Long end of bag

[Tinkerer]

Driver set at 10*, 2H @ 16*, 20* utility iron, 23* 5i

 

This week….

 

Distance, gaps, lofts. I don’t look at club numbers 

Edited May 20, 2023 by Tinkerer

[Longballjock]

Driver 8.75*

5 wood 17* (technically a 4wood)

Hybrid 20*

Hybrid 23*

5 iron 27*

Still playing what would be classed as retro lofts, so my PW ends at 48*

 

Gaps really well and I don't need a 3 wood that nearly matches my driver.

[Propofol_Papi]

Driver 9° 260-280

Super hybrid 17° 240

hybrid 20° 220

hybrid 23° 205

5 iron 26° 190

 

i don’t hit fairway woods consistently and same with long irons, but hybrids are a strong part of my long game. 

 

[golfinbrad]

I think him is pretty traditional.  Driver, 3 wood, 19* hybrid, 4 iron.

[von3jack]

10 degree driver

15 degree fairway wood

20 degree utility iron

then into my 4-PW

 

I think it's important to figure out what you need these clubs to do. I've messed around with a hybrid and a 5 wood where my utility iron is now but I realized that this is a club that I use mostly off the tee and into long par 3's so I like to hit an iron for more control and I get plenty of height with it. 

[jarediogolf]

The long end of my bag has been tweaked to be user friendly above anything else. Recently dropped the 3 wood and turned down my 5 wood a little. 

5 wood 18.5* Cobra F7 Kuro Kage 80HY x-stiff 41” (Can turn it down to 17*/17.5 if i think I’ll need it on a longer course)

 

4 iron 19.5 F9 One Length KBS Tour 80 (guaranteed draw, easy contact, punching out, tight tee shots that must not go right)

 

7 wood 22.5* Cobra F7 Kuro Kage 80HY x-stiff 41” (can also tweak the lofts here and turn it down to 21* to un-jam my lofts a bit, but I like this setup)

 

 

[RightHandRough]

15.5 FW

19 Hy

21 Driving Iron

Then to 5i

 

I'm not the longest hitter, that said I like having both the Hy and Di in play as their stock shapes are so different they cover about 30 yards between the 2 clubs despite being close in loft.

[dasparks]

3W, 4H, 5I. Depending on weather, I pull my 5i when I need something just under 200 and my 3w for something around 240. I have a 4 hybrid that lands between those at about 220-225. Also depending on the course makeup I will swap in a 4I for my Hybrid. I can work my 4I left/right much easier and more consistently.

[Fenrir]

On 5/7/2023 at 9:37 PM, stryper said:

I don’t understand the numbering system with fairways and hybrids anymore, so I just refer to them by loft.

 

Right now I have a 15* fairway, a 19* hybrid, and a 24* hybrid, with a 6 iron as my next longest club after that.  (Twelve clubs total in my bag, not really sure where I’d put the other two.)

This guy has it spot on

I go

16° cally epic flash 

19° super hy 

23° 4i

[me05501]

Mine goes 

 

Driver

3 wood 

4 hybrid

5 utility

 

In theory there'd be a big gap between the wood and hybrid, but I haven't found it to be an issue in practice. With this setup I only carry 13 clubs which keeps my walking bag lighter and not over-stuffed with shafts. 

[Pepperturbo]

Depends on what kind of game you play and yardages.  I've kept my bag simple and playing to 4-5.

 

TSR2 D 10'

TSR2 3wd 15'

2i 17'

4i 22'

5i 25'

 

 

[Colby327]

I switch around the long end of my throughout the year.   Currently I'm playing:

 

DR 10.5*

3 wd 15*

3H 19*

4H 23*

5I

However, I'll use a the 4 iron in place of the 4 hybrid for most of the summer.  And at times I'll swap the 3 hybrid for a 5 wood, but I always try to have at least one hybrid in the bag. 

[dufferaaron]

Driver, 3h (19*), 4i. I dont really need anything 3W length for things around here (plus I stink at hitting woods). I have a 4h if the irons are being techy.

[J_Tizzle]

15* 3 wood, 19* hybrid, 22* driving iron and 27* 6i.  So I basically choke down on the driving iron to fill the gap.  Allows me to put 5 wedges in the bag.

