Club/Bag Setup

[CBECH22]

Hey guys,

 

I was interested in what your guys club selection is for your bag of 14. Obviously everyone takes a driver and putter and I was wondering how you guys selected what you wanted in between. I have heard 5 woods are becoming a lost cause now days and hybrids are definitely popular, but I absolutely hate them. I enjoy the old 3 wood, 5 wood, and 4-PW, 52*, 56*, and 60* setup. I have debated switching out my 4 iron for either a high lofted wood like a 7 wood or adding another dimension to my short game with a 64*. I was curious on what you guys like filling your bag with.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

dude it really makes ZERO difference what anyone here on WRX carries. keep experimenting and find out what works for YOUR game, or maybe also direct your choices based on the courses you play. the bag is just your toolbox. if you always have the right mix of wrenches for the job you'll be a lot better off.

[ABG]

My bag is pretty similar to yours; only difference is hybrid rather than 5W, and my 4i is more like a driving iron as I use a Mizuno MP Fli-hi. I'm considering ditching the driver and 3W and going with a mini-driver and an extra hybrid as my course is not overly long but very tight.

[CBECH22]

[quote name='Kenny Lee Puckett' timestamp='1436157883' post='11894406']
dude it really makes ZERO difference what anyone here on WRX carries. keep experimenting and find out what works for YOUR game, or maybe also direct your choices based on the courses you play. the bag is just your toolbox. if you always have the right mix of wrenches for the job you'll be a lot better off.
[/quote]

I know, I was just curious as to how you guys picked what you wanted or what your favorite setup was. I havent had the money to buy new clubs so I can switch out what I want to use depending on the course and I was curious to your guys play styles or mindset. I have this classic setup because its what my dad bought me when i was younger and i havent really ever thought of changing it and I wanted to see how everyone feels.

[CBECH22]

[quote name='ABG' timestamp='1436179715' post='11894798']
My bag is pretty similar to yours; only difference is hybrid rather than 5W, and my 4i is more like a driving iron as I use a Mizuno MP Fli-hi. I'm considering ditching the driver and 3W and going with a mini-driver and an extra hybrid as my course is not overly long but very tight.
[/quote]

Thats a smart setup if its going to be a short tight couse. I have never hit a miny driver. Have you? How do they feel compared to an actual driver? I know some courses I play I could easily play without a driver and I would probably set myself up at better distances to attack the flag, but I like hitting it long, its just frustrating when its in accurate.

[Gamble Gamble]

Drop the putter and go with another 64. You can putt with your sand wedge.

Streb-style for the win

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436192282' post='11895664']
[quote name='Kenny Lee Puckett' timestamp='1436157883' post='11894406']
dude it really makes ZERO difference what anyone here on WRX carries. keep experimenting and find out what works for YOUR game, or maybe also direct your choices based on the courses you play. the bag is just your toolbox. if you always have the right mix of wrenches for the job you'll be a lot better off.
[/quote]

I know, I was just curious as to how you guys picked what you wanted or what your favorite setup was. I havent had the money to buy new clubs so I can switch out what I want to use depending on the course and I was curious to your guys play styles or mindset. I have this classic setup because its what my dad bought me when i was younger and i havent really ever thought of changing it and I wanted to see how everyone feels.
[/quote]I am a big believer in carrying atleast one hybrid. and putting it yardage gapping wise as close as possible to last long iron you do not want to carry. for example my cover number* with 4 iron is 200-205. so I rigged an old 20* hybrid by putting in heavy hybrid shaft and cut it to be only 3/4" of an inch longer than my actually 4 iron. so the hybrid covers 215 and my 4 wood 225-230.

*understand, "cover" number means how far the ball flys in the AIR. majority of people on here quote all these yardages off goofy launch monitors, or what they think they once hit it on the course, or what their buddies GPS once said, in TOTAL yardage numbers. they have no clue how far they hit. be astute and know your actual "cover" number with each club and you'll be a lot better prepared on the course.

[RichieHunt]

My bag setup is Driver (9.5 degrees), 3-wood (13 degrees), 2-Hybrid (17 degrees), 3-hybrid (20 degrees), 4-iron thru PW, 52 degree SW, 60 degree LW and a putter.

