Hey seniors, what is your go to club for max distance after your tee shot?

[jjfcpa]

As a senior golfer, I am distance handicapped.  After my tee shot I am out of iron range most of the time.  For me, it's either hit an iron and play for an up and down or reach for a hybrid / 5w.

 

I've found the the best hybrids for me is the Ping HL - I carry a 5h and 3h.  

 

In the woods department, I've given up on a 3w because I can't hit it any further than a 5w.  I checked out a couple of different woods and landed on the Callaway 5w AI Smoke Max D.

 

On occasion I find that the 3h can give me more distance than the 5w just because I can get more swing speed with the lighter and shorter club.

 

What's in your bag for these situations?

[bellken]

For max distance,  either 5w or 21 degree hybrid.  It depends on the lie. But a lot of times,  I will lay up to pw or 9i distance. 

[ChipNRun]

For max distance, it's a 4W. Personally, I started having trouble with a 3W about 2010. In 2012, I switched to 4W + 7W and have played that ever since. (Yes, I changed club models a couple of times.)

 

Compared to 3W, a 4W has a bit  more loft to help with launch, and a shorter shaft to help with control. See if a 4W carries longer than a 5W for you.

[Socrates]

Distance - no real problems ahead, I'm hitting driver off the deck if it's a decent lie.  Not a Par 5 - 3 iron if I've topped it off the tee or hit something.  Even though I carry a 3wd, it usually just holds my towel.  I will hit it the odd time though if I really have to.

[Lobby]

What’s in my bag?

 

I play from the senior tees

[goaliedad30]

I'm not particularly short for 61, but my "par 5 second shot, no trouble in play" club is a 5w. I find that I no longer have the swing speed to hit a 3w off the fairway and generate sufficient loft. It's become an "off the tee when the ball has to go right to left" club for me.

 

 

[bekgolf]

2 hours ago, jjfcpa said:

As a senior golfer, I am distance handicapped.  After my tee shot I am out of iron range most of the time.  For me, it's either hit an iron and play for an up and down or reach for a hybrid / 5w.

 

I've found the the best hybrids for me is the Ping HL - I carry a 5h and 3h.  

 

In the woods department, I've given up on a 3w because I can't hit it any further than a 5w.  I checked out a couple of different woods and landed on the Callaway 5w AI Smoke Max D.

 

On occasion I find that the 3h can give me more distance than the 5w just because I can get more swing speed with the lighter and shorter club.

 

What's in your bag for these situations?

 

If I have no chance at being near the green on my second shot I hit to a number that I have a shot for.  Getting there in 3 and having a putt for par is much better than all the alternatives (dribbling a 3 wood xx yards is just one of those alternatives).

 

I'm a senior and a 3 wood off the deck is the hardest shot for me.  I'll take it if everything is just ever so right.  I'd probably be better off without the 3 wood in the bag but it comes in handy for tee shots where I don't want to go too far.  It flat out works wonders from the tee.

 

This is a good topic.  I think that many struggle with this very issue.

[ShortGolfer]

I was fitted for a 3HL that I can hit off the deck.  My swing speed is pretty low so I surprised the fitted by how well I hit it!

 

I'm typically the smallest adult golfer on the course.  I usually hit from the forward tees.

[ezgoer]

Not quite distance challenged yet but not a big hitter bye any means. I’ve become a firm believer in a 5 hybrid. I bought 2 hybrid’s for my current set. A 21 degree 4 and a 25 degree 5. If/when I can actually get the face square I seem to hit the 25 degree 5 hybrid damn near as far as the 21. Close to 200 yards. Talking same club model, same shaft, same everything and they are adjustable so I’ve tried lots of different settings. Not that big of difference in distance between the 2 but higher and easier to hit. Not a massive distance shorter than my 16 degree fairway wood either and the 5 hybrid club has to be 2 inches shorter overall. The loft just seems to suit me. I often leave the 4 hybrid at home. Ultimately may have been a waste of money. 

