Gap Wedge: match your irons or not?

[VanTheMan0519]

I still have irons with a 48* PW, so I play a 54 and a 58 in wedges. 
 

Most newer irons have PW around 44-46, thus I may need to add a gap wedge and go gap, 54, 58 etc. 

 

does your gap match your irons or match your sand and lob?

 

if so, why or why not?

 

 

[bazinky]

Personally, if the GW loft is >=50, I would match it to my higher lofted wedges. If the GW loft is <50, I would match it to my iron set.

 

My rationale is that I'm hitting a lot more partial and open-face shots with the higher lofted wedges, and want something that is easier to manipulate in that fashion. 

[ZA206]

I agree with bazinky....

 

I have a 46 PW that's part of my set, but use a 50 GW that's the exact same design/spec as my SW and LW.

I feel like it's easier to flight and spin the ones that match the other wedges instead of matching the set PW.

 

-ZA

 

 

[Billfitz]

Mine matches only because I got a full 5-SW set. My lob wedge is different, mainly because the full set didn't go that high. My wedges are 44, 49, 54 and 60 degree and that works well for me.

[ChipNRun]

27 minutes ago, bazinky said:

My rationale is that I'm hitting a lot more partial and open-face shots with the higher lofted wedges, and want something that is easier to manipulate in that fashion. 

 

If there is a rule it is this: If you hit mainly full shots with GW, match it to irons. If you hit a lot of partials with your GW... open the face a little... match it to your specialty wedges.

 

Then there's the whatever situation: my backup bag has a nice set of TaylorMade SLDRs with an AW. This AW works well for both full shots and partials. And, the AW meshes for distance with the TM Tour Preferred SW and LW I got for a ridiculously low price.

 

End thought: Whatever is legal and works...

 

[twentyfour]

59 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

If there is a rule it is this: If you hit mainly full shots with GW, match it to irons. If you hit a lot of partials with your GW... open the face a little... match it to your specialty wedges.

 

Same for me. I have a set of 52/56/60 but I found myself only hitting full gap wedges, so now I play a set T100 gap wedge and just use a specialty wedge for the SW, and sometimes the LW when I carry it in my bag.

[Pearlwhites]

I follow the >=50 = wedges, otherwise matching irons.

[Tupperwolf]

I prefer it to match.  A 50* GW is basically yesteryear's PW.  I use it for most shots 80-115yd and occasional chipping; I don't need to open the face or do anything fancy.  I need it to play just like my PW or 9 iron.

[Barfolomew]

Never...

 

Play the latest Cleveland 52 and 60 always

 

current clubs are 2015 OnOff Kuros

[betarhoalphadelta]

1 hour ago, ChipNRun said:

 

If there is a rule it is this: If you hit mainly full shots with GW, match it to irons. If you hit a lot of partials with your GW... open the face a little... match it to your specialty wedges.

 

 

Agreed.

 

My set PW is 45* and set GW is 50*, but I had them bent to 44* and 48* respectively. Despite what they're stamped as, I think of them as my 10i and 11i. They are full-swing clubs. 

 

I then have 52/56/60 which are my wedges for "wedge" duty. They're used for pretty much everything from 115 in, and most often are used for partial swings. 

 

However, if the loft of your "gap wedge" is more often used for partials and "wedge" duty, then match it to the specialty. 

[boggyman]

Yes. 44-49-55 . I play W/S Launch Pads 4 thru SW with Px 5.5 steel shafts in all but the 4, it’s got a Px 5.5 graphite. Seldom carry a LW but if so, it’s a Sure Out Hogan or Cleveland 588 Recovery Sole. I like simple. 7.9 HC at moment and dropping. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by boggyman

[RogerinNewZealand]

47set pw,great feel,distance,put the vokey wedge flex in it. As this 47 had good gaps to the 52 i just bought, i sold my sm5 50F,then grabbed a 58f.face zipcore.My set pw owes me nothing vs a hi $ new 52,54 Callaway as an example!

[DaveGoodrich]

For me it depends on the iron set.  I do hit shots around the green with clubs over about 48* loft, so I don't want the gap wedge to be too chunky.  But I tend to play player's CB's or MB's in the short irons anyway, so I usually go with the set GW with my sets that have one.  I'm really enjoying the PW and GW in the Adams CB1's I'm currently playing.  PW is bent from 46 to 48*, and GW is bent from 51 to 53* (more bounce, less offset, better gapping for me).   The GW at 53* has been money lately on all my chips where I have some green to work with, and is forgiving from the fairway on "full" shots.  

[Zena]

1 hour ago, ChipNRun said:

 

If there is a rule it is this: If you hit mainly full shots with GW, match it to irons. If you hit a lot of partials with your GW... open the face a little... match it to your specialty wedges.

 

 

End thought: Whatever is legal and works...

 

 

Highly agree with this. What are you doing with this club?

 

Personally, I am finding that the traditional descriptions of PW/AW/GW/SW/LW are not very applicable to the modern game for a large majority of golfers. As always, realize your handicap, skill level, and personal preferences are primary determinants of your choice.

