First time playing one club only

[SavvySwede]

Today I finally decided to go out and try playing 9 holes with only one club. I didn't know what to expect besides a tough time around the greens but this is why we experiment. Played from the whites (3000 yards) and chose a 6 iron. Really enjoyed the round, it's simply freeing to be able to walk about the course with one club in your hand and no extra weight to drag around.

Lesson learned #1 The wind game. I was never the best wind player and today I think I found out why. Today I was forced to grip well down on the club and swing quite soft to hit some of the shorter approaches with a 6 iron. The winds were blowing 20-30mph today but those little shots cut through the air like a knife, most of them carrying a good deal further than I had estimated. New shot added to the bag.

Lesson learned #2 Less loft around the green. So my scrambling percentage was pretty abysmal but my shots around the green were not as bad as the stats make them appear. I hit some good low rollers and realized I shouldn't be leaning on the 58 and pitching the ball nearly as much.  

 

Stats

Fairways: 7/7 no surprise there

GIR: 3/9 could have been better, could have been worse, shots were almost all on line but 20-30mph winds made distance control all the more difficult.

Scrambling: 0/6 Gave myself opportunities, even hit a nice bunker shot to 5 feet but nothing converted.

Putts: 20 Didn't make a thing. Hit a few decent lags but putting with a 6 iron was darn tough.

Total Score: 44 (8 over par)

Will try and do the the same on Thursday to see how I can improve(weather permitting).

[imsys0042]

That's a good score for one club.  I've done it several times, but not recently.   The course I played where I used to live was much better suited to this since there weren't many forced carries.  

It's nice to play one club because it makes you creative.   I've done it with a 7-iron and had a lot of fun!

[boogielicious]

10 hours ago, SavvySwede said:

Today I finally decided to go out and try playing 9 holes with only one club. I didn't know what to expect besides a tough time around the greens but this is why we experiment. Played from the whites (3000 yards) and chose a 6 iron. Really enjoyed the round, it's simply freeing to be able to walk about the course with one club in your hand and no extra weight to drag around.

Lesson learned #1 The wind game. I was never the best wind player and today I think I found out why. Today I was forced to grip well down on the club and swing quite soft to hit some of the shorter approaches with a 6 iron. The winds were blowing 20-30mph today but those little shots cut through the air like a knife, most of them carrying a good deal further than I had estimated. New shot added to the bag.

Lesson learned #2 Less loft around the green. So my scrambling percentage was pretty abysmal but my shots around the green were not as bad as the stats make them appear. I hit some good low rollers and realized I shouldn't be leaning on the 58 and pitching the ball nearly as much.  

 

Stats

Fairways: 7/7 no surprise there

GIR: 3/9 could have been better, could have been worse, shots were almost all on line but 20-30mph winds made distance control all the more difficult.

Scrambling: 0/6 Gave myself opportunities, even hit a nice bunker shot to 5 feet but nothing converted.

Putts: 20 Didn't make a thing. Hit a few decent lags but putting with a 6 iron was darn tough.

Total Score: 44 (8 over par)

Will try and do the the same on Thursday to see how I can improve(weather permitting).

I've played a few rounds with 5 clubs but haven't tried one club. Sounds like fun.

[pganapathy]

Definitely interesting, though not sure how easy it is to hit lofted shots with a 6 iron.  8 over for 9 holes is pretty decent.  Putting is the hardest part of 1 club play.  I would recommend carrying putter and one club.  Always better and less risk of damage to the green.  Planning to do that one of these days

[Patch]

I have done this before while only using my 5W or 7W. I probably prefer the 7W over the 5W. Decent distance, good around the green, and easier to putt with than an iron.  Plus the metal woods are easier on the green's turf.  I can score in the mid/high 80s with either one on a good day. It is fun way to play every so often. 

I have even played one club before when a particular club was giving me a problem. I just finish up the round using only that club I could not swing properly. Good way to iron out the problem(s), as long as you know what is causing the problem.

Edited December 16, 2015 by Patch

[collapse]

It's fun,have only  done 4 clubs which revealed 14 is actually too many.The one club I do on the range.

[Club Rat]

We have a ONE club event every year. It's a nine hole scramble from the Reds, team of three players. Each player uses only one club, choice of the 5,7 or 9. Each team a player with the 5, 7, 9

We also have times when after 18 holes and several beers, someone will yell "Let's go to ONE!"

Guys grab "One club", your choice and head out to the first hole. Low score wins, $20 entry, winner takes all.