Edited March 31 by ezgoer

[Greenie]

I have played a 4 wood and 7 wood for many years. I added a 4 hybrid and 5 hybrid in recent years. Last year I replaced my old 4,5 hybrids with Tour Edge Exotics E 722 4,5 hybrids. I hit them so well I decided to get the 3 hybrid also. Now I am debating adding a 2 hybrid.

 

I have been switching my clubs to see what works best. I've been gaming my 4w, 3h,4h,and 5h. Sometimes I will pull the 3h or 4h and put the 7w back in the bag.

 

Right now my best play on par5's is to hit my 3h for my second shot. I have more control with it and I usually hit it straight. With my 4w I sometimes pull it or top it.

 

My max distance club would be my 4w but I hit my 3h so well my best play from the fairway unless I can get there with my 4w is my 3h.

 

Adding the TEE hybrids has helped my long game a lot. 

 

@jjfcpa   "After my tee shot I am out of iron range most of the time.  For me, it's either hit an iron and play for an up and down or reach for a hybrid / 5w"   I would say you are playing the wrong tees.

[@_the_crook]

2 hours ago, Lobby said:

What’s in my bag?

 

I play from the senior tees

couple times a year, during solo rounds, I go all the way up to the Ladies tee, just to see how much of a difference there is.

we need more 4500/5500 yard setups. sometimes it makes a game more exciting. let the guys get a chance to birdie/eagle some holes. It doesn't always have to be about the longest drive.

 

my partner was banging some 300+ drives this morning on a wet muddy course. on 18 he was 40 yards out for his second shot. . I aint saying how many shots I needed to get there.

[bcstones]

Don't care about distance....I'd like to be able to play w/just 2 clubs, like Mickey Wright did after her retirement....check out @Jiggered 's video "Six holes with two golf clubs from hell"....on a par 4, what does it matter if you're on the green in 2 and 2 putt or you're on the green in 3 and 1 putt - "a par is a par"  (Arnold Palmer)

[SnowbirdTom]

3 hours ago, bcstones said:

Don't care about distance....I'd like to be able to play w/just 2 clubs, like Mickey Wright did after her retirement....check out @Jiggered 's video "Six holes with two golf clubs from hell"....on a par 4, what does it matter if you're on the green in 2 and 2 putt or you're on the green in 3 and 1 putt - "a par is a par"  (Arnold Palmer)

 

Just 66 here, fortunate to still be a long hitter with decent accuracy. Regular range practice helps keep the game in shape and ball contact clean.  

Been known to play the old school short set of 1,3 woods, 3/5/7/9/GW and a putter in a Sunday bag. Challenge yourself to be a shot maker vs a club swinger. Hit a low running 8 iron from 60 yards out or put that hybrid to use around the green collar swinging it like a putter.  There’s many ways to hit a club other than full swings.

 

If you can’t reach a green in regulation regularly, it’s time to move up a box. This game’s supposed to be fun.  I’ve played our course from every tee box provided to add variety to the daily round. Strangely, my scoring stays within a few strokes of handicap no matter where I tee off from.

 

/stepping off soapbox…
 

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

I'm 79 and just had a year out being treated (successfully) for prostate  cancer and my 'bombproof' knees are now not. What did I do? I read Tom Wishon's 'The Search for the Perfect Golf Club'.

 

My takeaways were to 1) Increase the loft on my driver Titleist 913, 2) Soften the flex, 3) Shorten the length to 43 inches (and fix the SW), 4) Shorten my go-to fairway woods with 1 inch increments to the driver (and fix SWs), so that's the 3,5,7 woods taken care of. That maximises my length and gets me centre strikes. And it really works.

 

My irons, most here know me as a fundamentalist classic club guy, I'm hitting (as of yesterday) a set of proper blades with R300 shafts down to the 4 iron. So, in a modern set the 4 iron loft will be like a 5 or 6 iron.

 

And I work on my swing technique, strength and flexibility. I'm 5ft 7 inches weighing 150 lbs.

