keep 60° or dump it for 2-hybrid?

[Lihu]

I've been playing my 4i lately, but both my 4h and 4i are in the bag... Took the 60° out.

Do you think 2h or 5w would be better?

I don't really know how you can get along without a 60 degree wedge?

[mmoan2]

I don't really know how you can get along without a 60 degree wedge?

Agreed. I don't know how you could get along with no wedge lofted higher than a 56. No 60 maybe, but no 58 either? How do you hit flop shots, or pitches to short pins? I can't see the benefit of having a 230 yard club vs. a very versatile short game club. Are you that accurate at 230 to see a drastic difference between a 3W and a 2 hybrid?

Here's my set if you're interested. I just got measured at a Trackman recently to ensure the distances are pretty accurate.

Carry distance (within 5 or so yards each):

Ping G15 Driver- 255

TM RBZ Stage 2 3W - 240

TM R15 2hy - 225

TM Speedblade 4i - 200

5i - 185

6i - 175

7i - 165

8i - 155

9i- 148 (seems to go long for me)

PW (46) - 135

AW (50) - 120

Gigagolf SW (56) - 100

Gigagolf LW (60) - 85

I used to have a clone 3hybrid, but the Speedblade distance gains are so great I was hitting it barely 5 yards more than my 4 iron. Therefore, I had a 40 yard gap between my 3W and next longest club. That to me was a reason to get the 2hybrid. I'm also a proponent of buying adjustable lofts because I'm not good enough yet to lock into a club yet. If I see improvement, I may find I'm hitting one club 10 yards longer or shorter later. I kinda feel today like I would ideally like to have an adjustable top-flght driver, wood, and hybrid that I could adjust and not need others for a while. Then I could also keep my 3 wedges. The lofts and quality are what define the club anyway, not the number on the bottom. My 6i is really a 5i in sheep's clothing!

Bottom line - I think you may want to get a 58 or 60 degree wedge and learn how to use it well. I really think it will help your game more than closing a 10-15 yard gap over 220 yards. Just my opinion.

[oregongolfguy]

I would play around with both scenario's and see what you like and what you use more.....For myself I have a 58 wedge in the bag, but I doubt I hit it more then 1-2 times a round on average.  I do almost all of my work inside 50yds with my 54 wedge.  I really never hit a true flop shot.  I can hit a pitch with my 54 just forward in stance plenty high and soft for most situations. On the other side something in the 220-230 range doesn't come up a huge amount either, but probably more often for me then a flop.  maybe 4-5 on average a round.  3 of those being off the tee box with less then driver with trouble in my driver landing zones.  and 1-2 a round on par 5 second shots depending on how my drives were...

[Gunther]

I couldn't live without my 60 and the gap between my 3h and 3w is perfect but that's me. As others have said, you answered your own question. If there's a decision between the 2h or 5w, I'd opt for the hybrid because it's shorter and easier to control.

[Bileyerheid]

Agreed. I don't know how you could get along with no wedge lofted higher than a 56. No 60 maybe, but no 58 either? How do you hit flop shots, or pitches to short pins? I can't see the benefit of having a 230 yard club vs. a very versatile short game club. Are you that accurate at 230 to see a drastic difference between a 3W and a 2 hybrid?

Here's my set if you're interested. I just got measured at a Trackman recently to ensure the distances are pretty accurate.

Carry distance (within 5 or so yards each):

Ping G15 Driver- 255

TM RBZ Stage 2 3W - 240

TM R15 2hy - 225

TM Speedblade 4i - 200

5i - 185

6i - 175

7i - 165

8i - 155

9i- 148 (seems to go long for me)

PW (46) - 135

AW (50) - 120

Gigagolf SW (56) - 100

Gigagolf LW (60) - 85

I used to have a clone 3hybrid, but the Speedblade distance gains are so great I was hitting it barely 5 yards more than my 4 iron. Therefore, I had a 40 yard gap between my 3W and next longest club. That to me was a reason to get the 2hybrid. I'm also a proponent of buying adjustable lofts because I'm not good enough yet to lock into a club yet. If I see improvement, I may find I'm hitting one club 10 yards longer or shorter later. I kinda feel today like I would ideally like to have an adjustable top-flght driver, wood, and hybrid that I could adjust and not need others for a while. Then I could also keep my 3 wedges. The lofts and quality are what define the club anyway, not the number on the bottom. My 6i is really a 5i in sheep's clothing!

