Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[rwc356]

45 minutes ago, djrock89 said:

Really cant decide on using 4h,6,8,PW,SW or 5h,7,9,GW,SW at the moment

I try and look the par 3's and make sure I have the right clubs for those distances. I don't like to try and choke down or try and hit 110%  on the Par 3's if possible.

 

[djrock89]

@rwc356

33 minutes ago, rwc356 said:

I try and look the par 3's and make sure I have the right clubs for those distances. I don't like to try and choke down or try and hit 110%  on the Par 3's if possible.

 

Ive been using the odds more but something keeps telling me to go back to then evens the scores i shoot are pretty much the same with both i think i need to sell whatever im not using to stop the temptation to swap haha

[Tommy56]

32 minutes ago, djrock89 said:

i think i need to sell whatever im not using to stop the temptation to swap haha

I agree with that logic.  Consistency builds confidence.

[azgreg]

Just finishing up putting together a short set from my last gamers.

D

3h - 20°

5i - 26°

6i - 32°

8i - 38°

9i - 44°

gw - 50°

sw - 56°

P

 

9 clubs all in a PING Moonlander.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20 by azgreg

[rwc356]

6 hours ago, djrock89 said:

@rwc356

Ive been using the odds more but something keeps telling me to go back to then evens the scores i shoot are pretty much the same with both i think i need to sell whatever im not using to stop the temptation to swap haha

I've been down that road .... several times. Sadly I don't have ability to avoid the seller's remorse.... actually bought some clubs several times 😞 . Now I just put them away in boxes and pretend they were sold ... its cheaper that way and less emotional 🙂

 

 

[Nickb333]

9 hours ago, djrock89 said:

@rwc356

Ive been using the odds more but something keeps telling me to go back to then evens the scores i shoot are pretty much the same with both i think i need to sell whatever im not using to stop the temptation to swap haha

For me, odds or evens are just dictated by my favorite wedge or hybrid/fw. Some clubs just need to be in the bag like “one ring to rule them all”.

[WipeyFade]

     Just checking in. I’ve played some really bad golf as of late. Recently I have added clubs to the bag and I think that has had something to do with it. I have come to the conclusion that I need a very simple set up to simplify the decision making process. My best rounds this year have come when I hit nearly every approach (100-170y) with an 8 iron.
     The tee club seems to be irrelevant, they all are bad at some point in the round. This season I have played my Demsey persimmon, 2 different 3 woods, and a PING G driver in that position, and I’m not sure which has cost me the most shots. 
     So, for my next round I’m just going back to my super minimal 5 club set up. Tee club (likely the PING), 5 iron, 8 iron, 56*, and putter. My mind is too simple to be making too many decisions. 

[Santiago Golf]

I played the better part of 3 years using a short set

 

Driver

4 wood

4 iron, 6 iron, 8 iron, PW

SW, LW

Putter

 

I think if I was to do it now, it would look somethign like this

 

Driver

5 wood

even irons or odd iron depending on the day of the week (would play a gw for odd number days)

52, 58

putter

 

Would love for the PGA Tour and KFT to limit the players to 10 clubs instead of 14 ... scores would go up and it would be more interesting looking at bags week in week out, because we would see some real setup changes course to course

[MorganM]

On 5/18/2025 at 1:59 PM, 9woodfan said:

I have so many variations on the minimalist setup now, it's hard to choose a favorite!

 

I have a set running D 5w 4h 6-8-P-S putter and that's my gamer usually.

 

My super fun set is made up of all my favorite old clubs. D 7w 5h 8-G-58 Putter and Ping ChipO

 

Sim2 Max Driver, Ping K15 7 wood, Cobra T-Rail 5 hybrid, 8-G Wishon Sterling, Ping Glide 2 WS 58*, Custom SGC Anser putter and old El ChipO (the ultimate money club)

 

I'll never play a full set ever again and haven't for years now.

Okay, I’ve gotta ask….what happened to the 9w?

[Tommy56]

@WipeyFade  I look forward to your next update after going back to your typical set-up.  I suspect your game will come back quickly and nicely.

[ciscojaws]

On 5/20/2025 at 11:07 AM, rwc356 said:

I try and look the par 3's and make sure I have the right clubs for those distances. I don't like to try and choke down or try and hit 110%  on the Par 3's if possible.

 

Interesting.  I view all par 4’s as 3’s after the tee shot.

[MorganM]

On 5/20/2025 at 8:31 PM, WipeyFade said:

     Just checking in. I’ve played some really bad golf as of late. Recently I have added clubs to the bag and I think that has had something to do with it. I have come to the conclusion that I need a very simple set up to simplify the decision making process. My best rounds this year have come when I hit nearly every approach (100-170y) with an 8 iron.
     The tee club seems to be irrelevant, they all are bad at some point in the round. This season I have played my Demsey persimmon, 2 different 3 woods, and a PING G driver in that position, and I’m not sure which has cost me the most shots. 
     So, for my next round I’m just going back to my super minimal 5 club set up. Tee club (likely the PING), 5 iron, 8 iron, 56*, and putter. My mind is too simple to be making too many decisions. 

