Is 14 clubs the right amount?

[3 jabber]

I carry 14 clubs normally but in winter I go to a carry bag and tend to drop down to about 12. Scoring is generally not much different so do we need 14 clubs....or more? Always hear stories about competitions with limited number of clubs and people having crazy scores.

 

[Grizzly]

I carry 14. No idea why, there are three I use so infrequently that they look brand new (5 iron, two very lofted wedges) and one, a driving iron, that I literally only use to chip out from under trees.

I suspect the one people who really argue for 14 are the equipment manufacturers.

 

[IanM]

Where ever the line is drawn, something with be close to that line. In a normal round on your home course, how often do you hit every club in the bag?

I suspect the one people who really argue for 14 are the equipment manufacturers.

No, they'd argue for 25!!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I normally just take out the 58 degree wedge when carrying - seem to use all the other clubs

And yeah when it’s a “2 club and putter” event we have had scores over 40

I was level par a couple years back in ours

 

[Orikoru]

I have 14 because the max is 14 so I might as well give myself 14 options. I don't have any niche clubs in that that rarely get used, they all have their purpose. If the maximum was 12 or 10 I think the loft gaps between irons would have always been slightly larger to fill the scope of distances with one or two less clubs anyway.

Now that we're in winter I've taken out the 6i, 8i, PW and 50°. This is primarily to lighten the weight now that I'm carrying, plus with the shortened distances the gaps between clubs will be smaller so you can make do with gripping down a 7i when you'd normally hit 8i and so on. I cannot say that I don't miss those clubs though or that I do better without them - there always seems to be that one shot per round that I needed one.

Meant to be having a match this Sunday so I will be putting the full set back in for that one.

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

10 should be the max. But only when you have an index under 5.

Between 5 and 18 it should be 8.

Above 18 it should be 6. Driving club, long shot club, mid shot club, shorter shot club, chipping/sand club and a putter.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I carry 14 clubs normally but in winter I go to a carry bag and tend to drop down to about 12. Scoring is generally not much different so do we need 14 clubs....or more? Always hear stories about competitions with limited number of clubs and people having crazy scores.

What’s your reasoning behind dropping 2 clubs?

 

[RichA]

I normally have 10 in the bag if I'm using a trolley. Down to 6 or 7 when I'm carrying.
Between mid-irons and driver I'd rather just have one hybrid or fairway wood that I'm hitting well than a choice.

 

[3 jabber]

What’s your reasoning behind dropping 2 clubs?

Purely lighter load. I use a small pencil bag in winter and as there are no comps its just fun golf and exercise so not overly worried about my score.

 

[Crow]

I think 8 is a good number, makes the golfer be a bit more creative.

But I do like to look at a full set of irons lined up in the bag.
Here are today's, still a bit muddy.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If it's carry only, then it's a max of 6 clubs for me whether it's a comp/medal or not.
If it's trolley time, then the full 14. I don't see the need to restrict their number down from that

 

[sjw]

I don't have as "full" a set (no 2 iron), but I have to agree, irons are pretty



I need to sort the top end of my bag really, and the wise thing to do would probably be to drop the 3i and my 60 for a couple of woods/hybrids... but I like the 3i

 

[sev112]

for a couple of years at least i had 3w, 7w, 4 6 8, PW SI Putt that made 8 and i did well with that set up, but i have always been a bproing percentage / safe golfer

eventually a few others started creeping in, you know missing a 9 iron for a single par 3, and eventually it crept back up, probably when i switched from carrying to a trolley

id encourage it more these dys now that manufacturers sell clubs by the club and not as a whole set

 

[Burnsey]

Football teams don't field 8 players, as 11 is what is standard.

14 clubs in my bag whatever I'm playing - dropping two doesn't make a bag lighter enough to warrant it.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Football teams don't field 8 players, as 11 is what is standard.

14 clubs in my bag whatever I'm playing - dropping two doesn't make a bag lighter enough to warrant it.

Dropping 8 does

 

[chico]

It's better to have a club and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

 

[clubchamp98]

I think 8 is a good number, makes the golfer be a bit more creative.

But I do like to look at a full set of irons lined up in the bag.
Here are today's, still a bit muddy.

View attachment 56541

You need to sack your caddy that’s not on.!

 

[clubchamp98]

I carry six in winter.
14 in summer.

But I think 10 should be enough for anyone.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

It's better to have a club and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

So which clubs do you leave out when it's carry only and you cannot physically carry 14 clubs?

 

[chico]

So which clubs do you leave out when it's carry only and you cannot physically carry 14 clubs?

I'll let you know when it happens.