How many clubs do you play in one round on average?

[iku]

I think I'm becoming too loyal to some clubs and stick to them even when the ideal option would be using another club. I know that the best thing to do is playing safe shots and do things you know you can do but I wonder if because I started playing last year this attitude is actually limiting my progression.

Last night for example I hit a 220 yds drive on a Par 5 leaving something like 280 yds to the green. I simply can't hit a 3 wood of the fairway so that wasn't an option. Instead of going for a 3i I decided to play my safe 5i full swing (180yds and surely my best/safest shot) then wedge on the green and 2 putts for par. Good result indeed but I left with a bitter aftertaste that I could have dared more.

So I looked at the clubs I played over the 9 hole and they were:

driver, 5i, 7i, pw, 56*, putter.

I practice all the clubs at the range but I always go for the safe ones on the course. Any suggestion on how to improve this?

 

[One Planer]

I wouldn't say I'm "loyal" to a selrct few clubs. I try and play each shot as I see it and on the conditions I'm faced with.

On an average round I would say I would use most clubs in my bag.

Using your example of a 3 wood into a par 5. If I was in a comp I would probably agree and lay up but just having a social knock I would probably take it on.

 

[haplesshacker]

In your example it's seems to be a go for it or not issue. If the percentage shot ie par is the lowest score and highest percentage, then that is what to do. If going for the green in two is high risk, why chance it?

But do try the 3 wood in a social game and eventually you'll get comfy with it for comp use.

 

[USER1999]

If you have driven 220, then at 290 you are not going to get on the green with a 3w. Therefore, you chose what your lay up distance will be, and use what ever club will get you to that point.

I often only use 5 or 6 clubs during a round. Especially off the back tees. Not through choice, but because I don't ever seem to need to use the others.

I agree, that to really shoot the lights out then you need to take risks. If you never take any risks, then your scores will be more consistent, but will lack the potential to truly go low.

It is about balance.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Iku, the par 5 strategy you describe playing is what most of us should do, but then vanity and delusion gets the better of us and we try the glory shot with a 3-wood.

In your example you have 280 yds left to the green, so even if you nail the 3 wood, you're still going to be left with maybe 50 yds, and that assumes you hit it well and find the fairway. At your level, the 5 iron is by far the better play.

If the 3-wood could reach the geeen, it might be worth a crack, but even then it's such a high-risk strategy.

It sounds to me like you could talk yourself out of playing sensible golf that is within your ability, just to use a wider variety of shots and clubs. I'm not sure your scores will benefit from that strategy. It's not like you need to chase birdies, just pick up a few pars.

 

[Crawfy]

Iku,
Why change a solid Par5 strategy ?
I agree with above that u should try your 3 wood, but it would not make it. If your drive was 280, leaving u 220 then it would be an option.
But at present it would be leaving u with tough 50y chip. Best with the lay up, full wedge and more control. A goos wedge may give you a 1 putt birdie chance

You may find that this club loyalty is borne from you playing at a consistent level on teh same course ? Means you are hitting the same shots, therefore needing the same clubs.

For a social game, an idea might be to try a 5-club challenge (but select clubs u dont usually use. And use teh 3-wood rather than driver) No harm if your just playing with mates

 

[iku]

Iku, the par 5 strategy you describe playing is what most of us should do, but then vanity and delusion gets the better of us and we try the glory shot with a 3-wood.

In your example you have 280 yds left to the green, so even if you nail the 3 wood, you're still going to be left with maybe 50 yds, and that assumes you hit it well and find the fairway. At your level, the 5 iron is by far the better play.

If the 3-wood could reach the geeen, it might be worth a crack, but even then it's such a high-risk strategy.

It sounds to me like you could talk yourself out of playing sensible golf that is within your ability, just to use a wider variety of shots and clubs. I'm not sure your scores will benefit from that strategy. It's not like you need to chase birdies, just pick up a few pars.

You see Monty, your last sentence is something I really don't understand among accomplished golfers I've been playing for less than one year but my golf is improving, I'm 31 so why shouldn't I chase birdies? I actually had a birdie chance on that very same hole but I missed the putt. I really don't agree with the play for bogey philosophy. Surely I'll never become a pro or even a single digits player but why should I hold back from the beginning. Then of course there are very good chances that I'll never be able of playing certain shots but let's give it try.

I noticed that better players tend to use a wider range of clubs than me and was wondering if that's because my shot understaning and selection are still poor or it's more due to technique.

 

[USER1999]

It's about chasing birdies on the right holes though. Taking on a shot with a 10% chance of it coming off is not going to help. Taking on a shot with a 60% chance is a goer.