 

I find I don't hit any pitches with my PW. It's essentially a 115 yard 10 iron. Same with my GW, it's essentially a 100 yard 11 iron, but my MP18s don't have a set GW so I use a Vokey 50-08F with matching iron shaft as it best matches loft progression, bounce, and distance gapping. Then my SW and LW are high bounce 54-10S and 58-12D with heavier/softer shafts for the "specialty" and "partial" shots in sand and around the green. Very rarely do they get pulled out for 90/75yd full shots, as I try to plan my tee shot/second shot to get to the 120-100yd zone.

 

 

[Avidswampthing66]

I use a 50* gap for full shots and for little bump and runs around the green when i have plenty of green to work with.  I also like it for flighted 100 y shots into the wind.   But, ive always used a gap...never a full set AW.  Maybe I should try it on my next set of irons.

[BasK]

I have it matched to the set, but the Titleist T200/300 series have a 43 degree PW and a 48 degree GW. That's a no-brainer I feel, since I consider the 48 degree a PW and it's a full shot club. I just buy 6-GW sets now instead of 5-PW.

[pwgj1478]

I don't have one only because they dont make it (MP18MMC). Currently play a T7 52*. Last two sets I played had a matching 50* wedge (TM SLDR, JPX850F)

[holmes0412]

50/56/60 MD5

[Ger21]

Prefer to match the set, as I use my gap wedge for full swings almost exclusively.

[jsmcdon]

My new pxg irons have the pw at 42, so I went with getting the gap which is 48, now one of my existing wedges which I had 3 of will be taken out. I had 52-56-60, I'm thinking of taking the 56 out and playing the 52 on everything inside of 100, I also use the 60 from sand so.. 

[Zena]

33 minutes ago, jsmcdon said:

My new pxg irons have the pw at 42, so I went with getting the gap which is 48, now one of my existing wedges which I had 3 of will be taken out. I had 52-56-60, I'm thinking of taking the 56 out and playing the 52 on everything inside of 100, I also use the 60 from sand so.. 

 

54 sounds perfect, 42, 48, 54, 60. Bending the 52 or 56 depending on your bounce needs might do the trick, or just get a new wedge for fresh grooves 😉

[Esox]

2 hours ago, BasK said:

I have it matched to the set, but the Titleist T200/300 series have a 43 degree PW and a 48 degree GW. That's a no-brainer I feel, since I consider the 48 degree a PW and it's a full shot club. I just buy 6-GW sets now instead of 5-PW.

I have the T300s with the  4 - PW, 48 & 53, but I don't carry the 48 or 53, They hit the ball too high, don't spin it enough on partial shots, and are just not real versatile. If one seldom flights their wedges or do other face manipulations, the matched set is great for just a stock high, straight shot.

    I carry the T300 PW, Zipcore 50/10 and 54/10 and a Vokey 58/10 S grind. The 54/10 mid grind is so versatile and easy to manufacture shots with, I will sometimes drop the 58 and put in a utility wood.

[Myherobobhope]

I’m still torn on this… I don’t think there is a generic right answer to this question, and it comes down to what you are trying to get out of your wedge setup.

 

My generic answer is if you are trying to control flight and spin (especially around the green) the specialty wedge probably makes sense… if you are making full swings and could use more forgiveness, go with the set wedge…

 

I spent new wedge money on my used CMB wedge… I like it and ordered a set wedge in my new iron set…

 

if I win the Taylor made fitting, I might change my mind!

[gsrjc]

I do not. I match my other wedges. 

[lefthack]

They don't make one, so no. I have been looking at a KZG gap that would match my blade set, but I haven't bought it yet.

[gsxrdn]

I think I prefer the gap wedge that match my 56 and 60 degree. Modern gap wedge loft are too strong for my liking

 

[rt_charger]

I'm a fan of 4 matching wedges. I play full shots, partial shots, and chip with all of them so I like the verstility of having a grind

[Cellis]

I use a matching set P770 GW which is 51* in my set. Then I finish out with a 56* wedge bent to 55 and a 60* wedge, both Vokey with heavier shafts. I never use full swings with my vokeys, and for some reason I enjoy a look difference because of that. All preference.

[sleepyeg]

50 Gap wedge same as my iron set to include shaft.  54 and 58 in zipcore.  I mainly hit my gap wedge full swing. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I have a 47* PW (Mizuno MP4, weakened a degree). Previously, I was using matching 52* and 58* Cleveland wedges, but

I decided to shift them as they weren't quite working out for me, and I threw an old Callaway MD2 56* T-grind in bent to 57* as my lob wedge.

 

I didn't have the right wedge to fill the gap, so I bought a used Srixon 945 A wedge, which has 51* of loft. This was always supposed to be a fill-in setup until I ordered new wedges, but I like the set up so much I may keep the Srixon wedge in longer. The grooves are still good, and it does everything I want my gap wedge to do: full shots, three-quarter shots, and green side chips.

 

The MD2 is pretty worn, so I'll be replacing that with another 56* wedge soon, probably a Bridgestone BRM, but waiting on the new Mizuno wedges as well.