Equipment
Do you own your set of clubs or do they own you?
By Greg Moore
GolfWRX Staff
Do you own your set of clubs or do they own you?
If you’re a mid-to-high handicap player and you truly owned your set, then you would have taken the time to get them custom fit.
During a custom fitting session, golfers are fit for shaft material (steel or graphite, maybe both in a mixed set), shaft flex, length, lie angle, overall weight, swing weight, grip size and style. Recent technology in hybrids and long irons means that set make up is something golfers should be aware of when selecting a new set of clubs — it is where a lot of players make the decision to let their set “own” them. But some players are more worried about the price they can get when they sell or trade their new set of clubs before they even buy them.
If most mid-to-high handicap players built their set make up around their weaknesses and not their egos, they would likely have a set made up of two or three different models of irons, and as many as four wedges (48 degree, 52 degree, 56 degree and 60 degree, probably with steel shafts). Their 8 iron and 9 iron might be a muscle back or cavity back with little to no offset and steel shafts. Their 6 iron and 7 iron (and maybe 5 iron) would then have a bit more offset and be a cavity back game-improvement model.
Next, they might have a couple of hybrids — at least 4 hybrid with a graphite shaft.
Their driver would have the correct amount of loft to allow them to maximize launch angle, as well as the correct shaft flex and length to help reduce the spin to optimize carry and roll-out. The fairway woods that they are fit for will allow them to once again launch the ball up into the air — their 3 wood might be a 15 degree or 16 degree, possibly even higher. The set make up might also include a 5 wood and 7 wood.
Just because the USGA Rules of Golf limits you to 14 clubs in the bag at one time doesn’t mean you can’t own more than 14 clubs. Changing out clubs, based on the course and conditions you are playing, means you might have a 5 wood in the bag one day and a hybrid the next. Or you could have four wedges in the bag one day and four woods (for a different course). Maybe you would include a strong lofted 3 wood (around 13 degrees) and no driver for that short, really tight golf course that eats up all your golf balls that you hit off line trying to steer your 9 degree driver, when distance isn’t the major factor in scoring.
Is this my opinion? No, professional golfers do it on tour all the time.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with set make up, but most importantly, spend the time and money to get a set that fits you.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Big O Rick
Sep 17, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I went through a Hot Stix fitting in Orlando and bought what they spec’d only to learn later I paid about $500 too much. To top it off they put me in a regular shaft and a somewhat forgiving club. I did hit that club farther but very generic results. I then went to my local Edwin Watts and bought their recommendation with much better results. Bottom line fitting is good but you don’t always get what you pay for. I would never go back to Hot Stix again.
2putttom
Sep 14, 2012 at 1:55 pm
It took me over a hundred rounds to get what I wanted outta my fitted set. The over all benefit is a more enjoyable round of golf.
pablo
Sep 13, 2012 at 3:54 pm
great article. when i got new clubs i deleted my old 10.5 degree driver, 3 metal and 3-SW set, and instead got a 11.5* degree driver, 15* 4 metal, 3h, 4h, 5-pw cavity backed forged irons, and bought used 48,52,56,60* old ping ist solid copper wedges to fill it out. never played better!
Chico
Sep 13, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Good article. This is very true. Somedays I will play four wedges and others three and two hybrids. Just depends on the course and conditions I will be playing in. Once you get fitted don’t be afgraid to do some research and use the information that the pro gave you to go out and piece together a few new clubs. After all this is the best place to do it!