Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

9ClubberLang · June 14

Yes I like that set-up a lot @lil'mike. I played it quite a bit last year and really wanted to go down the single wedge route and get to know that club and be best friends! My 50/56 experiment has been really successful though. The 50 is a Ping Glide and the 56 is a Ping Glide with the Eye2 sole which has helped my bunker play significantly. I chip a lot with the 50. So, I'll be interested how I get on with a 54 back in the bag.

I have a feeling set-up 1 will be my lowest scoring as I hit my 7 wood well and it retains my iron and wedge configuration of my 9 club bag. I hit a 5 wood well too though, and like the rule of ensuring the longest club we can hit off the turf being in the bag even in a minimalist set. So I think set-up 1 may be ok on my own course (6200 yards or less) but may see me struggling on longer ones as it breaks this rule.

I like the flexibility you have there with the 3W & 3H although it's interesting you haven't felt the need to utilise it so far.

ShortGolfer · June 14

I spent the Spring in New England practicing Dan Grieve's three releases with a 52* lob wedge. Great club for bump and runs on small greens which means I'm effectively short sided most of the time. An iron didn't work because the ball would roll the entire length of the green and stop on the fringe. I can hit soft lobs and high spinners as well with one club when I'm close to the green.

ShortGolfer · June 14

Similarly, my long club of choice would be my 3HL, as a fitting showed I could hit it off the deck for good distance compared to driver despite a slow swing speed.

A long club you can hit off either the tee or deck would be a good choice for a minimalist set.

Just as important as selecting clubs is practicing it in a wide variety of lies.

Edited June 14 by ShortGolfer

lil'mike · June 14

1 hour ago, 9ClubberLang said:

Yes I like that set-up a lot @lil'mike. I played it quite a bit last year and really wanted to go down the single wedge route and get to know that club and be best friends! My 50/56 experiment has been really successful though. The 50 is a Ping Glide and the 56 is a Ping Glide with the Eye2 sole which has helped my bunker play significantly. I chip a lot with the 50. So, I'll be interested how I get on with a 54 back in the bag.

I have a feeling set-up 1 will be my lowest scoring as I hit my 7 wood well and it retains my iron and wedge configuration of my 9 club bag. I hit a 5 wood well too though, and like the rule of ensuring the longest club we can hit off the turf being in the bag even in a minimalist set. So I think set-up 1 may be ok on my own course (6200 yards or less) but may see me struggling on longer ones as it breaks this rule.

I like the flexibility you have there with the 3W & 3H although it's interesting you haven't felt the need to utilise it so far.

I figured that if I cannot cover my chipping needs with the two wedges (PW and SW) then having a third one won't help. I too have a Glide 50 and it is a great wedge but not in the bag now. I use the PW for most and pretty much use the SW just out of the sand but there are exceptions! If I played courses/tee boxes around 6200, it just wouldn't be easy but heck I would try! lol I think the longest with this setup is close to 5900 and I know my score would have a few extra strokes on it because of that, which I am fine with.

As far as the flexibility goes, the yardages I try to play are around 5600 yards or so and even though my drives are only about 210 or so, I can handle most courses and holes with the 8 clubs. If by chance the course is longer and I either don't know it or say didn't plan for it to adjust the bag, the worst would be I would get an extra stroke or two on some holes but not all. 🙂

Tommy56 · June 14

7 hours ago, Gladan said:

8 clubs is enough for me to score the same as a full set, I'm that bad.....

Just the opposite in my view. It means that you can effectively control your shots and manage your way around the course.

Tommy56 · June 14

7 hours ago, 9ClubberLang said:

@9ClubberLang Guess I'm not the only one with many iterations of similar charts. 😀

I'd suggest adding a distance metric, which is as or more important than loft gaps.

9ClubberLang · June 14

I love a spreadsheet @Tommy56! Yes that's a good suggestion with regards to distances.

MorganM · June 14

9 hours ago, 9ClubberLang said:

Still experimenting here. I really want to find something and stick with it, so I'm increasing my analysis. My minimalist bag is 9 clubs. This gives me 3 long-game clubs, 3 mid clubs, and 3 short-game clubs (including a putter).

