Are we now entering the 5 wedge era?

[Highfade]

Vokey have introduced their 44 degree wedge.

I predict that market forces will begin another change in the composition of standard sets of irons.
In the same way the 3-iron and sand wedge was always included in the standard set of irons.
The wedge market forced manufacturers to drop the SW from sets and the hybrid market forced the phasing out of the 3-iron.

Soon a standard set will see the end of the inclusion of the pitching wedge and will simple be numbered irons 4 or even 5 to 9 iron.

Then there will be a market for another ‘set’ but for wedges.
A 5 wedge set will be available.
44,48,52,56,60.

Players will be tempted by the saturated market to build their bag with several club ‘families’.
Woods/irons/wedges/putter.

The 5 wedge era will be standard very soon. Not just for Phil.

 

[Mandofred]

I'm already there. Pw, 50,54,58+64

 

[hairball_89]

I think it depends on what you want your wedges to do and how comfortable you are in taking yardage off clubs. I have 46/52/58 and am happy with how that works for my game. those who would rather hit full shots will obviously need more - I would assume @Mandofred, above, is in that group.

 

[Mandofred]

I think it depends on what you want your wedges to do and how comfortable you are in taking yardage off clubs. I have 46/52/58 and am happy with how that works for my game. those who would rather hit full shots will obviously need more - I would assume @Mandofred, above, is in that group.

Don't include me in anything....I'm not right in the head......

 

[Mel Smooth]

I've got a PW, 52, 56 and 60-and the 52 just confuses me as to which shot to hit with it. It's coming out of the bag - there's nothing I can't do with that club that I can't do with the PW.
I could sack off the 60 as well and just play the 56 with an open face at a push.

 

[jim8flog]

How many wedges is all the in the mind.

My wedge set starts at 52 degree anything less lofted than that is not a wedge despite what is says on the bottom, it also ends at 56 degree.

 

[jim8flog]

Vokey have introduced their 44 degree wedge.

I predict that market forces will begin another change in the composition of standard sets of irons.
In the same way the 3-iron and sand wedge was always included in the standard set of irons.
The wedge market forced manufacturers to drop the SW from sets and the hybrid market forced the phasing out of the 3-iron.

Soon a standard set will see the end of the inclusion of the pitching wedge and will simple be numbered irons 4 or even 5 to 9 iron.

Then there will be a market for another ‘set’ but for wedges.
A 5 wedge set will be available.
44,48,52,56,60.

Players will be tempted by the saturated market to build their bag with several club ‘families’.
Woods/irons/wedges/putter.

The 5 wedge era will be standard very soon. Not just for Phil.

I had a 46 degree SM4 for years until sold recently. Bought because the set of irons I bought S/H was missing the PW and at the time I already had a 50 SM4

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Can’t see it changing the industry at all and it’s not a new thing.

My current PW is 45° (old money that’s a 9 iron). Then I have 52, 56 and 60° wedges, considering having them all bent to be 2° stronger to make my gapping more consistent and saves buying new ones when I don’t need them. Could even drop the most lofted one altogether as it’s the least used club in the bag but it comes in handy for 80yards and in so that’s a decision to make.

All Vokey have done here is release something they’ve done before that offers people playing cavity backs or distance irons a bladed alternative at the bottom end of the bag.

 

[Voyager EMH]

2008 was my first set of irons with 3 wedges. Ping i10.

But very recently I bought slightly used Ping i530 irons - eight of them,

19°, 22°, 25.5°, 29°, 33°, 37°, 42°, 47°

None of these are wedges, although 2 of them are masquerading as such. 42° PW is nonsense - complete and utter nonsense.

19° IS NOT A 4-IRON. It is a 2-iron and 47° is a 9-iron. I will only need 2 wedges of 52° and 58°.

