Unusual setups

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By Lou G

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  • 72 Replies
  1. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    910D2 10.5 driver (D3) 'Ilima 61g regular 913F 13.5 fairway (D3) Diamana M+ 60g R 913H 19, 24, 27 hybrids (D3, D3, A3) Diamana S+ 70g R iWin single length hybrid 38* (marked as 9) with 37.5" TT steel shaft. AP2 6-8 irons Project X Rifle 5.5 RM21 42* (9 iron replacement) SM6 50-08 (bent to 48*) SM7 56-08M MD3 64/8 White Ice putter.

    So who says you need 1-3-5 woods, 4-PW, 52-56-60 and putter?

    The 38 hybrid hits 150 yards. It is handy in some situations where it calls for 6-8 irons. Kind of like LT's "6 wood" thing of the 1970s.

    42* thru 64 are wedgeflex.

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  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    There are even some pros that only carry a 6 iron as their longest iron. Amateur golfers run the gamut. Additional hybrids and fairways can improve the game if long irons are hard to hit or control.
  3. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I believe Steve Stricker uses a 27H. I've read that a couple LPGA carry 11 woods (including the lanky Hawaiian who did a stint on the PGA).
  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I remember in my caddy days, a couple players who had bags of mostly fairway woods. Highest iron was an 8. My stepmother had the same setup and then later on substituded hybrids (had a Cobra 7/32).

    Me: I'm more comfortable with a 27H and strong 7 iron. The 19H gets the same distance as my 7 wood and is easier to hit off tight lies. I recently changed out my AP2 8 iron for an Apex Plus same shaft and the latter gets 5 more yards, plus it is easier to hit off a bad lie. The AP2 7 iron, on the other hand, gets the same distance as my Apex Plus 6. I get only 5 more yards with the 24H vs the 27.

  5. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Here it is. I put the AP2 8 iron back after some adjustment. I came back to using a 30H in place of a 6 iron. I took out the 24H because it gets the same exact distance as the 27 (I just plain hit the 27H better). The 17F was just added today.
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  6. El bandito

    El bandito
    Fife Bonny Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    It’s a funny old game we play,
    What works for some,
    might not work for others.

    Each to there own,
    Play and enjoy your own game I say. ️‍♂️️
  7. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I've gone more "conventional" except for a mixed bag of irons. The 42* is a 9 iron equivalent with WedgeFlex. Would be nice if Titleist made 64* wedges with the T grind again.
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  8. JT TITLEISTUSER

    JT TITLEISTUSER
    Wirral

    Certainly up to you to decide what works for you... as you obviously have.

    I wholeheartedly agree about the 64* wedge - I'd be first in the queue if they re-introduced that in Vokey.
    I've got a copper 64* TM in the garage which goes in and out of my bag on a regular basis.
    I can actually control the spin with that so much better than a 60* spin mill.
    JT
  9. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Although I hit a 915F 21 hybrid reasonably well, this morning showed very little difference between it and the 816H1 25 hybrid. I recently acquired a 913F 19 fairway and hit it very straight with stock length and loft and it is very consistent plus I can work it. So since Torrey Pines last year, my bag is full circle. The only difference is using a 32* hybrid instead of a 6 iron. I like both 3 woods in the photo. I've hit the 13.5 over 250 yards on a couple occasions. I have a Bassara 55g regular shaft enroute.
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  10. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    TITLEISTUSER said:

    Certainly up to you to decide what works for you... as you obviously have.

    I wholeheartedly agree about the 64* wedge - I'd be first in the queue if they re-introduced that in Vokey.
    I've got a copper 64* TM in the garage which goes in and out of my bag on a regular basis.
    I can actually control the spin with that so much better than a 60* spin mill.
    JT

    I discovered a 64* wedge in 2006. The combo of 50-58-64 is a proven winner. Did PW-54-58-64 also. For some odd reason a 60 or 62 doesn't do the trick. With a 64 it's easy. You either hit a full swing or half swing. 50 yards square stance full swing. 30 yard full pitch. 15 yard half swing pitch. Choke down to adjust distance. If the greenside bunker has firm sand, 64. If soft, 58-08M. Bending a 62-08M isn't a solution because the bounce would be too high for 64* (I use it off tight lies).
  11. SAVS

