Wedge loft question

[MrC]

Hi all

Thinking about my wedge set up.

I love my 60’ for around the greens when needed.

Don’t like my 54’ which is the SW part of current iron set. I am thinking of replacing with 52’ as that is a better gap to PW which is 45’. (I am going to buy another iron set but all PW seem to be 44-46’ so it wont impact me)

Can’t afford 2 wedges so my options are limited. If I went with a 50’ and kept the 54’ the gapping in theory would be better but I would never use the 54’ in reality.

Does anyone think the 52’ 60’ combo could work?

C

 

[Deleted member 1147]

How about a 58 instead of 60?
I use a 58 as my lob/sand wedge (some people on here will argue about whether it’s one or other, for me it’s both).
It gives you the best of both worlds.

So a 52 gap wedge and 58 sand/lob wedge should cover most eventualities.

 

[DanFST]

How about a 58 instead of 60?
I use a 58 as my lob/sand wedge (some people on here will argue about whether it’s one or other, for me it’s both).
It gives you the best of both worlds.

So a 52 gap wedge and 58 sand/lob wedge should cover most eventualities.

With 2 wedges, what do you chuck in higher up to replace the third? What gap do you find needs to be filled?

I've always run three wedges, so very interested.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

With 2 wedges, what do you chuck in higher up to replace the third? What gap do you find needs to be filled?

I've always run three wedges, so very interested.

Well I actually have 50,54&58
But could go to 52,58 again quite easily. It’s just a case of manufacturing shots with the pw and gap wedge

 

[DanFST]

It’s just a case of manufacturing shots with the pw and gap wedge

Talent.... Noted. I'll have to stick with three wedges

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Talent.... Noted. I'll have to stick with three wedges

I think I was actually better when I did that; now I have so many wedges I think I’ve lost some of the skills.

Quite a few pros only have 2 specialist wedges.

 

[jim8flog]

52 is a much more versatile wedge than a 50 that small amount of extra loft makes a difference to your choice of shot. It is easy to turn a 52 into a 50 or 54/56 by changing the set up.

Your next choice should really be dictated by the type of bunkers where you play and the wedge should be suitable with the right amount of bounce to suit the sand where you play most and what loft you are happy to use to play bunker shots.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I don't think there's a real blanket right or wrong, but as the OP already likes his 60 and not the 54, in his case 52 and 60 might suit him.

Personally I like PW (46), 50, 54 and 60 (64 in hard conditions).

Whatever suits the individual.

I think it’s just a case of covering/ having equal sized gaps between clubs

 

[Foxholer]

What don't you like about the 54?
To me, that's what really matters! If you are comfortable with the 60, then don't change it - simply find a 54 (ish) that you are comfortable with! It's far more important - at our level - to have wedges that 'work' and are comfortable with, than to carry round a 2 or 3 iron (or hybrid equivalent) that gets used once or twice a round - if that!! The likes of Ernie, whose ball striking and shot making capability is so much better than ours, is capable of making all sorts of shots/distances with just 2 wedges, so can use that to cover the top end!
Oh, and the above is aimed at Pelz style wedge players - different lofts; same swing(s) for known different distances - than those who use a single/couple of club/s and play different shots for the different distances.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think it’s just a case of covering/ having equal sized gaps between clubs

I would say its more about being able to cover all the yardage gaps and how you go about doing it.

I go 47, 52 and 56. This isn't even but I can still cover all the yardage gaps. 4-5 degrees is a good gap over three wedges.

I don't think exact evenness is that important as long as you feel comfortable going down the shaft or doing 3/4 swings etc. Then a degree or two here or there makes do difference, ie 45, 50 56 or 46, 52, 58.

Those who don't feel comfortable are those who need 5 wedges with even gaps. I feel three is enough, to suit ones style and bunkers, the rest is just practice.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I would say its more about being able to cover all the yardage gaps and how you go about doing it.

I go 47, 52 and 56. This isn't even but I can still cover all the yardage gaps. 4-5 degrees is a good gap over three wedges.

I don't think exact evenness is that important as long as you feel comfortable going down the shaft or doing 3/4 swings etc. Then a degree or two here or there makes do difference, ie 45, 50 56 or 46, 52, 58.

