Stop buying the full kit. That standard 4-iron through wedge set is a waste of money for the vast majority of players on the course today. The industry sells a complete package because it sells more units, not because it helps your score. A fresh debate on the Kick Point podcast suggests that many golfers are overspending by filling every iron slot in the bag. Listener Kenny James sparked this conversation by asking if mid or high handicap players actually need that many clubs. The question hits hard because it challenges a norm that no one really questions.
The Math on Overspending
The core issue is dispersion overlap. When you swing the ball at a moderate speed, the distance gap between a 6-iron and a 7-iron often vanishes. You hit both clubs the same distance, yet you paid for two separate custom-fitted heads and shafts. Joe Ferguson, a host on the podcast, agrees with this assessment completely. He stated, “I couldn’t agree with that more.” Whether the odd or even set ended up in your bag would go unnoticed by you. This isn’t just about saving a few hundred dollars. It is about realizing that the technology in modern irons makes half the set redundant for slower swing speeds.
Ferguson takes this logic to the extreme by suggesting he could play a PGA tournament with just three or four irons. He notes that players simply adjust their effort when the gaps get tight. The marketing machine pushes the full set because it looks right, but the math says otherwise.
Why Less is More
More clubs do not mean better play. In fact, too many choices often hurt decision-making. Sir Nick Faldo, the legendary champion, joins the discussion to advocate for fewer clubs to force creativity. You just pull the club that matches the number on the rangefinder. That makes the game boring and removes the mental challenge.
The real problem starts with swing speed. Most golfers do not swing fast enough to create the large distance gaps that require a full set. According to Golf Monthly, the need for every iron only becomes relevant as speed increases. The pro tour field at the 2026 Tour Championship uses a mix of hybrids, utility irons, and blades to cover their specific gaps, but they are swinging much harder than the typical weekend warrior.
The abundance of options confuses the buyer. According to Golf Monthly, numerous players find that “this abundance of choice does more harm than good” A simpler bag forces you to learn how to manipulate the ball. It forces you to think. The custom-fitting industry thrives on selling you the exact right club for every yard, but that precision is often unnecessary. Cutting the set by a few clubs saves cash and might just make you a better thinker on the course. The data from the pros shows they mix and match, but the average player just buys the box set and hopes for the best.
