Iron lofts

[Tiger]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. As you can see from my sig I own the AP1 irons which from 3-PW come in the following lofts 20,23,26,29,33,37,41,45. My Gap Wedge is then a 52. As I practice with my GW so much I want this to be the club I lay up to where possible. Problem is if I'm a bit short I end up in this horrible distance where the GW isn't enough and PW is too much.

I was wondering with Cavity Backs if I could get the lofts strengthened by 1 degree on the 7-PW, whether this would damage the club and how much it would cost. If I did my lofts would be 20,23,26,29,32,36,40,44 and could plug the gap with a 48 degree wedge.

Thoughts welcome.

 

[Smiffy]

Would it not be cheaper to just buy a 50 degree gap?

 

[Tiger]

Hey Smiffy if did that my 52 would be redundant but I suppose it depends how much the adjustments would cost.

 

[Smiffy]

Hey Smiffy if did that my 52 would be redundant but I suppose it depends how much the adjustments would cost.

I should have said "easier" not "cheaper" I guess.
Ditch the 52!!
You are never going to have enough clubs in the bag to cover every single yardage by themselves, it's a case of using what you have and throttling back if necessary. If you like hitting flat out shots with your gap wedge but find you are coming up short with it, either choke down on your pitching wedge or change your gap wedge to give you a little more distance with it.
With the lofts you have given for your standard set up, a 50 gap and a 56 sand wedge would cover most (if not all) bases.

 

[bobmac]

Tiger, you are going to have to learn to hit your clubs different distances.

Problem is if I'm a bit short I end up in this horrible distance where the GW isn't enough and PW is too much.

The next time you are in that horrible position, hold your wedge down the grip and swing normally and see how far it goes.
Or,
Shorten the swing a little and see how far it goes. Or both.
I would advise you NOT to change the lofts as they are already quite strong now. PW 44 deg GW 52 deg is a big gap.
If money is no object, sell the 52 and buy a 50 and a 56. Then practice

 

[Smiffy]

If money is no object, sell the 52 and buy a 50 and a 56. Then practice

I said that! Well, not the practice bit.

 

[bobmac]

If money is no object, sell the 52 and buy a 50 and a 56. Then practice

I said that! Well, not the practice bit.

Yes, but he might listen to me

 

[Tiger]

Can't really justify getting rid of the 52 and it's custom fit so unlikely to be many takers. I'll just put it down to experience. When I buy my next set of irons I have a much better idea of what I should be buying. I've tried choking down but need more practice at it, for some reason I just feel more comfortable with a standard grip and full swing.

I suppose what I was thinking was that the markings on the clubs are a bit arbitrary. Effectively each club would be one stronger with the new 48 degree wedge being my 'PW' with my existing PW being a 9I and so on.

 

[DCB]

As I practice with my GW so much I want this to be the club I lay up to where possible.

Admirable sentiments, but... what if it's windy, what if the ground is really wet, what if the gound is bone dry and rock hard.

Bobmac is right, you need to develop a range of shots with the different clubs in your bag.

Part of the challenge of golf is being able to adapt to the conditions and the shot that is required in those conditions.

That's what makes it such a great game.

 

[Tiger]

If money is no object, sell the 52 and buy a 50 and a 56. Then practice

I said that! Well, not the practice bit.

Yes, but he might listen to me

Of course I listen to you Smiffy

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Why not practice 3/4 & 1/2 shots with all your wedges? I carry 4 wedges and have 3 swings with each of them. Through hours of practice I know yardages for 12 different shots. Very rarely do I find myself inside 115 yds and between clubs.

 

[Tiger]

I am doing that and though I'm consistent with the half swing I struggle with 3/4 and 1/4 swing consistency. It's just a matter of practice and determining my yardages when I get my GPS later in the summer. I suppose I was just trying to find out if it was relatively cheap to adjust my clubs.

In a better players set of irons the PW is about 47/48 degrees loft. Making this adjustment would give me an 'extra' iron and make each club stronger but I'd be quite happy with an eventual set up of:

Driver
4 Wood
3-PW
48, 52, 56 Wedge
Putter

 

[Robobum]

You freely admit that you can't consistently hit the clubs you've got so what difference is bending them by a degree (approx 4yds) going to make??

Paralysis by analysis.

One great pro [Hogan I think] used every single club including the driver to hit balls onto a shortish par 3 after his junior pro playing partner scoffed at the fact Hogan had to hit 2 more clubs than his young playing partner.

Learn how to play, it's not a case of paint by numbers.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

One great pro [Hogan I think] used every single club including the driver to hit balls onto a shortish par 3 after his junior pro playing partner scoffed at the fact Hogan had to hit 2 more clubs than his young playing partner.

Reminds me of a story I read about Tom Watson(I think). He had a new caddie and asked him how far to the flag. The caddie replied with "It's a 5 iron", Watson again asked for the yardage to the hole. Again, the caddie replied "It's a 5 iron". Third time of asking Watson finally got the yardage and proceeded to hit 3,4,5,6 & 7 iron to within 4 feet, turned to the caddie and said "next time I ask for the yardage, give me the yardage"

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I am doing that and though I'm consistent with the half swing I struggle with 3/4 and 1/4 swing

Not been reading "Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible" have you by any chance? That's where I got the idea from. I have got the 1/2 & 3/4 pretty nailed but struggle with the 1/4 swing. I'm intending to give it more practice this year.

 

[Ethan]

One great pro [Hogan I think] used every single club including the driver to hit balls onto a shortish par 3 after his junior pro playing partner scoffed at the fact Hogan had to hit 2 more clubs than his young playing partner.

That story is normally attributed to Christy O'Connor (Sr) and is said to have taken place on a longish par 3 at Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

 

[Robobum]

One great pro [Hogan I think] used every single club including the driver to hit balls onto a shortish par 3 after his junior pro playing partner scoffed at the fact Hogan had to hit 2 more clubs than his young playing partner.

That story is normally attributed to Christy O'Connor (Sr) and is said to have taken place on a longish par 3 at Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

I'm cool with that Ethan, I have read the story but [evidentally] the names and places were more than a little sketchy!!

 

[Smiffy]

That story is normally attributed to Christy O'Connor (Sr) and is said to have taken place on a longish par 3 at Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

I beg to differ.
I was there and definitely heard JustoneUK say this to Murphthemog during a practice round for Walton Heath.

 

[Tiger]

You freely admit that you can't consistently hit the clubs you've got so what difference is bending them by a degree (approx 4yds) going to make??

Paralysis by analysis.

Learn how to play, it's not a case of paint by numbers.

You don't like me much do you

 

[Tiger]

Not been reading "Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible" have you by any chance?

Indeed I have it's a great book.