Wedge lofts, what do you carry?? Two? Three?

[danattherock]

I have used 52, 56, and 60 for years, but wondering....

Simply put. I am wondering if there is a better system. I use 52 degree gap, 56 degree sand, and 60 degree lob. The 52 and 60 have about 8 deg of bounce, the SW has about 12. Using Cleveland 588 DSG for the last year. Getting ready to drop some money into Scratch or Miura's bank account. Wanted to rethink things first to decide on what lofts to get. Or for that matter, if I will need two wedges instead of three. Seeing some pros carry a 55 and 60 got me wondering. What do you use?


-Dan

[muxi87]

I use 2 rather than 3. I carried 3 also, but it just doesn't make sense to me. I found myself trying to find a way to use them...I would seriously sometimes use my 56* just because I hadn't used it in a while, not because the shot called for it.

My philosophy is that I need a wedge with a decent amount of bounce for bunker play and such: that's my 54*. I've also always used my 52 or 54/56* type wedge for fairway approach shots from anywhere inside 100..which leads me to the next wedge:

I then need a lob wedge when I need to bring it in high...since that's the whole purpose, why not a 64*? Back when I carried a 60*, I never used it for the 75 yard approach, or the 50 yard approach, or any full shots anyway. I always used my 54*. I used the 60* pretty much strictly as a greenside/bunker weapon. Since that's the case, why not go with more loft and more stopping power?

So, I go PW (48*), SW (54*), LW (64*).

People will say the gaps are too big? I say why? When you get inside 80 yards, everything is a partial shot anyway. You MUST learn to finesse your wedges. Once you learn that, what's the difference between finessing the 54* for a 90 yard shot vs. finessing the 54 or 60* for a 60 yard shot. There's simply no reason to carry more wedges in my opinion.

[Pert1862]

I have tried many setups. But for me I like a 50 gap, 54 and then 60. I use the 50 and 54 the most and recently bought a 58 to try out but that setup has served me well. All about trial and error and what gives you confidence when you are out there.

[Sakman]

[quote name='muxi87' timestamp='1292507555' post='2843610']
I use 2 rather than 3. I carried 3 also, but it just doesn't make sense to me. I found myself trying to find a way to use them...I would seriously sometimes use my 56* just because I hadn't used it in a while, not because the shot called for it.

My philosophy is that I need a wedge with a decent amount of bounce for bunker play and such: that's my 54*. I've also always used my 52 or 54/56* type wedge for fairway approach shots from anywhere inside 100..which leads me to the next wedge:

I then need a lob wedge when I need to bring it in high...since that's the whole purpose, why not a 64*? Back when I carried a 60*, I never used it for the 75 yard approach, or the 50 yard approach, or any full shots anyway. I always used my 54*. I used the 60* pretty much strictly as a greenside/bunker weapon. Since that's the case, why not go with more loft and more stopping power?

So, I go PW (48*), SW (54*), LW (64*).

People will say the gaps are too big? I say why? When you get inside 80 yards, everything is a partial shot anyway. You MUST learn to finesse your wedges. Once you learn that, what's the difference between finessing the 54* for a 90 yard shot vs. finessing the 54 or 60* for a 60 yard shot. There's simply no reason to carry more wedges in my opinion.
[/quote]

See and I'm the exact opposite...

My PW is 46° and I've opted to go with 4° increments with my wedges (50°, 54°, 58°). I've played around over the years and have found this setup works best for me a majority of the time. I 'may' drop the 50° and go with another hybrid depending on the course, but for the most part this is my daily setup.

[tembolo1284]

pw - 51
sw - 57
lw - 63

in the past i've also gone 51 56 61

Think the most important thing is you are comfortable with not only your distances, but your distance gaps, and can adequately cover them.

[BuckyBadger]

My PW is 45 degrees so I have a 50 degree gap wedge, a 54/11 sandwedge and a 58 degree lobber. The 50 degree is a must. I might experiment in 2011 with bending a 56 degree sandwege to 55 and then using a 60 degree lob wedge.

