Question:
I’m pretty new to the game and would like to ask if anyone knows where I can get some basic information on club selection. I’m particularly interested in this information for tee shots. I know there are a lot of "it depends on…" in this area, but a guide to how far, on average, I can expect to hit certain clubs would be really useful. I suppose a lot of it comes with playing the game, but some basics would really help… Thanks, Steve
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m pretty new to the game and would like to ask if anyone knows where I can get some basic information on club selection. I’m particularly interested in this information for tee shots. I know there are a lot of "it depends on…" in this area, but a guide to how far, on average, I can expect to hit certain clubs would be really useful. I suppose a lot of it comes with playing the game, but some basics would really help… Thanks, Steve
With the usual caveat that your milage will _almost_certainly_vary, here goes: Assume you hit an average 5-iron 150 yards. Assume 10 yards/club difference. (200 – net yardage*) / 10 = which iron to hit. example: your target is 130 "net" yards away. (200-130)/10 = 7; try the 7-iron. *by net yardage I mean the actual distance you want the ball to go modified by such factors as elevation, wind, lie, etc. — Bruce
Response:
What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin….
That would be my 51* gap wedge. gary hayenga
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin…. If it’s a full swing shot, my 60* wedge. — Jim Sabatke Hire Me!! – See my resume at http://my.execpc.com/~jsabatke Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup. if you were a real RSG’er it’d be a 1/2 swing LW 
Yeah I know, standing on one foot in foot high rough. — Jim Sabatke Hire Me!! – See my resume at http://my.execpc.com/~jsabatke Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin…. If it’s a full swing shot, my 60* wedge. — Jim Sabatke Hire Me!! – See my resume at http://my.execpc.com/~jsabatke Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
if you were a real RSG’er it’d be a 1/2 swing LW
Response:
What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin….
If it’s a full swing shot, my 60* wedge. — Jim Sabatke Hire Me!! – See my resume at http://my.execpc.com/~jsabatke Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
Response:
What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin….
Response:
Depends on what I want to do. If I want to float something in (perhaps with some shape?) – 9 iron – smoothed. If I want an agressive shot – PW or 54 degree wedge (for backspin). Of course, if it looks like a bump and run to me, it may be an 8 or 7 iron. Again – depends on what I need to do. And – how confident I am feeling. Kevin
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What do you guys normally use from 100 yards from the pin? I think I may need to grab a gap wedge or something because this is a trouble distance for me. Pitching wedge is far overkill, and I’m just not consistent enough with my sand wedge. Most of the time I usually, hit them pretty thin….
Response:
Hello I have been playing golf for a year now w/an old set of Wilson Sam Snead irons. My game has improved greatly but I am looking for a new set of irons for next season. Unfortunatly the funds are a little low so I went to a shop neerby and the pro after evaluating my swing pionted towards a set of Ping clones. My question is would I be better off with these $230 Knockoffs or a set of irons and woods from sports authority for the same price. I would appreciate any help. Thank You
Why not go to a clubmaker that has a line that doesn’t "clone" others. Golfsmith, as one, makes some nice models that are very reasonable, and you can have the benifit of being fitted. If you can’t find a Golfsmith clubmaker, just call them and they will guide you to the nearest one. Ralph Maltby Enterprizes would be another. Good Luck..
Response:
Hello I have been playing golf for a year now w/an old set of Wilson Sam Snead irons. My game has improved greatly but I am looking for a new set of irons for next season. Unfortunatly the funds are a little low so I went to a shop neerby and the pro after evaluating my swing pionted towards a set of Ping clones. My question is would I be better off with these $230 Knockoffs or a set of irons and woods from sports authority for the same price. I would appreciate any help. Thank You
Response:
Have you tried choking up on a 3? Try that first. Puttster – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations. I’ve been thinking about building a club about the length of a 9 iron but with about a 10 degree loft to use from the woods instead of a 3 iron. (I get in or behind trees a lot and often have the chance for a longer shot toward the green than just a punch-out, but have a hard time keeping a 3 iron low enough without too weird a setup.) Zane
Response:
Good question, good luck. Puttster
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations. Thanks
Response:
I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations.
