20 Comments

1. Pingback: Gapping at the top of the bag for longer hitters – GolfWRXers discuss – GolfWRX

2. 

   Lefthack

   Dec 12, 2020 at 8:58 pm

   The first learned and competed with a starter set. Driver, 3 wood, 3, 5, 7, and 9 irons and a putter. I bought a nicer putter and a sand wedge.

   Once I got a real set, it actually took a few years before I could hit even clubs, thought.

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3. 

   Peter Albertsson

   Dec 1, 2020 at 10:23 am

   First you need to groove your swing so that you have a consistent swing speed.

   Then try to hit every club as far as you can, and write that down. Then on the course make sure you max distance of the club you pick does not go over the green. Then start to take notes on when you were pin high and make adjustments. So you eventually know what the range is

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4. 

   Paul

   Nov 16, 2020 at 2:16 pm

   I highly recommend playing on a launch monitor, get all your distances that way. You will always know how far your clubs go in perfect conditions. Then when you are on the ground you subtract a couple yards, in the rough 5-10 less, up hill shot add a half club or so. This is the easy part for anyone who plays at all. You just have to work it out once.

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5. 

   Rich

   Nov 2, 2020 at 9:52 pm

   I can’t see that far. Seriously.

   I know my carry distances from having played the same irons over the past 4 years. But I’m upgrading in a couple of weeks and I’ll have to go to a simulator to get the lofts right, and then experience them on the course for awhile to know the carry distances.

   But I can’t see far enough to see if my 6-iron flies 180 or 185 (it does).

   Then there’s the issue with range balls. There’s no way you’ll get a reliable, nor valid, result with them.

   (Note: “valid” means the results are accurate. “Reliable” means the same strike will create the same result each time. The range isn’t valid because range balls don’t produce the same result as your brand does. They probably fly less. And they’re not reliable because range balls vary so much in terms of quality from ball-to-ball. Two identical strikes will likely produce different results.)

   You have to get out on the course, hit shots with your balls, and see where they land. Toss out outliers, especially those from poor strikes. Then yes, write them down and use them.

   Then forget about pin placement and aim for the center of each green. You’ll be happy you did.

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   • 

     Paul

     Nov 16, 2020 at 2:12 pm

     I got my distances from a launch monitor, works great.

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6. 

   BiGBilly

   Nov 2, 2020 at 11:43 am

   69, playing since age 10, HCP 7
   I play and get distances from a GPS, currently an Approach G80 Garmin whish also has a decent make-do Launch Monitor.

   I measure on the ground every single shot I play so I have confidence in now only how far my ball goes on every shot, I also know where a miss might be and where to look.

   I, too say use at most every other club and have fun when starting, but measure everything not to see how macho far everything goes, but to know with confidence where you CAN hit it. No wishing, woulda, coulda shoulda.

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7. 

   Bob Jones

   Nov 2, 2020 at 9:06 am

   Easy way to figure out your iron distances. Sign up for a session with a launch monitor and find the distances you hit a 9, 7, and 5-iron. Interpolate for the rest of your irons. Take these distances to the course and start adjusting for hitting actual golf balls instead of the range balls you hit with the monitor. After a few rounds you will know.

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   • 

     Tim

     Nov 4, 2020 at 3:11 pm

     I’d say have all your irons checked. The loft and lie will change over time. I have had fittings in the past and was amazed at how just a degree or 2 can alter distance. I have a 20 yard distance gap between my 8 iron and 9 iron that needs to be addressed.

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8. 

   DougE

   Nov 2, 2020 at 8:52 am

   A beginner first needs to get comfortable hitting the ball somewhat consistently. Club distances are irrelevant at this level. If the new golfer can make decent contact with a 5i or hybrid, a 7 or 8 iron and a PW, that’s really all they need, plus a driver and putter. 5 clubs total. Period. Once they get more consistent and you can actually see a very distinct distance on nearly every swing off a turf lie (not off a tee) between those three clubs, then you can add another couple irons to the mix.

