Which wedges?

Hi all,

Hoping to get some views on the following:

Birthday is coming up so I though I'd replace my 56 degree wedge, with a 54 and 60 wedge. That way I've got a bit more variation with those two and my pitching wedge.

I'm a 15 handicapper, looking to come down to 12ish this year. Wondering what people would recommend, in particular any mizuno wedges to match the rest of my irons? (although I can get over that one and would be happy to use other brands)

Cheers

SF, How about a 52 and a 58 instead.
Your PW will be about 48 so this gives a better spread. Plus you might find limited opportunity to use a 60.

Yep, that potentially maybe more sensible.

I think I took 54 and 60 as its 6 between each, and watching Luke Donald's Mizuno masterclass videos he talks about 60 for bunker shots. Admittedly I'm not Luke though.

SR - Why would you go with 52 and 58 instead, just easier to play with, more appropirate distances on a full swing?

I find a 52 extremely versatile around the green, easy to put spin on and easy to play high or low, and I find a 60 far too lofted to use for anything other than flop shots and bunkers, for which a 58 does me just fine anyway.

i'd agree with s_r's comments. i purchased a 52, 56 and 60 last winter and recently switched the 60 out of the bag for a new 3wood.

the 52, 56 combination is working fine for me, but i'll probably go for 52, 58 when I replace them next. that said, the 56 is still pretty good for the flops i used to use the 60 for, and it gets a great shot trajectory out of the bunkers.

think carefully about your bounce options too. most people will go for middle range bounces, but a lot depends on how you attack your shorter shots and how firm/soft the turf you normally play on is.

generally most people will look to cleveland, mizuno and vokey for their wedges, but there are a lot of other brands with some good products too.

I usually only carry a PW(48) and SW(58), but do have 52’s and 60’s I can put in the bag if I want to. The trouble is unless you practice with a wedge all the time you loose the feel and how to hit it. So unless you intend to practice a lot with the many wedges you might potentially buy the choice and variation might be negated but not being accurate enough with some of them.

You cannot just add a 60 wedge to the bag then pull it out every now and again expecting that to improve your score. I guess my advice is go for wedges that you know you will spend the time getting to know.

As for brand, I think looks and how the club sits when you set up is always very important but especially so with putters and wedges. I have never tried it but it would also be interesting to hear from people who have been custom fitted for a wedge?

The more blade like the better for me when it comes to a wedge.

Regarding the four wedges vs two wedges, a good way to look at it might be in terms of practice time.

Say you do 2 hours wedge practice a week split between two wedges, if you go up to four do you up practice to 4 hours or split the 2 hours between 4 wedges.

If you do not increase it to 4 hours there is a good chance you become less proficient with each wedge. Is it better to master 2 wedges or have the choice of 4 wedges you are less proficient with.

I only carry a PW, 52 and 58, and do 90% of my practice and 90% of my chipping and pitching on course with a 52, it's no exaggeration to say i'm one of the best players at my club at this aspect of the game (not trying to blow my own trumpet, just saying how becoming a specialist with one versatile club has it's benefits.)

The key to short game is to keep it simple, not to overcomplicate it by having too many wedges and trying to attach a wedge to a particular type of shot, but to attach a shot to the wedge, i.e learn to play many shots with one weapon.

super_realist wrote:I only carry a PW, 52 and 58, and do 90% of my practice and 90% of my chipping and pitching on course with a 52, it's no exaggeration to say i'm one of the best players at my club at this aspect of the game (not trying to blow my own trumpet, just saying how becoming a specialist with one versatile club has it's benefits.)

The key to short game is to keep it simple, not to overcomplicate it by having too many wedges and trying to attach a wedge to a particular type of shot, but to attach a shot to the wedge, i.e learn to play many shots with one weapon.

Hmmm tending to agree with S_R again. I may need help. But yeah, I use one wedge, in this case my 60 for anything inside 40yards where I need to carry something - I can flop with it, close the face and drive down for a biting shot or play it "armsy" for a carry and short run. If I don't need to carry anything, I'll use a 8 or 9 iron bump and run.

The mastery of one tool is better than floundering with many.

Sports,

Last year i got vokey wedges and love the 52 and 56 degree - and the spin.

I made the mistake of getting a 60 degree with maximum bounce (always trying to replace a ben hogan sandge wedge I used for a long time).

A big mistake for me for two reasons. Firstly high bounce on the most lofeted of clubs is very hard to control off grass (great for bunkers) and secondly I stuggle to use a very lofted wedge after learning the game with conventional wedge and sand wedge.