I look at this 9 club set though as not really having any compromises. It feels like a full-set to me. There's nothing missing at all. I feel a minimalist set should probably have a compromise somewhere. 8 or below feels minimalist to me. I always think an 8 club bag constructs itself pretty well. My Hoofer-Lite has four dividers and two clubs per section looks great etc, so I'd really like to play an 8 club bag.

I wasn't sure where to remove a club from though. Not being a long hitter I feel I need my longer clubs, but I've recently had success with a 50/56 wedge set-up so didn't really feel like compromising there either.

So, I'm going to swap out the 5W in my 9 club set-up and get my 4W/7W combo in there. I love playing the 7W and that will make a 10 club "full" set-up which gives me a bit of a gap to the 8 club set-ups. I'm then going to play the 8 club set-ups in rotation and log my scores/GIR to see what comes out on top.

If I can prove that my scores are similar with an 8 club set to the "full" 10 club set-up then I think I will go minimalist full-time. Although some flexibility is good, I would like to have a clear ranking on the 8 club set-ups too.

It's interesting where minimalists choose to make the most compromises. I wonder which of the three 8 club set-ups would be the most popular with people in here? I see a lot of people in here compromising the top or bottom ends more than the middle for example. Some have multiple wedges even in a minimalist bag while others don't use any woods or hybrids. There's no right or wrong but it's a lot of fun working it out!

Just a suggestion; after identifying the clubs you don’t really use and/or don’t particularly like to hit, locate the yardages you rarely, or never, hit too. I don’t have anything between my 7i and my Pw because, for me, I almost never hit into the 110 to 90 yard range. If something unusual happens, a choked down 7i punch shot gets me out.

9ClubberLang · June 14

Yes I always find it interesting when people don't have a bag with even-ish gapping @MorganM. I would like to develop an iron where perhaps I can hit a 50 yard range of shot relatively consistently. It sounds as though your 7 iron is quite a weapon. I guess when someone has numerous clubs that fall into this category, that's how they can score similarly with only 5 or 6 clubs.

MorganM · June 14

2 hours ago, 9ClubberLang said:

Yes I always find it interesting when people don't have a bag with even-ish gapping @MorganM. I would like to develop an iron where perhaps I can hit a 50 yard range of shot relatively consistently. It sounds as though your 7 iron is quite a weapon. I guess when someone has numerous clubs that fall into this category, that's how they can score similarly with only 5 or 6 clubs.

Of course, you have to experiment…. But for myself the following metrics work. My regular 7i goes around 130 yds. Choked down a strong 1/2 inch takes 10 yards off. A full inch takes another 7-8 yards off. Choked down a strong inch and a 3/4 swing takes off about 30 yards. That takes me down to a 100 yards from the flag. A 2/3 swing…you get the idea. And my pitching wedge, an M2 which has a very hot face and I’ve used for over almost a decade, takes over from there.

Edited June 14 by MorganM
Make time frame accurate.

9ClubberLang · June 14

Like it, that's great and exactly what is required to be a successful minimalist. I've updated my set-ups to include distances as per @Tommy56's advice. I definitely need to develop more shots, particularly with the 8, 9 and PW.

glowchoy · June 15

I moved from 9 clubs to 8 when I added the GT280 to replace Driver/3w. My setup has always been focused on the long end of the bag, to give me more options off the tee both for placement and also for planning the yardage for my second shot. I've always generally preferred less wedges, and focus on a single wedge from ~70 yards in. In a full bag I use 54/58, but as a single wedge I find the 56 gives me the best of both vs just the 54. So my setup ends up being close to your setup 3, though my irons have weaker lofts.

The GT280 has been a great addition because I love the smaller head and I love hitting it. Better off the tee than a 3w and still effective off the deck. Pretty much all the clubs I carry are the ones I love hitting.

tatertot · June 15

Thursday night, I played behind 2 groups playing a 3-club tourney ...

Today, I saw a guy with 5 clubs in the bag ... didn't get a chance to talk, but I think he was the first minimalist I've seen in the wild.

Nickb333 · June 15

48 minutes ago, tatertot said:

Thursday night, I played behind 2 groups playing a 3-club tourney ...