I'll try to briefly go over my thinking on the bag setup.

My 3-wood has a lower loft because I'm not trying to lose too much distance when I need to lay-up off the tee (which I don't do very often anyway). But, I can hit the 13 degree loft with good trajectory off the deck anyway.

I tend to think that the hybrid should technically be your 'best club in the bag' because it is the club you need to hit the furthest from the worst lies. So, if I miss a fairway on a par-5, I should be able to advance the ball 220-250 yards with the 2-hybrid. I also like to use the 2-hybrid if I have to lay-up and absolutely need to find the fairway.

The 3-hybrid I simply hit better than my 3-iron. However, I don't get as much spin with the 3-hybrid. General rule of thumb is if I have to absolutely get the ball to carry, I use the 3-hybrid, if not and it's more accuracy related, I'll use the 4-iron.

I hit my 4-iron spectacularly and don't find enough spin rate or control with a 4-hybrid.

I used to use a 56 degree SW, but I found over the years that most of my bunker shots around the green and pitch shots can be done with the LW. That 56 degree would leave me with a large gap from my PW (47 degrees). So, I got a 52 degree SW that I can hit out of the bunker or hit some pitch shots with if necessary. Two great bunker players on Tour are Ernie Els and Sang-Moon Bae and both use a 52 and a 60 and do not have a typical SW loft. If it works for them, I thought it could work for me and when I eventually found the right 52 degree SW, it has worked great.





RH

[CBECH22]

[quote name='Kenny Lee Puckett' timestamp='1436193957' post='11895860']
[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436192282' post='11895664']
[quote name='Kenny Lee Puckett' timestamp='1436157883' post='11894406']
dude it really makes ZERO difference what anyone here on WRX carries. keep experimenting and find out what works for YOUR game, or maybe also direct your choices based on the courses you play. the bag is just your toolbox. if you always have the right mix of wrenches for the job you'll be a lot better off.
[/quote]

I know, I was just curious as to how you guys picked what you wanted or what your favorite setup was. I havent had the money to buy new clubs so I can switch out what I want to use depending on the course and I was curious to your guys play styles or mindset. I have this classic setup because its what my dad bought me when i was younger and i havent really ever thought of changing it and I wanted to see how everyone feels.
[/quote]I am a big believer in carrying atleast one hybrid. and putting it yardage gapping wise as close as possible to last long iron you do not want to carry. for example my cover number* with 4 iron is 200-205. so I rigged an old 20* hybrid by putting in heavy hybrid shaft and cut it to be only 3/4" of an inch longer than my actually 4 iron. so the hybrid covers 215 and my 4 wood 225-230.

*understand, "cover" number means how far the ball flys in the AIR. majority of people on here quote all these yardages off goofy launch monitors, or what they think they once hit it on the course, or what their buddies GPS once said, in TOTAL yardage numbers. they have no clue how far they hit. be astute and know your actual "cover" number with each club and you'll be a lot better prepared on the course.
[/quote]

That makes sense about cover numbers. I guess I kind of always look at how far I hit the ball off the roll because I cant measure it any other way. Hybrids just seem so popular now days and I don't have a 3 iron in my set because my dad only bought me a 5-PW. I bought an old 4 iron that didn't come with my set but it plays no where near how i would like it too. Maybe I should go get fitted for a hybrid and see if I can find one that I like because my past experiences with them have been very bad.

[CBECH22]

[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1436194957' post='11895970']
My bag setup is Driver (9.5 degrees), 3-wood (13 degrees), 2-Hybrid (17 degrees), 3-hybrid (20 degrees), 4-iron thru PW, 52 degree SW, 60 degree LW and a putter.

I'll try to briefly go over my thinking on the bag setup.

My 3-wood has a lower loft because I'm not trying to lose too much distance when I need to lay-up off the tee (which I don't do very often anyway). But, I can hit the 13 degree loft with good trajectory off the deck anyway.

I tend to think that the hybrid should technically be your 'best club in the bag' because it is the club you need to hit the furthest from the worst lies. So, if I miss a fairway on a par-5, I should be able to advance the ball 220-250 yards with the 2-hybrid. I also like to use the 2-hybrid if I have to lay-up and absolutely need to find the fairway.

