Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, GMcF said:

 

I bought the 2023 Titleist premium carry bag with the short manual legs earlier this year but just recently sold it. I really wanted to like it as I have all Titleist clubs but disliked the following things;

 

1. The material of the bags feels quite cheap and I didn't think it would hold up too well long term. I appreciate the material is probably similar to the current players 4 etc but coming from a 10yr old Titleist stand bag, the quality was noticeably poorer. 

2. The bag doesn't have a proper base, and is very flimsy feeling.

3. The bag does not have a waterproof belly and with the issue above, if the ground was wet it would actually soak through and my grips were becoming wet.

4. When you fold down the mini legs they would sometimes get caught in the shafts and dig in to my back this resulted in me keeping the legs out all the time when carrying which probably looks a bit silly.

5. Only 3 dividers, clubs can get stuck easily, even when carrying a half set. 

 

I've went back to a Ping Moonlite which I feel is a much better bag in every way.

 

@GMcF  Whilst i don't have the 2023 version of your Titleist bag

... i'm guessing the mini-legs mechanism that you mentioned = Different vs this? (refer attached photo
... with stubby "feet" in lieu of mini-legs or a full stand mechanism
... and with a full-length waterproof vinyl base and waterproof bottom, so that your grips don't get wet?)

 

 

[stryper]

I’ve played a couple of minimalist rounds so far this year, and it always amazes me how freeing it is not to have to make any decisions about club choice.  If it ain’t in the bag, it ain’t an option, so you just grab what you have and go.  

[unprecedented_three]

37 minutes ago, stryper said:

I’ve played a couple of minimalist rounds so far this year, and it always amazes me how freeing it is not to have to make any decisions about club choice.  If it ain’t in the bag, it ain’t an option, so you just grab what you have and go.  

 

Agreed. Forces me, with a Type A personality, to play without regard to how this round will affect my handicap and to stay out of my head. I usually end up playing better than I do with a full set.

[GMcF]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

@GMcF  Whilst i don't have the 2023 version of your Titleist bag

... i'm guessing the mini-legs mechanism that you mentioned = Different vs this? (refer attached photo
... with stubby "feet" in lieu of mini-legs or a full stand mechanism
... and with a full-length waterproof vinyl base and waterproof bottom, so that your grips don't get wet?)

 

 

 

Yes, the stubby feet version was the previous generation,.

 

The latest version is this one, https://www.titleist.co.uk/en_GB/product/premium-carry-bag/23TGB07.html, hard to tell from the website but the base is just the same material as the main body and feels very flimsy and no waterproof belly any more. 

Edited November 14, 2023 by GMcF

[GMcF]

15 minutes ago, unprecedented_three said:

 

Agreed. Forces me, with a Type A personality, to play without regard to how this round will affect my handicap and to stay out of my head. I usually end up playing better than I do with a full set.

 

Interested to hear from anyone that plays full time exclusively including competitively and maintains a low single figure handicap. Any potential issues?

[unprecedented_three]

Just now, GMcF said:

 

Interested to hear from anyone that plays full time exclusively including competitively and maintains a low single figure handicap. Any potential issues?

 

What do you mean by "issues"? Yes, this won't be hardcore practice for competitive rounds, but it will allow you to have fun every once in a while if that's hard for you to do on the golf course (it is for me).

[GMcF]

1 minute ago, unprecedented_three said:

 

What do you mean by "issues"? Yes, this won't be hardcore practice for competitive rounds, but it will allow you to have fun every once in a while if that's hard for you to do on the golf course (it is for me).

 

Issues as in handicap going up significantly since switching to minimalist full time.

[unprecedented_three]

3 minutes ago, GMcF said:

 

Issues as in handicap going up significantly since switching to minimalist full time.

 

Ah! Misread your post. Great question. 

[gvogel]

2 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

@GMcF  Whilst i don't have the 2023 version of your Titleist bag

... i'm guessing the mini-legs mechanism that you mentioned = Different vs this? (refer attached photo
... with stubby "feet" in lieu of mini-legs or a full stand mechanism
... and with a full-length waterproof vinyl base and waterproof bottom, so that your grips don't get wet?)

