How Much Does Club Gapping Matter For Your Game?

[THuge]

Currently my bag is set up where I theoretically have some gapping holes, but it rarely is an actual issue on the course. I find I am rarely in a spot where I don't have the right club to hit a distance. I go from driver to 5 wood, then a 4 hybrid to a 6 iron, and have a 48 degree GW to a 56 SW. Between those gaps, I never really run into trouble. I hit the driver ~265-275 on average, 5 wood goes 225, 4 hybrid goes 205-215, 6 iron 195, and there hasn't been an issue at close approach shots where I can't hit a 1/2 to 3/4 swing for the GW or full SW and not reach. What are your thoughts on distance gapping? Anyone else not particularly bothered or is gapping important for building your bag?

[RickyBobby_PR]

guess it depends on what is considered gapping.

knowing distance is important so that shot selection can be made.

Is it important to have a bag setup that allows the golfer to hit the shots they will need on a course or across various courses. 

[revkev]

Much of this depends on where one plays and the conditions they face. I’d have huge issues with the set up you described where I currently live even if I played one course almost exclusively. Why? Wind - Florida has lots of it and since we can play year round the prevailing wind changes depending upon the season and times of day. You can easily see 5 clubs difference on your approach shot and many holes based on wind direction and time of year - I’d need a balanced set with even gapping,

 

However when I lived in Indiana I played 80 percent of my rounds at one course. My set up was much more about the shots that I needed to play that course. I actually gamed two drivers, a 5 wood, 7 wood, 4 iron to PW, SW, LW

 

It worked for that course - I had a 3 iron and 3 wood that would go in the bag if I traveled to other courses.

 

Generally speaking, gapping matters a lot - but also you need to game the set that will allow you the best chance to shoot a good score. 
 

[KC Golf]

I think if you play mostly the same course or something fairly similar your bag set up is probably just fine. 

However if you play a new course with more variation in length for drives, second shots or other conditions like fairway rollout or wind, etc.  You will likely find your stock yardages in your current bag may need to be more variable.  

So a properly gapped full bag will be easier to utilize and navigate on an unfamiliar : difficult course or adverse weather conditions. 

As an example… On windy days I replace my 3 hybrid with a 2 driving iron.  I also sometimes take out my 3 wood and replace it with a 3 iron as well. Then I have lower flight on my non driver long clubs as opposed to more higher launching soft landing clubs. Then I benefit from more rollout and less wind issues. 

[Stuka44]

On 4/16/2024 at 11:45 AM, THuge said:

there hasn't been an issue at close approach shots where I can't hit a 1/2 to 3/4 swing for the GW or full SW and not reach.

 

16 hours ago, KC Golf said:

So a properly gapped full bag will be easier to utilize and navigate on an unfamiliar : 

When I bought new clubs, I did so specifically  because the PW was 43,  AW / 48, and prior I only had 56.  With more aggressive lofts as noted I then added a 52d, wedge which gave me coverage with full swing, for 135, 125, 110-115, 100, 85. (9I, PW, AW, 52, 56).   The loft which gave me 125 yards was missing in my prior set.  I found this troublesome as noted on unfamiliar courses, to navigate my drives to try and avoid the 125 yards distance, which I had no full swing for.

Our group tries to play at least 10 different courses a summer.

Additionally what distance would a 52 full swing go for you.  Theoretically should give you a full swing distance as opposed to half swing with GW, which in theory be more consistent than half swing.