The Minimum Number Of Clubs (Partial Set) To Shoot The Same Scores?

[vandyfan]

I carry 13 clubs at the moment and feel like I would still be "comfortable" with 10 and realistically could shoot the same score with 6 clubs. 

 

Comfortable Bag - Driver, 3hyb, 5i, 7i, 8i, 9i, PW, 54*, 58*, Putter. 

 

but probably could just as easily go:

 

7 club bag - Driver, 6i, 8i, PW, 58*, putter. 

[EmperorPenguin]

23 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

Nine clubs was a pretty common set long ago until we started breaking 80.

 

A slew of us Boomers learned with these and old lofts:

 

Driver(or 2-wood)

3-wood

3, 5, 7, 9, Pw, SW

Putter

That is exactly the set I have minus the 8 iron.  For me the 8 iron is very useful from both the fairway as well as around the greens, so I have ten clubs in my partial set.

[EmperorPenguin]

23 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

Nine clubs was a pretty common set long ago until we started breaking 80.

 

A slew of us Boomers learned with these and old lofts:

 

Driver(or 2-wood)

3-wood

3, 5, 7, 9, Pw, SW

Putter

That is exactly the set I have minus the 8 iron.  For me the 8 iron is very useful from both the fairway as well as around the greens, so I have ten clubs in my partial set.

[EmperorPenguin]

23 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

Nine clubs was a pretty common set long ago until we started breaking 80.

 

A slew of us Boomers learned with these and old lofts:

 

Driver(or 2-wood)

3-wood

3, 5, 7, 9, Pw, SW

Putter

That is exactly the set I have minus the 8 iron.  For me the 8 iron is very useful from both the fairway as well as around the greens, so I have ten clubs in my partial set.

[EmperorPenguin]

23 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

Nine clubs was a pretty common set long ago until we started breaking 80.

 

A slew of us Boomers learned with these and old lofts:

 

Driver(or 2-wood)

3-wood

3, 5, 7, 9, Pw, SW

Putter

That is exactly the set I have minus the 8 iron.  For me the 8 iron is very useful from both the fairway as well as around the greens, so I have ten clubs in my partial set.

[Soloman1]

Hey, 8-iron is the greatest club ever. Who doesn’t love an 8-iron, a communist? 🙂

 

[Inexorable_Fate]

I've played better with 7 clubs (3w, 5i, 7i, 9i, GW, SW, P) than 14.

 

 

[unclefreizo]

On 11/8/2023 at 8:27 AM, Binson said:

8-10 clubs will work for most courses for me in terms of shooting similar scores vs a full set.  Especially if I've played them before.

 

This is how I like to think about the make-up of partial sets.  And from a skill perspective, you'll need to know how to either take a little bit off, or add a little bit to a shot.  A reliable short game will make a big difference. 

 

1) Your longest, most reliable club off the tee

2) Your longest, most reliable club off the deck

3) Your 110 or 100 full swing club

4) Your favorite, most versatile/creative wedge

5) Putter

 

That should leave you with 3-5 spots to fill the gap from #2 to #3 in approach shots.  I'd also pay attention to what you might need to hit a full shot over forced carry holes and adjust the approach clubs if needed.

This is the most helpful and concise way I've seen this laid out. 👏👏👏

[brick101]

I could probably shoot 80 consistently with Driver, 9w, 7i, 9i, 54 and putter.

 

It fun to learn to hit 70% shots.

[Nels55]

Higher clubhead speed means larger gaps and more clubs needed to fill them.  Lower speed means fewer clubs necessary.  For instance I have golfed with a number of ladies who seem to hit most of their irons about the same distance.  If your driver goes 120 yards there is probably not much need for 14 clubs?

 

My set is at 13 clubs at the moment and I carry a left handed 6 iron LOL.

Lob wedge through 5 iron with a 2 hybrid, driver and putter.   

[stryper]

4

[Louis_Posture]

I believe that if a 6-club-Tour-event were held the players would shoot their usual Tour scoring average.