Juice's Guide for Building Backup Bags

[Juice1121]

Not that anybody asked, but I have compiled some steadfast rules and other tips for building and maintaining multiple bags and playing your best golf while switching between them. I typically like to switch irons the most so this advice will be geared towards that. 

 

1) Pick and iron style and profile you like and stick to it: Make sure your sets are the same lofts and same style of club. This way you can go between them more freely without forgetting how far you hit your 6 iron. One thing I learned is that a 6 iron for a GI goes way longer than a 6 iron blade. Furthermore, not all lofts are created equal. A 35* GI 8 iron will not travel the same distance as a 35* bladed 7 iron, Same lofts don't mean same distances. I decided to stick with blades/ bladeCB combos and make sure they are all the same loft(even if you have to bend them). My ZB forged, X Protos, Baby blades, 735 CMs all are the same lofts and profiles, and they travel the same distances. 

 

2) Have a reliable gamer set: Make sure you have a putter, wedge, iron, fairway, driver set that you trust fully. That way, when your game gets finiky or you are playing a cash round you can always have something to fall back on that you trust.

 

3) Get your self a Driving Iron: Or two!! These round out the top of the bag quite well. My vice is iron sets so I love to play different irons and you can't always find the ones you want in 3-PW. Sometimes the sets are only 5-PW. I went out and bought a few Cobra King Utilities. Bought a 5, 4, 3, and 2 iron. Got some extra adapters and shafted them with the matching ones from my sets. This allows me to play any set of irons and have a consistent top of the bag if needed. Because they are adjustable they also can be adjusted to fit any loft needed if you do not always subscribe to rule number 1. I can also use them to create different gaps. at the top of the bag so I can carry less clubs if I am walking. 

 

4) Find an older woods that you love and buy some backups: I have always been in love with the L4V. I have 5-7 heads with random shafts at any time. I often pop a random on in the bag whenever I want a change. This goes for fairways too. I love the M2, so i picked up a few in 15* and HL with some different shafts. 

 

5) Nostalgia is key: Don't just own sets of clubs to own them. Recreate your bag from when you were on the high school golf team, or the bag you had when you had your first hole in one. Recreate Tiger's 97 Masters bag. Make a bag comprised of your favorite Unicorns of the 90s, 2000's, and 2010's.  The more sentimental and nostalgic the more joy they will bring you. 

 

6) Putters, Putters, Putters: These hold value the best, buy used and buy often. Find something that works for you and stick with that profile. I love face balanced putters so I own a ton of center shafted and Long neck face balanced putters. I have some odysseys that are the same profile but different lengths and different face inserts. It is so much fun to swap them in and out whenever I want a chance.

 

7) If you can't afford it don't buy it: This is key for actually enjoying your clubs. You don't want to sink you paycheck into a backup set and then not be able to afford to play. 

 

😎 Get buy in from your SO: If you aren't running stag make sure that they know you like collecting and spending money on golf. The earlier you establish this, the easier it will be later in the relationship and you don't have to lie about what you're buying.

 

 

Would love to hear if you have any thoughts or if you disagree with my guide. 

Edited October 1, 2020 by Juice1121

[A.Princey]

Not that your way is wrong, but I have exactly identical clubs in my backup bag, down to club weight and all.

[Sub_Roc]

Great points!

I have been on a bit of a selling rampage of various backup sticks and stockpile of different models of golf balls. 

This has given me much freedom to figure out what I really want as a reliable gamer set and figure out what to keep as a backup set.

 

I have decided to stick to one putter, same lofted drivers/woods, limiting the highest wedge loft in the bag to a 58 or a low bounce 60, and practice/play using only same model/year golf balls for the sake of consistency.   <<< I'm hoping all of this will work.

 

You mentioned something that has been on my mind regarding iron lofts from various sets and the resulting distances.

I used to play 3-PW in traditional lofts and dialed in predictable distances.

Latest gamers are a bit stronger lofted and "hot faced", so it has been a bit of a challenge to determine the carry distances.

I do welcome the extra forgiveness, so the jury is still out whether it is helping me or not. 

Irons were the strongest part of my game, but it has slipped a lot lately due to lack of practice time.

 

Regarding the buy in from the SO.  She knows and approves my recent selling spree of unused golf equipment and making some extra cash.  I've made a lot more than she thinks, so it will be used get my fix when I really need something.

 

 

[BIG STU]

Agree 110%--- Exactly how I do it. I prefer Macgregor irons and all my lofts and lies are the same. Woods are a mix between Penna and Mac. Putters I have so many but when playing vintage it is between Ironmaster , Bulls Eye or TP Mills. As far as the money I do not have a lot in anything. I worked for a metal recycling company and you would not believe the stuff I used to buy for scrap prices never more than .20 each for a club. I have also had some generous WRX members over the years that have sent me stuff for free. I will be glad when I am again able to swing and play my steel shafted classics. I broke my back and shoulder back in April so right now I am recovering and swinging some graphite shafted KZGs. But that is better than nothing at least I am playing

[manxytag]

I have been playing golf for 40 years and never needed a back up bag

[leftygolferessex]

Loved all of that! 