    SAVS
    Dorset, UK

    Hold on, I’m just going to get my Pitching Wood!
  12. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    They actually make pitching hybrids. Better watch out for the old geezer that uses a 15 wood (yes, Louisville Golf still makes them).
  13. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Streamlined and optimized. Shot 41 at Riverwalk teeing off with the 3 wood despite two double bogeys and a blocked tee shot on the last hole.
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  14. Stephen E

    Stephen E

    Back when I was playing junior golf as well as my freshman year of high school golf I used to Play 1,3,5,7,9 woods with 5-pw. 56 & 60. I was constantly laughed at but it doesn’t matter how you win, as long as you win. Eventually I started to grow taller and stronger between freshman and sophomore year and managed to fall in love with the longer irons - now I only carry my driver and 15* with a 2-pw. How times change.
  15. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I remember during my caddie days in 1972 how some of the others would scoff a couple of the older golfers who carried an entire bag of fairway woods. Even on Instagram, some one of those "young hotshots who uses triple x shafts but plays bogey golf" scoffed me and even stated "real men use long irons".... I shut him down quick. Told him I hit a 27 hybrid 170 yards and consistently shoot in the low to mid 80s. My 816H1 25 hybrid goes 180 on a flat surface. I still hit my 8 iron 140. My 32 hybrid hits 160. A reasonable rip with my 19F is 220 yards. I'm almost 62.

    I got schooled by an elderly gentleman 12 years ago. They work smarter and not harder. It isn't the mechanics, it is fewest strokes.
  16. Stephen E

    Stephen E

    It’s the famous - don’t judge a book by the cover... don’t judge the golfer by what’s in the bag. Whatever allows you to shoot your best is the best bag for you!
  17. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    My stepmother never carried any iron above an 8. Her go to club was a Cobra Baffler 7H. She actually shot in the 90s.

    What is attached to this is my final bag. I found out I fared better with an SM6 46-08 bent to 44* (the full swing distance is about 5 yards less than the RM21 42* that I carried but my pitch shots are more solid with the Vokey). What isn't shown in the photo is that I upgraded the SM5 54-10S to an SM7. Although I can hit a 6 and 7 iron pretty consistent, why bother when I don't miss with a 32H?

    Broke 40 3 times for 9 holes on a standard 6200 yard golf course (last Friday shot a 39). Shot par on 2200 yard par 34 layout a few times. My average score is around 85.

    I always state: "you never know... that old man with a 15 wood will take somebody to school." I actually had a persimmon 10 wood (28.5*) and 34H between 2010-2011. Unfortunately broke the heads.

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  18. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Lofts 12-16.5-19-21.75-25.75-27-32-38-44-50-54-58-64 with a vintage putter.

    Have a Bullseye putter

    910D2 10.5 driver

    917F2 15 fairway

    915Hd 17.5 hybrid

    816H1 21 ands 25 hybrids

    Hogan CFT Edge 5H with #3 steel shaft

    Apex Plus 7-8 irons

    SM7 46-10F

    SM6 50-08

    SM7 56-08M

    SM7 60-12K

    Cally MD3 64/8
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  19. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    A little less unusual.
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  20. 19hole

    19hole
    Reading, MA

    The unusual thing in my bag is that I carry 2 5 irons. A standard CB and a 1° strong AP3.
  21. Alex

    Alex

    917 D2 10.5
    913 3 wood
    816 19
    816 21
    Ap1's 5-pw
    54 & 60
    Scotty Cameron 2018 squareback
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  22. Jeff K

    Jeff K

    I'm the other way to most, I just can't hit hybrids.

