Why 4?

[MashieNiblick]

Tend to agree with Imurg on this.

In summer I carry Driver, 4 and 7 woods 4-pw and GW,SW,LW.
In winter Driver, 3 and 5 woods, 3h, 4-PW GW, SW.

That suits the way I play our course which has lots of long 4s (400 yds+) and a couple of short ones (under 300).

The advantage of the LW for me is that there are a few holes with narrow greens and bunkers either side and it gives me an option if I miss right or left and have to flop one over the bunker. Also as the LW has a much lower bounce than the SW it again provides another option when the ground is hard.

By the way I've never understood the "Seve didn't need a lob wedge" argument that sometimes gets trotted out in these type of threads. The man was a short game genius. He probably didn't need any wedges - 3 iron from a green side bunker - no problemo!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Also, if you had ten shots from 200 yards how many would you get on the green?

I could quite easily miss with all ten.

How is my 2 iron going to help me now?

 

[Tiger]

My point is it's easier to manipulate a wedge than it is a 3 wood and having a choice of 3 wedges from 100 yards in is plenty

I understand that. My question is based on my yardages when would I ever NEED to manipulate a 3 Wood?

When you buy a driver and you drop the 17 hybrid

Nope dropping the 3 iron & eventually switching for a 19 degree hybrid Seriously though I'm probably likely to play better without a driver than without an extra wedge. What Imurg says makes a lot if sense. My course isn't long but is tight in places. I'll often miss the green and having a choice of clubs to choose from helps. I'll chip with anything from 6iron to LW.

Overall I guess my point is that it's not a one size fits all thing. Lots of people in here could do with an extra option at the top of the bag or use their 52 for everything around the greens. For them yes maybe four wedges is overkill. But this blanket assumption that four wedges is the reserve for the best players is nonsense. If you practice enough and develop a sound technique the touch will come in time. I'm learning how to play a range of short approach shots now. I devote the bulk of my practice time to it. Using four wedges effectively surely comes down to how much effort you put into practicing with them and good course management.

I don't see it as the reserve of the low handicapper but the route you must take to become one!

 

[bobmac]

But this blanket assumption that four wedges is the reserve for the best players is nonsense.

If I gave that impression then I apologise.

If anything I was suggesting the lower the h/cap, the less need for 4 wedges.

 

[Imurg]

But this blanket assumption that four wedges is the reserve for the best players is nonsense.

If I gave that impression then I apologise.

If anything I was suggesting the lower the h/cap, the less need for 4 wedges.

I see what you're saying Bob - but why do the Tour Pros carry 4? Ok not all do - Luke only has 3 for instance - but a lot do.

 

[Dodger]

As you say it's all about manipulating the longer clubs...you either have it or you don't.

Don't know why I have as many wedges anyway....my short game is pish.

 

[3offTheTee]

Bob is your issue about distance gaps? I have probs with accuracy in my long game so don't have a driver at present. My PW is strong at 45 degrees and my wedge play is rapidly becoming the strongest part of my game. When I do get a driver I'll probably have the following set up.

Driver, 3 wood, 3 hybrid, 4-PW, GW, SW, LW.

I hit my 4 iron 200 yards, my current 3 iron 210 and my 2 hybrid 225. I assume I'd probably hit the 3 hybrid 215. Now I hit my 3 wood about 245 leaving a 30 yard gap but how often am I going to want to play a 230yard shot?

I get your point but since I've introduced a lob wedge my scores have got better and distance at the other end of my bag isn't a problem. I might be a 28 handicapper but what gets me in trouble is poor shots off the tee not shots from 100 yards in.

If you are a 28 handicapper and hit your 3 wood 245 yards there MUST be something wrong here. Think the majority of high single figure people on here would be delighted to hit their 3 wood 245 yards.

The majority of people from 10/20 would be delighted to hit a DRIVER that distance!

 

[brendy]

I use 3 wedges and leave room for my long irons (3 iron which many have decided they cant hit so junk it), 3 wood,5 wood and driver. I removed my usual pw so have a 50, 54 and 58 but am thingink of removing the 54 and bringing the 47 degree pw back as I dont tend to use it very often.

 

[Macster]

PW, 54 & 60 for me.- cant ever see why I would need more......what happened to 'feel' in the way people hit these things ?

Mind you, I never really hit the 60 on anything other than around the green when I need to get up& down, a Lob shot etc, find it very useful in that respect.

Other than that, at the top end, its Driver & 4 Wood for me, because the 4 gives me perfect distance at MY course on at least 4 Tee shots, and sometimes used out of rough if i need it etc.

