Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[54CW]

@freddy1682 I’ve tried just a mini but didn’t love it. It changed my approach distance and I hardly used it off the deck. Maybe I hit a couple more fairways but I was a whole club further from the hole. I definitely prefer my Dr->3h set up. 
 

@WipeyFade the je nés sais quoi of an 8 iron. It’s the perfect club, I can’t explain why. In all cases I plan my set up around my 8 iron. 

[54CW]

I’ve been a long time half set gamer. Using 8/9 clubs in most cases.

 

I usually just take:

Driver 

3w or 3h depending on which one I felt like playing that day.
4,6,8,PW or 5,7,9,UW (I’m partial to evens)

54 or 58

Putter.
 

I recently carried 14 out to a few rounds where I’d feel like an outcast If I didn’t have a full bag. It was fine but definitely felt I was missing some creativity that lead to some lazy mistakes. Just picking my club based on yardage and playing target golf. Missed a few greens short and striking felt poor. I’m going back to 8 clubs in my next round. There’s something nice about taking almost too much club and drilling the heart of a green. 
 

8 clubs are perfect in my craz-e lite bag. 4 dividers, 2 clubs in each section. Great pockets and super light. 
 

 

Edited April 19, 2024 by 54CW

[TheDominator273]

3 hours ago, freddy1682 said:

Has anyone added a mini driver to their bag to replace driver and fairway? Just picked one up. Waiting for the rain to stop so I can do some testing with it

I use a Brnr Mini 13.5 as my driver with my minimalist set. Full setup goes Mini-7w-3-5-7-9-PW-52-58-Putter.

 

3 iron stays in since it's the perfect club on two of the par 3s at my course and I'm not super confident taking some off of the 7w.

[gvogel]

I'm sticking with 7: driver, 5-wood, 6-hybrid, 7-iron, 9-iron, SW, putter.

[freddy1682]

7 hours ago, WipeyFade said:

@freddy1682, which mini did you pick up? 

The new Copper. I’m most interested in how it works off the turf to see if it can replace both clubs. But then again, I don’t have a need for woods off the deck very often at all. I’ve also been thinking of trying a 7 wood, or heaven wood also. Always tinkering!

[rkillian]

35 minutes ago, freddy1682 said:

The new Copper. I’m most interested in how it works off the turf to see if it can replace both clubs. But then again, I don’t have a need for woods off the deck very often at all. I’ve also been thinking of trying a 7 wood, or heaven wood also. Always tinkering!

I just picked up the copper in a 13.5* head. Played 9 yesterday with it, 7w, 6i, 8i, PW, 52, putter. I have struggled over the last year to hit up or even close to neutral on a driver. On an LM with the mini I've be a consistent 2.5 down and the results are better than driver and It's spinning less. That probably a better face contact thing due to shorter shaft more than anything if I had to guess. Part of why I am committing to something that will end up being 10-11 clubs at the most is I know I'm not going to try and change or work on anything with me swing. So if this allows me to go out and have fun, great. I had the 300 mini in 11.5 before and I liked that just fine but more loft is better for me. 

[scruffynick]

On 4/18/2024 at 5:08 PM, goalie said:

I like flying around the course for a quick 9 on a beautiful Saturday morning without a care in the world, including my score.  It's not for everyone, but it is a great way to change it up and have fun making shots with different clubs.  

Spot on....I love a round with 7 or 8 clubs first thing in the morning. I usually bump into a deer or 2 on my course first thing...beautiful sight 

[Tommy56]

@rkillian  I noticed 52° is your highest lofted wedge. Just curious what grind you have and how well it works in various conditions around the green, bunkers, etc.?  I often use a 54.12D as my highest lofted wedge. 

[scruffynick]

I've posted my bag for this year on a few minimalist threads....I bought my dreams irons in Feb with a 3 and 7 iron missing which kept the cost right down:

But I've usually gone driver 5 wood 4 6 8 pw sw putter. I'm not a long hitter at all but I'm very straight especially off the tee which frustrates my usual playing partners ha ha 

Always had one main aim....78 gross or lower which is 7 over on my course. 

[bobfoster]

I almost always use a full bag, but a buddy wanted to do an executive course today (just an early season warm-up) and thought for sh**s and giggles I'd just take a Sunday bag.

 

So 3W, hybrid, 5i, 8i, PW, 52*, and putter ... so 15* - 20* - 24* - 35* - 45* - 52* progression. (3W was plenty, it was a very short course with only one par 5, and only one of the par 4s was over 350.) Was a kind of fun, interesting, distance control sort of exercise. Got to practice a lot of 1/2 and 3/4 iron swings. 