The 3-hybrid I simply hit better than my 3-iron. However, I don't get as much spin with the 3-hybrid. General rule of thumb is if I have to absolutely get the ball to carry, I use the 3-hybrid, if not and it's more accuracy related, I'll use the 4-iron.

I hit my 4-iron spectacularly and don't find enough spin rate or control with a 4-hybrid.

I used to use a 56 degree SW, but I found over the years that most of my bunker shots around the green and pitch shots can be done with the LW. That 56 degree would leave me with a large gap from my PW (47 degrees). So, I got a 52 degree SW that I can hit out of the bunker or hit some pitch shots with if necessary. Two great bunker players on Tour are Ernie Els and Sang-Moon Bae and both use a 52 and a 60 and do not have a typical SW loft. If it works for them, I thought it could work for me and when I eventually found the right 52 degree SW, it has worked great.





RH
[/quote]

I feel you there. So you like to have more long distance clubs to have more variability from farther out. I personally like to have more variability around the greens with different loft options. That's why I am debating getting a 64* to see if I can improve my short game. But with the amount of time that I get too play I don't think it make a huge difference. Thats why i am debating getting rid of my 4 iron and trying out a hybrid or a 7 wood, because I love the feel of woods.

[trapsmv15]

[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1436194957' post='11895970']
My bag setup is Driver (9.5 degrees), 3-wood (13 degrees), 2-Hybrid (17 degrees), 3-hybrid (20 degrees), 4-iron thru PW, 52 degree SW, 60 degree LW and a putter.

I'll try to briefly go over my thinking on the bag setup.

My 3-wood has a lower loft because I'm not trying to lose too much distance when I need to lay-up off the tee (which I don't do very often anyway). But, I can hit the 13 degree loft with good trajectory off the deck anyway.

I tend to think that the hybrid should technically be your 'best club in the bag' because it is the club you need to hit the furthest from the worst lies. So, if I miss a fairway on a par-5, I should be able to advance the ball 220-250 yards with the 2-hybrid. I also like to use the 2-hybrid if I have to lay-up and absolutely need to find the fairway.

The 3-hybrid I simply hit better than my 3-iron. However, I don't get as much spin with the 3-hybrid. General rule of thumb is if I have to absolutely get the ball to carry, I use the 3-hybrid, if not and it's more accuracy related, I'll use the 4-iron.

I hit my 4-iron spectacularly and don't find enough spin rate or control with a 4-hybrid.

I used to use a 56 degree SW, but I found over the years that most of my bunker shots around the green and pitch shots can be done with the LW. That 56 degree would leave me with a large gap from my PW (47 degrees). So, I got a 52 degree SW that I can hit out of the bunker or hit some pitch shots with if necessary. Two great bunker players on Tour are Ernie Els and Sang-Moon Bae and both use a 52 and a 60 and do not have a typical SW loft. If it works for them, I thought it could work for me and when I eventually found the right 52 degree SW, it has worked great.





RH
[/quote]
I'm much like you in both the top end and in the wedges, except I use mostly fairway woods (surely not as much swing speed). I was using a 52/56 Vokey combo only, but I never use the 52 for pitches and didn't have enough loft on the short-side pitches with the 56. I'd rather have to hit half shots with wedges than hit 'easy' long clubs. So now, my AW is the same model as my irons for 3/4 and full swings, and my 60 has a wider sole for bunkers while the extra loft gives me confidence to leave the face square and use a full swing. The 56 always scared me a bit as I'm really weak in bunkers.

[Santiago Golf]

Everyone should have a driver or mini driver. I understand that everyone cannot hit a driver and a mini driver helps a constant miss. Every then should have hybrids, at least one; if you one to hook hybrid, then maybe a driving iron or a 7 wood. Finally every should have at least two wedges; one approach wedge; (48-54; the highest loft club you will hit full shots with) and one short game wedge (56-62; the wedge that is your go to around the green). Then unless you are Streb a putter


My Bag
Driver
3 wood; may use once every 3 rounds
17* Hybrid
3-PW
52* (The Approach Wedge)
58* (The Short Game Wedge)
Putter

[CBECH22]

