Getting ready to re-vamp the bag… The right way this time

[Ivyguy]

So, I have been “piecing” together my clubs for a LONG time… sometimes based on budget, sometimes based on boredom (as WRXers, I’m sure others can relate).  
 

I got a new job, and now I want to do it right.  
 

So, I decided that I understand it will be expensive but I love the game. So, I’m cool with the cost… My credit card will cry but it will live. 
 

So, to do it right, and blow up the bag and move on.  
 

I want to revamp the bag from top to bottom (minus the Putter). 
 

Currently, I play:

 

Driver: Ping G410LST 9, Oban Devotion Stiff

 

Hybrid: Wilson Utility 18, KBS stock shaft

 

Irons: Bridgestone J40 DPC 4-PW, Project X 5.5

 

Wedeges: 50, 56, 60

 

Just need to know where to start to do it right…. Any suggestions?

[CUBuffaloes]

Many ways to approach this but IMO the Driver and putter stand alone, they have very unique and distinctive roles in your bag so everything else in the bag shouldn't impact your decision of Driver and putter.

 

Next is your irons. Once you settle on your irons and the longest iron that you can confidently use the rest of the bag (top end and wedges) will depend on that longest iron and the loft of your shortest iron. Will you continue to use a set 4 iron and PW? 

 

The wedges take priority over the top end of the bag so depending on the loft of your PW, you'll have to decide if you need a GW and if a LW is something you use often enough to earn a spot. If so, once you have that figured out then the last thing I look at is the gap between your longest iron and Driver and how many clubs I can use to fill that gap. 

 

[Dan Drake]

I agree: Driver & putter first.  

[Chads9815]

Keep the irons..a true classic…I’m still gaming mine..😊

[14max]

I'd probably do this a lot differently than other WRXers.  If I was in your place, I would start with irons and wedges because of their importance to scoring.  If you don't need to make a change there, move on to fairway woods and hybrids.  Finally, check out a new driver.

[drumdude96]

You have really nice clubs. Not sure why you're looking to change things up, unless they just don't perform. I would keep what you have and just add a 3 or 4 wood to round things out.

[dmeeksDC]

35 minutes ago, drumdude96 said:

You have really nice clubs. Not sure why you're looking to change things up, unless they just don't perform. I would keep what you have and just add a 3 or 4 wood to round things out.

Agree with @drumdude96 What are you looking to do? Do you not like fairway woods? Lot of great 4 wood options. 

 

Your irons are perfectly fine, though they’re not distance machines. If you’re looking to improve iron distances, could start there. You have a great driver and you may have the best utility iron. 

[tannyhoban]

Without specifics you’ll just be churning. You need to identify objectives.

 

If you have someplace to put numbers up that would be the start. If not find a pro and work with him.

 

 

[yunabomber8]

3 hours ago, 14max said:

I'd probably do this a lot differently than other WRXers.  If I was in your place, I would start with irons and wedges because of their importance to scoring.  If you don't need to make a change there, move on to fairway woods and hybrids.  Finally, check out a new driver.

I agree. Definitely start with irons. Then wedges. Then driver. Then fairway, hybrid. Thats the order Club Champion went when I got fitted. 

[Ivyguy]

4 hours ago, drumdude96 said:

You have really nice clubs. Not sure why you're looking to change things up, unless they just don't perform. I would keep what you have and just add a 3 or 4 wood to round things out.

I like them (and will keep them, just in case)…. In the wind, I find them difficult to knock down. 
 

Im open to keeping them, but would want to hit some other options. 

[drumdude96]

1 hour ago, Ivyguy said:

I like them (and will keep them, just in case)…. In the wind, I find them difficult to knock down. 
 

Im open to keeping them, but would want to hit some other options. 

I play older forgings myself, because I like the weaker lofts and increased spin compared to newer offerings.  Yes, they do get eaten up by the wind a bit, but you just have to hit more club.  I'm not giving up the extra spin and control just to hit knuckleballs into the wind.  I have found that if it's a one club wind with newer clubs, I usually need two extra clubs with my MP 30's, and I'm totally fine with that.  They hold greens WAY better than any of the newer irons I've tried, so it's worth the trade off to me. To each their own.

