gaps between clubs

[Shooter McPowick]

Had a good round today, shot 89 but feel it could have been a few strokes better had there not been such a gap between some of my clubs. Mainly pitching wedge and my lob wedge, so many shots from inside 100 yards where I knew a PW was too long and the lobber too short - Sod's law that I kept hitting the PW a little too far and going off the back of the green.

Ive golfed for years now but only recently got back into the swing of things and when it comes to wedges there seems to be so much to choose from in terms of loft, bounce and grind. To be honest I'm confused. Also back when I was playing regularly, hybrids didn't exist, I find that the 4 iron nowadays seems to get less distance? Or is that just me?

Where do do I start when looking into wedges and hybrids?

Any suggestions would be of great help.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

A good starting point is to google the specs for your clubs and find out the loft of your PW then you can look for a gap and/or sand wedge to fill in.

Pitching wedge to lob wedge is a BIG gap!

 

[MendieGK]

A good starting point is to google the specs for your clubs and find out the loft of your PW then you can look for a gap and/or sand wedge to fill in.

Pitching wedge to lob wedge is a BIG gap!

Agree with this, you'll most likely have 46degrees on your PW at most, and given the lowest I would class as LW is 58, that's a hell of a difference.

 

[garyinderry]

You are simply missing a club. It's called a sand wedge.

 

[bobmac]

Get yourself a 52 wedge and learn how to hit the 1/2 and 3/4 shot

 

[Shooter McPowick]

Thanks for the quick replies, yes it's a big gap but it doesn't look like 15 degrees between them when you're standing over them.

Didnt realise my PW was only 45 degrees, I think I might need a 50 and a 56 degree wedge as my old titleist lob wedge is 60.

My 4I is 22 degrees, any thoughts on hybrid lofts? I think I might need to head into an AG or similar to test a few yardage wise.

 

[shewy]

you don't say what you have above your 4 iron, but the 4 iron should not be going less, lots of people stick in a 19/20 degree hybrid between the 4 iron and 3 wood.
As for the wedges there are several options, I go 45/50/56/60 but a lot of people go for the 3 wedge of 45/52/58, depends on your gaps and how comfortable your are hitting 3/4 or 1/2 shots, also the space in your bag.

 

[Neilds]

Get the right wedges to hit the distances you want to fill the gap/gaps DO NOT JUST RELY ON LOFT!!
You want to concentrate on distance, this may mean an uneven split between lofts, but isn't the important thing

 

[delc]

Get the right wedges to hit the distances you want to fill the gap/gaps DO NOT JUST RELY ON LOFT!!
You want to concentrate on distance, this may mean an uneven split between lofts, but isn't the important thing

Er! The main thing that determines distance IS LOFT, with a small contribution from shaft length. As a modern PW only has something like 45 degrees of loft, the gap between that and a 58 or 60 degree lob wedge is huge. The OP probably needs 2 extra wedges to properly fill the gap!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Er! The main thing that determines distance IS LOFT, with a small contribution from shaft length. As a modern PW only has something like 45 degrees of loft, the gap between that and a 58 or 60 degree lob wedge is huge. The OP probably needs 2 extra wedges to properly fill the gap!

Or he gets one wedge halfway through and then manufacturers shots with the three wedges he has

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Assuming the PW is 46 and the LW is 60 thats 14 degrees to fill. It would need a gap wedge of some description, possibly two depending on the aptitude to play 1/2 shots well

 

[delc]

Or he gets one wedge halfway through and then manufacturers shots with the three wedges he has

It seems that the OP does not have a Sand Iron with 55/56 degrees of loft, which would be a good place to start (and good for getting out of bunkers), but that still leaves a 10 degree gap. I also have a 50 degree Gap Wedge, which is good up to about 85 yards for me.

 

[shewy]

tbh if its a lob wedge at 60 degrees, the OP will need a sand wedge (56) with a lot of bounce for the bunkers, that still leaves a big gap (it did for me) so I put in a 50 degree in which gave me a 15 yard gap, it's not all about distance though you have to think what the clubs are for.

 

[Neilds]

Er! The main thing that determines distance IS LOFT, with a small contribution from shaft length. As a modern PW only has something like 45 degrees of loft, the gap between that and a 58 or 60 degree lob wedge is huge. The OP probably needs 2 extra wedges to properly fill the gap!

what I meant was get the clubs that fill the gap ie 120,110,100 yards and don't automatically think 45/50/55/60 degrees as the wedges he buys will most likely be different make or spec to his PW so the loft gaps might not match the drapes stance gaps

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It seems that the OP does not have a Sand Iron with 55/56 degrees of loft, which would be a good place to start (and good for getting out of bunkers), but that still leaves a 10 degree gap. I also have a 50 degree Gap Wedge, which is good up to about 85 yards for me.

So why doesn't he get a 52 degree which fits inbetween the gap and can be used as a SW or the 60 can be used and then can just manufactur shots.

I would suggest getting rid of the 60 degree as believe it's rarely used for most and get a 50 and 56 to have three wedges

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It seems that the OP does not have a Sand Iron with 55/56 degrees of loft, which would be a good place to start (and good for getting out of bunkers), but that still leaves a 10 degree gap. I also have a 50 degree Gap Wedge, which is good up to about 85 yards for me.

I know a lot of players that utilise their LW as their sand wedge so I'm not convinced that there is a need for a SW but definitely a need for at least one GW

 

[Shooter McPowick]

you don't say what you have above your 4 iron, but the 4 iron should not be going less, lots of people stick in a 19/20 degree hybrid between the 4 iron and 3 wood.
As for the wedges there are several options, I go 45/50/56/60 but a lot of people go for the 3 wedge of 45/52/58, depends on your gaps and how comfortable your are hitting 3/4 or 1/2 shots, also the space in your bag.

hey Shewy,

currently i have nothing between driver and 4 iron, well I do - I have a 3w and a 5w but they are so old and decrepit that they're just not useable. I've pulled them out on the odd occasion, and then put them back as they are crap ( 25 year old Spalding )

I think I need to buy a few new clubs, I started by buying a set of mizuno JPX 850 forged which I'm very happy with, I think the old taylormade 500 series driver is needing a new partner and I need to go checkout some wedges....

 

[t0m]

I like a full swing but hold the club right down the grip

 

[HomerJSimpson]

hey Shewy,

currently i have nothing between driver and 4 iron, well I do - I have a 3w and a 5w but they are so old and decrepit that they're just not useable. I've pulled them out on the odd occasion, and then put them back as they are crap ( 25 year old Spalding )

I think I need to buy a few new clubs, I started by buying a set of mizuno JPX 850 forged which I'm very happy with, I think the old taylormade 500 series driver is needing a new partner and I need to go checkout some wedges....

I think you need to review the whole line up. It has to cause you issues and you need to seriously look at the gapping in the scoring end. That's where the scores are made

 

[ManinBlack]

what I meant was get the clubs that fill the gap ie 120,110,100 yards and don't automatically think 45/50/55/60 degrees as the wedges he buys will most likely be different make or spec to his PW so the loft gaps might not match the drapes stance gaps

I honestly don't think you need a wedge for every 10 yards. You have to learn to hit half & three quarter shots. The pros will have comparatively huge distance gaps between wedges & they only carry three or four. I'd much rather carry three wedges & have room for an extra hybrid / rescue club.