10 Club Bag

[MartinKB]

I've been thinking about this topic for a while, and I'm wondering if it will resonate with anyone out there.

I'd like to put together a 10-club bag. This is motivated by a couple of things. First, I've heard discussion on PGA Tour Radio (etc.) that allowing fewer clubs might be a way to make the game harder for touring pros (say, as an alternative to making their equipment play shorter). Second, I've heard people report that they enjoy playing with fewer clubs on occasion, because it makes on-course shot choices easier, and encourages a focus on shot-making.

If you go for 6 to 8 clubs in the bag, it's pretty easy to use current iron sets -- that is, just leave out every other iron and wedge, more or less. However, I've found that 10 clubs is not that easy to do, because club sets are designed with gapping for 14-club bags.

By choosing a blended iron set (in this case Srixon), I was able to put together the hypothetical set shown below. There are 9 clubs, since I would also carry a putter. (!) My "design goals" included:

• Constant carry gaps from LW to fairway metal
• Limit loft changes to 2 degrees or less
• Keep the clubs in my current 14-club bag intact (no bending those or making shaft changes)
• Be realistic about carry distance, based on my ~ 95 mph swing speed and carry with my current  set

 

Model          Carry  Club  Loft     Length       Shaft

Ping G410 LST* 230    D     10 (+1)  45.25        Tensei CK Orange S

Mizuno ST-Z    197    5w    19 (+1)  42.5         Project X Evenflow Riptide CB 50 5.5 R

Ping G410*     180    4h    22       39 (-.75)    Stock Ping Alta R

Srixon ZX4     163    7i    28.5     37.25 (+.25) Recoil 80 R

Srixon ZX5     146    8i    34 (-1)  36.75 (+.25) Recoil 80 R

Srixon ZX5     129    9i    40 (+1)  36.25 (+.25) Recoil 80 R

Srixon ZX7     112    PW    46       35.5         Recoil 95 R

TM MG3 Raw     95     SW    52/09    35.25 (-.25) Recoil 95 R

Mizuno T20*    78     LW    58/08    25           Recoil 95 R

 

Srixon irons are used as an example here, but you could probably do something similar with irons from most club makers.

Clearly, this would look quite different for better players, with carry gaps of at least 20 yards. For better players it might be harder to take advantage of blended sets as I have.

By the way, my current irons are Mizuno Hot Metal 2019 with Recoil 95 R shafts. The only one of those I could use without change would be the 9i, which I play at 128 yards carry. The club models marked with a '*' are other clubs in my current bag, or that I already own but am not using.

Many 5w's would work, but I don't own one. In reality I might actually want to play the 5w at a lower loft to get it closer to the driver.

Edited November 11, 2021 by MartinKB
Was not yet finished :-)

[Tommy56]

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/978322-starting-a-new-adventure-minimalist-golf/?do=findComment&comment=978220

Huge thread on this topic ... 

[ChipNRun]

@MartinKB, You have a kindred spirit in short-game guru Dave Pelz. In Short Game Bible, he talks about tweaking one's entire golf set to have (almost) even yardage gaps between all clubs. Let's focus on amateur women and men, not the tour pro block.

 

Women are advised to drop the 5i, and bend loft on surrounding clubs to get 10- to-15yard gaps between various clubs. Men are advised to drop the 2i and 6i, and do likewise to lofts.

 

At time SGB was published, the debate was rising over whether the Gap Wedge was necessary. The below Pelz mixes include both a LW and an XW (extra-high lofted LW, we're talking maybe a 64*).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a snippet of text (p. 307) in which Pelz explains his reasoning. (I can't vouch for the accuracy

of his "up and down" figures as applied to 2021 golfers.)

------------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I play about a third of my rounds each season on courses I'll see once that year. So, I prefer

to have my full complement of 14 clubs so I don't get ambushed by oddball course features.

Edited November 29, 2021 by ChipNRun

[animalgolfs]

I can play D 7w 9w 5h 6h 8-9-46 & 56 putter 

Long as I don't have 190yds+ forced carries....I can play any tee & still score really well

 

 

[MartinKB]

@ChipNRun Thanks for sharing the Pelz info! I believe he and I share a Physics background, so maybe that explains the obsession with numbers.

 

@animalgolfs Do you know what your yardage gaps are?

[ChipNRun]

36 minutes ago, MartinKB said:

@ChipNRun Thanks for sharing the Pelz info! I believe he and I share a Physics background, so maybe that explains the obsession with numbers.

 

Right you are. Pelz attend Indiana University on a golf scholarship and majored in physics. He lost to Jack Nicklaus 22 times in various golf play.

 

He went to work for NASA in 1961 and became a senior scientist on several satellite programs, including Explorer. Eventually he migrated into the golf industry, where he became a short-game expert. Pelz's pro golf students have won 21 major championships.

