10-club bag

[ShortGolfer]

I learned to play golf with a 4*, 7*, AW, SW, and putter in the bag.  Mostly one swing so I could learn to consistently strike the ball.

What good is carrying a full bag of clubs if you only get few good swings all day?

With so few clubs I quickly learned how far they would go.  

Not only do I have a consistent swing but I'm pretty good at hitting my approach shots hole high.

Edited October 5, 2022 by ShortGolfer

[Roejye]

My current bag is driver, 3 wood, 17° 4 and 5 hybrids, 6-aw, 56, 60, p. I can drop the 3w, 4-5 hybrids, and the 60° and probably be fine. Heck, I could probably all the headcovers, minus putter, out and play okay. With my home course being a longer executive course it theoretically could allow me to do a ten club bag many different ways. It does help that my driver is usually longer than 200.

[animalgolfs]

On 10/4/2022 at 5:53 PM, azgreg said:

I went over my scores over the last year the other day and 7 of my best 10 rounds were with a 10 club or less bag.

 

It's all about up & down imo anyways. 14 or 9

 

If my short game is on- I'll score regardless 

Edited October 7, 2022 by animalgolfs

[azgreg]

8 hours ago, animalgolfs said:

It's all about up & down imo anyways. 14 or 9

 

If my short game is on- I'll score regardless 

True, on top of keeping the ball in play. My best rounds all have one thing in common: No penalty strokes.

 

[animalgolfs]

2 minutes ago, azgreg said:

True, on top of keeping the ball in play. My best rounds all have one thing in common: No penalty strokes.

 

Ha! Ain't that the truth as well

[14max]

I think 12 is the sweet spot.  I play driver (10*), fairway wood (17.5*), hybrid (24*), 6-PW, 50*, 54*, 58*, putter and I believe the majority of players could do the same without skipping a beat.

[dale4ace]

On 10/8/2022 at 9:07 AM, 14max said:

I think 12 is the sweet spot.  I play driver (10*), fairway wood (17.5*), hybrid (24*), 6-PW, 50*, 54*, 58*, putter and I believe the majority of players could do the same without skipping a beat.

agree, this is pretty much exactly my setup, but no hybrids for me as they always go left for me

driver
5wd
4i - 9i
46-52-58
putter 

12 clubs, which 12 depends on when you ask, but usually 12 clubs

Edited October 12, 2022 by dale4ace

[boggyman]

4 hours ago, 14max said:

I think 12 is the sweet spot.  I play driver (10*), fairway wood (17.5*), hybrid (24*), 6-PW, 50*, 54*, 58*, putter and I believe the majority of players could do the same without skipping a beat.

I’m at 12 with the LW creeping in on rare occasions. D-5w, 4-SW P most rounds. This set is hybrid style iron set. Could drop the 5w after last few rounds and not miss it I believe, possibly add a 3 hybrid iron in its place. Driver been on autopilot. 

Edited October 8, 2022 by boggyman

[animalgolfs]

D ‐ 7w turned down - 23*  DI ‐ 5h turned up - 7i(34*) - 9i(42*) -52 - 58 - putter

 

Played with this recently & think this is the set up I'll use onward. Thought I'd miss my 46* PW  but just not seeing that

[darnthealarm]

On 10/3/2022 at 8:48 PM, Brausch24 said:

I actually think it might lower my score some, playing position golf rather than distance?

I think you will find your misses don’t get you in as much trouble. I find myself landing in front of the green rather than behind it or on either side in a bunker. Sharpen your pitching and chipping. The outcome will surprise you.

[etrichards]

I carry driver about 270, but as I’ve gotten older I recently added a 7 wood.  Course I normally play doesn’t usually allow walking but has been at end of season.  It’s pretty hilly so I didn’t want to carry a full bag.  Played 2 of my Better 9’s the last 2 evenings going driver-5w-7w-5i-7i-9i-pw(46)-50-54-putter.  The first  night I think I missed having a lw one time when a poor shot left me short sided.  Today on the other 9  (usually hit 3wd off of 4 tees) I only had one hole i couldn’t make the driver or 5 wood work.  Hit a good 5 wood but needed 10 more yards to get a clear shot around the dogleg, and one shot on a par 3 where I wish I had my 4 iron bc the tees were back further than normal.  Combined 18 I had an eagle and 4 birdies and shot +1.  Usually shoot between 38-42 for either 9 at this course.  Course is 6900 yd par 73.  All in all having less clubs seemed to simplify things, and having to hit more 3/4 type shots seemed to improve my control.  

