Gap/Utility/Lob wedge distances

[Rockford35]

I've come to the conclusion that I can't hit my irons very far. Well, at least my wedges.

My 54*(bent to 52) wedge is good to about 105. My 56* no more than 85. And my lob is crushed if I hit it 75 yards. Even my PW is no longer than 120 on my best day.

I have no idea on whether to gauge that as short or long. I'm sure it's all relative, but how far does everyone hit their wedges? Am I just melting mentally for no reason?

I hit my wedges with fantastic precision today, and most days for that matter. I can draw them in real nice just about every time I have one in my paws. But I'm concerned about the lack of distance. Well, maybe I'm not concerned so much as I am wondering why I can't hit my irons as far as everyone claims to hit theirs. To each their own, but maybe I'm missing something.

R35

 

[nsherman2006]

that's kinda short, but nothing major. i hit my PW about 130, my 53 degree about 110, and my 56 goes 95-100. if you're on top of the stick, i would worry about whether your opponent took one fewer club to put it 10 feet farther away

 

[CKGuY914]

PW 130 yards, SW 56 100 yards, LW 60 75-80 yards

 

[JasonMacIsaac]

I am far too much a feel golfer to have a set yardage.

PW - 125-140
GW - 100-125
SW - 90-105
LW - 70-85

 

[obagain]

Don't worry about distance. It is the gaps that are important. If you have 30 yard gaps between wedges if is harder to hit consistant yardage.

You should try to keep the gaps between 10-15 yards.

 

[Rockford35]

See, most of these posted distances are about on par with my friends that I play with regularily. They're all longer in their irons than I am.

I am notoriously short with my irons. Always have been. I've tried my damndest to get longer, but I always sacrifice accuracy. I'm happy (i guess) with a 120 yard PW, 155 7 iron, and a 180 yard 4 iron. Anything outside that i'm dropping a three-quarter 7 wood with ease.

I guess everyone finds their own game and the mental aspect of playing within it. I suppose the men are seperated from the boys on the green and the scorecard, rather than on the teebox when I'm reaching for a 6 iron when everyone else is hitting 8's.

Thanks for the replies so far, guys.

R35

 

[Youngun5]

those seem right in line with my distances, question for ya, are your friends 5 handicaps as well? in not, then why worry about it,

 

[Silver]

R35, I often wonder the same thing. I'm no small fry, as many of you know, and I can whack most of my clubs a respectable distance without going too heavy on them (maybe a little longer than you with the longer irons, but I'm huge, so that certainly plays into it) but just not my wedges.

My PW is maxed at about 125-130, although I significantly prefer it in the 100 - 120 range.

52* GW - maxes 110'ish, but I like it for 80-100.

55* SW - maxes at about 90, but I like it for 60-85

60* LW - maxes at around 70, but I prefer it in the 50 yard range

Maybe there's something wrong with my technique, but I'm usually pretty happy with my wedge play, so I don't get it. That's all there is to it.

I feel your pain.

 

[Youngun5]

i've recently realized that i have been overusing the lob wedge, i hadn't realized the wonder that is the sand wedge, i like the spin it gives off, and i can control the distance and trajectory better

 

[dave.]

sand wedges have a bigger flange so the lob wedge is easier to use off a hard lie

Rockford,155 with a 7 iron is only 10 yards short of the average normal pro,

 

[goatster]

i have a much higher trajectory than most people.im most comfortable hitting a pitching wedge about 110-115, a wedge 90-100.as far as sand wedge goes when i hit a good one it looks like a 50-60 yard flop shot.

 

[Farquod]

Rock, gun makes a great point: if your wedges are so dialed in, why worry?

It's funny. I used to hit my 56* 100-110 easy. Now I'm 95-100, but better amplitude, and an easier swing. Way more repeatable. I figure it's a better deal all around. I still have to force myself to go for PW instead of the 56*, but overall, the results are better.

And like dave noted, a 155 yd 7i ain't short.

 

[Loop]

Yay! I hit my irons the same distances as Rock... Although I can't compete with him in the driver department.
And for me to say I'm a short hitter... That's so true

 

[Rockford35]

I guess I'm not "worried". I feel as though I have the strength and ability to make the ball fly farther, I just can't do it. I mean, I hit the driver 285 and my 5 wood about 240. So distance isn't unobtainable.

I'm happy with my game (somewhat), don't get me wrong. Everyone needs practice. But when I play with guys that hit two clubs less than me on par 3's, it leaves me longing for that feel.

Interesting note. I heard a description about Jack Nicklaus's shot routine today. He said that in his hayday, he 'always went to the movies' before a shot.

He basically envisioned a short film of his swing, the ball and the aftermath. This is so alien to me. It makes perfect sense, but i'm not like that. I say to myself before a shot, "just hit the ball with this much right to left and some authority". It's worked for me so far, but this Nicklaus "movie thought" has me thinking.

I grabbed a SW after hearing this and tried a few out. It's sorta knocked my shot routine outta whack, but it's given me this strange confindence. I can actually "see" the shot before I hit it. I don't concentrate so much on "how far" or "how hard", but more on "hit it so it goes here". That language is falling short on what I want to say here, but the vision of a shot is super powerful. I always had a shot in my head before hitting it, but not like this. Not stepping back, watching the ball and what it's going to do. I think it's causing me to concentrate more on the wind, the green's speed, the lie and my swing, all rolled up into a clip that I stand back and watch.

I somewhat now understand what it is to "see" the shot rather than to "execute the shot". They go hand in hand, but one it more important than the other.

Maybe I'm putting too much stock in this, but it's working for me. I guess that's what counts. We'll see what the next few weeks hold.

Cheers guys. If i'm going nuts here, someone chime in and shake me straight.

R35

 

[Loop]

True, Aaron Baddeley says this in his Playing lessons from the pro.
He steps back, closes his eyes, imagine and visualize the shot, opens his eyes again, then goes and hits the ball.