Top of Bag Setup Considerations

[mxskier]

There has been tons of discussion about "top of bag" setup. Each person approaches it differently - I'm curious about the many ways people think about your top of bag. "Top of bag" I consider everything from Driver to 4 iron slot.

 

We all probably agree Driver is "hit it as far as you can" but what about the next clubs? Not how can I hit it but, how you do you play it? How do you think about it?

 

For example, for me:

- Driver = hit as far as I can, and favors right

- 3 wood = primarily a tee club, rarely need as a second shot into a par 5, but if I do, there's no danger up there. Also more easily to turn over to get going straight or left. Which I will tend to play on either slightly shorter par 4s or even long par 4s that tend to dogleg left.

- 3 hybrid = comfort club off the tee. Tends to fly off a tee around 250-260, roll to 260-270, can go either direction. Can also play into par 5s, though still can come in a bit shallow if I draw it in, so landing on the front of the green will tend to run to the back.

- 4 iron = long par 3, tight par 4 if under 380 yards. Also just a regular iron.

 

How do you think about your bag and how do you use those clubs?

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

If I'm thinking of 4 clubs, here's my philosophy...(YMMV):

 

Driver built to be as long and (relatively as accurate) as possible.  Will use this when it's wide open, or out of necessary if stretched by the tees I'm playing.  Don't want it to be wildly out of control, but I'll sacrifice fairway vs. rough as long as I'm in play.  Personally prefer this to play a fade, if anything.

 

Second club built to be as accurate/reliable as possible, with some decent length.  I don't personally need to play this off the deck and likely won't unless I'm doing something stupid in a scramble.  Will play this in place of the driver on shorter courses or on holes where it's tight and I need to emphasize hitting the fairway/being just off to have a look into the green.  Personally prefer to be able to play a draw with this, if anything, and looking for an average of about 20 yards shorter than the driver.

 

Third club built to be as long as possible, but with emphasis on playability off the deck and approaching into greens.  For gapping purposes, looking for this to be about 20 yards shorter (on average) versus the second club.  Want to be able to work this both ways and to be able to hit it off the tee, fairway, and out of the rough, if the lie is good.  Will only use this off the tee when forced to lay up, but predominantly looking for this to be used to attack par 5s with on the second shot.  Green won't always be in play with this club on a par 5, but it will almost always get us up within 25-50 yards where we can lean on the short game.

 

Fourth club gaps between the third and the irons, to be used in a wide variety of situations.  Should be 10-15 yards shorter than my third club (and 10-15 yards longer than my next club), and again, want this to be used off the tee, fairway, and out of the rough (all situations).  Want to be able to flight this and work it a good bit.  Will use this off the tee in more extreme layup situations, and long par 3s start to come into play here, as well.  This is also an attacking club for short par 5s/long par 4s, and this is probably my "punch it under the tree limbs" club, so it needs to be able to go low and high (more than left and right).

 

My current setup:

 

Driver @ 9* and 45"

Mini @ 12* and 43"

5w @ 17.5* and 42"

Utility 4i @ 22* and 39.25"

 

If I'm looking to consolidate, I'm folding the first and second club into one and only playing 3 at the top of the bag.  Basically, I'm dropping the mini and swapping the 45" driver shaft for a 44" shaft that gives more control.  Can play two shots with this - a "tee it high, let it fly" shot and a teed down, controlled low punch/knockdown that cuts and runs out.  If I need a draw, I'm dropping down to the 5w in this situation and taking as much distance as I can get.  I find that it's pretty rare for me that a hole demands both a huge amount of distance off the tee and also a specific shot shape.

[Streuner]

I did a change on the top of my bag at the last month…

 

before the setup was Driver for the long shots, Mini driver for accuracy of the tee of on bad days with my driver. Fairway 5/19 for the real fairway shoot and hybrid 22 / driving iron 21 depending on conditions. 
 

but I made a change in the driver fine tuning and now I am so confident with it that I skipped the Mini to put a real 3 wood in the bag that I am able to hit of the ground and of the tee as well. The 3 wood lofted down a bit is as long as the Mini, but overall the 3 wood is more versatile. Mostly I loft up a bit and play the 3 wood with 16 degrees and have a 7 wood in the bag that I hit better and more solid than the hybrid. The driving iron is still there sometimes. 
 

another idea to mention is a 2 driver setup with different curvature hat you have the monster long one and the not that much shorter but more safe version. 