 

And I stop talking about myself and obsessing about my golf game, the ball goes much further. 😂
 

Edited March 31 by The Aspidistra in the Hall

[BIG STU]

I can give 2 answers here

In vintage play if it is a Par 5 it is usually my 57 Macgregor 2 wood or Izette 3 wood.

In more modern play I use a tricked up Callaway Razor 3 wood. I have a soft tipped shaft in it plus I have weight in the back. At 15* and that set up I can elevate it decent and get close to 195 to 200 with roll out at sea level.

I am 66 with a fused together back and bad shoulder. I play my home course on the Super Senior tees at 5500 at sea level

[mocokid]

Hybrids are your friends, seniors.

[dashanks]

68 years old and 5 Wood for me.  A lot easier to hit off the deck than a 3 wood and not a whole lot of difference in distance.  In fact, I've quit carrying a 3 wood for that reason plus I find that I'm just as likely screw up a 3 wood off the tee as a driver, so why bother with it. 

[596]

I'll hit either 3w or 5w for max distance from the fairway.  3w if I'm playing well or the 5w if not. I'm a 9 cap and play D, 3w, 5w, 4,5,6,7 hybrids and 8, 9, PW, GW, SW hybrid irons. 

 

But. You should be averaging well inside 150 yards to the green on approaches. If you aren't, you are playing a course that is too long for you.  You should be playing short irons, wedge to 8,  into most greens.  Read an article that was an eye opener. If you average 200 off the tee and play courses near 6000 yards, it's the same as Rory playing from 10,000.  He wouldn't do that! Neither should you!

 

I got all 3 of my playing partners to move from the senior tees to the forward tees and they are having much more fun. At 68 years old I can still play the regular tees but I move forward with them so we all play together.  

[tatertot]

12 hours ago, Lobby said:

What’s in my bag?

 

I play from the senior tees

This has made the game WAY more enjoyable for me.

 

I have a 5W ... But it's only for perfect conditions. My 3 iron is the usual go-to for distance.

[mocokid]

Anyone play Cleveland high launch clubs?

[Davewn]

I'm 61 with a cranky back and a bad right wrist.  Several years ago I ditched the conventional 3 and 5 wood setup for a 17* 4 wood and an old Ping G5 13.5* driver that's essentially a big fairway finding 2 wood. As a mediocre (at best) fairway wood player, the 3 wood did nothing but get me in trouble every time I pulled it out of the bag on a long fairway shot.  My Innovex 4 wood is the best fairway wood I've ever owned and is much easier to hit off the deck than my old 3 wood with minimal distance loss on perfect hits.  On average, it goes much further due to strike quality.  If the 4 wood is misbehaving, I use my 4 hybrid which carries about 20 yards less.  The 13.5's default flight is straight or right to left and goes almost as far as my driver with longer carry.  It rovides a great alternative if my driver isn't working well.  On a good day, my driver fades and 2 wood draws so all doglegs are covered.  I'm scoring better than ever with this setup from senior or hybrid tees.  For me, as I've lost swing speed, loft is my friend.      

[596]

9 minutes ago, mocokid said:

Anyone play Cleveland high launch clubs?

As stated above I play the 8 to SW in the hybrid irons.  I play the Cobra T Rails.  Launch high with spin.  Plenty of distance. Easy to hit. The only con would be that they are a bit tough to flight low. 

[Hickory4ever]

4 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I'm 79 and just had a year out being treated (successfully) for prostate  cancer and my 'bombproof' knees are now not. What did I do? I read Tom Wishon's 'The Search for the Perfect Golf Club'.

 

My takeaways were to 1) Increase the loft on my driver Titleist 913, 2) Soften the flex, 3) Shorten the length to 43 inches (and fix the SW), 4) Shorten my go-to fairway woods with 1 inch increments to the driver (and fix SWs), so that's the 3,5,7 woods taken care of. That maximises my length and gets me centre strikes. And it really works.

