The Old Man's Version of WITB

[DaveLeeNC]

Now that I am old with a good bit less SS than not that long ago,  I can imagine my needs being covered by driver, a strong 5w at 18.5* (what I have right now), 7W (or equivalent hybrid on windy days), then hybrids/irons up through a 55* SW (no LW). Including my putter that comes out to only 12 clubs, so the question is what do I add. 

 

On windy days I can imagine adding (not swapping) a 9* driver to the bag (my regular driver is 12*). But that still leaves me a club short of 14 and that 9* is probably a waste on days with moderate/less winds. 

 

I can imagine adding something like a 17* "driving iron" mostly for use in hitting low runners (maybe with hook or fade) out of the trees (although directional consistency is a handicap adjusted strength for me). LW is a club that I am taking out of the bag because I no longer practice or play regularly and it just is not a club that I have confidence in any longer (unlike earlier days when I played/practiced more). 

 

Thoughts from other old (or even not so old) golfers? 

 

dave

[Tanner25]

A chipper, lol. What are you trying to accomplish? Your replacement thoughts seem to be for a second driver? Would a Cobra Big Tour or TM Minidriver help? 

[HiTrajLoSpin]

@DaveLeeNC , as an older golfer as well, I'll be following this thread with great interest.

 

I think that it would be easier to answer your question, if you posted your complete WITB.

 

 

[DaveLeeNC]

2 hours ago, HiTrajLoSpin said:

@DaveLeeNC , as an older golfer as well, I'll be following this thread with great interest.

 

I think that it would be easier to answer your question, if you posted your complete WITB.

 

 

 

My 14 club bag is

 

1. driver (currently at 12*) 
2. 16* 3w
3. 18.5* 5w 
4. 21* 7w (swap for 21* 3i hybrid if windy) 
5. 24* 4i hybrid
6. 27* 5i hybrid  
7. 30* 7i (mix of old and new lofts so nothing has a '6' on it)
8. 35* 8i 
9. 40*9i
10. 45* PW
11. 50* GW
12. 55* SW
13. 60* LW
14. Putter

Loft spacing is not perfect but good enough given the level that my game has deteriorated to. I don't sense that I have a 'gap problem', other than the 3w is really just a low version of the 5w. 

 

Dropping the LW and 3w loses nothing so I am trying to figure out what kind of 'specialty clubs' might be useful. E.G., a low lofted driver (useful on windy days) and/or a low lofted iron/hybrid that I can work low/left/right (mostly out of trouble). I just bought a used  $10 18* hybrid to try out (Wishon 321 Li - a club that I have used in the past at higher lofts) as an experiment.  I might see if I can search out the 15* version (IIRC, there was one back when these were being sold). 

 

dave

 

   

Edited November 14, 2021 by DaveLeeNC

[MrFlipper]

@DaveLeeNC I'm more or less on the same track as you, so I'm going with "great minds think alike".

 

Stopped carrying my lob wedge, so my avatar isn't in my bag right now 😞. Have a 16.5 3HL, no 5 wood, so 12 clubs like you, although no hybrids and my 4 iron which started originally at 26.5° or so, who knows what it is now. Not looking to add any clubs since I carry and walk most of the time. 

 

You prob already thought about this, but for me having the right shaft in my woods has allowed me to keep playing them as I got older, old high launch matrix xcon5, white ties, etc. made a huge difference in letting me keep playing lower loft driver heads and a semi-normal 3W loft.

 

Best of luck. I'll be following as other comments come in and you make your comments.

[Hawkeye77]

I've just progressively added more headcovers to the bag, first iron is now the 6 iron.  I don't get too wrapped up in the gaps above my irons - I like the mix of "woods" and hybrids that I have and I'm only going to be so accurate above 170 or so yards.  Changes in shafts in the long clubs to still stiff, but not so stiff has been a good thing - did a good fitting for those a year ago and it was worth it.  Still swing plenty fast enough that Rs in general are no good for me, especially with woods and hybrids, but that's me.  If R was the answer, I'd shift in a heartbeat.

[ShortGolfer]

I've been playing four irons and a putter on an Executive course.  In less than two years I get to play as a Senior for very little money on a private course that is just five minutes away. 

The town has a deal in which green fees are waived for Seniors on Mondays. 

My planned senior bag

12* Epic Flash, 15.5* 2015 GBB, 41" 13.5* 2004 GBB Titanium cut to 41"  Yes, three drivers.  One for roll, another for carry, and a third for accuracy.

4I, 5I lefty, 7I, 9I, AW, SW six irons

7W, 11W, 6H, 8H  four headcovers and a putter.  I'm distance challenged but have a pretty good short game. 

The course I play on is quite hilly, so I'm getting good at making approach shots from a wide variety of lies.