Today, I saw a guy with 5 clubs in the bag ... didn't get a chance to talk, but I think he was the first minimalist I've seen in the wild.

👀

lil'mike · June 15

1 hour ago, glowchoy said:

I moved from 9 clubs to 8 when I added the GT280 to replace Driver/3w. My setup has always been focused on the long end of the bag, to give me more options off the tee both for placement and also for planning the yardage for my second shot. I've always generally preferred less wedges, and focus on a single wedge from ~70 yards in. In a full bag I use 54/58, but as a single wedge I find the 56 gives me the best of both vs just the 54. So my setup ends up being close to your setup 3, though my irons have weaker lofts.

The GT280 has been a great addition because I love the smaller head and I love hitting it. Better off the tee than a 3w and still effective off the deck. Pretty much all the clubs I carry are the ones I love hitting.

I thought about a mini driver but don't hit the ball far enough to benefit me. I too have weaker lofts in my irons.

lil'mike · June 15

4 hours ago, 9ClubberLang said:

Like it, that's great and exactly what is required to be a successful minimalist. I've updated my set-ups to include distances as per @Tommy56's advice. I definitely need to develop more shots, particularly with the 8, 9 and PW.

I forgot to mention that I too have weaker lofts. Mine are 6i is 30 deg, 8i is 37 deg and PW is 45 deg.

I would like to upgrade to a 6-8-PW that is newer but because of the stronger lofts it may create bigger gaps for my 8 club bag. It would probably be fine.

3rutu5 · June 15

for anyone who bought a pencil bag (generic amazon/ebay/aliexpress etc or New Era one from Japan), i designed up this insert that should drop into most, you just need a 3d printer, prefereably Bambulabs.

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1520395-pencil-bag-club-organiser#profileId-1593213

i've been using it mainly for the range and sim, but just keeps the better organised in my opinion, about 2hrs to print on a P1P.

Ignore whats in the bag, as they were just jammed in there from last time i took out my cart bag. But if i was, it would be most likley the

* Rogue ST Max with Speeder NX Green shaft (SR Flex),

* Epic Super Hybrid either 3h or 4h,

* 7i in the epic forged star,

*PW in the epic forged star,

* 54d Jaws MD5 wedge

* Baby Ben Bettinardi putter.

Edited June 15 by 3rutu5

MorganM · June 20

Just became aware that Taylormade’s new Qi35 Max Lite hybrid comes in lofts of 31 & 35 degrees. So, a club set, especially for a minimalist, could be created that would contain only woods, wedges and a putter.

Intriguing, but my traditionalist side is ….hmmm.

stimpmeterp · June 22

77 with 9 clubs today at Atlantic Dunes on HHI, including a couple old goats.

D

15 (Mizzy MP001)

18h (Ping Anser)

23h

7

9

48

56

P

Although I love minimalist bags I have been playing 12 clubs for a few months. The guys we beat today were sour!

BlackFlamingo · June 22

On 6/15/2025 at 4:26 AM, 3rutu5 said:

for anyone who bought a pencil bag (generic amazon/ebay/aliexpress etc or New Era one from Japan), i designed up this insert that should drop into most, you just need a 3d printer, prefereably Bambulabs.

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1520395-pencil-bag-club-organiser#profileId-1593213

i've been using it mainly for the range and sim, but just keeps the better organised in my opinion, about 2hrs to print on a P1P.

Ignore whats in the bag, as they were just jammed in there from last time i took out my cart bag. But if i was, it would be most likley the

* Rogue ST Max with Speeder NX Green shaft (SR Flex),

* Epic Super Hybrid either 3h or 4h,

* 7i in the epic forged star,

*PW in the epic forged star,

* 54d Jaws MD5 wedge

* Baby Ben Bettinardi putter.

that is sick. Bookmarking for the future!

