I bought today.....

[Orikoru]

I have the gapping too, just inconsistent strikes with the hybrid - need to practice, but fancy trying the 5 iron.

My 6 iron is 29, 5 hybrid set to 25 - the 5 iron will be 26, so hoping like for like in terms of gapping, just more consistency.

It's all about trying things out for me - I'll be using a 2 iron before you know it

A 25° hybrid will surely be a fair bit longer than a 26° iron, due to longer, lighter shaft, so more speed, easier launch, etc? I have Rogue ST Max irons, the 5 iron (which I didn't buy) would have been 21.5°. I bought the ST Max hybrid instead as I figured they would be designed for the gapping to work, and that is 23°.

 

[Kennysarmy]

Just pulled the trigger on an AI Smoke Max driver from Callaway pre-owned.

Nice little early birthday treat for myself.

I see you went from the Epic Flash to the Ai Smoke?

I currently game the Epic Flash Sub Zero 9deg loft set at +2 Neutral.

A friend is looking to offload his Ai Smoke Max 10.5

I took it for a spin at a range yesterday but sadly they didn't have any tees that were at my optimum height, everything was a little low but still (with Top Tracer) was able to get one out at:

263 yrds total (carry was 239) -
Ball speed 145
Launch 15 deg
Apex 91 feet

Considering I was struggling with the tee height I was impressed.

My driver SS is usually between 95 and 100 with a +ve attack angle.

How have you found the transition?

Did you swap in your existing shaft?

The stats above were with my current shaft in the new head, which I set at standard loft Draw Bias and had the back weight about 1/3 from max. draw setting.

Going to try and book a trackman SIM this week for an hour and also take it out on the course tomorrow before I make a final decision on purchasing.

 

[PJ87]

I have the gapping too, just inconsistent strikes with the hybrid - need to practice, but fancy trying the 5 iron.

My 6 iron is 29, 5 hybrid set to 25 - the 5 iron will be 26, so hoping like for like in terms of gapping, just more consistency.

It's all about trying things out for me - I'll be using a 2 iron before you know it

Dont! I am very tempted with a 16 degree driving iron lol

I have just written down (roughly) when I last changed my clubs and the cost lol

 

[peld]

interesting that the club you had in your bag the longest is probably the one club you SHOULD change regularly - (your LW)

 

[Orikoru]

I see you went from the Epic Flash to the Ai Smoke?

I currently game the Epic Flash Sub Zero 9deg loft set at +2 Neutral.

A friend is looking to offload his Ai Smoke Max 10.5

I took it for a spin at a range yesterday but sadly they didn't have any tees that were at my optimum height, everything was a little low but still (with Top Tracer) was able to get one out at:

263 yrds total (carry was 239) -
Ball speed 145
Launch 15 deg
Apex 91 feet

Considering I was struggling with the tee height I was impressed.

My driver SS is usually between 95 and 100 with a +ve attack angle.

How have you found the transition?

Did you swap in your existing shaft?

The stats above were with my current shaft in the new head, which I set at standard loft Draw Bias and had the back weight about 1/3 from max. draw setting.

Going to try and book a trackman SIM this week for an hour and also take it out on the course tomorrow before I make a final decision on purchasing.

This was a great tip from Slab (I think) on here, but I bought my own driving range tees and keep them in my golf bag so I can always get the height correct. Have needed to work on driver a lot so this was necessary.

Golf Driving Range Rubber Tees - Range Solutions

PRODUCT CODE: G156 Golf Rubber Tees perfect for the driving range, practice range or personal use.

www.rangesolutions.co.uk

I bought a blue and a red, one or the other usually works depending on the mat thickness. I also bought the white one that you can put your own tees in just in case the other two aren't correct. Whole order only cost £9.

 

[Burnsey]

A 25° hybrid will surely be a fair bit longer than a 26° iron, due to longer, lighter shaft, so more speed, easier launch, etc? I have Rogue ST Max irons, the 5 iron (which I didn't buy) would have been 21.5°. I bought the ST Max hybrid instead as I figured they would be designed for the gapping to work, and that is 23°.

I just don't hit my 5 hybrid too well.

6 iron is 160, 5 hybrid can be 180, but one out of three, so happy at 170 with a 5 iron, then 7 and 5 wood.

Always an experiment with me though.

 

[Orikoru]

interesting that the club you had in your bag the longest is probably the one club you SHOULD change regularly - (your LW)

Bought my 60 second hand, I only use it to get out of bunkers anyway.

 

[Burnsey]

Dont! I am very tempted with a 16 degree driving iron lol

I have just written down (roughly) when I last changed my clubs and the cost lol

View attachment 55817

LOL!

