Anyone carry 14 clubs and no FWs?

[onthehunt526]

Simple question really, does anyone have their Driver as the only true wood in their bag? I've thought of toying with the strong hybrid in place of a FW, just wondered if anyone has done it, and how it went...

[00dannyboy]

hi, i carry driver, 3-p, sandwedge, 60 lob, 64, super lob, and a putter. no complaints. i hit driver about 275-300 depending on how i connect. 3 iron usually 205 carry, 10-15 roll for 220 avg. ptch wdg is about 125-135. so, my sandwedge and lobs are my "accuracy" clubs. i started hitting my 3 wood really poorly about a year ago so i ditched it. traded it in for credit. carried a 2 iron for a while but could not hit it dependably. 3 iron was more accurate. yes, there is a big gap between my driver an 3 iron. i dont care right now. ive thought about picking up a 3w for that gap, but havent bothered. i just lay off the driver if i need to drop a few yards. but honestly, i hit driver when i probably shouldnt. dogleg left or right, par 4, bend is at 200-245. i hit driver over the trees. sometimes i pay for it, but, its just not worth it to hit short to the bend and be that much further from the hole. i like being on in 2 with that second shot being as short as possible. my occasional problem is the short par fours. i hit driver to the green or close but get in trouble there sometimes too. a 3w could force me to be a little more deliberate in that case.

[TimS65]

Up until recently I only carried a 3wd for shorter tee shots as I didn't like playing hybrids off the tee or woods off the deck! Now I'm happy playing either from tee or fairway.

[meenman]

Seriously considering it. I have swapped out my 5 wood for 9 wood and back several times, but the result is the same - both sit in the bag.

On the holes I do not tee off with my driver, a 3 or 4 hybrid is adequate as the tee shots need to be carefully placed.

At this point, I may just replace the wood with a second, short putter for shots just off of the green or out of bunkers.

[PJCdude]

I only hit 3wd off the tee and am considering replacing my 5W with a 3H this upcoming season. If I go ahead with that change, I wouldn't have any woods that I hit from the fairway so yes!

[vangator]

I know a guy that carries no woods. Tees off with a 3 iron. He also sucks. :-D You should carry what will help you score. If you're erratic with fairway woods, don't carry them. I'd sacrifice distance for accuracy, especially if it means penalty strokes. I'd rather play a 7 iron from the fairway over a PW from the trees.

[Fourputt]

Simple question really, does anyone have their Driver as the only true wood in their bag?

I've thought of toying with the strong hybrid in place of a FW, just wondered if anyone has done it, and how it went...

Back in the late 80's and early 90's I carried 2 drivers and no FW woods.  I had an original TM Burner at 9.5° and a TM Tour Driver at 8.5° (the heads on both were smaller than a modern 3W).  The Burner served as a FW wood though, so probably not quite what you are asking.  There were also no hybrids yet then - I carried 2I - SW in my iron lineup (MacGregor RPM in manganese bronze).  I carried 13 clubs total.

[bste]

I have four hybrids: 14*, 15.5*, 17*, 19*

I hit my 3 wood pretty consistent, longer than the 14*, but wanted to get some numbers on all of them, so took out the 3 wood.

Needless to say, the 3 wood is going to stay in the bag for the distance.

Also use 3-SW. Hit them all pretty well but need to gain distance with them.

LW isn't in the bag, don't use it enough.

Use what you can, work on what you need.

With some lessons, over the winter, my swing is in flux.

So to answer your question, yes and no.

Hope this helps, lol

Brian

edit by Brian

[jsgolfer]

Simple question really, does anyone have their Driver as the only true wood in their bag? I've thought of toying with the strong hybrid in place of a FW, just wondered if anyone has done it, and how it went...

Yes, I carry only a driver. I have a 16 degree hybrid and then carry a 6 hybrid through 4 hybrid. I went to the darksided and started to carry additional hybrids instead of the iron equivalents. And I carry 5 wedges -PW, GW, SW, LW, ELW

[Patch]

A long time ago, probably 25 years or so, I only carried 12 clubs in my bag. 2i-SW, putter, and a driver. I played some pretty good golf with that bag make up. Later on I read one of Pelz's books, and started messing around with various clubs, for various situations. With newer technology making clubs more forgiving, I am at my present bag make up of 14 clubs, which includes 4 metal woods, 4 wedges, 5 irons, and of course my putter.

I still have that original 12 club bag. Sometimes I will take it to the course just for the fun of it.

[newtogolf]

I think it depends on your distance and course management philosophy.  The biggest reasons I see for FW's is to make up for lack of distance off the tee and to use at the tee in order to avoid trouble (tight fairways, bunkers and hazards that come into play if driver is used).

I need a 3W to have a chance to reach a long par 5 in three or long par 4 in two.  I also will use my 3w more off the tee if I'm struggling with my driver.

[onthehunt526]

I think it depends on your distance and course management philosophy.  The biggest reasons I see for FW's is to make up for lack of distance off the tee and to use at the tee in order to avoid trouble (tight fairways, bunkers and hazards that come into play if driver is used). I need a 3W to have a chance to reach a long par 5 in three or long par 4 in two.  I also will use my 3w more off the tee if I'm struggling with my driver.

Well I was thinking more in the 14-16° range with the strong hybrid...

[newtogolf]

Well I was thinking more in the 14-16° range with the strong hybrid...

If you hit a strong hybrid better than a fairway you won't be giving up much in terms of distance.  I'm a lefty so there aren't many 14-16° hybrids to choose from.  I'm happy when I can find one less than 18°.

[onthehunt526]

If you hit a strong hybrid better than a fairway you won't be giving up much in terms of distance.  I'm a lefty so there aren't many 14-16° hybrids to choose from.  I'm happy when I can find one less than 18°.

I have a 17° Adams Hybrid I hit well, I just balloon a little... I'm looking for something I can get out there about 230-240...

[WUTiger]

Last year, I played with a 20-something who had no FWs. He carried a 2H and 4H, and was a looong hitter. He had a shot at the two shorter Par 5s in two.

I also know a senior golfer who carries a 3W, but says he never hits it. But, he's good with his hybrids.

[arturo28mx]

I only carry a Driver, 3 wood and 7 wood. No hybrids.

Rest are irons and wedges.

This is what works for me best.

[Tat14]

I have found it easier to hit my 15.5* 3W compared to a 15* long hybrid.

The 3W is a TM R11s and the 2H is an older PING G10. Both shafts compare re: flex, torque, kick... 3W is a bit lighter.

I prefer my fairway wood swing as well as the small head on that club (160cc). Although the hybrid head is smaller, there exists this "wood or iron swing" debate in my frontal lobe.

I swap in a 7W for my 20* hybrid based on this same issue.

[Lihu]

I carried a 3H and DI for a while, until I realized that I could hit almost as far with my 3 FW as my driver.

3 FW is a really nice club if you can be it's master.