new wedges, where to start and......where's the value?

[Luca4]

I am thinking of updating my wedges and would appreciate any input on where to start. My 9iron is at 43° looking for a PW/GW/SW set up but what kind of lofts should I consider?
I was looking at replacing them with a more current version of the 588s
but is there a club that I'm missing? Something a little out of the mainstream. Just wondered if I've missed some value away from the obvious choices

Thanks in advance

 

[GreiginFife]

If it was me, I would go 48/52/56 or potentially 46/50/54 but the 48/52/56 would be my personal preference.
Cleveland's new 588 RTX wedges are very good and can be had for a good price just now.
Maybe look at Mizuno's MP-T4 range for the 52/56 as the T5 has replced them and again some good prices kicking about.

 

[shewy]

Yes ICY wedges, I have two,well ones lost in the post somewhere! But I can vouch they are great, if you can travel to them you'll get a unique custom fit.
Iain can bend the wedges to suit as well so your not limited.

 

[Bobirdie]

588s are great wedges. I have the cavity back versions. Getting them for about £30 2nd hand on ebay

 

[ScienceBoy]

Cant hurt to invest in a lesson, are you just after new shinies or improvement?

I have changed wedges twice now, once to move away from beginner set/second hand very old wedges I bought to see if I liked the game and a second time to replace my beaten up and worn out (due to lots of practice as well as play) ones. I notices a big gain for the first one but for the second it was different. I did notice an improvement when I got new wedges in spin but my consistency went down, it took me a good few lessons on my technique to get my confidence back.

Gapping is such a personal issue but my preference would be to avoid having large gaps:

I suggest:

43 (9i), 47, 52 (med bounce/low boucn), 56 (med/high bounce), 60 (if you need it, med/low bounce)

I have been told by a lot of pros try to sway me to a setup like this, personally I am reluctant to get a 60 as it will probably cause me more lost shots than it gains (confidence issue?) but as I have a space in the bag there is a chance.

I work on the idea of keeping a 4-5* loft difference. Ideally you would actually do it by distance than loft but its hard to have access to the kit at the time of purchase.

Whatever you do you MUST get a lesson and sort out your technique, confidence and most importantly, distances for 1/2, 3/4 and for the rare occasion "full" shots (about 90% for me).

 

[KenL]

43 degree pitching wedge is really a 9 iron.

i need a lob wedge in my line up and use mine both from bunkers and escapes over bunkers etc but never for a full shot.

so, for you I would suggest 48, 54 and 60 degree wedges. Choose bounce depending on where you play, lower bounce for links and higher bounce for softer turf.

i use Vokey wedges, you can pick up sm4 versions on eBay for a decent price.

 

[NST]

I've seen new Vokey SM4's in bargain bins, half price lately. I'd say that is value.

 

[Foxholer]

Yes ICY wedges, I have two,well ones lost in the post somewhere! But I can vouch they are great, if you can travel to them you'll get a unique custom fit.
Iain can bend the wedges to suit as well so your not limited.

This!

Recommendations depend on what your bag setup is at the other end, what your wedge play is currently like and what sort of courses you play on! A job for a specialist! Not used him myself, but totally agree with the concept and the source material is top quality - and very well priced!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Start with the PW loft and then build equally spaced gap and sand wedge into the gaps from there

 

[pbrown7582]

Cleveland are quality and if they suit your eye then go For it maybe even get last years model at a good price. Looking at maybe 48, 52 56.

 

[3565]

Yes ICY wedges, I have two,well ones lost in the post somewhere! But I can vouch they are great, if you can travel to them you'll get a unique custom fit.
Iain can bend the wedges to suit as well so your not limited.

2nd that, I've had Vokey, 588 RTXs and these are far the best wedges I've had. Custom fitted over a 2 hr session, you learn a lot from him they are custom grind to you and not the generic grinds you get with Vokeys and you can within the first year go back as many times to get them re sand blasted and they come up like new. Just sent mine down for the 2nd time. And the other thing I like, there different to the mainstream and I'm all for that. ICY Golf.

 

[Luca4]

What kind of money are the ICY wedges?

 

[3565]

What kind of money are the ICY wedges?

You would have to ring Iain as when I got mine he was looking into upgrading materials from Japan for a better product, so the costs may have risen. Mine were £75 each.

 

[NWJocko]

You would have to ring Iain as when I got mine he was looking into upgrading materials from Japan for a better product, so the costs may have risen. Mine were £75 each.

How much was the fitting etc if you don't mind me asking?

Intrigued by the ICY wedges based on the feedback on both fitting and product on here....

 

[shewy]

fitting is free just need to make the journey there

 

[NWJocko]

fitting is free just need to make the journey there

Cheers. :thup:

Good value all round then. Might look into it later this year.

 

[3565]

Like Shewy says it's all in the price you pay and a service you won't get anywhere else. His 15yrs at Cleveland and his knowledge is second to none. But I will say don't expect to go there and come away with the club(s) same day, and don't expect him to post the club(s) after he's completed them, as your expected to go back to collect them and he watches you play shots to make sure everything is ok. But personally, I think it's worth the 2 trips.

 

[Oddsocks]

I am thinking of updating my wedges and would appreciate any input on where to start. My 9iron is at 43° looking for a PW/GW/SW set up but what kind of lofts should I consider?
I was looking at replacing them with a more current version of the 588s
but is there a club that I'm missing? Something a little out of the mainstream. Just wondered if I've missed some value away from the obvious choices

Thanks in advance

I'd by the correct pw for your set as the pw tends to be a full shot club, then drop to either 52/56 or 52/58 which is my set up.

 

[Smiffy]

In my RSi's my PW is only 44 degrees so I have a gap wedge (49.5 degrees) and the dedicated Sand wedge (55 degrees).
I have purchased a Vokey 58 degree for the time being to help get me out of really wet sand or very deep greenside pot bunkers, (which does seems to be working), but I'm looking for the matching RSi lob wedge at 60 degrees so that I have a matching set.
Purely personal, but I have always preferred to have my wedges matching my main irons.
It was much simpler when you just had a PW and SW though!!

 

[John_Findlay]

Depends how many wedges you want in your bag but I've found that a 4 degree gap between them is best for my own bag.

The PW that comes with my full set of Mizuno irons is 47 degree so I opted for a 52, 56 and 60 in Cleveland CG10s. For me this equates to 100 yards, 80 yards, 60 yards on full shots. All very important distances. I used to have Vokey wedges but much prefer the look and feel of the Clevelands. They're gorgeous.