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by ShortGolfer

[againstthegrain]

I shortside myself in greenside bunkers too many times to drop the LW, although it's not a mainstay around the greens for other shots.  

 

Making sure your swing speed and tempo match the club shafts, and choosing the line btwn irons and hybrids/woods are probably more important than the actual loft of your clubs.

 

For instance my 5i is on the chopping block now, it's only got a couple months to live at the start of the next season or I'm pulling the plug..

[bobfoster]

I love love love this thread. Having been fiddling around a lot lately. I just turned 64 in October. My body is definitely different. My spine is not nearly as flexible as it was when I was 34. I sometimes play with young friends - these 20 year olds have spines that look like rubber. If I swung like that I'd be at a chiropractor for the next two weeks hahahaha. 

 

If I have any insights? I am mitigating my loss of distance with much more intelligent course management. And obsessively practice my short game - wedges and putting. I can still beat those kids even though they out drive me by 30 yards because from a hundred yards in I have at least a stroke on them. 

[ChaosTheory]

On the short end, I moved from 60 to 58.  At slower speeds, the full swing with a 58 is more useful.  Then 54, 49, and into the irons.  Could easily just have a 52 instead of the 54 & 49.  I did that for a long time until I got hooked on the 54.

 

I carry a 6 hybrid and 6 iron.  Some shots just feel like one or the other.

 

I agree completely on the 5 wood.  Mine is 19 degrees.  A 3 wood is worse off the ground.  I don’t need one off the tee so….

 

So with the lob, sand, and gap wedges, and the 6 iron overlap, I have 14 clubs.

Edited November 15, 2021 by Snowman9000

[newbsauce]

Only 40 y/o, but I’m a planner. So, this thread is my jam. My plan will be to load up on woods (and hybrids) when I start losing speed.  Callaway deserves a big thumbs up for manufacturing 11-woods in this day and age.

Edited November 15, 2021 by newbsauce

[TM4me]

About to turn 59, I carry a 4 hybrid (21*) and a 4 iron (23*).  Like the hybrid from the deck and the iron off the tee.  My home course has some long Par 3s.  I like the trajectory of the iron off the tee.

 

Highest loft wedge I carry is 56*

 

My bag:

1.     Driver - 10.5°

2.    3w - 14.5°

3.    5w - 18°

4.    4h - 21°

5.    4i - 23°

6.    5i - 26°

7.     6i - 30°

8.    7i - 35°

9.    8i - 39°

10.  9i - 43°

11.   PW - 47°

12.   GW - 52°

13.   SW - 56°

14.   Putter

Edited November 15, 2021 by TM4me

[NoTalentLefty]

Started carrying a 3 4 and 5 hybrid about 8 years ago . At 54. Have a 6 hybrid but currently not using it. The 3 thru 5 are set to 17 , 20, and 23. This due to the strength of my irons lofts. Can’t hit anything above a 56 sandwedge . Use a 52 wedge as a chipping club. All my clubs are gapped for at least 10 yards differences. Some 15. 

Edited November 15, 2021 by NoTalentLefty

[erikro]

G425 driver

G425 3 wood

G425 hybrids (3, 5, 6, 7)

I210 8-U

Glide 54,58

LAB DF 2.1

 

All carried in a Mackenzie bag.

[PJ1120]

1 hour ago, erikro said:

G425 driver

G425 3 wood

G425 hybrids (3, 5, 6, 7)

I210 8-U

Glide 54,58

LAB DF 2.1

 

All carried in a Mackenzie bag.

Ping makes a 7iron hybrid?

[erikro]

3 hours ago, PJ1120 said:

Ping makes a 7iron hybrid?

The G425 has a 34* 7 hybrid 

[dbleag]

Having 14 clubs is over-rated.   🙂

 

I like to keep my choices simple and my bag light, so 12 clubs is enough for me.

 

Woods: Tee club, distance club for fairway (16-18*) and height club (20-22*) = 3 clubs

 

Irons/hybrids: #5-9 = 5 clubs

 

Wedges: 45/50/55* = 3 clubs

 

Putter = 1 club

 

Total = 12 clubs

Edited November 20, 2021 by dbleag

[Justsomeguy]

THREE. PUTTERS. WRITE IT DOWN. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.

😉

Hell, do something crazy like a 64⁰ wedge. Own the short side.

Get a driving iron and put the whippiest shaft you can find in it.

If you can get it done with 12, use those last 2 spots for your own entertainment.

[hammersia]

Fundamentally, are you reaching the par fours you are playing at? If not, then focus on wood and hybrid options that get you to the green in two.

 

If you are reaching, then tighten up the distance gaps at the shorter end of the bag obviously.