[ChipNRun]

I am going into my third season for the "top of bag" (see below). I missed most of last season due to leg injury, but the mix carries over.

 

Driver (10.5*): usually my most accurate long club. Two years ago I could get it out to about 230 yds.* total... not sure what my post-injury distance will be. Use driver unless it's a short par 4 where driver would carry through landing area.

 

Fairway woods: 4W (16.5*) + 7W (21*). Been playing this since 2012, although I've changed models a couple of times.

• Extra loft of 4W gives me more reliable launch than 3W, with actually a couple of extra yards on distance. Total distance about 210.*
• 7W very versatile. Distance maybe 195*... Blasts ball out of medium rough with vigor. Good tee club when I have to drop a dart into a tight fairway, or for a longish par 3 (won't run off forever). Holds shots into elevated greens fairly well.

4H (22*): Distance about 185*... I've learned to hit stinger with 4H, so it can be a tee club when I want to keep ball lower, and landing area can handle runout. Let me drop 4i... My Mav MAX 5i carries longer than my old irons, so with the stretch I was able to drop the 4i and add back a GW. Also easier to hit than 4i...

 

That's how things shake out.

 

*Note: Distances shown are pre-injury. Reestablishing my yardstick as I get back into playing.

 

Edited April 26 by ChipNRun
Added loft (in blue) for clubs.

[LBB]

I just tweaked the top of my bag a few times in terms of clubs and how I play them.

 

3+ months ago and for years before that

Driver - primarily played a draw

3w at 14.5* turned to 16*

5w at 18.5* turned to 19.5*

4h

 

3 months ago to up until last night...LOL

Driver - primarily trying to just hit it straight and not trying to play a draw

3w at 14.5*

5w at 18.5*

7w at 21*

 

Last night I made a switch at the range I want to test out for a few weeks

Driver - I'm now primarily trying to play a small cut shot, which I feel super confident with at the moment

5w at 18.5* turned down to 17*

7w at 21* turned down to 20*

4h at 22*

 

With the cut shot on my driver, I am losing maybe 5-8 yards of distance from my max drive, but I'm way more consistent.  My max distance on my 14.5* 3 wood wouldn't be that much shorter, so I felt that turning my 5w down to 17* would be a much more usable gap and giving me a more versatile club option in my bag with the 4h.

 

 

[zstokes]

Finally got the top of my bag dialed in.

 

Off the tee, I have moved to a Brnr MINI Driver, 13 turned down to 12, 43”.  I just hit this club much more consistently than a 460ccm club.

 

Next, I have Callaway Rogue ST Max 5, 7 & 9 woods.  The gapping between 7 & 9 is a little tight, but I have them shafted a bit differently than one another so they do serve individual purposes.

No hybrids.  I prefer the woods.  First iron in the bag is 5, which generally gaps well with 9 wood.

[g_nw]

D @ 8, weight h2, +0.75 upright : send it high, low, straight to cut. Comfortable from the turf.

 

3w @ 14.25, N, +0.75 upright: send it high, low, straight to cut

 

5w @ 17.25, t2, +0.75 upright: gapping, straight to draw (toe pattern given the compact head), flight this when I need a fairway… covers a nice range that gaps 3w to 4i. I have experimented a ton with 2 and 3 iron utilities (range of lofts and sole shapes with ventus HB shafts) however, my 5w provides greater versatility generally given its compact shaping. I’ve never gotten along with hybrids (huge left bias, in my case).

 

4i @ 23, 2* flat

 

I like weight in the toe for 5w so I have the feeling I can release the club hard without a left miss. When I play a 7-9 club minimal sets, I play: D-5w-4i at the top.

Edited April 28 by g_nw

[HGLucky13]

I am about to add a club up top. I have an empty slot and a lack of confidence in the longer stuff so in transition.

-Currently running 10.5 Driver cut down 1" that gets me averaging of 275 overall. Still working on technique so I have a 2 way miss. Depending on what shows up each day I might run driver alot or not at all. The miss left is manageable, the right miss is not good.

 

-Second up is a 3w with loft turned up to 16* and cut down 1". This is a 250+ club off the tee and 240 off of the deck. I use it off the tee box when the driver is acting up and second shot on long par 5's. This is a consistent club. slight draw to straight off of tee, and slight fade off the deck.

