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Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf


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Agreed, 9 is a great sweet spot in my mind. Breaks down perfectly into three long clubs (for me, D, 5w, 3/4h), three middle clubs (for me - 5, 7, 9 or 6, 8, W), two short clubs (GW, LW) and a putter.

And I’ve probably said this before in this thread, but it’s worth repeating, half the fun of going minimalist is playing around with different set ups and figuring out which clubs you’re most comfortable/creative/versatile with, along with which gaps are easier/harder to manage

I think if you gave me my driver and putter and randomly picked 7 other clubs from my bag, I could get around just about any course without too much of a hassle.

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Been playing and messing with my set-up for a while now. 10 Club ( Driver,4 wood, 3 hybrid,5,7,9,50,54,60, and putter) Thought this was the set-up and good for longer courses as well. Last 2 rounds I switched it up and went with 9 since I had to carry an umbrella ( trying to save weight for walking). Went Driver, 5 wood,4,6,8,PW,54,60, and putter. Loved it even more. The key for me seemed to be the PW and 5 wood change up. Seemed so much more versatile with those 2 clubs. I think this will be the set-up for the summer. 9 is the number for me.

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Since this is the minimalist thread, Any minimalist ideas on carrying water? If this virus stays through summer its gonna be rough. All the courses around Dallas and FT Worth have the water fountains turned off and no water jugs. Already getting hot down here and walking in the Texas summer worrying about water is not an option. My solution so far is carry 2 bottles, one in the ball pocket and one clipped to the top of my bag to even the load. Also been trying to play courses where the parking lot is close to the turn so I can run run over for a refill before the back 9.

 

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I miss the whiskey barrel iced down apples. So I started putting apples in the fridge the night before. I wrap 2 of those in cool towels, carry in side pocket.

 

A cool apple works wonders in heat until I can refill after 9.

9 Clubs Sunday Bag

 

 

UST Mamiya - Lamkin - RXS 

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1840618-witb-731-full-bag/

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In agreement on 9 club count being very effective for a lightweight carry option while still allowing you to cover pretty much all the gaps with some creativity needed.

For me, a big piece of the "decision" when I go 10 or less is what iron set I'm playing and what that set's PW loft is. Older sets with a 48-49 PW lend themselves fairly easily to a 4-6-8-PW and then either 52-58 or 54-58. Add driver putter and something FW or hybrid in the 19-20* loft range and good to go.

With more modern set with a 44-46* PW, maybe then I'll opt for 5-7-9 then 50GW-58Lob. Leaves some possible room then for something like 4W or 5W along with a 21-22* hybrid up top.

Either way, as long as I have something up top that can go 190-210 for long par 3's, long par 4's, and par 5's, as well as 3 clubs in the 46-58* range, I feel like I'm pretty well suited overall.

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I play with 9 clubs that fortunately have more traditional lofts (at least the V6 irons do). I go:

11.5 Driver

19 Hybrid

27 5 Iron

35 7 Iron

43 9 Iron

50 GW

56 SW

64 LW (because I'm addicted to unnecessary flop shots)

Putter

I'm pretty terrible with a full bag or a half set, but at least I don't feel it in my back as much with the half set!

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I'm going the minimalist route mostly because I want to learn the discipline to change my swing speed/length frequently as I believe it will help curb my tendency to overswing. I play putter, LW, P, 8, 6, 4, 5W or 2 iron for now and will add a strong 3 wood or driver later when I have more playing time logged.

"Shirtsleeve" swing technique:

1. Setup: Elbows bent forearms pressed together against shaft slightly forward of center with "Hogan" "active/flexed" leg tension left foot turned out slightly and the right leg slightly farther to the right - weight mostly on balls of feet butt of left hands sits on the top of the grip with very light grip.

2. Swing - W/o disturbing weight distribution of legs and feet lower hands while doing a forward press "swing trigger" then the left upper arm takes over on the backswing, it needs to go out in front of the body then back in front of the chest as the hands trace down initially then up to over the right shoulder "Torres". The goal is to not disturb the pressure of the feet during the initial takeaway.

 

Notes:

1. Only swing thought after swing trigger - extend left arm at shirt sleeve when reaching left hand over right shoulder "Shirtsleeve technique".

2. The upper left arm move "Shirtsleeve technique" can be practiced independently without a club, sitting down for instance

3. The correct feet tension can be felt by doing very short hops on the balls of the feet then holding the same feeling of pressure on the front of the feet and then taking three practice swings with the grip very loose in order to not disturb the same pressure on the feet and on the 3rd swing actively do the "Shirtsleeve" move. From there the swing should be done within a matter of seconds to not lose the feel of the legs resisting, this way this is not a learned technique as much as it is a setup technique.

 

 

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Good advice. My concept since deciding to go the minimalist route is when I am between clubs to only club up and swing easier or choke down. Years of frustration have gotten me to the point that I feel I now have the resolve to make this work. I have had my hc in the single digits from the back tees but have only shot a round in the 70's once or twice.

"Shirtsleeve" swing technique:

1. Setup: Elbows bent forearms pressed together against shaft slightly forward of center with "Hogan" "active/flexed" leg tension left foot turned out slightly and the right leg slightly farther to the right - weight mostly on balls of feet butt of left hands sits on the top of the grip with very light grip.