 

Edited April 20, 2024 by bobfoster

[kiwihacker]

On 4/19/2024 at 12:42 PM, bobfoster said:

 

Clearly on a Top Ten list of "Sentences you'll only read on GolfWRX".

It's the same set of clubs, I just carry 8 of them. I haven't bought 8 separate clubs for my 'minimalist' set. If that's what you're implying?  LOL 😂

[tatertot]

2 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

It's the same set of clubs, I just carry 8 of them. I haven't bought 8 separate clubs for my 'minimalist' set. If that's what you're implying?  LOL 😂

Of course ... No one would have extra clubs just for a minimalist set ... Certainly not me, why do you ask?

[JungleJimbo]

10 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I almost always use a full bag, but a buddy wanted to do an executive course today (just an early season warm-up) and thought for sh**s and giggles I'd just take a Sunday bag.

 

So 3W, hybrid, 5i, 8i, PW, 52*, and putter ... so 15* - 20* - 24* - 35* - 45* - 52* progression. (3W was plenty, it was a very short course with only one par 5, and only one of the par 4s was over 350.) Was a kind of fun, interesting, distance control sort of exercise. Got to practice a lot of 1/2 and 3/4 iron swings. 

 

 

Interesting bag @bobfoster.

 

At first, i thought "what? 8 iron Loft at 35*? That's a 7-iron!"  But today i learnt even Mizuno has had to go the Loft-Jacking route.

FYI, i found the 245's PW is also loft-jacked at ~43*! https://mizunogolf.com/us/golf-clubs/mp-series/mizuno-pro-245/ 

 

Edited April 20, 2024 by JungleJimbo

[bobfoster]

7 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

Interesting bag @bobfoster.

 

At first, i thought "what? 8 iron Loft at 35*? That's a 7-iron!"  But today i learnt even Mizuno has had to go the Loft-Jacking route.

FYI, i found the 245's PW is also loft-jacked at ~43*! https://mizunogolf.com/us/golf-clubs/mp-series/mizuno-pro-245/ 

 

 

Yes. I'm a fan of the clubs, but not of the trend. I wanted 245 scoring irons. And actually had the 9i and PW bent 2* weaker, and the 7i and 8i bent 1* weaker. I mean, for goodness sake, a 43* PW? Hoiw in the world does anyone call something that is 43* a "wedge". 

[Tommy56]

12 hours ago, tatertot said:

Of course ... No one would have extra clubs just for a minimalist set ... Certainly not me, why do you ask?

 🙋‍♂️  I do.

[kiwihacker]

15 hours ago, tatertot said:

Of course ... No one would have extra clubs just for a minimalist set ... Certainly not me, why do you ask?

Just curious what it was about my post from 2021 that caused Bobfoster to describe it as:

 

Quote

Clearly on a Top Ten list of "Sentences you'll only read on GolfWRX".

 

[kiwihacker]

On 4/20/2024 at 7:13 AM, scruffynick said:

I've posted my bag for this year on a few minimalist threads....I bought my dreams irons in Feb with a 3 and 7 iron missing which kept the cost right down:

But I've usually gone driver 5 wood 4 6 8 pw sw putter. I'm not a long hitter at all but I'm very straight especially off the tee which frustrates my usual playing partners ha ha 

Always had one main aim....78 gross or lower which is 7 over on my course. 

Nice setup. The first time I experienced minimalist golf was when I hired a half set of clubs whilst on vacation and the setup was exactly what you have. Driver, 5 wood, 4, 6, 8, irons, Pitching wedge, sand wedge and putter. For some reason the odd numbers appealed to me more with my old set of 'traditionally' lofted irons and I would play Driver, 3 hybrid, 5(27), 7(35), 9(43), Gap wedge(50), sand wedge and putter. Now I have a set of ZX5 where the lofts are one club stronger throughout so now I've come full circle to playing the equivalent setup with Driver, 3 hybrid 6(27), 8(35), PW(44), GW(50), SW(58), Putter

[Nickb333]

Aside from the obvious weight savings, the main attraction for me is what others have said. For a lot of shots you use too much club and smooth it. 

[goalie]

For me, the "main attraction" is enjoying being out for an early walk with some clubs and not caring about my score.  

 

It reminds me that I enjoy golf without competition just s much as I enjoy playing in my league.