[quote name='Santiago Golf' timestamp='1436203987' post='11896998']
Everyone should have a driver or mini driver. I understand that everyone cannot hit a driver and a mini driver helps a constant miss. Every then should have hybrids, at least one; if you one to hook hybrid, then maybe a driving iron or a 7 wood. Finally every should have at least two wedges; one approach wedge; (48-54; the highest loft club you will hit full shots with) and one short game wedge (56-62; the wedge that is your go to around the green). Then unless you are Streb a putter


My Bag
Driver
3 wood; may use once every 3 rounds
17* Hybrid
3-PW
52* (The Approach Wedge)
58* (The Short Game Wedge)
Putter
[/quote]

I agree with the wedges part. I feel the more wedges I have, the more workability and options I have around the greens. I have heard a lot about hybrids and its making me want to try and hit one. See what all the talk is about. The thing is my 3 wood is 15* and my 5 wood is 21*. Idk where I would fit a hybrid in that setup.

[Santiago Golf]

[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436204673' post='11897076']
[quote name='Santiago Golf' timestamp='1436203987' post='11896998']
Everyone should have a driver or mini driver. I understand that everyone cannot hit a driver and a mini driver helps a constant miss. Every then should have hybrids, at least one; if you one to hook hybrid, then maybe a driving iron or a 7 wood. Finally every should have at least two wedges; one approach wedge; (48-54; the highest loft club you will hit full shots with) and one short game wedge (56-62; the wedge that is your go to around the green). Then unless you are Streb a putter


My Bag
Driver
3 wood; may use once every 3 rounds
17* Hybrid
3-PW
52* (The Approach Wedge)
58* (The Short Game Wedge)
Putter
[/quote]

I agree with the wedges part. I feel the more wedges I have, the more workability and options I have around the greens. I have heard a lot about hybrids and its making me want to try and hit one. See what all the talk is about. The thing is my 3 wood is 15* and my 5 wood is 21*. Idk where I would fit a hybrid in that setup.
[/quote]


Your 5 wood is techically a 7 wood. One of my golfing buddies plays an really old Wilson Wild Thing 5 wood that is 20* and is the size of modern hybrids. Its his hybrid. I wish he would change the grip cause it awful. But that is me being a grip snob.

[llewol007]

My bag doesnt change much. Usually Driver, 3 wood, hybrid, 4-pw, 51, 56, 60 and my putter. Seems to work for most of the course in my area. I am contemplating carrying a 5 wood versus my hybrid for swing comfort reasons.

[Lexicographer]

My bag setup is really dictated by my irons. I play G25s, so my PW is 45. I go with the set gap wedge (UW) at 50. I prefer to have a lob wedge, so I add two more "regular" style wedges at 54 and 59. I play the G25s through the 4 iron (23*). I like to have a traditional 3 wood for tee shots on some shorter par 4s. So that leaves me with a single club to choose between 4 iron and 3 wood. I go with 19 hybrid as I'm more comfortable with the shorter length shaft compared to a 5 wood and I really like to have a hybrid for longer shots out of the rough. The 19 hybrid or 4 iron is used on the vast majority of my second shots on par 5s, as I don't trust the 3 wood unless I'm sure I can get there in two.

[ERUddOH]

I like that you assess your 4 iron spectacularly! I admire the confidence & ability, Rich! I was just talking to a playing partner about eliminating the 4 or not, we agreed we both like to keep at least a 4 iron for longer knockdown situations. My $.02

[jbhawx]

Last year I had a dream setup. I put a lot of research into easer to hit clubs and had a 4 wood, and 5 wood (nike SQs) They were shorter than traditional 3w and 5w and the square face made them easy to hit straight. My irons were adams 12os 4H-SW. I was improving fast and doing awesome. Halfway through the summer I decided to trade in the woods and went with a driver, 3w, and 5w. I went to fit my irons and they apparently were short, the wrong flex, and had small grips (I bought them used). The cost to fix them was over what I spent to get them so I traded them for what I have now.

My current setup is a Driver, 3W, 3H, and my irons (4h,5h-GW), SW and a putter. I haven't figured out what I want that 14th club to be yet, and haven't found a need to carry it yet either.

