Tommy56

Finally got out to try the 4 club kit (7w, 8i, 54, P) as it was "slightly" less hot today. Played a well respected 9 hole, par 3 course close to home. First time I've ever hit the new 8i and it worked well. Scored a little better than normal vs my usual 5 club set. We'll see if it continues after the new club luck wears off. 😆

@ShortGolfer @tatertot I like your course management strategies of prioritizing a quick pace vs always trying to hit the perfect shot. I wish this would become more prevalent. Like @WipeyFade says: try making your next shot easier than your last one (or something to that effect).

Play well and stay hydrated !!! Brutal here in the midwest also; 110 heat index. Been wanting to try a 4 club set for the last 2 weeks, but just been too hot (for me).

Nice setup!

I agree with the above posts in that minimalists do not (and should not) consider ourselves better than any other players. I think we simply love to share our journeys and experiences along the way on what we find to be a liberating and FUN way to play. We learn from each other, try fresh ideas, and discover there are so many ways to approach this wonderful game.

Certainly worth trying. Let us know how it works out. I played the same set-up for a while a couple years ago and it worked fine except for my inconsistency with the driver. <sigh>

Most of my rounds are walking with a Ping Moonlite. When playing in a group that wants to ride, I'll use my same minimalist kit but swap out the Moonlite with my Hoofer Lite stand bag that's more sturdy.

@WipeyFade @MorganM I also use 7W off the tee. I’ve found similar results…. off a peg nearly level with the turf, I’ll hit it high and watch it fly (great with light breeze or tail wind). But into the wind I’ll look for a nice lie on the tee box and hit it off the deck.

Great observations.

That’s great to hear @WipeyFade . Sounds like that 4 club kit is working out well for you. I just picked up an 8i to swap in for my 7 & 9 irons and try a 4 club set myself, but haven’t had chance to get to the range or course.

You may quickly become so comfortable with the mini set that it becomes your everyday bag, walking or riding.

Another huge fan of the new Moonlite. I've been using it the past 4 months and like it more every day. Super lightweight, quiet, comfortable strap, and enough room for the essentials. I travel light with 5 clubs. Perfect for my everyday needs.

@WipeyFade @MorganM @9ClubberLang After pondering this some more along with your suggestions, I will focus on possibly swapping the 7 & 9 irons with an 8. Will leave the 54.12D in the bag as I'm already quite comfortable playing a variety of shots with it. I've also come to the conclusion that I'll save more strokes being creative around the greens than trying to narrow a gap elsewhere. After all, I already have several sizable gaps that I manage now. Thanks for your input. We all learn better together.

Yeah, bunkers would be my primary concern. I have a 54.12D which handles all my short game work quite well by manipulating the face. As @9ClubberLang correctly points out 52º wedges usually offer 1 basic grind so they tend to be less versatile. Perhaps I need to see if I can get better with the hooded, back-of-the-stance shot to squeeze a few more yards out of the 54 if necessary. 🫣

Here's my thinking ... I currently go 7w, 7, 9, 54. If I go 7w, 8, 52 instead, I'd likely go with a bit stronger 8 (bit closer to my 7 than my 9) which would create a more sizable gap to my wedge. Just thinking a 52 would give me a few more yards on full shots while hopefully not giving up much in greenside utility. Still a larger gap than today, albeit slightly more manageable. I'd be dropping the 7 & 9 for an 8.