 

-Third is a 3H that I turned up to 20.5*. This is a 230 off the tee club and about 220 off the deck. I also use this as my trouble club. I use it to putt out from under trees, and get me back on the fairway. As far as full swing I have little confidence in what direction it will go. Sometimes it is a hard hook left, sometimes a big slice. Only time works well is if I keep it low on a 3/4 swing or less.  It looks odd at address and I am never confident. 

 

- Next is my 5i. This is my 210 club off a tee, 200 off the dirt, up to 220 off a tee if I crank on it off a tee. Though when I crank on it it tends to go too far left. 

 

Currently I am entertaining the idea of getting a 5 wood and adjusting it to be a 230 yd or so club and ditching the 3H. And possibly adding a 5h or 4h, which ever would fill the gap better between the 5i and the 5w. Possibly 7w, since I haven't had much luck with hybrids. Though I do like the hybrid for punching out of trouble. Not sure how a 7w would fill that purpose

 

Edited April 25 by HGLucky13

[Dan Drake]

Wellllllllllll, since you asked!

 

(Copied by myself, from myself, fwiw, but I've changed out a club since then so it has been edited from original copy.  Yes, that's how often I change up stuff in my bag, what of it?!?!?!)

 

Tee Shot Clubs - Can we just get the ball in play off the tee please?  Can we?  PLEASE???

AI Smoke TD 8° w/HZRDUS Yellow - I really liked the Rogue White shaft I started the year with.  At least, I think that is what I started with, who really knows at this point? (When was the beginning of the year again?)  But, the miss with it was an enormous block and that only comes into play on holes where I preferred to play a low snapper, soooooooo.....  So, I took 6 different shafts out to the practice tee and let 'er rip, tater chip.  The HZRXRSOUDNGUSGAAAAAAA Yellow was the one shaft that I could swing as hard & smooth as possible and as long as my impact location was decent, the ball would go kinda out there somewhere playable, and it might even draw a hair, if the moon is in the right aspect.  The rest of the shafts are all currently in the purgatorious state that is the trunk of my car, just in case.

Epic Flash Sub Zero 460cc 10.5° turnt up for what to 12.5° w/Voodoo VS - This is a tough spot in the bag for me because my BB 815 Alpha fairway (with same Voodoo VS shaft) has hit more greens for me from 250yds+ than all the other fairway woods in my life combined.  But, this spot in the bag has to be a tee shot club first and foremost for me, so I put together this beast.  Low sliding piss-missles for days!

 

Swiss Army Clubs - Kinda have to do a little bit of everything here (tee, turf, fade, draw, cover the largest distance gaps while staying out of penalty areas, make me nachos when I'm drunk, etc.)

Epic Flash 17° w/Rogue MAX - I've had this club since they came out, and while it isn't the longest or best feeling or golly-gee-wow club out there, it just works more often for me than other clubs in this spot.  Translation: I hit fewer absolutely horrendous shots with this club than others in this spot.  

Epic Flash 20° w/VS Proto - What can I say, again this is a trusted club and a trusted shaft.  I have the speed to play a DI here, and it should fit the bag better, but every time I try one the forgiveness just doesn't hold up to how poorly I put the face on the ball, so here we sit.  

 

I highly recommend looking at the top of the bag in a similar manner, especially if you have above average length off the tee.  

[Chunkitgood]

The way I see it is that the average golfer such as myself needs a 10 degree driver, and two woods around 15 and 20 degrees (today probably labeled 4 and 7 woods), which was standard equipment before things went crazy.  Next club is 20 degree iron which might be labeled a driving iron or utility club or a hybrid if you must then the rest of the irons.

 

The woods are for advancing the ball towards the green, some tees shots, second shots on par fives, and recovery shots on par fours, and the irons for trying to hit the green from the fairway if in range.  As far as I can see the layup is the average golfer’s friend.

[GDB67]

Top of the bag is for movement. Get closer to the hole. Not precision. 
do you really need the longest 3w made? Or something consistent you hit well? 
let your horses do the work. The other 10-11 sticks

keep it in play, and have fun doing it. 

amen 

praise baby Jesus

[Tinkerer]

LOL, I change this all the time. The driver is set at 10° and it’s constant. The 23° 5 iron never comes out. In between, multiple hybrids and utilities plus the 3HL. I have this fixation on only two head covers and the rest irons. The 3UI is usually there but if I want to lower the handicap further (a new scenario ) I suspect, for me, the best set up would be D, 3HL, 4H, 5i. 

