If they changed the rules tomorrow...

[NoRebound]

A driving iron.  There courses that I play which are very tight off the tee.  On a day when the driver isn't going I'd rather have an option besides my 3W

Edited September 23, 2021 by NoRebound

[BIG STU]

15 hours ago, revkev said:

Ditto here - I have 14 clubs in my bag but it's so rare that I use the 14th club regardless of what one it is that I effectively am gaming 13 and do fine with those.

SOP for me I only carry 12 leaves me room on some courses to put a speciality club in like on the top end a 1 or 2 iron and on the bottom end a speciality wedge like a Hogan Sure out if the traps have fine fluffy sand. My home course most of the time I can play with 7 clubs as long as I have my 7 wood among those clubs. For me just depends on the course and wind conditions. Lots of times on courses with forced carry approaches I will slip the 9 wood in for those 150 160 shots because I can hit it higher than I can a 5 or 6 iron. 12 clubs as SOP for me leaves a lot of room for certain courses to modify my set up. I have also been known to slip a persimmon driver in for some lay up Par 4s or long ( over 200 yards) Par 3s and I have been known to hit a persimmon driver off the deck at times

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, DukeStKing said:

For all those who are posting that they would be fine with less than 14 clubs: 

OH NOOOOO---- Debbie Downer

[revkev]

I have no doubt this one has a lot to do with when we started playing as well as how long we hit the ball currently.

 

I didn’t go to a 14 club set until I could break 80 regularly. Before that it was my starter set - 1,3 wood 3,5,7,9 iron, putter and some cheap utility set. I shot 35 on a 3,400 yard 9 with that set of clubs. That was in 1978. 
 

For the longest time I would have been on board for a 15 club set - I was a lot longer off the tee so my gaps were larger. Even as I got a bit shorter I had the grind, bounce issue to contend with. Then I started gaming SCOR wedges and that went away. 
 

Once I started to use a tracking system I discovered that I hit 13 clubs well and that any 14th club I put in I didn’t - why would I do that to myself? That’s the definition of foolish. 
 

I have a 14th club in the back and don’t touch it unless I have the exact yardage for it. That’s about once every 5th round. I pretty much use the other 13 clubs every round - interestingly I didn’t use 9 iron at all the last time that I played but I think that’s because we had front pins on jokes where I might have and I hit more PWs than normal.

 

I’ve also found that irons are ridiculously over rated for a player like me - I use the fairway wood team and the wedge team as much or more than my irons. 

[Thin2win]

@BIG STU

I'm with Big Stu here, I only carry 10-12 clubs. I don't even know. I've never wanted more. If I could get a set of Irons with 6° gaps I would only game 10 Clubs at all times. But the only set I've found that does that is the Muira color set... and that set was $$$

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, EasyPutter said:

I don't leave for the course without my Ginty.  Awesome to see the Persimmon version 

Never have seen a metal Ginty--- I have 2 in wood a 4 and a 7

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, revkev said:

I have no doubt this one has a lot to do with when we started playing as well as how long we hit the ball currently.

 

I didn’t go to a 14 club set until I could break 80 regularly. Before that it was my starter set - 1,3 wood 3,5,7,9 iron, putter and some cheap utility set. I shot 35 on a 3,400 yard 9 with that set of clubs. That was in 1978. 
 

For the longest time I would have been on board for a 15 club set - I was a lot longer off the tee so my gaps were larger. Even as I got a bit shorter I had the grind, bounce issue to contend with. Then I started gaming SCOR wedges and that went away. 
 

Once I started to use a tracking system I discovered that I hit 13 clubs well and that any 14th club I put in I didn’t - why would I do that to myself? That’s the definition of foolish. 
 

I have a 14th club in the back and don’t touch it unless I have the exact yardage for it. That’s about once every 5th round. I pretty much use the other 13 clubs every round - interestingly I didn’t use 9 iron at all the last time that I played but I think that’s because we had front pins on jokes where I might have and I hit more PWs than normal.

 

I’ve also found that irons are ridiculously over rated for a player like me - I use the fairway wood team and the wedge team as much or more than my irons. 

I have rediscovered my 7 and 9 woods since my accident. On our course my 7 wood is my go to club. Back in the day it was a little laminate Northwestern 6 wood. Funny how things revert back

[revkev]

14 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I have rediscovered my 7 and 9 woods since my accident. On our course my 7 wood is my go to club. Back in the day it was a little laminate Northwestern 6 wood. Funny how things revert back

I with you on hitting that 9 wood from 160 when I need a nice high soft landing shot.