I’ve been thinking about building a club about the length of a 9 iron but with about a 10 degree loft to use from the woods instead of a 3 iron. (I get in or behind trees a lot and often have the chance for a longer shot toward the green than just a punch-out, but have a hard time keeping a 3 iron low enough without too weird a setup.) Zane
Response:
Paul Mascatelli wrote
i carry both a 7wood, and a rescue(either a 18* or a 21*, i have both) and like both. one of the other posters mention trying both at the range and that’s a good suggestion, but my set resembles mike’s i carry a 16*,and a 25* wood,+either the 18* or 21* rescue, 5-9 iron, and then 5 wedges. if all your using the 3 for is to get out of trouble, then i suggest some pratice time devoted to learning how to punch/knockdown/shape a six, and use the spot in your bag to add a wedge. if you don’t carry a gap (52* +/-) then that’s what i would consider first, if you do have one, then a lob (58*-64*) is where it’s at. but as mike says, prepare to spend some(as in lots) of pratice time learning to hit the lob wedge. by the by Mike have you seen a 68* lob yet, i saw one at a sporting goods store in Syracuse recently, looks like a frying pan on a stick bud
Response:
IMHO try a 7 wood and a rescue club at the range and compare what gives you the best percentage shot success. Try different brands, shafts, etc. Then try them alternatively on the course as success on the range doesn’t always translate across. If you don’t have one already and are at the 14 club limit consider a 60* lob wedge. Whatever knocks the scores down and gets used on the course is the right club for the bag. Hope this helps. Aloha, jim ps: I’ve tried many many name brand and component 7 woods, rescue clubs, wedge combinations, etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations. Thanks
Response:
I can’t speak for a rescue club, I’ve never used one. But I did replace my 3 iron with a 7 wood. I have much better control with the 7 wood than I ever had with the 3 iron and I like the higher lofted shot that the 7-wood gives me. On the courses that I regularly play, there are several par 3’s that this club is just the perfect length for me. With my 7 wood (when I hit it properly, which is much more often than my 3-iron) I get a nicely lofted shot that hits and sticks on these greens. It’s like hitting a very long 9 iron. I have a Callaway War Bird 7-wood, known as a "Heaven Wood" that I really, really like. Good luck, Robert – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations. Thanks
Response:
I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations.
It seems to me that, since you apparently have no use for the 3-iron except for chipping out, that a 7-wood is not much of an improvement. In other words, simply replacing a 3-iron w/ another club that goes the same distance (which I’m presuming the 7-wood would do) isn’t any upgrade. Thus, getting a rescue club of some type would seem to make more sense. Do you ever have long shots out of the rough that give you trouble? This is what a trouble club might help with. But if it turns out that this isn’t much use either, then I’d suggest considering adding a different club to the bag, i.e., a scoring club. Do you carry any lob wedges (either 60* or–shudder–64*)? Have any trouble w/ sand shots that a different type of club might help you with? In other words, I’d think about what shots currently give me the most trouble in a round, and look for a club that does something new and different that might shave a stroke or two. You’ve already indicated that the 3-iron is just taking up space in your bag; what can you replace it with that will give you help during a round? I carry a 1-, 3-, and 5-wood, and irons starting at a 5-iron. In other words, I don’t presently carry a 3- or 4-iron. In their place I carry 60* and 64* lob wedges. These clubs save me a lot more shots than carrying a 4-iron and/or 3-iron in their place would. I carry the 64* wedge primarily for recovery shots next to the green where the ball is sitting up well. Our greens have relatively little skirt around them before the rough starts, and further, they tend to slope fairly much from back to front. A way to pop the ball high in the air to land softly is important–a lower shot that comes out "hot" is simply tough to play well in our situation. You probably have some sort of similar circumstance–not our greens, per se, but rather some type of problem you face on the course fairly often. Sometimes you can figure out a club that will help you deal w/ those circumstances better. Mike PS: If you choose to get a 60* or 64* wedge, prepare to do some practicing w/ them. They are terrific clubs, but you need to learn to use them. Among other things, they require a ball-position-back, hands-forward type of swing, and you need to practice that a fair amount before you take it to the course. The biggest complaint people seem to have w/ these clubs is skulling them across the green. The high loft effectively reduces the available hitting area, which means you need to be more stable in your swing and setup. Mike Dalecki RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Info http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002 I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm
Response:
I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations.
I haven’t used a 7 wood. But one would think that a poor player such as myself would have a hard time hitting with a rescue club, not having much vertical room for error. But since I got mine, I find that it has replaced my 5 wood as my favorite club. I don’t use either club for real "rescue" situations, preferring to use a short iron from tall grass. I have used them both from fairway sand traps when my ball was sitting up. I expanded my starter set this summer, and have 13 clubs now. I expect to get the Attack Wedge from my GolfSmith set (same thing as a gap wedge) to finish my set. But the odd thing is that I have kept my 3 iron and still don’t have a 4 iron. The gap between my 5 iron and rescue wood isn’t one I am concerned with much – so I use my 3 iron as the best club for getting out from under low branches, and occasionally really windy weather. How often do you use your 4 iron? P.S. my 5 wood was the first club made for me (it was a Christmas gift), and it was the one which gave me my hole-in-one. When I have played that hole since then, I have used that club, even though it is too much for the 196 yard distance. I need to practice teeing off with my rescue club more. I haven’t been dissatisfied with the results from the tee, but I also haven’t been comfortable – and don’t practice it enough.
Response:
I am looking to replace my 3 iron with either a 7 wood or a rescue club. The only time I pulled my 3 iron out of the bag all year was for a knock out under a tree. But, I am not sure which one to go with. So I was looking for pro’s/cons for either or which club is better suited for certain situations. Thanks