Help me pick my 14th club

Currently only playing 13 clubs because I dropped the 3 and 5w to play a 4w (really my 5w that I turned down to 17.5* and +1/2"). I don't really know what role I need filled as I tend to have decent length for my handicap and thus tees that I play. I play off a 13 according to my ghin, so I don't play tips. That means I'm hitting driver about 280-290 right now, but from 6000-6100 yards. On most straight holes I usually don't have more than a short wedge which means the strong 3w is kind of pointless, and I've already messed with high loft Phil wedges, and they do more harm than good for me. Here's my carry distances on good hits (have used Trackman to get averages, so on course numbers might be a bit less):

D - 275

4w - 240

4h - 220

5 to P - 200,185,170,155,145,130

GW to LW - 120, 112, 103

P - 2 inches? haha

I don't find myself ever needing a 240+ carry on most courses. If I need or want more than 240-250... it's a driver. The only thing I can think of is taking the 23* 4h out for a 21*, and putting in a 4i. That would make my yardages a little tighter in that 240-200 yard range. I guess a strong 3w could be useful on days where the driver just isn't going well but I still want as much yards off the tee as possible? I don't really lose balls but I can still be prone to yucky hooks, but I'm not sure a13 or 14* 3w solves that.

Last option would be like a 19-20* driving iron but meh, I went with a 4h for forgiveness, doesn't make too much sense to me to use less loft and a less forgiving head here.

I’m in a very similar boat to you. My distance numbers ostensibly the same as yours. My extra club come from dropping down to a 3 wedge setup. Playing a 47,52 and 58*. My game has benefited from this. I’ve come to the conclusion that on any regular old day, I’m just gunna take my 12 or 13 clubs. During a tourney, just add a 64* to try to pull off the hero shot, but that’s it.

Personally, I'd have to have a 3W to cut into a wind or when a driver is too long on a dogleg.

I would just add the 21* hybrid while still keeping the 4 hybrid in the bag. If the 4 hybrid is adjustable, I would loft it up to 24 or even 25 degrees to get the distance more in line with your irons so there is less of a gap between 4h and 5 iron. As a mid-capper myself, I feel like you can never have too many hybrids in the bag. I can hit 4 and 5 irons just fine, but hybrids in those slots are money for me.

I would play with the 13 clubs you have and after several more rounds of golf you should be able to determine what club you need to add if any.

How good are you with driver? I have a TM Original One mini-driver between my regular driver and 4W and it's a perfect in-between tee club. I can also play mine off the deck as a strong 3 wood (13.5 degrees).

If you are really good with driver, you probably wouldn't benefit, but for me, it's great to have a club that still gets out there close to driver distance but with a shorter shaft and more workability.

An option at the opposite end of the bag would an X wedge (62-64 degrees).

Like the above poster, I’d grab a strong 3 wood for days where the driver may not be working.

I'd swap the 4H for a 4i and add a 3H or utility.

At my course the 4i is used a lot for hitting low shots under branches. Much easier to hit a low one with a 4i than a 4h.

Put a 4i (either set or driving iron) when you want 220-230 off the tee on a windy day

So to answer a few questions.... My driver is usually pretty decent. I can snap off some hooks but I usually don't put balls OB and worst case I need to punch out.

I tend to play three courses like 90% of the time. One of the courses does not have any trees at all really, and you can kind of pick and chose your way around the course. They designed it to be played very aggressive or you can lay back but have hard second shots.

The other two are parkland style with many forced lay ups. I just played one yesterday and for 9 holes, I took driver twice. For the back 9 I'd probably also only use twice. Can't bomb and gouge because lots of tree and places for a ball to go bye bye.

So the course without trees I think the strong 3w coukd be a bit more useful but in general, maybe dropping the 23* hybrid for a 21* and adding a 4i is a little more practical. Many of the forced lay ups are in the 220-250 range.

7 wood for the win!!!

oh man, I might reach the clouds with that one. Only reason though honestly I avoid the 7w is because it's tougher to find 80x wood shafts that I still find smooth. Also... Lefty. Hah

What are your longer par 3s like? I always play the tips because our courses aren't uber long. Usually around 6400-6700. Lots of annoying par 3s in the 205-230 range. I much prefer an iron for that kind of shot so use a Srixon U85 20* which I love. It's like a hybrid but in iron form. Much straighter but still stupid easy to hit. Becoming my favourite club in the bag. If you mostly play one or a few courses, think about certain holes that give you trouble and if there is a club that could help you solve the problem. That's what my 20* does. I'd personally go for the 3H and add the 4i back in (maybe a chunkier one for forgiveness like a P790 or U85 etc).

Ping G410 Then put a Ventus blue 80x in it.

Thank me later. or put me in your will. haha.

I'll need to look around. Issue is every stock 7w comes with like a 50g senior flex and there are not many good used options in lefty. Manyyyyy more 21* hybrids.

I would just be getting fit but I have no clue if fitters will even open up.

Dont mind the yardage gaps.