[BIG STU]

17 hours ago, revkev said:

I with you on hitting that 9 wood from 160 when I need a nice high soft landing shot.

Only problem I am having with mine right now is balooning it and when I do that it is about as useful as a screen door on a Submarine around here especially in the fall wind. Pulled mine out last night and put my 4 iron in. But the 7 wood stays. On the 9 wood now I think I am swinging decent enough now ( finally) that the stock TM shaft aint gonna cut it. I need to go into the stash and find me a UST 65 like I have in the 7 wood. I can still elevate a 4 iron pretty decent but it is not as versitile for me as the 9 wood when I am hitting that well. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by BIG STU

[revkev]

16 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Only problem I am having with mine right now is balooning it and when I do that it is about as useful as a screen door on a Submarine around here especially in the fall wind. Pulled mine out last night and put my 4 iron in. But the 7 wood stays. On the 9 wood now I think I am swinging decent enough now ( finally) that the stock TM shaft aint gonna cut it. I need to go into the stash and find me a UST 65 like I have in the 7 wood. I can still elevate a 4 iron pretty decent but it is not as versitile for me as the 9 wood when I am hitting that well. 

I played with Larry from the forums at his club today.  After watching me hit some 9 woods during the round he asked to hit mine on 17 and 18 today. 
 

The next sound you hear will be him on eBay.

 

He hit two great shots with it. I was afraid I was getting it back. 

[BIG STU]

11 hours ago, revkev said:

I played with Larry from the forums at his club today.  After watching me hit some 9 woods during the round he asked to hit mine on 17 and 18 today. 
 

The next sound you hear will be him on eBay.

 

He hit two great shots with it. I was afraid I was getting it back. 

I ended up putting the 4 iron back in the bag for yesterday and the 2 shots I hit with it I hit well. Yesterday afternoon we played a mixed couples team in the 9 and Dine. Our male partner was a bomber and a really good player. He told me I did not need a hybrid or 9 wood. I will see. In fact I only hit the 7 wood 2 shots in 27 holes. But when I get the 9 wood reshafted it will be a great fall back club. One of those options of carrying 12 clubs I can slip the 9 wood in and keep the 4 iron too. But yesterday I had a good ball striking day maybe one of the best of my comeback since my accident. This AM it is a little chilly here and I am a little stiff in the legs but no pain. And BTW we did win the comp on the back side  seperate prizes depending on what side you played. The morning Scramble with yet another pick up team we did not finish in the prizes but shot a respectable -5. In the 9 and Dine we shot -3 and should have shot -5. I firmly believe If I had the 9 and Dine team in the morning scramble we could have won it. I think on 18 we were capable of 10 or 12 under. Next 9 and dine we are keeping the same team. I am trying to talk that couple into playing the Scramble next time. I know next week they more than likely will not have the scramble because they have some corporate event scheduled. As of now it is up in the air they are not sure. The Scramble numbers are down anyhow for some reason a lot of the members are not playing much recently and of course they are not letting the Canadians back down here for the 2nd year in a row.

I told the owners last night they ought to cancel the scramble next Saturday anyhow because players are sketchy anyhow and a couple of the guys are talking about doing a game at a neighboring course next week. I think they may do a throw in $10 thing and either bring a team or do a blind draw. My other bud on the North end has a group and they play a similar throw in best ball not a scramble. He wants me to come up and play and I feel up to riding that 25 miles or so. Some of the members are up in arms but like I told them the course has to make money and these fields of just 40 or so in the scrambles are not making that much money. They can make more money and charge more with a Corporate event. I have no problem with that. But we will see. Like I tried to tell some of they guys they have to make money to offer us a whole package of great membership rates and good events and great food. Usually this time of the year when the Canadians are starting to come down we have 120 plus player fields and if weather dictates it stays that way until spring

[BostonSal]

My Top Flite Intimidator 400 7-wood has 25º loft, so that would be a 9- or 11- wood today.

I just bought a matching set of Ping G425 woods  [12 -D, 16, 19, 22º] , very slightly used, that were on consignment in our pro shop.  I couldn't resist a "matching set" since it's been so long since I've even seen one.  But they'll for the most part go straight into the collection [ I collect clubs ] more than onto the course.

I have no gripe with my veteran metals.

Titleist Howitzer 12°

Orlimar TriMetal 17°

Top Flite Intimidator 400  21, 25°.

I'm comfortable with them, and I don't play a 7200 yard course from the USGA Open rotation.

I play a 115 year old course designed for hickory shafts.