As others have said be carefull when selecting the bounce and 58 degrees may be the safer choice over 60 degrees.

I'd say the best thing is borrow a few wedges from the pro and try them out. Wedges from different companies go different distances even if they are the same loft. If you have a specific distance you want to cover - say 70 yards - then find one that goes that far with a swing you can reproduce, then buy it.

I see people playing with low bounce clubs on muddy courses, and they may as well be using a trenching tool. If you play on a parkland course, if you tend to hit down on the ball - then go for a wedge with at least 10 degree bounce. If you play on a links, and you don't take divots, only then should you consider a low bounce wedge.

George1507 wrote:...I see people playing with low bounce clubs on muddy courses, and they may as well be using a trenching tool. If you play on a parkland course, if you tend to hit down on the ball - then go for a wedge with at least 10 degree bounce. If you play on a links, and you don't take divots, only then should you consider a low bounce wedge.

While I know this is all the rage, I've never understood it one iota. We're supposed to hit it ball-turf; if your strike is good, it won't make any difference if it's a low bounce or not. I'd never advocate going with, say, a high bounce wedge to 'correct' a heavy strike; people would be better investing time in grooving a good swing pattern.

You are absolutely right about the strike - but I know from my own experience it does make a difference. I have a 55 degree wedge with very low bounce - great for the summer, and links courses, but it needs a very accurate strike on muddy fairways in the winter.

Don't ask me why, the extent of my physics is O level.

Think of bounce as the angle between the leading edge and the sole of the club. If it were at right angles you could only use it as the loft of the club face. With bounce (incented by Snead I think in his sand iron) by having it a much lower angle, you can get under the ball, as well as open/close the clubface to get a huge variety of club face angles at impact. For example leaning the club back on the sole. With practice you'll be able to hit a ball with an almost flat clubface.

super_realist wrote:Think of bounce as the angle between the leading edge and the sole of the club. If it were at right angles you could only use it as the loft of the club face. With bounce (incented by Snead I think in his sand iron) by having it a much lower angle, you can get under the ball, as well as open/close the clubface to get a huge variety of club face angles at impact. For example leaning the club back on the sole. With practice you'll be able to hit a ball with an almost flat clubface.

Isn't it the opposite?

I have a 56 deg wedge with a lot of bounce, great for bunkers and out of the rough. I also carry a 60 deg wedge with little bounce, great for tight lies (and perfect when you have short sided yourself and have a dreaded chip over a bunker from a tight downhill lie!). It is much easier to lay the face of the 60 deg wedge open, due to the low bounce. If I do that with the high bounce wedge I am presenting too much leading edge. In reality I rarely open the face of the 60 deg wedge anyway, it's got enough loft already.

*I understand the sand wedge was invented by Gene Sarazen, and used to great effect when he won the Open at Prince's. His club is on display in the clubhouse.

As all my irons are TMs, I have 45, 50,55 & 60 wedges. Bought the 50 last years as there was such a big gap between W & SW.

45 goes 110-120
50 goes 100-110
55 goes 85-95
60 goes 50-75

So covers most distances.

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:As all my irons are TMs, I have 45, 50,55 & 60 wedges. Bought the 50 last years as there was such a big gap between W & SW.

45 goes 110-120
50 goes 100-110
55 goes 85-95
60 goes 50-75

So covers most distances.

What do you play from 80 yards setup?

Personally I would keep your 56 and add a 52 and a 60, but that's me.
As for brand, whatever feels good to you and don't get hung up on names.
Try some out then trust your gut.
After that it is all down to how much practice you put in.

ban_bam wrote:

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:As all my irons are TMs, I have 45, 50,55 & 60 wedges. Bought the 50 last years as there was such a big gap between W & SW.

45 goes 110-120
50 goes 100-110
55 goes 85-95
60 goes 50-75

So covers most distances.

What do you play from 80 yards setup?

Depends what's in front of me ?

No bunkers : a wee Scottish run up with a 8 iron maybe a 5 wood or even a 3 iron (no rescue clubs in my bag)
Bunkers in front : 3/4 gap wedge.

I have seen people actually putt from there. Not a shot I'd try myself.

i lipped out from 125 yards with a putt once

I teed off with an old cheap putter once, using a full swing, and the face caved in.

There was a guy on The Eden course at St.Andrews at the 5th had a hole in one with a putter.

No doubt Mac will claim it was all down to the design of the course.