Short-set build... What's your ideal makeup?

I've been thinking of putting together a 7-8 club set for quick rounds after work and what not. Lighter, more shot making, more fun - that's the goal anyway. However, I need some help figuring out a set makeup. I've got a driver and 5 wood that probably fit the bill (905r and 915f) of good looking, fun, and interesting (maybe not the 915f) but I'm struggling with the irons and wedge. What would be your ideal fun short-set build?

Irons if debated: cobra king mb/cb, maltby dbm, MacGregor my pro c/m, pretty much any Mizuno mp set

I also have no idea on a wedge, ha. Let me know your thoughts and what you'd like to have in a fun little set to kick around with!

I am an 8 club guy.

Driver: 8.5 anser (WILL BE UPGRADED)

2I: Cally Razr X forged bent to 16, PX 6.0

4,6,8,pw: Titleist 710MB

56* Vokey SM4 F grind (will be going to PM Grind... 56 or 58)

Putter: Cleveland 1 almost belly

Sun mountain 2.5

I cant bring myself to kick the 2i out of the bag... I came from Las Vegas to FL... not much roll out. I am considering other options but they have to be good.

My other thought, picking up a 13.5 degree epic driver to open up a degree.

I have often fought that spot in the bag. The 2i is a great fairway finder that I can get 225 off the deck with. Misses just seem less bad.

Key is the wedge. Learn to play a wedge that you feel comfy with. It must be versatile. But dont go crazy low bounce. It is now time to introduce your other irons into your short game. Last year I holed out with 6 and 8 irons with a bump and run. Opened up the 8 a bit and actually went toe down with the six to get a bit of a knuckle ball with a putting stroke.

It's all about MacGyver. Give yourself duct tape and some toothpicks, and make a mini mall.

FYI, my handicap has increased each time I have gone back to a "serious" bag. My buddies hate it, and have attempted to accuse me of cheating.

Lol

"...thinking of putting together a 7-8 club set for quick rounds... Let me know your thoughts and what you'd like to have in a fun little set to kick around with! "

putting together a 7-8 club set for:

• quick rounds
  
• Lighter,
  
• more shot making, more fun -
  
• that's the goal
  

However, I need some help figuring out a set makeup.(?)

I've got a driver and 5 wood that probably fit the bill (905r and 915f) of good looking, fun, and interesting (maybe not the 915f)

but I'm struggling with the irons and wedge.(?)

What would be your ideal fun short-set build?

Irons

cobra king mb/cb,

maltby

dbm,

MacGregor my pro c/m,

pretty much any Mizuno mp set

I also have no idea on a wedge, (?)

ha. Let me know your thoughts and what you'd like to have in a fun little set to kick around with!

Hmmmm.

Fascinating topic

The number 1 goal is to have fun attempt some shot making etc all.

We can presume your looking for a more free wheeling type of play less exacting, hopefully less frustrated with the results as you enjoy the "fun" of curving this shot or that shot.

Trying to hit club X less than max distance and club Y past normal distance as the shots call for?

That you especially like exacting iron play

That you hit driver and long irons well and wedges all about the same?

Those might be my presumptions based on your post, what do you consider fun MD?

3w, 5-pw, 56*, putter for me.

Here's how I break it down. Six will work.

Your choice...

Driving club

Long iron (hybrid)

Medium iron

Short iron

Wedge

Putter

Mine is in my sig. Typically play with 7, will occasionally go to 8 or 9 but usually 7 is the ticket for me. While I have another full set of irons the Miuras were purchased as a half set only so it’s always the 4/6/8P.

I went with the evens because I really like having a 4 iron and use it often off the tee, I also like having a PW. I don’t think there is a single better wedge than a 54-56 degree sand wedge. I almost never mind myself wishing for a different wedge and the 55 I have is super versatile.

Finally, finding a strong 3 that I hit as far as my driver off the tee but can see till hit off the deck with ease was key in clearing out the top end of my bag.

Depends on the course. Start with the clubs needed to play the par 3s. My home course is pretty simple: 130, 170, 170, 130, & 150 = 9i, 5i, & 7i. Add driver, 5W, 54°, P and I’m good to go. A 9-hole executive par 29 course I play, I can literally get around with just 4Hy, 8i, PW, 54°, P. Another course has 230 and 205 yard par 3s, a few 430+ par 4s, lots of 250-300 par 4s, and only three par 5s. I’ll play that course with 5W, 6i, PW, 56°, & P and score about the same as a full bag. That’s a good shotmaking set; with a compact 5W, CB 6i, MB PW & High bounce 56°.

Cheers!

I am also considering this myself. I've been looking for clubs all week. I'm not buying anything new or remotely new - mostly looking for clubs within the last 10 years or so. The trouble I am having is finding used iron set make ups in 5, 7, 9 or 4, 6, 8, PW. Any tips?

