Practicing Weeks (Months) Hitting Just One/Few Clubs?

[bones75]

I've got to commute to another office (west to east coast) for a number of months (maybe up to 6 mos).  I haven't golfed much recently, and oddly enough this could be a good chance for me to get in it as I'll have tons of free time to hit a range when i'm away.  I can't have a full set w/ me, but was thinking of buying one club (maybe 2), just to hit the range with.  Are there known downsides to practicing w/ only one or two club for weeks (even months)?  What club(s) should I get?  I was thinking 7 iron, then mbe driver.

Edited August 3, 2018 by bones75

[Shindig]

I spend the vast majority of my range time with a single club.  It used to be 7-iron, then it migrated to 6-iron, and now it seems to be 5-iron.  So I hope it isn't an issue.  As I understand it (caution:  I'm not a good player), the timing is slightly different with a 9-iron vs a 5-iron, but I don't think it's enough that I need to hit the 9-iron as much as the 5-iron or risk being much better with the 5 than the 9.

It might even be helpful if you know your priority piece and focus on that with one club.

It's probably less expensive to get an iron that matches your irons than a new driver.  Or are you talking bringing one with you?

[RussUK]

If i had to choose 2 or 3 clubs I would probably go with a wedge, 7 iron and a fairway wood.

7 iron is really versatile so you can practice lots of different shots, 3 or 5 wood gives you a chance to hit "tee shots" and long approach shots off the deck and the wedge gives you good chances to practice all manner of short game shots.

[MarvChamp]

  On 8/3/2018 at 10:49 AM, RussUK said:

If i had to choose 2 or 3 clubs I would probably go with a wedge, 7 iron and a fairway wood.

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I'm of the same mind but I would take a 4 hybrid (in my case, a DIR).  If I had to take only two, they would be PW and 7 iron. I use these for a quick warm up at the course and feel for how I am swinging that day.  Interesting topic. Best, -Marv

[Patch]

If I had to use one club over an extended length of practice time, it would be  a 7W, or 5i. 90+% of my practice swing would be full swings. 

Those two clubs are pretty much in the middle when it comes to club lengths from the driver to the wedges. 

[bones75]

tx for the feedback.  I'll start w/ 7-iron and go from there.  Chances are during this time i'll only be doing range time, no course time (weekends will be fully booked now w/ fam).  If it goes on to like 3-6 mos, i'm sure i'll expand my clubset by 1 or 2 more clubs.

I just hope i dont get too locked into a 7-iron swing plane or something goofy like that.

[AltGolfer]

Why people neglecting the short game..

I personally would get a sand wedge and a putter.

You can work on your swing, practice distance control and even use the dang thing for chipping around the greens. Triple threat.

Also grab yourself a putter for you know putting.

Edited August 3, 2018 by AltGolfer

[klineka]

  On 8/3/2018 at 7:23 PM, AltGolfer said:

Why people neglecting the short game..

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Because (outside of glaring weaknesses) the full swing and the long game is more important and needs more practice than the short game (including putting).

[AltGolfer]

  On 8/3/2018 at 7:33 PM, klineka said:

Because (outside of glaring weaknesses) the full swing and the long game is more important and needs more practice than the short game (including putting).

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I disagree. Majority of people do not work on their short-game and just bang driver all day down the range. You can practice your full swing just as well with a sand wedge as you can with a driver.

Slamming your driver nonstop like most people do on the range isn't going to improve your game, but practicing your distance control, chipping and short game will.

[klineka]

  On 8/3/2018 at 7:42 PM, AltGolfer said:

I disagree. Majority of people do not work on their short-game and just bang driver all day down the range. You can practice your full swing just as well with a sand wedge as you can with a driver.

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Theres a difference between banging driver all day down the range and hitting driver or full swings with focus and practicing to improve at the full swing. 

  On 8/3/2018 at 7:42 PM, AltGolfer said:

Slamming your driver nonstop like most people do on the range isn't going to improve your game, but practicing your distance control, chipping and short game will.

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This isnt really comparing apples to apples. I could say the same thing but in reverse. Putting at random targets around the putting green with no thought to reading the green, lining up putts, etc isnt going to improve your putting, but practicing your full swing and long game with focused drills working on weaknesses in your swing will improve your game.

 

Since you think the short game is more important, answer the following question:

Two scenarios to choose from, 

A - You get Dustin Johnson's full swings (every shot off the tee through 100 yds of the green) and then your short game, pitching, chipping, putting, etc

B - You get your full swings (every shot off the tee through 100 yds of the green) and then Dustin Johnson's short game, pitching, chipping, putting, etc

Which scenario would you shoot lower score?

Here is a great topic that discusses this in more detail

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by klineka

[AltGolfer]

  On 8/3/2018 at 7:58 PM, klineka said:

Theres a difference between banging driver all day down the range and hitting driver or full swings with focus and practicing to improve at the full swing. 

This isnt really comparing apples to apples. I could say the same thing but in reverse. Putting at random targets around the putting green with no though to reading the green, lining up putts, etc isnt going to improve your putting, but practicing your full swing and long game with focused drills working on weaknesses in your swing will improve your game.

 

Since you think the short game is more important, answer the following question:

Two scenarios to choose from, 

A - You get Dustin Johnson's full swings (every shot off the tee through 100 yds of the green) and then your short game, pitching, chipping, putting, etc

B - You get your full swings (every shot off the tee through 100 yds of the green) and then Dustin Johnson's short game, pitching, chipping, putting, etc

Which scenario would you shoot lower score?

