Greetings one and all, and Wedge advice

MarkE

MarkE

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Joined
Oct 20, 2008
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Location
Ipswich, Suffolk. England.
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Hi everyone. My first post, although i've been a regular reader for a while.
The reason for taking the plunge and actually posting, I would like some views on wedges.
I currently have a 56degree s/w and a 60degree lob. I'm thinking of getting a 52degree g/w in place of the 60, as I think I would get more use out of it.
What do you think is the optimum loft for a s/w? Considering getting a 58degree to go with the gap wedge. All thoughts gratefully received.
Mark.
 
Hi Mark,

Welcome to the fourm.

I have 56* and 60* sand wedges, this is mainly because in greenside bunkers its easier to play splash shots with a 60* and little chip shots around the green with a 56. But if in a fairway bunker (which we don't have many) the lip is so low you can get a 7 or 6 iron to the ball and get it out a fair way. I find that I have no need for a 58*
 
I would like some views on wedges.
I currently have a 56degree s/w and a 60degree lob. I'm thinking of getting a 52degree g/w in place of the 60, as I think I would get more use out of it.
What do you think is the optimum loft for a s/w? Considering getting a 58degree to go with the gap wedge. All thoughts gratefully received.
Mark.
Click to expand...

Welcome Mark. There is no shortage of half-decent players on here who gave up on 60 degree wedges years ago. Find out the loft of your PW and work from there. Stick with a 56 s/w and find a GW to halve the distance between PW and SW.

My PW goes about 110 and my SW about 85. I filled the gap with a GW to hit 95-100-ish full shot. I use it around greens and all sorts as well. The 60 is not so versatile. If you have space for 3, carry 3, but I rarely need it.

Call me old fashioned, but I can't see the point of a SW with more or less loft, since most of us use it in the sand with the face open anyway.
 
this is mainly because in greenside bunkers its easier to play splash shots with a 60* and little chip shots around the green with a 56. But if in a fairway bunker (which we don't have many) the lip is so low you can get a 7 or 6 iron to the ball and get it out a fair way. I find that I have no need for a 58*
Click to expand...

"it's easier".......do you mean "I find it easier"?

D'you crank open the face or hit it as is?

All sounds very mysterious :)
 
"it's easier".......do you mean "I find it easier"?
D'you crank open the face or hit it as is?
Click to expand...

Yep :) I do find it easier to play a splash shot with a 60*, with the club face open to about 75* - 80*

Thanks Dave
 
Hi Mark,

Welcome to the forum!

I have 58 and 54 degree wedges. I use the 58 for greenside bunkers and for shots over bunkers or to tight pins. I find using a 58 gives me more shot options rather than a 60 or should i say i find it easier to play different shots with a 58 rather than a 60 degree?!

I use my 54 for shots into greens and chipping around the green when i have green to work with.

If your stuck on which wedge to buy, I have Titleist spin milled wedges and they are easy to control the ball with and make it easier to get the ball to spin!
 
As Mr Realgolferuk Esq says, start from your pw but watch your lofts. A lot of pw's these days are 45 degrees. About 4 degrees between clubs is good but any more could leave a gap, thats why I carry 4 wedges - 46,50,54 and 58.

Looking at your Sig, you've only got 13 in the bag so you could add the 52 and still keep the 60 - but use the 60 wisely. Very easy to thin it.
 
Lofts are a good place to start however the pw will be of a differnt make up to the more lofted wedges its more important for the 3 wedges to fly the right distance regardless of the number on the bottom,its trial and error but if you have a pro with you you can narrow it down quite quickly
 
Welcome Mark

In the new year I think i'll be ditching my 60* and doing the same as Dave, which is to find something in between my sand wedge and pitching wedge. The 60*s fine but a little tricky to use (you need total commitment on the shot) and I tend to find i'm using my sand wedge around the greens a lot more.
 
it's more important for the 3 wedges to fly the right distance regardless of the number on the bottom, it's trial and error but if you have a pro with you you can narrow it down quite quickly
Click to expand...

Andy....I am truly distressed with your inabilty to write complete bull**** :)

Wise words......

I tried half a dozen GW before finding one that went between 93 and 98 (???) yards everytime. Such a confidence booster when I'm dialled in.
 
You should look at bounce as well as loft.

I play 46-52-58 as my wedges.

My 52 has a medium bounce, so I can use it as a gap wedge off the turf, or open it up to play out of sand. The act of opening it adds to the bounce so it doesn't dig into the sand.

My 58 has a low bounce so I can play off tight lies normally, or open it up off a normal lie where I need a serious flop shot, or really open it to get some bounce if I am in a serious pot bunker!
 
Hi Mark and whats your h/c if you dont mind me asking as it may have a bearing on advice?

Myself, I have been through no end of wedges over the years and found that for the last 8 to 10 yrs I have needed nothing more than standard sw and pw, maybe its because I can vary shots with these clubs, sometimes I fancy a gap wedge but would rarely use it.
 
Hi and welcome
58 degree benross innovator is my lob wedge and so easy to hit and distance is good on a full swing 55/60yds for me. awaiting arrival of a 52 degree innovator off e bay £20 plus p + p brand new. one guy on there was selling brand new innovators for £16.99 (auction but no bidders so get them at that price) but didnt have the 52 degree.
i am a novice but for kit to get you up and running benross is exceptional

tim
 
Welcome. I carry a 52 and a 56. The reason for my choosing a 52 is mainly to cover the gap between my PW (46 degree) and my SW (56). I find I hit my PW about 100 yards, and my 56 about 50 so needed something in between. Personally I don't have the need for a 60 degree as I am adept out of sand with my 56 and can open it up if I need to hit a high lob shot.

I find I get more use out of my 52 than I ever did carrying my 60. I sue it far more around the green and with more reliable results. I guess it depends on how well you play and what clubs you want to sacrifice if you want to arry 3 specialist wedges.

The best option is tro try out as many variations in terms of loft and bounce and see what suits best. The type of course you play regularly will have a bearing ont he best bounce to look for.
 
Hi Herb. No h/c as yet. It's only the last 6 months or so that i've really got serious with the game. The last 20 or so years i've played maybe only 4 or 5 times a year. Now that i've joined a club I can't get enough of it.
Anyway, enough rambling. I'm still trying to sort out which clubs are most effective for my game, hence the wedge question. I'm looking for a new sw anyway, so just looking for some different views before choosing.
 
Lofts are a good place to start however the pw will be of a differnt make up to the more lofted wedges its more important for the 3 wedges to fly the right distance regardless of the number on the bottom,its trial and error but if you have a pro with you you can narrow it down quite quickly
Click to expand...

Good point. I've a gap wedge that has more loft than a pitchingwedge, & yet can easily fly further.

Mixing & matching is def a trial & error thing & can be expensive if unable to try out the different clubsin real life situations.
 
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