Equipment

Building the perfect half set

Published

4 years ago

Mar 27, 2020

Beyond physically putting clubs together, one of my favorite games to play is trying to build the ideal half set, and taking it out for some testing on the course. The goal is to see how few clubs I can play with before it becomes a detriment to my game and my scoring—while still having fun trying to hit all kinds of creative shots along the way

Many golfers have, at some point, played the “three-club challenge” (three including a putter), but that often becomes an exercise in caution and course management instead of what many would consider a usual round of golf. Although from the conversations I’ve had with golfers about trying out an extremely reduced set, the consensus generally ends up at, “I shot one of my best scores in a long time.”

I’m not sure how that sentiment potentially relates to handicap or not, but one way or the other, it’s a great way to lighten the load and have some fun thinking differently about your shots.

My ideal half set consists of 7-8 clubs including a putter, but in some cases, I will take it all the way down to 5-6. I love having the option to play with a full set and most times do, but I have gone weeks playing only with my half set and don’t see a noticeable variation in my scoring.

It actually makes me question why I carry a full set and in the grand scheme of golf. I think it would be one of the most entertaining experiments to have a PGA Tour event where players are limited to seven clubs. It would have the potential to make gearheads and the general fan engage in an interesting conversation.

Whatever way you choose to build your set, this is a quick start guide to play your best half set golf.

Thinking Your way Through Building a Half Set

The Putter: This is the one club that probably isn’t going anywhere (unless you are a virtuoso putting with a bellied wedge). You are going to be using this club on every hole, and depending on your comfort level hitting certain shots, you might end up using it further off the green than normal—cheers to the imagination! Build out from here, because shots inside 100 yards are still going to take up the majority of strokes on your card, and your putter is going to save you shots.
The “Wedge”: Remember that it wasn’t until the last generation of golfers that players started using a lob wedge. Tom Watson famously never put one in the bag and only carried up to a 56-degree. The ideal loft to start your set with is 52-54 degrees, because you can still hit shots out of the sand if needed, and it’s a great club to still hit full shots with—something that many golfers struggle to do with a lob wedge.
Your “Go-To” Shot: I think most golfers agree that trying to get more out of a club distance-wise often ends with less than great results. This is why as you go through your set and start to pick clubs, it’s important to think about your favorite go-to shots. You want to do everything you can to avoid standing over a ball trying to manipulate a club because you don’t have “that distance” in the bag. This is hugely important when you realize that close to 90 percent of hazards are placed in front of the green or target areas and being able to get over comfortably should be priority number one.
Know Your Iron Lofts: Most modern sets have 4-5 degrees between each club, but as you get to the longer irons, even towards the middle of the set (7-iron to 5-iron) loft gaps can get smaller quickly, and for some this can equal a diminishing point of return on distance gapping. Don’t just grab every other iron, take a few minutes to think about the carry distance of each club, because that’s going to be important.
A Driver is Still Important: We all cant be Henrik Stenson with a 12-degree 3-wood we hit 300 yards. Unless you have plans to go truly minimalist, keeping a driver in the bag is a good idea. It is the largest and most forgiving club off the tee and will help put you into places that will make second shots a lot easier.

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Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

34 Comments

ShortGolfer

Jun 23, 2021 at 9:16 pm

13 driver, 21 wood, 27 hybrid, 32 7I, 54 PW, 59 SW, Putter (7 clubs)

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Rey S Tolentino

Mar 26, 2021 at 5:49 pm

Driver, 19 Hybrid, 5 & 8 Irons, 56 SW, Putter = 6

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John Gleason

Apr 7, 2020 at 9:13 pm

I shot my career low 66 last month w only carrying 10 clubs

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Paul

Apr 2, 2020 at 8:56 am

During these stressful times, I have been walking with 7 clubs including a putter. Surprised that my scores have not gone uo. I carry a lob wedge, pitching wedge, 7 iron, 3 hybrid, heavenwood, and driver..

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Lou

Mar 30, 2020 at 1:05 pm

I switched to walking with a half set two years ago and I love it…it feels like real golf, go where you want, enjoy the day

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Dale

Mar 30, 2020 at 11:15 am

Recently I’ve been taking only irons and playing the forward tees about once a week. Definitely is helping my iron game.