[Roejye]

The top of my bag is in a little bit of flux as I just got the new Cleveland hy-wood to test out, but haven't been able to play or test. I'll gladly explain my thought process on the setup though. 

 

 

Previous setup

D1-sim max d 9° clicked down 1. Distance with decent control left side generally out of play unless I pull it. Tee only.

 

D2-sim max d 10.5 clicked up 2 this is sacrificing total distance for accuracy and generally takes the right side out of play. 98% tee, might hit off the deck if the stars align

 

Hy-wood-probably jack of all trades but leaning towards tee shots or 200 yard par 3s. Previously 3hy and 5w-were in competition here these are jack of all trades: tee shot, ball advancement, attacking greens, rescue. 

 

Now 5 wood lofted up to 20° hope for this to be 175-190 yard jack of all trades club with more fairway/approach usage. Previously this was a 4 hybrid.  Then I go into 5 hybrid.

 

Edited April 25 by Roejye

[oskaru]

2 hours ago, GDB67 said:

Top of the bag is for movement. Get closer to the hole. Not precision  

Isn’t this true for every club? I don’t have any club in my bag where precision isn’t a consideration. 
 

Driver: as long and straight as I can hit it. I just want to put the ball in play and be as far down the hole as possible. I do like being able to adjust ball flight by changing tee height and ball position to try and flight it the way that a hole requires. 
 

3 wood: on good days this is my favourite club in the bag. Sometimes it’s a bit more one dimensional. It can always deliver high, straight shots from both tee and fairway but when it’s on, it can do just about anything from low cuts to high floaty draws. 
 

Driving iron: lower flighted shots from tee when wind conditions call for it. Also one of the easiest clubs in the bag to hit a low slinging hook with when out of position on long left dogleg holes. 
 

3-iron onwards: an iron is an iron is an iron. 

[playaplease]

Currently in the bag.

TSR2 9 Degree Ventus TR Red 6x(Waiting to test a 6x Black) 

Ping G425 Max 5w @16 Degree Ventus Blue 7x

Apex UW 19 Degree Ventus TR Red 8x
4i T150 KBS Tour V

 

All of these are subject to change. Goal with the driver is in play with a slight cut. I'm left-handed so I never want to see the ball go right.

The 3/5 wood slot is a dead slot for me. I play most golf at a 6200-yard course. So if I can't hit driver I still have a wedge into the holes with the Apex UW and the par 5s are short enough a good drive leaves me less than a 3/5 wood in. For this slot I'm considering a BRNR Mini or some other mini hopefully coming to market soon as I have been someone who struggles with driver. Love the Apex UW was worried it would go too long for my gapping it worked nicely with the TR Red and goes around 230. 4i will be looking for something with more forgiveness like T200 for T350. I think the top of the bag should mostly be one dimensional, with the exception of one club that is extremely versatile. 

[GDB67]

26 minutes ago, oskaru said:

Isn’t this true for every club? I don’t have any club in my bag where precision isn’t a consideration. 
 

Driver: as long and straight as I can hit it. I just want to put the ball in play and be as far down the hole as possible. I do like being able to adjust ball flight by changing tee height and ball position to try and flight it the way that a hole requires. 
 

3 wood: on good days this is my favourite club in the bag. Sometimes it’s a bit more one dimensional. It can always deliver high, straight shots from both tee and fairway but when it’s on, it can do just about anything from low cuts to high floaty draws. 
 

Driving iron: lower flighted shots from tee when wind conditions call for it. Also one of the easiest clubs in the bag to hit a low slinging hook with when out of position on long left dogleg holes. 
 

3-iron onwards: an iron is an iron is an iron. 

You hit many 3/4 drivers? Or sawed off 3 woods that go 140 with a baby cut? 

Point being, the bottom of the bag(+) is more creative and imaginative. Not just get a distance in mind. Whack it. 
 

 

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

I had a problem with very high dynamic loft and consequent spin. My bag was set up to ameliorate that.  It's been fixed, I guess, given my last TM session (radar balls, no italics). But keep that in mind.

