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"What Should I Have in my Bag" golf question....

joelbc1

joelbc1

HB King
Gold Member
Sep 5, 2007
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you can’t always get what you want!
I have been, for the most part, a rather traditional golfer in my 55 years of playing. A driver, a 3 wood, 4 wood, 3-PW, gap and sand wedge + a putter. Currently, I have in my bag...Driver, 3 wood, 2 hybrid (18d), 3 hybrid (21d), 4 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter.
I have issues with hitting my 4iron/5 iron, particularly off of downhill lies and/or to elevated targets, so I purchased a 25d hybrid to fill that need. I'm dropping my 4 iron for sure..and maybe my 5 iron. This would leave me with 6 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter...or 13 clubs. Should I keep the 5iron in the bag? Should I pick up another wedge??? Or carry two putters? ;)
When one is retired, these are pressing problems. Well meaning advice is always welcomed.

Basically my golf game is such that I can shoot 80-82 (9 handy) most any place. I'm just looking for an edge, if you know what I mean. I hit the ball "ok" for an old man...distance, altho nice, isn't what I'm looking for as much as consistency and eliminating distance gaps in my clubs, hence the 25d hybrid.
 
joelbc1 said:
I have been, for the most part, a rather traditional golfer in my 55 years of playing. A driver, a 3 wood, 4 wood, 3-PW, gap and sand wedge + a putter. Currently, I have in my bag...Driver, 3 wood, 2 hybrid (18d), 3 hybrid (21d), 4 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter.
I have issues with hitting my 4iron/5 iron, particularly off of downhill lies and/or to elevated targets, so I purchased a 25d hybrid to fill that need. I'm dropping my 4 iron for sure..and maybe my 5 iron. This would leave me with 6 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter...or 13 clubs. Should I keep the 5iron in the bag? Should I pick up another wedge??? Or carry two putters? ;)
When one is retired, these are pressing problems. Well meaning advice is always welcomed.

Basically my golf game is such that I can shoot 80-82 (9 handy) most any place. I'm just looking for an edge, if you know what I mean. I hit the ball "ok" for an old man...distance, altho nice, isn't what I'm looking for as much as consistency and eliminating distance gaps in my clubs, hence the 25d hybrid.
Click to expand...

There is not a lot you can do at our age to deal with side hill, uphill and downhill lies. I'd consider another sand wedge to save strokes around the greens. I carry three what I consider sand wedges, plus the PW. I find I can deal with most short to medium length shots from the bunker very effectively with a 60 degree sand wedge. I use it for very little else but bunker shots, but it's worthing keeping in the bag to save par. jmo
 
Once I hit my late 40's, I finally figured out placement and accuracy was best for my game because I lost 50 yards in my 40's. I rarely hit a golf ball over 250 any more and probably average maybe 235 with a driver.

I learned this one outing where a retired guy played with our group and he was 175 to 200 down the middle every shot, and he kicked all our butts. He was a retired high school golf coach in NE Iowa and said age made him adjust his game. His swing strength looked like practice swings...couldn't hurt a fly his swing was so soft and fluid.

I take a lot off my swing in the aim for more accuracy now, and it helps. Whatever it takes to hit a ball straight, go for it - clubs included. My days of chasing balls all over the course are over.
 
The 5 iron is one of the best clubs to have in your bag.
You can hit it for distance and accuracy whatever your age.
To carry more than one putter is a statement that you
do not have much confidence on the greens. You only
need one putter that you can trust.
 
LuteHawk said:
The 5 iron is one of the best clubs to have in your bag.
You can it for distance and accuracy whatever your age.
To carry more than one putter is a statement that you
do not have much confidence on the greens. You only
need one putter that you can trust.
Click to expand...

No, I disagree about the putter. Putting cross-handed and using an unusually long putter is a public admission that "I can no longer play this game." I will NEVER go there. ;)
Dropping the #5 is difficult because I believe a lot of what you said....but, being practical and brutally honest, my 5irons best days are in the rear view mirror. Altho, I hit it fine off a tee.
 
