Minimalist Thread ... Bag Set up Theory

[student of the game]

Hey guys and girls,

 

Slow day at work today so of course my mind starts turning and thinking about golf season (its pretty far away as it is -30 degrees celsius with the windchill)

 

Last year I toyed around with and played some rounds using a minimalist set up. I did this by choosing favourite clubs out of the bag and carrying these in a lightweight Sunday bag, my set up usually consisted of 3 Deep, 3, 5, 7, 9, 52, 58 and putter or for longer courses I put the driver in the bag. So 9 clubs maximum. What I am thinknig about now is IF (even though it is probably going to happen) I was going to build a purpose built minimalist bag what would my thought process and theory be for building the bag.

 

My bag would be built based on yardages instead of numbers on the club. The way I see it is I know my home course and what it takes to get around there, but if I wanted to go full minimalist even when visiting other courses playing each club as a yardage would be much easier.

 

My minimalist bag (In theory):

 

Driver - Optimally fit for accuracy and distance (Somewhere between 290 and 300 yards is where I think I would be)

 

Fairway Wood - Between 240-250 yards

 

FW or Hybrid - between 195 and 205 yards

 

Iron #1 - 175 yards

 

Iron #2 - 150 yards

 

Iron #3 - 125 yards

 

Wedge #1 - 100 yards

 

Wedge #2 - Specialty Shots

 

Putter . . . You know to putt with

 

Just wondered if anyone else has different or slightly different ideas from me regarding this. I also know alot of guys will say you can carry 14 so why not carry 14, I do play rounds with a full bag but sometimes this is fun. It also forces you to play shots in between clubs which is a challenge I enjoy.

 

Share your thoughts and or questions.

[redhead]

I like this idea. In fact I was thinking about building a minimalist bag as a travel and backup set.

Unfortunately I found it difficult to find an individual iron for sale in the same specs here in the UK. Considering to buy a full set iron, take some (let's say 5,7,9) and sell the rest on eBay.

Not sure though.

[richard t]

With 'jacked up' lofts you could just put the loft on an iron rather than a number. So you could have !0* driver, 15* 3 wood, 19* hybrid, 22*, 25*, 30* irons just like a 56* or a 58* wedge. Let folks buy the clubs they need, OEM's nightmare). 14 or 4 to play the course(s) they spend time on. Hogan was asked at a U.S. Open why he had no 8 iron in his bag. Hogan replied, "there is no 8 iron shot on this course." Carry what you need. Rule says 14 maximum. No rule as to a minimum.I always carry one wood, even or odd irons and a wedge in the summer when walking. Really does not change your score all that much.

[AdotWu]

Just to keep it simple, I carry 2 clubs that go over 180+ yards, 3 clubs that go between 160 and 120, and 2 wedges for everything around 100 and less.

[ezmorningrebel]

When I carry a half set I break it into 25 yard gaps from 75 to 225.

[ppl4golf]

IMHO, minimalistic setup should have some wonder clubs like a 4-wood and a 54° wedge which replaced 3+5 woods and anything from PW down.

Your 3-Deep actually fits the bill well and would alao be my choice if I had one.

My pick will be:
Driver, 4-wood, 4,6,8, P, 54°, putter.

8 clubs there but relevant.

[freddy1682]

It's funny that this thread came up today. I was just talking with some of the guys about an idea that I had.

Today's standard iron sets are built with 1/2" increments and 3-4* of loft difference between clubs. I want to build a set that has clubs 3/4" and 5* different. For example:

Current set-up (Fourteen FH1000)

3 - 39"/21*
4 - 38.5"/24*
5 - 38"/27*
6 - 37.5"/31*
7 - 37"/35*
8 - 36.5"/39*
9 - 36"/43*
P - 35.5"/47*

Modified set-up (no club numbers, just lofts)

38.5"/23*
37.75"/28*
37"/33*
36.25"/38*
35.5"/43*
35"/48*

With this set-up, I would also carry a 4-wood, 56* wedge and putter, bringing my total club count to 9 and, I believe, covering all significant yardage gaps. I intend to put this set together before the season starts and try it out this spring.

[drn92]

Leaning towards an 8 club bag myself this year. Current plans are ...

Driver
5 Wood
5, 7, 9, Gap
58
Putter.

Irons would all have 8 degrees between each club, the 5 wood is in the 18-19 degree range. Should cover all my gaps and make it a whole lot easier to walk a quick 9 in the evenings.

drn92

[JustWedgit]

When I go light...