 

 

What is the fabric like on that bag?  Substantial (like Ping Moonlight), or flimsy?

[JungleJimbo]

11 minutes ago, gvogel said:

What is the fabric like on that bag?  Substantial (like Ping Moonlight), or flimsy?

I've used & abused it for 4-ish years... still going strong.  I've had a bad habit of stuffing the side pocket with too many balls & other paraphernalia, which admittedly defeats the purpose of these super-light bags (leading to some tears around the side zip pocket that i've reinforced with additional stitching) ... but the waterproofing on the belly and base is stellar.

Edited November 14, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[ciscojaws]

39 minutes ago, unprecedented_three said:

 

Ah! Misread your post. Great question. 

I think it would make more sense for handicap to go down as you'd be using each club in the half set twice as much as with a normal set, which would make the user more proficient with each club.  

[gvogel]

My handicap wouldn't be any different with a full set than half a set.  But I'm 70, and drive it 215.

 

When I was longer, like 10 years ago, I would have more use for a few more clubs - like a 5-iron, 7-wood, 4-wood and another wedge.

[Tommy56]

9 hours ago, GMcF said:

 

Issues as in handicap going up significantly since switching to minimalist full time.

I went minimalist full-time about 7 years ago and my handicap actually went down in the process. I don’t play competitively, but have zero interest in adding clubs for certain courses or other situations.  

[54CW]

@Tommy56 What did you feel you did differently with your minimalist set that saved you stroke vs a full set?

 

 

[kiwihacker]

I had an old set of irons with more 'traditional' lofts and I used to play 8 clubs, Driver, 3h 20°, 5i, 7i, 9i, 50° wedge, 56° or 58° wedge plus putter. Now I have Srixon ZX5 irons and the equivalent lofts would be 6i, 8i and PW in place of the 5, 7 and 9. Call me OCD but it just doesn't feel as natural to me? 🤷‍♂️😂

[gvogel]

34 minutes ago, 54CW said:

@Tommy56 What did you feel you did differently with your minimalist set that saved you stroke vs a full set?

 

 

Not having to hit clubs that don't work for you, for a starter.

 

surely you have a few clubs in a full set that just don't seem to work.

[Tommy56]

5 hours ago, 54CW said:

@Tommy56 What did you feel you did differently with your minimalist set that saved you stroke vs a full set?

 

Couple of different things:

1. It totally freed my mind up re: club selection.

2. I have confidence with every club in the bag, as each gets more play & practice. 
 

[Nickb333]

As an old guy, I could play that set up but trade out the 4i for a 7w. 

[TheDominator273]

It's not quite what I'd call a minimalist set, but I did put together a partial set to use this year while I pushed my 1 year old in his stroller.  I did have the irons/wedges built up intentionally for 6* gaps between clubs and 3/4" in length between clubs. This left me with pretty even 18ish yard gaps which I found pretty manageable out on the course.

 

My set ended the year with:

Brnr Mini 13.5

TM P770 3 iron (22*)

Srixon Z Forged mkII 5 iron (28*)

Srixon Z Forged mkII 7 iron (34*)

Srixon Z Forged mkII 9 iron (40*)

Srixon Z Forged mkII PW (46*)

Cleveland RTX 6 52* Mid and 58* Low

TaylorMade Spider GTx

 

I do think I want to add a fairway wood since I don't hit the Brnr Mini well off the deck, but it's a great lightweight carry set that challenges me to get back to my roots and create shots.

 

[js707]

As someone who carries frequently I’m all about the minimal set. Had a great round today with the following:

 

Driver

4h

6,7,9,G 

56

Putter

 

It’s really pretty interesting how little of an effect it has on my score either way. I’m thinking about seeing how minimal I can go before the score starts to suffer…

[kiwihacker]

57 minutes ago, js707 said:

As someone who carries frequently I’m all about the minimal set. Had a great round today with the following:

 

Driver

4h

6,7,9,G 

56

Putter

 

It’s really pretty interesting how little of an effect it has on my score either way. I’m thinking about seeing how minimal I can go before the score starts to suffer…

I feel like 7-9 clubs is the sweet spot for me and my preferred 8 club setup is very similar to yours. Less than that I think I would struggle. If I was to carry say 5 clubs I would feel like there would be gaps in the bag and having to manufacture shots to make up for it is not what I want to do. I don't mind swinging a 7 iron harder if it's really a 6 iron or choking down and swinging smoothly if it's really an 8 iron but having to bunt a 3 hybrid because your next club is an 8 iron is definitely not what I'm looking for. 