Put a left handed wedge in your bag just incase you get hung up on the wrong side of a tree/obstruction.
 
Really the only thing you can do is what you have so far. Work in some hybrids if you struggle with your mid irons.
 
bagdropper said:
Once I hit my late 40's, I finally figured out placement and accuracy was best for my game because I lost 50 yards in my 40's. I rarely hit a golf ball over 250 any more and probably average maybe 235 with a driver.

I learned this one outing where a retired guy played with our group and he was 175 to 200 down the middle every shot, and he kicked all our butts. He was a retired high school golf coach in NE Iowa and said age made him adjust his game. His swing strength looked like practice swings...couldn't hurt a fly his swing was so soft and fluid.

I take a lot off my swing in the aim for more accuracy now, and it helps. Whatever it takes to hit a ball straight, go for it - clubs included. My days of chasing balls all over the course are over.
Click to expand...
Pretty much this! Straight and down the middle I have played with many of those guys that don't crush the ball off the tee they just hit it straight and down the middle anywhere from 150 to 200 yards shot after shot and at the end of the round they normally have low score.

Golf balls are highly overrated most name brands are basically the same only if you are golfing on the tour do you hit the ball well enough to tell the difference.
 
Bob Pelini_ said:
Pretty much this! Straight and down the middle I have played with many of those guys that don't crush the ball off the tee they just hit it straight and down the middle anywhere from 150 to 200 yards shot after shot and at the end of the round they normally have low score.

Golf balls are highly overrated most name brands are basically the same only if you are golfing on the tour do you hit the ball well enough to tell the difference.
Click to expand...
Basically true about the golf balls. However, the better player you are, the "better balls" (Titleist Pro V's, Calloway Chrome, high end Bridgestone's) do perform more reliably. Most of us will never know, though. Personally, I use the Chrome "Optic" ball....Titleist ProV isn't available in "optic" colors and I have a boycott of any and all Firestone/Bridgestone products (but they have great commercials).
 
A flask with good bourbon and a mini humidor with a nice cigar.

I'm to the point where my 3W just doesn't serve a purpose anymore. I have a 52, 56, and 60 degree wedge in my bag now as well as a traditional PW. I'm not hitting any par 5's in two at this point so accuracy is far more important to me than distance. I'd suggest ditching the 3W and picking up another gap type wedge.
 
joelbc1 said:
I have been, for the most part, a rather traditional golfer in my 55 years of playing. A driver, a 3 wood, 4 wood, 3-PW, gap and sand wedge + a putter. Currently, I have in my bag...Driver, 3 wood, 2 hybrid (18d), 3 hybrid (21d), 4 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter.
I have issues with hitting my 4iron/5 iron, particularly off of downhill lies and/or to elevated targets, so I purchased a 25d hybrid to fill that need. I'm dropping my 4 iron for sure..and maybe my 5 iron. This would leave me with 6 thru PW, gap, sand wedge + putter...or 13 clubs. Should I keep the 5iron in the bag? Should I pick up another wedge??? Or carry two putters? ;)
When one is retired, these are pressing problems. Well meaning advice is always welcomed.

Basically my golf game is such that I can shoot 80-82 (9 handy) most any place. I'm just looking for an edge, if you know what I mean. I hit the ball "ok" for an old man...distance, altho nice, isn't what I'm looking for as much as consistency and eliminating distance gaps in my clubs, hence the 25d hybrid.
Click to expand...
I'm a much worse golfer than you. Index is in the low 20s. When I got new irons this year, I decided to carry only two wedges -- pitching and sand -- after years of also carrying a lob wedge and a gap wedge. I referred to the former as the FLW ("F***ing lob wedge"). I am gradually learning how to vary the length of the two wedges I carry, and I think I'm better off.

