New wedge trauma

[Doc]

Hi,

Apologies for yet another wedge thread but...

I want new wedges that match each other.

Currently I have:

MP30 PW @ 47* reg shaft
X jaws 52* 10 * bounce with CC grooves and stiff shaft
X jaws 56/16 with last years grooves (red bands) and stiff shaft
X jaws 60/9 old grooves (pre red band) wedge flex shaft

I got the stiff shafts in the two wedges as I felt reg or wedge flex was too whippy at the time.

I hit them all well and know my distances, spend a lot of time practising and am a confident wedge player, it is one of the stronger parts of my game.

I want the Vokey SM in oil can with wedge flex shafts but don't know whether to drop one wedge.

The dilemma is what configuration?

Stay with lofts and bounce config I have now or

52/9 ish & 58/14ish for sand or

54/14ish for sand & 60/8ish

The ish being I forgot to take note of the bounce options on the SM Vokeys

Realise it is very much a personal choice thing and would be happy to retain the configuration I have now but would like to hear what you all think.

Thanks

Steve...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Personally I went 46 PW, 52 and 58 for a nice spread in terms of loft and think there isn't a huge difference (4 degrees) in your set up which means you could probably afford to drop one. I'd lose the 60 anyway as I think they cost a lot of players as many shots as they save and feel you can get enough loft by opening a 58 up

 

[Doc]

Personally I went 46 PW, 52 and 58 for a nice spread in terms of loft and think there isn't a huge difference (4 degrees) in your set up which means you could probably afford to drop one. I'd lose the 60 anyway as I think they cost a lot of players as many shots as they save and feel you can get enough loft by opening a 58 up

Cheers Homer, the only thing worrying me about 52/58 is the 58 would have a high bounce and if I had to open it up on a tight lie there would be excessive bounce.

Steve...

 

[Region3]

I saw a 60 degree Vokey SM4 a couple of weeks ago and the sole was ground so that opening it up didn't make a lot of difference to the bounce. Maybe the 58 is the same?

As for your question, do you need another club somewhere else in your bag?

If you do then go 52/58, but if not I'd stick with the lofts you have.

 

[Imurg]

YOu can get fairly low bounce Vokeys in the 58 - 6 or 9 degrees and I suspect the soles would be ground to make opening the face easier.
I always think Callaway wedges have too much bounce on them - ok sometimes you need a bit but 16 degrees..?

 

[bluetoon]

Doc,
I have the same configuration PW, 52, 56 & 60 and Practiced and played for 2years with this setup
I put lots and lots of hours of practice into this setup and knew the yardages inside out and was comfortable with them all. full shots, half shots, bunkers, flops etc

Last year i dropped the 56 & 60 for a 58

I struggled with the change as i had become so used to my old setup. The time i put into the other wedges was wasted as i had to relearn the distances and shots again.

I started dropping shots instead of saving them!

It was easier for me to go back to my original setup than continue the new learning curve and put in the hours that would be required to adapt to the change.

So be prepared put in the hours if you want to get back to the same comfort levels. I havent given up on dropping a wedge.. its just that i know i will need to put in the hours again.

I guess this would depend on how long you have used the existing setup

 

[Doc]

Many thanks Gents for your replies,

Much appreciated

Having a wedge fitting on Sunday so will make my choice then.

The strong contender is to keep the setup I have now as I probably don't need to get another club in the bag.

Cheers

Steve...

 

[Tommo21]

I got the stiff shafts in the two wedges as I felt reg or wedge flex was too whippy at the time.

I’m genuinely interested to know. Do you feel the reg too whippy or are they too whippy.

The reason why I’m saying this….I don’t know many golfers, especially amongst big hitters, hate using that term, who use stiff shafts in their wedges as very few actually hit full out shots, so their swing speed is lower for more control.

If you feel your wedge play is your strong part….what is your weak part being a 20HC, as clearly there is a lot of shots to be gained.

 

[Imurg]

.I don’t know many golfers, especially amongst big hitters, hate using that term, who use stiff shafts in their wedges as very few actually hit full out shots, so their swing speed is lower for more control.

I was under the impression that "wedge" flex equates to Dynamic Gold S200 flex...?
I think the majority of wedge shafts are stiff as standard.....

