Simplifying my bag, ended up with only 12 clubs, goodbye long irons!

I am trying to practice and play more golf and improve my handicap. However, I must admit that at 60, I don't have the swing speed and skills to hit the longer irons anymore.

Based on my home course, I tried to simplify my bag to cover all my yardages and focused on the lofts and length of the clubs. Unintentionally, I ended up with only 12 clubs.

With only 12 clubs, it's probably easier to practice and be proficient with all clubs.

Driver - 10*

4 Wood - 16*

Hybrid 1 - 21*

Hybrid 2 - 25*

6 Iron - 28*

7 Iron - 32*

8 Iron - 36*

9 Iron - 41*

PW - 46*

Wedge 1 - 52*

Wedge 2 - 58*

Putter

I may add the 25* 5 iron later for low running shots or get out of trouble low shots.

nice. wouldnt hurt to carry a 3 wood and a SW, they can come in handy. but whatever works, i have a buddy that only carries a sunday bag and 7 clubs.

I just switched to a 52 and 58 from a 50, 56, 60 and I love just having the two wedges. I like to play less than full swings on wedges for approach shots, so having the third wedge left me with more indecision and more to practice with.

I just switched to a 52 and 58 from a 50, 56, 60 and I love just having the two wedges. I like to play less than full swings on wedges for approach shots, so having the third wedge left me with more indecision and more to practice with.

I could not agree more with this. You can close/open the 52 to have a 50/54 and same thing with the 58 to have a 56/60.

Me too

Driver

3w

5w

5hybrid

6

7

8

9

PW

AW

SW

LW

This looks like it will work. Older golfer. Need most help on par 5’s and long par 4’s and getting up and down from close to the green.

Can't go wrong with a 64* hi-toe to round out the bag.

I just switched to a 52 and 58 from a 50, 56, 60 and I love just having the two wedges. I like to play less than full swings on wedges for approach shots, so having the third wedge left me with more indecision and more to practice with.

 

I could not agree more with this. You can close/open the 52 to have a 50/54 and same thing with the 58 to have a 56/60.

Can't go wrong with a 64* hi-toe to round out the bag.

exactly, great for greenside bunkers with no green to work with, or wet sand. no indecision here, i know when im using my 62 before i even get up to the shot. that was not the case with 50-56-60, but since i went 52-56-62 everyone has its place and there is no bickering amongst them for attention

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

My main bag is D 22* H 6-GW 54 58 62 .. woods were costing me so I went this route and I love it. My 2nd bag is D 7wd 5hy 8 iron GW and 58.... I can score great with either bag. Love less clubs.

Solid bag. I think most people would benefit from a bag like this.

I have a very similar bag except no fairway woods. I shoot the same as when I carried 14 clubs. You will enjoy set up I think.

I just switched to a 52 and 58 from a 50, 56, 60 and I love just having the two wedges. I like to play less than full swings on wedges for approach shots, so having the third wedge left me with more indecision and more to practice with.

 

I could not agree more with this. You can close/open the 52 to have a 50/54 and same thing with the 58 to have a 56/60.

 

Can't go wrong with a 64* hi-toe to round out the bag.

 

exactly, great for greenside bunkers with no green to work with, or wet sand. no indecision here, i know when im using my 62 before i even get up to the shot. that was not the case with 50-56-60, but since i went 52-56-62 everyone has its place and there is no bickering amongst them for attention

Don’t say stuff like this. Because I’ll do it.

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

Lol first time I have been talked into unliking a post. Didn't really read the driver to 5 iron bit

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

Lol first time I have been talked into unliking a post. Didn't really read the driver to 5 iron bit

There are a few different things here.

#1. I could easily play with 8 clubs and I don't think my scores would suffer at all over the long-run. Unless your strike is extremely consistent, 1 or 2 clubs difference vs what you'd pull with a full bag isn't going to change the outcome materially often.

#2. Many average golfers could live with larger loft gaps at the top of the bag. This is because of strike and they don't have the clubhead speed to see significant distance differences between lower lofted clubs. Hence, many people could play with 10-13 clubs and their scores would be the same (any starter set or junior set makeup with the right shafts would be fine). In fact, I would argue that 3 woods off the fairway and lob wedge flops cost average golfers more shots over the long-run.