[muxi87]

[quote name='Sakman' timestamp='1292508059' post='2843623']

See and I'm the exact opposite...

My PW is 46° and I've opted to go with 4° increments with my wedges (50°, 54°, 58°). I've played around over the years and have found this setup works best for me a majority of the time. I 'may' drop the 50° and go with another hybrid depending on the course, but for the most part this is my daily setup.
[/quote]
46/54 bent to 52 for a SW/58

But then again, if I had all the wedges you did, I'd probably go Driver, 3w, hybrid, 4i, 6i, 8i, 48 bent to 46, 50 bent to 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 64...putt with the leading edge of whatever wedge you had to use to get it on the green.

[BogeyDog11]

[quote name='Sakman' timestamp='1292508059' post='2843623']
See and I'm the exact opposite...
My PW is 46° and I've opted to go with 4° increments with my wedges (50°, 54°, 58°). I've played around over the years and have found this setup works best for me a majority of the time. I 'may' drop the 50° and go with another hybrid depending on the course, but for the most part this is my daily setup.
[/quote]


Same for me. I carry 4, 46-50-54-58. I have 4 degree increments all the way through my bag. Works well for me.

[bubbagump]

I used to carry the std 52,56,60 but found that I really only used the 60. So now for the past season I have been carrying a 58* and a 64* and that worked out pretty well. Having less options can sometimes simplify things.

[tembolo1284]

ya, my 9 iron has 46 degrees of loft. Scary how lofts are so strong nowadays. *sigh*

[nikemike]

Just two, outside of the PW, a 53 and 60. My PW is 47 so I have a gap of 6 and 7 degrees. Easy to adjust the 3/4 and 1/2 shots.

[tbowles411]

PW - 45, GW - 50, SW - 55, LW - 60.

I'm of the Nicklaus school on this one. Always try to take a full shot if you can. Don't manipulate your club or swing unless you absolutely have to.

[ping rat]

just 2 for me 52 & 56, i can open up my 56 for more loft for the close finesse shots like a previous poster already said i like to keep it simple 4 wedges would give me way to much to think about

[muxi87]

[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1292510255' post='2843664']
PW - 45, GW - 50, SW - 55, LW - 60.

I'm of the Nicklaus school on this one. Always try to take a full shot if you can. Don't manipulate your club or swing unless you absolutely have to.
[/quote]
If my PW was 45, I'd go that route. Essentially, the 50* is a PW in my opinion with your 45* PW basically a 10 iron. The 55* your SW. The 60* your LW.

[jmtigers]

[quote name='ping rat' timestamp='1292510562' post='2843668']
just 2 for me 52 & 56, i can open up my 56 for more loft for the close finesse shots like a previous poster already said i like to keep it simple 4 wedges would give me way to much to think about
[/quote]

Same here 52 & 56.

[Redbird]

With my pitching wedge 47 I carry a 54 and 58. I could take a 52 and bend it to 51 but I hardly find myself at a yardage where I can't take a little off with my PW and be fine.

[swanty]

PW, 54 & 60 for me. I have other gaps in the longer irons/hybrids that I prefer to fill. I also don't mind hitting 1/2 and 3/4 shots with my short irons.

[MichMan123]

47pw 52 58

coming from 47 52 56 60

Less decisions to be made and allows me to carry my 3 iron which I've grown to love.

[Terpman]

My AP1 PW is 45*. I have three Mizuno wedges after that, gap at 52*, sand at 56* and lob at 60*. I accepted these settings because I was new to carrying more than one wedge. But I like the 56* sand so I will probably just change my gap to 51* and leave the rest alone.

[duckhook]

52 and 58 now.

1. I needed more clubs at the 200-230 range because of the length of some tournament courses.
2. I had to think too much about when to use the 56 vs the 60. I was always second guessing myself before the shot. Mental midgetry I guess.