[NicholasP]

You have a really nice setup, Bridgestone irons are my personal favorite!  If it were me, I would start at the green and work back.  I have no idea where you're located, but a fitting at the Bettinardi Studio was a real treat for me, and gave some great insight into choosing the right putter.  

 

I would not bother getting fit for for wedges indoors.  Bounce and grind options need to be tested on real grass.  Lot of private clubs offer fittings and demos.

 

Irons, again, would not get for for indoors, I want to feel turf interaction and see trajectory.  Demo days, outdoor fitting center, etc.

 

Woods/hybrids, rinse repeat above.

 

Long story short, don't dump 3k on a new bag at an indoor fitting, feel and ball flight are king

Edited January 17, 2022 by NicholasP

[CKaneb]

Right off the bat, why do you want to get rid of some of these clubs? I would look at your entire bag and determine why you want to get rid of each club/section of clubs. Once you've done that, do you some research and find products that fit the bill of what you are looking to get out of a certain club. This way you'll get a feel for what you actually want and maybe realize that there are certain clubs that you don't want to sell and you'll end up not lighting your wallet on fire

[drumdude96]

10 minutes ago, CKaneb said:

Right off the bat, why do you want to get rid of some of these clubs? I would look at your entire bag and determine why you want to get rid of each club/section of clubs. Once you've done that, do you some research and find products that fit the bill of what you are looking to get out of a certain club. This way you'll get a feel for what you actually want and maybe realize that there are certain clubs that you don't want to sell and you'll end up not lighting your wallet on fire

Totally agree.  Why is it you're looking to change?  You have a full bag of player's clubs.  If you're a total hack and can't play worth a damn with them, then yes, you should probably get some clubs more suited to your abilities.  But if you play well with what you have, we're all kinda scratching our heads as to why you want new stuff.  No forged player's CB is going to perform much different from the Bridgestones.  You have an awesome driver, and it's doubtful anything on the market will be much of an upgrade as long as it fits you well.  Your utility iron is damn good, provided you have the chops to swing it properly.  So yeah, you really need to assess what it is you don't like about each club and let us know those reasons as well so that we can get you steered in the right direction.  Otherwise, you're probably going to spend tons of cash and get little to no benefit, other than the thrill of "new stuff".

[rondre3000]

This is IMPOSSIBLE to answer for you without knowing anything about your game. What are your strengths, where do you need more "help"? Do you hit the ball long, short or average. What sort of courses do you typically play (resort, links, park land)? Do you need more "forgiveness" or the ability to be creative and shape your shots. Do you have any physical attributes we need to be aware of? Tall, short, making the switch to graphite, prefer heavier/lighter weight shafts.

 

I could go on and on. We can do a great job at putting a hole in your wallet, but it'd be tough to put you into a set that works really well w/ out more info.

 

Good luck!

[Ivyguy]

Thanks for the input. 
 

It’s really just a weird gapping issue. These clubs have really been assembled from multiple versions of strategy, playing frequencies, environments (desert golf to coastal FL golf) and age (to be frank). 
 

My skills have increased but I’m a touch slower now and it feels like I don’t have an actual equipment strategy. 
 

I think I need to get out and really be critical of what I actually do on the course, as opposed to what I think/want to do on the course. 
 

Does that make sense? It just feels like I have a random assortment of good sticks but may not all be for the same player.  Feels like I’m out of sorts

[rondre3000]

1 minute ago, Ivyguy said:

Thanks for the input. 
 

It’s really just a weird gapping issue. These clubs have really been assembled from multiple versions of strategy, playing frequencies, environments (desert golf to coastal FL golf) and age (to be frank). 
 

My skills have increased but I’m a touch slower now and it feels like I don’t have an actual equipment strategy. 
 

I think I need to get out and really be critical of what I actually do on the course, as opposed to what I think/want to do on the course. 
 

