Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[jordan2240]

14 minutes ago, WipeyFade said:

I’ve been playing a half set since for 2 years. I used to lug 14 (sometimes 15) clubs around in a stand bag and ended up giving golf up for a few years because it just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. I was more focused on scores and getting better than I was just going out and having fun. Now I go out with my Moonlite and 7 and have a great time. 

I'd gone minimalist before but never stuck with it figuring I might as well drag them all along just in case, but for someone like myself who will never be very good, that just added unnecessary complexity.  Minimizing just makes the game way simpler.

[WipeyFade]

1 minute ago, jordan2240 said:

I'd gone minimalist before but never stuck with it figuring I might as well drag them all along just in case, but for someone like myself who will never be very good, that just added unnecessary complexity.  Minimizing just makes the game way simpler.

I bet you’ll be surprised by your scores. I am more consistent and my scores are lower than they ever were with a full set. When I played with a full set I was typically in the upper 90s, now I’m in the upper 80s and low 90s typically. 

[jordan2240]

2 hours ago, WipeyFade said:

I bet you’ll be surprised by your scores. I am more consistent and my scores are lower than they ever were with a full set. When I played with a full set I was typically in the upper 90s, now I’m in the upper 80s and low 90s typically. 

I don't usually keep score but instead just keep a rough idea of how I'm doing based on pars and such, and I am getting more pars with the minimalist set than I normally would with the full set, with the occasional birdie thrown in for good measure.  If I could just avoid the blow-up hole (or two)...

[WipeyFade]

5 minutes ago, jordan2240 said:

I don't usually keep score but instead just keep a rough idea of how I'm doing based on pars and such, and I am getting more pars with the minimalist set than I normally would with the full set, with the occasional birdie thrown in for good measure.  If I could just avoid the blow-up hole (or two)...

Ya, the blow up holes usually show up in my rounds. 

[WipeyFade]

On 1/6/2023 at 10:16 AM, WipeyFade said:

I think I have finally decided on my bag for this year. I have found that golf is most enjoyable when I simplify down to 7 clubs. 

 

Driver- Alternate between Titleist 913 D2 and Todd Demsey Persimmon 

4i- Nike Vapor Speed

6, 8, PW- Mizuno MP-53

54*- Titleist Vokey 200 Series

Putter- Ping Zing 2i

 

I went out for my 2nd round of 2023 this weekend and brought the persimmon instead of my Titleist driver. Honestly, I may not bring the Titleist again unless I'm in a scramble or something. When I put a good swing on it the persimmon was almost as far and a lot straighter than the Titleist. When the swing wasn't great I could still find the ball lol. Plus, it is the best feeling club I have ever hit. 

[azgreg]

Put an old combo back together using my old set of Maltby TE's. Top of the bag is D, 5w, 4h. Then the irons are 5i, 7i, 8i, pw, gw, sw, and p.

From the hybrid thru the irons they are bent to achieve a 6° gap. Not full minimalist but plenty light enough for me to carry 18.

 

[crd198]

Randomly purchased a Jones carry bag so I put together a half set for some casual rounds. Admittedly a very mixed bag, but a lot were random clubs I wanted to try.
 

13.5* 3w - TSi2

21* 3h - Cobra F9

27* 5i - T100

34* 7i - Apex MB

43* 9i - 620mb

50* vokey

58* vokey

2 ball putter 

[zaccaf]

Current set up 1 round in:

M4

Tour Edge Exotics cbx 5w 18°

Adams Pro a12 20° hybrid

Fourteen TB-1000: 5,7,9

SM7 50° F

SM9 58° D

Odyssey Tri Hot Triple Wide

[azgreg]

1 hour ago, zaccaf said:

 1 round in:

 

And? How'd it go?

 

 

[zaccaf]

8 minutes ago, azgreg said:

 

And? How'd it go?

 

 

I love it. 9 Clubs is the sweet spot for me as far as half sets - I referenced one round in because the week before I had a completely different half set of srixon z765 irons haha. 