 

 

 

 

[BostonSal]

On 9/23/2021 at 9:04 AM, EasyPutter said:

I don't leave for the course without my Ginty.  Awesome to see the Persimmon version 

The wooden version was laminated maple, not persimmon, but so were the majority of woods by then.  The classics like MacGregor Tommy Armours were oil-hardened persimmon to be sure, but at the transition from wood to metal, laminated maple dominated.

 

I've got the stainless version in my collection as well. 

Bought it for my uncle as a gift and got it back with his other stuff when he passed.

Sweet recovery club or tree hopper.

Edited September 26, 2021 by BostonSal

[pakman92]

I would add another iron/wedge and space then out evenly. 
 Currently I have 5-gw, sw & lw.  9 clubs.  I would make it 10 total.  I wouldn’t change  the loft on 5 or lw.  I would space the 8 clubs evenly between current 5 and lw(58).

in short, I’d add another iron and make the gaps between clubs smaller.  Less partial shots this way.   

[HDTVMAN]

Luckily no one counts my clubs when I play with 15. But I do take out the 5i or 6h from time to time.

But right now during the winter I'm playing with 12 and playing better than ever!

Edited December 22, 2021 by HDTVMAN

[BilltheThrill]

I have decided, since I know I'm not going to over-power any golf course, to really improve my scores I would make the short game my absolute strength.

With that in mind, I am experimenting with 5 wedges. (so far, so good).

I have a stock Mizuno Hot Metal PW (44 ), a GW (49 ), a Vokey 56 SM8, a Vokey 60 SM7 and just added a Cleveland Full Face 64 to help deal with tight pin positions and elevated greens. There is some over-lap but that's ok as it allows me to play most shots several different ways depending on pin position, lie (tight, wet, rough, etc), green undulations, rollout desired, wind, etc.

After reading Dave Pelz's short game bible, his emphasis is on carry distance control with the wedges as you will not be that far off on alignment. I am learning to carry short distances with several different trajectories with my wedges depending on shot required. After about 3 weeks of practice, I now am getting 50+% of shots from 40 yards in within the 1 putt zone of 5 feet or less (75+% chance of making putt). My confidence is soaring!

I used to settle on shots that were 10+- ft. away as being satisfactory.(20% chance of making putt). Not now. It's a fair amount of work, but very satisfying to get up and down after a missed green or even hole it out!  It really irks your opponents!

[Franc38]

If they allowed 15 clubs that wouldn't change a thing for me... I currently carry 13 clubs and I'm just fine with that.
Used to have 3 specialized wedges (50/56/60) and moved to 52/38 to "simplify my short game" (it worked!) but I didn't substitute that by a club in the top end (my needs are well enough covered and the gapping is good between Driver / 4-wood 16° / 3-hybrid 21° / 4 iron 24°)... maybe a 18 or 19° club with law launch could help in windy conditions but I never have a shot that I miss a club for. 230 yards is somewhat of a "missing yardage" but a great 3h could reach or just be a tad short and a cutty 4w would probably be just a wee bit long, so that's sort of covered. And as I'm not that accurate at these distances, if I'm 230 yards away from a flag I'll more likely than not hit a 6-5 or 5i and then hope for a chip and a putt.

As I walk and carry one less club is 300g-ish less on the back, not a bad thing!

Edited December 22, 2021 by Franc38

[Beakbryce]

A full swing 60 yard wedge. Right now it is just a hole in my yardage. Sure, I can basically chip and/or pitch my 50 degree depending on whether I am running it up or flying it there, but it's just not a solid choice. Plus that wedge would be great for the clay based, 1/4" deep dirt filled, "sand traps" we play out of in AZ.

[BostonSal]

On 8/2/2021 at 9:21 PM, Jcosta said:

If they changed the rules tomorrow to allow 15 clubs in your bag verses the currently allowed 14, which club (if any) would you add as your 15th? 

Whichever "wood" I leave out of the bag now.  

My 15 would be

1, 3, 5, 7, 9

driving iron

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

48, 53, 58      or      48, 54, 60

putter.

I think.  These things can change. 

[KC Golf]

That’s easy. Higher lofted mini driver.

Works better out of the first cut or if you need more forced carry distance with a bit more forgiveness.  In current sets, it’s usually like a 12 degree driver.   May be Phils mini driver comes in that loft, but not sure  

In really old persimmon from the 60s / 70s sets, I think it used to be called a “2 wood”. But some of the original MGS guys may have a photo of one from their historical vintage sets on the wall.