Do a search on "minimalist"- there are a number of earlier threads on playing with 7-8 clubs and some good suggestions as to how best to select your ideal set. For me, its trying to make sure I'm clubbed properly for the Par 3s.

I have been bitten by the minimalist bug too and am planning to play the majority of my rounds this year with 8-10 clubs. As of right now, my set up is:

Driver

17*H

21*H

5,7,8,PW (Ping G400)

50, 56 wedges

Putter

Driving is about the "best" part of my game (though none of my game is especially great), so I really wanted to keep driver in the bag. On the bottom end of the bag, I tend to use 56 for everything around the green and out of bunkers and use the 50 for everything from 100 - 20 yards unless the additional loft is necessary. So with those "staples" in place I tried to fill in the rest of the set to give me somewhat consistent gaps.

I couldn't decide between the even and odd irons as I liked the idea of 5 and 7 towards the top and 8 and PW towards the bottom, so I figured one more club wouldn't kill me and keeps the overall gapping a little more even. The G400 lofts being as jacked as they are, I felt a 20.5* 4 iron would be a little aggressive and not as versatile as the 5 iron, but then I would have had a 10+ degree gap between 9 iron and my 50* wedge which seemed a little much.

I also know that 10 clubs is on the high side of being minimalist. I could probably get down a few more clubs by stretching the gaps a bit and/or getting a few new clubs to take the place of multiple clubs I have now, but it's a work in progress and this feels like a good starting point to me.

All of that being said, we are currently in the middle of the already snowiest February on record with more to come this weekend. I have been spending an admittedly ridiculous amount of time thinking about this lately and am expecting to change my mind no fewer than 10 more times until I can actually get on a golf course. I do keep coming back to this set up as the most versatile though, so maybe it'll stick . . .

Been minimalist for a good while now and just use 8 in comps... Leave my 5 wood in locker when just knocking around. But Ive been:

Driver

5 wood

7 wood

6,8, pw, sw

Putter

However, ive ended with my whole ping set back as my dad doesn't play anymore. And just to have a tinker I might go 5,7,9 irons and see if it's any different or more fun

Appreciate the responses! I've been through a lot of the older threads on the minimalist topic and that is really what got me interested in doing this in the first place. In cflo's post he mentioned the difficulty in putting an iron set together without having to buy the full set - I've been having the same issue in finding something. Maybe the answer is buying the whole set (likely used and ebayed for me) then passing along the odd/evens as a short set on wtt/wts.

On the equipment side, I'd really like to do something new (for me) with the irons/wedge and go either raw, pvd, or dbm.

So far my favorite set up iron wise is 5,7,9. Seems I can do it all from 190-100 easily with those 3 irons. Add in a tee club (driver for me), long fairway club (driving iron or 3 wood for me), 1-2 wedges (50* & 60* for me), and putter to hit 7-8 clubs.

Appreciate the responses! I've been through a lot of the older threads on the minimalist topic and that is really what got me interested in doing this in the first place. In cflo's post he mentioned the difficulty in putting an iron set together without having to buy the full set - I've been having the same issue in finding something. Maybe the answer is buying the whole set (likely used and ebayed for me) then passing along the odd/evens as a short set on wtt/wts.

 

On the equipment side, I'd really like to do something new (for me) with the irons/wedge and go either raw, pvd, or dbm.

Just buy the irons you need. Most sites sell them individually. I am about to order 5,7,9 one length f9s from global golf, and take advantage of 50% trade in. I can almost pay for them just with the extra clubs I am removing from my bags!

My 6 club setup is geared toward versatility and course lengths of 6500 yards and below. For over 6500, I'd swap the hybrid/DI for fairway wood which gives me about 25 more yards, but a little less control.

3 hybrid or Driving iron (Cobra King Utility). 240 off the tee, 225-230 off the deck. Also, punch/recovery shots and greenside bump & run shots.

5i, 175 easy -195 full

7i, 155 easy -175 full

9i 125 easy -155 full

Cobra 50* wedge or Cleveland 53* wedge, 120 full and below

Putter

This setup covers all par 3's under 200 yds, gives me a mid/short iron into any par 4 under 400, and for par 5's under 500yds I have a chance to get greenside in 2 or can lay up to a very comfortable wedge shot for my 3rd into the green. With this setup, tee shots are all about being in proper position. Minimizing penalty strokes, minimizing recovery shots, and maximizing GIR's.

The key for me with this setup, I have to select the club that gets me to the back of the green. I have a tendency to take the club that gets me to the front of the green and try to get 10 extra yards out of it, but I get much better results when I take the club that gets me to the back of the green and take a nice, smooth swing. I've learned a lot with my minimal setup that has helped my course management with my regular setup.

