Winter wedges

[SteveJay]

Hi all,

Have always been a "picker" taking a minimal divot so have a 52 and 58 degree wedge with 8 degree bounce. They have worked fine on firm fairways but this year I have worked on better strike consistency and taking a divot, with a slightly steeper angle of attack.

As I am now a member and playing regularly through winter on soft ground, have found my sand wedge (54 degrees and 15 bounce I think) more reliable and rarely risk the other wedges.

Wondered if it was worth buying, say, a 52 high bounce wedge to give me flexibility in winter. Anyone else switch according to ground conditions?

Thanks guys.

 

[huds1475]

I have found more bounce is a good thing off soft wet ground.

Opposite in wet bunkers!

 

[Capella]

Seems to me there is not much difference between your 54° sandwedge and a 52 ° wedge with high bounce. Which shots do you feel you are missing in winter if you only use your sandwedge? Is there really a gap that a 52 ° high bounce wedge would fill?

I generally get the idea of using higher bounce in winter. I am just not sure that a 52° wedge is really what you need in addition to your sandwedge. If you do feel the need for a high bounce gap wedge, I'd go lower lofted, like 50° or so, to really set it apart from the sandwedge. Softer ground normally also means less roll on the green anyway.

 

[garyinderry]

My wide sole 11 degree bounce lob wedge has been in the bag for a month now.


It certainly pays for diggers to move to higher bounce wedges in winter.

 

[Crazyface]

Nothing less than a 9 iron. Just nob it on.

 

[Crawfy]

When winter arrives then I go down to a half set
That means nothing shorter than my stock 46 deg PW
Open the face if required
Insufficient funds and authorisation from HID to have summer & winter wedges :whoo:

 

[Foxholer]

I have found more bounce is a good thing off soft wet ground.

Opposite in wet bunkers!

Certainly agree with this!

I'm a picker too. When I had a 3 (specialist) wedge setup (and there was a time when they were Specialist branded!) the 56* was a High bounce one for use in bunkers - but not on Summer fairways. This changed in Winter! And the low-bounce 60* was rarely used anywhere - except hard-packed sodden bunkers! The high-bounce wedge is also more reliable getting through juicy/wet rough.

 

[SteveJay]

Cheers guys. Yes now realise another 52 may not be necessary.
I have both as actually in summer I play the 52 a lot and rarely hit the sand wedge, except in soft bunkers.
Totally different to the winter where the SW is being used all the time.

 

[Jacko_G]

Winter wedges????

Bump'n'run. Dunt with a timber or a hybrid. Get imaginative don't throw money away.

 

[SammmeBee]

Winter wedges????

Bump'n'run. Dunt with a timber or a hybrid. Get imaginative don't throw money away.

Don't be silly... I have a Summer PW plus a 52 (actually 51.5) and and 56 but then change up to PW and 50 and 58 for the winter. It makes all the difference....you should try....but I only play on dry courses in the winter.....

 

[Jacko_G]

Don't be silly... I have a Summer PW plus a 52 (actually 51.5) and and 56 but then change up to PW and 50 and 58 for the winter. It makes all the difference....you should try....but I only play on dry courses in the winter.....

:thup:

Do you add loft or a wee strip of lead tape to your putter too???

 

[SammmeBee]

:thup:

Do you add loft or a wee strip of lead tape to your putter too???

No I have a slightly thicker grip for faster greens and thinner for slower ones.....never like to be too handsy......

 

[garyinderry]

Bump and run on soft winter greens.

No thanks. I'd rather throw it most of the way to the hole as they sit down nice and quick.

 

[TheCaddie]

Ball first, divot after....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am a bit of a digger and so would look for a sole to deal with that (Vokey has it covered) but certainly wouldn't think of wedges for winter and summer. One set fits all

 

[Jacko_G]

Bump and run on soft winter greens.

No thanks. I'd rather throw it most of the way to the hole as they sit down nice and quick.

Better work on your technique or move to a better course then. Bump'n'runs are the percentage shot!

 

[ruff-driver]

Better work on your technique or move to a better course then. Bump'n'runs are the percentage shot!

On soggy fairways and greens

 

[garyinderry]

Better work on your technique or move to a better course then. Bump'n'runs are the percentage shot!

At times at bump and run can be the percentage shot.


When greens are soft. It is pretty simple to pitch a soft covered ball ( pro v or similar ) to a pin and it will sit down within feet.

 

[Jacko_G]

At times at bump and run can be the percentage shot.


When greens are soft. It is pretty simple to pitch a soft covered ball ( pro v or similar ) to a pin and it will sit down within feet.

And if its that soft its even easier to "fat" it.

Go for a lesson from a professional and the majority of them will tell you to get the ball on the ground and rolling as soon as possible, not to try and lob it because the greens are soft.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I'm in the "run it in" group too, unless the greens are of poor quality or I have little green or no flat area to land on.

No point trying to run it on if you can carry that nasty slope (unless you are on a links course )