temporarily downsizing set make-up

[RandyBobbitt]

I'm coming off a minor shoulder injury, and while my swing is not affected, I'm unable to carry my bag, at least temporarily. Last weekend I played nine holes carrying the bag on my opposite shoulder, but by the end of the nine that shoulder hurt as well. I'm philosophically opposed to riding a cart, and I'm not yet ready for a pull cart. I don't care for the imagery, and it might not help with the shoulder issue.

I bought a small carry bag (holds 7-8 clubs and has one small pocket for balls and other stuff) at a thrift store, and I'm seriously considering trying to play with seven clubs.  I currently carry 12 (driver, two hybrids, 4-PW, SW, putter). If I downsize I would go with:

driver

hybrid

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

SW

putter

This is basically the set make-up I had when I started playing at age 14.

I figure I could adjust to the gap in irons by gripping down an inch on the longer clubs. I can eliminate the longer of the two hybrids because on my home course I seldom use it more than once a round.

I was curious to learn if anyone else had tried a similar approach.

I thought of this only because I remember a vacation round many years ago in which I was paired with a 70-year-old retired ophthalmologist who carried seven clubs in an old canvas bag and cleaned my clock. I think he shot something in the mid-70s.

Your thoughts?

[Tat14]

Minimalist!

I'd wager that you'd get around a course just fine with the "commando" bag.

Rarely carry 14.

[RandyBobbitt]

Thanks. I've carried 12 clubs for about 20 years or so. When I play in a scramble and know we're going to be in carts, I'll add a gap wedge and lob wedge, but find it doesn't make that much of a difference. I think lob wedges are effective only if you practice with them a lot. I've found that in most cases I can take my SW, open up the face and accomplish the same short shots.

[davechen]

My wife carries the exact same set of clubs.  I'm not that much of a minimalist, although honestly it probably wouldn't affect my scoring that much using a half set.

For most of my golfing career I carried 12 clubs.  Right now I've got 13, but that's because I have a new set of irons that includes a gap wedge and a 4-iron.  I'm not sure I need either one, but they're new, so I'm just learning their distances.

[RandyBobbitt]

The experiment went well yesterday.

At the last minute I added a gap wedge because I realized the gap between my SW (85 yards) and 9-iron (125) was too severe. That made 8 clubs instead of my usual 12.

I kept track of the "improvised shots" in which I either choked down on a longer club or put a bit more testosterone into the shorter club. Six times out of seven, I hit a shot equal to or slightly better than the one I likely would have hit with the club designed for that distance. Interestingly, I hit a better shot when I stepped on the shorter club than when I choked down on the longer one.

I shot 2 strokes lower than my average, due mostly to good putting rather than iron play.

The results were encouraging enough to continue the experiment for a few more rounds.

[Tat14]

I find value in the minimalist approach for the recreational player. Less equipment decision allows for more focus on shot-making decision.

I might try this again but to the extreme - 3W 8I SW and putter. All in a Jones bag. I'll let my beard grow out and wear golf sandals. A minimum of three animals will escort me each round...