WipeyFade · June 22

I know the Summer Solstice is over but I’m heading out tomorrow to walk 72 holes for my annual Solstice round. This is my 3rd year doing it and I’ve played 5 clubs each year. My WITB for this year is drive, hybrid, 8i, 56, and putter. Last year my group got behind some slow groups at the local muni and it took us 15+ hours to finish. The goal this year is <12 (I play fast, I hope my group can keep up).

pitchnputt · June 23

I play almost all rounds in full minimalist of 7-9 clubs while walking but playing an event tomorrow and considering a more full bag just to “look the part” and not stick out like a sore thumb (pencil bag doesn’t work in a cart either) is this dumb? Do I just bring like 8-9 clubs I know and will use and leave others? Carts just throw off my game at this point. It ruins the flow of my game. Any thoughts appreciated

pitchnputt · June 23

Or do I rock up with 5 clubs and own it? It’s a scramble anyway! But networking for work so…

54CW · June 23

30 minutes ago, pitchnputt said:

Or do I rock up with 5 clubs and own it? It’s a scramble anyway! But networking for work so…

This one, I’ve had similar experiences and realized most people don’t care. If anything it can be a good icebreaker. But either way, own it and don’t back down!

9ClubberLang · June 23

Yep always be yourself. If you normally play 7-9 then don't change for a work event. Most employers want their employees to do more with less anyway, so you're absolutely nailing it in efficiency terms!

AdamMW · June 23

Updates on some of your minimalist journeys?

54CW · June 23

1 hour ago, AdamMW said:

Updates on some of your minimalist journeys?

I’ve got one.

Played my local state am qualifier earlier this month, finished DFL and it wasn’t because of lack of clubs. I have struggled with driver and put my self in some bad spots off the tee which led to some tough recoveries. It really reminded how important it is to be in play off the tee. I did my best on par threes. For the first time in a while I wasn’t worried about yardages, I felt confident I had the shot in my bag to get there in regulation. Practicing with a short set has given each club a job and I don’t have those weird mis hits anymore, I’m committed every time and have been able to visualize my approach play much better. It helps me a lot on course when you know exactly what each club does. When I’ve played a full set I don’t have that confidence in every single club. I’ve since done some work with driver and last week I was back shooting a 77. I’m at the point now where I want to get a net and mat at home to work on my driving technique.

Playing with only 8 clubs now Driver or Persimmon Driver, 19° persimmon hybrid, 5/7/9/GW 56° Putter. I hardly hit my 56° unless I’m in a bunker. My 9 and GW do the short game work. I bumped-and-ran a 9 in during my last round and it was awesome, it saved for a birdie on the #1 hardest rated hole.

MorganM · June 23

2 minutes ago, 54CW said:

I’ve got one.

Played my local state am qualifier earlier this month, finished DFL and it wasn’t because of lack of clubs. I have struggled with driver and put my self in some bad spots off the tee which led to some tough recoveries. It really reminded how important it is to be in play off the tee. I did my best on par threes. For the first time in a while I wasn’t worried about yardages, I felt confident I had the shot in my bag to get there in regulation. Practicing with a short set has given each club a job and I don’t have those weird mis hits anymore, I’m committed every time and have been able to visualize my approach play much better. It helps me a lot on course when you know exactly what each club does. When I’ve played a full set I don’t have that confidence in every single club. I’ve since done some work with driver and last week I was back shooting a 77. I’m at the point now where I want to get a net and mat at home to work on my driving technique.

Playing with only 8 clubs now Driver or Persimmon Driver, 19° persimmon hybrid, 5/7/9/GW 56° Putter. I hardly hit my 56° unless I’m in a bunker. My 9 and GW do the short game work. I bumped-and-ran a 9 in during my last round and it was awesome, it saved for a birdie on the #1 hardest rated hole.

Quick question; what persimmons do you use (who makes ‘em, where do you buy ‘em)?

Tommy56 · June 23

3 hours ago, AdamMW said:

Updates on some of your minimalist journeys?

Still with 5 for almost a year. 7w, 7i, 9i, 54, P. Been minimalist for a decade.

Edited June 23 by Tommy56
added thought

54CW · June 23

Just now, MorganM said:

Quick question; what persimmons do you use (who makes ‘em, where do you buy ‘em)?

I have a Todd Demsey Driver and Cinco club. His version of an 5 wood/Hybrid. I also have a Cleveland Classic but I’m worried about breaking that one so I leave it alone. I have cracked the white parts of the cinco recently so I might shelve that one soon.