Say you don't like your 4i. So on a 190 yard par 3 you have a choice of hitting the 4i, being short with the 5i, or hitting wedge, wedge.
In this instance, the 5i will get you bogey at worst. You may chip it close, and get a par.
The wedge wedge will nearly always get you bogey.
The 4i may give you birdie opportunities, but have the potential for a double.

If you can hit the 4i on the practice ground with a 60% ratio of good to bad, it's a good risk out on the course. If you hit it with a 10% ratio, leave it in the bag, and use a different strategy. If you always hit the 5i, then yes, you are limiting your scoring opportunities.

 

[chris661]

It's about chasing birdies on the right holes though.

It's also about being realistic, if you only hit a driver 220 then with the best will in the world you are never going to reach par 5's in two unless they are very short.

 

[pokerjoke]

I use on average 10 clubs.
The important thing for me is knowing how far you hit each club,and realise your limits.
Knowing your distances will give you a lot more confidence,and it will allow you to commit to the shot.
Your play on the par 5 sounds good to me.
We all try to be heros on the course and try and play the immposible,but 9 times out of ten it will get you in trouble.
Stick to your limits,use good course management and you wont go far wrong.
If only i adhered to these wise words

 

[Monty_Brown]

Iku, the par 5 strategy you describe playing is what most of us should do, but then vanity and delusion gets the better of us and we try the glory shot with a 3-wood.

In your example you have 280 yds left to the green, so even if you nail the 3 wood, you're still going to be left with maybe 50 yds, and that assumes you hit it well and find the fairway. At your level, the 5 iron is by far the better play.

If the 3-wood could reach the geeen, it might be worth a crack, but even then it's such a high-risk strategy.

It sounds to me like you could talk yourself out of playing sensible golf that is within your ability, just to use a wider variety of shots and clubs. I'm not sure your scores will benefit from that strategy. It's not like you need to chase birdies, just pick up a few pars.

You see Monty, your last sentence is something I really don't understand among accomplished golfers I've been playing for less than one year but my golf is improving, I'm 31 so why shouldn't I chase birdies? I actually had a birdie chance on that very same hole but I missed the putt. I really don't agree with the play for bogey philosophy. Surely I'll never become a pro or even a single digits player but why should I hold back from the beginning. Then of course there are very good chances that I'll never be able of playing certain shots but let's give it try.

I noticed that better players tend to use a wider range of clubs than me and was wondering if that's because my shot understaning and selection are still poor or it's more due to technique.

"I really don't agree with the play for bogey philosophy"

Neither do I. Not what I said old chap. I'm saying play for as many pars as possible in the round. The truth is most average golfers will bring their handicaps down by increasing the number of pars on their card and shooting no worse than a bogey on any hole, rather than chasing birdies. Taking on high-tariff 3-woods can get you a birdie if you hit the green, but it's also likely to go flying off into the cabbage, from where you won't even make par.

Category 1 players do need to push it, but to get there, it's about playing par golf.

 

[scozzie]

you can maybe try what i try to do regularly...I take odds & evens out and besides making my bag incredibly light,it makes you think about strategy and forces you to somtimes take something on as you only have half a set to use,my theory is you become more versatile and can maybe score better when under pressure because you use all your clubs regularly instead of most just beinga dead weight in your bag every week as you use your "favorites"......Ill take a par with a lay up any day...then attack the ones you can.

 

[RGDave]

Hmm, interesting.

I tend to play with a few clubs much more than others.

It used to be my 4-iron as much as possible, but I'm trying to wean myself onto a 5 wood, like the old days.

As for the par 5 analogy; I always play the shot to leave 90-100-ish yards.

On our 12th (550 off the back tee) I hit a hybrid club 95% of the time straight at the left fairway bunker. In the bunker is 80 short, 20 short of that is 100 exactly. I've only been in it once in 4 years using this strategy.

By my reckoning, 100 short of 550 = 450 with Driver + hybrid. I wouldn't club down (no point) and wouldn't hit a fairway wood unless the hole was off yellow.

On our 7th (475 uphill) almost everyone plays a mid iron over the lake and up the hill. I can't recall anyone going for the green....some people get close though.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'll probably use at least 12 of my clubs in every round, this evening I used all of them at least once.

The one I use least is probably my 60deg wedge but it comes in very useful from time to time.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I'm not sure I've ever sat and considered which clubs I have or haven't used during the course of a round.

I have enough to think about with this game, never mind worrying if my 3-iron is feeling upset because I've not been paying it enough attention. That's what my wife is for...