How many of your 14 clubs do you use during a typical round? After a month of playing, are there still some that never made it out of the bag? Sometimes, these extras are better left at home, but more often than not, they’re missed opportunities—clubs you could use to improve your game, but don’t. Here are three clubs in your bag that you’re likely to be overlooking and why ignoring them is hurting your results.
Wedge the gap
Gap wedge is one of the most overlooked clubs. You know you need that filler between the sand wedge and the sand, yet it’s hard to find the right time and place to use the gap. For most golfers, the hole wedge is an 80- to 120-yard shot, but its most important benefits may be around the greens.
For controlled chip shots or when you need a half shot on the green with a club that still offers a good amount of spin, the gap wedge is a solid choice. Another great spot for the hole wedge is the longest bunker shot. If you have to rely on a sand wedge to get to your target, try hitting a more controlled wedge to get you there.
How to incorporate the gap wedge into your game
One of the best ways to get more use out of your gap wedge is to go to the range with your rangefinder and work on quarter, half, three-quarter, and full-motion gap wedges. Determine which pitch you hit each one of and then have some confidence the next time you hit the gap on the course.
3-wood
Some golfers consider their 3-wood a backup if their driver fails. Since the 3-wood is good off the tee but a little harder to hit from the deck, it’s often overlooked. It’s also not usually something that club players get when they go to the range to hit some shots.
However, when used correctly, the 3-wood can be a very useful golf club. Most importantly, it is more accurate than the driver and after one year of testing hundreds of golf clubswe can tell you that accuracy is more important for saving strokes than distance.
The 3-wood can make it easier to control the flight of the ball than the driver. For a windy shot, the 3-wood can give you more distance if you know how to knock it down. The 3-wood also gives you a chance to potentially hit more par-5s in two. If you’re lying down, afraid to take the 3-wood out of the bag and hit it closer to the green, check these out stats from Shot Scope as to why it might be a mistake.
How to incorporate the 3-wood into your game
The biggest problem golfers have with the 3-wood is their lack of experience hitting it from the short grass. Next time you hit the driving range, leave your driver in the bag and force yourself to work on the 3-wood.
Most of the time, golfers make the mistake of not establishing the position of the ball early on when hitting the 3-wood from the fairway. Experiment with the position of the ball (ahead of center) and make sure the swing appears shallower and more elongated, much like a driver swing.
6-iron
As hybrids have become more popular, more players have taken the 5-iron out of the bag. This makes the 6-iron look more like a long iron than a mid-iron, which is enough to scare some players away from using it.
Sure, the 7-iron has more loft and is a little easier to hit, but the 6-iron is a valuable club that can save you a few shots. One of the best ways to use your 6-iron is to get out of trouble.
A 6-iron punch is relatively easy and can get you plenty of spin from even a bad lie. Hitting a 6 iron into the wind and controlling the flight of the ball is another great way to use it.
Most importantly, you’ll find that the more you use the 6 iron for these punches and rebounds, the less you’ll fear using it for full swing approach shots. If you really can’t hit the 6-iron, it’s time to let it go and you’ll want to put a 6-hybrid into the mix.
How to incorporate the 6-iron into your game
Learn to punch with your 6-iron. These shots are not difficult and help you learn to hit the center of the face.
Final thoughts
If you’re not getting the most out of your iron, 3-wood, or 6-iron, incorporate them into your next round of golf. Having 14 clubs you trust will help your game and make scoring easier.
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