Map Your Bag
When you hear golf coaches tell you to map your bag, what they are really saying is that you do not have the correct carry distances to your clubs. This poses a most significant risk to your scoring ability. Ego can certainly mess you up on the golf course. By looking at the numbers above as an example, if a golfer were to ask you, “How far do you hit your 7-iron?” There are only two answers that you can give: 154 yards or 164 yards. Only one answer is correct.
154 yards carry is the correct answer. Roll out is dependent on the slope, terrain, grain of the grass, and firmness of the soil. Should you have a pin 164 yards out, a smooth swing with the 6-iron will yield a better result that a full on 7-iron. It is because you know when you set up that you have to hit it perfect, and golf is not a game of perfect.
The best way to map your bag is to take your clubs to either a simulator or to the driving range with a launch monitor and record your swings. Say 20 honest shots that you have intended to hit as straight as possible, either in a slight fade or draw and when you’ve reached 20 shots, take the top two and the bottom two away and the average is the average carry that you hit that club.
Repeat until you have driver through lob wedge or whatever your last wedge is and if there are any inconsistencies with wayward left or right, remove them from the list and continue until you are satisfied with 18 fairway finders per club.
Once you have mapped your bag it will be easier to choose your club when playing. If you need assistance on hitting it straight, watch this video from Me & My Golf here.
-David