Carrying two putters simply tells everybody who sees your bag that you can't putt and have no confidence in your ability to putt. If that's your goal, by all means add a second putter.
 
joelbc1 said:
Basically true about the golf balls. However, the better player you are, the "better balls" (Titleist Pro V's, Calloway Chrome, high end Bridgestone's) do perform more reliably. Most of us will never know, though. Personally, I use the Chrome "Optic" ball....Titleist ProV isn't available in "optic" colors and I have a boycott of any and all Firestone/Bridgestone products (but they have great commercials).
Click to expand...
People who say they can tell the difference when hitting a Prov V vs a Wilson are they same type that tell you they can tell the difference in performance in their car when using gas from Texaco vs 7-11.
 
ICWestfan said:
A flask with good bourbon and a mini humidor with a nice cigar.

I'm to the point where my 3W just doesn't serve a purpose anymore. I have a 52, 56, and 60 degree wedge in my bag now as well as a traditional PW. I'm not hitting any par 5's in two at this point so accuracy is far more important to me than distance. I'd suggest ditching the 3W and picking up another gap type wedge.
Click to expand...

My partner has the whiskey...I have the cigars. I think sometimes I am Paladin on a golf course.
 
Bob Pelini_ said:
People who say they can tell the difference when hitting a Prov V vs a Wilson are they same type that tell you they can tell the difference in performance in their car when using gas from Texaco vs 7-11.
Click to expand...
Honestly Bob, I can tell the difference in "feel"........Performance wise the ProV's spin and trajectory much better than "the Wilson".....There is a distinctive difference in the "feel", too.......Scorewise, you might be correct. You'll never find a really good player playing anything but a "premium" ball, however. But, I do believe the "premium" balls are overplayed.
 
Unless your playing blades, you aren't feeling a difference in golf balls unless you're talking novelty balls to Pro V1s.

Take an average Top Flight or a Pro V1, remove the logos and I guarantee only scratch level golfers are going to tell the difference.

It's a great racket for the industry.
 
longliveCS40 said:
Unless your playing blades, you aren't feeling a difference in golf balls unless you're talking novelty balls to Pro V1s.

Take an average Top Flight or a Pro V1, remove the logos and I guarantee only scratch level golfers are going to tell the difference.

It's a great racket for the industry.
Click to expand...
BS.....Top Flites are like hitting rocks. Around the green they are worthless. However, it is the #1 selling golf ball in the world. Don't know why, either. TopFlites to me are the Terry Branstad of golf balls. Most three piece balls have more feel/softness than a two-piecer, too.
 
joelbc1 said:
BS.....Top Flites are like hitting rocks. Around the green they are worthless. However, it is the #1 selling golf ball in the world. Don't know why, either. TopFlites to me are the Terry Branstad of golf balls. Most three piece balls have more feel/softness than a two-piecer, too.
Click to expand...
I agree that hitting a Top Flite is like hitting a rock. But the last I saw, the top selling ball in America is the one I have been using the past couple of years, the Wilson Staff Duo -- $19.99 a dozen at your friendly Wal-Mart store. I like them because they have a very low compression, good for my slow, weak swing, and they have a very nice feel on and around the green. Also, they are cheap. When you lose as many balls as I do, this is not a small consideration.

I started using them because I won a sleeve in a tournament, figured they were cheapos that I needed to get rid of quickly, and realized I was playing better. I have since looked online for reviews, and they all sound pretty much like this one.

http://golf-info-guide.com/golf-bal...uo-contender-for-best-value-among-golf-balls/
 
giphy.gif
 
Here is what is in my bag joel:
Driver-Taylormade Rocketballz 10.5
3w-Taylormade Rocketballz Stage 2 16.5
Hybrids-Taylormade Jetspeed 19, Taylormade Burner 21, Taylormade Rocketballz 25
Irons- Taylormade R11 5-PW
Wedges- Titleist Vokey 52, Titleist Vokey 56
Putter- Cleveland Classic
Ball- Srixon Q Star
 
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