[etrichards]

On 10/9/2022 at 8:41 AM, darnthealarm said:

I think you will find your misses don’t get you in as much trouble. I find myself landing in front of the green rather than behind it or on either side in a bunker. Sharpen your pitching and chipping. The outcome will surprise you.

I made a post just after this reply, but what I really noticed in my recent experience is that the greens I missed left simple chips, and aside from one short sided on a 230 yd or 3 on the first 9 removing the option of a lob wedge I executed those better.  And playing controlled shots in between yardages I had more close putts on greens I did hit.  

[HoosierHacker89]

I couldn't play any worse than I already do with a half set. I don't think I am going to be missing anything. 

[TreqJosh]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:07 AM, 14max said:

I think 12 is the sweet spot.  I play driver (10*), fairway wood (17.5*), hybrid (24*), 6-PW, 50*, 54*, 58*, putter and I believe the majority of players could do the same without skipping a beat.

 I echo this sentiment too. 

 

D 9*, UW 19*, 5-AW, 54*, 58*, P

 

I have played a ten club bag recently that was made to echo my mate's Callaway Edge Set by going D, 3W, 6 - AW, 54*, P - I was missing versatility at the top of the bag but it was a match that was done this way to make things more equal.

 

I'd be quite happy with the 12 club bag as above and probably will give it a go next time I play. 

[Justsomeguy]

Putter, driver, 5 wood, hybrid, 6i, 8i, pw, aw, sw, lw.

Gotta have a putter and driver. If you don't you're giving strokes away.

High lofted wood and a hybrid for different head shapes for different lies.

Skip around on the irons til you get to the scoring clubs, where you don't miss a gap, bc that's where your expectations really lay.

[Brausch24]

On 10/9/2022 at 8:41 AM, darnthealarm said:

I think you will find your misses don’t get you in as much trouble. I find myself landing in front of the green rather than behind it or on either side in a bunker. Sharpen your pitching and chipping. The outcome will surprise you.

I’ve played 18 total holes (2 separate courses) with 10 club bags. What I found..

1) 3w off the tee is a fairway finder, still goes 280-300 depending on wind,  it control and confidence is up. 
2) Find myself playing 4i off the tee for position as well, fewer missed fairways.

3) Short game needs work but ended up leaving myself in great positions, rather than pushing a club and missing easy shots. Found myself using my irons in different ways. 
4) Played more run outs around the green, less lofted shots I typically would blade/chunk 3/10 times. *Get ball on ground as soon as possible helps. 
5) Shot +2 and + 5 with some easy shots missed, Was a very relaxed couple of rounds. 
 

Overall, really enjoyed this and will continue to give this a go..

[golf9596]

I generally play 12, D, 3W, 4h, 5-per, 52,58 and putter. This leaves me room to demo an extra club from time to time. Winter set up D,4h, 6,8,pw,52 and putter. I think this could work all year for me. 

[i*windows]

this year I won the 3 club championship again with 5w, 8i and putter. and next year will probably just go with.

 

D 9*,5W 19*,5H 25*,6,8,pw,58*putter

perfect.

 

[azgreg]

4 hours ago, golf9596 said:

I generally play 12, D, 3W, 4h, 5-per, 52,58 and putter.

This is my full bag as well except a 5w instead of a 3w.

 

[theothertwo]

10 Clubs for me:

 

Driver

7 Wood 21*

5 Hybrid 25^

7-PW

56 & 60 Wedges

Putter

 

I go to the range these days and try to master my clubs and it's just really hard for me to master 14 clubs.  10 is more doable.

[kthomas]

I'm a minimalist golfer. 

