Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[chern]

Anyone ever do a fitting for a half set? For example, go in saying you want to find a club that carries 240/210/180/150/120/90 and then order singles? 

[Ivyguy]

1 hour ago, chern said:

Anyone ever do a fitting for a half set? For example, go in saying you want to find a club that carries 240/210/180/150/120/90 and then order singles? 

My brother works at a national chain, and he has been asked to do fittings for stuff like that. 

[JungleJimbo]

 

the 7 clubs that Andy (The Average Golfer youtube channel) carries = from timestamp ~3m50s.

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by JungleJimbo

[WipeyFade]

6 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

the 7 clubs that Andy (The Average Golfer youtube channel) carries = from timestamp ~3m50s.

 

 

 

I’ve watched this channel for the past few years. This guy is living out my dream retirement lol. Just driving around in a camper van visiting some awesome golf courses. 

[tatertot]

3 hours ago, WipeyFade said:

I’ve watched this channel for the past few years. This guy is living out my dream retirement lol. Just driving around in a camper van visiting some awesome golf courses. 

Yep, this guy is living the dream.

 

Wonder if I could find a sponsor?

[9woodfan]

I love that this thread is 70 pages long and still alive!

[9ClubberLang]

Nothing minimal about the quality of content in here!

[Tommy56]

27 minutes ago, 9woodfan said:

I love that this thread is 70 pages long and still alive!

 

16 minutes ago, 9ClubberLang said:

Nothing minimal about the quality of content in here!

 

Agreed. This is my favorite thread, by far!  So many great thoughts and ideas from people who appreciate golf in a pure, uncomplicated fashion.

[lil'mike]

I also like reading this thread alot.  I am a mid handicapper or maybe a bit higher since last year and just started playing a partial set of eight clubs.  Driver, 3wd or 3H, 4H, 6i, 8i, PW, SW and putter.  This year I may go driver, 5wd, 4H, 6, 8, PW , SW and putter.  It isn't less clubs but I think the 5wd would be more useful and more versatile.  Also my irons are old Cobra's so weak lofted.  Not sure if stronger lofted irons would help or hinder.

 

I do wonder if it is easier to play partial sets if you are a lower handicap than myself since distance becomes an issue on longer holes like par 4's that run close to 400 and par 5's that are close to 575 or so.  Heck even par 3's that run about 175 to 180 are not easy to reach in regulation.  I would like to play fewer clubs like down to a true half set at seven but just don't think I would have a chance to play the courses good enough so I think eight is my minimum set that I could use.

 

Edited February 18 by lil'mike

[JAM01]

I’m back - I just notice I’ve  tried this in the odd number years? Anyway:

GT2 10 degree

GT2 16.5 

PXG Black Ops 6, 8, PW, SW

PXG Allan Putter

 

7 clubs in Titleist Players 4 bag. Should be a pretty light carry. 
 

 

[spud3]

12 hours ago, WipeyFade said:

I’ve watched this channel for the past few years. This guy is living out my dream retirement lol. Just driving around in a camper van visiting some awesome golf courses. 

You should check out Argonne69's 5 year-long thread:

 

 

[pitchnputt]

1 hour ago, lil'mike said:

I also like reading this thread alot.  I am a mid handicapper or maybe a bit higher since last year and just started playing a partial set of eight clubs.  Driver, 3wd or 3H, 4H, 6i, 8i, PW, SW and putter.  This year I may go driver, 5wd, 4H, 6, 8, PW , SW and putter.  It isn't less clubs but I think the 5wd would be more useful and more versatile.  Also my irons are old Cobra's so weak lofted.  Not sure if stronger lofted irons would help or hinder.

 

I do wonder if it is easier to play partial sets if you are a lower handicap than myself since distance becomes an issue on longer holes like par 4's that run close to 400 and par 5's that are close to 575 or so.  Heck even par 3's that run about 175 to 180 are not easy to reach in regulation.  I would like to play fewer clubs like down to a true half set at seven but just don't think I would have a chance to play the courses good enough so I think eight is my minimum set that I could use.

 

I too am a higher cap and pretty short hitter, but been on the minimal train (5-9 clubs) for quite a while and play more traditional lofts too. Irons are a strong part of my game, so the 24* UT (4i) is my next club above a 7i. From there to driver is a strange space that sees the most shifting in the bag. For me, 7w can get a little balloon action and unpredictable especially if there is wind, but I have held some greens with it on calm days so it's status is weather dependent. Have tried 3H's a bit with some success but that is a low stinger shot with lots of rollout if the target gets hit and I get lucky. Good for windy days and firm fairways that are a bit open. The Callaway UW is also in this category and while it is supposed to be for higher swing speeds, with the right shaft you can get a pretty nice launch and good distance due to its longer (than hybrid) shaft length. If I had to narrow it down to a single club in this spot, this is the tool. 5w is what I bring on longer courses for the next club below driver when I need to just advance the ball with the least hassle. I basically bag 1 or 2 of these clubs depending on course steup/distance and weather. Being creative with short irons/ wedges is where you can start to trim a spot for an extra one up top without too much loss in performance. For those of us with slower swing speed, there really isn't much difference between a full 9i and a full 52*. Just keep an eye on carry distance at a smooth tempo and then adjust from there.