#3. If you are a highly skilled golfer or playing for significant stakes, it makes no sense to have anything less than 14 clubs in the bag. If you use a club once a tournament, it was an advantage for you. Ie any pro could shoot a decent score at a pro-am with half a bag (take distance off, hit shots hard, etc). But it would be quite foolish for a pro to show up on Thurs-Sunday with fewer clubs and rely on shotmaking to get around a course when they didn't need to make these adjustments.

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

Lol first time I have been talked into unliking a post. Didn't really read the driver to 5 iron bit

Thats alright, we all canʻt be lugging around 14 sticks with those extra-stiff expensive shafts trying to impress the masses.

I moved back to 7 clubs for a while. My scores are about the same, but my shot-making is improving again. See sig.

You wonʻt miss the two other clubs. Iʻve had a walking bag of 10 clubs for years ( D, 5-SW, P ) scores donʻt suffer and you get more creative with your tools. Learn to hood that 5-iron with a waist high to waist high swing, you wonʻt need a 4-iron.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do on short par 4's or doglegs when driver is too much?

Carry three putters haha can’t hurt to have options

I am trying to practice and play more golf and improve my handicap. However, I must admit that at 60, I don't have the swing speed and skills to hit the longer irons anymore.

 

Based on my home course, I tried to simplify my bag to cover all my yardages and focused on the lofts and length of the clubs. Unintentionally, I ended up with only 12 clubs.

 

With only 12 clubs, it's probably easier to practice and be proficient with all clubs.

 

Driver - 10*

4 Wood - 16*

Hybrid 1 - 21*

Hybrid 2 - 25*

6 Iron - 28*

7 Iron - 32*

8 Iron - 36*

9 Iron - 41*

PW - 46*

Wedge 1 - 52*

Wedge 2 - 58*

Putter

 

I may add the 25* 5 iron later for low running shots or get out of trouble low shots.

The part that really catches my eye is that you say you don't have the swing speed to hit long irons, but you have a 10 degree driver. I'm no expert by any means, and I know there is more to the equation than swing speed, but is that driver optimized for your swing?

I just switched to a 52 and 58 from a 50, 56, 60 and I love just having the two wedges. I like to play less than full swings on wedges for approach shots, so having the third wedge left me with more indecision and more to practice with.

I am with you, siegs. I also switched to 52 and 58 this year from 50, 54, 58 and its been great. My 52 has become a dart thrower from inside 120 yards. I hardly ever take a full swing with the 58 and its super easy to manipulate the loft around the green for certain shots. Going down to two wedges has eliminated any guess work too.

The fact that your scores didn't change going from 14 to 8 isn't evidence of anything. They could have been getting better and the move to 8 could have stopped it. Its a statistical fallacy to conclude that the score and the number of clubs in your bag are related in any way at all without a ton of data - the randomness of what a 15 cap scores is so big that no conclusion can be drawn.

Unless weight and cash is a factor, its nuts to play less than 14. You don't have to swing them. Get a 64* Sure Out. Get a 40", 16*, steel-shafted driver (<-i've had a club like this, its pretty hard to miss).

"I'm going to carry 12 because I don't trust myself not to make stupid decisions" is not a great justification for not carrying clubs, especially specialty clubs.

And that doesn't even go into how less likely you are to improve by just giving up.

There are a few different things here.

 

#1. I could easily play with 8 clubs and I don't think my scores would suffer at all over the long-run. Unless your strike is extremely consistent, 1 or 2 clubs difference vs what you'd pull with a full bag isn't going to change the outcome materially often.

 

#2. Many average golfers could live with larger loft gaps at the top of the bag. This is because of strike and they don't have the clubhead speed to see significant distance differences between lower lofted clubs. Hence, many people could play with 10-13 clubs and their scores would be the same (any starter set or junior set makeup with the right shafts would be fine). In fact, I would argue that 3 woods off the fairway and lob wedge flops cost average golfers more shots over the long-run.