[animalgolfs]

1 hour ago, MartinKB said:

 

 

@animalgolfs Do you know what your yardage gaps are?

7wd - 180

9wd - 165

5h - 155

6h - 145

8i - 135

9i - 115

46 - 105

56 - 75

 

Example : 8i covers 115 to 145 46* 75 to 115

 

 

 

Edir: learning to hit the hybrids was the key- [well finding the correct weighting shaft/head was a PIA]Then that carried over to the rest

Edited November 12, 2021 by animalgolfs

[azgreg]

My carry bag is a 10 club bag.

D (10.5°)

5w (18°)

4h (22°)

5i (28°)

7i (34°)

8i (40°)

pw (46°)

gw (51°)

sw (56°)

p

[lefthack]

I started with a starter set that I added a 5 wood and sand wedge to. That was 8 + putter. I played 2 years of college with that set. 

 

If you master 1/2 and 3/4 swings and figure out yours yardage with each club, it's pretty simple.

 

I couldn't hit even numbered clubs for a few years once I got a full set. 🤣

[SteelieD]

This is a great topic. I’ve played my last few rounds with 7 clubs (D, 4h, 6, 8, PW, SW, P) and it’s been quite enjoyable. Been thinking what couple of clubs I might mix back in. 

[kiwihacker]

1 hour ago, SteelieD said:

This is a great topic. I’ve played my last few rounds with 7 clubs (D, 4h, 6, 8, PW, SW, P) and it’s been quite enjoyable. Been thinking what couple of clubs I might mix back in. 

My 8 club bag:

Driver

Hybrid 20.5°

6 iron 27° 

8 iron 35°

PW 44°

GW 50°

SW/LW 58° 

Putter

 

My 10 club bag I just add my 4 wood and an extra wedge: 

Driver

 4 Wood 17°

Hybrid 20.5°

6 iron 27° 

8 iron 35°

PW 44°

GW 50°

SW 54°

LW 58° 

Putter

 

I think my scores would be just about identical with either setup. 

[Mookieb10]

It’s an interesting question. My highest loft wedge would be a 58. Every club from 58* through 38*, I’m comfortable hitting partial shots, after that, I only want to hit stock swings. 
 

D-10*-280

5w-18*-240
4i- 22*-220
5i-26-204

6i-30-188

7i-34-175

8i-38-162

pw-45-140

lw-58-105

putter-3.5-3-putt-machine

 

[BIG STU]

I will add my thoughts here and this is from an old school perspective---- As normal SOP I only carry 12 clubs anyhow. Recently my course has rebuilt a lot of traps and they are fluffy but great. I had to add my Zing LW just for fluffy bunkers so it is 13 now---- I had a bad accident about 18 months ago . Before that I used to walk 9 hole rounds with 5 vintage clubs in my moonlight type bag. It will teach you to be creative and to use course management. I have so much vintage stuff so it was not the same clubs or set up all the time which added to my fun. I really did not care about the score it was just the enjoyment of the walk and observing nature. But I feel for a lot of people it can help their game and create more versitility especially in the short game department. Back in the day I used to love those little 1 2 3 club matches but no one here does that---- Just my .02 FWIW

My General set up different irons etc

Persimmon driver around 10 to 12* loft sometimes persimmon 2 wood around 13* or so

Blade 1 iron-- can still hit fairly well mosty for kicks and giggles

Blade 5 iron

Old School wedge usually around 50* or so

Putter usually an old blade Ironmaster or old Bullseye

Right now I am not able to walk that much and the jury is out on the old stiffer steel shafts but I am striving to get back to walking some and swinging the old stuff. I will admit not the best stuff for trying to shoot a score but for me it is fun and I could care less about the score

Edited November 12, 2021 by BIG STU

[strug'-a-ling]

While there are interesting arguments to be made for a lighter bag, my reality is a cart bag with fourteen full-length divers PLUS a discrete putter well.

 

And keeping that fifteenth slot empty is a challenge

because a  dedicated driving iron for tight, scary driving holes makes a very useful complement 

to the fourteen clubs down in the signature.

 

 

[PEI_Golfer]

11 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

 

Right you are. Pelz attend Indiana University on a golf scholarship and majored in physics. He lost to Jack Nicklaus 22 times in various golf play.

 

He went to work for NASA in 1961 and became a senior scientist on several satellite programs, including Explorer. Eventually he migrated into the golf industry, where he became a short-game expert. Pelz's pro golf students have won 21 major championships.

But according to mustard_tiger, he's a hack who knows nothing...

[Langlands]

Winter golf for me means 10 clubs in a carry bag - driver, 5w (17.5 degrees), 5-SW (Ping G20) & putter. To be honest I could stick with this set up and it would make little difference. The only club I might miss is the 3 wood for some tee shots.  

[gdb99]

I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately.

