Playing a half set- Case Closed

[BUSHY]

I’ve played reduced set for ages (between 12-13 clubs) but lately in afternoon 9’s I’ve been carrying half sets. I have gone fairly minimalistic with my Jones bag with only the bare essentials required to enjoy my round of golf. Which is essentially my #1 goal.

I’ve played some pretty good golf with less than a full set and scoring hasn’t been impacted for not having the ‘exact’ club. So after doing some reading and bouncing some ideas off a few people I’ve decided that over the remainder of the golf season- possibly until my trip in November- I’m only going to play a reduced set all the time.

Currently my bag is:

Driver, 3W, 3H, 5, 7, 9, PW, 54*, Putter

Which I’m fairly comfortable with. I’m open to occasionally swapping to even numbered irons to mix it up. Probably giving me an opportunity to try different shots so we’ll see what happens over the course of the next little bit.

Essentially, I’m looking to enjoy the walk, simplify my game and be creative. Hopefully I can get back to some level of what I was playing this time last year. Currently sitting @6.2 so will see what happens.

[Johnny Canuck]

I do this sometimes when I want to make the carry bag lighter.

It’s good in that it gets you to be more creative and hit more shots.

Easy to shoot some decent scores with a simple approach

Jack (forum member) played off scratch carrying 9 or 10 clubs

[Lucasto23]

You will be killing it soon

[aussieashley]

It's interesting that you're only carrying a PW & 54* at the short end of the bag Bushy.
I used to carry 4 wedges, and have cut it back to 3 at the moment, but I feel like I'd start to struggle a little with only 2.

[BUSHY]

It's interesting that you're only carrying a PW & 54* at the short end of the bag Bushy.
I used to carry 4 wedges, and have cut it back to 3 at the moment, but I feel like I'd start to struggle a little with only 2.

Funny you say that because I’ve been carrying P (46), 54, 58 in “full mode” and 9, 54 in lightweight mode. I’ve got 4 sets of wedges so I’ve got options if I want to go to 56 or something.

I actually think this is part of the reason why this becomes an option for some people. It reduces the overthinking when worrying about club selection.

Yesterday on the 9th my 2nd shot was ~125m, 9 iron wasn’t really an option over the bunker so took the 7. Feathered it to 15-20ft and made easy par. Walking up the fairway with the 7 still in my hand dropped a ball at the ~100 mark and chipped the 7 with even more feather on it to about 10ft. Point being is that was fun, gave me a kick and put me on the green for a 2 putt par.

It may be a complete failure but I doubt it.

[3Puttpete]

My “normal” bag is only 10 clubs

[Captain Nemo]

Funny you say that because I’ve been carrying P (46), 54, 58 in “full mode” and 9, 54 in lightweight mode. I’ve got 4 sets of wedges so I’ve got options if I want to go to 56 or something. I actually think this is part of the reason why this becomes an option for some people. It reduces the overthinking when worrying about club selection. Yesterday on the 9th my 2nd shot was ~125m, 9 iron wasn’t really an option over the bunker so took the 7. Feathered it to 15-20ft and made easy par. Walking up the fairway with the 7 still in my hand dropped a ball at the ~100 mark and chipped the 7 with even more feather on it to about 10ft. Point being is that was fun, gave me a kick and put me on the green for a 2 putt par. It may be a complete failure but I doubt it.

You my friend are a #flusha 😉

[Captain Nemo]

My “normal” bag is only 10 clubs

🤔

[BUSHY]

You my friend are a #flusha

If only I could do the rest

[BUSHY]

My “normal” bag is only 10 clubs

What clubs do you carry?

[Dotty]

I played a six club set at the Blades day in 2016 - Driver, 7w, 6i, 9i, 56* and Putter

Scored my usual 21 points around Cabramatta.

[BUSHY]

I played a six club set at the Blades day in 2016 - Driver, 7w, 6i, 9i, 56* and Putter

Scored my usual 21 points around Cabramatta.

[3Puttpete]

What clubs do you carry?

Driver, 5h, 7, 8, 9, p(44), 50, 56, 60, putter

[Anfield]

Driver
4 hybrid
5-pw
53
58
Putter
Is my usual bag for bungool
Takes out a lot of over thinking i reckon

[BUSHY]

Driver, 5h, 7, 8, 9, p(44), 50, 56, 60, putter

I’m thinking a lot of people set up like this from what I’ve read. Heavy on the low end of the bag to provide options around the green.

[3Puttpete]

I’m thinking a lot of people set up like this from what I’ve read. Heavy on the low end of the bag to provide options around the green.

It’s easier to have full swings than 3 or 4 swings with the one wedge.

If you can’t reach par 5s there’s always a third shot. From 40 or 80 isn’t a huge difference so the longer clubs not being there don’t hurt.

[davepuppies]

I just replaced my 3 wood with another wedge.

I hit my 5 wood 215-220, no point having something that goes 230-240 but less versatile and consistent off deck.

I now play both a high bounce lob wedge I can put a full swing of without fear of disaster, and a low bounce for tight lies and flop shots

Figured I would have more impact on scoring with another wedge than 3 wood

[Jazz18]

I've been tinkering with a half set for a little while. Mostly ideas but will also carry in a Jones bag for afternoon rounds. I was thinking of:

Driver, 21deg hybrid, 5,7,9,GW,58deg and putter.

Don't think it would make a massive difference to my scores either and a nice change as well

Good luck with the minimalist set up. Sounds cool.

[thecollective]

half sets are perfect for a solo arvo round; I have tried the 3,5,7,9,U combination but now prefer 2,4,6,8,W, seems to work better for me

its also great to have only a gap wedge or sandy no higher loft than 56, as it gets you creative around the greens when you require the high shot

[henno]

Driver
4 hybrid
5-pw
53
58
Putter
Is my usual bag for bungool
Takes out a lot of over thinking i reckon

Replace the 58 with a 60 and that is pretty much my bag for every course.

[Anfield]

Replace the 58 with a 60 and that is pretty much my bag for every course.

60deg and i are not friends58 does the job nicely....most times

[BUSHY]

Some semblance of success today. With 8 clubs and a putter I went around Cairns in level par for 43 points today. Came up short into greens with irons probably guarding against going long with 1-2 clubs more than normal. However I didn’t take a laser so I was guessing most of the time, occasionally getting a tough yardage from a partner.

Had a fun round and hit some great shots. I made a comment after that some of the benefits of this is using say 6 when I would have been pushing an 8 to get there. Allowed me to swing smoothly and make solid contact. Definitely something I struggle with a bit.

Interesting to see where it leads.

[3Puttpete]

Some semblance of success today. With 8 clubs and a putter I went around Cairns in level par for 43 points today. Came up short into greens with irons probably guarding against going long with 1-2 clubs more than normal. However I didn’t take a laser so I was guessing most of the time, occasionally getting a tough yardage from a partner.

Had a fun round and hit some great shots. I made a comment after that some of the benefits of this is using say 6 when I would have been pushing an 8 to get there. Allowed me to swing smoothly and make solid contact. Definitely something I struggle with a bit.

Interesting to see where it leads.

No laser, leaving approaches short...how many GIR?

You must have made some up and downs

[BUSHY]

No laser, leaving approaches short...how many GIR?

You must have made some up and downs

10 fairways
8 greens
25 putts
3 birdies
3 bogies

Up and downs on: 4,7,9,10,12,16 (chipped in for birdie),17.

[3Puttpete]

10 fairways
8 greens
25 putts
3 birdies
3 bogies

Up and downs on: 4,7,9,10,12,16 (chipped in for birdie),17.

How does that compare to normal with a full set?