I built two bag of 'unicorns' last year (unfortunately I am going to have to sell them all now due to moving house!)

One bag consists of
Titleist 905R
Titleist 906F2
Titleist PT Fairway

Adams MB2 Raw 3-PW
Cleveland RTG wedge set

And the other bag is
Taylormade Burner TP
Taylormade V Steel
Mizuno MP32 3-PW

Mizuno MP-T wedge set

I had such good fun looking back at old bags and sets to see what I wanted, were so many options I could have done! But being a lefty, some of the options were very limited! 

[Juice1121]

17 hours ago, A.Princey said:

Not that your way is wrong, but I have exactly identical clubs in my backup bag, down to club weight and all.

 

I can see that if you want a true back up bag, but this is more for the person that wants to play multiple different sets. 

 

6 hours ago, simonizer said:

Great points!

I have been on a bit of a selling rampage of various backup sticks and stockpile of different models of golf balls. 

This has given me much freedom to figure out what I really want as a reliable gamer set and figure out what to keep as a backup set.

 

I have decided to stick to one putter, same lofted drivers/woods, limiting the highest wedge loft in the bag to a 58 or a low bounce 60, and practice/play using only same model/year golf balls for the sake of consistency.   <<< I'm hoping all of this will work.

 

You mentioned something that has been on my mind regarding iron lofts from various sets and the resulting distances.

I used to play 3-PW in traditional lofts and dialed in predictable distances.

Latest gamers are a bit stronger lofted and "hot faced", so it has been a bit of a challenge to determine the carry distances.

I do welcome the extra forgiveness, so the jury is still out whether it is helping me or not. 

Irons were the strongest part of my game, but it has slipped a lot lately due to lack of practice time.

 

Regarding the buy in from the SO.  She knows and approves my recent selling spree of unused golf equipment and making some extra cash.  I've made a lot more than she thinks, so it will be used get my fix when I really need something.

 

 

 

Yea, I have gamed a set of z545's since they came out. I have recently made the switch back to blades and have found it took multiple rounds to make the switch. I really struggle going back and for between the sets. I noticed immediately when going back and forth between my bladed sets that it was much easier to go back and forth between them. . 

 

4 hours ago, manxytag said:

I have been playing golf for 40 years and never needed a back up bag

 

This is more for the person who wants... not needs. 😁

 

 

[Juice1121]

3 hours ago, leftygolferessex said:

Loved all of that! 

I built two bag of 'unicorns' last year (unfortunately I am going to have to sell them all now due to moving house!)

One bag consists of
Titleist 905R
Titleist 906F2
Titleist PT Fairway

Adams MB2 Raw 3-PW
Cleveland RTG wedge set

And the other bag is
Taylormade Burner TP
Taylormade V Steel
Mizuno MP32 3-PW

Mizuno MP-T wedge set

I had such good fun looking back at old bags and sets to see what I wanted, were so many options I could have done! But being a lefty, some of the options were very limited! 

YEa man, One of my biggest regrets was getting rid of a set of mp 33's. Loved some of those classic clubs and bagging them brings just as much joy, in a different way, than playing the new stuff. Currently looking at a set of t-MBs cause I really liked the look and never got them. Also looking at a set of 680s, mp18s, cally apex mbs, the list of classic clubs is endless. 

 

[95124hacker]

My backup bag is for casual rounds where results don’t matter (not a club tournament or cash game). Therefore I just throw in what I consider to be fun to play, on a whim. Good to have those rounds where you can enjoy the game and outdoors away from daily life stresses.

[BIG STU]

6 hours ago, manxytag said:

I have been playing golf for 40 years and never needed a back up bag

Ok cool I can respect that--- Hey you are doing your thing which is ok if it suits you

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, 95124hacker said:

My backup bag is for casual rounds where results don’t matter (not a club tournament or cash game). Therefore I just throw in what I consider to be fun to play, on a whim. Good to have those rounds where you can enjoy the game and outdoors away from daily life stresses.

That last sentence is what it is all about there my friend

[miamistomp]

 Big problem is storing all the stuff

   Guitars and golf clubs have taken over the house- good thing I am single and my kids are understanding

     Just picked up a mint MacGregor VIP persimmon  4 wood for $ 7 that looks like it was never hit !

[hwturner17]

Trying to put together a half set backup bag right now actually 

[ARL67]

The core of my backup / weekend bag are both MP-18 MMC 5-PW, one with Steelfiber i110cw and the other with Steelfiber i95.