2. Swing - W/o disturbing weight distribution of legs and feet lower hands while doing a forward press "swing trigger" then the left upper arm takes over on the backswing, it needs to go out in front of the body then back in front of the chest as the hands trace down initially then up to over the right shoulder "Torres". The goal is to not disturb the pressure of the feet during the initial takeaway.

 

Notes:

1. Only swing thought after swing trigger - extend left arm at shirt sleeve when reaching left hand over right shoulder "Shirtsleeve technique".

2. The upper left arm move "Shirtsleeve technique" can be practiced independently without a club, sitting down for instance

3. The correct feet tension can be felt by doing very short hops on the balls of the feet then holding the same feeling of pressure on the front of the feet and then taking three practice swings with the grip very loose in order to not disturb the same pressure on the feet and on the 3rd swing actively do the "Shirtsleeve" move. From there the swing should be done within a matter of seconds to not lose the feel of the legs resisting, this way this is not a learned technique as much as it is a setup technique.

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

I think I've finalized my minimalist/carry bag. D, 7w, 5i (1° strong), 6i (1° weak), 8i (1° strong), 9i (1 ° weak), 50°, 56°, P all in a TM Micro Lite 2.0 bag.

Driver: Adams 9088

Fairways: TM V-Steel

Hybrids: Nickent 3DX

Irons: Maltby TE Forged

Wedges: Acer XB Satin

Putter: Odyssey White Hot #1

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

In my minimalist (Sunday) bag set-up I typically roll w/ the following...

3w (or driver)

25* hybrid

7-PW

50* or 58* wedge

Putter

This set-up in a Mizuno BR-D2 w/ 5 balls, a few tees, some snacks and water weighs around 13-14lbs. For reference, my full bag (13 clubs) with all my other crap comes in closer to 25lbs.

 

 

-Ron.

 

 

d: Epic Max | f: Rogue 3HL, Apex UW | h1: Apex Super | i: 923 HM | w: MD4 | p: Chalk Spider X SB

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just read an interesting article that Francia Ouimet won the US open with only 7 clubs. That makes me even more determined that I don't need a full set only a little bit of discipline to make it work. My current loft setup - 9.5, 16.5, 23, 26, 33, 41, 50, 55. I have a 4 and 5 iron but the 4 will be mostly for teeing off.https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/news/how-many-golf-clubs-can-you-carry/

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"Shirtsleeve" swing technique:

1. Setup: Elbows bent forearms pressed together against shaft slightly forward of center with "Hogan" "active/flexed" leg tension left foot turned out slightly and the right leg slightly farther to the right - weight mostly on balls of feet butt of left hands sits on the top of the grip with very light grip.

2. Swing - W/o disturbing weight distribution of legs and feet lower hands while doing a forward press "swing trigger" then the left upper arm takes over on the backswing, it needs to go out in front of the body then back in front of the chest as the hands trace down initially then up to over the right shoulder "Torres". The goal is to not disturb the pressure of the feet during the initial takeaway.

 

Notes:

1. Only swing thought after swing trigger - extend left arm at shirt sleeve when reaching left hand over right shoulder "Shirtsleeve technique".

2. The upper left arm move "Shirtsleeve technique" can be practiced independently without a club, sitting down for instance

3. The correct feet tension can be felt by doing very short hops on the balls of the feet then holding the same feeling of pressure on the front of the feet and then taking three practice swings with the grip very loose in order to not disturb the same pressure on the feet and on the 3rd swing actively do the "Shirtsleeve" move. From there the swing should be done within a matter of seconds to not lose the feel of the legs resisting, this way this is not a learned technique as much as it is a setup technique.

 

 

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Played my first round as a minimalist golfer today. Loved the limited number of decisions and the creativity it required. Here was my 8-club set... Driver (9), 5 Wood (18), 5 Hybrid (25), 7 Iron (31) 9 Iron (39), GW (49), SW (59), and Putter. May reconsider adding a 3w, but have trouble seeing going back to a full bag now.

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I have been playing with 5 clubs for about 6 years now. Love every aspect of the minimalist game. My handicap is a bit higher but not by much and my scores are way more consistent than with a more conventional bag. I play 3h, 5h, 8i, Aw, putter currently but even I change out clubs periodically. My clubs are all really forgiving and I can get

img-20200715-144021-7e3.jpgabout 200 yards off the tee with my 3hy which is plenty for the courses I normally play.

150PSP System-Witb

Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum 20*

Cobra Baffler XL 6 Hybrid 

Mazel Chipper PW

Heavy Putter Light Weight Q2

Bridgestone e6 Ball

 

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

 

Have been playing a few one-club rounds recently and discovered that I do better with my 8 iron (35*) than my 6 iron (27*).

 

Despite the lack of distance (130m v 150m) I'm wasting fewer approach shots, managing more bogeys and putting just the same. Which means getting around in ~91 rather than ~95. Hardly impressive, but not really any worse than I manage with 8 clubs.

 

Next target – consistently under 90.

 

bm

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Nice to see this thread still has legs after 7 years.....and that 'short set' has stuck for those of us that find spelling minimalist a bit tedious.

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Phil

I saw Brandel Chamblee drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect

[size=2][i]- Warren Zevon, Werewolves of London[/i][/size]



[size=4]All the clubs I've ever owned.[/size]

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