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does 2 deg make a big diff? I have a 15* 3w that I like. I also have a 17* 4w. should I take that out and put my 19* 5w ? I also have a 19* hybrid I could stick in the bag.


same question about my wedges. I have a 56 and 58 that I like would it be a waste of club to keep them both in?

It depends on your actual distance gaps, but 2* is not a lot. Driver ~10*, and lob wedge ~60*. Assuming that you carry a putter, you have 13 clubs to bridge that 50* gap!

Traditionally (and I use that word since modern sets don't follow this nearly as often as they used to) each iron was separated by 4 degrees of loft and a half inch of length. For the average person, each iron is around a 10 yard gap, 8 yards of that comes from the 4 degrees of loft difference and the other 2 yards comes from the half inch of length. Your 3 wood is probably at least a half inch, maybe a full inch longer than your 4 wood, and those 2 degrees of loft. What that means is that there is probably on the order of 6-8 yards difference between the two clubs. If you feel like you need that kind of seperation, then that is your choice. Most people will probably want at least 10 yards if not more. Now, the flip side is that the shorter, more lofted 4 wood is probably a little easier to hit, so you might want both, a max distance and a "go to" club. There are lots of strategies of making up a bag, I don't think that anyone can tell you what is best for you except you. It is probably as much trial and error and practice as much as anything.

For the 3 and 4 woods... The average 20 handicapper would not notice the distance change between a 3 and 4 wood or a 4 and 5 wood. Not many people carry 4-woods these days. I think they're most helpful to people that carry strong 3-woods, thus giving them a 13 degree and a 17 degree wood (or there and abouts).

The hybrid is a different story. The shaft is shorter and the head weighs more. A 19 degree hybrid will not travel as far as a 19 degree 5-wood.

A 2-degree difference in wedges is another problem. 4 or 5 (maybe 6 if you have 3 wedges) degrees should be a gap to aim for. I carry a 47, a 52, and a 58. The distance gap between the 47 and the 52 is around 15 to 20 yards and the gap between the 52 and the 58 is about 20.

I'd think the 3W and 5W would be the best choice in your case. Or, think of maybe the 4W and getting a 7W. That's what I'd like to do. I have a 7W, but no 4W at this time.

For the woods, my suggestion is 4 wood and 19* hybrid. This will give you the best gap and most likely be the easiest clubs to hit. For the wedges, I think it is a waste to carry a 56* and 58* wedge. Which one you remove would be based on the other wedges you carry. If you don't have any other wedges (besides a pitching wedge), I would keep the 56* wedge.