   Having taught many pure beginners (mostly children and older, unathletic women), when they ask what club should they hit in a certain situation, I think of how well they have been able to hit each of the few clubs they have. I will then usually suggest the longest club if the distance they’d best benefit from is over 120 yrds, knowing the odds of them making clean contact from a turf lie is slim. (Yes, they could get lucky and hit it further, but if so, it would probably be a good thing. With a shorter distance of maybe 90-100 yards, the odds are better for cleaner contact with a 7 iron, and even better still with a pitching wedge when the best distance is 50-80 yards. We aren’t worried about GIRs at this stage. Just moving the ball forward. Until we get close enough to the green, there is rarely ever a reason to use anything other than a hybrid (or 5i) for most of these beginner-level players.

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9. 

   George Fletcher

   Nov 2, 2020 at 8:44 am

   There are plenty of factors affecting how far the ball flies. Clearly the most important is how good the strike is. Nobody hits it as far when not making clean contact with the middle of the club. And obviously the ball goes further downwind than it does into the wind.

   Air temperature also affects the distance a ball flies, and many people do not realize how much of a factor this is. As a rough guide, the ball flies 1 yard further for every 2 degrees Fahrenheit the air temperature rises. So a shot that flies 200 yards at 32F would fly 220 yards at 72F.

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10. 

    Peter

    Nov 1, 2020 at 11:51 pm

    Start with 6 clubs
    Driver
    3 wood
    5
    7
    9
    S
    I’m not counting you putter, although, you should look at that part of your game too

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    • 

      Joe

      Nov 2, 2020 at 10:32 am

      I would swap the 3W out for a 4 or 5 Wood for most beginners… Better gapping… I would also consider a 5 or 6 Hybrid after that especially for lower swing speed players.

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11. 

    Been there

    Nov 1, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    This isn’t “gapping”. It’s yardage. Gapping is knowing the differences between clubs. It’s should you have 8 yards or 15 yards between irons.

    This is handy for a dead beginner who bought a box set, but “which one to hit” isn’t a good thing here. Granted ranges are often limited flight, the better advice is this:

    Hit a ball 10 yards. What’s easiest to do that. Then 20, 30, and all the way to 200. Experiment. Jot those down.

    These articles are all about “how far do you hit it” – that’s not the goal, EVER. The goal to golf is to hit a certain distance. Figure that out.

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12. 

    Johnny P

    Nov 1, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    Never judge your distances at a range, the balls are old, some newish, been sitting in water and rain for God knows how long and probably some have fluid in them and are water-logged, some are hard as rocks and most of them I wouldn’t use if u paid me.

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13. 

    Juan R.

    Nov 1, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    Yup. This makes a big difference knowing your clubs. This has been very helpful in breaking 90’s, next will be staying in low 80’s and better. As a weekend golfer has been awesome to know my gaps. Now I’m looking at the wedges bounce!!!

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14. 

    Curt

    Nov 1, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    It’s the most important thing when buying clubs. As I get older found that gapping of ten yards requires more loft gaps. From 4 to 5 to make it work in my 7 thru GW.

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15. 

    Max Houck

    Nov 1, 2020 at 12:40 pm

    It is a tricky thing. Range balls are not great for judging distance but it’s a starting point; they will always be SHORT. On-course conditions vary, so it’s always an estimate plus variance. I made a card for my wedges with 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1/1 swings so I have an idea when I get to the approach shot and can reduce my swing thoughts–just concentrate on the green, etc. It will take time and several sessions.

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16. 

    Acemandrake

    Nov 1, 2020 at 11:46 am

    Great overall advice. Every golfer should take the time to know their club’s distances.

    Your 6 club setup (D, H, 7, PW, SW, P) for beginners is perfect. I use this setup & I’ve been playing for over 50 years. Seems like I’ve gone full circle.

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17. 

    Dennis

    Nov 1, 2020 at 8:54 am

    DO NOT put 14 Clubs in your bag if you are a beginner! A putter, one wedge, a 7 iron and a 5 or 7 wood is enough. When you get better you could add clubs for certain distances. Leave the driver out of the bag until your handicap drops below 20!

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