Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[rkillian]

4 hours ago, erikro said:

D, 5h, 7, 9, 50, 58, P

 

I would like to try something similar to this my next time out. I have still been taking 13 clubs (but never using them all anyway) when I ride, but I have been taking no more than 11 for my walks (so not as minimalist as most on here).Last time out I left the driver home too and just went 5W, 4H, 6, 7, 8, 9, pw, gw, 54, putter. My scores are still about my average.  The driver however, is usually in the bag. I have found that just bringing the clubs I hit the most "consistantly" leads to my typical average or better scores. 

[stryper]

In our “walking only” days after the reopening, I tried all sorts of different bag configurations to lighten the load, even going so far as playing one nine hole round bagless, carrying only four clubs, with three balls, two tees, phone and car keys in my pockets.  I think the setup was 4i, 8i, gw, and putter.  Shot 39 on a par 35, which was my best minimalist score of that time.  Haven’t walked much lately, as it’s been so hot, but will continue playing with different setups once more walker-friendly fall weather sets in.

[gvogel]

I have been playing a par 3 course with a distance limited ball - the PointFive.

 

Set: driver, 4-wood, 7-wood, 5-iron, 7-iron, PW, Putter.  Driver, 4 and 7-wood are Ping G25; 5 and 7-iron are Titleist AP1 (712); PW is AP2 (714).

[courcy75]

Question for the group here: What is your sweetspot on course length? My setup is so much fun at about 6000 yards. (short course near my home). I use my full bag setup for any other course though. 

[spud3]

I don't even consider course length when taking a half-bag.  It's more a question of my mental attitude and whether I want to play a more "complete" technical game or if I want to play a more "feel" game, as I usually drop the rangefinder when I take a smaller setup and just try to feel shots and be creative. 

 

It's like a choice between a logic puzzle or painting with watercolors.

[stryper]

14 hours ago, courcy75 said:

Question for the group here: What is your sweetspot on course length? My setup is so much fun at about 6000 yards. (short course near my home). I use my full bag setup for any other course though. 

 

+/-5800 yards, depending on pin placement that day. 

[Hertsjoatmon]

Finally got round to reahafting my custom Nike set and testing them at the local par 3 course. 

Getting close to the 20 yard gapping I was after and had my closest ever shot to the pin (about 1 yard) 

I'll play a few more rounds to figure out the yardage more accurately and have a trackman session to see if i need any final loft tweeks but I'm happy so far! 

Not pictured is the 4 hybrid. 3+ fairway and driver that complete the 9. 

 

[Hertsjoatmon]

Which set would you prefer to play? Mixed bag of classic clubs focused on shorter gapping in the shorter clubs or a mixed Nike bag with roughly equal gapping through out the set?

Nike set has more bounce across the irons but the offset is similar in both sets.

I'm still missing the JPX EZ forged 7 iron so have a vapor fly pro in that slot currently.

[azgreg]

After a dozen or so rounds with my minimalist bag I went out today with the full bag and didn't like it. Every time I went to take a club out or put one back it seemed so crowded.

 

[Hertsjoatmon]

Just realised I never posted the full set on this thread... 

[Doyouevenblade]

Played with 8 clubs just to change it up and have some fun at the end of the golf year. 

 

Driver, 4i, 6i, 8i, PW, 54, 60, Putter. 

 

Scored about the same from my normal tees at my normal course.  I could probably get it down to 7 if I tried without much issue (54 and 60 to a 56). 

 

It was a fun experiment, definitely had to hit a couple shots that I wouldn't normally.  I don't think it would be fun in the wind, but something I might do a few more times next year. 

[thewrongfairway]

So I have moved on a touch since my last post. I have settled on 10 clubs now with loft increments of 5 degrees. This came about because of my new irons, picked up a set of mizuno jpx 900 forged irons. Pw is 45*, 9 iron 40* and 8 iron at 35*. I didnt really notice the extra degree gap so thought if I can play fine with these I prob will not notice a difference if my 7 iron went from 31* to 30* and so on. 
so my new setup goes

10.5* driver

20* hybrid

25* hybrid

30* 7 iron

35* 8 iron

40* 9 iron

45* Pw

50* Gw

56* Sw

Putter

everything I could ever need

 

[slide13]

Glad to see this thread still going. I’m still playing 95% minimalist golf.  I think I actually took a full bag just once this year, as an experiment, and I didn’t enjoy it.  Like someone above said, just seemed unnecessarily crowded.  
 

