Need some wedge help

[FuzzyKnuckles]

So I'm in the market for a 54 and 58 wedge. Right now my setup is a Burner 2.0 50* gap wedge and a SM3 58-12 vokey. I'm looking at getting a club that is a few years old but was top of the line when it came out, so I can get it cheaper but still good technology. I'm looking at the Cleveland CG 16's and they look great, but I'm wondering if the cavity would make it tough to open up and hit pitches? And I play in conditions where it can be wet and dry a bunch, so I need a bounce in the middle. I was thinking of getting the 54 at 10 bounce and 58 at 8 bounce.

 

I want the 58 to have 8 bounce so I can open it up and hit high shots, but I wonder if that will be tough out of the bunker and some wet conditions. Then the 54 would be at 10 bounce and I think that would be good as it is in the middle. So I am having trouble choosing bounce numbers. Any advice on this?

 

Then I'm wondering when I'm around the green what do I use each club for? I feel like the 54 will go unused a bunch as I use my gap currently for lower, roller chips and pitches when i have a lot of green to work with. Basically, I don't know when I am supposed to use each club. Any tips on when I'm supposed to use each club and what shots each one is for?

 

Thanks

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Bump.

[Argonne69]

First, I'm not a big fan of mixed wedges from different manufactures and/or model lines. If you can afford it, I would get a 50, 54, and 58 from the same model line, e.g. Vokey SM4. You can get used SM4's at a reasonable price.

A 54-10/11 and 58-8 makes sense. I play a 54-14, and 60-07. I like having max bounce in my SW (54) because I travel quite a bit, and often encounter very fluffy sand. A 54-10/11 is a good compromise. This will likely be your go-to bunker club.

Likewise, a 58-8/9 is a good all-around (strong) lob wedge. I use my lob wedge from the rough around the green, and from wet/compact sand, or when I've short-sided myself in a bunker.

As you note, with a GW, you may wind up using the 54 primarily in the sand. Keep in mind, though, that the 54 will have the highest bounce, so you might use it if you find yourself in thick rough with the ball sitting up. With a lower bouce wedge like the 58-8, you risk having the club slide under the ball. In addition, you'll find it handy when you're on an uphill lie next to the green. An uphill lie is going to increase the effective loft on the club, and you may find that using the 58 causes the ball to stop too quickly. I use my 54 in this scenario to get more forward movement on the ball.

In a nutshell, having a low, mid, and high bounce club allows you to select the right club for the conditions. You should practice all shots with all wedges in different conditions. You'll probably have one go-to club for each shot under normal conditions, but when warranted, the other wedges may be required.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1396017466' post='8968235']
First, I'm not a big fan of mixed wedges from different manufactures and/or model lines. If you can afford it, I would get a 50, 54, and 58 from the same model line, e.g. Vokey SM4. You can get used SM4's at a reasonable price.

A 54-10/11 and 58-8 makes sense. I play a 54-14, and 60-07. I like having max bounce in my SW (54) because I travel quite a bit, and often encounter very fluffy sand. A 54-10/11 is a good compromise. This will likely be your go-to bunker club.

Likewise, a 58-8/9 is a good all-around (strong) lob wedge. I use my lob wedge from the rough around the green, and from wet/compact sand, or when I've short-sided myself in a bunker.

As you note, with a GW, you may wind up using the 54 primarily in the sand. Keep in mind, though, that the 54 will have the highest bounce, so you might use it if you find yourself in thick rough with the ball sitting up. With a lower bouce wedge like the 58-8, you risk having the club slide under the ball. In addition, you'll find it handy when you're on an uphill lie next to the green. An uphill lie is going to increase the effective loft on the club, and you may find that using the 58 causes the ball to stop too quickly. I use my 54 in this scenario to get more forward movement on the ball.

In a nutshell, having a low, mid, and high bounce club allows you to select the right club for the conditions. You should practice all shots with all wedges in different conditions. You'll probably have one go-to club for each shot under normal conditions, but when warranted, the other wedges may be required.
[/quote]

Thanks for the great help!

I wish I could get a new Gap wedge, but I hit my current gap great so I don't see a major need to get a new one.

Yeah I like the bounce and degree options I have set for when I buy the new wedges. I will need to experiment with them to see what club for different shots and sorts. I just don't want 10 and 8 bounce to be too little or not enough. Maybe I need to borrow some friends wedges and mess around with them. Right now I think 12 bounce is a good for flop shots but when it gets dry(usually summer months) it is tough to hit high shots. I think 8 is a good medium for that.

Thanks for the club and shot help! Appreciate it! Do you have any input on the CG 16's or other older top of the line models?

[Argonne69]

[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1396048370' post='8971545']
[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1396017466' post='8968235']
First, I'm not a big fan of mixed wedges from different manufactures and/or model lines. If you can afford it, I would get a 50, 54, and 58 from the same model line, e.g. Vokey SM4. You can get used SM4's at a reasonable price.

A 54-10/11 and 58-8 makes sense. I play a 54-14, and 60-07. I like having max bounce in my SW (54) because I travel quite a bit, and often encounter very fluffy sand. A 54-10/11 is a good compromise. This will likely be your go-to bunker club.

Likewise, a 58-8/9 is a good all-around (strong) lob wedge. I use my lob wedge from the rough around the green, and from wet/compact sand, or when I've short-sided myself in a bunker.

As you note, with a GW, you may wind up using the 54 primarily in the sand. Keep in mind, though, that the 54 will have the highest bounce, so you might use it if you find yourself in thick rough with the ball sitting up. With a lower bouce wedge like the 58-8, you risk having the club slide under the ball. In addition, you'll find it handy when you're on an uphill lie next to the green. An uphill lie is going to increase the effective loft on the club, and you may find that using the 58 causes the ball to stop too quickly. I use my 54 in this scenario to get more forward movement on the ball.

In a nutshell, having a low, mid, and high bounce club allows you to select the right club for the conditions. You should practice all shots with all wedges in different conditions. You'll probably have one go-to club for each shot under normal conditions, but when warranted, the other wedges may be required.
[/quote]

Thanks for the great help!

I wish I could get a new Gap wedge, but I hit my current gap great so I don't see a major need to get a new one.

Yeah I like the bounce and degree options I have set for when I buy the new wedges. I will need to experiment with them to see what club for different shots and sorts. I just don't want 10 and 8 bounce to be too little or not enough. Maybe I need to borrow some friends wedges and mess around with them. Right now I think 12 bounce is a good for flop shots but when it gets dry(usually summer months) it is tough to hit high shots. I think 8 is a good medium for that.

Thanks for the club and shot help! Appreciate it! Do you have any input on the CG 16's or other older top of the line models?
[/quote]

Yeah, medium bounce wedges are good all-around clubs for "normal" course conditions. Over time, if you find that you're a digger, or you play a lot of wet courses, you'll replace them with more bounce. OTOH, if you're a sweeper, or play in dry, firm conditions, you'll migrate towards less bounce.

I played CG's many years ago when I first started, but that was before I discovered Vokeys, which I've been playing ever since. I buy a new set every year.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Ok thanks! I have a vokey now(SM 2 or 3) and I want to get a new set. But I'm not the best ball striker and the reviews on the CG's look great so that's why I was looking at them