Gap Wedge: match your irons or not?

[philly2kuk]

I switched from set gap wedge to vokey two seasons ago and don’t regret it. Always found my set gap wedges to be great on full shots but poor on partial shots. I hardly hit full shots with my irons anyway, I’ve always had a Tommy Fleetwood style iron finish for the last twenty years, so my game responds better to the vokey. I also find chipping easier with the vokey, the set gap wedge could be clunky.

[Joelsim]

SM8 50 degree matches my other wedges rather than my Ping G410 irons. A bit more versatile than the G410 gap wedge, not that it's really much of an issue in reality.

[boggyman]

Yes….Cobra Aerojet OL

[NosajNeelik]

I use the cobra mb gap instead of vokey like my sw and lw. It’s a perfect shape and blends with the set seamlessly 

Edited March 15 by NosajNeelik

[PigPyle]

In a weird spot where my current gap wedge doesn’t match my irons OR wedges. My gap wedge (PING Glide 4.0 50*) is also the only stock off the rack club in the bag. It just feels incredibly comfortable on full and partial swings and I can’t find anything better.

[millertime904]

Revisiting this one - have a fitting for the new Tsries irons and seriosuly considering matching the iron set for the gap.  Going to swing both that and an SM10 and see what wins out

[NorthMNgolfer]

I like to bridge the gap.  Irons are Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metals.  Wedges are Cleveland RTZ.  Went with a Cleveland CBX 2 full face.  It's a happy medium between the two.

[J-Walker]

I’ve done it both ways and prefer matching it to my wedges even though it is often a full swing club for me. For partial swings or lower lofted pitch shots, I strongly prefer a GW that matches my more lofted wedges. 

Edited July 25 by J-Walker

[NNJ]

I generally only use my gap for full swings, so I’ve tried to blend it into my irons. Irons are Apex pro 24s, and game wedge is the prior model Apex TCB.

 

I’ve done it both ways and I’m not sure there is a right answer, it’s whatever works for you.

[SnowbirdTom]

Mizuno 923 Forged irons and not only does the gap match, I have the SW too. They play as well as any aftermarket wedges I’ve tried. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[RoverTiger]

Yes to my set gap wedge. It has a good feel, does what it needs to do, and I like the consistency with my irons.

[JohnKHawk]

In general I prefer my gap/approach wedge to match my iron set. I find that it actually gaps better than specialty wedge. If I use a specialty wedge in that spot there is too much a distance gap from the PW. Specialty wedge start at 54 degree SW.

[Teebs]

Depends on the GW bounce. My i230 GW has too high bounce for summer conditions so I'm swapping to Vokey 50F (8°) in the new irons.

 

Boils down to your swing, turf conditions and required shot. The Vokey 50F is much better off dry conditions..

[swing33]

I prefer Gap to match set. Wind up with a lot of full swing shots from this distance at my home course. JPX 925 Forged Gap has been phenomenal for full shots, and have started using it for chip shots sometimes instead of 53* wedge.

[GolferTodd]

On 3/14/2025 at 11:13 PM, philly2kuk said:

I switched from set gap wedge to vokey two seasons ago and don’t regret it. Always found my set gap wedges to be great on full shots but poor on partial shots. I hardly hit full shots with my irons anyway, I’ve always had a Tommy Fleetwood style iron finish for the last twenty years, so my game responds better to the vokey. I also find chipping easier with the vokey, the set gap wedge could be clunky.

 

Agree with this 100%, a dedicated bladed wedge will always offer better partial pitch shots than a set attack wedge, even if youre using blade or players muscleback irons. The leading edge is just different and all the bounce and tread options. I have a 50 deg SM10 with an an S300 just like my MP37 iron set and its taken pitching wedge chipping out of my game completely.  

[hook_or_slice]

On 8/24/2021 at 6:46 AM, JamesWA said:

I have a newish set of Ping G425 irons 5-Gap wedge with graphite shafts. .....

I'd love to pick up a 54 degree G425 and a Ping Glide 58, but trying to get them in the same specs as my Ping irons is like throwing a feather in the wind at the moment. 

 

You can order a G425 wedge from Ping to match the serial number and specs of your set.

[mootrail]

On 8/23/2021 at 11:53 AM, ChipNRun said:

If you hit mainly full shots with GW, match it to irons.

I believe the axiom in theory, but I'm trending the other way.  I want a set 50° GW that goes around 110 yd full swing, 75 3/4s and 50 half.  Unfortunately with modern irons like the hollow bodies I recently switched to, they are just to hot to get a good feel of control.

 

On the flip side, recent bladed wedges and grinds have gotten so good, that I never worry about making a full swing with my 56° or even 60° wedge, where in the past I would always prefer to take something off my set GW.  It's part grind and part CG.

 

I'm probably going to pick up a 50° RTX6 to match my 56° and 60°, but my only fear is I'll be the guy grabbing 3 wedges from the cart for a lie and position I can't see.  Really it's a big reason I liked the set GW, I would never use it around the green.

 

 

 

 

[mootrail]

dup delete

Edited July 28 by mootrail

[mootrail]

dup delete

 

 

Edited July 28 by mootrail

[DGreasy]

A few things to consider...

I think it all depends on the set you're playing and how you get along with the GW.  I have had some sets where the GW didn't suit my eye or have enough spin, and some that work really well and fit the gap between my SW.  If you can somehow try them both out on the course that would be ideal.  A set GW is generally going to go longer as they don't spin as much as the specialty wedges.