By Fred Altvater
How many times have you played a round of golf and used all 14 clubs in your bag?
Do you have two or three favorites that you use most of the time?
How many times have you tried to hit that 3-wood or 3-hybrid and ended up threatening the worm population on the golf course?
The Rules of Golf allow golfers to carry 14 clubs for tournament competition, but do you really need all those clubs in your bag?
Professional golfers have swing speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Most golfers’ average swing speed is closer to 80-90 mph range. What that means is that professionals have larger gaps between clubs than an average golfer. 
For example, a player with a faster swing speed will carry a 56-degree sand wedge approximately 110 yards in the air. His 52-degree Gap Wedge will fly 125 yards and 48-degree pitching wedge 135 yards. These three clubs, along with a 60-degree wedge at 100 yards, give these golfers an acceptable differential between clubs to better dial in those scoring shots from 150 yards and in.
The average golfer with a much slower swing speed will drop his 60-degree 75 yards, sand wedge 90 yards, and pitching wedge 105. There is really no reason for a Gap wedge because the differential between the wedges is not that great.
This same reasoning can be carried through the entire bag. If you are still carrying around a three or four iron, my question is WHY?
The advent of hybrids has made it much easier for the average golfer to find a club that carries over 150 yards and will fly higher than a lower lofted iron. Please be aware, a four, or five hybrid is much better for most than a three-hybrid.
Most golfers could replace their three, four and possibly five irons with either a four, or five hybrid and maintain a suitable differential between their six iron and five wood.
Here are a few more reasons to carry less clubs.
- Obviously, it is much less expensive than buying clubs you don’t really need.
- Much lighter golf bag means maybe you can walk and carry for more exercise, or you could put a couple more beers in your bag.
- Fewer clubs means less decisions on the course. Most golfer under club anyway, when in doubt club up.
- If you have fewer clubs and take less time deciding which one to hit, you may even speed up play.
- Fewer clubs means you can drill down at the range and become more confident with the clubs you are carrying.
The next time you head to the course, leave the 60-degree, Gap wedge, four iron, three hybrid and three wood at home. Try playing with driver, five wood, four, or five hybrid, six-wedge, sand wedge and putter. That’s 10 clubs and probably still more than you really need.
As you can see there are several good reasons to leave a few of those extra clubs in the garage the next time you go out to play a round of golf with your buddies.