[sirhacksalot]

1 hour ago, collapse said:

It's fun,have only  done 4 clubs which revealed 14 is actually too many.The one club I do on the range.

Off topic but Ive been given this a lot of thought especially after my last couple rounds in really soggy conditions and i couldn't get anything up in the air any way  (when i did the ball just plugged) .  What where your thoughts on the best clubs to bag.  I am leaning to try driver, 17 degree hybrid, 6 iron, pw, and putter.  

[collapse]

I used 3 wood/metal..7i...PW...putter.

[Grumpter]

I'm not sure I would enjoy the 1 club experience as I don't see what I would gain by 'practicing' putting with say a 6-iron or hitting from a green side bunker with a 6-iron. I have done a round with just 3 total irons and putter. I think the lowest I might go is 3 clubs - Short Iron, long iron and putter.

[SavvySwede]

2 hours ago, Patch said:

I have done this before while only using my 5W or 7W. I probably prefer the 7W over the 5W. Decent distance, good around the green, and easier to putt with than an iron.  Plus the metal woods are easier on the green's turf.  I can score in the mid/high 80s with either one on a good day. It is fun way to play every so often. 

I have even played one club before when a particular club was giving me a problem. I just finish up the round using only that club I could not swing properly. Good way to iron out the problem(s), as long as you know what is causing the problem.

How do you hit out of a bunker with a 7W?

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, collapse said:

I used 3 wood/metal..7i...PW...putter.

Seems pretty reasonable, one of my playing partners used to like to play with driver, 5i, PW and putter. His 5i goes about 200 yards.

 

1 hour ago, Grumpter said:

I'm not sure I would enjoy the 1 club experience as I don't see what I would gain by 'practicing' putting with say a 6-iron or hitting from a green side bunker with a 6-iron. I have done a round with just 3 total irons and putter. I think the lowest I might go is 3 clubs - Short Iron, long iron and putter.

It's fun. You should really try it sometime. It makes you appreciate having an entire set.

 

49 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

How do you hit out of a bunker with a 7W?

Hit backwards and hope you never get into a pothole bunker?

[mvmac]

On 12/16/2015 at 8:48 AM, SavvySwede said:

How do you hit out of a bunker with a 7W?

Wide and open stance, lots of flex in the left knee, open face, handle back, lower the handle, maintain the "cup" in your left wrist on the takeaway.

EDIT: for an iron, not a wood.

[mchepp]

20 minutes ago, mvmac said:

Wide and open stance, lots of flex in the left knee, open face, handle back, lower the handle, maintain the "cup" in your left wrist on the takeaway.

 

I've seen Seve do the 3 iron before, but a 7 wood. I would consider that more impressive.

[SavvySwede]

3 hours ago, mchepp said:

I've seen Seve do the 3 iron before, but a 7 wood. I would consider that more impressive.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure a 7W has too much sole for this to work in even the softest sand.

[inthehole]

21 hours ago, Grumpter said:

I'm not sure I would enjoy the 1 club experience as I don't see what I would gain by 'practicing' putting with say a 6-iron or hitting from a green side bunker with a 6-iron. I have done a round with just 3 total irons and putter. I think the lowest I might go is 3 clubs - Short Iron, long iron and putter.

agree - I think I could enjoy 3 clubs at a minimum.    Something like hybrid, PW and putter.    That's at least a realistic club selection - hitting an 80 yd 6i just would never ever come up in any normal shot selection scenario for my game, so doesn't make sense to try it.  On the other hand, it would help develop "feel" for the in between shots ...

[Lihu]

3 hours ago, SavvySwede said:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure a 7W has too much sole for this to work in even the softest sand.

Hit the 7W backwards. Use the back of the club.

Prefer 7i or 6i for the one club. It's a great and unfettered experience.

[vangator]

I used to play in a tourney every year where after the 18 holes, everyone would throw 5 bucks in the pot and grab one club.  The first hole was a shortish par 5 that has a tee that was probably 100 yards wide and everyone would hit at the same time.  We'd get 75 players all hitting off the first tee.  Try to find your ball amongst that! 

Lowest scores and ties would advance.  I made it to the 3rd tee once (2 birds with one club!)  I'd grab a 4 iron since the first hole was long.  The second was a short par 3 with a huge deep bunker in front.

I played in a 9 hole one club tourney at a par 3 course.  Grabbed a gap wedge since the longest hole was 150 yards.  I can putt fairly well by playing the wedge well forward and hitting with the leading edge in the belly.  Probably better than my normal putter.