Is the 60 degree wedge really that useful?

[barrybridges]

Midway through last year I added a 60 degree wedge to my bag, so my lofts are now 52, 56 (SW) and 60.

I absolutely love my 52 - it's my 'go-to' club around the green and I feel it's really quite versatile.

For some reason though, I just haven't fallen in love with my 60 degree wedge and I'm not sure why.

I remember reading an older issue of GM from last year where GMac was saying he doesn't think anyone needs a wedge higher than 56 - and I wondered if others felt the same.

In any given round, I rarely use the 60. Where I do use it, I find it quite hard to hit as the loft is so high - it's like sliding a plate under your ball with little room for error. Judging distance with it is tough.

The 52 just 'feels right' though.

I'm tempted to leave it out of my bag - but first wanted to see if others felt the same way. Is there a need for a 60 degree wedge and when would you typically use it?

 

[Aztecs27]

As I just posted in another thread, my short game has improved greatly since getting rid of the 60* I had.

I bought it on a whim thinking I needed one, but only ever got into trouble with it (well, more often than not) when I used it.

I now have PW, 52 and 56 and couldn't be happier.

On the occasions I short side myself and need a high, soft landing shot, I'll use the 56 but play the percentages and take my medicine (i.e. won't try and flop it to a tight pin over a bunker from a tight lie, I'll just get it up and over onto the green and leave a longer putt)

That's not to say they're not useful, but they have to be in the right hands to be used with consistent success IMHO.

 

[One Planer]

I find myself agreeing with you Barry.

To celebrate, I'm going to drop the 60* wedge and buy a hybrid

 

[EIW1219]

I know what you mean. it needs lots of practise to hit it correctly and mental strength!
It however is quite usefull for short chips when you need to carry the rough before a down hill green and/ or close pin to edge of green.
I can also judge the distance better with a 50% shot as the power is transfered into height rather than length more so with the higher loft.
Otherwise try a 58. It is quite a bit less intimidating for not a lot of difference.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I could get rid of mine and it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[DappaDonDave]

ive just bought a LW (64 degree) because I was practising at the range and was able to get up and down over a bunker and was landing before the hole but the ball tended to run off past the hole and onto the fringe.

So using only my own problem solving (LOL) I deduced that a higher loft will cause a more vertical drop and reduce the forward momentum of the ball. Yet to test it...BUT...i am looking forward to it...

 

[HotDogAssassin]

Is the 60 degree wedge really that useful?​

Not according to Bob Vokey in the latest GM issue.

 

[One Planer]

Not according to Bob Vokey in the latest GM issue.

And according to Bob on here too :smirk:

 

[NWJocko]

I've got PW, 52 and 58.

Don't want any more wedges (i.e. go 52, 56 and 60) and, if and when they need replacing, I'd probably stay the same or even get a 56 instead of a 58.

 

[ForeRighty]

Since purchasing my 60 degree wedge just before xmas my up and down ratio has improved dramatically. I now don't need to open the face of my Sand Iron 54 degress to up and over green side bunkers which my course has strategically placed perfectly for my game. I can now hit a nice smooth solid strike and be comfortable that due to the loft my ball isn't going to go racing past with loads of roll.
I feel this extra loft will help even more come the summer months.

 

[Oddsocks]

As I just posted in another thread, my short game has improved greatly since getting rid of the 60* I had.

you have two options here bazza bridges... opt for a lesson on wedges, along with some advice on when and not to use it... or drop it.

Personally, i found a 60* wedge destructive to scoring, for the amount i used it vs the amount i was rewarded for it, it was a no brainer decision to drop it.

My old wedge set up was Pw(46*), Vokey 52, TM 60 and there was never any consistency in my wedge play. It was a mix of poor technique, and also so a difference in set up between all 3 wedges.

the vokey and the TM went, and were replaced with a 52/58 pair of mizzys, and along with a lesson on correct wedge techniques it has seen my up and downs stats improve greatly, i cant stress enough the importance to me of having matched wedges.

I do sometimes question whether my current set up is right, but one thing i never question was the move in getting rid of that 60*

 

[DappaDonDave]

great news ForeRighty, thats what I am hoping as i am usually able to get it level with the green in 2/3 shots, but its my short game that usually caused the 6s,7s and 8s on the score card because i either don't hit it enough through fear of overhitting or overhit it anyway.

 

[Ethan]

I don't use a 60*. I think they are OK for bunker play, if you are the sort of player who doesn't like to open the face too much, but around the greens, I think they make the average player play unwise shots, often badly.

 

[USER1999]

60 degree plus wedges are for kids. They spend 3 months of the year practicing, they have nice swings, have never shanked, and are fearless.

For more mature golfers, they are poison.

 

[Oddsocks]

couldnt agree with ethan more. it made me try to play shots that my technique wouldnt allow.

 

[Val]

Im in the throws of considering a wedge setup change.

My PW is 45 then I have a 52, 56 and 60

Im looking at changing to a 50 and 54 and at a push adding a 58, over the winter i've began using my current 56 more and more where I used to use the 60 and Ive never missed the 60.

If davoke says you don't need one then I aint going to argue.

 

[wull]

it depends on what works best for you.....

i personally don't get on with a 52* unlike you and tend to use my 48* as my go to club.i use a 60* but not that often.i only use it when the situation arises where i have to and that is the usual shots over bunkers etc.

i rarely use a lofted club close to the green when it's a tight lie and i have plenty green to work with it i always use 48*.

 

[patricks148]

I bought a 60 deg 5 years ago when i started playing and i think i've used it twice. I didn't know any better, might be fine if you are a tour pro, but not for your average golfer.

my pw is 47 deg, i've 51 deg gap wedge and a 56 deg SW. Never needed any more loft than that. I play on a links course that has deep pot bunkers and can always get out fine with the 56. If i neen a high ish shot off i tight lie i use the 51 opened up as it has very little bounce.

At the moment i'm just using a 9 iron and sw on the course as part of a half set, not had any problems.
I find i'm better off with a longer club (2 hybrid) might be different if i could hit my 3 iron 250 hards

 

[bluetoon]

I dropped my 60deg for a while last year, but put it back in the bag, i missed it too much.

I will use it a few times a round, particularly green side bunkers where the pin is close.

It is a club that needs tamed tho.

 

[Mattyboy]

I ditched the 4 wedge system in the summer and put a hybrid in the bag, which filled the 3 wood to 3 iron gap nicely.

My wedges now are 48, 52 & 56. The 52 & 56 have the same bounce (12) which I like as I do not have to do anything different in a bunker to get a different result.

Ditch the lob I say!