[danattherock]

[quote name='Terpman' timestamp='1292512913' post='2843710']
My AP1 PW is 45*. I have three Mizuno wedges after that, gap at 52*, sand at 56* and lob at 60*. I accepted these settings because I was new to carrying more than one wedge. But I like the 56* sand so[b] I will probably just change my gap to 51* and leave the rest alone.[/b]
[/quote]



Thank you. I will do the same. My Callaway X20 Tour PW is 46 deg. My 52 and 56 ranges would benefit from a bit more separation. Hitting the 52 110-120 would benefit my gaps as I hit it about 100-110 now which is not much further than my 56.



-Dan

[StarFleetGolfer]

47, 54, and 58. Makes things easier

[danattherock]

Yeah, that makes sense too. Bend my PW up one degree and save myself $200.

 

I don't know shet, eh?

 

 

Ha ha..

 

Thanks guys!

 

 

-Dan

[tander69]

I actually carry four, Callaway's X-Tour 48*, 52*, 58*, and also a Cleveland Niblick. I probably could get by without the Cleveland but it sure comes in handy sometimes.

[LYG]

47 degree PW
...hit 115, max 117

53 degree gap
...hit it 105 (full)

59 degree
...hit it 80 yards

The 53 degree has 10 degrees bounce, can hit out of a bunker. 59 is custom Vokey, less bounce but wide sole makes for good bunker play also

***Make sure you get the shaft flexes just right***

This covers the bases. Have thought about adding a 56 but unlikely. I do miss that general purpose wedge.

[PrO_D_BoMbEr]

[quote name='duckhook' timestamp='1292513797' post='2843731']
52 and 58 now.

1. [b]I needed more clubs at the 200-230 range because of the length of some tournament courses[/b].
2. I had to think too much about when to use the 56 vs the 60. I was always second guessing myself before the shot. Mental midgetry I guess.
[/quote]

The statement in bold is the smartest way to decide if you need 2 or 3 wedges I have heard as I believe in the same philosophy. But I am the opposite, I don't need more clubs up there as I feel more comfortable working my 24* hybrid and 5 wood wood between 5 iron and 3 wood distances.

I play 50-56-60, with the intent of the 60 to be my get out of jail club with a Vokey 60.04 with a T grind. The 50 is a go to club being able to work it easily between the 47* PW and 56* SW as the 52* just didn't go far enough to do that.

The question shouldn't be, what wedge lofts do you need or wedge set-up, but what wedges will hit the distances you expect, and what grinds will achieve the performance and turn interaction that you need to get more shots up and down from diverse lies, bunkers, etc.

Just my 2 cents.......

[_MS22_]

Last year I began with PW (47*), GW (53*), S/LW (59*). Mid-season I decided to try out 4* gaps rather than 6* gaps, so 47*/51*/55*/59* and found myself using the 59* like I did my 58* no problem but struggling to be happier with the 51* and 55* in place of my 53*. I think I'll start the season off with the older two wedge setup again. I only switched because I carried 13 not 14.

[leroy]

I carry 3 wedges: PW 47, vokey 54 & 60. I like to simplify shots around the green. I mainly chip with the 54 because that's what I practice with and more importantly have confidence in. I used the 60 if I need to hit it higher and land soft.

[danattherock]

Lots of great ideas here. I appreciate you guys taking the time to share some thoughts with me. Will likely order wedges tomorrow. Still not sure which ones. Will be ordering either Miuras or Scratch. Need to figure out what lofts to go with. Much to think about after reading all the input here. Thank you.



-Dan

[danattherock]

[quote name='Sakman' timestamp='1292508059' post='2843623']

My PW is 46° and I've opted to go with 4° increments with my wedges[b] (50°, 54°, 58°)[/b]. I've played around over the years and have found this setup works best for me a majority of the time. I 'may' drop the 50° and go with another hybrid depending on the course, but for the most part this is my daily setup.

[/quote]


The more I think about that set up the more I like it. I too have a 46 deg PW. I like the even 4 deg increments.


-Dan