Klimski
Well-known member
So, as some here have pointed out, my golf bag is quite eclectic, and in fact resembles a selection of clubs from the lost and found of a swanky members club (who loses and doesn't collect a Honma driver). However, there is a method behind the madness. It goes against the grain of current thinking a bit, but this approach is gaining some traction, for example Joe Ferguson recently commented that he is starting to view his golf clubs as a set of tools.
A functional approach
In short, I haven't based my bag on distance. Of course, there is some form of gapping - but it's not the determining factor. Otherwise, I would play with more than 9 clubs. If you base your setup on gapping, you would want to cover as many distance points as possible. Yet, to me that is a bit strange: there will always be 'in between' distances, no matter how many clubs you game. So, all I have gone for is a lack of redundancy: no two clubs go the same distance on a full shot.
Instead, I have selected a set of individual tools suited to the three phases of the game. Ideally, each tool can do more than 1 thing.
Driver - only for off the tee, but the goal is to hit driver as much as possible. Ideally, driver should offer two options: a full shot, going for maximum distance at a trade off for accuracy, and a safer fairway finder.
5 wood - the 'safe option' off the tee, and for long approaches.
Hybrid - off the tee (long par 3's mainly), approach shots, escape shots (bunting out of the woods etc), chip and runs
6 iron - off the tee (par 3), approach shots/layups
8 iron - off the tee (par 3), approach shots, mainly layups, some escape shots and chip and runs
PW - tee shots (short par 3) approach into the green, safety layups, chipping and pitching (I use a cleveland 42 degree chipper style wedge, which is very multi functional)
GW - Approach shots, lower pitch shots
SW - Lob shots, short sided chip shots, sand and gunk
Putter - close in approach and putting
This approach helps me dial in whether a club is performing on its functionality. Also, it means that I am not chasing distance optimisation - which is a powerful incentive to overspending on golf clubs. After all, there may always be a club that goes further - but does it perform its task any better.
Final note: I realise that this setup likely won't suit a scratch level player, but I do believe it helps simplify the game and I assure you, this approach can save you a lot of money.
A functional approach
In short, I haven't based my bag on distance. Of course, there is some form of gapping - but it's not the determining factor. Otherwise, I would play with more than 9 clubs. If you base your setup on gapping, you would want to cover as many distance points as possible. Yet, to me that is a bit strange: there will always be 'in between' distances, no matter how many clubs you game. So, all I have gone for is a lack of redundancy: no two clubs go the same distance on a full shot.
Instead, I have selected a set of individual tools suited to the three phases of the game. Ideally, each tool can do more than 1 thing.
Driver - only for off the tee, but the goal is to hit driver as much as possible. Ideally, driver should offer two options: a full shot, going for maximum distance at a trade off for accuracy, and a safer fairway finder.
5 wood - the 'safe option' off the tee, and for long approaches.
Hybrid - off the tee (long par 3's mainly), approach shots, escape shots (bunting out of the woods etc), chip and runs
6 iron - off the tee (par 3), approach shots/layups
8 iron - off the tee (par 3), approach shots, mainly layups, some escape shots and chip and runs
PW - tee shots (short par 3) approach into the green, safety layups, chipping and pitching (I use a cleveland 42 degree chipper style wedge, which is very multi functional)
GW - Approach shots, lower pitch shots
SW - Lob shots, short sided chip shots, sand and gunk
Putter - close in approach and putting
This approach helps me dial in whether a club is performing on its functionality. Also, it means that I am not chasing distance optimisation - which is a powerful incentive to overspending on golf clubs. After all, there may always be a club that goes further - but does it perform its task any better.
Final note: I realise that this setup likely won't suit a scratch level player, but I do believe it helps simplify the game and I assure you, this approach can save you a lot of money.