Driver. Carry 225

4 hybrid. Carry 170

6 iron. Carry 150

8 iron. Carry. 130

PW. Carry 110

58* SW. Carry 85

Putter

Have nice consistent gaps between clubs and never worry about getting close to par 5's in two, I just advance the ball with the hybrid and usually have between 80-120 in. Of course it all depends on the tees you play.

[azgreg]

My minimalist setup is D, 5W, 5H, 6i, 8i, PW, SW, and P.

[Golf64]

My new bag will consist of 3 wood, 4 hybrid, 5-pw, gw, 56*, putter. All I need and cheaper on the wallet.

[3_Putt_Par]

[quote name='freddy1682' timestamp='1420770244' post='10712629']
It's funny that this thread came up today. I was just talking with some of the guys about an idea that I had.

Today's standard iron sets are built with 1/2" increments and 3-4* of loft difference between clubs. I want to build a set that has clubs 3/4" and 5* different. For example:

Current set-up (Fourteen FH1000)

3 - 39"/21*
4 - 38.5"/24*
5 - 38"/27*
6 - 37.5"/31*
7 - 37"/35*
8 - 36.5"/39*
9 - 36"/43*
P - 35.5"/47*

Modified set-up (no club numbers, just lofts)

38.5"/23*
37.75"/28*
37"/33*
36.25"/38*
35.5"/43*
35"/48*

With this set-up, I would also carry a 4-wood, 56* wedge and putter, bringing my total club count to 9 and, I believe, covering all significant yardage gaps. I intend to put this set together before the season starts and try it out this spring.
[/quote]

Reminds me of Ryan Moore when he was with Scratch. He didn't have numbers on his clubs, just lofts. Also agree with the 4 wood! A great all around club from tee to green.

[Dan Drake]

[quote name='freddy1682' timestamp='1420770244' post='10712629']
It's funny that this thread came up today. I was just talking with some of the guys about an idea that I had.

Today's standard iron sets are built with 1/2" increments and 3-4* of loft difference between clubs. I want to build a set that has clubs 3/4" and 5* different. For example:

Current set-up (Fourteen FH1000)

3 - 39"/21*
4 - 38.5"/24*
5 - 38"/27*
6 - 37.5"/31*
7 - 37"/35*
8 - 36.5"/39*
9 - 36"/43*
P - 35.5"/47*

Modified set-up (no club numbers, just lofts)

38.5"/23*
37.75"/28*
37"/33*
36.25"/38*
35.5"/43*
35"/48*

With this set-up, I would also carry a 4-wood, 56* wedge and putter, bringing my total club count to 9 and, I believe, covering all significant yardage gaps. I intend to put this set together before the season starts and try it out this spring.
[/quote]

I was going to say this as well. 5° loft gaps are a very nice option.

[freddy1682]

[quote name='3_Putt_Par' timestamp='1420810591' post='10714551']
[quote name='freddy1682' timestamp='1420770244' post='10712629']
It's funny that this thread came up today. I was just talking with some of the guys about an idea that I had.

Today's standard iron sets are built with 1/2" increments and 3-4* of loft difference between clubs. I want to build a set that has clubs 3/4" and 5* different. For example:

Current set-up (Fourteen FH1000)

3 - 39"/21*
4 - 38.5"/24*
5 - 38"/27*
6 - 37.5"/31*
7 - 37"/35*
8 - 36.5"/39*
9 - 36"/43*
P - 35.5"/47*

Modified set-up (no club numbers, just lofts)

38.5"/23*
37.75"/28*
37"/33*
36.25"/38*
35.5"/43*
35"/48*

With this set-up, I would also carry a 4-wood, 56* wedge and putter, bringing my total club count to 9 and, I believe, covering all significant yardage gaps. I intend to put this set together before the season starts and try it out this spring.
[/quote]

Reminds me of Ryan Moore when he was with Scratch. He didn't have numbers on his clubs, just lofts. Also agree with the 4 wood! A great all around club from tee to green.
[/quote]

I'm a very big proponent of not having any clubs that only serve one purpose in the bag. Driver is really only good from the tee, no where else.

[oldschoolrocker]

Been doing it on and off the last year with some vintage persimmons and blades.

M85W SEOM 2 wood
2,4,6,8 Spalding TF Professional
Hogan 88 Redline Equalizer
John Letters 50ish SW
Spalding Cash n Carry putter.

Really frees one up to play with more creativity.