[DCCarpenter]

I've been all over the place on this but currently

 

3W at 15 degrees ....trying to only pull it when the lie suits and situation requires it

2 utility at 18 degrees (or Ping Eye set 2 iron at 18.5)

3 utility at 21 degrees (or Ping Eye 2 3 iron)

4 iron  Ping Eye 2 at 25 degrees

[bobfoster]

When I read the OP, I was about to reply by saying "I'm slightly non-traditional". After reading the thread, however, I'm giggling at the thought that there is any such thing as "traditional" any more. There was a couple decades ago, but good grief, everyone here is all over the map.

 

I do:

 

9.5* D

15* 3W

19* 5W

21* H

22* 4i

 

I get that looking solely at gapping, the FW, H, and 4i look like they are all bunched up. But I'm quite often more concerned with trajectory, ball flight, and turf conditions than I am about just raw distance. And those three clubs do very different things. 

 

I find it (for instance) much easier to fade the 5W and H than to draw. But my natural ball flight with the 4i is a slight draw - need to adjust stance/grip to try to fade it. On a good fairway lie 190 or 200 out, I'll use the H. Same distance if the ball has settled a bit in fairway rough, I find it a lot easier to get clean contact with the 4i. 

 

Even further? While loft is certainly a contributor to distance, I think (especially at the long end of the bag) the shaft matters every bit as much. A full, hard, natural swing with my 22* 4i actually is slightly longer than the 21* H. It has a lower, more penetrating trajectory. However, I'll also say that I rarely swing full and hard. I know my full swing distances, but in practice I usually take slightly more club than I need, and choke up on the grip or do a 3/4 swing (and that doesn't just go for the long end of the bag, but even the mid and short end). My primary swing thought is "smooth", not "crush it". 

 

And parenthetically? So much discussion of clubs go on as though golf is played in an indoor stadium. It isn't. It is played in, ya know, weather. So while I know my club selections when it is a sunny, 76* day with a light breeze, I'm only playing in optimal conditions maybe a third of my rounds (if that). A lot of my club selection has to do with conditions. Hitting into the teeth of a 15MPH wind - I'm gonna go for a low hooded long iron instead of a FW or H. Strong L-R wind on a par 3, I'll club up, hit a hard draw and let the wind float it back at the green. Strong R-L wind, I'll club down, but swing slow and float a fade into the wind, let it carry it gently back to the green. 

 

Final little note, about evolution over the years? 1980s (actually 60s - 80s) I was "traditional". D, FW, 2i. Early 90s swapped out 2i for a 5W. Then this thing called a "Hybrid" emerged in the early aughts, but I resisted it - was hard enough to get rid of my 2i, let alone my 3i. But then in the mid aughts a friend of mine was fooling around with a TM "rescue club" (one of the first Hybrids - though actually Cobra had the first in the late 90s), and let me try it. Looked really weird - halfway between a wood and an iron (and the swing had to be halfway between a wood and an iron - you don't sweep it like a broom, or dig it like a shovel - swing path has to be slightly in between). Took a year or so, but started really understanding the concept. Then became a full convert. TM called it a Rescue Club. It is currently called a Hybrid. Both are kinda right. But the best term I've heard for it is "utility club" (and my new Titleist Hybrid seriously rocks). 

 

I get that. It has become my most versatile club (once I learned to to use it). Three times last Sunday (for instance). 180' or so partial swing baby fade around a slight dogleg on a long par four. But then I was slightly in jail on another hole ... only 120' or so out, but with low hanging branch tree trouble. A 1/4 swing punched it under the branches up to the green apron that resulted in a two putt par. And then a third time - maybe a couple feet in greenside rough, 20' from the hole. Lined it up like a putt. And (this is the weird ting) I did my putter grip instead of my wedge grip. Popped the ball 2" over the rough and rolled it. Basically a putter stroke with a Hybrid, totally worked. 

 

Digging this thread OP. And some of the people that are responding with their unique and creative approaches. 

 

 

 

[nectarpavla]

Driver/3W/5W/4 iron for me 

[F1Aussie]

Driver @ 9 degree = average 295

3 wood @ 15 degrees off deck = average 252 yards, best of 270 yards

5 iron = average 220 yards, best of 235

Looking to fill gap with either 2 hybrid and 3 hybrid or 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid

 

[EaglesGolf99]

2 hours ago, F1Aussie said:

Driver @ 9 degree = average 295

3 wood @ 15 degrees off deck = average 252 yards, best of 270 yards

5 iron = average 220 yards, best of 235

Looking to fill gap with either 2 hybrid and 3 hybrid or 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid

 

You likely only need one or the other. 3 Hybrid, or 4 Hybrid. You don't need a 2 Hybrid. 

