Seven clubs or fewer?

[minimal45]

Sounds like the 2016 season will be full of minimalist round tales. Excited to see so many enjoying the trek.

[oldschoolrocker]

Just finished up walking nine between weather fronts. Had went to the range early this morning, storm scheduled to hit around 11am. 2pm and it wasn't on the radar, but had just finished a brief shower. Wind 15-20.

 

Mac 2 wood, 4,6,8,pw Buttonbacks, 56 Dynapowered, Bullseye Lefemme flange.

Had dropped the 2 iron I usually carry to bring it down to a pure half set of 7.

 

Starter remarked I was traveling light, so I said in case I need a quick getaway due to weather.

 

Had the place pretty much to myself so I could move at a good pace. Played a ProV no X.

 

Can't think of anytime another club would have been justified and the seven club self imposed limit did not deter my score in the least. Ended up 2 over for the nine due to staying in the moment and not allowing my mental game to quicksand when I got in trouble.

 

Been working on nothing but core strength and flexibility and it appears to be paying off.

 

[minimal45]

Well done osr. It is funny the looks you get with a small set. I remember telling a guy at a course I had never played that I shot a 42 on the front and he said "not with 5 clubs you didn't." My girlfriend pipes in and says "yeah he did. You think I'm going to let him get away with anything. I want to win." Guy looks back at me and says "her I believe!" It was great.

[Wriggles]

A week or so ago, I got the itch to buy a new driver or 3W, discounted of course. A couple January's ago. I ordered a R11 3W from RBG. I've taken that club out many times since then, seem to always slice it. When I connect with it, though, it seems to get pretty good distance.

 

Anyhow, I've been so frustrated with the R11 that I've wanted to throw it in the lake many times. I decided to extend the shaft to driver length, making a mini driver. I've done others, with varying degrees of success. Played seven holes last Sunday, the R11 was much friendlier. I actually hit it around 210 on one hole.

 

Time will tell, but at least it killed my desire to throw away $100 or so on a new golf club.

 

The best extended shaft project I have is an old laminated Haig Ultra driver. I extended the stock shaft 2". I've gotten some 250+ drives with it, provided a good deal of roll. I play it a lot with my Haig irons. Bag set up, Driver, 4W, 6-8-9 and putter, six clubs.

 

Play well!

[minimal45]

Are you tall wriggles?

[Wriggles]

Are you tall wriggles?

 

I'm 6'3"+. Never made 6'4". I'm probably a bit shorter now, due to being 63. I recall when I was much younger, I used to actually buy 36 inseams for my pants when I could get them, otherwise 34. Now, I can wear a 32 without looking too high water. Of course, as I've gotten older, I'm not fastidious about my attire.

 

As far as driver length is concerned, Bobby Jones commented in one of his books, that Long Jim Barnes and Wee Bobby Cruickshank were a foot difference in their heights. Barnes used a driver shorter than Bobby Jones, and Cruickshank played with drivers as long as 50".

 

Yesterday, I played two holes, windy and cold, so I quit. The R11 played OK, got about 190 off the tee, but pretty straight. Duffed a fairway shot, though. The club felt too long to hit off the deck. Everyone looks for more distance off the tee, including myself. Fact is, someone like myself can miss a one foot putt. Seems like I should be experimenting with putters.

 

Play well!

[scruffynick]

Are you tall wriggles?

 

I'm 6'3"+. Never made 6'4". I'm probably a bit shorter now, due to being 63. I recall when I was much younger, I used to actually buy 36 inseams for my pants when I could get them, otherwise 34. Now, I can wear a 32 without looking too high water. Of course, as I've gotten older, I'm not fastidious about my attire.

 

As far as driver length is concerned, Bobby Jones commented in one of his books, that Long Jim Barnes and Wee Bobby Cruickshank were a foot difference in their heights. Barnes used a driver shorter than Bobby Jones, and Cruickshank played with drivers as long as 50".