 

3W is 14.5° TD-T Rogue ST.  Yes, the 'Tour only' one.  I took the regular 3W LS version, with a 7x Ventus Black, and made it a rocket ship in a demo.  That club launched.  A lot.  I didn't want that, but liked everything else, so found the TD-T head on Fairway Golf, a AV White Xlinx 75X here (which I love) and it's an off the turf rocket ship.  Lots of run.  Lots of speed.  I can reliably draw it.  It ain't stopping.  It's too much, now.  (9° launch, 2500, 155-160 speed).

 

5W, TSi3 18°, 75x 1k Black. It moves.  It moves up.  Can rocket high, can run low.  Super-iron for me. 230-235 par 3 and I need it to stop.  Now.  This.  

 

4H. TSR2.  Turned down to 20° at the fitting.  Idiot me should've asked about the 3H.  Shrug.  Probably should've hit balls well w/o incurring the, "It's OK, just do your best!" spiel.  Sigh.  Anyway, it's awesome.  Love it too.  1k Black Hybrid 95x is stout (but honestly, not as stout as Accra TZ6 DI 95X.  That one, I need to do the, "OK!  Right shoulder back!  Right butt cheek back! Kill!!"  And it works.  Sometimes.)  It's an iron that goes up, goes out 215-225, and stops.  Yay.  It goes left if I don't make an effort to square the bottom.  Still recommended.

 

4-iron.  Ping i210.  Power-spec'd, I think.  So 22°?  I need to get these measured...  Was X100TI, now LA Golf L-Series 4s.  Absurdly easy to elevate. (As is its 3-iron 20° brother.  Which I put into an abortive, busted CK Orange Hybrid shaft, and it feels awful.  Live/learn.)  Anyway, pushing 135-140 with it, ~4250 spin, 13-14° launch and ~205-210.  It stops too.

 

If you have sworn off long irons, do give the i210s a try before you turn your back completely.

[BombinJim]

Driver - as far as possible.

3W - for when driver is too long off the tee and there’s trouble long, recovery shots for total screw ups off the tee, or the occasional par 5 in 2 when I mishit a drive. I can count on this to carry 265-275 sea level and then roll out from there.

5W - similar to 3W but definitely more of a fairway finder and used more off the deck on long par 5 2nd shot. I can count on this to carry 240-250 sea level and then stay within 15 feet from there.

3i - for when 5W is too spinny or I want to capitalize on a downhill or runout slot. Or if driver/woods are on the fritz and irons are feeling good. I can count on this to carry 235-245 sea level and then roll out from there.

[DrizZzY22]

I have struggled with the top of my bag for a long time.

 

Driver- Hit mostly cuts, I dont really want to hit many draws with it. 

3w 15 degree, mostly used off of the tee, meant to be my dogleg left club.

Here is where I have struggled for a while.

 

7wood, great into par 5's and for tight par 4's off of the tee. It gets bullied in the wind however.

3 Hybrid, Its good off of the tee, Ok into par 5's, but much better in windy situations. 

Driving iron, Best for windy days, but thats about it. 

 

I rotate them all season, and never really stick to one. I guess that keeps it fun for me, haha. 

 

[unclefreizo]

For me it goes Driver, 3W, 5W before I start my irons at 4i.

 

When I get older and slow down I have a 7W and start the irons at 5i.

[Nobody2]

This has been a struggle to fine tune. Would really like another club but don’t want to give up a wedge  My setup is similar to others. 
standard setup:

D- 45.5”- play a fade

Mini Driver - 12* 43.5”- play a draw and 15-20 short of the driver. I use this when I need to hit a draw off the tee or want to be short of a hazard

5 wood- 42.5” 17*- can reach just about any par 5 if I am in the fairway. Also use this off the tee for shorter holes or when I need precision. Absolutely love this club. 
4i utility- 22* standard length -25 yards shorter than 5w

5i- 15 yards short of 4i

course dependent I may substitute for one or more of the  above. 
3 wood if a par five is playing over 570 and does not have a lot of trouble. Still 20 yards short of driver and play a draw but easier to hit off the deck

7 wood - 41.75” 19.5*- I’ll use this instead of 5w if the par 5’s need a specific length. I don’t like this club off the tee and is a one trick pony. 

3i utility- plays about 8 yards longer than 4i to equal out the gaps between 5i and 5w. 
 

