Wedge advice.

[DaveE]

This is not a what wedge should I buy thread I promise. It's just that my old irons (Berthas) had a 10 iron (46*) and a 50* wedge and my new set only has the 46. I could get by before but now I know I need at least one more.

I've noticed in dream bag & what do you play posts that nobody seems to play wedges that are offered with a particular set of irons.

Are the Cleveland, Cally, Titleist etc. that much more accurate, offer better feedback/feel. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated and if you feel the need to suggest one over another go ahead.

 

[Rockford35]

D,

I still play my pitching wedge in my set, but i also carry three wedges to make up the lower end of my set. I find that the OEM "lob" wedges as too "universal", made to match the set, not so much as a club made for a specific reason. I had a hard time controlling the extra wedges for the X16's, length, spin, ect. My Cleveland is a simple club. It spins the ball and is extremely accurate.....well, most of the time.

Perhaps with time i could have learned to use the wedge that matches my set, but many companies have put lots of time and research into wedges, Callaway being a perfect example. And having Roger Cleveland on hand as part of the team doesn't hurt.

These are just my thoughts. I carry a 51, 56 and 61* wedges in my bag, and love all of them.

R35

 

[Bravo]

Agreed. Much research into these specialty clubs....

I also play the PW that matches my Titleist DCI's and love it. 48*.

I have a Cleveland 900 gunmetal 54 low bounce 8*.

Also a Wilson Harmonized 60 14* sand.

One of the things I look at regarding equipment is whether a fad catches on or NOT.

The Wedge fad came on strong in the last ten years and this one has legs. Keeps going and going.

So to me - its not a fad. It's a real segment which means that it really has helped golfer and they keep coming back.

Same with hybrids. They are for real.

I'd try the Clevelands and Vokeys before you decide.

Compared to the cost of a driver - its a great investment in improved scoring...

 

[DaveE]

Thanks guys. What you say makes sense. Why put that much effort into research and design if there is no real benefit?

I intend to try several, Cleveland, Vokey and I like the look of the Callaway Forged as well.

Regarding bounce. The course I play most often has fairly lush fairways but can be bare sometimes around the greens and from the rough. If you are playing a variety of lies does standard bounce make sense or do you think it is just a matter of preference?

 

[Rockford35]

I play standard with my 51 and 56, as i use them more from the fairway or around the green where the grass is cut low. My 60 degree (it's bent to 61, actually), i use a higher bounce because i use it out of longer grass and for touch shots around the green where you need to get up and down quick.

But, as you said, it's personal preference.

I love my Clevelands and my 56* Callaway. I also like the way the Vokey's frame the ball. I wan't a fan of the Nike wedges, personally, nor the Hogan's, but that's just me.

R35

 

[Bravo]

Yeah Dave...

As a generality, a player would want a high(er) bounce club from deep rough or sand and a low bounce club from the fairway.

Sam Snead invented the sand wedge as we know it in the 1930's by building a large heavy flange on the bottom of a regular wedge.

This additional weight/mass helps the club come through heavy grass/sand and lift the ball in the air.

On the other hand, that additional weight can be bothersome to some players when playing a regular grass lie or tight lie as you described.

These are Generalities (and what I use).

On the other hand, I have a good friend that uses a very heavy high bounce wedge for everything from 100 yards and in and he is great with it. Nicklaus did the same. carried one wedge the entire career.

My friend is also a 2 handicap. A few more skills than I have. Gimme all the help I can get.....

BTW both Cleveland and Titleist websites are excellent as it relates to education on the subject of their wedges and the loft/bounce combinations that are available.

I visited the Cleveland site a few weeks back and it might provide some excellent background info for you before you hit the store to start your demos...

 

[DaveE]

I play standard with my 51 and 56, as i use them more from the fairway or around the green where the grass is cut low. My 60 degree (it's bent to 61, actually), i use a higher bounce because i use it out of longer grass and for touch shots around the green where you need to get up and down quick.

But, as you said, it's personal preference.

I love my Clevelands and my 56* Callaway. I also like the way the Vokey's frame the ball. I wan't a fan of the Nike wedges, personally, nor the Hogan's, but that's just me.

R35

Sounds like this will be a journey at least as involved as finding the right irons. Should be fun though. Two of my playing partners are out of town for the week, (they're related and going to a reunion of some kind) so now I'll something to do. I've been needing some time on the range and practice green anyway.

 

[jc@bg]

Custom wedges

Dave,

What would really be cool--by which I mean it would (a) get you where you want to go more quickly and (b) cost you less green--is if you could find a custom clubmaker somewhere in your area. For most people, shafts aren't hugely important (as to type) in wedges, but shaft length and how it matches clubhead lie, along with how both match your physical setup and swing, is important. Also, a custom clubmaker (component builder, if you will) should be able to show you a variety of different head shapes, lofts, and bounces so you'll be able to get right where you want to go. If you talk to avid wedge players, as some of the responders in this thread obviously are, you'll find that they often carry a variety of wedges with very specific lofts, bounce angles, and face/leading/trailing edge designs. I'm betting that the main reason most 3- and 4-wedge players have a variety of manufacturers' wedges in their bags has zero to do with the manufacturers (other than being quality clubheads) and plenty to do with finding the exact specs for a particular kind of shot or shots. When you look at component clubs, you can easily come up with an exact loft, bounce, clubhead design, finish, shaft, swingweight, you-name-it. Although you may not KNOW what you want in every wedge at this point, through trial and error you'll soon get to know. I carry 3 wedges in addition to my PW, and all four are from different manufacturers. It took me too much TE and way too much money, trying different OEM clubs, not to mention about two years of experimentation, before coming up with the exact wedges that worked for me. Mainly, it's about yardage gaps (having a relatively full swing for rather evenly staggered yardages) and about having the right bounces/designs for the typical lies of the courses you play.

For my money, go custom! Even the highest quality component heads, assembled with top-quality shafts and the grip of your choice, will be far less than corresponding wedges from OEM. And you get exactly what you want. I'm not a huge expert in the area of what to buy, but Maltby, Dynacraft, Snake Eyes, and so forth all make very high-quality wedges. Like everything else, take a look, try them out, etc. before you buy. Good luck! -- JC

 

[Jeff Gallo]

one thing youll notice is that the real reason that most people dont use wedges that match thier irons is that many are cavitybacks. inherently cavities have thicker toplines, squarer profiles, more offset and wider soles. makes them less playable as wedges and as was mentioned before they arent available in varieties of lofts and lies

 

[DaveE]

Thanks again guys. You've given me alot to work with. I like the idea of custom if i can find a qualified builder. I promise to give feedback as it comes.