[drn92]

5 hours ago, zaccaf said:

/cdn-cgi/mirage/e7549045455b02c1e4dd55cd9c158750b835c990d012716c6b42e7ec2c92bbec/1280/cdn-cgi/mirage/e7549045455b02c1e4dd55cd9c158750b835c990d012716c6b42e7ec2c92bbec/1280/https://wrxcdn.golfwrx.com/uploads/monthly_2023_02/3AC66568-7641-4BCB-A20D-F9D4B24F4B6A.jpeg.1d43899ad85519e4c97eff4b48fc8271.jpeg

Current set up 1 round in:

M4

Tour Edge Exotics cbx 5w 18°

Adams Pro a12 20° hybrid

Fourteen TB-1000: 5,7,9

SM7 50° F

SM9 58° D

Odyssey Tri Hot Triple Wide

Good looking bag. 9 seems to be a nice sweet spot for both a lighter bag and maintaining scoring. 
 

drn92

[Oh Hi Carl]

8 hours ago, zaccaf said:

Current set up 1 round in:

M4

Tour Edge Exotics cbx 5w 18°

Adams Pro a12 20° hybrid

Fourteen TB-1000: 5,7,9

SM7 50° F

SM9 58° D

Odyssey Tri Hot Triple Wide

How much of a yardage gap do you have between the 5w and the hybrid? 

[zaccaf]

4 hours ago, Oh Hi Carl said:

How much of a yardage gap do you have between the 5w and the hybrid? 

I can hit that 5w up to 235-250(on tee).. it’s rocket but I have a harder time taking yardage off with it so that’s why I have the hybrid for anything from 190 to 220.

 

 

[Oh Hi Carl]

1 hour ago, zaccaf said:

I can hit that 5w up to 235-250(on tee).. it’s rocket but I have a harder time taking yardage off with it so that’s why I have the hybrid for anything from 190 to 220.

 

 

Interesting, thanks.  I have a 18 degree 5w and a 18 degree 3h.  They seem to pretty much travel the same distance, but I think I need to do some testing with them.  I doubt it's worthwhile keeping them both in the bag. 

[Night Putter]

I now have 4 themed half bags

ping. Callaway. Hogan, mizuno
 

 

[animalgolfs]

3rd round complete '23 - fairways are still soaking wet - 6h & 9wd into greens galore. 

 

Hoka SpeedGoat are the perfect shoe - for the minimalist approach IMO

Edited February 14, 2023 by animalgolfs

[guty17]

Hey, I was wondering how you guys approach in between yardages. I play odds 3,5,7,9 over the winter with 8* gaps and wedges at 50,55,60. What I am trying to do is have for every iron, yardage which I know I will cover with easy swing. 3i 18*  is teeclub only, goes 180-190m and runs a lot. Only trying run it up there off the deck. 5i covers 160m, 7i 140m, 9i 120m, 50* 100m, 55* 90m and speciality 60* around 70m. I like to think that I can push each club few metres more and also take like 5m off with choke down 3/4 swing. Basically only problems I do have is easy 5i to like 150m which comes flat and low and does not stop easily or hard 7i which goes high but will not make it there with bit of wind or trouble short. I try to mainly hit straight shots, with 7i,9i I can hit a draw that goes longer, 3i and 5i tends to fade. So I am just wondering what you guys doing, if you practise multiple yardages with one club or what you think. Thanks

[Tommy56]

Depends on the situation, but I find it easier to take a little off vs trying to squeeze out much more.  I’ll often grip down a 1/2 or full inch and still take a normal swing as it tends to maintain the flight window and spin better than shortening the swing or trying to slow down the swing.  When truly in between clubs, I tend to be less concerned about hitting an exact yardage but looking more at the preferred landing area on the green for my putt. Again, that works for me. Hope that helps. 

[spud3]

For me, this is where playing with the minimal set gets really interesting.  It forces you to expand your game in two ways:

 

Technique: learn how to hit each club to a lot more distances than you do now.  Go to the range and practice hitting every club to 75 yards (or 40, or 115, or 90).  Seeing how each club's trajectory works to different distances will give you a whole arsenal for when you are faced with those inevitable in-between-in-between situations.