 

Yesterday, I played two holes, windy and cold, so I quit. The R11 played OK, got about 190 off the tee, but pretty straight. Duffed a fairway shot, though. The club felt too long to hit off the deck. Everyone looks for more distance off the tee, including myself. Fact is, someone like myself can miss a one foot putt. Seems like I should be experimenting with putters.

 

Play well!

Missing a 1 foot put.....Yep went there this morning! I actually don't think is was more than 8 inches, boy I got some stick for that!

[minimal45]

Im 5'4" so yeah your pretty tall! My best friend is 6'3" we make an odd golf twosome.

[stevemcgee99]

[Fact is, someone like myself can miss a one foot putt. Seems like I should be experimenting with putters.

 

Play well!

Missing a 1 foot put.....Yep went there this morning! I actually don't think is was more than 8 inches, boy I got some stick for that!

 

My trick is to not set up on short putts. Just reach over the hole and pull it back in, or use the bottom of my putter for example. Completely kills the yips lol.

[scruffynick]

[Fact is, someone like myself can miss a one foot putt. Seems like I should be experimenting with putters.

 

Play well!

Missing a 1 foot put.....Yep went there this morning! I actually don't think is was more than 8 inches, boy I got some stick for that!

 

My trick is to not set up on short putts. Just reach over the hole and pull it back in, or use the bottom of my putter for example. Completely kills the yips lol.

I'll try that!

[BillyZ2]

A good aspect about carrying less clubs is that it forces a golfer to be a little diverse in club selection. A 7 iron can be used as a 6 or 8 iron with a little swing/gripping adjustment. It is really a good thing to practice to strengthen your game. Instead of selecting a 7 iron at 150 yards, try a 6 or 8 iron. Learn to work the clubs. That being said, lol, I usually have 14 clubs in the bag, but challenge myself every once in a while with less.

[minimal45]

I would be at this point lost with 14 clubs. I honestly think that I'm odd for playing with so few but just don't see enough yardage difference within the irons for me to carry a full set.That's what I love so much about golf is it's so individual there just is no one way for everyone. We all approach the game differently with the same intent. To get the stupid ball in the hole.

[scruffynick]

Had an experiment yesterday while it was half term and off work. Went to my practice ground and spent a good few hours hitting 4,5 & 6 irons (ping eye 2)......and found there was no difference whatsoever! In fact I was hitting my 6 iron further than my 4 iron.....which is quite worrying in truth.

I sought of knew this but I just wanted to confirm it in my head. In truth I hit the 4&5 iron like an idiot, so Mr hybrid is staying in for that 160-170 yard shot.

But I've slowly worked on what I need in the bag over the last few months and the only irons I carry now are 6,8, pw & sw. Add a 24 hybrid, driver and putter and Bob's ya uncle...that's it!

All sorted and happy, and all the club's I don't use have now gone on eBay, so they're sold and there's no temptation to put back into the bag (mainly that stupid 4 iron)

[minimal45]

Same here. I can hit a 6i just as far as a standard 4i so thats why i go from a 4h to an 8iron. The 4h covers 4,5,6,and 7iron shots. I have to grip down and the flight is low which is fine because I hit a high ball.

[minimal45]

I actually counted last nite and i'm not a ho that's for sure. I own 10 clubs all together. I only use 5 at a time so I sold all my spares or gave them to goodwill. Just taking up space.

[jonnygrouville]

Proper old school that. Just put in the best ones. Always wondered when people say "I hate that club". So you carry it around for why?

 

I'm carrying spoon, cleek, medium iron, mashie, niblick, jigger and putter at the moment. Dropped the driving iron for the cleek, mashie niblick wasn't behaving itself and restricting myself to only one putter...

 

 

[scruffynick]

Same here. I can hit a 6i just as far as a standard 4i so thats why i go from a 4h to an 8iron. The 4h covers 4,5,6,and 7iron shots. I have to grip down and the flight is low which is fine because I hit a high ball.