    I caryy 917 driver set to 12 deg, TMB 2 iron, C16 4 to W, 50 deg SM7, 54 Deg SM6 and an old 260.04 wedge. My PW is 43 deg and my W is 47 deg. I find this gives me flexibility for my short game.
  23. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    It took practice to figure out hybrids more than 27*. For a long time, I carried a 21 fairway and 27 hybrid. My current bag is 910D2 10.5 driver (set to 12*), 917D2 15 (set to 16.5), 816H1 21 and 25 (set to A3 22.5 and 26.5), Cobra Baffler 7H, Apex Plus 7-8 irons, SM7 46-10F (bent to 44*), SM7 52-08F (bent to 51). SM7 58-08M, Callie MD3 64/8 and White Ice putter. I'm keeping my SM6 60-12K (bent to 58) in my secondary bag. 99 percent of the time I tee off with the 3 wood.
  24. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    It took practice to figure out hybrids more than 27*. For a long time, I carried a 21 fairway and 27 hybrid. My current bag is 910D2 10.5 driver (set to 12*), 917D2 15 (set to 16.5), 816H1 21 and 25 (set to A3 22.5 and 26.5), Cobra Baffler 7H, Apex Plus 7-8 irons, SM7 46-10F (bent to 44*), SM7 52-08F (bent to 51). SM7 58-08M, Callie MD3 64/8 and White Ice putter. I'm keeping my SM6 60-12K (bent to 58) in my secondary bag. 99 percent of the time I tee off with the 3 wood.
  25. Bob M

    Bob M

    I recently returned to playing golf after a 10-year hiatus. Several people, none of whom I have ever met, served as role models in putting together my current setup. Included are golf writer David Owen, club pro Matt Dobyns (a Titleist guy) and Lou G of this blog.


    Lou - I really have learned a lot from reading your detailed and informative threads. You and I are about the same age and you will no doubt recognize some familiar themes in my bag:

    png G5 driver - 13.5* reshafted at 43.5" with a Proforce V2 light regular shaft. brought up to D2 swingweight by using a Winn Dritac lite grip and lead tape.

    Titleist 915F 3 wood - 15*; surefit setting of B3 so the loft is actually 16.5* and lie is .75* upright, Diamana red shaft, regular flex. I LOVE this club off the tee!

    Titleist 910F 7 wood - 21*; surefit setting of C3 so the loft is actually 21.75* and lie is .75* upright. Bassara regular flex shaft.

    Titleist 915H 3 hybrid - 21*; surefit setting A3 so loft is actually 22.5* and lie is 1.5* upright. Diamana blue regular flex shaft.

    Titleist 913H 5 hybrid - 27*, surefit setting A2 so standard loft and 1.5* upright. Diamana blue regular flex shaft.

    png G10 7 hybrid - 32*; standard loft and lie

    Titleist 714 AP1 irons - 7-Pw; standard loft and lie, Kuro Kage regular shaft

    Vokey SM6 wedges - 48-08 F and 54-08 M, wedge flex shafts

    TM Hi-Toe wedge - 58*, KBS Hi-Rev wedge flex shaft

    Cameron Newport putter - purchased new by me in the '90's.


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  26. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Bob M said:

    I recently returned to playing golf after a 10-year hiatus. Several people, none of whom I have ever met, served as role models in putting together my current setup. Included are golf writer David Owen, club pro Matt Dobyns (a Titleist guy) and Lou G of this blog.


    Lou - I really have learned a lot from reading your detailed and informative threads. You and I are about the same age and you will no doubt recognize some familiar themes in my bag:

    png G5 driver - 13.5* reshafted at 43.5" with a Proforce V2 light regular shaft. brought up to D2 swingweight by using a Winn Dritac lite grip and lead tape.

    Titleist 915F 3 wood - 15*; surefit setting of B3 so the loft is actually 16.5* and lie is .75* upright, Diamana red shaft, regular flex. I LOVE this club off the tee!

    Titleist 910F 7 wood - 21*; surefit setting of C3 so the loft is actually 21.75* and lie is .75* upright. Bassara regular flex shaft.

    Titleist 915H 3 hybrid - 21*; surefit setting A3 so loft is actually 22.5* and lie is 1.5* upright. Diamana blue regular flex shaft.

