Mixing brands/types of wedges?

[TimmyO]

Whilst I have no pressing plans to shop, as I sit here on a gloomy Friday I got to wondering so thought I'd see what folk have to say on this:

I bought my first wedge (as a newbie the 49* PW from my Nike irons was the shortest club I have) earlier this week, I went for a TaylorMade Hi Toe Bigfoot - mostly because it sounded like the simplest way for a beginner to get out of a bunker/heavy rough in one go before they've learned better bunker technique/face opening and whatnot - and to be fair when I took it straight to the practice bunker I just played a basic square pitch shot and out they popped - result)

So, that club is a 60* and specialised thing - making my early golfing life a little easier in some ways and I'm fine with that.

As and when I come to want/need something(s) that plugs the distance gap between that club and the PW, will I find benefit in having that/those be similar style clubs, so other Hi Toes or Milled Grind range clubs, or would you think this one being quite a different beast would mean no so much?

My focus at the moment is learning/practicing hitting any kind of clubs cleanly consistently, so I'm in no rush to stick up my bag, but you know how it is when you get to wondering.

Thoughts?

 

[Kennysarmy]

Most Sand Wedges would be around the 54 to 56 degree mark I think so that would probably be your next purchase.

I don't think it personally matters what wedge brand you would fill the 49 to 60 gap with but it might pay to do some gapping so when you hit full shots with your 49 and 60 this new wedge would sit right in the middle.

Personally I have a 50 / 55 and 60 and they are all Ping Glides and my easy swings with each go 90 / 75 / 60 yards.

 

[TimmyO]

I look forward to the point where I hit consistently enough to be able to think sensibly about gapping distance

I think for the foreseeable I'll keep this 60 as my sand wedge

 

[Imurg]

Think about what you're going to use it for and where you're going to use it
The BigFoot seems to be ok for bunkers and deep rough so another Sand Wedge maybe isn't the way to go.
Bounce matters more than grind at the moment.
Do you take deep divots or just brush the surface?
Do you play on firm, tight fairways or softer ones?
Generally bounce is your friend unless you're playing Links or very firm fairways or if you dont take a decent divot.
A wedge around 54° with a medium bounce ( 8-10°) should fill that gap and, to a large extent, it doesn't matter what it is.
It matters more that you like it and can use it.

 

[Yant]

As per my sig below, i'm currently playing Mizuno irons and Vokey wedges. However, I have a fitting booked today to replace the wedges for Mizuno ones.

This is all to try to match the feel as much as possible right across my irons. Mizuno wedges are forged just like the irons. Vokey wedges are not forged. Don't get me wrong, the vokey wedges have been excellent, but the grooves have gone/going so best to replace with as close to like-for-like as possible. The fitting will include a check on lie to ensure i have the correct spread.

 

[jim8flog]

I have never seen need to have matched wedges in the bag, they do different things

In the bag at the moment I have

52/05 Bayhill (general pitching and chipping wedge use)
56/14 Makser c forged (bunker shots)
60/08 Scratch( pitching/lob shots)

Kicking around the place I have
Vokey SM4s 46 50 and 52
Cleveland Rotex face 52 54 and 58
Mizuno 52
Benross 52
Progen 52 and 56
Ram Tom Watson forged 51/ -1 degree (Troon grind links wedge)

Every so often I have a change around as to what is in the bag.

 

[Jacko_G]

Play what you're comfortable with.

 

[hines57]

I have 3 wedges - gap, sand and lob, and all 3 are different makes. Find ones that work for you and have good gapping and away you go. Don't worry about the brand.

 

[duncan mackie]

I would echo the latter responses; but I'm less concerned with neat gapping and more concerned with knowing what any particular club does for me in any given set of conditions.
I've about a 15yd gap from my set PW to the next club I carry, which is also the one I generally use to chip with. I like the sole and am friendly with the club (had it 30 years...).
I may, or may not, have 2 more wedges in the bag. All depends on conditions, types of bunker and even the course (is there competition from another club for the 14th space? The point is I know what they carry but, were I to only have the more lofted in the bag I would have a theoretical gap of 30yds to the one above. So what? The chances of me having exactly the carry yardage of that club as a shot as so small it's meaningless.

 

[HampshireHog]

I carry 52, 56 & 60 degree wedges same brand but all with difference bounces and grinds.

56 is my go to wedge in the sand but they are all regularly played out of sand depending on the conditions and shot required.

Mixing brands should’t be an issue so long as you know your distances and how the ball should react when it lands, that being said I’m a sucker for a matching set.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My PW is 46 degree so I have a 52 degree gap wedge and 2 x 58 degree SW's one with a wide sole and one with a thinner sole which works better in wet or compact bunkers. The 6 degree gap seems to give me a reasonable gap distance wise

 

[TimmyO]

thanks for the comments guys, all useful

 

[popeye]

Don't make the mistake allot of new players make (I include myself in that) of thinking that the short game is secondary to the long game. As a beginner you are going to miss alot of greens so getting precise with your wedges should be your priority if you want to get your HC down. What ever wedges you get (loft choice is far more important than brand choice) you should get to learn how to use them to maximum effect.

 

[Bxm Foxy]

My wedges are crap, but I have found having a bit of a play with bounce and loft good fun. I think a wedge fitting would be invaluable.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My wedges are crap, but I have found having a bit of a play with bounce and loft good fun. I think a wedge fitting would be invaluable.

I love playing about with ball position and opening/closing the face and trying different shots. Great in practice, not so good on the course but having had an hours short game lesson at the weekend I have something to work with and work on so I am looking to finally nail the short game once and for all

 

[Sats]

Look at a SW or something around 54/56 degrees to plug the gap. Honestly get a gap test to see how much gap you have between clubs. It also depends on you, I personally go 45/52/48 in my wedges as I like to manipulate the club face and play with 1/2,1/4,3/4 shots a lot and found that my SW was pretty redundant.
As far as what brands fill your boots