Bottom line - I think you may want to get a 58 or 60 degree wedge and learn how to use it well. I really think it will help your game more than closing a 10-15 yard gap over 220 yards. Just my opinion.

Either you've put down the wrong handicap (12) or the distances you've mentioned are what the pro told you you could be hitting with each of these clubs. I'm guessing you don't achieve these distances consistently. I'm a low handicapper but I can't match these numbers.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmoan2

Agreed. I don't know how you could get along with no wedge lofted higher than a 56. No 60 maybe, but no 58 either? How do you hit flop shots, or pitches to short pins? I can't see the benefit of having a 230 yard club vs. a very versatile short game club. Are you that accurate at 230 to see a drastic difference between a 3W and a 2 hybrid?

Here's my set if you're interested. I just got measured at a Trackman recently to ensure the distances are pretty accurate.

Carry distance (within 5 or so yards each):

Ping G15 Driver- 255

TM RBZ Stage 2 3W - 240

TM R15 2hy - 225

TM Speedblade 4i - 200

5i - 185

6i - 175

7i - 165

8i - 155

9i- 148 (seems to go long for me)

PW (46) - 135

AW (50) - 120

Gigagolf SW (56) - 100

Gigagolf LW (60) - 85

I used to have a clone 3hybrid, but the Speedblade distance gains are so great I was hitting it barely 5 yards more than my 4 iron. Therefore, I had a 40 yard gap between my 3W and next longest club. That to me was a reason to get the 2hybrid. I'm also a proponent of buying adjustable lofts because I'm not good enough yet to lock into a club yet. If I see improvement, I may find I'm hitting one club 10 yards longer or shorter later. I kinda feel today like I would ideally like to have an adjustable top-flght driver, wood, and hybrid that I could adjust and not need others for a while. Then I could also keep my 3 wedges. The lofts and quality are what define the club anyway, not the number on the bottom. My 6i is really a 5i in sheep's clothing!

Bottom line - I think you may want to get a 58 or 60 degree wedge and learn how to use it well. I really think it will help your game more than closing a 10-15 yard gap over 220 yards. Just my opinion.

Either you've put down the wrong handicap (12) or the distances you've mentioned are what the pro told you you could be hitting with each of these clubs. I'm guessing you don't achieve these distances consistently. I'm a low handicapper but I can't match these numbers.

I would conclude that according to you, he has hope for improvement?

Which part do you have a hard time believing? The club distances above 6i?

Anyway, from 6i and down, I hit about the same as him. 5i to Hybrid distances are like playing a lottery. My 3W off a 3/8" tee carries about 210  with range balls and likewise my driver carries around 235. I might get maybe 10-20 yards farther on the course? My average score is 85 playing anything from 5800 to 6800 (home course) yards. Hence my handicap listed at 12.5.

I still have a terrible time with aim and short game, I agree that if my shots went straight my scores could drop a few strokes or more. That's a pretty big if .

On Topic, keep the 60 and the 2H dump the 5W.

[mmoan2]

Either you've put down the wrong handicap (12) or the distances you've mentioned are what the pro told you you could be hitting with each of these clubs. I'm guessing you don't achieve these distances consistently. I'm a low handicapper but I can't match these numbers.

I hit about 10 shots with each club off a mat with no pro next to me and recorded the carry distances on a notepad after each shot. I threw away the outliers (on the low end for sure, but some of my driver carries were 265 and I didn't include them). I guess off grass would probably make a difference. I'm a pretty big guy and played college baseball as a pitcher and hit cleanup, so I believe my numbers. I also have a major problem hooking the ball and don't play as much golf as I would like, so distance isn't my problem. It's technique and consistency.

But OT - I listed these as a way to demonstrate why I don't think he needs so many long clubs. To each their own, though.