[Tommy56]

2 hours ago, lil'mike said:

I also like reading this thread alot.  I am a mid handicapper or maybe a bit higher since last year and just started playing a partial set of eight clubs.  Driver, 3wd or 3H, 4H, 6i, 8i, PW, SW and putter.  This year I may go driver, 5wd, 4H, 6, 8, PW , SW and putter.  It isn't less clubs but I think the 5wd would be more useful and more versatile.  Also my irons are old Cobra's so weak lofted.  Not sure if stronger lofted irons would help or hinder.

 

I do wonder if it is easier to play partial sets if you are a lower handicap than myself since distance becomes an issue on longer holes like par 4's that run close to 400 and par 5's that are close to 575 or so.  Heck even par 3's that run about 175 to 180 are not easy to reach in regulation.  I would like to play fewer clubs like down to a true half set at seven but just don't think I would have a chance to play the courses good enough so I think eight is my minimum set that I could use.

 

Happy to hear you are sticking with the minimalist approach.  To your question, I'm not sure handicap has much (if any) role in one's ability to play a minimalist set.  IMO, it's much more about being comfortable visualizing and playing a variety of shots with each of the clubs you put in the bag.

 

Also, handicap is not tied to length.  Certainly extra length has some advantages, but it also means larger gaps.  It all comes down to being good around the green and scoring.

 

Enjoy the journey! 

Edited February 19 by Tommy56

[WipeyFade]

Here is a quote from a Golfer’s Journal essay titled “Half Full” by D.J. Piehowski.  I feel like it sums up how and why certain golfers actually get better when moving to a half set. 
 

“Golfers make two kinds of errors,” Party Panther explained. “Decision errors and action errors. There’s nothing you can do about action errors; sometimes you just make a bad swing. But there’s no excuse for decision errors like picking the wrong club. So why not just remove a ton of that decision making?”

[sandman98]

love this idea, but what would i do with all the extra slots in my bag???  😆

[Nickb333]

56 minutes ago, sandman98 said:

love this idea, but what would i do with all the extra slots in my bag???  😆

Just stuff half a dozen expensive Scotty head covers in them.

[gemo]

Driver, 5w, 24°H, 7i, 9i, 11i, 57°, P

 

Its 8 not 7, but its what ive comitted to until I break 90. A mix of Honma and OnOff gear.  If I had to go to 7 clubs I'd consolidate the 5w and hybrid into a 21° hybrid, and if I had to go to 6 I'd consolidate the 9i and 11i into a 10i

[aiyyer]

Pretty sure I’ve posted this photo here.

Dusting off this iron half set I specifically put together about 7/8 years ago for this weekend. Adams MB2s. Took about 2 years to find the  heads on eBay. 

 

[acemandrake]

My current 6...

 

Strong FW

Hybrid

Mid iron

Short iron

Wedge

Putter

[goalie]

Going with 4w, 5hy, 7i, 9i, SW, putter this year in my lake bag.

[azgreg]

New PING Moonlander on the way.

 

 

 

[Ivyguy]

6 hours ago, aiyyer said:

Pretty sure I’ve posted this photo here.

Dusting off this iron half set I specifically put together about 7/8 years ago for this weekend. Adams MB2s. Took about 2 years to find the  heads on eBay. 

 

My pops swears by these. These are as good (if not better) than anything out there

[goalie]

23 minutes ago, azgreg said:

New PING Moonlander on the way.

 

 

 

Love mine

[azgreg]

1 minute ago, goalie said:

Love mine

I almost got the Jones Rover instead to go along with my Trouper 2.0 but decided their pocket set=up was a bit too wonky.

 

Have you ever used it as a single strap?

 

 

[goalie]

1 minute ago, azgreg said:

I almost got the Jones Rover instead to go along with my Trouper 2.0 but decided their pocket set=up was a bit too wonky.

 

Have you ever used it as a single strap?

 

 

I only use it as a single strap. 

[azgreg]

8 minutes ago, goalie said:

I only use it as a single strap. 

 

Nice. I hate shrugging in and out of the double straps.

 

[scruffynick]

On 2/18/2025 at 5:35 AM, JungleJimbo said:

 

the 7 clubs that Andy (The Average Golfer youtube channel) carries = from timestamp ~3m50s.

 

 

 

Live fairly close to this bloke, met him once...a really nice chap....he lives near some unbelievable courses, especially Conway...fantastic links course with unbelievable views 

[scruffynick]

23 minutes ago, scruffynick said:

Live fairly close to this bloke, met him once...a really nice chap....he lives near some unbelievable courses, especially Conway...fantastic links course with unbelievable views 

Just watched the vlog, he's on Porthmadog....probably my favourite course...back 9 is unbelievable 

[doubleeagle]

On 2/18/2025 at 8:27 PM, WipeyFade said:

 

I had to reply just because you go by WipeyFade...

I almost spit my lunch out when seeing that 🤣🤣🤣

[doubleeagle]

I went extreme minimalist once last year and played 9 holes with only my 6 iron. I saw Bryson do it so I was like WTH let's go for it. Obviously putting on fast greens with slope was the toughest part but I was proud to have kept it respectable at 46 which I've done with a full bag 😏

 

My normal half bag goes, 4w 7w 6 8 PW 54 PT and swapping 4w with DR depending on the course