Having a proper set make-up is as important for game improvement and enjoyment of the game as having properly fitted custom golf clubs. Each type of club or group of clubs in your bag can make a difference to your game. Most average golfers do not play with a set make-up which will maximize their scoring ability on the golf course.
Typically, the set make-up of the average golfer includes:
- An old set of golf clubs purchased or inherited years ago and mismatched in terms of the golfer’s playing abilities and characteristics versus the golf clubs characteristics and playability. Typically more difficult to play 'Muscleback' irons meant for the better player.
- A set make-up not optimized for the golfer's playing abilities. Hence, the set would include all of the long-irons (2, 3, and 4) which the golfer can never hit and never pulls out of the bag as a result.
- Gaps in longer distances between the woods and irons as a result of not being able to hit longer irons.
- A set that typically doesn't include the appropriate wedges resulting in gaps in distances causing the average golfer to make adjustments to his swing or club selection which of course impacts his game.
- In an effort to upgrade at least a part of his golf set, an upgraded driver purchased out of a discount bin at a discount golf store because it was 'cheap' but again unmatched to the golfers playing ability and characteristics.
Your set can be optimized so that each club in your bag can become a scoring club for you. Optimizing your current set make-up can take strokes off your golf game. By analyzing your current set, you can look to see what clubs need to be upgraded.
Optimum Set Make-up
What should be included in your overall your overall set is dependent upon your ability, playing style and where you play but general recommendations can be
made.
High and Mid-Handicap Men:
If you never take your 3 or 4 iron out on the course then you should take them out in the garage – and leave them there. Replace your long irons with a 3 Hybrid for sure and possibly a 4 Hybrid depending on your confidence level with the iron.
Set Make-up:
Woods: 1, 3 and 5 wood
Hybrid: 3H and maybe 4H
Irons: 4 (optional), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Wedges: PW, GW, SW
Women:
The same theory applies to women. The newer hybrids are much easier to hit so they are are must have in your bag.
Woods: 1, 3 and 5 wood
Hybrid: 3H and maybe 4H
Irons: 4 (optional), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
WWedges: PW, SW
Optionally, for high-handicap women, reducing the number of clubs in your bag works very well for getting around the golf-course.
Woods: 1, 3 and 5 wood
Hybrid: 3H, 4H, 5H
Irons: 7, 9
Wedges: PW
A properly fitted custom driver will enable the golfer to not only hit the ball the optimum distance but accurately as well and will build confidence and a better game.
Drivers are notoriously difficult to hit consistently for a variety of reasons for the average golfer. Many of the reasons have to do with equipment rather than the golfers swing - particularly if the golfer can hit fairway woods and irons reasonably well. When the ball is hit, typical problems include:
- The ball starts right and then continues slice right
- The ball is hit very inconsistently going left or right
What makes a driver so hard to hit?
- The longer shaft length makes it difficult to consistently bring the club back to ball. To get maximum distance for YOUR swing, maximum energy is imparted to the ball only when it hits the sweet spot. Any off-center hit will cause the clubhead to twist and lose energy.
- Generally, to achieve this level of consistency, driver length should be NO MORE than 44 inches for most golfers.
- The lower loft angle makes the club more difficult to hit. Most golfers don’t play with enough loft for their swing speed.
- By matching driver length, swing speed and loft most golfers will then be able to hit the ball consistently to their maximum distance
- Shaft flex may also be a problem. Too stiff a shaft will cause the ball to go right or not launch the ball high enough. Too flexible a shaft will cause the golfer to be inconsistent.
- Many drivers have an open face angle which is the cause for constant misery for many a golfer. A good solution to resolving a consistent slice is to look for a driver that has a closed face. This will help most mid-to High handicap golfers land the ball consistently on the fairway.
The hybrid club is a combination of a long iron and wood. This combination has resulted in some of the most forgiving and easiest clubs to hit to date. The hybrid is meant to replace hard-to-hit long irons. The two main reasons many golfers switch from an iron to a hybrid are: 1. loss of distance and trajectory on their irons; and 2. a lack of distance gap between two irons in their set
Long irons (2 - 5) are difficult to hit for the average golfer because of the lower loft, longer club and effort required to get the ball launched into the air. Hybrids are easier to hit because the hybrid clubhead design allows the center of gravity to be moved lower and farther back from the face. This gets the ball up easier and at a higher angle.
Hybrids are extremely forgiving and versatile and can be used easily from the fairway, rough or tee. All players can benefit from hybrid clubs with immediate game improvement results for the average and beginning golfer.
Wedges are scoring clubs. Putting and the short game are 65% of the game of golf yet many average golfers do not have the appropriate clubs in their bag nor do they practice their short game.
The number of different kinds of wedges on the market far out number the different iron models in the market and rival putters in terms of varieties available.
Having the appropriate wedges in your bag is critical for scoring and game improvement. The better your wedge play, the FEWER putts you will take.
Custom-fitting in wedges is more important than putters.
How good is your Short Game? Take the Short Game Performance Test and find your short game handicap.
Pitching Wedge
This club has typically 45 - 49° loft and is used for longer approach shots, about 90 - 100 yards. Because it's most often hit from the grass, it has minimal bounce (2-5°). In fact, a higher bounce would be undesirable in this club, because it would make it more difficult to get the leading edge under the ball, causing you to skull it.
Gap Wedge
This club has typically 49 - 54 degree loft and is used for shots of about 95 - 100 yards. Bounce is typically 5 - 12 degree. Choose a gap wedge with loft that divides the "gap" evenly between your pitching and sand wedges. For instance, if you have a 48° PW and a 56 degree SW, choose a gap wedge with 52 degree loft. This club is also known as a "dual" wedge [DW] or "attack" wedge [AW].
Sand Wedge
This club has typically 54 - 57 degree loft and is used for shots of about 80 - 90 yards maximum. It also has the most unique clubhead of the bounce, with lots of bounce (10 - 16 degrees) and another feature called hee-toe camber. This is what gives the sand wedge an oval shape on the bottom of the face.
Lob Wedge
This club has 57 degrees loft or more and is used for shots of about 60 - 65 yards maximum. The Lob Wedge is used to get the ball into the air quickly and land softly. Bounce is minimal (1 - 10 degrees), because in these situation there is generally very little room under the ball, and a tiny error can make the club bounce off the ground and cause a sculled shot. The ball flies short and high with this club.
All wedges have bounce and it is important to understand the amount of bounce, particularly for your Sand Wedge, you are playing with and match it to the conditions that you normally play in.
A larger bounce (12 -20 degrees) is good for soft sand but if you play in sand that is more packed or hard then you should purchase a Sand Wedge with slight to moderate bounce to improve your chances of not sculling the ball. A lower bounce is fine for soft sand.
A Sand Wedge with between 7 - 11 degrees bounce will work in almost all types of sand conditions.