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WhoaNellie

Mar 30, 2020 at 10:59 am

“Full” Set, or, Nine is Fine – 11* D, 18.5* 5W, 26* 5H, 31* 7I, 36* 8I, 41* 9I, 46* PW, 56* SW, P
Half set – 11* D, 18.5* 5W, 26* 5H, 36* 8I, 46* PW, 56* SW, P
Half Dozen Set – Drop the D
Thrive with 5 – 18.5* 5W, 31* 7I, 46* PW, 56* SW, P
3 and a P – 18.5* 5W, 36* 8I, 56* SW, P
3 Club Cfhallenge – 18.5* 5W, 46* PW, P
1 and Done – 31* 7I
I think about this far too much, but as that great American thespian and golfer, Clint Eastwood said, “A man’s got to know his limitations …” I only use 9 clubs for my Thursday scramble outings. Half set is my “own score” set unless the D is not cooperating, then I go with Half Dozen. I am probably most comfortable with Half Dozen–hit the 5W once (longer par 3), twice (par 4), or 3 times (par5) and then scramble to clean it up.

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joro

Mar 30, 2020 at 10:26 am

No matter what your combo is you are probably finding out your scores are about the same as a full set. One thing is I have found out is that there are fewer decisions than with more clubs to choose from and it also improves your shotmaking to have to speed up or slow down your swing, in other words control the shot. I have tried it all and very little difference in scoring, even to a one time 1 over par with a six iron and a putter. But the main thing is make it fun and learn from it, you would be surprised how it ends up.

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- Acemandrake
  
  Mar 30, 2020 at 11:49 am
  
  All true. Learn while having fun & you’re never “between clubs”. 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
Karsten's Ghost

Mar 29, 2020 at 7:43 pm

6 clubs, if you must.

Driver, 19h, 6i, 9i, 54, putter.

If it’s down to just one club, I’ll take the 8-iron. I can putt with it.

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Night putter

Mar 28, 2020 at 5:10 pm

7 clubs
2 woods. Driver, 5w Calloways
2 irons . 5 & 8 Hogan edge plus
2 wedges. Pw & sw Ping becu zing2 & eye2
Putters

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tocino

Mar 28, 2020 at 2:36 pm

Driver
3 Hybrid
4, 6, 8, P
58*
Putter

I actually have this setup in the back of my car for whenever i have time to stop by the range after work. The irons are all miss matched between Titleist AP2, 714 AP2, 716 AP2, and a SCOR PW. I’ve been meaning to get a sunday bag to keep everything together. Haven’t tried this set yet playing an actual round but i could probably do “ok” if i had to

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Dane Dresch

Mar 28, 2020 at 10:34 am

Modern 10 Club
Driver
3-wood
19 Hybrid
4 utility Srixon U65 23*
6 Game Improvement Srixon 565 31*
8 Forged Cavity Back Srixon 765 38*
PW Blade Srixon 965 46*
Cleveland RTX 3 52*
Cleveland RTX 3 *60
Cleveland TA Milled 2

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Alex

Mar 27, 2020 at 11:35 pm

Driver, hybrid, 4 iron, 6 iron, 9 iron, 55 wedge, flat stick

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- Bob Jones
  
  Mar 30, 2020 at 10:03 am
  
  Yep. That’s my lineup, too.
  
  Reply Report comment
Joe Exotic

Mar 27, 2020 at 10:45 pm

What is the driver set at? It’s 8* and set even lower, dang!!

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Josh

Mar 27, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Driver
7 wood
6 iron
8 iron
PW
56
Putter

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- WhoaNellie
  
  Mar 30, 2020 at 10:16 am
  
  Nay laddie. I turn 67 on Friday, arthritic knees, achy right shoulder, decidedly non-hipster. I don’t need 11 clubs to divide up the paltry distance between D and SW.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - WhoaNellie
    
    Mar 30, 2020 at 10:25 am
    
    Also, my vision is going. My comment should be on the post below.
    
    Reply Report comment
Jbone

Mar 27, 2020 at 9:08 pm

Half sets are so hipster

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dave

Mar 27, 2020 at 8:36 pm

Happened to have just posted on this in the thread re Linksoul Color Theory irons the other day. Here’s my post cut and pasted:

Highly recommend trying a short bag. With a short bag I’m currently scoring as well as or better than I ever have with a full bag.

