs, sure; take out clubs when you already have <14...why, exactly? So you don't hit them? To make your bag lighter? I mean, what are you accomplishing? That's why I left my 3i and 4i in; I already have an empty space (to be filled either by a GW or a lower hybrid, not yet determined) so why take out more clubs just to have 11 instead of 14? No point, IMO. As others have said, better to take a full swing.

People have to carry 14 clubs because you have room for 14 clubs in your golf bag? That's logical.

I suspect that most high handicappers would be best served worrying less about hitting all 14 well and focussing on hitting a variety of shots well with about 8 to 10 clubs. Do you guys really think someone is a better golfers because he has 13 different full shot clubs - better than someone who relies more on feel and creativity?

**ks8829** · October 20, 2009

I like the ideal especially when you carry your bag and you want to lighten the load, you are right it forces you to play partial shots to make up and distances. This can carry over to any club once you build up the confidence to pull off the partial shots.

When you play into the wind and you need to keep the ball low the partial shot work well, yesterday I hit a partial 7 iron pin high into the wind from 130 yards out.

Chris Stack · October 20, 2009

People have to carry 14 clubs because you have room for 14 clubs in your golf bag? That's logical.

But again, I get taking out, say, a wood or wedge that you don't hit well. No biggie, and I did it too. I DON'T get taking out a 6i and an 8i so you carry 5, 7, and 9i. The skill to hit an 8i is hardly different than that to hit a 7 or 9, and if you don't need the room in the bag for a different club, what's the benefit? Why do you want to take a 75% or 80% shot with a 7i to go 150, when an 8i would do it with a full swing?

**Where's the Cart Girl?** · October 20, 2009

And, my bag weights much less.

No offense to anyone here, and believe me, I'm far from Herculean in physique, but I'm pretty sure the average golf club weighs less than a pound. (~ 270 grams)

Take out 4 clubs and lose ~ 2.5 lbs? Wow. At least that's what the boys at KGB said when I txt them... (542-542)

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Taking clubs OUT of my bag.

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