Is this normal? (face angles question)

StarMonkey · October 25, 2009

I'm about to look for a couple of wedges, and thought it would be good to know the lofts of my set so I know what angle wedges I should be looking for.

I couldn't find anything online so decided to do it manually. These might not be 100% right (as the tool I used meant I had to get it right 'by eye').

My set is the wilson x-31 2009 (about £250 / $420ish) and I've worked out the angles at:

3 hybrid: 19
4 hybrid: 21
5: 24
6: 27
7: 31
8: 34
9: 38
PW: 42
SW: 47

I was expecting the PW to be around 47 and the SW to be closer to 55. Is this normal or have I just measured them wrong? As I said, I had to get the measurement by eye so I don't know 100% that it's right.

I was thinking of getting 56 and 60 wedges, but if my SW is 47 then I should probably go for 52 and 56.

**James_Black** · October 25, 2009

Yeah I think your out by a bit.

Theese are typical loft angles for a set of irons.
But they change from manufacturer to manufacturer

4-Iron25 9-Iron41
5-Iron28 Pitching Wedge45
6-Iron31 Gap Wedge50
7-Iron34 Sand Wedge55
8-Iron37 Lob Wedge60

StarMonkey · October 25, 2009

Yeah, I thought my measurements were out a bit, but when I used the same technique on my 64' lob wedge and another 21' hybrid I've got (both of which have the loft written on them), they came out perfect!

The gaps do seem about right but are probably 3-4 degrees off what I was expecting, plus I was expecting a bigger gap between PW and SW. I also thought the hybrids were 21 and 24 (as to my eye the 3H looks very similar in length and loft to my old dunlop 21')

Thanks for the standard lofts though, I might have another go at measuring them and see what I come up with.

**James_Black** · October 25, 2009

How are you measuring them?

StarMonkey · October 25, 2009

I'm using one of these:

Basically I hold the flat edge on the face of the club and line up the ruler part by eye, then read the measurement. There's a small gap in the photo between the clubface and the flat edge, but it was hard to hold it with one hand and take a photo :) In that photo it's the sand wedge showing an angle of about 46-47 degrees (as long as the ruler is perfectly parallel to the shaft).

**James_Black** · October 25, 2009

that has to be a wrong.

a sand wedge is between 52-56
normally it's 54 or 56

**uttexas** · October 26, 2009

couldn't find the x-31 specifications online. If the specs aren't on the clubs or packaging, you could call wilson to ask.

Here are the Pi7 specs from the wilson website. They should compare well with the x-31 lofts.
http://www.wilson.com/dyn/golf/ws_specs/usa/Pi7.asp

StarMonkey · October 26, 2009

I gave it a go and phoned Wilson - a few hours later the guy phoned back with the full specs:

Driver: 10.5
3W: 16
3H: 17
4H: 21
5: 27
6: 30
7: 34
8: 38
9: 42
PW: 46
SW: 54

That's more like it! I didn't expect the 3H to be only 17 though, other than that, they are the angles I was kinda expecting before I started.

It looks like I was a few degrees out on them all except the SW, which is odd as that's the only one I tried again later on

Anyway, thanks for everyone's input - I think I should look for a 56/58 and 60 wedge :D

**WUTiger** · October 26, 2009

StarMonkey,

If you're just starting out, stick with the clubs you have and maybe add a 60-degree lob wedge (LW). You could probably find a used one at your local golf shop.

If you have a very steep swing and take a deep divot, get a LW wedge with some bounce to it. If you have a shallower swing and smaller divot, a LW with lower bounce. The golf shop people can explain the "bounce" thing. The LW will take some practice time to master, but should have good payoff.

You might add a gap wedge (about 50 degrees) next year, but just learn what your PW does for right now.

Good luck!

StarMonkey · October 26, 2009

Thanks for the advice - I'm just starting but have had some lessons so I know all the technical aspects, just need to get consistent at everything! In fact the pro was explaining about bounce earlier today when we were practicing getting out of a 6 foot high bunker wall!

At the moment I've got a pretty shallow swing with a high angle so I barely take a divot at all (if any).

I'm fairly confident with my chipping and very short game (around 60 yards out) so I just want to make sure that I've got the clubs for every eventuality. I bought a cheap (£8) 64' lob wedge which I was taking normal swings with and getting about 80 yards of height and about 8 distance, but now I've been shown how to chip properly - leaning into it and digging down, I'm much happier with it. As my SW is 54, I think a 60 would be a better option.

Thanks for the help, I just can't walk past a golf shop without at least looking at stuff :D

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Is this normal? (face angles question)

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