Equipment

Wunder: How to fix the biggest hole in my bag

Published

4 years ago

Jul 24, 2020

There is a section of my golf bag that has caused me more problems in the last three years than at any point in my life. It used to be a section that I had dialed in. VERY dialed in. It’s the section between 3-wood and 5-iron. From a distance gapping perspective, that section represents (in carry) 235 to 195. 195 is my current 5-iron number, and it has been that number for a long time. I hate it, so I’m gonna fix it.

It used to be so easy. For the first 10 years of my playing career, it was 2, 3, and 4-iron. Simple right?

In 2005-2006, I swapped the 2-iron for a 5-wood, added a wedge (from 54/60 to 52/56/60), and lost the 3-iron to make room. It was in that initial swapping that the problem began.

Now, 15 years later, that problem has turned into a complete abyss of doubt, confusion, and damn near Jekyll and Hyde performance.

To give you an idea of what I have done to find a recipe that works, these are the combos I’ve gone through—just in the past two years.

Dr/3/5/7
Dr/4/7
Dr/3/5/4H
Dr/3/5/3H
Dr/3/5/3H/4H

As you can see, it’s all over the map.

In that time, the wedge set up has done its own flip-flop through a number of configurations

52/56/60
50/55/60/64
52/58/64
53/60
52/58
51/56/61

You can see how one part of the bag that doesn’t work can affect so much. I’m a good wedge player and play my best when I’m in a simple 52/56/60 setup. I’ve never questioned that—I do now.

Point is, I just want a bag that represents a fixed point of consistency so I can actually play golf and not manage golf.

Make sense?

And yes, I’ve been fit—multiple times, by the best of the best, but that still has yet to solve that problem.

What are the core problems here?

The issues I have are versatility, spin, and harmony. For example, I had a 7-wood I LOVED but it went too far, I had a 4-iron that flew perfectly, but I had one shot with it (no versatility). I had multiple 5-woods but some flew great and some went too far.

Point is, it’s a mess. I would stand on long par 3’s or second shots into par 5’s, and unless it was a perfect number for each club, I found myself chipping a 5-wood or trying to reef on a 4-iron. Yes, I understand that happens, but the margin for error was nil. We live in an age where the margin for error should be a no brainer. Clubs do it all these days. So like my good friend Ian Fraser has said

“If you don’t have time to change your swing, let the clubs do it for you”

My plan of action

So here is the plan. I’m going to start with the clubs I KNOW I hit well. “Hitting it well,” in this case, means consistent yardage, face contact, and playability.

For me that looks like:

Driver: 275-280 carry
3-wood: 245-250 carry
5-iron: 195 carry
6-iron: 180 carry
7-iron: 165 carry
8-iron: 150 carry
9-iron: 135 carry
PW: 125 carry
52: 110 carry
56: 100 carry
60: 85 carry

So after the putter that leaves me 2 clubs that need to do so much.

Need to fill a 50-yard gap
Need to be an off-the-tee option
I need to have confidence in them
Need to have a ridiculous amount of versatility

So I’m going hunting, and I won’t stop until that part is sorted. My hunch is, once I solidify that part, my bag will actually be a set of tools and not 11 tools, a putter, and two monkey wrenches.

I’ll update this as I go, but I’m giving myself a time limit to get it right. August 15, 2020, and that’s it.

Here we go.

Your Reaction?

LIKE197
LEGIT37
WOW10
LOL34
IDHT5
FLOP26
OB8
SHANK94

Related Topics:

Up Next

GolfWRX Classifieds (07/27/20): TP Mills, TaylorMade M5 Ti, Nike Amen Corner

Don't Miss

Adidas Golf launches new limited-edition CodeChaos Tokyo collection

John Wunder

29 Comments

Jon Fresnerdur

Nov 6, 2021 at 5:01 pm

Is this to illustrate how far you hit it

Reply Report comment
Paul McLoughlin

Jan 23, 2021 at 7:39 pm

Its a complicated end of the bag, whereas much more simple at the wedge end. At the yardage zone you are grappling with, you must, as i found, consider distance obv, carry, ease of use or consistency, tee and/or fairway needs, wind. For me, no point being a slave to carry, because for eg, at those distances, if you have to carry water are you not better laying up?. You need to able to hit consistent shots, and in my case deal with wind. no point in filling this gap with an unusable club or an inconsistent one.

Reply Report comment
Doctor Hook

Jan 7, 2021 at 10:08 pm

I fill a similar gap in my bag with a Cobra utility iron (super consistent shot shape and distance, good from tee and fairway) and my secret weapon- a Cobra one-length 18deg hybrid (epitome of versatility- I could play a round with it alone and still card a respectable score). It’s not perfect, but nothing is / can be in golf.