I played a hybrid until this year and was great off the tee but land angle was too shallow into par 5’s. 

[RoverTiger]

This is where I'm settling in now at the top of the bag:

 

Driver (10.5 degrees)

3W (15; still working on getting more comfortable with it off the deck, but the indications are there)

3H (18)

3UI (21, being assembled soon)

4UI (23)

Edited April 26 by RoverTiger

[nosedive32]

My usual top of the bag (On average in in the low 150s ballspeed with the driver - can push up near 160-161 max on a good day if I'm in a groove)

 

Driver - 9 Degree G430 LST. Only goal is to hit it as far as possible.

 

Mini Driver - 11.5 Degree BRNR. Goal - hit it almost as far as driver off the tee but easier to trust for accuracy. Can be used to hit it as far as possible off the deck but it isn't a high percentage play

 

Utility Wood - 17 Degree Apex UW 2021 version. Something that I can use to hit it as far as possible if I don't have a lie to hit mini driver off the deck but is also versatile and gaps reasonably between mini driver and the next club.

 

Hybrids - TSR2 21 & 24. Perfect long iron replacements that blend well into my 6-GW T350s.

 

However I have a ton of other options I can rotate depending on the course I am playing. 

 

I have Stealth DHYs bent to 17 20 and 23 to match the progression of my iron set. Usually just in the bag for very specific course / weather conditions.

 

I also have Epic Speed 4 and 7 woods. They may replace the UW and 4 hybrid if I need extra height coming into the greens and wind isn't a concern.

 

I recently bought another TSi2 3 Wood and a 64 degree wedge because the 64 can really be beneficial at my home course. The mini driver and Utility wood can come out to allow for the 3 wood and 64 to go in.

 

It's not a concern at the home course because I don't have a ton of shots between a 3 wood and 4 hybrid but if I ever want the 64 somewhere else I might I can use the 7 wood instead of the 4 hybrid as im capable of getting more carry out of the 7 wood if I hit a hard draw and I can fill the gap better.

 

I've basically built every possible option for the top of my bag on any given day.

[byoshio82]

Driver - as accurate as possible 275-280 carry chases to 295-300 low/mid launch window I want to see and don’t want to see it go left

 

4 wood - I want a 255 carry number. 100% always off the deck even if I hit it off the tee box. Low/mid launch window. If it wants to ever so slightly fall left I’m ok with that. 
 

7 wood - 235 carry (have this number a lot of par 5’s) This one’s obviously going to launch fairly high but don’t want that balloon ball so mid launch is preferred. Straight ball typically. 
 

4 hybrid - 215-220 carry. This one’s for long par 3’s or extremely short & tight par 4’s 

 

This is a new setup for me this year but after a handful of rounds it’s been working well. Also put 5 wedges in play. Bag goes from 4 hybrid to 6 iron and is only a 15 yard gap. 46/50/54/58/62 definitely a funky setup but this has been the best setup in terms of yardage gaps I’ve ever had. 

[blades_are_life]

Driver (280) - It's a driver.

3W (255) - Shorter tee club when I am not feeling the driver + Par 5 second if I play it straight + salvage mishit tee shot

2H (235) - Zero thought tee club + workable tee club + second shots + fairway bump and runs + chipping

5W (230) - Long range lawn dart launcher. The 2H can't do this without an extreme amount of shotmaking effort and there is quite a few times I want to have this trajectory.

2I/3I (215-225) - Purer and more precise than the 2H + punch out slicing under trees.

 

I usually have to give up one of the driver, 5W, or 2I since I can only sacrifice so many wedges, which I do based on course conditions as well as how I am feeling that day.

[hackshack]

Re - building the top of my bag now as well and here is what I’m leaning towards 

 

1.) Driver (9*) - one shot shape with this club - fade. Can get a little squirlly at times for me and only gets used maybe 3-5 times a round. 

 

2.) 3 wood (15*) - this needs to be my safety tee club. Stock shot is still a fade but can hit a small draw / straight ball when the hole calls for it. Useable off the deck when needed but still mainly a 2nd tee option. Not a big mini driver guy personally as I still prefer the traditional 3 wood footprint. 
 