Where's Shaft when you need him....

 

[GeneralStore]

I recently changed my wedges and when I went through the process I was told exactly the same thing regarding the shafts, that they are stiff as standard

Doc, if it helps at all, I stuck with 3 wedges because:
1) I didnt need a slot for another club in my bag
2) I was very comfortable with the distances I was getting

Its a very personal matter and by the way I also changed to the SM4, 50/08 , 54/11 and 58/12

Good luck

 

[Doc]

I’m genuinely interested to know. Do you feel the reg too whippy or are they too whippy.

The reason why I’m saying this….I don’t know many golfers, especially amongst big hitters, hate using that term, who use stiff shafts in their wedges as very few actually hit full out shots, so their swing speed is lower for more control.

If you feel your wedge play is your strong part….what is your weak part being a 20HC, as clearly there is a lot of shots to be gained.

Hi Tommo,

The weak part of my game is when I play safe i.e. take a fairway or iron off the tee for safety, I must have a mental block as I 90% of the time put myself OB, in a hazard or under low hanging trees.

I also have a tendency if I do not concentrate 100% to skying my driver by coming down on the ball too steeply or keeping my weight on my back foot and hooking it left.

Concentration is my biggest enemy, ie alignment, over / under clubbing with mid irons when not paying attention to distance, flag position or wind.

The only hole on our course I cannot birdie is our SI1 Par 4 12th which I have only ever hit in regulation once.

I have come down from 28 last march to 20.5 but when playing stableford i normally blob four or five holes through concentration.

Putting was the worst part of my game but have addressed this and come down from 44 putt per round avg to around 32ppr.

Cheers

Steve...

 

[Tommo21]

Good…….I think the last thing you need to worry about is your wedges. As an improving player, you’ve clearly worked on the area that can give you the biggest hit and that’s putting, that’s good. Not many do that.

Next from what you’re telling me, you could be putting pressure on yourself to try and hit greens in regulation. If you don’t hit your hardest hole in regulation playing off 20 then basically that’s how it is. You have more than a stroke a hole you should be aiming for a 5….that is par for your HC. Then, if you get the odd 4 then it’s a bonus. You are talking birdie, I wouldn’t, I would think of a good score for 18 holes and if I come away with a 5 then that is right on the money.

I very rarely hit the long par 4s in regulation, so I just keep my short game sharp and don’t get disappointed if you don’t hit it in two.

Clubbing is something that comes with time. If you know it’s concentration then you have the answer.

It sounds to me as if you need to be more consistent with your ball striking, that’s the area I would work on until it gets to a better level like your wedges and putting.

 

[Doc]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts Tommo, appreciated.

you're right, to me our 12th is a par 5 as is the 7th unless wind behind.

I'm happy to play bogey golf and thats what i aim for in strokeplay but for some reason i want to play par golf in stableford lol.

Like i said, concentration is my nemesis, especially when playing safe

Practise it is then.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Tommo21]

Remember, a bogie when getting a stroke a hole is a par...............picking up scratch pars are birdies. If you can take that "trying to par" pressure away, you'll probably start getting more gross pars anyway.

If you bogie every single hole, gross, you will be two under.

Get your iron play better, then start picking up few more genuine pars, net birdies, and your HC will tumble.

 

[Karl102]

Where abouts in Cheshire are you? My bro had a wedge fitting at Tour x golf in Warrington and ended up with Yonex Cyberstar. The measured the best gaps and the distances. Think the fitting cost about 50 quid, but he said was worth every penny...

 

[moogie]

I was under the impression that "wedge" flex equates to Dynamic Gold S200 flex...?
I think the majority of wedge shafts are stiff as standard.....

Yes, Indeed most 'wedge flex' shafts are Stiff TT DG

 

[Doc]

Hi Karl, live in Northwich but work in Warrington.

Not heard of TourX? Will google it now.

Cheers.

Maybe stiff is a new way for Callaway to say wedge flex?

The 52/56 x jaws definitely are stiffer than my 60 wedge flex?

Cheers

Steve...

 

[Doc]

Picked up my new toys,

Got the SM4 in chrome - 52/8, 56/14 & 60/4

All wedge flex.

Lovely.

Thanks for your replies

Cheers

Steve...