Reply Report comment
Wkndhkr

Dec 18, 2020 at 10:03 pm

I’ve been golfing for iver a full year now so I’m no expert but I thought this was just the game. I had no idea that the clubs had to beautifully line up with no gaps for any distance from the shortest to longest. I’m slightly facetious when I say it but if it were that simple wouldn’t we all be on tour. If tour players have this problem, why can’t we? If tour players don’t have this problem and we do, maybe it’s because we aren’t as good as them. I’m just a noob but why not just deal with the gap. You said your wedges are pretty good. Just come up short and use the wedge.

Reply Report comment
James Clark

Dec 12, 2020 at 10:06 pm

I am feeling pretty blessed right now. I live in Sacramento, Ca. We have a wonderful golf facility that allows customers to take any club to the driving range for a test drive. You would just have to keep trying different manufacturers until you found the club that gave you the distance you wanted.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Sep 28, 2020 at 9:57 pm

Are there any updates planned to this piece? I find myself struggling in the same area of the bag and would love to hear the progress made, if any.

Reply Report comment
- Seth
  
  Nov 25, 2020 at 2:10 pm
  
  I am intrigued to know how this worked out too…
  
  Reply Report comment
- Paul
  
  Dec 10, 2020 at 10:33 am
  
  I have a similar set up. The two clubs for me that fill that gap are:
  5 wood: 230-240 carry
  7 wood:: 200-210 carry
  
  Good luck
  
  Reply Report comment
Bernard Fitton

Jul 28, 2020 at 4:26 pm

Try the new Callaway super hybrid 3 or the old Adams super hybrid 3 and add a long 4 iron like the Mavrik or TM P790. Maybe an adjustable hybrid 3 like the epic flash hybrid, can change the face angle to open if you tend to hit hybrids left and can adjust the loft to manage distance gaps.

Reply Report comment
Pelling

Jul 27, 2020 at 9:58 am

Amazingly, if you just went to 7 clubs, you’d probably score the same.
Driver
3 hybrid
5 iron
7 iron
9 iron
56 wedge
Putter

Reply Report comment
Jaybee

Jul 26, 2020 at 9:42 am

Bro, this is the perfect opportunity for the Taylormade GAPR MID! Not quite a hybrid, not quite a driving iron. Great flight. Workable. Use off the tee. SPEEDFOAM. Great deals online. Adjustable. Conversation starter.

Heck, the name alone speaks for itself! GAPr

Reply Report comment
Dennis Beach

Jul 26, 2020 at 8:19 am

Like Brendan H said, fill it in with 2 hybrids that you can have workable distances you can use. There are plenty of mfg’s out there, and you don’t have to play “big brands” to get what you want. Try some of the lesser known brands,as there are some that mfr nothing but hybrids. We’re so hung up on playing what the pro’s play, that we miss the big picture for our own game. I have a few club’s in my bag that are not big brands, but I would not trade those clubs for a set of big names for the world.

Reply Report comment
Dennis

Jul 26, 2020 at 1:10 am

Could you please add the loft of your woods and irons.

Reply Report comment
- Chungus
  
  Dec 18, 2020 at 1:17 am
  
  True… I agree
  
  Reply Report comment
DelacruzC5D

Jul 25, 2020 at 11:33 pm

I wish I had your issue…but I can understand the dilemma…

IF, I had your 50 yard gap, and wanted a tee club (which I am assuming is the next club in progression after the 3w), then I would consider a higher spinning 7w or 2/3H that protects against bombs. The guys at TXG just did their final video of “The Fairway Wood Bracket”, and while the SIM blew most everything out of the water, the Mizuno ST200 and Tour Edge Exotic had a higher spin rate, which seemed to regulate the distance. However, I’m not so sure you would want to hit that into the wind…but then I guess I would hit a 3 wood in that situation (which I assume is a low spin bomber).

As far as the next club, my guess/recommendation would be a 4H…but with a steel shaft. I had struggled with hybrids for a long time, and it wasn’t until I read about Web Simpson’s steel shafted 4H that made me try it. It went from my worst club in my bad to my favorite one. It’s now a club that I can hit low and high. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a fairly easy and inexpensive thing to do, so if it’s a flop, it’s not a bank breaker. If the steel is too heavy, then try something like a NS GOST hybrid shaft.

Those be me two bits

Reply Report comment
Ben

Jul 25, 2020 at 2:14 pm

I think the easier spot is the 4 iron option, I’d go driving iron for that. I personally use Titleist tmb and find it versatile and quite Useful in many situations. There are many of those types of clubs out there.