    Titleist 913H 5 hybrid - 27*, surefit setting A2 so standard loft and 1.5* upright. Diamana blue regular flex shaft.

    png G10 7 hybrid - 32*; standard loft and lie

    Titleist 714 AP1 irons - 7-Pw; standard loft and lie, Kuro Kage regular shaft

    Vokey SM6 wedges - 48-08 F and 54-08 M, wedge flex shafts

    TM Hi-Toe wedge - 58*, KBS Hi-Rev wedge flex shaft

    Cameron Newport putter - purchased new by me in the '90's.


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    Great..... found out something new about hybrids: The spacing between loft and lie angle adjustments is 1* (been under the impression that they were 0.75* like the fairways). Attached is my current setup. The only extra clubs I have now are a 915F 18* F with Diamana M60+ Lite, 816H1 25 (set to 26*) an Apex Grind 9 iron (45* loft) and a 1962 Bullseye putter. I carried a 13* 2007 Burner driver (with M flex 44.5" Winn Lite Dri Tac) between 2011-2017. My bag gapping is 12-16.5-21-24-27-32-38-42-46-52-58-64. Driver shaft is Bassara A flex (have regular in reserve). 3 wood is Diamana M60 Regular. Hybrids (except 5) are Diamana S70+ Regular. Hogan are #3 (regular). All wedges are DG WedgeFlex (the 42 is a 9 iron replacement).
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  27. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Part 2. My stepmother never carried any irons above 8 for ages. Funny thing in my caddie days (1972-1973; caddied at St Charles - about an hour south of Winnetka IL and this is where the author of Caddy Shack looped in 1972) there were people playing lofted fairway woods; Lee Trevino promoted the idea of using a 6 wood instead of a 3 iron. I actually teed off with a 1 iron back in 1985. I am spotty with a 6 iron but have gotten consistent with a 7 iron (I loft it at 32*). Attached was a golf setup I used when I finally broke 80 in 2013 (there is a 9 wood in there). Also had a persimmon 34* hybrid and two persimmon fairways (5/21 and 10/28.5) that I bought in 2010. I carried the 10 wood as my 160 club until 2012 (40" steel shaft). Unfortunately broke the heads on the persimmons. I've also used a G10 32* until 2018. Had a Cobra Baffler 7H until recently (could hit it 155 yards); I've gotten super consistent with the 7 iron plus it hits better off tight lies.
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  28. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    By the way, I just traded the 21H for an 816H2 19* and shortened the 917F2 to 42.5" I was smoking them at the range yesterday.
  29. Bob M

    Bob M

    Lou - Thanks for the info on 1* gapping on the hybrids; I was also under the impression that they had the same 0.75* gapping as the fairway woods and driver. I'll have to re-check where I have mine set.

    I love that you are playing Apex Plus irons (with #3 steel shafts). I played these irons for years, prior to getting png i5 irons when I turned 50. I still have them and wouldn't hesitate gaming them again....as soon as my swing (re) develops to the point that I can actually hit them!
  30. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Bob:

    What started me on Apex was my dad left behind a set from 2-L with #4 shafts. From 2012 to 2015 I carried AP1 irons 7-PW, sometimes alternating between a 32 or 34H and the 7 iron. The Apex Plus help with ball striking. I also switched to using a Vokey for the PW in 2016 because it was easier to pick the ball off a tight lie vs an AP1 PW. The biggest gem in the bag is the RM21 42*; I've been using this instead of a 9 iron for over 2 years now and the very first shot on a golf course was sticking the ball 3 feet from the pin on a 129 yard par 3. I might add that I closed out the 18th hole at Torrey Pines South with choked down approach shot from 110 and nailed the green (I played with 42-50-58-64 on the wedges last March). I discovered an AP2 8 iron with Project X 5.5 hit 5 yards more than an AP1 with R300. I got an AP2 6 iron 3 days before playing Torrey and my setup for about 9 months was AP2 6-8. The REAL test was playing Riverwalk Sunset at the end of last year. I fared better with the Apex because they pick the ball cleaner than the AP2s. I got some Apex Plus 6-8 in excellent shape with #3 shafts and the performance was equal to the AP2s. Alongside CB irons they were equal. I dumped the 6 iron since there was little difference between it and the 7 (5 yards, even with a 3* loft difference). In place of the 6 iron I had been using a CFT Edge 5H with steel shaft. I also have an 816H1 25* hybrid in reserve (set to 27*). Although I am using the Epic set to 28*, I have no intents of trading in the 25 or the 27.