There’s hope! I’m in my mid seventies. The days of hitting a PW 100 yards are long gone. If I can hit my tee club over 170 yards I’m a happy camper. A large majority of my approach shots are outside 100 yards. 135 to around 120 is a 9W; 120 to 90 is a 7i. When I was taught the game choking down and 3/4 swings were part of the repertoire (Yes, my first clubs were persimmons 😁)

[WipeyFade]

1 minute ago, MorganM said:

There’s hope! I’m in my mid seventies. The days of hitting a PW 100 yards are long gone. If I can hit my tee club over 170 yards I’m a happy camper. A large majority of my approach shots are outside 100 yards. 135 to around 120 is a 9W; 120 to 90 is a 7i. When I was taught the game choking down and 3/4 swings were part of the repertoire (Yes, my first clubs were persimmons 😁)

Thinking back to the last few years my best and most fun rounds have come with 5 clubs in the bag. Strange game. 

[MorganM]

6 hours ago, WipeyFade said:

Thinking back to the last few years my best and most fun rounds have come with 5 clubs in the bag. Strange game. 

Yep, I get it. The only reason I list 7 clubs, is because I carry a SW. My home course doesn’t have many(2-3) bunkers, so I rarely pull it out, and when I travel I know it’s in there. 
And we each do things we enjoy. My fairway club is a 3 hybrid iron.  I would say for most people a well struck drive is their favorite shot. For me, it’s a well struck long iron. So instead of a 5W, or 7W, it’s a long iron. Necessary, no, but I enjoy it.

[Georgie Z]

I just hit my average score with 4 clubs. I think it’s easier when the course doesn’t have many forced carries. It didn’t make it easier, but it was a fun round.

[rwc356]

28 minutes ago, Georgie Z said:

I just hit my average score with 4 clubs. I think it’s easier when the course doesn’t have many forced carries. It didn’t make it easier, but it was a fun round.

@Georgie Z, what 4 clubs did you use. 5 is the least number of clubs I've been able to "sorta work" for a round.

[Georgie Z]

36 minutes ago, rwc356 said:

@Georgie Z, what 4 clubs did you use. 5 is the least number of clubs I've been able to "sorta work" for a round.

I went with driver, hybrid, wedge, and putter. There were about 10 times I would’ve benefit from an iron, but I just punched it with my hybrid instead. I was lucky to play a course with little water or sand though. I think under 7 clubs is where I’m probably sacrificing a few strokes.

[Tommy56]

1 hour ago, rwc356 said:

@Georgie Z, what 4 clubs did you use. 5 is the least number of clubs I've been able to "sorta work" for a round.

@Georgie Z  Kudos for giving 4 clubs a try AND hitting your average score!  I’m comfortable with my usual 5, but 4 would be a stretch.

[Georgie Z]

50 minutes ago, Tommy56 said:

@Georgie Z  Kudos for giving 4 clubs a try AND hitting your average score!  I’m comfortable with my usual 5, but 4 would be a stretch.

Which 5 do you carry? And if you go down to 4 what would you drop?

[Tommy56]

3 hours ago, Georgie Z said:

Which 5 do you carry? And if you go down to 4 what would you drop?

Funny you should ask as I've been pondering that question ever since your initial post. 

I've carried 7w, 7i, 9i, Sw, P for the last 8 months.  Think I would drop the 7i & 9i and replace with an 8i.  

 

I have a 10º loft gap between my 7i (T350) and 9i (T200) so collectively they cover a pretty wide yardage range.  An 8i would have some big shoes to fill.  🤔

[WipeyFade]

On 5/21/2025 at 10:41 AM, Tommy56 said:

@WipeyFade  I look forward to your next update after going back to your typical set-up.  I suspect your game will come back quickly and nicely.

Simplification is the key, for me at least. I didn’t score well, but I did hit the ball better. In the bag was Demsey persimmon, Handmade Stix 4 and 8 irons, Maxfli 56, and Cleveland Ben Crenshaw. 

[Tommy56]

@WipeyFade  Sounds promising.  I'm sure the improved ball striking will build confidence in future rounds.  

[54CW]

Scoring well with this set up. Driver causing me the most trouble of course!

[WipeyFade]

6 hours ago, 54CW said:

Scoring well with this set up. Driver causing me the most trouble of course!

Very cool set up. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the KE4 Pro. 

Edited May 27 by WipeyFade

[Hammer_Hands]

Can you still be considered a minimalist if you have multiple minimalist sets?  Asking for a friend...

[acemandrake]

1 hour ago, Hammer_Hands said:

Can you still be considered a minimalist if you have multiple minimalist sets?  Asking for a friend...

Sure!  Just don't be seen carrying more than 7 clubs 😀

[WipeyFade]

I headed out this afternoon to do some prep work for my annual Summer Solstice marathon. Of course I wanted to test a different 5 club set up too lol. My only round goals were to walk and play 18 holes in 2 hours and keep doubles off the card. I had 2 doubles or worse and played in 2 hrs 2 minutes. I also shot one of my best scores of the year. 

[djrock89]

Whats peoples thoughts on say driver, 22° hybrid then 7, 8, 9, PW, SW and putter? Struggling abit with distance control missing out certain irons

[WipeyFade]

Just now, djrock89 said:

Whats peoples thoughts on say driver, 22° hybrid then 7, 8, 9, PW, SW and putter? Struggling abit with distance control missing out certain irons

Looks cool to me. Honestly, it’s kind of what I do I’ve just gotten decent at adapting my 8 iron for 7-pw distances. I have also accepted that I will miss the green more than I’ll hit it anyway lol. 

[DaBirdiMaster]

On 5/26/2025 at 9:56 PM, 54CW said:

Scoring well with this set up. Driver causing me the most trouble of course!

Those irons are🔥