I love a spreadsheet and the below excludes my 'spare' clubs

Club	Standard Loft	Adjusted Loft	Manufacturer	Model	Retail
Driver	11	12.5 (A-3)	Titleist	GT2	£591.00
5 Wood	18	18.75 (C4)	Titleist	TSR1	£241.00
7 Wood	20	20.75 (C4)	Titleist	TSR1
4 Hybrid	22	22	Ping	G430	£269.00
5 Hybrid	24	25 (C4)	Titleist	TSR2	£271.00
5 Iron	24	26	Titleist	T200	£191.50
6 Iron	27	29	Titleist	T200	£191.50
7 Iron	30.5	32.5	Titleist	T200	£191.50
8 Iron	34.5	36.5	Titleist	T200	£191.50
9 Iron	40	40	Titleist	T150	£191.50
P Wedge	44	44	Titleist	T150	£191.50
G Wedge	48	48	Titleist	T150	£191.50
Wedge	52-8	52	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	56-12	56	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	60-10	60	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	54-10-S	54	Vokey	SM10 Jet Black	£169.00
Wedge	58-12-D	58	Vokey	SM10 Jet Black	£169.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Select Laguna	£349.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Phantom No.7	£429.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Newport Classic	£280.00

 

[Klimski]

Turns out I am going for a bit of a bag overhaul this off season. It's the final time I'll attempt this without having a fitting. Budget is tight. I am selling my Mizuno irons, and a lot of old gear that's in the shed. I will game 8 clubs exclusively next season. And any other money I spend will go into lessons, as I expect most gains there. So, what will the set look like:

- Driver: Callaway 454 HL (15 degree) R flex 44 inch
- 5 Wood (19 degree): Cleveland Mashie R flex
- 4 hybrid (23 degree): Cleveland Mashie R flex
- 6 iron (28 degree): Callaway Razr R flex graphite
- 8 iron (36 degree): Callaway Razr R flex graphite
- C wedge (42 degree): Cleveland Smart Sole R flex steel
- SW: MacGregor 56 R flex steel / Cleveland 588 RTX R flex steel
- Putter: Wilson harmonized 740

Looking forward to spring already.

 

[PJ87]

LOL!

I love a spreadsheet and the below excludes my 'spare' clubs

Club	Standard Loft	Adjusted Loft	Manufacturer	Model	Retail
Driver	11	12.5 (A-3)	Titleist	GT2	£591.00
5 Wood	18	18.75 (C4)	Titleist	TSR1	£241.00
7 Wood	20	20.75 (C4)	Titleist	TSR1
4 Hybrid	22	22	Ping	G430	£269.00
5 Hybrid	24	25 (C4)	Titleist	TSR2	£271.00
5 Iron	24	26	Titleist	T200	£191.50
6 Iron	27	29	Titleist	T200	£191.50
7 Iron	30.5	32.5	Titleist	T200	£191.50
8 Iron	34.5	36.5	Titleist	T200	£191.50
9 Iron	40	40	Titleist	T150	£191.50
P Wedge	44	44	Titleist	T150	£191.50
G Wedge	48	48	Titleist	T150	£191.50
Wedge	52-8	52	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	56-12	56	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	60-10	60	J Lindeberg	LTD4	£249.00
Wedge	54-10-S	54	Vokey	SM10 Jet Black	£169.00
Wedge	58-12-D	58	Vokey	SM10 Jet Black	£169.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Select Laguna	£349.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Phantom No.7	£429.00
Putter	n/a		Scotty Cameron	Newport Classic	£280.00

I think we need to start golf buyers anonymous

 

[Orikoru]

Turns out I am going for a bit of a bag overhaul this off season. It's the final time I'll attempt this without having a fitting. Budget is tight. I am selling my Mizuno irons, and a lot of old gear that's in the shed. I will game 8 clubs exclusively next season. And any other money I spend will go into lessons, as I expect most gains there. So, what will the set look like:

- Driver: Callaway 454 HL (15 degree) R flex 44 inch
- 5 Wood (19 degree): Cleveland Mashie R flex
- 4 hybrid (23 degree): Cleveland Mashie R flex
- 6 iron (28 degree): Callaway Razr R flex graphite
- 8 iron (36 degree): Callaway Razr R flex graphite
- C wedge (42 degree): Cleveland Smart Sole R flex steel
- SW: MacGregor 56 R flex steel / Cleveland 588 RTX R flex steel
- Putter: Wilson harmonized 740

Looking forward to spring already.

Why are you so intent on only having a half set? Would it be the end of the world to carry a 9 iron? Just curious. I know that as soon as I take a couple of irons out of the bag when I'm carrying in winter, you can bet money on which club I subsequently need three times that day.

 

[PJ87]

Why are you so intent on only having a half set? Would it be the end of the world to carry a 9 iron? Just curious. I know that as soon as I take a couple of irons out of the bag when I'm carrying in winter, you can bet money on which club I subsequently need three times that day.

I have a pre planned half set in mind for such situations

Driver
4 hybrid
6 iron
8 iron
Wedge
54 degree
Putter

 

[Orikoru]

I have a pre planned half set in mind for such situations

Driver
4 hybrid
6 iron
8 iron
Wedge
54 degree
Putter

I'll take 6, 8, PW and 50 out of the bag when it's carry only and we're just hacking about in the mud. Can't imagine being without them for a scoring round or a match though.

