Currently I am carrying:

Driver
5 wood

3 hybrid
4 hybrid

4-9 irons
pitching + sand wedge

putter

what should I add as my final club? I'm considering a 3 wood, 60 degree wedge, or another hybrid right now...what do you guys think?

Just some background: Normally shoot mid-40's through 9 on my local course. It's relatively short distance. Really like my 4 hybrid and depend on it heavily.

If I'm playing well I don't use it a lot but I love playing the 60* wedge. I try to use it judiciously, only when that kind of loft is really necessary, but it is a thrill trying to pitch it close from a bad spot. I also like having two sand wedges with two different bounces for versatility. I dunno, I also lean on the 3w off the tee quite a bit. I wonder if your 4i and 4h are redundant.

I agree with the beef. Look at your wedge set-up first. I carry three wedges (P, Gap, Sand). You might look at the distance gaps between 9 iron, Pitching and Sand Wedges. I added the Gap because I had at least 20 yards between Pitching and Sand. If your gaps are manageable then a 3 wood is the next place to look.

Without really seeing your game and how well you hit your woods and hybrids & wedges, my initial gut says you probably should look at a gap wedge. You should try to have about 4 degrees difference in the lofts between clubs, chances are the difference between your PW and SW is at least 7 degrees. Right now I've got a 46* PW, 50* GW, 54* SW. That's my guess.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Here are the current degrees I have:
4i 24
5i 27
6i 30
7i 33
8i 37
9i 41
pw 45
sw 55

4h 24
3h 19

Beef- I see your point about the 4i and 4h. Very rarely do I actually use my four iron on the course, so I could part with that. If you have any suggestions for a gap wedge or a 3 wood I would love to hear them.

Bkuehn- 4 degrees between 9 and PW isn't too bad (I think), but 10 degrees between my PW and SW seems high. I think I'll look into getting something between 49-51 or something like that. If you have any suggestions for a good club for a medium to high handicapper, feel free to share


Dusty- Thanks for the advice. Right along line with what bkuehn put, I think I will get a gap wedge. If you have any suggestion on what type would work well, please let me know.


Overall I think I'm going to get a gap wedge, keep the 4i at home and replace the 4i with a 3 wood. If anyone has any suggestions on good/great gap wedges or 3 woods please let me know. As far as a 3 wood goes I would really value forgiveness and distance.

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I'd dump the 4 and 5 iron;get a 3 wood,a lob wedge and a 5 hybrid. I think you need a club to gap your driver and 5 wood and hybrids are easier to hit than irons. The lob wedge should be 58 to 60 degrees and is good for almost all your short shots around the green and is better out of the sand than a sand wedge. Just my humble opinion.

Personally, SCOR are the only wedges I'd recommend. I have the Eidolon (first generation SCOR) and love them to death.

Matt

I would definitely dump the 4 iron, and with a 45 PW and 55 SW you could close that gap nicely with a 50 GW, thats what I have now. As far as recommendations go, for wedges I have used both Titleist Vokeys and Mizuno, right now I have Vokeys in the bag. For woods, there are so many choices. First I'd do a little research and read up on whats available, Golf Digest Hot List, Golf Magazine Clubtest, Golf Tips Equipment Buyers guide. Then I would go to some Golf stores and play with them, don't know what area you live in so, I can't recommend one. Then get fitted for whatever you decide. For me half the fun of this game is messing around with all the stuff.

Sorry Andy, just noticed, you appear to be located north of Boston, I'm down here on the Cape. A couple of places to check out if they are convenient to your location. Golfers Warehouse, Rte 1, Danvers and Golftown, off Rte 28 in Reading I believe. I've always enjoyed the Golfers warehouse cause they have all sorts of demos near their hitting area and you can just grab a club and start whacking without too much hassle from sales people, until you want one. Good luck

Buy 3 or 4 used clubs for use under certain conditions.

3 wood with rails for use in heavy rough

Gap wedge

Wedge with no bounce for playing off of hard pan

Trouble club.4 or 5 iron to hit from waste areas. Don't ruin your good clubs ( Common practice in desert.

Put them in play when conditions require them

Even Pro's take out one club and replace it with something they know will be needed on a particular course.

bostonsoxandy wrote:

Overall I think I'm going to get a gap wedge, keep the 4i at home and replace the 4i with a 3 wood. If anyone has any suggestions on good/great gap wedges or 3 woods please let me know. As far as a 3 wood goes I would really value forgiveness and distance. Thanks for all the replies guys!

Another consideration would be to drop the 5-wood as well, and replace it with a 4-wood, which would allow you to add both a gap and lob wedge.

I'm a little biased, though, since that's my plan.


If you want to try out some different options, check out the local "Play It Again Sports".

I only carry 2 woods in my bag-driver and strong 3w and my highest iron is a 6. I have 3,4 & 5 hybrids and 4 wedges pw,aw,sw, and 58 deg. vokey which I use out of the sand and for almost all shots from 90yds in.

With all of these responses, my advice is simple. Get a 50* gap wedge. It needs to be your next priority before you think about anything else.

Some people don't hit hybrids well. Some people hit their low irons well enough so that they don't need to hit hybrids well. But one thing is certain...that ten degree gap between your two shortest clubs will kill you in the long run. Close that gap. Then, reassess your game to find out if you want to change your setup.

Gap Wedge. Period.

I bought a mizuno mp 50* gap wedge and love it. It's a low bounce (I think 6 or 8*) and awesome off the short grass. Problem is I feel in love with the feel and ended up buying a full set of irons!

Ditch the 4i, I would add a lob wedge of some sorts instead of a 3w, but that's just me.