[DevilDog]

If I were going minimalist, I would carry a Driver and no fairways at all. Carry a 4 iron, 6-W, SW and Putter. Would be about all I would need.
So;
1. Driver
2. 4 iron
3. 6 iron
4. 7i
5. 8i
6. 9i
7. PW
8. SW
9. Putter

Wouldn't even notice not having the other clubs.

[Arctic Fox]

The different approaches and outcomes are interesting.

I started from deciding which clubs I don't play so well in my usual bag. I didn't add anything in - I just kept taking clubs out on that basis.

So ......
Driver is out. I slice it too often and don't always carry one anyway.
Longer irons are out. Too inconsistent and I rarely go past 5 iron unless its very windy.
Hybrids are out. I can hook them badly.
Lob wedge is out.

That still leaves too many so then it [u]should[/u] logically be down to yardage gaps.
I added the yardages (total not carry) afterwards to see what I got.

That leaves:
3 wood - 225
7 wood - 190
11 wood - 170
7 iron - 150
9 iron - 125
51* wedge - 100 max
58* sand wedge - 70 max
putter

I know that's only eight. But it leaves me an extra club if I want it, depending on the course and weather - especially the wind and the lengths of the par 3's. So it might be something like a 6 iron or just another wedge.

Having figured this out I now really wonder why I take fourteen anyway. If I just put in the 6 iron and the pitching wedge (making ten clubs) I would probably screw up less than I do with fourteen clubs and save money on lost balls.

My next round is ten clubs. I might actually score better - so thanks for the question!!

[i*windows]

I guess it depends on the types of courses you play and you need a driver or not.

D
5H
6
8
PW
58
Putter

[j.a.]

The bag I carry in my car for practice rounds has D, 2H, 5H, 7, PW, 60º and putter. Sometimes I alternate the D with the 3W or put both of them in the bag.

The selection was done based in what clubs I use the most when I play my home course where by the way I never use the 8i.

[ptjn1201]

The last few rounds of the year I carried Driver, 16*H, 5-7-9-PW-55*-60*-Putter. Was carrying 55 & 60 since I just bought Wishon wide soles and wanted to work with them. I haven't carried a 55* much the last several years, too much bounce for me -- just gone from 50 to 60. But the wide sole Wishons have low bounce and they seem to suit me fine.

[animalgolfs]

Driver
4 wood
7 wood
6h
8-iron
PW
56*
Putter

Just my opinion, but that's what I'm carrying

[Hester65]

I've carried as few on to the course as 6. I've also done the odd or even number clubs method as well. However with my skill level, course selection is important. I can get away with less clubs at easier courses but having 14 options at the harder courses isn't a bad thing.

The main deciding factor in what irons to carry is that courses par 3s. I don't mind making shots on second strikes on par 4s but hitting comfortable distances on par 3s is critical to my game.

[9woodfan]

14* 3 wood
7 wood
6 hybrid
8-PW-SW-64
Putter

All of my favourite clubs to play and they all fit my home course well. Put everything in a Ping moonlite bag with a few balls and a handful of tees. Such a fun way to play.

[Pack7483]

I am going to try 10 clubs all season.

2deep
4w
20* hybrid
5
7
8
[size=4]9[/size]
Pw
Sw
Putter

I may drop the 8 go with 9 clubs.

[setter02]

Going to start the season with a minimalist bag with either of the 2 configurations:

2Deep, 18* hybrid, 4/6/8/PW, 54*/58*, putter

or

2deep, 21* hybrid, 5/7/9, 50*/58*, putter

Both will give me at least 2 options off the tee and will really only leave a gap at the top of my bag with first club after hybrid which is a non issues as I don't feel that I will often find myself in that yardage often unless on a par 5, and I can just lay up and trust my wedges. So not bad at 8/9 clubs and I feel well covered.

[Altiman94]

I play:
2 deep
18.5* hybrid
4,6,8,P (Rbladez tour)
54/60 wedges
Putter

(9) clubs.

[alldayVOL]

Carry 13, could easily get to 10

Driver
2 iron
4 iron
6 iron thru PW
SW (56*)
Putter

Dropping 3 iron, 5 iron, GW

[matchavez]

Driver
4, 8, p, 54.
Putter if I don't feel like putting the 54.

Or for fun, and good practice, go 8-iron as longest. Great way to practice on course.

[Hat Trick]

Hmmm... not sure I have the guts to try it. If it was today I could get to 10-11:

Driver
22 degree 4HB
Putter
5-PW
54 (10)
58? (makes it 11)

I

[longballjs]

15 3 wood
6 iron
8 iron
Pw 48
Sw 56
Putter