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  31. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    10 years ago I encounted a custom club maker called Pinemeadow Golf. They had a series of hybrids from 2-PW and I played 31 and 35* with steel shafts. My wife is left handed so I had a 54 and 60 with ladies flex made for her in 2009 (she now has 910F 17 and 21 plus 910H 24 and 37 cut an inch short from standard ladies' length and 25g standard grips). I dumped the 31 after getting G10 28 and 32 (which I carried until 2010). As you read at the top of this thread I've had some odd ball golf setups.
  32. Dennis M

    Dennis M
    Miami, FL

    A teaching pro friend had a conversation with me when I tried some Cobra One Length Irons.

    He told me about a set he put together once. The 4, 5 & 6 iron were one length. The 7, 8 & 9 irons were slightly shorter and all one length. His PW, GW, SW & LW were slightly shorter again and all the same length.

    Just based on the principle alone, I'd like to try something like that, but I can't imagine what it would cost to have the set built properly and it might be too expensive for the risk.
  33. Jonathan L

    Jonathan L
    Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

    As my as I (and my ego) love trying to hit longer irons ... I’ve recently just put an 818 26* hybrid in the bag and it is possibly the easiest club I’ve ever had to hit!

    So straight and reliable it makes me want an entire bag of hybrids!! Would that be acceptable ...
  34. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    The only changes from my previous photo are the 21F and the PXG hybrid.
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  35. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I just upgraded the driver to 913D2. Found I hit a tighter pattern with a 44" shaft and 15g headweight. Consistently 1-2 yd left of center. Also have a 915Fd 3 wood with Diamana 70 x5ct R.
  36. Bob M

    Bob M

    Lou - What is the surefit setting on the 910F 21 (mine is currently set at C2 while I am trying out an old Steelhead 9 wood)? Why the switch from a hybrid back to a lofted wood? What are the lofts on your H1 and PGX hybrids?
  37. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Bob M said:

    Lou - What is the surefit setting on the 910F 21 (mine is currently set at C2 while I am trying out an old Steelhead 9 wood)? Why the switch from a hybrid back to a lofted wood? What are the lofts on your H1 and PGX hybrids?

    I have my 910F 21 set at D3 with a 41" Kaili 75g shaft. I went to a hybrid a couple years ago because the 910F 21 I had before (which had Bassara 55g) was pulling and I still had a hard time with a 3 wood. I used a 915F 18* fairway until last year and found the reason I had trouble with a 3 wood is 43" is too long. When I went to 42.5" on the 3 wood (with added head weight) I started hitting it solid. I was using a 21H until I just per chance saw this 21F still in the wrapper. The 70g shaft cured problems with pulling and I hit a 7 wood way better than a 19 or 21H.... bottom line. The 816H1 is set to 25* and the PXG is 28*. I can get 180 with the 816H1 and 170 with the PXG. My 7 wood is between 190-200.
  38. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I carried a 13* driver, 21 fairway and 27 hybrid for almost 4 years. Very little difference between a 24H and 27H.
  39. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Updated setup:

    917D2 - 11.25*

    917F - 16.5*

    816h1 - 18.0*

    818h - 24.5*

    716 AP1 - 5 - PW 52*

    Vokey SM7 58.12* D
  40. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    My main playing bag:
    913D2 10.5 44" Bassara R flex with 15g headweight
    915Fd 15 42.5" Diamana 70 x5ct R with 15g headweight
    910F 21 41" Kaili 75g R
    816H1 25* with Diamana S72R
    PXG 28* with 71g shaft
    Apex Plus 7-8 irons with No 3 shaft
    Fourteen RM21 42* DG Wedgeflex
    SM7 46-10F, 52-08, 58-08M DG Wedgeflex
    Cally MD3 64/8
    White Ice putter.

    Sunday Bag
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  41. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Correction on the Sunday Bag..... The 915Fd beat the 917F2 hands down for distance, ability to hit off the deck and accuracy.
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