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Help Me Gap Top End of Bag

dthrog00

dthrog00

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I've recently been optimizing the top of my bag and have found a 3 hybrid that is much better than the club it replaced and a 5 hybrid that is much more consistent than any 5 iron I have hit. My driver swing speed is about 88 mph.

Thoughts:
  • I like the irons (G15 6i-LW) and do not plan to change. They are old, but I have not seen much else that does any better and I think I need the help on mishits that these offer. I also have a set of TE Forged, but the 5/6 irons are more difficult to hit than the G15 6/7 irons (distances are equivalent)
  • I just picked up the 3 hybrid and 5 hybrid (G400) after hitting into a launch monitor Friday-Saturday and being pleased with results, I don't plan to change these clubs. A 7 degree loft gap is huge, but, if I were to add the 4 hybrid (22*) in this set the gaps may be too close.
  • The 3 wood (ST190) I have now is iffy. Ball speed on the best of strikes is about 122.5 mph/182 yard carry. I have a used 3 wood (G SF TEC) coming that has left help. I hit the G400 5W at a store and was disappointed in its tendency to miss right, there was no benefit over the 3 hybrid.
  • I don't want to add clubs strictly for the sake of adding clubs. Every spot in the bag needs to have a job.
My numbers measured with Mevo are below. Spin measurements may be debatable, but I hit these into a net with stickers on ProV1X balls and it is the best I can get.

Club# of ShotsBall Speed (mph)Carry (yds)Launch Angle V (°)Spin (rpm)HeightTarget "what yardage is this club?"
1Driver (9)5 shots129.4195.813.1260365′10″215
23 wood (15) off deck3 shots120.8178.114.1367368′11″190
33 hybrid (19)12 shots117.1169.115.6445275′1″175
45 hybrid (26)5 shots109.2154.218.7493978'11"160
56 iron (28)8 shots103.5144.322.3493384′8″147
67 iron (32)6 shots98.4134.124.2521583′6″136
78 iron (36)9 shots93.1123.226.2592281′4″125
89 iron (40)7 shots87.8113.226.9638473′8″115
9PW (45)4 shots83.1103.829.8764074′1″105
10UW (50)6 shots76.792.632.3839969′3″95
11SW (54)6 shots72.184.334.2890065′4″85
12LW (58)5 shots64.771.537.5821858′6″72
13OPEN
14Putter

The last spot is open.

What would you suggest I do?

Thanks
Dave
 
Honestly a 15 yard gap isn't that bad but if it bothers you, you could plug it with the 22* hybrid you mentioned.

Honestly I would more look at giving yourself another get out of jail wedge. Your gaps are already pretty tight and I think some sort of utility club would be better than splitting a 15 yard gap.
 
I'd keep the bag as is for a while. Feel it out.
 
What is interesting to me is that at a ~ 90 mph or less swing speed a golfer does not necessarily need 14 clubs.

Per the table I posted I could easily drop the 3W and LW, going to 11 clubs total, and the scorecard probably would not even notice. Fairway woods are dicey at my skill level, but I know pretty well where the 3H is going to go. I'm not reaching par 5s in 2 anyway unless the wind is at my back or ground conditions are very hard.

I think when you start off with golf you assume a decent yardage gap because that's how the clubs are typically sold and only remember the good hits for your distances. Absent data going from 3 hybrid to 5 hybrid would seem crazy.

Plugged in has a similar view point: https://pluggedingolf.com/you-have-too-many-golf-clubs/

Dave
 
I went with a 4W and am very happy. My new 4W (Mavrik) flies higher and longer than my 3W (XR16)
 
Maybe figure out what your go to yardage is on Par 5s if you lay up a lot. Judging by Driver distance you prob do. (So do I so that’s not a knock) Find a money club that you can really work with at that distance. Same consistent swing. Not having to lay off ect. If it’s 50 yards then it’s 50 yards. Get really good with it. Like dropping dimes inside 10ft 8 out of 10 times.
 
Jason89er said:
Maybe figure out what your go to yardage is on Par 5s if you lay up a lot. Judging by Driver distance you prob do. (So do I so that’s not a knock) Find a money club that you can really work with at that distance. Same consistent swing. Not having to lay off ect. If it’s 50 yards then it’s 50 yards. Get really good with it. Like dropping dimes inside 10ft 8 out of 10 times.
Click to expand...

No worries and no offense taken! My typical course is fairly open and windy. The 2 par 5s typical yardage is 475-480 yard, but it plays very different depending upon wind direction. I've gotten home in two before with a strong helping wind or have had longer clubs in for the 3rd shot with a strong wind in my face.

In 32 holes this year I've found:

Avg score 5.97
Avg drive 222 (hit driver 25 holes, 3 wood/hybrid 7 holes)
Avg approach 125

11 of the 32 were botched and had approach distances > 150 yards either by bad drives or bad 2nds (avg score 6.64)
9 of the 32 had approaches between 100 and 150 yards (avg score 6.00)
12 of the 32 had approaches less than 100 yards (avg score 5.33)

Typical amateur golf, very inconsistent.

Dave
 
Me personally I wouldn't change your setup, you have good gaps top to bottom IMO.
 
I had a gap between my 5w and 4i back when I carried fairway woods and no hybrids. I felt it was quite easy to hit less-than-full shots with that 5w by simply gripping down and swinging slower. I had confidence doing that and, as you know Dave, there isn't an abundance of confidence anywhere else in my game.

That might prove to be more difficult with the lower lofted 3w because swing speed really matters at 15 degrees, but if you're open to non-traditional thinking, it might be worth the effort to try and develop.

I now have an even wider gap between my 3h and 6i. While I can often take 10-15 yards off my normal distance - and hit it cleaner than usual - that 25-30 yard gap between the two clubs makes it easy to justify getting a 5h. If it were only 15 yards, I'd probably live with it.
 
Since your gaps look to be spot on already maybe that extra club could be one that does something different. I game an Epic Flash 5W and a GAPR Mid #3. Even though they gap pretty close that 5W goes high, lands soft, and tends to go either straight or miss left. The GAPR does the opposite. Lower penetrating flight that runs out a little. If I miss it tends to fade, rarely misses left. So I have a couple very reliable longer range options based upon shot, conditions, wind, hazards, etc...

edit: FWIW I'm not a long hitter either. My target yardages aren't all that different from yours per Garmin Golf. About a club longer at the top and middle is all. But it's still nice to have two options on longer approaches or layups and two ways off the tee if driver or my strong 3W are too much.
 
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your yardages are very similar to mine. Gaps honestly look really good to me. I might recommend slotting in a distance club that can be played from a different lie easier. Example: My 5 wood is very reliable from the fairway or very favorable lie. My 3 Hybrid does much better from the rough or tricky shots and can still get it down range a fair distance. Both go about the same distance, 5 wood may be 10 yards longer on a well struck shot, but I am more confident with the 3H on shots that require some finesse.
 
I wouldn’t get anything. Your gaps are between 10-15 yards, which is fine.
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I could probably get by with less than 12 clubs, but think I currently have 30+ LOL :)

I can figure something out or go with less clubs. I've actually some success this season with a chipper of all things.

I need to sell some clubs too!

Dave
 
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