I think my 4 to 6 goes same is that my ball flight is a low draw (brought up in wind) so I just don't get the height or enjoyment in hitting any irons less than 6! Plus only playing 7-8 clubs is far more fun

[minimal45]

My yardages are more a guide with my setup. I rarely have a perfect yardage and I only think about how hard to hit each club. Generally this is how I play it. 3W-180+ 4h-130-175 8i-95-125 aw-90 and down.

[scruffynick]

Had a change of sticks and quite by random.....but I didn't realise how much my jz stiff shafts were killing me. So it's the end of my ping eye 2s and hello mizuno mx17s with regular shafts...and I can't believe the difference it's made! But I've actually was handed my mizunos by a work colleague (my work know I'm golf daft) who found them in a bin....as us bin men (refuse collectors for you on the other side of the Atlantic) find all sorts that are thrown away. Lots if clubs but usually total cheap dross....but to my surprise some mx17s. Few missing but fits into my game lovely.....4,6,8,pw and the 4 iron is like a hybrid and I've found it very easy and enjoyable to hit. Had them regripped and boy I'm well happy, but I just can't get over how much a difference a regular shaft has made!!

[minimal45]

You still at 7 clubs scruffy?

[scruffynick]

You still at 7 clubs scruffy?

Mostly but I love my beloved ram 7 wood, so it's 8 mainly....but 7 when just out for a friendly knock. My 7 wood is 23 degree so it's good for that 170 plus yard shot....I'll switch depending on how dry the course is. It be 7 in summer as this mx17 4 iron is just like a hybrid and most probably go the same distance. But I just love that 7 wood, so it's hard to drop out the bag. But 8 clubs is still nice and light for me

[oldschoolrocker]

Good for you Scruffy.

[minimal45]

8 is great. Sorry if I seem to be keeping tabs. I just have been researching minimalist golf and working on a book so the feed back helps me get a sense of what makes fewer clubs appeal to some players.

[oldschoolrocker]

No problem at all. I think we all learn from one another. My rub is that I have to have a multi-tasking wood, one that works for both the tee and fairway, and I want to have a good foundation on the scoring end.

[scruffynick]

8 is great. Sorry if I seem to be keeping tabs. I just have been researching minimalist golf and working on a book so the feed back helps me get a sense of what makes fewer clubs appeal to some players.

It's carrying that I like and the under complication....plus I'm a short hitter so there's little difference between many clubs. But I think golf has lost alot of its soul on new big hitting equipment and the art of shot making and using your imagination has gone....sadly! That's what I like, a challenge of hitting a low drawing 4 iron 150 yards into a wind when it's cold! That's why I love watching YouTube clips of trevino, hogan, lyle, faldo and seve etc in their shot making he day

[minimal45]

My favorite club is my old touredge 4h. Its 23° and just by chocking up and down on it I can cover 130 to 175 yards. It is rewarding to play this way when few have the imagination for it.

[wreiman]

On my home course I normally bag 3w, 3hy, 5,7,9, GW putter ....

Sometimes I might throw an 8 and 6 in and drop the 9 .

I only go 14 when I am playing a course that I do not frequent but a couple times a year and have to use a cart

 

[scruffynick]

I noticed something today......after putting new grips on my 6,8 & pw I've had to put new (same grips) on my driver, 7 wood and 4 iron. I don't use a glove and boy I noticed a new grip to a quite old grip. Don't know why I bugged me so much, but it did. Anyway, all me clubs have the same new grips. Also it was lovely to play golf in sunshine, still cold but not friggin wet!!! Just hope it's warmer at old Trafford tomorrow than it was on Thursday night.....Boy it was cold!!

[minimal45]

I should be getting my season underway. I will be posting on my scores this year to give you some insight on myself and my 5 club rounds. Last year I averaged a 45 for 9 holes with a different 5 club setup. My goal is to get my average to 43 this year. I would be happy with a two stroke improvement.

[oldschoolrocker]

Good luck on your "5" club trek. I think it could hold water. My thoughts, if I were to try to navigate with 5, would be, driver, sandwedge, putter, and the two irons determined by the lengths of the par 3's. At least to test the waters with only 5. Playing straight up boogie golf with only 5 clubs would present a superb challenge.