[dornstar]

My setup is listed in my signature and a lot of my bag revolves around my 2 hybrid which is a club I've had in my bag for 5 years now. I can hit it anywhere from 240 off the tee to a 200 yard cut into a green. I absolutely love that club and it's versatility allowed me to drop my 3 iron out of the bag and put a 4th wedge into play. I just KNOW if I have to hit a fairway, I can pull it out of the bag and hit one out there 9 times out of 10 which is a great feeling. Prior to adding that club, I usually played a 3-PW,52,58 setup. I definitely prefer the 4th wedge as I'm that 120 range a heck of a lot more often than I am in the 210-220 range.

[color=#282828]LW/60* - 90 (hip high - 45 yards, chest high - 60, shoulder high - 80)[/color]
[color=#282828]SW/54*[/color][color=#282828]- 105 (hip high - 60 yards, chest high - 75, shoulder high - 90)[/color]
[color=#282828]GW/50* - 122 (hip high - 80 yards, chest high - 90, shoulder high - 110)[/color]
[color=#282828]PW - 138[/color]
[color=#282828]9 - 150[/color]
[color=#282828]8 - 162[/color]
[color=#282828]7 - 174[/color]
[color=#282828]6 - 186[/color]
[color=#282828]5 - 198[/color]
[color=#282828]4 - 210[/color]
[color=#282828]2H - 225[/color]
[color=#282828]3W - 240[/color]
[color=#282828]1W - 265 (285 total)[/color]

[color=#282828]With the wedges, I have a 15 yard gap and with the irons, there's a 12 yard. Took a few launch monitor sessions and loft tweaks to get them dialed in, but they're set now. It's amazing how odd the yardage gaps can be out of the box. Love those irons. I dropped the extra loot to do a multi-day fitting over 2 weeks to make sure whatever I ended up with wasn't a flash in the pan where I just hit it well one day. Couldn't have worked out better. Only club in question is my 3 wood. I absolutely nuke it and with the open face, it's hard for me to hook, but the ball flight is a tad too low.[/color]

[CBECH22]

[quote name='dornstar' timestamp='1436206708' post='11897320']
My setup is listed in my signature and a lot of my bag revolves around my 2 hybrid which is a club I've had in my bag for 5 years now. I can hit it anywhere from 240 off the tee to a 200 yard cut into a green. I absolutely love that club and it's versatility allowed me to drop my 3 iron out of the bag and put a 4th wedge into play. I just KNOW if I have to hit a fairway, I can pull it out of the bag and hit one out there 9 times out of 10 which is a great feeling. Prior to adding that club, I usually played a 3-PW,52,58 setup. I definitely prefer the 4th wedge as I'm that 120 range a heck of a lot more often than I am in the 210-220 range.

[color=#282828]LW/60* - 90 (hip high - 45 yards, chest high - 60, shoulder high - 80)[/color]
[color=#282828]SW/54*[/color][color=#282828]- 105 (hip high - 60 yards, chest high - 75, shoulder high - 90)[/color]
[color=#282828]GW/50* - 122 (hip high - 80 yards, chest high - 90, shoulder high - 110)[/color]
[color=#282828]PW - 138[/color]
[color=#282828]9 - 150[/color]
[color=#282828]8 - 162[/color]
[color=#282828]7 - 174[/color]
[color=#282828]6 - 186[/color]
[color=#282828]5 - 198[/color]
[color=#282828]4 - 210[/color]
[color=#282828]2H - 225[/color]
[color=#282828]3W - 240[/color]
[color=#282828]1W - 265 (285 total)[/color]

[color=#282828]With the wedges, I have a 15 yard gap and with the irons, there's a 12 yard. Took a few launch monitor sessions and loft tweaks to get them dialed in, but they're set now. It's amazing how odd the yardage gaps can be out of the box. Love those irons. I dropped the extra loot to do a multi-day fitting over 2 weeks to make sure whatever I ended up with wasn't a flash in the pan where I just hit it well one day. Couldn't have worked out better. Only club in question is my 3 wood. I absolutely nuke it and with the open face, it's hard for me to hook, but the ball flight is a tad too low.[/color]
[/quote]

I definitely love the 4 wedge setup. I just added a 52 degree to my bag this year and if filled the gap between my 56 degree and pw. There was about a 25 yard gap that was so hard to judge and it is perfectly filled with my 52. See I love my 3 wood and 5 wood. I feel so confident with both of them in hand hitting into a par 5 that I havent thought about switching to a hybrid or adding one for that matter. I am not a huge fan of 3 or 4 iron other than off the tee box, so I could possibly take that our and add a hybrid to replace that.