After a few years now I really don’t see myself going back to being a full bag type golfer.  I’ve gotten so used to just hitting different shots with the clubs I have that I never miss clubs that aren’t in the bag.  
 

<14

[student of the game]

I haven't looked at this thread in a long time but it popped back into my head as I am heading out to play 9 in possible flurries this afternoon so I am leaving the woods at home. I am going to take out an 8 club bag today:

 

Driving Iron - Cobra Forged Tec 2 Utility

Irons - Cobra CB/MB 5/7/9

Wedges - Cobra MIM Black 50,54,58

Putter Odyssey Stroke Lab 1 Wide

 

I have been playing really well lately so I will be interested to see with the cold temperatures and a half bag how I play. It is a short course around 2800 yards but tight.

[Nickc]

Played with a friend the other day - & we agreed could only have 3 clubs each.

In the end because wet and muddy went for 7w (24') , 7i (35') & putter (nearly chose 3 iron instead of putter - putting on the day was dreadful so might as well have used 3i!).

Friend had 22 degree hybrid , 8 i and putter.

Was interesting - what clubs would you choose?

Edited October 30, 2020 by Nickc

[kiwihacker]

1 hour ago, Nickc said:

Played with a friend the other day - & we agreed could only have 3 clubs each.

In the end because wet and muddy went for 7w (24') , 7i (35') & putter (nearly chose 3 iron instead of putter - putting on the day was dreadful so might as well have used 3i!).

Friend had 22 degree hybrid , 8 i and putter.

Was interesting - what clubs would you choose?

20° hybrid, 7 iron, 52° gap wedge. I will putt with the hybrid. 🙂

[student of the game]

Just got back as 9 holes somehow turned into 18 (playing the last three in the dark and at 0 degrees celsius)

 

The course was a par 71 at 5500 yards and played every bit of it with alot of fallen leaves (lost 3 balls in them) shot a solid 79 with a few missed putts on leafy greens.  Forgot how much fun (and easier on my back) playing with roughly a half set is. Something I will definitely be doing spring and fall.

 

 

[student of the game]

6 hours ago, Nickc said:

Played with a friend the other day - & we agreed could only have 3 clubs each.

In the end because wet and muddy went for 7w (24') , 7i (35') & putter (nearly chose 3 iron instead of putter - putting on the day was dreadful so might as well have used 3i!).

Friend had 22 degree hybrid , 8 i and putter.

Was interesting - what clubs would you choose?

 

Depends on the course but I would pretty generally go 7 iron, 58, putter.

 

I can hit 7 iron up to 185 if i really need to and especially with a short bag I am going to lean on my short game alot.

[azgreg]

Played in a three club tourney at the start of the year and all but one in the top 10 used putters.

 

[9woodfan]

if I bring every club I have my bag sits at 12... I don't think I've had a dedicated minimalist setup this year as I keep moving things around. I've been carrying the new Ping Moonlite and usually 8 clubs which feels perfect. I carried 18 and used my Hoofer the other day and I'm feeling it today.

 

The minimalist movement is a cool one... and makes feel playing so much fun.

[14max]

My short bag is 10 but I could make it to 8 in order to create the beginning of a minimalist bag.  The challenge would be to get it under 8 to make it truly minimalist...