Here is a great topic that discusses this in more detail

 

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I would take DJ's short game because i already have a decent ability to strike my balls.

Looking at OP's handicap and yours you both seem to manage a decent ability to strike the ball. When i was around that handicap what i was sorely lacking was the short-game. Once i improved this aspect of my game i was able to break 80's consistently. 

I mean Tiger Woods has one of the worst inconsistent driver since hes been on tour. Doesn't seem to hurt him?

 

Still stand by my statement from experience.. Short game > Long Game

 

 

 

[HJJ003]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:07 PM, AltGolfer said:

I would take DJ's short game because i already have a decent ability to strike my balls.

Looking at OP's handicap and yours you both seem to manage a decent ability to strike the ball. When i was around that handicap what i was sorely lacking was the short-game. Once i improved this aspect of my game i was able to break 80's consistently. 

I mean Tiger Woods has one of the worst inconsistent driver since hes been on tour. Doesn't seem to hurt him?

 

Still stand by my statement from experience.. Short game > Long Game

 

 

 

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  On 8/3/2018 at 8:07 PM, AltGolfer said:

I would take DJ's short game because i already have a decent ability to strike my balls.

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Your joking right?  You think the biggest difference between you and DJ is his short game??

[AltGolfer]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:09 PM, HJJ003 said:

Your joking right?  You think the biggest difference between you and DJ is his short game??

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I use to be a scratch golfer. Averaging 275 Carry off the tee with my 983k Tilteist 8.5 back in day..I probably could average 285 now a days with the new clubs. My biggest weakness was always my short-game.

 

Who cares about an extra 20-30 yards? Rather be close to the pin and 1 putt.

 

Ever heard of the term drive for show putt for dough?

 

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by AltGolfer

[HJJ003]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:18 PM, AltGolfer said:

I use to be a scratch golfer. Averaging 275 Carry off the tee with my 983k Tilteist 8.5 back in day..I probably could average 285 now a days with the new clubs. My biggest weakness was always my short-game.

 

Who cares about an extra 20-30 yards? Rather be close to the pin and 1 putt.

 

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Thats great. YOUR weakness may have been short game (though I doubt to be honest you lost as many strokes there as you think). However, statistically speaking the long game contributes more to your scoring abilities than the short game does. Is the short game important? Sure it is, its part of the game. However, it is nowhere near as important as the long game ON AVERAGE. 

FWIW- Dustin Johnson is number 1 in driving , and Number 8 this year in Approach shots (both long game stats) , and has 3 wins. He is number 18 in putting and he is 46th in his around the green shots. 

 

[AltGolfer]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:25 PM, HJJ003 said:

Thats great. YOUR weakness may have been short game (though I doubt to be honest you lost as many strokes there as you think). However, statistically speaking the long game contributes more to your scoring abilities than the short game does. Is the short game important? Sure it is, its part of the game. However, it is nowhere near as important as the long game ON AVERAGE. 

FWIW- Dustin Johnson is number 1 in driving , and Number 8 this year in Approach shots (both long game stats) , and has 3 wins. He is number 18 in putting and he is 46th in his around the green shots. 

 

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 His approaches are usually P-SW... So like i said i would take the short game.

 

Anything inside 140 Yards is short-game too me thats my pitching wedge.

 

 

[HJJ003]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:27 PM, AltGolfer said:

His approaches are usually P-SW... So like i said i would take the short game.

 

Anything inside 140 Yards is short-game too me thats my pitching wedge.

  

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Yeah, because he drives the ball so well. 

It is a full swing motion. Short Game motions are different. 

Anyways...we are off topic now. 🙂 

Edited August 3, 2018 by HJJ003

[klineka]

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:27 PM, AltGolfer said:

Anything inside 140 Yards is short-game too me thats my pitching wedge.

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I already stated (and most people on this site agree) that the short game is considered inside 100 yards. You dont get to suddenly redefine what is considered short game and expect people to support or agree with your line of thinking. 

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:18 PM, AltGolfer said:

Who cares about an extra 20-30 yards? Rather be close to the pin and 1 putt.

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Everyone including you should care about an extra 30 yards. Thats the difference between hitting a 6 iron into a green and a 9 iron. No PGA player (or any player for that matter) that cares about their score and wants to get better would turn down an additional 30 yards automatically being added to all of their shots.

PGA tour players from 100-125 yards average 19 feet proximity to the pin. From 125-150 yards, they average 23 feet proximity to the pin.

For putting, the top PGA putter from 15-20 feet only makes 35% of his putts. From 20-25 feet, the top player only makes 23% of his putts. 

Being closer to the hole will result in closer proximity approach shots on average, which will result in shorter putts which will give you a higher chance to make them. 

 

  On 8/3/2018 at 8:18 PM, AltGolfer said:

Ever heard of the term drive for show putt for dough?

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Yes. Its old and outdated and has been disproven by statistics. The owner of this site, @iacas (who also wrote the practice time ratio topic I linked earlier) wrote a book which talks in great detail about the importance of the full swing and the long game. Its called Lowest Score Wins and I highly recommend you give it a read. 

[colin007]

An argument I still cannot believe people don't understand....