Clubs Makeup: the punch out club

[JackieMoon_LMS]

Hello everyone!

I am in a bit of a pickle. Been spending some time this year working on my bag makeup. I have swapped out some long irons (4-5) for a couple hybrids and removed my lob wedge from the bag as it collected dust. Did this due to the additional height and forgiveness offered by hybrids as I am a father to little one and never practices due to time. 

My current setup is driver, 3W, 5W, 4H, 5H, 6i - 9i, PW, GW, SW and putter. 

With the courses I play, there are a lot of tree lined fairways. Traditionally, my 4 iron has been my go to punch out club as I can shape it left to right to hit the low runner/stingers to advance the ball when needed instead of chipping back to the fairway. I have to hit this shot maybe 3-6 times per 18 holes. 

I have noticed that doing punch shots with the hybrids are much more difficult as the ball wants to rise quick. 

As I have an extra slot in the bag, should I throw my trusty 4 iron back in the bag as my designated punch out club while still carrying my 4 hybrid? Or throw my driving iron in the bag for these shots? Seems like overlap at the top of the bag…

For reference, I am a 4.1 handicap and swing my long irons roughly 95 mph.

Thank you!

[Josh Parker]

I tend to use my 6i for those types of shots. Can play a knock down and shape it when necessary. 

But you do have an extra spot.... I would say DI if I had to choose one. 

Edited October 31 by Josh Parker

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I would agree with @Josh Parker and throw a DI in there. I use either my 5i or 3H for those shots depending on how much room I have.

I would think a DI would do exactly as you want it to.

[JackieMoon_LMS]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

I would agree with @Josh Parker and throw a DI in there. I use either my 5i or 3H for those shots depending on how much room I have.

I would think a DI would do exactly as you want it to.

Just not sure about the DI as I would only use it for punch shots but am also leaning that way…could also bring it out for some stinger runner shots on the dry days so it has more than one purpose haha 

[TJ Hall]

Depending on the shot, typically use a 5 or 7 iron.  Can vary the trajectory on these enough to recover from most situations.

[RetiredBoomer]

This is why I hate the 14 club limit and always have.

While I have no use for a chipper for chipping [I like to land closer to the hole],
I find the chipper type club---
putter length with a little bit of loft---
Is the perfect punch-out club.
It just doesn't crack the top 14 or 15 for utility.

 

While I'm on the subject, I also hate narrow fairways lined with trees.
Loosely spaced trees are fine.
Natural woods are for somebody else's golf course.

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, JackieMoon_LMS said:

With the courses I play, there are a lot of tree lined fairways. Traditionally, my 4 iron has been my go to punch out club as I can shape it left to right to hit the low runner/stingers to advance the ball when needed instead of chipping back to the fairway. I have to hit this shot maybe 3-6 times per 18 holes. 
 

 I use my 6 iron when I need to punch out.  I can keep it low and shape as necessary but I also recognize that it is a recovery shot and the goal it simply to get it back in play.   
 

I also play tree lined courses but don’t have or punch out 3-6 times.  We typically build our bags to support the shots we need to play and you seem to need this club quite often so I would put the 4 iron in the bag.  

[RetiredBoomer]

6 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 We typically build our bags to support the shots we need to play....  

I've always followed this practice, and often gave up even gapping to achieve it.

 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

1 hour ago, JackieMoon_LMS said:

Just not sure about the DI as I would only use it for punch shots but am also leaning that way…could also bring it out for some stinger runner shots on the dry days so it has more than one purpose haha 

I guess if you're looking for a club that is solely going to be used for those types of shots, the DI in my mind makes the most sense. However if you think there could be spots where your 4i would play better than your 4h, and you can be equally successful with it on the punches, it may give you the most bang for your buck. 

I should have looked at it in that light before just jumping to my answer 

[Chux13]

I just rip out the ol' driver, choke up all the way down the grip, and smash that punch down the line. Mostly get a strong draw from it in that usage, so works well to get around the hazard and go down the line I want. I would go hybrids but often I popped them up and still caught branches. Have yet to fail with a Driver 

[KC Golf]

3 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

I tend to use my 6i for those types of shots. Can play a knock down and shape it when necessary. 