 

Our situations are very similar. 

[chal0072]

Driver 250 

4w 210-225 

4i  I can hit it 180-195

Edited May 14, 2023 by chal0072

[animalgolfs]

10.5*D - 20*7wd - 24* 9wd - 30* 6 hyb

[North Butte]

On 5/13/2023 at 12:57 AM, bobfoster said:

When I read the OP, I was about to reply by saying "I'm slightly non-traditional". After reading the thread, however, I'm giggling at the thought that there is any such thing as "traditional" any more. There was a couple decades ago, but good grief, everyone here is all over the map.

Probably the last time I was "traditional" was circa 2001. I had those gold-colored Cleveland Launchers in Driver/3-wood/5-wood Titleist DCI's in 3-iron through PW. Then Cleveland 588 sand and lob wedges with a Ping putter. 

 

I also could just about play bogey golf on my very best days and shooting 104 or 105 wasn't unusual. Hit the 3w and 5w about the same distance, only used the 3-iron for punching out under trees and never used the 4-iron at all. If I still had all those clubs I'm not sure I'd do a heck of a lot better than mid-90's with them now. 

[Bunkersarebigcups]

I go 15.5* 3w, 18.5* 3 hybrid, 22.5* 4i

 

Hybrid is getting replaced by a 20* though, its very close to my 3w, but very far from 4i

[F1Aussie]

10 hours ago, EaglesGolf99 said:

You likely only need one or the other. 3 Hybrid, or 4 Hybrid. You don't need a 2 Hybrid. 

 

Our situations are very similar. 

Yeah true, will hit some ping 430 hybrids in the next month or two and see where they slot in 

[bakere]

My swing faults ramp up the harder I try to hit so I try to have more clubs on the long end than short end:

Driver

3 wood 14 degrees - when driver might carry into woods or creek or whatever 

5 wood 18 degrees - 235-245

7 wood 22 degrees - 220-230

4 iron 23 degrees - 205-215

[Peezy]

On 5/9/2023 at 1:42 PM, BCC1898 said:

Driver, TSR2+, 5 Wood, 20* hybrid, 4 iron...

 

 

Thoughts on TSR2+?  Been debating on this one.  Seems like a good fit for my bag 

[Peezy]

On 5/9/2023 at 2:00 PM, hagimihale said:

 

Driver, 2w (TSR2+), 16.5* FW, 19*H, 22*H.  6i is the next club in my bag.

 

4W and 22*H launch high.  19*H is more penetrating to say out of the wind or for running punch outs.  

 

TSR2+ is a recent addition.  Because I'm a ho.   And I've found some use for it on tight par-4s in windy conditions.  When rain season comes and the fairways turn soft, I'll take it out in favor of an additional wedge.  

 

I've been debating on a TSR2+ myself and haven't found a lot of feedback online so appreciate this.  Any other thoughts on the club?  I've seen some reviews saying how low the tee shots fly and curious if you're experiencing the same.  Would love to hit a lower shot but am not that confident swinging a 2 iron.  

[BCC1898]

27 minutes ago, Peezy said:

 

 

Thoughts on TSR2+?  Been debating on this one.  Seems like a good fit for my bag 

Honestly?  I'm a little disappointed in the feel.  It's kinda like a brick.  I always love Titleist offerings, but for whatever reason, this one doesn't do it for me.  Going with a 13.5* Mini instead.

[hagimihale]

2 hours ago, Peezy said:

 

I've been debating on a TSR2+ myself and haven't found a lot of feedback online so appreciate this.  Any other thoughts on the club?  I've seen some reviews saying how low the tee shots fly and curious if you're experiencing the same.   

 

I don't disagree with @BCC1898's comment above.  When I catch it flush, it feels great.  The face is very hot and I can approach total distance with my driver in the right scenario.  But that sweet spot seems smaller than other options from Titleist.  And when you catch it toe- or heel-side, the impact feels empty and the sound is meh.  I view it as a situational club, not a full-time member of my bag.

[Mickesgolf]

I have this setup, it's carry lengths where the temp is between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit "10-15 celcius” all new this year so not hit in warm wheather. 
 

Driver 9,75° 255-260 Yards 

5-wood 18° ~225 Yards 

7-wood 21° ~210 Yards 

4 iron 24° ~190 Yards