Reply Report comment
Andrew K

Jul 25, 2020 at 2:08 pm

I agree with the 3H and 4H combo noted above. I have the same set up and it works really well for me.

Reply Report comment
Ben

Jul 25, 2020 at 2:07 pm

I ha e similar numbers as you though I found something that works as a 4 iron which is the Titleist tmb (I have 718-4 iron). This fills the 205-210 spot well and has good flexibility with cuts and draws. Several of those types of clubs out there. More options than a 4 iron and for me better than a hybrid for trajectory control. The longer club which would either be 5 wood/7 wood or 2 hybrid maybe, I went Titleist u510 2 iron and it’s working well, it’s probably 225 carry, maybe 230 if I step on it. I tend to hook hybrids so I went that way. It’s an option.

Reply Report comment
Rick

Jul 25, 2020 at 8:43 am

I had a similar distance range issue – I hated my old 3i, and needed something that flew 215 to 230 (I have similar distance to the poster)…

I HATE hybrids. So I went on eBay and purchased a semi mint condition Honma Extra 90 4 wood (persimmon).

It. Is. Clutch.

Perfect flight. Workable. Not a ton of roll out.

Try the old stuff. The materials take away the extra distance the new clubs usually add, slotting you into the gap you need.

Reply Report comment
Henri

Jul 25, 2020 at 6:55 am

Srixon U85 4 iron and a 7 wood/hybrid?

Reply Report comment
Seth

Jul 25, 2020 at 12:53 am

Seems like a 3H and 4H/4i should do the trick. Maybe even throw a graphite shaft in the 4i if you wanted.

Similar to my setup.

Driver: 265 carry
3W: 240 carry
3H: 220 carry
4i: 205 carry
5i: 195 carry
6i: 185 carry
7i: 175 carry
8i: 160 carry
9i: 150 carry
PW: 140 carry
50: 120 carry
54: 105 carry
62: 85 carry/95 carry pressed
P: 6in short and pulled left

Reply Report comment
Steve

Jul 24, 2020 at 10:38 pm

This describes my bag confusion perfectly, except for the 5 iron 195 part. I’m constantly swapping out that part of the bag. This last week I went back to D, 5w, 3-P, 52/56/60. If I’d left the drive in the bag and just stuck with the 5w on my last round I probably would have saved 5-6 strokes. Also, why do so many people on this site have such rotten attitudes? Why are they here?

Loved the article.

Reply Report comment
Brendan H

Jul 24, 2020 at 8:39 pm

Seems like a pretty simple solution. Two hybrids. 215 carry with the first and 225 carry with the second. 230 with the second would also be fine as long as your landing angle is acceptable. I let my longest hybrid bunch just slightly with my shorter one since I get more rollout from the longer one. Total yardage gaps are appropriately spaced…

Make sure you take the Mavrik Pro hybrids for a serious test. They are superb, even with the stock shafts.

Reply Report comment
- rog
  
  Jul 25, 2020 at 10:44 am
  
  This is exactly what I did. Experiment is working out so far. Got fitted for a 22 and 19 degree SIM hybrids that hit the numbers I needed.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Chungus
  
  Dec 18, 2020 at 1:20 am
  
  Can you explain your hybrid comment more. I don’t get what you mean by bunch?
  
  Reply Report comment
Gianni sucks

Jul 24, 2020 at 7:17 pm

As Director of Original content, this content sucks. Why do I care about your bag and yardages?

Reply Report comment
- John Wunder
  
  Jul 24, 2020 at 8:00 pm
  
  I would suggest you stop reading any articles with my name on it. I seem to write stuff you hate. Just a thought.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jordan Evans
  
  Jul 26, 2020 at 9:04 pm
  
  Why should you care? Because the issue he is facing is the same issue that I’ve been trying to figure out and there are probably many others in the same situation.
  
  The conversational style in which he addresses the issue draws people in and creates a discussion. It also helps others that maybe are struggling with the gapping issue to know that they are not alone or weird or stupid for not having figured this out themselves. Both of which help to create a community.
  
  Communities have cultures too. One thing I respond well to is feeling welcomed and respected.
  
  Your comment seems selfish and rude to me. Perhaps you don’t feel you’re getting what you need from this community. I’d encourage you to search for others that may give you more of what you need. I’m sure there are some that would be a better fit and I wish you well in finding them. Until then please don’t disrespect the moderators or members of this community anymore.
  
  Reply Report comment
Acemandrake

Jul 24, 2020 at 7:04 pm

Driving iron (or GI iron) AND a Hybrid

Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

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

Published

2 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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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!

Your Reaction?