Those who don't feel comfortable are those who need 5 wedges with even gaps. I feel three is enough, to suit ones style and bunkers, the rest is just practice.

To be fair you have 5 and 4 degree gaps, assuming the clubs are made accurately. That’s not such a big difference anyway, if you hit them properly.

The reason to have even gaps is to make it easier for those that don’t practice, or don’t have the touch, to play all the varying different distances.

 

[Oddsocks]

52/58 every time. My stick PW is 46 so it works well, but I never hit my scoring wedges fully anyway.

 

[MrC]

How about a 58 instead of 60?
I use a 58 as my lob/sand wedge (some people on here will argue about whether it’s one or other, for me it’s both).
It gives you the best of both worlds.

So a 52 gap wedge and 58 sand/lob wedge should cover most eventualities.

This makes sense and it might be where I end up if I get the 52’. However at the moment I have money for one wedge and as I am happy with my 60’ I think that needs to stay in the bag

 

[MrC]

52 is a much more versatile wedge than a 50 that small amount of extra loft makes a difference to your choice of shot. It is easy to turn a 52 into a 50 or 54/56 by changing the set up.

Your next choice should really be dictated by the type of bunkers where you play and the wedge should be suitable with the right amount of bounce to suit the sand where you play most and what loft you are happy to use to play bunker shots.

Thanks I tend to use 60’ any where near the green. At my ability it’s important I get it out which I am now very good at. This is another reason why the 54’ needs to change as I lack the confidence to use it in bunkers.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

This makes sense and it might be where I end up if I get the 52’. However at the moment I have money for one wedge and as I am happy with my 60’ I think that needs to stay in the bag

Stick with the 60 then, and later if you prefer, and have the dough, change to the 58.
I like the 58 for bunker shots better than the 60.
For me bunker shots should be with either a 56 or 58, but that’s purely personal.

 

[MrC]

What don't you like about the 54?
To me, that's what really matters! If you are comfortable with the 60, then don't change it - simply find a 54 (ish) that you are comfortable with! It's far more important - at our level - to have wedges that 'work' and are comfortable with, than to carry round a 2 or 3 iron (or hybrid equivalent) that gets used once or twice a round - if that!! The likes of Ernie, whose ball striking and shot making capability is so much better than ours, is capable of making all sorts of shots/distances with just 2 wedges, so can use that to cover the top end!
Oh, and the above is aimed at Pelz style wedge players - different lofts; same swing(s) for known different distances - than those who use a single/couple of club/s and play different shots for the different distances.

It’s not linked to the top end of the bag. I am not good enough to need to worry about extra woods/hybrid etc.

My 54’ goes around 80 yards (summer conditions). Full swing I am ok but have a consistent miss short right. However I cannot play anything except a full swing so it gives me no versatility. My PW goes 110 yards and I can play a few different numbers with this. In honesty it is probably more in my mind as my confidence has gone with the 54’ So I am beat before I start.

I was hoping a change would help and a slightly stronger club would be a better gap to the PW and then hopefully I can work on playing different numbers down to 40 yards (when the 60’ can take over).

The bit I should say is it that I know it’s the person holding the club which is the weakest link.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Thanks I tend to use 60’ any where near the green. At my ability it’s important I get it out which I am now very good at. This is another reason why the 54’ needs to change as I lack the confidence to use it in bunkers.

For most there isn’t enough loft for a normal greenside bunker shot, in a 54, I suggest 56 minimum.

 

[Mandofred]

Greenside bunker I'm always in with the 60 with low bounce. There is quite often not much sand under the ball and the low bounce makes it a lot easier for me to pick the ball off the sand without taking much.I was trying to wean myself off using my 60 so much around the greens and trying to use my 56 more. 56 just isn't soft/loft enough for the greenside bunkers for me.....and with some bounce on it, bit of a crap-shoot picking the ball cleanly. I could easily switch to a 52, 58 system with a little practice.

 

[Sats]

Miguel Angel Jimmenez bowls around with at 50º & 60º he spoke about being able to be inventive with shots. I guess if at 10º gap works for him it could work for you.

 

[MrC]

Miguel Angel Jimmenez bowls around with at 50º & 60º he spoke about being able to be inventive with shots. I guess if at 10º gap works for him it could work for you.

I think there are a couple of things I may lack in comparison to him.....