Gap wedges- are they worth it?

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Reason I ask is I grew up without the 'essential' gap wedge as sets went from 2iron to Si and we all did just fine. Tour pro's then started using 'gap wedges' for specialist shots to exact distances from 120yds and closer and they used them very effectively.

I just took my Vokey 52* wedge out to trade for a Mizuno 52* (I have 48* PW then 56*si) as it filled the gap, as I havent done that yet I played and practiced yesterday with only PW and SI and proceeded to hit si up to 80yds and anything inbetween, then PW up to 120yds and anything inbetween.:thup:

So the 52* is staying out the bag (it was only used about 2 times a round Max anyway) and I'll go back to 'manufacturing' each distance with my swing.

Anyone else done similarly or think the same?
 
I think there is always the two trains of thought, a club for every yardage, and a feel approach to using just a couple.

I've trid the club for all yardages and whilst it worked to some extent for me the fact I still needed to manufacturer shots meant I was lugging around more weight. I know have my PW from my iron set and a 50 and 56 specifically low bounce for more choice. Personally I like this as i still have a lot of manufacturing in the game and it's probably one of my best areas.

I think it went to the 4 wedge system to allow more people to be precise, and the pelz method of 1/4 1/2 3/4 swings is just a way of writing down and explaining the manufacturing of shots.
 
A lot of PWs today have less left than the old sets, leaving a big gap between the PW and SW. Hence the need for a GW.
With the old lofts, I see no problem and 2 wedges are enough for me
 
No. I love my 50.

My pw is 47 so not silly, but for many sets sold now (Wilson?) the pw can be as low as 42. This would leave a 14 degree gap to the sw. This is too much.

I like even (ish) gaps in my clubs, so 47, 50, 54, 58 works for me. I still have to manipulate shots, but I like the option of varying the distance differently. Depending on which club I last shanked, mainly.
 
I use mine pretty regular to be honest so I'll be keeping it in, but i understand what you're getting at.

I did somethig similar but with my 60* wedge
 
I have Wilson Staff Di11's and the PW is about 42 and the SW 55 so really need a gap wedge, which came free with the set and really got used alot (until I snapped it)
 
I was a standard issue wedge man for years, as my Pings had nice even gapping, with 45* nine iron, 51* PW and a 57* SW.

My new Cobras have insanely strong lofts. The PW is about 43* I think, so everywhere I saw them for sale they were throwing in a free 49* gap wedge. From there I aded a 56* SW to complete the set.

Now that the set has bedded in and i'm am lcearer on my yardages, I may have a play around and add in 52* and 58*, dropping the 56*, to even the gaps a bit.
 
Never found the need for a GW. My PW is 48* I then carry a 54-12 SW and a 60-04 LW. But like has been said with the modern day sets you do get a strong lofted PW at times and can create a huge gap between clubs, leaving you struggling to find a shot you can play with ease.

As most sets come 3-PW now, people still think that it is like the old days when the PW was 48* so get a 56* vokey wedge and that will be fine. Problem comes that some sets now can have as little as 43* loft on the PW, so you can end up with a huge gap that can be filled by 2 wedges not just one.

I would always say to check out what loft is actually on your PW then set up your wedges with that in mind.
 
I have a 9(43) PW (47) GW (52) and SW (56)

I know the distance of a full shot for all, a 3/4 and half shot for all. Generally if there is nothing in the way ie its flat and plenty of space to land the ball I will chose the 3/4 shot that fits best as I find it the most precise. If its really windy I choose the best half shot, going up to a 8 or 7 iron if needed. I do hit my irons really high so its necessary for me to have a variety of shots to call on for each club.

The 52 comes into its own not on full shots but on half shots or chipping around the green over bunkers and onto tiers. I do not push my hands forwards when chipping, instead use a putter type shot practised with my v-easy, "trusting" the loft like this gives a high but consistent chip with lots of control.
 
IMO the most important element of the game is pitching,chipping and putting.Watch the best players at your local club and they will all have one thing in common,and that will be there ability to get close to the flag from within 120ish yards.I never used to carry a gap wedge and i would choke down on my pitching wedge when playing shots from around 100 yards,whilst i had a reasonable amount of success, on my off days i struggled.I now carry 48,52,56,and 60 degree wedges,which covers just about every yardage from 135 yards in.
 
My PW is 48, my sand wedge is 56. I currently use an old 52 Cobra gap wedge which I am just upgrading to a Honma 53. Until this weekend, I probably used the gap wedge almost as much as my putter for anything inside 100 yds.

I had a short game lesson at the weekend and now may use the sand wedge a lot more for some of the shots round the green but until that changes, the gap is still an important club for me.
 
My PW is 45 deg so even If I went for a 54 wedge as my SW I still have a significant gap, I currently have a 56 deg and just changed the 52 to a 50 and left my 60 in their but try not to use it much now.

To answer directly, I think their is a need for a gap wedge.
 
ScienceBoy said:
I have a 9(43) PW (47) GW (52) and SW (56)

I know the distance of a full shot for all, a 3/4 and half shot for all. Generally if there is nothing in the way ie its flat and plenty of space to land the ball I will chose the 3/4 shot that fits best as I find it the most precise. If its really windy I choose the best half shot, going up to a 8 or 7 iron if needed. I do hit my irons really high so its necessary for me to have a variety of shots to call on for each club.

The 52 comes into its own not on full shots but on half shots or chipping around the green over bunkers and onto tiers. I do not push my hands forwards when chipping, instead use a putter type shot practised with my v-easy, "trusting" the loft like this gives a high but consistent chip with lots of control.
Click to expand...

I use my 52 for chipping around the greens too using a putting stroke style. Works a treat for me and the loft is enough to get over any hazard ive come accross at close range.
 
To me a gap wedge is essential as my PW is 44 degree so needed something in between that and the SW. I now tend to ignore the number on the club as my Cobra irons say 5-PW but in reality are 4-9 iron if you look at the lofts. The Gap wedge is effectively a PW to me.

One of the good things about the CG16 irons that I am selling is that they actually show the loft on the club as well as the number so easier to spot gaps.
 
My gap wedge is my wedge of choice to, i can see where you are coming from and think as already been said that it is a consequence of ever strengthening lofts on irons and the fact that most use specialist wedges rather than the wedges to match the rest of the irons in the bag.
 
Love my gap wedges. I'm not a fan of hitting full shots with a 56 degree and don't carry a lob wedge. My gap wedge gets used for pretty much all shots of <100 yards, unless I'm playing chip and runs around the green when I might change to a less lofted club occasional (although I like little low skiddy shots with the gap wedge instead of these, depending on the greens).

I'd sooner leave my pitching wedge out than my gap wedge, as I use the gap wedge far more.
 
some interesting answers, I had no idea that some sets were as low as 42* for a PW, it would be very hard not to have a 'gap' wedge in these scenarios, looks like the manufacturers made another market to sell more stuff
 
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