If I take my normal swing on all clubs, I need to cover 160 yards. 
Driver 240, SW 80 = 160. Divide that by 10, I would need 16 yard gaps. 
I think as we get older, it would mean less clubs needed. 
A friend of mine hits it 300 off the tee, and maybe 90 with his LW. That’s a much bigger yardage gap he needs to cover. 14 clubs would be 15 yards. 
I can’t hit a 4 iron anymore, and a 5 iron is iffy. 
D, 4 wood, 24* hybrid, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW, SW, putter is what I played yesterday, and shot 70. I can easily bend or tweak to get to 10 clubs. 

[strug'-a-ling]

Walking with a Sunday bag, or even a five or six club pencil bag, seems like a cool thing to do.

 

We geriatric riders, however, have nothing to benefit by leaving clubs behind, do we?

[animalgolfs]

1 hour ago, gdb99 said:

I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately.

I think as we get older, it would mean less clubs needed. 

I can’t hit a 4 iron anymore, and a 5 iron is iffy. 
 

Spot on thinking

[agood3putt]

Not a 10 round bag but I carry 11 clubs. 

 

Driver

4W

7W

6-PW

50 & 54

Putter

 

58 was causing me too many issues and cant hit a 5i to save my life. Will probably down the road add a hybrid to replace the 5i but I dont play nearly enough with a 9 month old. Set up seems to work and gapping isnt an issue. Can always hit a knock down shot with the 54 if need be and im pretty good with it out of bunkers. Choking down on the 7W can get me to my 5i distance. 

 

Its doable and it really teaches you to learn different shots with different clubs

[magnus7319]

I played my final round of the year (presumably…with snow in the forecast) and only carried:

 

Driver

4h

5/7/9

50

58

Putter

 

Shot better than my last handful of rounds with my whole set. 
 

Lots of knock down 3/4 shots and I even hit some 9 irons from 100 or so out to back pins where I let the ball run out - neat little 1/2 shots. 
 

I have to admit it was more fun than I’ve had playing in quite some time. 
 

 

[animalgolfs]

1 minute ago, magnus7319 said:

I played my final round of the year (presumably…with snow in the forecast) and only carried:

 

Driver

4h

5/7/9

50

58

Putter

 

Shot better than my last handful of rounds with my whole set. 
 

Lots of knock down 3/4 shots and I even hit some 9 irons from 100 or so out to back pins where I let the ball run out - neat little 1/2 shots. 
 

I have to admit it was more fun than I’ve had playing in quite some time. 
 

 

Yeah we went to white tees Nov 1st...so I've dropped down to 10 until I head South. It's so much easier- I literally don't even use my range finder-  just spot off sprinkler heads

[Propofol_Papi]

Driver- 260

7W- 215

4H- 200

6i- 185

8i- 160

PW- 140

GW- 120

SW- 110

LW- 100

Putter

Edited November 13, 2021 by Propofol_Papi

[BIG STU]

On 11/12/2021 at 8:03 AM, strug'-a-ling said:

While there are interesting arguments to be made for a lighter bag, my reality is a cart bag with fourteen full-length divers PLUS a discrete putter well.

 

And keeping that fifteenth slot empty is a challenge

because a  dedicated driving iron for tight, scary driving holes makes a very useful complement 

to the fourteen clubs down in the signature.

 

 

Well for me for now it is 13 clubs in a vintage plain Jane Burton Mini Staff bag . I have to ride for now if I play and LOL BTW it is only a 3 way bag can slam clubs in any compartment I desire

 

[ChaosTheory]

Basically, 6 degrees between irons and hybrids will put you at 10 clubs.

[9woodfan]

I've mucked around with this for years now, playing various setups, and I love it... I'm around a 14 hdcp and having a full bag doesn't help me and playing less doesn't hinder me. In fact, I find it more enjoyable cause I'll hit my shot and as I approach I know what it's going to be.. quick check on the fairway marker, grab a club, put the sunday bag down, whack, pickup, and keep walking.

 

My favorite setup is D, 20*w, 25*h, 7,9,G,58*, Putter.

 

I have a Cobra T-Rail 6 hybrid and a 22* K15 7 wood that I love... I'm thinking I'll build a bag around these two clubs and keep it even simpler. D 7w 6h 8 P 56 putter.

 

I carry everything in a Ping Moonlite (I have 3 different versions now) and it's the easiest carry around.

 

I'm thinking about getting fit into a 10 club set-up this offseason and really nail down the gaps. D, 5w, 4h, 6h, 8, 9, P, G, 56-58* wedge, putter. The 8 and G are my two favorite irons, I love hybrids, and everything else would support those clubs. I'd have 100% confidence in that setup.

 

[ShortGolfer]

If you carry less than 14 clubs you can add clubs later in the round.  Something to consider if you have anger management issues.

[azgreg]

2 hours ago, ShortGolfer said:

If you carry less than 14 clubs you can add clubs later in the round.  Something to consider if you have anger management issues.

Why would we have anger management issues?