For Low Handicappers-How did you choose the setup of you clubs in your bag?

[clubmaker15]

How did you choose the setup of your bag? How often to you change clubs? Do you have other clubs that you switch out depending on the course conditions? (Hybrids or more wedges). What can you recommend for a high school golfer that is looking to lower his scores, in regards to club selection? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[Dent]

Im in high school as well, so don't have clubs to switch off due to budget. But after playing a round the other day I suggest this:

Play as safe as you can. Don't take gambles, lay up if there is water, etc. Play reallly safe. The score will show, and I honestly find it more fun.

[Ian]

im also in high scool i'm 16 too dent :)

honestly i'd say if you want to lower your score, dont try to fix a bad shot with a miracle shot it will just add more strokes in the end.

and hit the range at least twice a week. i started doing that this year, and ive seen a huge improvement

[Dent]

im also in high scool i'm 16 too dent :)

Agreed, One shot at a time, Hit irons off the tee. If you are hitting your driver bad that day, don't be convinced you can fix it in the middle of the round and start hitting fairways.

Any club you are having trouble hitting that day, leave it out. Convincing yourself you can fix it will land you in more trouble.

[Ian]

Agreed, One shot at a time, Hit irons off the tee. If you are hitting your driver bad that day, don't be convinced you can fix it in the middle of the round and start hitting fairways.

wellll depending on the hole hit irons of the tee, if its a par 5 and 500 yards, pull out the driver.

but a par 4 for sure do what dent says, if you have a decent 3 iron or hybrid it could save you 4+ strokes per round just picked up because of going O.B. with your driver :) oh and dent. i still need to learn this bit myself

Any club you are having trouble hitting that day, leave it out.

ive tried to fix my 3 iron shots on many occasions, WITH ANOTHER SWING AT THE BALL WITH MY 3 IRON. for some reason it never seems to work... haha

[Dent]

wellll depending on the hole hit irons of the tee, if its a par 5 and 500 yards, pull out the driver.

haha, Pull out the 4 iron. A decent 4 iron shot can go as far if not further than a bad 3 iron.

[Ian]

oh i forgot to mention CANADIANS RULE!

[Ian]

yeh im considering dropping my 3 iron (maybe leave it in for some tee shots where i need to work the ball) and picking up a burner or r7 draw hybrid.. what do u think?

[CG031]

if you have AIM im me TMIC0723....

[Dent]

yeh im considering dropping my 3 iron (maybe leave it in for some tee shots where i need to work the ball) and picking up a burner or r7 draw hybrid.. what do u think?

Replace the 3 iron with a 3 hybrid, probably a very wise choice

[Laxplayer201092]

Good to see the yungins on the forum..

I do switch clubs depending on the course. i genrally drop my 3 iron and add either a 13 degree 3 wood, or a 50 degree wedge.

This works for me because some courses require accurate tee shots most cannot hit with a driver, and some shorter courses require more accurate aproaches.

Could i get by with out switching? yes, but i do find it more useful.

I to am 16, you can talk to me on aim at laxplayer201092

[patrick_the_pup]

Laxplayer201092,

Ian & Dent's opinion are very much valid :)

else, here are 2 options you might wanna consider
1. Driver, 3wood, 3hybrid, 4-PW, 52 & 56 & 60 SW and Putter or
2. Driver, 3wood, 5wood or 2hybrid, 3hybrid, 4 hybrid, 5-PW, 54 &58 SW and Putter

That's just my malaysian's 2cents :)

* Only carry a 3wood if you feel comfy hitting them off the deck, else might want to consider carrying a strong 4 wood :)

[Laxplayer201092]

patrick,

yea, my set up is,

10.5 driver
15 degree 3 wood
17 degree 2 hybrid
3-PW
54 and 60 wedge


That works really well for me, but i have really good luck with my 3 iron, other wise i would put anotehr wedge in.

i agree, new clubs are fun, but the best way to get better is course management. Laying up on par 4's has honestly worked really well for me. Unless i feel real confident with it, if its over like a 5 iron, i usually justo hit to either a chipping distance, or a lob wedge distance. Sounds dumb, but it works

Bakke.

[hoofreak7]

2 pointers:
1) if you can afford it, buy all the equipment that you think will make you feel the most comfortable over the ball. if you can, take the pricetag out of the equation and go with what you feel.
2) all of the pros say that every amateur HAS to get rid of long irons and replace them with hybrids.....i completely disagree...i hate hybrids, i think you sacrifice so much accuracy with them for a little higher and longer shot. now, obviously, tons of people love em, i don't........my point is dont just listen to so called "experts"......make all of your decisions based on feel and comfort

[Caddyshack]

Im not a low handicapper but i quite often leave my driver out of the bag if im playing a short tight course and throw in an extra hybrid, if its not in the bag then it cant get you into trouble...

[JaY_B]

I only really have one set make up that I use, although I have a medal this Sunday and I am strongly considering taking the driver out, the long rough at our course is up to my waist and its only 20 yards from the fairway so keeping it in play is vital too maintaining any sort of score.

[hawkeye]

As said by Dent and Ian - there are more important factors to consider to lower your score: course management, club and shot selection, and practice your short game.

Settup:

9.5 Driver
15 3 wood, draw settup
19 hybrid
21 3 iron

4-9 iron, standard progression

47 PW
54 SW
58 LW

I choose this settup so that i'd have a club for every position on the course. I am considering getting a 2 iron (i use the 3 iron off the tee a lot).

[DJYoshi]

i keep the 3 iron in the bag and I'll hit it 3 or 4 times in a round...once off the tee when I need a rolling land on a par 3 that's 215... then i'll use it again depending on how good my drive is on certain par 5's...sometimes i have a monster drive on a par 5 that i need to go 205 uphill and i'll pull the 3 iron instead of my 2 hybrid. but I love the 2 hybrid b/c it's easy to hit and you can choke down on the club ot control distance. I don't have a HUGE gap in my distances from my 2h to my 3 wood, and I can control the 3 wood to go from 220 - 250 off the deck so I don't need a 5 wood or anything.

I'd say go with a setup that lets you cover yardages and shots from all types of lies. that's what i'm working on now... being able to get my 5 iron to go from 100 - 180. you just never know when you'll need that low pinch shot that only needs to go 100 to the green.