Does that make sense? It just feels like I have a random assortment of good sticks but may not all be for the same player.  Feels like I’m out of sorts

I completely understand where you're coming from.

 

About a year and a half ago, I revamped my bag w/ the purpose of only carrying what I would actually score with. Out went the 3 wood, 5 iron and 64* wedge and in went a 5 wood, 5 hybrid and I now carry 1 less wedge. My swing and course management has gotten better and so have my scores. 

 

I may not have the long game of my golf buddies, but our scorecards still have me taking their $$$.

[MelloYello]

Try working on one thing at a time--whatever feels most out of place. You never know what you might be thinking 6 months out so I would go slow so as not to get ahead of yourself and purchase the wrong thing(s).  

 

Most importantly, are you happy with your swing? Do you plan of tweaking things? If so, I would put the brakes on equipment changes. You have to know what you want in a piece of equipment. Finding the right stuff is pretty easy if you understand what fits your particular situation. 

 

Equipment changes should be done based on your need(s), otherwise they should be mere replacements such as replacing used irons with an updated set which is virtually identical. 

[drumdude96]

55 minutes ago, Ivyguy said:

Thanks for the input. 
 

It’s really just a weird gapping issue. These clubs have really been assembled from multiple versions of strategy, playing frequencies, environments (desert golf to coastal FL golf) and age (to be frank). 
 

My skills have increased but I’m a touch slower now and it feels like I don’t have an actual equipment strategy. 
 

I think I need to get out and really be critical of what I actually do on the course, as opposed to what I think/want to do on the course. 
 

Does that make sense? It just feels like I have a random assortment of good sticks but may not all be for the same player.  Feels like I’m out of sorts

As far as a gapping issue, the only problem I see is the lack of a fairway wood between driver and utility iron.  I don't see your clubs as a random assortment of stuff.  It looks like the bag of a low handicap player.  Now whether or not you are a low capper is the question.  Do you have the skills to take advantage of your clubs, or do you need to be put into more forgiving options?  That is the million dollar question.  You say you're improving but have lost a bit of swing speed.  Maybe just some new shafts would do the trick, although I doubt PX 5.5 is too much shaft for you.  There are so many variable here to address.  So yes, get out and play, and take note of what you really like and dislike about what you have.  Be REALLY specific, and then we can go from there to figure out what, if anything, needs to change.

[Ivyguy]

6 hours ago, rondre3000 said:

I completely understand where you're coming from.

 

About a year and a half ago, I revamped my bag w/ the purpose of only carrying what I would actually score with. Out went the 3 wood, 5 iron and 64* wedge and in went a 5 wood, 5 hybrid and I now carry 1 less wedge. My swing and course management has gotten better and so have my scores. 

 

I may not have the long game of my golf buddies, but our scorecards still have me taking their $$$.

So, I have bounced back and forth from bagging 14 and 8 sticks (I used to walk a lot and it helped out).  
 

Hence the love affair with the utility and fairway woods. I’ve just always found that my miss with those clubs were typically very penal (high school, college and mens club golf). 
 

Guess the answer is some playing time and self assessment. 

[tannyhoban]

I’ve been through this to some extent as age issues hit. Being an opportunistic club buyer being the other part of the equation.

 

For me the gaps in longer iron 4,5,6 were the issue. Going to stronger lofts with a smidge more loft between gave me space to figure out top and bottom. So the base set is now 6-G.  The 6 iron is 24 or 25 (I have 2 sets) which is the absolute lowest loft iron I should carry. My winter purchases have been filling out top and bottom.

 

Decided to keep the same look in Driver and fairways went D, 3W, 5W.

I may only carry the 5 with another hybrid up top and right now have 5 wedges. G at 48, 52, 56, 60.

 

My set to start will be D 9*, 3W 15*, 5W 18*, Hybrid 18* irons 6-G(24-48) 52, 56, 60.

 

I can easily drop two clubs and still cover the gaps. Having better iron spacing does that for me.

 

Good luck!