[Ernest Jones]

Agreed. I don't know how you could get along with no wedge lofted higher than a 56. No 60 maybe, but no 58 either? How do you hit flop shots, or pitches to short pins? I can't see the benefit of having a 230 yard club vs. a very versatile short game club. Are you that accurate at 230 to see a drastic difference between a 3W and a 2 hybrid? Here's my set if you're interested. I just got measured at a Trackman recently to ensure the distances are pretty accurate. Carry distance (within 5 or so yards each): Ping G15 Driver- 255 TM RBZ Stage 2 3W - 240 TM R15 2hy - 225 TM Speedblade 4i - 200 5i - 185 6i - 175 7i - 165 8i - 155 9i- 148 (seems to go long for me) PW (46) - 135 AW (50) - 120 Gigagolf SW (56) - 100 Gigagolf LW (60) - 85 I used to have a clone 3hybrid, but the Speedblade distance gains are so great I was hitting it barely 5 yards more than my 4 iron. Therefore, I had a 40 yard gap between my 3W and next longest club. That to me was a reason to get the 2hybrid. I'm also a proponent of buying adjustable lofts because I'm not good enough yet to lock into a club yet. If I see improvement, I may find I'm hitting one club 10 yards longer or shorter later. I kinda feel today like I would ideally like to have an adjustable top-flght driver, wood, and hybrid that I could adjust and not need others for a while. Then I could also keep my 3 wedges. The lofts and quality are what define the club anyway, not the number on the bottom. My 6i is really a 5i in sheep's clothing! Bottom line - I think you may want to get a 58 or 60 degree wedge and learn how to use it well. I really think it will help your game more than closing a 10-15 yard gap over 220 yards. Just my opinion.

I hit flops all the time with my 56*. I generally don't use my 60* for flops, I use it for full and flighted shots under 100y. It's low bounce so I prefer my higher bounce SW for finicky shots. I'm thinking of switching to a 54* and 58* with more bounce.

[onthehunt526]

I think you guys are missing the point... I hit my 60° literally 4 times a year... I'm not carrying a club I don't hit... I'm about to get a chipper and really throw a wrench in you guys thinking... I'm not going to carry both a 4h and 4i simultaneously during a tournament... So that drops me to 13 clubs... The jury is still out on 4 wedges... (Maybe a 58°)... But I was thinking 5w or 7w, dumping the 3-hybrid, playing with 13 clubs and call it good...

[Hatchman]

I think you guys are missing the point... I hit my 60° literally 4 times a year... I'm not carrying a club I don't hit... I'm about to get a chipper and really throw a wrench in you guys thinking... I'm not going to carry both a 4h and 4i simultaneously during a tournament... So that drops me to 13 clubs... The jury is still out on 4 wedges... (Maybe a 58°)... But I was thinking 5w or 7w, dumping the 3-hybrid, playing with 13 clubs and call it good...

Reading the whole thread was interesting. I like the idea of adding the 5w. Depending on the surfaces you play from mostly. I have carried as many as 4 hybrids on days and as many as 4 wedges down to 64*. On others. Just used the 64* purpose club the other day for a very nice soft lofted shot over a hill from deep rough 72 yards out for birdie. Otherwise it's parked. Since I added the 5w, I removed 2 hybrids and loving it.

[Lihu]

Given the distances you quoted earlier (which are similar to mine and @mmoan2 , I was a bit surprised that you rarely use the 60. It's my to go club on at least 2-3 approaches per round and when I miss the green and need to hit over a bunker, hump or other obstacles, and I end up using it many times per round.

Plus, it's rare for me to need to gap anything in between 200 and 230 carry yards. I can't put enough spin on anything that long to need to fill a gap at those distances. If anything, I would focus more effort on being able to hit my 4i and 3i better. Most of my approaches are

[mmoan2]

I think you guys are missing the point... I hit my 60° literally 4 times a year... I'm not carrying a club I don't hit... I'm about to get a chipper and really throw a wrench in you guys thinking... I'm not going to carry both a 4h and 4i simultaneously during a tournament... So that drops me to 13 clubs... The jury is still out on 4 wedges... (Maybe a 58°)... But I was thinking 5w or 7w, dumping the 3-hybrid, playing with 13 clubs and call it good...