[dornstar]

[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436207445' post='11897394']
[quote name='dornstar' timestamp='1436206708' post='11897320']
My setup is listed in my signature and a lot of my bag revolves around my 2 hybrid which is a club I've had in my bag for 5 years now. I can hit it anywhere from 240 off the tee to a 200 yard cut into a green. I absolutely love that club and it's versatility allowed me to drop my 3 iron out of the bag and put a 4th wedge into play. I just KNOW if I have to hit a fairway, I can pull it out of the bag and hit one out there 9 times out of 10 which is a great feeling. Prior to adding that club, I usually played a 3-PW,52,58 setup. I definitely prefer the 4th wedge as I'm that 120 range a heck of a lot more often than I am in the 210-220 range.

[color=#282828]LW/60* - 90 (hip high - 45 yards, chest high - 60, shoulder high - 80)[/color]
[color=#282828]SW/54*[/color][color=#282828]- 105 (hip high - 60 yards, chest high - 75, shoulder high - 90)[/color]
[color=#282828]GW/50* - 122 (hip high - 80 yards, chest high - 90, shoulder high - 110)[/color]
[color=#282828]PW - 138[/color]
[color=#282828]9 - 150[/color]
[color=#282828]8 - 162[/color]
[color=#282828]7 - 174[/color]
[color=#282828]6 - 186[/color]
[color=#282828]5 - 198[/color]
[color=#282828]4 - 210[/color]
[color=#282828]2H - 225[/color]
[color=#282828]3W - 240[/color]
[color=#282828]1W - 265 (285 total)[/color]

[color=#282828]With the wedges, I have a 15 yard gap and with the irons, there's a 12 yard. Took a few launch monitor sessions and loft tweaks to get them dialed in, but they're set now. It's amazing how odd the yardage gaps can be out of the box. Love those irons. I dropped the extra loot to do a multi-day fitting over 2 weeks to make sure whatever I ended up with wasn't a flash in the pan where I just hit it well one day. Couldn't have worked out better. Only club in question is my 3 wood. I absolutely nuke it and with the open face, it's hard for me to hook, but the ball flight is a tad too low.[/color]
[/quote]

I definitely love the 4 wedge setup. I just added a 52 degree to my bag this year and if filled the gap between my 56 degree and pw. There was about a 25 yard gap that was so hard to judge and it is perfectly filled with my 52. See I love my 3 wood and 5 wood. I feel so confident with both of them in hand hitting into a par 5 that I havent thought about switching to a hybrid or adding one for that matter. I am not a huge fan of 3 or 4 iron other than off the tee box, so I could possibly take that our and add a hybrid to replace that.
[/quote]
With the lofts of PWs today, a 4 wedge setup is really idea. In reality, it's essentially a 3 wedge setup from 15 years ago as the PWs are pretty much 9 irons.

[RichieHunt]

[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436198209' post='11896408']
I feel you there. So you like to have more long distance clubs to have more variability from farther out. I personally like to have more variability around the greens with different loft options. That's why I am debating getting a 64* to see if I can improve my short game. But with the amount of time that I get too play I don't think it make a huge difference. Thats why i am debating getting rid of my 4 iron and trying out a hybrid or a 7 wood, because I love the feel of woods.
[/quote]

It depends on the handicap (I'm a statistician that works with Tour players on this stuff and have researched this on players from Tour players to 30 handicaps).

I play to a +1 (lately I would say I'm at a +3).

And I play the back tees which are usually 7,000 to 7,300 yards

For me, more strokes are going to be determined from 175-225 yards than from 75-125 yards.

I'm not going to get a lot of 75-125 yard shots compared to 175-225 yard shots. Furthermore, the deviation in results is far greater from 175-225 yards than 75-125 yards. A bad shot from 175-225 yards can cost me 2-3 strokes. From 75-125 yards, a bad shot [i]may [/i]not cost me anything.