[js707]

36 minutes ago, kiwihacker said:

having to bunt a 3 hybrid because your next club is an 8 iron is definitely not what I'm looking for

Yeah, that’s a good point and not something I’m that interested in either. I guess there’s something enticing about getting down to 7 clubs (or half a standard bag). I could probably do 6,8,PW and that would do it, but I think 8-9 clubs is probably the sweet spot.

[Tommy56]

I was at 8 for a few years, but wanted to get to a true half-set ... so I took my irons from 5,7,9 to 6,8. Turned out being a smooth transition and has worked well for the last 2 years.
 

I’ve been pondering various options to get down to 6 clubs, but that might be a little slim for a full-time setup. 
 

[kiwihacker]

1 hour ago, js707 said:

Yeah, that’s a good point and not something I’m that interested in either. I guess there’s something enticing about getting down to 7 clubs (or half a standard bag). I could probably do 6,8,PW and that would do it, but I think 8-9 clubs is probably the sweet spot.

My OCD wanted to get to 7 clubs too 😁 so I dropped the GW and went straight from 9 iron to Sand wedge. Helps if you have a slightly stronger SW like say 54° but in the end I'm much more comfortable with 8. 

[kiwihacker]

4 minutes ago, Tommy56 said:

I was at 8 for a few years, but wanted to get to a true half-set ... so I took my irons from 5,7,9 to 6,8. Turned out being a smooth transition and has worked well for the last 2 years.
 

I’ve been pondering various options to get down to 6 clubs, but that might be a little slim for a full-time setup. 
 

What was the next club after the 8 iron? 

[WipeyFade]

2 minutes ago, Tommy56 said:

I was at 8 for a few years, but wanted to get to a true half-set ... so I took my irons from 5,7,9 to 6,8. Turned out being a smooth transition and has worked well for the last 2 years.
 

I’ve been pondering various options to get down to 6 clubs, but that might be a little slim for a full-time setup. 
 

I have been between 5 and 7 clubs for the past year and my most fun and best rounds have come when I have been carrying 5. I enjoy what Alister Mackenzie wrote in The Spirit of St. Andrews,
 

"PLAYERS MIGHT BE PERMITTED TO CHOOSE ANY SIX THEY LIKE. A DRIVER, A BRASSIE IRON MASHIE NIBLICK AND PUTTER SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR ANYONE, AND IT WOULD, INCIDENTALLY, MAKE THE GAME MORE

DEMOCRATIC. WHY SHOULD A PLAYER GET AN EXTRA ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF EXTRA WEALTH?”

 

My 5 club bag, lately, has consisted of a persimmon driver, 4 iron, 8 iron, 56*, and putter. I don’t keep score much now, I just play to hit shots and have fun. A lot of people I see on the course stressing about a score don’t look like they are having much fun to me. 

[tatertot]

7 seems like a natural number because it's half a set ... BUT ... most of my bags have 4-way dividers, and if I put 2 clubs in each section, I can get 8 ... except by lightest bag has a 3-way divider, so I can put 3 in each section, and carry 9.

 

😁

[Tommy56]

21 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

What was the next club after the 8 iron? 

Vokey 46°, then 56°

[JAM01]

I’m back to Driver,5H,7,8,9,PW,AW,58,Putter. 
 

wondering if I could drop the 8 and AW? 

[stryper]

49 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

I’m back to Driver,5H,7,8,9,PW,AW,58,Putter. 
 

wondering if I could drop the 8 and AW? 

Part of the beauty of minimalism is that you aren’t bound by convention.  The last time I went out I took D, 3H, 7i, Gap and Putter.  The time before that it was D, 3H, 6, 8, G and P…neither was right or wrong.  In fact, I’ve gone out with as few as four clubs, dispensing even with the need for a bag to carry them in.  And with all the different setups, the scores don’t change much.