3.) TBD (18-21*) This is the spot in my bag up for grabs currently. I have a 2 iron currently that I enjoy hitting, but it’s simply doesn’t check all my boxes. It’s mainly a tee club on tighter holes and that’s pretty much it right now. What this club needs to be is super versatile and mainly an off the deck club. I need to able to shape it both ways, manipulate launch, and chop through the rough. Rarely will this be a tee club. Mainly second shot par 5’s and recovery shots. Going to test a UW and 7 wood and go from there. 
 

4.) Utility Iron (22*)  recently scooped up Callaway UT as a 4 iron replacement. This club needs to have both tee and off the deck usage. Ideally replacing my 2 iron for that tight tee shot on holes less than 400 (ability to turn one over and chase it out there) but also replacing my set 4 iron by having something a little easier to launch up in the air off the deck so I’m able to hold greens from 215+ out. 100 ish gram graphite shaft as opposed to the steel in my iron set because 130 grams just gets a bit heavy in the 4 iron for me. 
 

then it’s 5-PW, 50, 54, 58.

Happy Hunting folks!

[Bye]

Being in the fairway off the tee is not overrated.

 

Driver - Sim 2 Max 10.5 - Ventus Blue  length 45.5 - swing weight D3 - Upright setting - 280 Carry 

 

My natural shape is a draw, but the driver wants to fade and it’s helped to keep the ball in play. 

 

3 Wood, Titleist TRS3 15 degree at 15.75 - Tensei 1K Black 75 X - Standard Length D5 swing weight D4 Surefit setting - Weight H2 (in the heel) - 255 Carry

 

I’ve tried loads of different options, 4 woods, 5 woods turned down. as with driver I tend to need a bit more spin. This works well, it’s not super hot and can be worked either way.
 

Hybrid - Titleist TSR3 19 degree @ 20 - Standard length D2 Swing Weight - D4 Surefit setting - weight 1 click towards the toe. 232 Carry

 

Love the versatility, it’s great off the tee on shorter holes and for long approach shots. 

 

4 Iron - Titleist 620 CB - @ 22 degrees. Dynamic Golf TI X100 - Standard length D2 swing weight - 212 Carry

 

This is the only club at the top of the bag I am not totally sold on. It doesn’t quite go fly enough.

[blades_are_life]

39 minutes ago, hackshack said:

3.) TBD (18-21*) This is the spot in my bag up for grabs currently. I have a 2 iron currently that I enjoy hitting, but it’s simply doesn’t check all my boxes. It’s mainly a tee club on tighter holes and that’s pretty much it right now. What this club needs to be is super versatile and mainly an off the deck club. I need to able to shape it both ways, manipulate launch, and chop through the rough. Rarely will this be a tee club. Mainly second shot par 5’s and recovery shots. Going to test a UW and 7 wood and go from there. 

2H and thank me later

[RSLP]

My age has me at approx 6000 yards for competitions:  I play a lot of NE Florida = marshes, so I want all my clubs to stop quickly.  I play a lot from 6500 for practice, and normally just hit longer approach shots vice swapping driver to a lower loft/ more roll.

 

Driver is 12 degrees and I launch it high with spin and with a draw.  I am pretty comfortable that it will land and stop quick, about 250 stock.  Have a 19 degree hybrid, shafted where I can’t turn it over.  If I grip down it is 200 carry and gripped normal is 225. 20 degree iron is next with a 210 carry, and I really only hit it from a tee.  23 degree iron is next with a 200 carry, I use it from the tee or grass.  I have a 10.5 driver that rolls out more, and a 5 wood (drop the 20 or 23 degree iron) that I will add in for courses with limited laterals.  Everything is a high draw except for the 3Hy.

[adamwon84]

Top end of the bag for me:

 

Driver: 9.5 degrees - current setup is very long and very accurate, best driver combination I have ever had (G430 10k, Hulk 6 shaft)

Distance: 275-290 (sometimes get a couple around 300 but thats on big swings when I am feeling extra spicy)

 

3 Wood: 14 degrees - fantastic club, hardly ever use it off the deck as the courses I currently play does not have any opportunities for me to have to swing a fairway wood into the par 5's (and they are short enough where I can go for 2 of them with a 4-6 iron depending on the wind that day)

Distance: 245-260

 

Utility Iron: 18 degrees - great club for windy days and/or dry fairways, one of my favorite clubs in the bag

Distance: 230-240

 

4 Iron: 22 degrees - great off tee and deck (i230)

Distance: 215-220