Sand & Lob Wedges

[erwintrace08]

Hey Guys,

I have always chunked and topped my 56 & 60 degree wedges a lot. I just noticed today how they each get 1/4 shorter just like any club.

However, if they feel way to short for me, do any of you recommend me getting a longer shaft in comparison to the length of a pitching wedge? I feel like I have to bend down super low on the wedges which makes me uncomfortable on my shot.

I already have enough to think about it messes me up big time. Have any of you extended the club length on your Sand & Lob Wedges?

Thanks,
erwin

[Dub]

Nope...mine are graduated shorter from 3iron to lob wedge as is the norm.

The clubs play progessively closer to my body and my stance narrows for lob shots anyway.

I suppose you could experiment, though, and have extensions put in. It would be low cost endeavor.

[denver_nuggs_15]

It depends if you need custom fit clubs. If you are tall (like me) you will feel hunched over (especially on wedge shots) if your clubs are not longer.

If you are not that tall than you could put a longer shaft in it anyway, though you may not need it.

I would do whatever is most comfortable to you.

[TommyD69]

You can extend your SW and LW... BUT... the swing weight will increase A LOT!

Your wedges have a 2 or 3 swing weight increase over the rest of your set to begin with (swinging at maybe D5 or D6)... if you add an inch, you will increase another 3 swing weights (swinging at maybe D8 or D9).

That is a LOT of weight to try and swing at full speed. It may be ok on chip shots and 1/2 pitches, but when you try and take a full (100 yard) swing, you may dislocate both your arms!

[Never3putt]

The reason you're topping your shots or chunking them isn't because the shafts are shorter. If that were the case, everyone would have that problem because shafts get shorter progressively in all (well, most) sets.

I would guess, without seeing your swing, that you tend to try to scoop the ball in an effort to get it launched. In doing so, your spine comes out of position by lifting upwards (you've heard the old saying "you lifted your head" ... well the head is attached to the spine) which draws your arms with it and you hit the shot thin or your strike the earth first. Changing the plane of your swing during the backswing and forward swing makes it awful difficult to return the clubhead to the position you're seeking to hit.

[Stacey_E]

Maybe you could try bending the lie of your wedges a couple degrees upright first? This might help you as it would make them feel a bit longer. If you don't like it then you can always change them back. I've read somewhere that flattening the lie a degree is like making the club 1/4" shorter. I'm not sure how accurate those numbers are. But the reverse would be true as well. I'd at least try it on one club before changing the shaft specs just yet.

[Magnus]

You can extend your SW and LW... BUT... the swing weight will increase A LOT!

Your wedges have a 2 or 3 swing weight increase over the rest of your set to begin with (swinging at maybe D5 or D6)... if you add an inch, you will increase another 3 swing weights (swinging at maybe D8 or D9).

That is a LOT of weight to try and swing at full speed. It may be ok on chip shots and 1/2 pitches, but when you try and take a full (100 yard) swing, you may dislocate both your arms!


I'm pretty sure you are joking on the full swing thing....I have all my short irons the same length as my 9 iron. Yes, they are heavier. No it doesn't make that much of an impact, in fact I am more consistent with my wedges. I feel like I can make the same iron swing on mid irons to short irons (on full shots at least).

I would guess this isn't the cause of your problems (if there is 1 cause), but it may aleviate one of them, like it was stated earlier, it would only cost you the price of an extension and a new grip to find out.

[Stacey_E]

if you add an inch, you will increase another 3 swing weights

The figure I always heard was 6 swingweights per inch.

[erwintrace08]

Thanks so much guys. We'll, I went to Roger Dunn today and the guy there told me that it's just me and not the club length. I told him I chunk and top the ball a lot. He told me I'm opening up or picking up my head when I'm hitting the ball. I top it thin at first. Then to over compensate, I chunk it.

True enough, I went to the range today and pictured my pro holding the club head to my head to reduce body movement. True enough, my shanks were gone and I was hitting the ball so clean.

It wasn't an equipment issue at all.

Thanks again guys for the info!
e