I guess I don't know why you started this thread, then. It seems like you have your mind made up, so dump the 60, get a 2 hybrid and 5 wood, and figure out which you like better. Case closed!

My advice, as a 12 handicapper, (which is worse than yours, so it's not an expert opinion), is to not dump the 60 (or get a 58) and hit it more than 4 times a year. I use my 60 at least 4 times a round. I like high, soft pitches, flop shots, and use it in certain bunkers. Filling a gap over 200 yards unless it's completely huge doesn't help me because I'm lucky to hit 15% of greens over 200 yards anyway. In fact, the following shot is usually hit with my 60 degree wedge!

I've never used a chipper, but they just seem like gimmicks to me. Replacing my 60 degree for a chipper would be like removing my driver and replacing it with a wiffle ball bat, seriously. I'm a much bigger proponent of the short game motions prescribed on this site in other threads than the old-fashioned "chip" shot. I usually use a 50 degree GW on chip shots to pretty good effect.

[allenc]

I say play 13 clubs, win, and then brag that you won with just 13 clubs. Seriously I think the advantage of having either more than one high lofted wedge or more than one fairway wood between 3h and driver is minimal to nonexistent. I used to play with AW, 55* at the bottom end then lost my 55 and got a 54 and 58 just to get to fourteen. I could definitely ditch the 54 without affecting my scores. I'm sure it's different for better players than us.

[onthehunt526]

It's a difficult decision, I still have the 60° its just not in the bag... I struggle with it more than anything... That being said the 13 club idea isn't a terrible one... I may get a 5w anyway for times the 3h (on a given course) isn't going to be enough club... Home course however I really don't need it... Would be hilarious to win the club championship with on 13 clubs... Even if it is the first flight.

[Jeremie Boop]

It's a difficult decision, I still have the 60° its just not in the bag... I struggle with it more than anything... That being said the 13 club idea isn't a terrible one... I may get a 5w anyway for times the 3h (on a given course) isn't going to be enough club... Home course however I really don't need it...

Would be hilarious to win the club championship with on 13 clubs... Even if it is the first flight.

I've played with a 13 club bag for awhile now, not sure I'm really missing anything that would impact my game on the length of courses I play. If I played longer courses I would add a 3, 4, or 5 wood in to go between driver and 2 hybrid.

[Elmer]

It's a difficult decision, I still have the 60° its just not in the bag... I struggle with it more than anything... That being said the 13 club idea isn't a terrible one... I may get a 5w anyway for times the 3h (on a given course) isn't going to be enough club... Home course however I really don't need it...

Would be hilarious to win the club championship with on 13 clubs... Even if it is the first flight.

I have played 13 clubs for about 2 or 3 years now. I took my 60 out because I can do almost the same with a 56. I am almost to the point of dropping to a 12 club bag as I am ready to take my 3W out.

I find that on my home course I am using my 5W way more than a 3W

[Elmer]

I have played 13 clubs for about 2 or 3 years now. I took my 60 out because I can do almost the same with a 56. I am almost to the point of dropping to a 12 club bag as I am ready to take my 3W out.

I find that on my home course I am using my 5W way more than a 3W

I cant believe this, but after last night I am almost ready to add the 60 back in the bag.

I am finding my 2nd shot being a short chip less than 100 yards.

The problem I am having is that my 56 is leaving my ball rolling past the hole on chips.

I need to stop it.

meanwhile the one shot I used my 3W for, was duffered!

[onthehunt526]

I cant believe this, but after last night I am almost ready to add the 60 back in the bag. I am finding my 2nd shot being a short chip less than 100 yards. The problem I am having is that my 56 is leaving my ball rolling past the hole on chips. I need to stop it. meanwhile the one shot I used my 3W for, was duffered!

I chip with a variety of clubs... Mostly my GW, but sometimes as little loft as a 3-hybrid depending on what I have in front of me... I take as little loft as possible on chips...