Edited November 18, 2020 by 14max

[student of the game]

I have been batting around the idea of multiple minimalist set ups dependent on the course yardage. 8 clubs would shake down like this:

 

under 5500 yards

 

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

50

54

58

Putter

 

5500-6200 yards

 

3 Wood

4 iron

7 iron

Pitching Wedge

50

54

58

Putter

 

6200+ Yards

 

Driver

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

50

58

Putter

 

I could also go 7 clubs (for some reason this truly feels minimalist to me a true half bag)

 

Under 5500 yards:

 

2 Utility

5 Iron

7 Iron

9 Iron

50

58

Putter

 

5500-6200

3 wood

2 utility

4 iron

7 iron

Pitching Wedge

58

Putter

 

6200+

Driver

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

58

Putter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tommy56]

2 hours ago, student of the game said:

I have been batting around the idea of multiple minimalist set ups dependent on the course yardage. 8 clubs would shake down like this:

 

under 5500 yards

 

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

50

54

58

Putter

 

5500-6200 yards

 

3 Wood

4 iron

7 iron

Pitching Wedge

50

54

58

Putter

 

6200+ Yards

 

Driver

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

50

58

Putter

 

I could also go 7 clubs (for some reason this truly feels minimalist to me a true half bag)

 

Under 5500 yards:

 

2 Utility

5 Iron

7 Iron

9 Iron

50

58

Putter

 

5500-6200

3 wood

2 utility

4 iron

7 iron

Pitching Wedge

58

Putter

 

6200+

Driver

2 Utility

5 iron

7 iron

9 iron

58

Putter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been a minimalist player for years now and still ponder various set configurations.  Currently at 8 and would like to get to 7 ... a true half bag like you said.  

[Santiago Golf]

On 9/2/2020 at 8:15 AM, gvogel said:

I have been playing a par 3 course with a distance limited ball - the PointFive.

 

Set: driver, 4-wood, 7-wood, 5-iron, 7-iron, PW, Putter.  Driver, 4 and 7-wood are Ping G25; 5 and 7-iron are Titleist AP1 (712); PW is AP2 (714).

 

What the Point Five Feel Like & how realistic is the ball flight

[PorkChopExpress]

Any course length. Lots of 3/4 flighted shots. 

Driver

3h

6

9

54

putter

 

 

[gvogel]

3 hours ago, Santiago Golf said:

 

What the Point Five Feel Like & how realistic is the ball flight

The ball is lighter, feels good but maybe a little more like plastic.  Ball flight can be difficult on a windy day.  When struck on the sweet spot, it feels just fine.

 

I hit my regular driver 210 - 215, and the PointFive about 175.  7-wood about 150.

[animalgolfs]

I play what I posted earlier in thread.....

 

a simple setup is 10 degrees between clubs then go 48 pw & 56 sw

 

10* D

20* 7 wd

30* hyb

40* 8i

Then go 48* pw,  56* sw and a putter for total of 7 clubs

[Hertsjoatmon]

On 10/30/2020 at 7:33 PM, kiwihacker said:

20° hybrid, 7 iron, 52° gap wedge. I will putt with the hybrid. 🙂

 

This for me also. Although with lofts of 22, 34, 50. Got into arm lock putting lately so the length of the shaft works and naturally deloft the head by about 5* using the arm lock method so not as crazy. My arm lock putter is 8* loft...

[student of the game]

I played  9 holes (3000 yards) yesterday w/ my full bag but kept track of the clubs that I used for the round:

 

Driver - hit 7 times

2 Iron - hit 3 times

7 iron - Hit 2 times

9 iron - Hit 1 time

50 - Hit 3 times

58 - Hit 7 times

putter - Hit 13 times (11 putts, 2 just off the green)

 

I almost always carry 5 iron in a minimalist bag but this round has me reconsidering. One less club would get me down to 7 clubs which i feel is truly minimalist and I shot even par in a tonne of wind.

 

 

[14max]

Inspired by a few threads in this forum (Buying old irons..... and playing them...  , Out with the new in with the old! , Does anyone else keep a Garbage Bag ? ) I'm putting together a true minimalist bag this time around.  I was lucky enough to pick up a partial set of oldies but goodies (RAM FX Pro Set) and they'll take center stage in the bag.  My setup is below:

 

10*/14*/18* Callaway Big Bertha Hawk Eye woods

3/5/7/9 RAM FX Pro Set irons

56* Cleveland 588 RTG wedge

Odyssey Rossie II putter

Sun Mountain Sunday bag

Edited December 16, 2020 by 14max