 

Strategy:  Each shot and each hole will require you to rethink how you're going to get the ball to the hole with the least chance of peril.  Can you run a ball all the way?  Do you have a required carry?  Are hazards in play? etc.  Then you have to ask yourself if you have that shot.  The answer may be 'no.'  In which case, you just determined your next practices session(s).

Having said all that, there's bound to be times when it will be a perfect storm of conditions/variables that defy any of your strategies or tools.  

 

So you lay up and trust your wedge....

[aiyyer]

On 2/7/2023 at 9:03 AM, zaccaf said:

Current set up 1 round in:

M4

Tour Edge Exotics cbx 5w 18°

Adams Pro a12 20° hybrid

Fourteen TB-1000: 5,7,9

SM7 50° F

SM9 58° D

Odyssey Tri Hot Triple Wide

I use a similar set.

 

[NixLix26]

I have a Stitch Sunday bag. Really enjoy it. 
anybody have a in use picture of the halflight bags?

the stitch Sunday bag really is light and nice with only one pocket. No need to carry any un-needed stuff 

[54CW]

Is anyone here playing the tsr2+ as a driver replacement?

[JAM01]

Back to minimal golf. Callaway Paradigm X driver, Callaway Paradigm X 5 wood, Geom Moe 4, 6, 8, PW, Edison 2.0 51 and 59, Scotty Phantom 7 with a UST All in shaft. Vessel Player IV bag. 
 

 

[Georgie Z]

Not sure if it counts but I’ve reduced down to 10 clubs. I am playing D, W, 5-PW, SW, Putter. I don’t think I would see any benefit by removing anything else. 

[Ghostwedge]

51 minutes ago, Georgie Z said:

Not sure if it counts but I’ve reduced down to 10 clubs. I am playing D, W, 5-PW, SW, Putter. I don’t think I would see any benefit by removing anything else. 

10 clubs is a minimalist set I think. If you play the majority of your golf at 1-2 courses you probably don't use more than 10 anyway. You have a good combo going there.

[gvogel]

On 3/12/2023 at 10:54 PM, 54CW said:

Is anyone here playing the tsr2+ as a driver replacement?

Which TSR2+ would I use, 13* or 14.5*?  I am 70 and hitting my 12* TSR3 driver 215, maybe 220.  I would use the TSR2+ just as a driver.

Edited August 3, 2023 by gvogel

[WristySwing]

I am thinking of pulling the trigger on this.  Lead idea is:

 

BRNR Mini 11.5*

Paradym set to 17*

G430 4h at 22*

ZX4 MKII 6

ZX5 MKII 8

ZX7 MKII P

Glide 4.0 ES 54*

Putter

 

Second runner up:

 

BRNR Mini 11.5*

Paradym set to 17*

G430 4h at 22* and 6h at 28*

King Tec OL 8i and PW

Glide 4.0 ES 54* at 1.25" over

Putter

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by WristySwing

[drn92]

On 8/1/2023 at 7:11 PM, JAM01 said:

Back to minimal golf. Callaway Paradigm X driver, Callaway Paradigm X 5 wood, Geom Moe 4, 6, 8, PW, Edison 2.0 51 and 59, Scotty Phantom 7 with a UST All in shaft. Vessel Player IV bag. 
 

 

That sounds like a sweet bag. 
 

drn92

[JAM01]

6 hours ago, drn92 said:

That sounds like a sweet bag. 
 

drn92

Thanks those Geoms are butter knives especially the 4 iron. The Edison 2.0 are interesting too. 

[gvogel]

On 1/18/2023 at 11:23 AM, WipeyFade said:

I went out for my 2nd round of 2023 this weekend and brought the persimmon instead of my Titleist driver. Honestly, I may not bring the Titleist again unless I'm in a scramble or something. When I put a good swing on it the persimmon was almost as far and a lot straighter than the Titleist. When the swing wasn't great I could still find the ball lol. Plus, it is the best feeling club I have ever hit. 

You might be a candidate for a mini-driver or very strong fairway wood.  I used to play a Ping Rapture 13* with my short set.  I am now looking at a Titleist TSR2+ 13* fairway wood that I would play at 14* off the tee, and maybe at 43-1/2".  Easier to find the fairway than my driver.