Advice on 13th and 14th Clubs in My Bag

[km782]

I am about a 10 handicap.  I started playing when I was pretty young and have had the same set of knock-off Ping Eye 2 irons for about the last 15 years.  This year I decided to upgrade and got fitted for the Mizuno JPX-825 Pro irons (4-GW) and a Titleist Vokey 54 (bent to 55 degrees) and a 60 degree Vokey wedge.  I also carry the Titleist 913D2 driver and a TaylorMade putter but I wasn't fitted for either of them.  That makes 12 clubs.

When I was getting fitted, the Trackman had my 6-iron consistently going about 190-195 yards and a swing speed of 95mph.  So, distance usually isn't much of an issue for me.  I rarely used my 3-wood in my old bag and couldn't tell you the last time I used my 5-wood.  I'm trying to decide what my 13th and 14th clubs should be.  It might be nice to have a long distance club that I can use on narrow holes when I don't have enough confidence that I can keep my driver straight (used to use my 3 iron for this).  I've never hit a hybrid before but figured I'd try and see if I can find one that goes a little further than my current 4 iron (or if I don't like the way they feel I can stick with a fairway wood).  After that I'm not sure what I should do.

Can anyone offer recommendations on what might work best to fill out my bag?  Thanks

[golfbarefoot]

It's not necessarily that the hybrid will go longer, it could...but it should get airborne quicker and land nicely (softer) and it's much more playable from tighter lies and cabbage. Hybrids are pretty versatile clubs. Sounds like you know what you're doing.

[Club Rat]

I pulled the trigger this year and retired my MP 33's and went with exact same setup - JPX 800's.

Same wedge setup, only bought Mizuno's and replaced the Vokey's.

I added a 3 hybrid my first ever hybrid.

Still love my 3 & 5 woods, they will never leave the bag.

But, some insight to your game options, it would depend on the courses which you play on a regular basis.

If you are playing Western courses (US), fairly wide fairways without tree lined, but penal if you get off target,

then a driving iron may be a choice.

If your on tight courses, then really no need for FW Woods.

Also, consider wind conditions in your area.

I rotated different drivers on occasion and some days had two in the bag.

The only other thought would be considering course lengths.

Consider having options for the best tools for how your swinging the sticks.

And last thought, if you like to carry, then the lighter load of 12 or 13 clubs is good.

Club Rat

[boogielicious]

I am about a 10 handicap.  I started playing when I was pretty young and have had the same set of knock-off Ping Eye 2 irons for about the last 15 years.  This year I decided to upgrade and got fitted for the Mizuno JPX-825 Pro irons (4-GW) and a Titleist Vokey 54 (bent to 55 degrees) and a 60 degree Vokey wedge.  I also carry the Titleist 913D2 driver and a TaylorMade putter but I wasn't fitted for either of them.  That makes 12 clubs.

When I was getting fitted, the Trackman had my 6-iron consistently going about 190-195 yards and a swing speed of 95mph.  So, distance usually isn't much of an issue for me.  I rarely used my 3-wood in my old bag and couldn't tell you the last time I used my 5-wood.  I'm trying to decide what my 13th and 14th clubs should be.  It might be nice to have a long distance club that I can use on narrow holes when I don't have enough confidence that I can keep my driver straight (used to use my 3 iron for this).  I've never hit a hybrid before but figured I'd try and see if I can find one that goes a little further than my current 4 iron (or if I don't like the way they feel I can stick with a fairway wood).  After that I'm not sure what I should do.

Can anyone offer recommendations on what might work best to fill out my bag?  Thanks

Welcome to the forum @km782 !  I would look at what the gaps are in your longer clubs.  4 iron to driver is a pretty big gap if I read your post correctly.  I only carry three wedges and have 3H, 5W and 4W.  The 5W is a Titleist 910 that I have the loft up a degree, so the gap between my 4 and 5W is 10+ yards.  I can hit the 4W off the deck too, which helps.  Try out hybrids for the 3 and even 2 iron replacements.

[km782]

Thank you for all of the responses.  I went to my local range and tried a few clubs from their demo selection.  I think it might be best to either get 2 hybrids or a hybrid and a driving iron because I just can't consistently hit the fairway woods straight.  The selection was limited but I hit the Adams Idea the best of the hybrids I tried (even though it was a regular flex instead of stiff) with the Ping G25 in a close 2nd.  They didn't have the Adams Pro and Pro Mini or the Titleist 913h which I would like to try.  I'll go to my local Golfsmith and hit some of the clubs but I was hoping I could get some suggestions that would help narrow down my search?

One of the things that makes my JPX-825 Pro irons work well for me is that they have a more rounded edge on the leading part of the sole of the club.  I'm a digger so this helps prevent me from catching too much turf and hitting shots fat.  I'm thinking that might be something to factor in when selecting my last 2 clubs.  Are there driving irons that are typically recommended for diggers?  What about hybrids?

Thanks again for the help

[Seniorhacker]

Adams hybrids. Love the older super-hybrids, you can still find them new at some sites at great prices.

[WUTiger]

A couple of ways you could go: 4W + 7W ... fairway wood + hybrid... or..... whatever!

First, the club manufacturers have made some definite improvements in fairway woods the last four years. Since autumn is coming, you might look for some demo days and golf expos in the early spring. Or, just go hit some FWs and hybrids to see what's there.

boogie mentioned he has a 4W. Definitely try 4W and compare to 3W. A couple of years ago Golf Digest reported on tests done on FWs: the average golfer could hit a 4W better - and sometimes longer - than a 3W. Even better players sometimes benefit from 4Ws. At a demo day last year, the Tour Edge rep (Exotics fairway woods) had people testing out FWs. Some of the stronger players - guys with true 270 yd. carry on driver - actually hit the 4W better than the 3W. It depends in part on how you come into the ball at impact.

Three years ago, I dumped 3W and an assortment of 5W, trouble clubs, etc., and went with a 4W + 7W. The little extra loft really helps me. 4W reliable for longer shots, and the my 7W is very versatile - it gets ball out of medium rough better than a hybrid.

As far as hybrids go, your swingspeed and low HDCP indicate going with a pro or tour head - basically a square face angle. Some people complain that hybrids are "hook machines," and this is often because the standard H heads have quite a bit of offset which strong swingers don't need. And try different hybrid models. The first three hybrid models I tried just didn't work for me. Then, I went to a demo day and found both a Callaway and Adams model that I could just smoke. (Odd combo: pro heads with R flex shafts - I'm a  bit handsy in my swing).

I have a 4H which I usually carry. In colder weather when its windy and rough is sparse, I'll swap the 7W for a 3H.

Also, don't be afraid to play around with different head + shaft combinations. Modern fitting carts offer a lot of options to test.