Going minimalist

[Klimski]

So, for some years I have been tinkering with my set. I played with 7 clubs for a while until I put driver back in. And then added one more wedge. One of my goals has always been to have a golf set that is fully functional, yet can simply live hanging on a coat peg.

Also, I wanted to be rid of any clubs that I am not using. I am almost there. Besides the 9 clubs in my bag, I now own two extra clubs: a 'Perfect Club' 5 wood, that I have tried to sell used without success, and a persimmon 3 wood that I will never sell. I built it from Goldsmith components with my late granddad who taught me the game. So once the 'Perfect Club' has been sent to the local charity shop I am done.

I have kept track of all the golf clubs I have owned over the years, and it's around the 90 mark.

Who else is a minimalist and why?

 

[IanM]

I've been carrying a half set all winter at home because I'm too lazy to clean the powakaddy .

Missed the 3 wood today, but leaned lots about my wedge format. 60 degree hasnt been in the bag and haven't missed it. 56 has done everything it needed to.

 

[RichA]

I normally have 10 clubs in the bag.
Carrying today so I only took 6; Driver, 5-wood, 6i, 8i, GW, putter. After the round I realised that I hadn’t actually used the 8-iron at any point.

 

[FuzzyDuck]

If I ever drop a club I always seem to regret it the next round. So pretty much always play with the full 14 in the bag.

 

[Orikoru]

When I started carrying for winter I took 3 clubs out so I was playing with alternate irons. Had a couple of shots where I was in between clubs, but I've been trying to learn a kind of 'Fleetwood' punch shot at the range so it gave me the opportunity to practice that.

However, a few weeks ago I put the clubs back in for an indoor gapping session, then the next round I forgot they were back in and took the full bag for my next round. And it sort of felt nice to have all my clubs back again so I've just left them all in since.

I couldn't go less than 14 clubs throughout the year now though. I've pretty much mapped my bag perfectly so each club not only goes different distances, but each of the longer clubs do different jobs, and unlike a lot of people, I'm not carrying any superfluous clubs that only get hit once every 10 rounds. All mine get used regularly.

I'm also not great at taking yards off a shot - that 'Fleetwood' punch shot I mentioned maybe takes 5 yards off but I'm useless at three quarter swings and I can't change my tempo so it's hard for me to plug bigger gaps between clubs.

 

[srixon 1]

When carrying, if I’m in a comp it’s always 14 clubs in the bag. Just knocking about and I’ll lose a couple, usually lob wedge and 3 wood.

 

[Burnsey]

The only time I drop clubs is specific practice.

I play golf to be the best I can and anything which helps me achieve that is coming with me.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I really like a 4-club comp. Have not had one at my club for some years.
Making it 9-holes was always a mistake, in my view. If you're gonna do it, do it fully over 18.

I would have 18° hybrid, irons of 29° and 47°, putter.

 

[Neilds]

I only have 13 clubs, does that count as minimalist?

 

[harpo_72]

I was using driver, 4crossover and then irons 6-PW 50,56 plus putter .. I have added back the 5 wood and the 5iron will go back in as I will be playing somewhere else hopefully next week for a fun game … just looks longer than my track.
I do strip back to 8 clubs for an evening round. My yardage difference is 10yards between clubs so reality is I can cover the gaps by 3/4 swings, choke down, fading .. but all these mean using a longer club and reducing its distance. I don’t try to over hit anything now … I am lazy.

 

[craigstardis1976]

15 Degree Driver, 24 Degree 9 Wood, 35 degree 7 iron, 43 degree 9 iron, 52 degree wedge and a putter. Works very well for me. In a Jones Original Carry Bag!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I carry 13 clubs all winter. The only
Time I go minimal is in the summer months when playing alone,
I’ll carry a pencil bag with just the odd number clubs, Dr, 5w, 54° wedge and putter. Then the next round I’ll swap that to the even number clubs. Helps get used to playing different shots and challenges.

 

[Klimski]

15 Degree Driver, 24 Degree 9 Wood, 35 degree 7 iron, 43 degree 9 iron, 52 degree wedge and a putter. Works very well for me. In a Jones Original Carry Bag!

This was exactly my setup for years. Just more recently a few extra clubs have snuck in.

 

[Hobbit]

14 in the summer, dropping the lob wedge in the winter when the ground is softer. Several clubs might not be used for a few rounds, e.g. the 3 iron & 4 iron.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Minimalist to my thinking is 5 or 6 clubs at most.
9 clubs isn't minimalist. When it's carry only, I go down to 6 clubs max and when trolleys allowed back up to 14.

 

[GG26]

When I started carrying for winter I took 3 clubs out so I was playing with alternate irons. Had a couple of shots where I was in between clubs, but I've been trying to learn a kind of 'Fleetwood' punch shot at the range so it gave me the opportunity to practice that.

However, a few weeks ago I put the clubs back in for an indoor gapping session, then the next round I forgot they were back in and took the full bag for my next round. And it sort of felt nice to have all my clubs back again so I've just left them all in since.

I couldn't go less than 14 clubs throughout the year now though. I've pretty much mapped my bag perfectly so each club not only goes different distances, but each of the longer clubs do different jobs, and unlike a lot of people, I'm not carrying any superfluous clubs that only get hit once every 10 rounds. All mine get used regularly.

I'm also not great at taking yards off a shot - that 'Fleetwood' punch shot I mentioned maybe takes 5 yards off but I'm useless at three quarter swings and I can't change my tempo so it's hard for me to plug bigger gaps between clubs.

I only carry alternate irons in the Winter. I found a good way to take distance off was to grip down an inch or two.

 

[Orikoru]

I only carry alternate irons in the Winter. I found a good way to take distance off was to grip down an inch or two.

Yeah, my 'Fleetwood' swing just involved having my feet slightly closer together, grip down and shorten the follow-through.