But you do have an extra spot.... I would say DI if I had to choose one. 

I use my 7 iron for punch outs with the ball at the back of my stance and slightly choked up.   For hanging limb issues or longer rollouts sometimes a 4 iron if I need to stay very low.

[JackieMoon_LMS]

2 hours ago, Chux13 said:

I just rip out the ol' driver, choke up all the way down the grip, and smash that punch down the line. Mostly get a strong draw from it in that usage, so works well to get around the hazard and go down the line I want. I would go hybrids but often I popped them up and still caught branches. Have yet to fail with a Driver 

You are a brave man! Feel like I could pull of the driver punch but wouldn’t commit to the shot due to the fact I wouldn’t want to wreck my driver

[JoeLafives]

Hit the putter hard -

[sirchunksalot]

I used to use 6 iron for any situation where tree branches are an issue but did find out tended to get in the air a little too much for my liking. I'm now using my 4 hybrid and placing it behind my trail foot and taking a shorter swing. I'm not looking to get it to the green on those types of shots, I just want to get the ball back in play. 

[Chux13]

2 hours ago, JackieMoon_LMS said:

You are a brave man! Feel like I could pull of the driver punch but wouldn’t commit to the shot due to the fact I wouldn’t want to wreck my driver

I hear ya. I for sure would not on rocky surfaces or anything that would ding it up pretty bad, but most other lies are fair game. I don't try to hit down on it but sweep it out of there and let the driver do the rest.

[edingc]

Fellow tree-lined Michigander. Lately have been going with the 6 iron - I find anything with less loft sometimes comes out too low/less margin for error for me. I might go to 5 iron if it is dry. 

That being said, if you have a slot in the bag open for a speciality club, I'd say go for it! 

[JackieMoon_LMS]

24 minutes ago, edingc said:

Fellow tree-lined Michigander. Lately have been going with the 6 iron - I find anything with less loft sometimes comes out too low/less margin for error for me. I might go to 5 iron if it is dry. 

That being said, if you have a slot in the bag open for a speciality club, I'd say go for it! 

Michigan golf = trees everywhere. I’m glad you understand

[Wedge891]

Not sure if you are looking to buy a new club, but I have a 4 utility iron that works quite well for punch outs. On regular shots, trajectory is lower than a hybrid but higher than a 4i. Sub 70 makes some good utility irons that are relatively inexpensive. 

[JackieMoon_LMS]

14 hours ago, edingc said:

Fellow tree-lined Michigander. Lately have been going with the 6 iron - I find anything with less loft sometimes comes out too low/less margin for error for me. I might go to 5 iron if it is dry. 

That being said, if you have a slot in the bag open for a speciality club, I'd say go for it! 

I actually have an 4 Adams DHY that has filled that role in the past and currently the direction I am leaning. Time to dust it off I think!

[revkev]

If it's a shot that you need to hit 3 or so times a round I would put the 4 iron back in particularly since you don't have time to practice it doesn't make sense to do anything else. 

 

That's my two cents - I was a 1 once - I would generally use 6 iron to punch out but we are all different and we all play in different conditions

 

Take the easy way out I say!!!  

[Headhammer]

On 10/31/2024 at 1:23 PM, cnosil said:

 I use my 6 iron when I need to punch out.  I can keep it low and shape as necessary but I also recognize that it is a recovery shot and the goal it simply to get it back in play.   
 

I also play tree lined courses but don’t have or punch out 3-6 times.  We typically build our bags to support the shots we need to play and you seem to need this club quite often so I would put the 4 iron in the bag.  

Here in the southeast pine straw beds surround our trees and I've found the 6-iron to be the most consistent get out of jail club, and like @cnosil I take my medicine and just try to get back in play. 

[Wolfstrum]

My 2cents is stick with the 4i. It is what you are comfortable with. I have a 3i driving iron in my bag and a normal 4i. I use the 4i for low punch out shots when I need to stay below the branches and find the gaps between tree trunks. Usually the lie is less than ideal in these situations as well and I prefer having the narrower sole of the 4i versus the Di wider sole.