We need one bold manufacturer to take a stand.
It has to be 50° to be a Pitching Wedge. Anything less than 50° must be given a number.
We might have some 10 and 11 irons during an adjustment period, then they can go back to using the numbers 1, 2 and 3 properly and we won't need a number above 9.
I am reluctant to say it but, "Just like it used to be" is very apt.
My new 19° iron is a 2-iron just like several other 2-irons that I own. I'm very pleased with how it works for me, but irritated by the 4 on the sole. Its wrong.

 

[Burnsey]

All about the boosted lofts I think, which has seen a return to less boosted in recent times.

My PW is 46, Gap 50, then 54 and 58 Vokey's. Does bug me that Titleist print 44 on PW and 48 on GW, but I am a little weird.

I would like to see clubs sold in lofts, rather than the typical numbered iron though.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

All about the boosted lofts I think, which has seen a return to less boosted in recent times.

My PW is 46, Gap 50, then 54 and 58 Vokey's. Does bug me that Titleist print 44 on PW and 48 on GW, but I am a little weird.

I would like to see clubs sold in lofts, rather than the typical numbered iron though.

Love this idea would take away the stigma of how far people got certain clubs. Pick the loft and whack it. Also easier for understanding the gapping on iron sets and wedges.

 

[Burnsey]

Love this idea would take away the stigma of how far people got certain clubs. Pick the loft and whack it. Also easier for understanding the gapping on iron sets and wedges.

Agreed.

We have 4 woods, 7 woods, approach, gap and lob wedges. All marketing.

People are sometimes surprised I hit my 7 iron the same distance as they hit their 9 iron, without understanding my 7 iron is the SAME loft as their 9 iron

 

[Taz]

All about the boosted lofts I think, which has seen a return to less boosted in recent times.

My PW is 46, Gap 50, then 54 and 58 Vokey's. Does bug me that Titleist print 44 on PW and 48 on GW, but I am a little weird.

I would like to see clubs sold in lofts, rather than the typical numbered iron though.

I'm pretty sure Cleveland did this for a while

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Agreed.

We have 4 woods, 7 woods, approach, gap and lob wedges. All marketing.

People are sometimes surprised I hit my 7 iron the same distance as they hit their 9 iron, without understanding my 7 iron is the SAME loft as their 9 iron

Stronger lofts, longer shafts etc we need to get rid of the desire and need to constantly hit further and go back to controlled play. Often amazes the lads in play with I’ll hit a 4 iron off the tee instead driver test there in the bundu im in the fairway. Distance isn’t everything.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I'm pretty sure Cleveland did this for a while

They did,my mate had the C16’s (I think) and they had the loft on each iron.

 

[Orikoru]

If you care about what's written on the club then I already have five wedges, in name - two of them are irons though.

I don't see any reason for iron manufacturers to stop including a PW though. A lot of them have started including an AW or GW anyway to account for the stronger lofts. I don't see them just suddenly deciding to stop at 9i.

 

[IanM]

Spookily was talking to a pro recently and his dad (also a pro) hating the idea of 4 wedges in a bag. Now we're talking 5?

Possibly. It depends how you see the labels, and the lofts.

My new iron set has a stock pw with 42 degrees. Wasn't that virtually an 8 iron in the 1980s?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Spookily was talking to a pro recently and his dad (also a pro) hating the idea of 4 wedges in a bag. Now we're talking 5?

Possibly. It depends how you see the labels, and the lofts.

My new iron set has a stock pw with 42 degrees. Wasn't that virtually an 8 iron in the 1980s?

Damn and I thought mine was strong at 45°. There is absolutely no way 42° can be considered a PW!

Maybe it is time to bin the number and just have irons with lofts.

 

[IanM]

Pretty sure I got that right... and they also do a power loft, one degree stronger. That's the way the game has gone. Mind you, everything is different.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Pretty sure I got that right... and they also do a power loft, one degree stronger. That's the way the game has gone. Mind you, everything is different.

I’m intrigued what irons do you play!