Appreciate the responses! I've been through a lot of the older threads on the minimalist topic and that is really what got me interested in doing this in the first place. In cflo's post he mentioned the difficulty in putting an iron set together without having to buy the full set - I've been having the same issue in finding something. Maybe the answer is buying the whole set (likely used and ebayed for me) then passing along the odd/evens as a short set on wtt/wts.

 

On the equipment side, I'd really like to do something new (for me) with the irons/wedge and go either raw, pvd, or dbm.

You stated that one of your goals is to force more shotmaking. With that goal in mind, you can buy a full set and create two different setups that force you into different shots. Basically split a set into evens/odds (shared driver/putter) and one day you'd be playing 4/6/8/PW, the next time 5/7/9/GW. You could also adjust to the course conditions. If it's a little wet or cold and you want more carry, or if you need to lower your ballflights on a windy day, take the stronger lofted set. If it's dry and fast, take the weaker lofted set.

1) Driver

2) 20 hybrid or wood

3) 25 iron

4) 30 iron

5) 35 iron

6) 40 iron

7) 45 iron

8) sand wedge

9) putter

It's interesting to see how people value the wedge selection.

Odd irons lend themselves to two wedges. Gives you versatility in grind and bounce around the greens. It can leave you with a gap on the top end.

Evens tend to give another option at the top but leave u with one wedge. Playing a more versatile wedge being the key point.

You can definitely buy half sets by getting single irons, some mfg websites even have this option right on their site and most others (not all though) you can order through a dealer that way.

I was a little surprised I was able to get my Miuras as a half set but Chip Usher was willing to sell me just the evens which was great, I really like having a dedicated short set.

Where in Wisconsin do you play?

1) Driver

2) 20 hybrid or wood

3) 25 iron

4) 30 iron

5) 35 iron

6) 40 iron

7) 45 iron

8) sand wedge

9) putter

I’m guessing you had your irons bent to those lofts?

The closest I found with 5* gaps are JPX Hot Metals and Cobra Forged Tech.

Thanks.

2 deep

4 iron

6 iron

8 iron

46

56

Putter

Driver

2i

4i

6i

8i

PW

55

Putter

Or

Driver

5w

5i

7i

9i

50

55

Putter

I've been a dedicated minimalist for quite some time now. After some initial experimentation to see what set make-up works best for me, I custom ordered only the irons I wanted, like others have done. Usually play with 7 or 8 clubs, occasionally 9 as the max. Enjoy the journey.

Is this for one course that you know, or for anywhere? Is the half-set a selection from your full set, or a separate set?

I ended up scoring a set of 5,7,9 iBlades for a good deal off the Bay earlier today. It came with the 4 iron too which I plan to just sell. I decided I would build this set off clubs that I've always wanted to try out and just see how it goes. Now I am hunting for what some might consider the GOAT (2016 M2 8.5).

Here's how I break it down. Six will work.

Your choice...

 

Driving club

Long iron (hybrid)

Medium iron

Short iron

Wedge

Putter

This is good. My 6-club set is similar (basically the same). A LOT of trial & error went into reaching this point...

Driver 12°

Hybrid 25°

7-iron 32°

9-iron 44°

SW 56°

Putter

1) Driver

2) 20 hybrid or wood

3) 25 iron

4) 30 iron

5) 35 iron

6) 40 iron

7) 45 iron

8) sand wedge

9) putter

 

I’m guessing you had your irons bent to those lofts?

The closest I found with 5* gaps are JPX Hot Metals and Cobra Forged Tech.

Thanks.

No I have never played those specific lofts but I have toyed with the idea in my head. I’ve played rounds leaving clubs out or doing the odd/even irons but I’ve often wonder what if I blended lofts instead.

For example my 7 iron is 35 loft, 37 length and my 8 is 39 loft, 36.5 length. What if I bent one of the irons to 37 and played it 36.75? I would bend the 8 forward and also adjust the lie angle. I’m not sure what it would do to swing weight, though.

1) driver

2) wood/hybrid

3) 24

4) 31

5) 38

6) 45

7) 52

8) putter

So 6/7 degrees of loft between would balance it better than the 5 I originally posted.

My fun set is:

Driver

4 hybrid

34/40/46 Hogan irons

52/58 wedges

Putter

Driver (10.5°)

Driving Iron (19°)

5i (26°), 7i (34°), 9i (42°)

Gap W (50°)

Sand / Lob W (54° or 60° or both)

Putt putt

Jones Classic Stand Bag

Switch early last season when I found myself walking most of my rounds. Never went back once I figured out what iteration I decided to use. Irons are old cobra forged CBs except the DI which is a Nike Vapor Speed 3i

Driver, 3h, 5i, 8i, 43*, 56*, putter.

Need the driver bc need distance.

3h for long par 3 and 4 and all 5's.

5i for avg par 3 and any shorter par 4 approach.

8i for approaches and bump n run.

43* for long wedge shots.

56* everything near green.

Putter.