Is 14 clubs the right amount?

[Orikoru]

I'm usually taking a dozen clubs but it could easily be less if the sets were built just slightly differently

Its common to see 3-4 degrees of loft separation in modern irons but I'll respectfully suggest that for most club golfers a 5-6 degree separation would make no difference (inc through wedges)
I could then go with 7 clubs to cover 20° to 54° (4iron/Hy through to SW) in seven clubs rather than nine
Add putter, driver and FW for a 10 club set

(and that's before I suggest making irons adjustable i.e one long iron covers 4,5,6 lofts, one slightly shorter length for 7,8,9 and a third for PW/GW/SW Each with a quick 2-3 second loft adjustment mechanism... now we have a 6 club set with no notable gaps from current 13/14 club arrangements)
Wont happen because we wont pay a grand for three irons but it would be cheaper to produce, better for materials, environment, cheaper to package & ship etc etc etc

That's what I was saying. If the limit had always been 10 clubs, say, then I think we'd all be playing sets that look more like this:

Driver	10°
3 wood	15-16°
3 iron/5 wood	20-22°
4 iron/hybrid	26-28°
5 iron	32-34°
6 iron	38-42°
7 iron	45-47°
PW	50°
SW	55°

So it wouldn't be the same taking four clubs out of your bag as it stands now, because the gapping would have been different.

 

[Patster1969]

Depending how steep the lips on the bunkers are.
I often putt out of compacted /frozen bunkers
Takes a few practice ones though but it does come out.

I did look at that option but the bunkers that I ended up in were all greenside & steep - just tried to chip it out somewhere & took my medicine

 

[Patster1969]

That's what I was saying. If the limit had always been 10 clubs, say, then I think we'd all be playing sets that look more like this:

Driver	10°
3 wood	15-16°
3 iron/5 wood	20-22°
4 iron/hybrid	26-28°
5 iron	32-34°
6 iron	38-42°
7 iron	45-47°
PW	50°
SW	55°

So it wouldn't be the same taking four clubs out of your bag as it stands now, because the gapping would have been different.

The good news is that I would then be playing with 9 clubs, as the 10 degree driver would be on the naughty step most weeks

 

[jim8flog]

If they allowed more I know of a couple of players who would have 3 or more putters in their bag.

 

[Orikoru]

If they allowed more I know of a couple of players who would have 3 or more putters in their bag.

There's an old feller at my club who has two drivers in the bag - one is a 9° or so, to 'get it out there', and the other is around 11° and he considers it more of a fairway finder. They are both about 20 year-old clubs so if he got a new one I'm certain he could find one that's both longer and finds more fairways than both of them, but he probably won't do that.

 

[GreiginFife]

I've been carrying 10 since the start of winter;
Driver
5w
5i, 7i , 8i , 9i, PW, 51, 56
Betti

Not seeing much difference as I seldom used the 6i, 3w has been on the naughty step and 4h was becoming a bit wild so was "club of last resort" in many cases.

 

[rudebhoy]

we had a 5 club 9 hole comp before Xmas. I won it with my best score of the year.

 

[DeanoMK]

I regularly only have 10/11 in the bag. I only have a SW and s PW, no other wedges and at the top it's Driver, 2H/5W.

In the winter I normally only carry 8.

 

[sjw]

I've been carrying 10 since the start of winter;
Driver
5w
5i, 7i , 8i , 9i, PW, 51, 56
Betti

Not seeing much difference as I seldom used the 6i, 3w has been on the naughty step and 4h was becoming a bit wild so was "club of last resort" in many cases.

Went out with my dad over Christmas (he doesn't play, just comes out with me occasionally to spend time together) and he had a dedicated "naughty pocket" on his bag in which he put any of the clubs that failed him dramatically. By the end of the round I think half the set were crammed in there!

 

[Imurg]

If I'm carrying it's 8 or 9 clubs
With the trolley I take the kitchen sink.....

 

[D-S]

If I'm carrying it's 8 or 9 clubs
With the trolley I take the kitchen sink.....

Did you get fitted for the kitchen sink?

 

[Imurg]

Did you get fitted for the kitchen sink?

Taps an' all

 

[GolfandGuitars]

I regularly only have 10/11 in the bag. I only have a SW and s PW, no other wedges and at the top it's Driver, 2H/5W.

In the winter I normally only carry 8.

My bag is much the same. 11 clubs with PW and SW only as my wedges tho tbh if I am 50yds or less from the green and no bunkers in the way 9 out of 10 times I will bump and run onto the green with my 8 iron with good results