 

#3. If you are a highly skilled golfer or playing for significant stakes, it makes no sense to have anything less than 14 clubs in the bag. If you use a club once a tournament, it was an advantage for you. Ie any pro could shoot a decent score at a pro-am with half a bag (take distance off, hit shots hard, etc). But it would be quite foolish for a pro to show up on Thurs-Sunday with fewer clubs and rely on shotmaking to get around a course when they didn't need to make these adjustments.

I want 16 spots lol.

I don't understand why people do not carry all 4 wedges? I get pros can do it, but they are practicing a lot more than the average golfer. The added benefit of an extra wedge to help with bounce shots for the average golfer should be so important to them that they wouldn't want to leave without 4. Let alone carry a bag with 12 or 13 clubs when you have the option to add another club. To me, its just being lazy and not wanting to work on your game or the shots that the extra club would provide to you to make you better and lower your score. My home course either has hardpan everywhere around the green or its thick grass depending on the year. Not having the option for a different shot that is needed because you didn't want to have the correct bounce or loft for the shot. Why do that to yourself. Your making the game harder than it needs to be IMO.

I am trying to practice and play more golf and improve my handicap. However, I must admit that at 60, I don't have the swing speed and skills to hit the longer irons anymore.

 

Based on my home course, I tried to simplify my bag to cover all my yardages and focused on the lofts and length of the clubs. Unintentionally, I ended up with only 12 clubs.

 

With only 12 clubs, it's probably easier to practice and be proficient with all clubs.

 

Driver - 10*

4 Wood - 16*

Hybrid 1 - 21*

Hybrid 2 - 25*

6 Iron - 28*

7 Iron - 32*

8 Iron - 36*

9 Iron - 41*

PW - 46*

Wedge 1 - 52*

Wedge 2 - 58*

Putter

 

I may add the 25* 5 iron later for low running shots or get out of trouble low shots.

 

The part that really catches my eye is that you say you don't have the swing speed to hit long irons, but you have a 10 degree driver. I'm no expert by any means, and I know there is more to the equation than swing speed, but is that driver optimized for your swing?

That's a keen observation. I usually play a 10.5 or 11 driver but lately I have been hitting the ball too high so I set the X16 to 10 for now.

There are a few different things here.

 

#1. I could easily play with 8 clubs and I don't think my scores would suffer at all over the long-run. Unless your strike is extremely consistent, 1 or 2 clubs difference vs what you'd pull with a full bag isn't going to change the outcome materially often.

 

#2. Many average golfers could live with larger loft gaps at the top of the bag. This is because of strike and they don't have the clubhead speed to see significant distance differences between lower lofted clubs. Hence, many people could play with 10-13 clubs and their scores would be the same (any starter set or junior set makeup with the right shafts would be fine). In fact, I would argue that 3 woods off the fairway and lob wedge flops cost average golfers more shots over the long-run.

 

#3. If you are a highly skilled golfer or playing for significant stakes, it makes no sense to have anything less than 14 clubs in the bag. If you use a club once a tournament, it was an advantage for you. Ie any pro could shoot a decent score at a pro-am with half a bag (take distance off, hit shots hard, etc). But it would be quite foolish for a pro to show up on Thurs-Sunday with fewer clubs and rely on shotmaking to get around a course when they didn't need to make these adjustments.

Good points, when i play a tournament or ride in a cart ( few times a year ) i use the full bag.

I don't understand why people do not carry all 4 wedges? I get pros can do it, but they are practicing a lot more than the average golfer. The added benefit of an extra wedge to help with bounce shots for the average golfer should be so important to them that they wouldn't want to leave without 4. Let alone carry a bag with 12 or 13 clubs when you have the option to add another club. To me, its just being lazy and not wanting to work on your game or the shots that the extra club would provide to you to make you better and lower your score. My home course either has hardpan everywhere around the green or its thick grass depending on the year. Not having the option for a different shot that is needed because you didn't want to have the correct bounce or loft for the shot. Why do that to yourself. Your making the game harder than it needs to be IMO.

I wouldn't necessarily call it "lazy" but I can appreciate some of your other points. If anything, it gave me an opportunity to practice and master using the 2 wedges (or 3 if you count the PW). I should of mentioned that I originally did this to make room for a driving iron in my bag but since then have ditched my hybrid. I could easily go back to the 50, 54, 58 set up any time but I've had a lot of success with just the 52 and 58.