So, it's important to be properly gapped from 175-225 (and really from 225-250 yards as well). If I'm not gapped properly, that makes for a super difficult shot. The only place I'm not gapped properly is from my SW (52 degrees - 125 yards) and my LW (60 degrees - 90 yards).

Would I rather try and manipulate a hybrid or a 3-wood when not gapped properly or manipulate my SW when not gapped properly?

I think that is a no brainer.

For the higher handicaps, it's not so much about gapping properly with the long approach shots. First, long approach shots make less of a difference for the high handicappers. They are still important, but it's more about consistently advancing the ball to the green. Probably won't hit the green, but if the high handicappers can consistently advance the ball near the green on those long approach shots, they'll see their scores drop. From there, it's a bit hard to tell on the shorter irons for high handicappers. I wouldn't necessarily want them to manipulate a wedge because they are not gapped properly. But OTOH, I don't think they have the skill to take advantage of being properly gapped.

I don't know what your handicap is, but if it is higher, I would probably lean more towards finding long approach clubs that you consistently hit well. As far as the 64 degree, I tend to think that gives high handicaps more trouble than good. They usually don't have a good idea of when and how to use it. They'll use it when the shot doesn't call for it and leave it well short. Even the Tour players don't use the 64 degree that often unless the greens are super difficulty to get up-and-down from and there will be shots that call for it.

Just my .02







RH

[CBECH22]

[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1436214015' post='11898308']
[quote name='CBECH22' timestamp='1436198209' post='11896408']
I feel you there. So you like to have more long distance clubs to have more variability from farther out. I personally like to have more variability around the greens with different loft options. That's why I am debating getting a 64* to see if I can improve my short game. But with the amount of time that I get too play I don't think it make a huge difference. Thats why i am debating getting rid of my 4 iron and trying out a hybrid or a 7 wood, because I love the feel of woods.
[/quote]

It depends on the handicap (I'm a statistician that works with Tour players on this stuff and have researched this on players from Tour players to 30 handicaps).

I play to a +1 (lately I would say I'm at a +3).

And I play the back tees which are usually 7,000 to 7,300 yards

For me, more strokes are going to be determined from 175-225 yards than from 75-125 yards.

I'm not going to get a lot of 75-125 yard shots compared to 175-225 yard shots. Furthermore, the deviation in results is far greater from 175-225 yards than 75-125 yards. A bad shot from 175-225 yards can cost me 2-3 strokes. From 75-125 yards, a bad shot [i]may [/i]not cost me anything.

So, it's important to be properly gapped from 175-225 (and really from 225-250 yards as well). If I'm not gapped properly, that makes for a super difficult shot. The only place I'm not gapped properly is from my SW (52 degrees - 125 yards) and my LW (60 degrees - 90 yards).

Would I rather try and manipulate a hybrid or a 3-wood when not gapped properly or manipulate my SW when not gapped properly?

I think that is a no brainer.

For the higher handicaps, it's not so much about gapping properly with the long approach shots. First, long approach shots make less of a difference for the high handicappers. They are still important, but it's more about consistently advancing the ball to the green. Probably won't hit the green, but if the high handicappers can consistently advance the ball near the green on those long approach shots, they'll see their scores drop. From there, it's a bit hard to tell on the shorter irons for high handicappers. I wouldn't necessarily want them to manipulate a wedge because they are not gapped properly. But OTOH, I don't think they have the skill to take advantage of being properly gapped.

I don't know what your handicap is, but if it is higher, I would probably lean more towards finding long approach clubs that you consistently hit well. As far as the 64 degree, I tend to think that gives high handicaps more trouble than good. They usually don't have a good idea of when and how to use it. They'll use it when the shot doesn't call for it and leave it well short. Even the Tour players don't use the 64 degree that often unless the greens are super difficulty to get up-and-down from and there will be shots that call for it.