 

My irons, most here know me as a fundamentalist classic club guy, I'm hitting (as of yesterday) a set of proper blades with R300 shafts down to the 4 iron. So, in a modern set the 4 iron loft will be like a 5 or 6 iron.

 

And I work on my swing technique, strength and flexibility. I'm 5ft 7 inches weighing 150 lbs.

 

And I stop talking about myself and obsessing about my golf game, the ball goes much further. 😂
 

Glad to hear you are recovering, I can relate as I am slowly healing from a serious health issue. I will be 70 in a couple weeks, 5’8” and 160lb.. I am a big proponent for playing the right tees, golf is more fun.

 

I play several eras of clubs and rarely play “modern” but use a similar approach. In my modern set, I have a Mini Driver set at 12*, followed by a 16.5* FW, 2,3 and 4 hybrids which is similar to my hickory setup in lofts. 

 

In my classic setup, I go 1,3, 4 or 5 and still hit the long irons reasonably well although not nearly as far as I used to (3-4 clubs shorter). 
 

The most important thing is to play the right tees which for me are 5500-5800 yards.

[idrive]

Hey seniors, what is your go to club for max distance after your tee shot?

 

Generally speaking, it's a 5 wd.  Still carry a 3wd but the lie has to be perfect without any trouble in front of me (ditch) for it to be an option. 

 

I hit the heck out of the hybrids. Long and left!  Don't bother with them anymore as I find the FW's much better for me. My 9 wd. is by far the best (never leaving the bag) club in the bag.

 

 

[ChaosTheory]

Move up and bring back the enjoyment.  We have some guys who have moved up to reds.  It took them a long time to do it.  But once they did, they started having a lot more fun.

[Dave2golf2]

62 yo and typically it's a 4 hybrid, it's similar to a well struck 5 wood (about 190) but more versatile so that's in the bag. Its my go to club for punch outs.

 

This off season I picked up a Xxio 16.5 degree fw wood which is kinda like a 4 wood.  In the simulator I'm getting anywhere from 210-220 carry with that, but it has yet to be tested on course, fingers crossed 🤞 

Edited March 31 by Dave2golf2

[WilliePPQ]

19-21 degree Hybrid of sorts is about all I can truly depend upon to make a decent second shot for max distance anymore. I can keep it in play and hopefully get up and down or at least give myself a chance to do so. Puts more pressure on the short game so now you know where most of my hours are now spent when practicing. A few 6 iron swings to warm up and then driver swings to make sure I can still swing and not miss. Then on to a bunch of wedges and over to the practice putting green. Not the most thrilling scenario but it's keeping me in the game that I've now been fussing with for about 60 years or so....

[Greenie]

1 hour ago, ChaosTheory said:

Move up and bring back the enjoyment.  We have some guys who have moved up to reds.  It took them a long time to do it.  But once they did, they started having a lot more fun.

 

 I agree with you. I am 64 and all the guys I play with are 65-70.

 

I made the move somewhere around 55 because "After my tee shot I am out of iron range most of the time.  For me, it's either hit an iron and play for an up and down or reach for a hybrid / 4w."     Sound familiar?

 

It was a bit of a fight to get the other guys to move up. I led the way. The person fighting it the most was the shortest hitter in our group. I couldn't figure that one out. 

 

Sometimes we will play from the up tees just for something different and for fun. We will do a two man scramble. It's always fun to have a chance to get on a par 5 in two and have an eagle putt.

 

Golf should be about having fun. We can't beat father time. 

[BIG STU]

3 hours ago, mocokid said:

Hybrids are your friends, seniors.

For some yes I agree ---  for me no. That is why I carry the 7&9 woods. I have been carrying the same 7 wood for darn near 20 years. LOL I was carrying a 7 wood when it was not in vogue or "cool"

[JohnBrew]

If the lie is good then a 3W. If I really hit it well then it goes over 200 - that's longer than most of my drives!

Otherwise a 5W or 7W, depends on the hole layout.