Have always enjoyed playing with one club (usually 4 iron) or three clubs (usually hybrid/5w/7w, 8 iron and putter).

I’ve been playing with only 7 or 8 clubs since early January. D, 3w, 22 deg hybrid, 6i, 8i, (PW), SW, P. Irons are Mizuno MP-69.

Played for a long time with 7 clubs, added PW a few weeks ago. But haven’t scored better since adding it.

I have played to or below my current hcp. in every round since I switched to the short set (about 10 rounds), though admittedly my hcp was a bit high going into the no-score-posting season — it was a 12, usually a 9 or 10.

I also shot my lowest lifetime score on my home course on a crappy cold and wet day in January — WITH 7 CLUBS.

I carry a single strap Jones bag with no stand and it’s an absolute joy to walk our very hilly course with the short bag.

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15th Club

Mar 27, 2020 at 8:16 pm

1. 13* 3 wood
2. 5i
3. 7i
4. 9i
5. 52 gw
6. 58 sw
7. Putter

To whatever extent distance is an issue, I very happily move up a set of tees.
Driver is by far the easiest thing to leave out.

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Knuckles

Mar 27, 2020 at 5:40 pm

Start with the scoring clubs first (the ones I play on 80% of my shots and work it from there).
Putter
56deg
PW
9 iron
7 iron
4 iron
3w tuned to 13.5

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- Gerwyn
  
  Oct 10, 2021 at 2:40 am
  
  Yeah this setup seems like my starting point, I’ll leave a half set in he car, for “emergencies” after work games etc and have a full trundler set option
  
  I Will need a second set of wedges to get the right gapping
  
  Reply Report comment
Jifmoli

Mar 27, 2020 at 5:35 pm

Agree, forget the driver if you want to go below 7 clubs, one-trick pony for me really. But I own 2 and they are expensive so they do go in the bag at times. I vary what I stick in the bag, just for fun and a bit of change:

3w, 5h, 7i, 9i, pw, 56o, p = 7
D, 4h, 6i, 8i, pw, aw, 60o, p = 8

Or extra minimal: 4h, 7i, aw, p

I never play with full sets

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[email protected]

Mar 27, 2020 at 4:36 pm

comment sections is cry baby central get a life

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BringBackOldSchool

Mar 27, 2020 at 4:23 pm

This is truly a lost art. While starting to see a bigger comeback in this new millennium, this is exactly how golfers started out years ago. The half set was, and I believe still is, the best way to start golfers out in this game. It wasn’t until a golfer honed their games with a half set, that they’d graduate to a full set and fill in the needed gaps. I also believe most average golfers hinder their development and play because of all the options of 14 clubs. Imagine if most average golfers played a half set and limited their confusion on the course how faster golf would be? And more enjoyable? I might even solve some of the aliments the game struggles with today?

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Ojhs

Mar 27, 2020 at 2:25 pm

How is a driver the most forgiving club off the tee? And it’s also the only place where you can use it. I’d go driving iron or fw wood without a doubt.

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- gdb99
  
  Mar 30, 2020 at 11:23 am
  
  Because it’s the biggest?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ojhs
    
    Apr 8, 2020 at 2:13 pm
    
    Fair enough, guess I confused ‘safe’ and ‘forgiving’. Just thought of most people going literally any other club to play safe.
    
    Reply Report comment
Joey

Mar 27, 2020 at 2:19 pm

Played half-sets for quick rounds after work. Forgot to put the rest back for an outing and raked. Haven’t looked back since.

3W-4H-6-8-PW-56-P

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Max

Mar 27, 2020 at 2:03 pm

Dude, this is Golfwrx. Nobody here is trying to have LESS golf clubs. LoL

But since you planted the seed, maybe I will go and price out a half set of PXG’s.

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- JT Pope
  
  Mar 29, 2020 at 12:15 pm
  
  Lol
  
  Reply Report comment
Acemandrake

Mar 27, 2020 at 1:32 pm

After much trial & error…

12° Driver…24° Hybrid…6…8…PW…SW…Putter (7 total)

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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