Between that and my 3 iron, I'm currently adding a 7Wood as a trial for our damned 12th - 200yd Par 3, which my history of hitting with a long iron is woeful. Hoping that an easy swing with the 7 will see it landing softly and more consistently for more Pars.

Plus, I figure a 7W could also be useful elsewhere too, when a long iron is more risky.

 

[AyrHead]

I was playing on Sunday with another forum member who will remain nameless who on the 17th tee admitted he was carrying 5 wedges. On checking the contents of his golf bag not only was it evident that he was carrying too many clubs but he was also carrying two wedges which were exactly same.
Woosie has nothing on this guy!

 

[One Planer]

Personally. I carry a Driver,3 and 5 wood. 45*, 55* and 60* Wedges.

I have toyed with the idea of a gap wedge (50*) but resisted buying one as i dont think it would get much use.

 

[fundy]

I have a fairly decent sized gap between my 3 wood and Hybrid, but as a decent hitter I rarely find I come across courses where that gap is that important and if I do need to Im relatively happy hitting a cut with the 3 wood to knock some distance off, and its rare if I find myself in this distance range more than once a round if that.

Carrying 4 wedges gives me approx a 35 yard range across 4 clubs so I have 12ish yard gaps between them which means I hit far more full wedges from a distance I find myself at at least 5 or 6 times in a round usually and when I do have to manipulate them its by a smaller margin (not a strength of mine at all).

Seems logical to me that based on my approach yardages (and what Im usually facing in a round) the extra wedge is far more valuable to me than another club at the other end of the bag.

 

[bobmac]

I see what you're saying Bob - but why do the Tour Pros carry 4?

My point is we cant carry 15 clubs. So there has to be a gap somewhere.
It's either going to be at the long end or short end.

I was just asking if it's easier for a handicap golfer to fill a 3 wood / 3 iron gap or a wedge / Sand wedge / lob wedge gap.

 

[Tiger]

I hit my 4 iron 200 yards, my current 3 iron 210 and my 2 hybrid 225. I assume I'd probably hit the 3 hybrid 215. Now I hit my 3 wood about 245 leaving a 30 yard gap but how often am I going to want to play a 230yard shot?

If you are a 28 handicapper and hit your 3 wood 245 yards there MUST be something wrong here. Think the majority of high single figure people on here would be delighted to hit their 3 wood 245 yards.

The majority of people from 10/20 would be delighted to hit a DRIVER that distance!

It all comes down to accuracy. I've always been pretty accurate with my 6 iron and have gradually worked my way through my irons as I've grown in competence and confidence. Hitting the ball a long way is a curse if you're not accurate, especially when you don't consistently miss one way or the other. My course is quite tight and any deviation off the fairway puts you in the gorse or out of bounds. The last medal I played I only hit irons off the tee but I've now got more control of my 3 wood and am more confident in hitting it. There are times when I still sky the odd one, in fact I did it twice on my last round. I seriously believe that once I can exert my control over my swing and become more consistent the handicap will plummet. Playing 3 off the tee 4 or 5 times a round murders your score!!!

 

[bladeplayer]

Have pw/sw/58*/64* in the bag .. playing well the drive is 280-300 give or take. 3 iron is 200-210.. dont use the sw or the 64* a whole lot , so could drop either of them, by choice id say the sw...bob what would you think mite be the idal replacement in the bag ? hybrid ? dont understand them ?dont think im good enough at golf to know exact distances mayb thts why i havent changed , agree with imrug (i think it was) surely it would depend on course you playing , do any of ye guys change the clubs around depending where you playing on a given day ?/

 

[richart]

Three for me, and two hybrids between 3 wood and 4 iron.

 

[Paul_Stewart]

I am a four wedge man - 47, 52, 58 and 64. And use all four positively too. To accomodate them, I only carry 5-9 irons and then Driver, 3,5 and 7 woods.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I was just asking if it's easier for a handicap golfer to fill a 3 wood / 3 iron gap or a wedge / Sand wedge / lob wedge gap.

How many handicap golfers can nail a 2 iron?

/Devil's Advocate

 

[JohnF]

I think it does depends on the course you play, on my old course which was just over 5300 to 6300 yards I went with 4 wedges. Now on my new course it can play from 6000 to over 7000 yards I found myself looking at taking one of the wedges out and going out to buy a 3h to close the gap between 3 wood to 4 iron.

 

[SimonC]

I play 4 wedges, I have a 47, 51, 56 & 60. My driver is 8 degrees and my 3 wood is 16 degrees so the gap isn't as big as it could be. My course doesn't really warrant me filling in the gap between my 3 wood and 3 iron. We only have one par 5 and in summer it's a drive and a mid to long iron. The rest of the holes I can hit driver wedge to if I'm hitting my driver well, hence the reason why a carry 4 wedges.