[54CW]

43 minutes ago, goalie said:

For me, the "main attraction" is enjoying being out for an early walk with some clubs and not caring about my score.  

 

It reminds me that I enjoy golf without competition just s much as I enjoy playing in my league.

 

 

There is something nice about beating your friends with half the wrenches. 

[azgreg]

19 hours ago, tatertot said:

No one would have extra clubs just for a minimalist set ...

 

[rkillian]

On 4/19/2024 at 2:07 PM, Tommy56 said:

@rkillian  I noticed 52° is your highest lofted wedge. Just curious what grind you have and how well it works in various conditions around the green, bunkers, etc.?  I often use a 54.12D as my highest lofted wedge. 

That round it was. I switch between 9,48°, 56° and PW(43°), 52°. It’s just a Jaws raw 52° 10S grind. So not a lot of relief but enough to open up so it can pretty much play like a 56-58. I wasn’t playing a course with fast greens so around the green it’s fine. I got out of both green side bunkers I was in with it. 56 would have been better. I have a 60° but never seems worth taking it out with me with a short set. 
 

Theory for my 10-Club Full Bag is:

BRNR Mini - 13.5°

Sim Max 7w - 21°

818H1 Hyb - 25° (just borrowed a head to see how this will go)

7- 30.5°

8- 34.5°

9- 38.5°

PW- 43°

50°

56°

Putter

 

But the 8 and PW might just stay out and I’ll keep the 48° in 

[Tommy56]

@rkillian  Thank you for the added context ... that makes sense.  Like you, I love toying with different minimalist options. 

[unclefreizo]

I've jumped on this and am down to 8 clubs.

 

The biggest thing I've noticed is I'm just less stressed about going out to play.

 

The bag is light. No push cart to worry about. Fewer decisions on the course. Fewer excuses.

 

My scores are the same.

[scruffynick]

9 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

Nice setup. The first time I experienced minimalist golf was when I hired a half set of clubs whilst on vacation and the setup was exactly what you have. Driver, 5 wood, 4, 6, 8, irons, Pitching wedge, sand wedge and putter. For some reason the odd numbers appealed to me more with my old set of 'traditionally' lofted irons and I would play Driver, 3 hybrid, 5(27), 7(35), 9(43), Gap wedge(50), sand wedge and putter. Now I have a set of ZX5 where the lofts are one club stronger throughout so now I've come full circle to playing the equivalent setup with Driver, 3 hybrid 6(27), 8(35), PW(44), GW(50), SW(58), Putter

Not sure yet but I think I'll drop the 4 iron and put in a 23 hybrid because you can do all kinds of shots with it. 

I'll be heading up to Scotland in August and I'm playing a few links courses with my half set....believe me, you don't miss anything if its windy it's just imagination 

[kiwihacker]

2 minutes ago, scruffynick said:

Not sure yet but I think I'll drop the 4 iron and put in a 23 hybrid because you can do all kinds of shots with it. 

I'll be heading up to Scotland in August and I'm playing a few links courses with my half set....believe me, you don't miss anything if its windy it's just imagination 

I hear you. I once played Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and the wind was brutal. 9 iron to hit 5 iron distance with the wind behind me. Punched 7 iron off the back foot to hit my normal pitching wedge distance into the wind. I wouldn't call that round imagination though. More like survival golf! LOL 

[jjzee]

I just bought a slim carry bag for this exact purpose. I used to walk 18, 5 days a week, but the body doesn't like that much anymore. My plan is to walk on Friday's with a half set. I'll alter my club selection every week, just to force myself to get "creative".

[lil'mike]

On 4/20/2024 at 1:17 AM, tatertot said:

Of course ... No one would have extra clubs just for a minimalist set ... Certainly not me, why do you ask?

 

I do in graphite shafts.

[subrew]

My short set this week has some freshly built up Dunlop blades, and man do they feel great.  Old school lofts, so I need to swap out the 46.5* ProtoC wedge with something in the 50* range, as the 9i is 45*.  

 

These have a distinctive nickel/boron plating with a satin finish a lot of this era of JDM clubs have.

 

 

Edited April 21, 2024 by subrew

[scruffynick]

12 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

I hear you. I once played Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and the wind was brutal. 9 iron to hit 5 iron distance with the wind behind me. Punched 7 iron off the back foot to hit my normal pitching wedge distance into the wind. I wouldn't call that round imagination though. More like survival golf! LOL 

Yeah....survival golf. That's more on my course at the moment as its wet and windy.....never known a worse winter and spring