You are a 13 handicap that hits 280/290 on shorter courses with just a wedge in? Then where are you dropping the strokes?

Errant of the tee? Look at adding a mini driver, 3 wood, or driving iron

Bad full swing wedge shots? Can't get up and down around the green? Rethinking your wedge setup.

So in a similar way I am starting my route down this starting tomorrow.

I spread out my lofts to get spacing in the long irons, and once I get to PW I go 4* gape. 46, 50, 54, 58, 62. So I went 58, 62 instead of just a 60. Why? Well First I didn't need a strong 3 wood anymore(which I had, nor do I need the 5 wood, with my 4 iron being strong. However my course and many I play on has some very deep bunkers and elevated greens. I have a very strong grip in general and having a 62 will mainly be for around the green.

This...and if its putting, join the crowd.

Mainly just hitting poor irons and full wedges. Remember, not every hole is 350 straight away. Most par 4's for me force me to lay up unless I really want to risk a touchy pitch on. A lot of the courses just let the rough grow pretty gnarly or you get sketchy lies. Average par 4 is probably like 360 yards and has a bend or fairway runs out around 250.

Putting isn't too bad to be honest, I don't hole tons of long putts but I usually don't 3 putt. Probably only 1-2 times per round which isn't incredible, but probably better than most 13's would do?

So my thought is maybe to change from gaps of 240(4w)-220(23*h)-200(5i) to 240(4w)-225(21* 7w/hyb)-210(4i)-200(5i). I think it gives me the most utility when it comes to flighting shots and for the occasional time where I will go for a par 5 in 2 and I happened to hit a really good drive (couple par 5's that I play are gettable, others force lay ups).

Or 20 degree driving iron and 22-23 degree 4 hyb., but I agree working the gap between 4W and 5i is probably the best bet. I'm not a big hitter and thought I didn't have enough to carry a 20 degree utility, but started carrying a Srixon U85 20 and it is smooth off the tee and not bad off the deck either.

I think I'd prefer an adjustable hybrid or wood than a glued in utility. I've used the U65 and it is pretty forgiving but I get the same general flight from a hybrid and it's more forgiving and better from rough. I've used the GAPR Lo and it wasn't very good for me... Either a bullet that rolled to 250 or poor strike that would go 180. I'm working on the game but I'm generally straight enough where most of my strokes is coming from shots within 100 yards. The plan was to get more lessons but.. that's on hold for now.

So for now I think I'll be looking to sell my 23* and get the same model but in 21*, and put in my P760 4i, although I will likely look at replace it with the 790 head for a little more forgiveness.

If you're a 13 off playing courses that short and you have that kind of length, I suggest you find something in the short game section of your bag to fill out. If you hit the ball that well and play that short of a course, the only thing that it hurting you is short game.

I play off a 4.4 and play my home course at around 6400 yards and only average 260 off the tee.

Putting is good for your cap then. Driver seems exceptional for your cap. What you are looking to change is all fun and dandy, but you said it yourself, its for an occasional shot. Some par 5s force layups, you have too much length of the tee to worry about a hybrid filling a gap. You are worrying about a club and distance that you may hit twice a round. Might be a fun experiment. Might find a club you like. Might make your bag look prettier. You might even sleep better knowing there are 14 clubs in there.

But, I doubt your game changes much from the attention on that side of the bag, Might look for a lesson focusing on approach shots from inside 150 yards.

Yup yup, agree... It's more about I just feel like... It won't hurt to get the 14th club, but until I'm ready to play the 6700 yard tees (probably won't move back til I'm down to a 7 or less) then I probably won't use this new club much.

I don't think an extra wedge is going to help much... And yeah my lesson with my coach was set for June 6 (full day lesson w him) but it's canceled and no idea if I'll get to him this year at all. He told me he will do a FaceTime lesson with me though, which is nice. Not the same as having him there though but I do need work. I can't tell you how many times I have a second shot in of 120 yards or less and don't make a par. Yonk it a bit... Miss green... Miss the putt by an inch or two. At least 50% of the time that's how my rounds go.

Depends on your strengths. If you aren't good at "taking distance off" wedges maybe a 64* wedge would be a good choice for under 100 yards

It's not just that... It's also judging the lie. I usually can hit the ball pretty well off the flat range surfaces and take distance off my wedges without a ton of issue. My range has flags at 50, 75 and 100 and I can usually take my 54* to each one relatively well. The issues become when there's uneven lies... thick lies... skinny lies... I just don't judge it well and I will come up well short, or go well long, etc.

I've done trackman combine a bunch of times and on flat lies with no pressure, etc I've been able to get a combine score in the 70s which I think translates to about a 4hc.

If you're hitting it that far, moving back will prob help your game. It will certainly help your handicap if you can put up similar scores.

Good point! I played in FL this winter and had no real issues at 6700 yards, even with all the wind. I did get significant roll though.. had a few drives over 300. Most courses I play are pretty soft and there's not tons of roll in it.

if you don’t feel like anything’s missing, how about a lefty for those awkward lies up close to trees and other stuff?