Just my .02







RH
[/quote]


I dont have an official handicap but I am a low 40 to high 30's golfer. I like to play the back tees at the courses i play to give myself the best possible challenge but most of the courses I play I am long enough off the tee to have only 160 at max to play into the green on a par 4. Thats why I felt bagging a 64 degree because of the yardages at the courses I play. I live in Wisconsin and most of the local courses have yardages around 6500 or lower from the back tees.

[BMartTTU]

[quote name='Gamble Gamble' timestamp='1436192669' post='11895704']
Drop the putter and go with another 64. You can putt with your sand wedge.

Streb-style for the win
[/quote]
It's funny, If I'm not playing a match and I miss a green I don't take my putter. ​Putting with a wedge alps my stroke.

[oregongolfguy]

I play off just under a 8 handicap. Usually 6400-6700 yd courses...

Driver - nothing to say...
3w 15 degree - This is a club I just put into the bag this year. I used to play with no fairway woods. I rarely use it off the ground. But I am working it into playing off the tee on par 4's that are a little tight for the driver, or have bad landing area's for my driver length, but getting more distance then the next club down. Its still a work in progress. But I am seeing where it is starting to make a difference, and as I get more comfortable with it I think it will make a big difference on some holes.
19 degree Hybrid - technically its a 3H, but for me it plays more like a 6 wood. I have had this club in the bag for 2yrs now and I am very confident in it. I rarely make bad contact with it. It has a nice high trajectory and I can put it in the fairway most of the time. It gets a lot of play as a second shot on par 5's to advance close to the greens. And I hit it off the tee on some par 4's. But I am hoping to move into the 3 wood more for those shots. its at least two clubs shorter then the 3 wood and that makes a big difference on the next shot. I also use it to escape a lot and sometimes around the greens as well. Probably the most important club in my bad as I can always advance the ball in the right direction with it...
4i-pw - I have thought about dropping the 4i for a hybrid as well, but frankly it and 5i does not get a lot of play on the length of courses that I play....
50 - mostly full approach shots and lower running out pitches around the greens
54 - The majority of the work around the greens and out of bunkers
58 - I'm pretty comfortable hitting a 3/4 swing with this around 70yds...comes into play on 3rd shots on par 5's. occasionally around the greens. But honestly I don't use it a lot...

Putter


putter

[CBECH22]

[quote name='oregongolfguy' timestamp='1436285697' post='11903438']
I play off just under a 8 handicap. Usually 6400-6700 yd courses...

Driver - nothing to say...
3w 15 degree - This is a club I just put into the bag this year. I used to play with no fairway woods. I rarely use it off the ground. But I am working it into playing off the tee on par 4's that are a little tight for the driver, or have bad landing area's for my driver length, but getting more distance then the next club down. Its still a work in progress. But I am seeing where it is starting to make a difference, and as I get more comfortable with it I think it will make a big difference on some holes.
19 degree Hybrid - technically its a 3H, but for me it plays more like a 6 wood. I have had this club in the bag for 2yrs now and I am very confident in it. I rarely make bad contact with it. It has a nice high trajectory and I can put it in the fairway most of the time. It gets a lot of play as a second shot on par 5's to advance close to the greens. And I hit it off the tee on some par 4's. But I am hoping to move into the 3 wood more for those shots. its at least two clubs shorter then the 3 wood and that makes a big difference on the next shot. I also use it to escape a lot and sometimes around the greens as well. Probably the most important club in my bad as I can always advance the ball in the right direction with it...
4i-pw - I have thought about dropping the 4i for a hybrid as well, but frankly it and 5i does not get a lot of play on the length of courses that I play....
50 - mostly full approach shots and lower running out pitches around the greens
54 - The majority of the work around the greens and out of bunkers
58 - I'm pretty comfortable hitting a 3/4 swing with this around 70yds...comes into play on 3rd shots on par 5's. occasionally around the greens. But honestly I don't use it a lot...

Putter


putter
[/quote]

I love my woods and play them off the deck very well. I rarely take them off the tee unless its a long par 3 or a sharp dog leg where my driver will push it over the fairway. You saying that you are playing the 3 wood off the tee box more often to set yourself up with better distances is something that I need to start doing myself. I would rather be 100 yards out in the fairway then 50 yards out in the rough. I just try to rip and grip and thats what gets me into trouble sometimes. I need to work the ball around the course more.