 

If I'm playing riding a cart, I use this as my 9 club bag:

 

- Driver

- 3W (turned up to 1° to be more of a 4W)

- 4i, 6i, 8i, PW

- 52° and 58° wedges 

- putter

 

My new walking 5 club setup:

 

- Driver

- 6i, 8i

- 52° wedge

- putter

[jrg75]

Great thread, was just about to build a 10 club bag and came across this.  What I'm thinking:

 

Driver - (10)

18 hybrid

23 hybrid

6 iron (27)

7 iron (31)

8 iron (35)

9 iron (40)

46 degree wedge

56 degree wedge

P

 

Any thoughts on wedge setup (too big of gap).  Only piece I'm rethinking.

[pitchnputt]

D

20* hyb

4i

6-9i

51

55

putter

 

if I was riding on a big track, I would add:

uw

5i

pw

59

 

Or sometimes I go full minimalist 

d

moe 1/2 set (4 clubs)

52

putter

 

also just won a 4 club challenge with

3hyb

7i

52

putter

 

[JLo_73]

Rebuilding my bag (again) and have never felt the need for 14 clubs......I'm thinking about trying...

 

Driver

Heavenwood

26ish hybrid

7,8,9

Add in T24 48 degree to my 55/59 T22 that I really like (might just go more traditional PW and 50 degree depending on iron set up

Putter (still loving the added length and counterbalance grip).  29 putts in first 2 rounds 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

On 8/30/2023 at 10:54 PM, jrg75 said:

Great thread, was just about to build a 10 club bag and came across this.  What I'm thinking:

 

Driver - (10)

18 hybrid

23 hybrid

6 iron (27)

7 iron (31)

8 iron (35)

9 iron (40)

46 degree wedge

56 degree wedge

P

 

Any thoughts on wedge setup (too big of gap).  Only piece I'm rethinking.

If that wedge setup is not working for you, consider something like a 54 or 55* with heel/trailing edge relief and mid-to-high bounce. In Vokey terms, I like a 54.12D. Very versatile. Stable enough for full shots, and can be opened for touch shots around the greens.

 

You could also consider consolidating your hybrids (play only one around 20-21*), which lets you add in another wedge. You could go 50-54 or 52-56, or whatever floats your boat here. 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

10 club (and fewer) bags are where the Mini Driver slays it. Covers the job of Driver and FW in one. 

 

Not my main set, but am building a back up/nostalgic/travel set:

 

SLDR Mini @ 12*
MP Fli Hi 3i (22*)

MP 60 5-6i (30-34*)

MP 67 7i-PW (38-50*)

MP T Wedge @ 54.12 (56.14 bent strong)
Odyssey WH Rossie Putter (the original)

 

I want to experiment with bending the lofts weak on the irons to more closely match “modern” lofts, add some bounce, and reduce some offset. Lofts listed above reflect this. 

 

In reserve, I can add in/swap out with the following to play a bag from 11-14 clubs:

 

Ping G LS Tech Driver @9-10*

Ping G 5 wood @17-18*

MP Fli Hi 4 iron (26*)

MP T Series 58.06 (60.08 bent strong)

 

If I ever get to Scotland, the 15th club would be the MP FliHi 2 iron @ 18* and would replace the 5w. 

 

I might like this bag more than my normal set. Can mix and match, play it down to 6-7 clubs, 10 clubs, 12-13 clubs, or a full 14. Feel like I’m set up for different turf/course/weather conditions all over the world. 

 

[Vater]

I'm down to 12 and playing better than ever as removing those two clubs have taken away the bad shots that I hit with them.

 

I've tried playing with fewer - simply taking out every other iron, but when I did I was often missing the right yardage in my short irons.

[Kai Slater]

My current set up with 10 clubs and the putter have been working well for me; it's pretty much all I need for the courses around here.  Years ago, at one point, I carried 16 or 17 clubs in the bag because I wanted to be ready for any and every situation.

[SofaKingPure]

I routinely play an odd set. 5,7,9,G 54, 60, driver, putter. 10 clubs is overkill 

[tatertot]

I play 8 ... Shot 68 (-3) this week and am sitting under 4 cap wise right now. Fairways and hybrids were minus clubs for me, so 5 iron is longest club after driver. I'm not super long, but it goes far enough. You don't have to go for every par 5. The gapping at the bottom of the bag seems like it's always a work in progress. Going to be trying out a 52 degree wedge in place of 56.