 

[Burnsey]

I'll take 6, 8, PW and 50 out of the bag when it's carry only and we're just hacking about in the mud. Can't imagine being without them for a scoring round or a match though.

I'm hiring a sherpa and taking them all

 

[Springveldt]

A 25° hybrid will surely be a fair bit longer than a 26° iron, due to longer, lighter shaft, so more speed, easier launch, etc? I have Rogue ST Max irons, the 5 iron (which I didn't buy) would have been 21.5°. I bought the ST Max hybrid instead as I figured they would be designed for the gapping to work, and that is 23°.

Definitely will. I've replaced my 5 iron which was 24° with a Callaway Paradym hybrid which is also 24° but I've lofted it up to 26° to get the gapping correct. My 6 iron is 27° which carries around 175 (when hit right) and although I haven't been on the Trackman yet with the new hybrid I did hit it 195 on Saturday (with roll out across a green) into the wind so I think it's about right. My 4 hybrid is 21° which I've lofted up to 22° and my 3 hybrid is 19° which I loft down to 18°.

 

[Voyager EMH]

For those who love a spreadsheet, this is what I will be playing with tomorrow



When GG26 and IanM came to my club in the summer, I played with the above except I had not acquired the 23° hybrid at that point and I think I had a Powerbilt oversize 2-iron in the bag. I have 2-SW of that Powerbilt that were given to me. So bag was £123.
Turned out to be my best casual round of the year - 68 on a CR 69.1
Soon after that I shot my best qualifying round of the year with those clubs - 72 on a CR 70.8

If I use my Daiwa TCS blades at £28 and John Letters putter Golden Goose or Banker5 (£3 each), I can get the cost of the 14 below £100 fairly easily.
Played with the Daiwas and a £3 putter in 2023 county seniors scratch championship and came equal 7th place overall and equal 2nd place in 60-64 age group.
Best ever performance in that comp.

 

[PJ87]

For those who love a spreadsheet, this is what I will be playing with tomorrow

View attachment 55818

When GG26 and IanM came to my club in the summer, I played with the above except I had not acquired the 23° hybrid at that point and I think I had a Powerbilt oversize 2-iron in the bag. I have 2-SW of that Powerbilt that were given to me. So bag was £123.
Turned out to be my best casual round of the year - 68 on a CR 69.1
Soon after that I shot my best qualifying round of the year with those clubs - 72 on a CR 70.8

If I use my Daiwa TCS blades at £28 and John Letters putter Golden Goose or Banker5 (£3 each), I can get the cost of the 14 below £100 fairly easily.
Played with the Daiwas and a £3 putter in 2023 county seniors scratch championship and came equal 7th place overall and equal 2nd place in 60-64 age group.
Best ever performance in that comp.

Jesus lol that entire bag cost less than just one of the new hybrids

 

[Morfeen75]

For those who love a spreadsheet, this is what I will be playing with tomorrow

View attachment 55818

When GG26 and IanM came to my club in the summer, I played with the above except I had not acquired the 23° hybrid at that point and I think I had a Powerbilt oversize 2-iron in the bag. I have 2-SW of that Powerbilt that were given to me. So bag was £123.
Turned out to be my best casual round of the year - 68 on a CR 69.1
Soon after that I shot my best qualifying round of the year with those clubs - 72 on a CR 70.8

If I use my Daiwa TCS blades at £28 and John Letters putter Golden Goose or Banker5 (£3 each), I can get the cost of the 14 below £100 fairly easily.
Played with the Daiwas and a £3 putter in 2023 county seniors scratch championship and came equal 7th place overall and equal 2nd place in 60-64 age group.
Best ever performance in that comp.

That proves golf doesnt need to cost a lot to play. Well done

 

[DeanoMK]

Why are you so intent on only having a half set? Would it be the end of the world to carry a 9 iron? Just curious. I know that as soon as I take a couple of irons out of the bag when I'm carrying in winter, you can bet money on which club I subsequently need three times that day.

I think I've said this before on here but I only normally carry 7-8 clubs in the winter. I used 8 yesterday and shot 7 over par.

It's incredibly rare that I "miss" a club, for instance, if I had a 135 yard shot, which is normally my 9, I'd use my 8 and either choke down on it or swing slightly shorter, almost like a punch shot.

 

[Orikoru]

I think I've said this before on here but I only normally carry 7-8 clubs in the winter. I used 8 yesterday and shot 7 over par.

It's incredibly rare that I "miss" a club, for instance, if I had a 135 yard shot, which is normally my 9, I'd use my 8 and either choke down on it or swing slightly shorter, almost like a punch shot.

As mentioned earlier - I do carry a smaller set in winter on rounds that don't count for anything. But I don't really have a 'three-quarter' swing, it just knackers my tempo and I fat it. Best I can do is grip down the club and swing full, maybe takes 5 yards off but not a whole club. So I just make do with being a bit short or long. If it's a comp or match I'll go back to full set.