Looking to add a 64* wedges, but what do i drop?

honestly, I have a 64 & put a good amount of time practicing with it - it's just not reliable enough for me to bag right now.   I've never seen a club that requires such an absolutely PERFECT ball strike to get it to do what you want it to do.    It's so easy to hit it slightly off the sweet spot & watch it dribble up & not make it off the fringe.   Anyways, thats just me - I'm down on it after really working to try to get comfortable with it.

 I'd just as well open up my 58 if I need to get alot of loft on a shot.     Maybe you would do better replacing your 60 degree with a low bounce "finesse" version which is a bit easier when you open it up for those high lofted shots...

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthehole 

honestly, I have a 64 & put a good amount of time practicing with it - it's just not reliable enough for me to bag right now.   I've never seen a club that requires such an absolutely PERFECT ball strike to get it to do what you want it to do.    It's so easy to hit it slightly off the sweet spot & watch it dribble up & not make it off the fringe.   Anyways, thats just me - I'm down on it after really working to try to get comfortable with it.

 

 I'd just as well open up my 58 if I need to get alot of loft on a shot.     Maybe you would do better replacing your 60 degree with a low bounce "finesse" version which is a bit easier when you open it up for those high lofted shots...

What is the bounce on your 64*?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones 

What is the bounce on your 64*?

 I bought it specifically with a very low bounce - probably 4 or 5 degrees for basically one purpose...  that was to hit lofted approach shots off the hard pan fairways of my crappy local courses.    I found it's impossible (for me) to open up a wedge with really hard fairways to get enough height & thought a low bounce 64 would be the ticket - it might be for a better player, but the unreliability of such a high lofted club when you don't hit the sweet spot perfect every time didn't work out for me (another thing ... due to the loft, you have to hit a 64 alot harder than I was comfortable doing at such close ranges) ... based on my experience, I just think this club is one better left for the short game wizards out there (and the short game is by far the best part of my game - I'm pretty good with that 58 - the 64 is a whole different animal).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

I've been thinking about adding a 64* wedge now for the last 2 seasons and I think now I'm finally going to pull the trigger. My only problem is I'm not sure what to take out without leaving to big of a gap. My bag goes as such:

Driver 10.5*- 260-280 average
4w 16.5*- 220-240
3h 20*- 200-210
4i/4h 23*- 190-200
5i- 180-190
6i- 165-180
7i- 155-165
8i- 145-155
9i- 135-145
PW 46*- 120-135
GW 50*- 105-120
SW 55*- 75-100
LW 60*- inside 70

No my only question is what do I dump? 4i because it barely gets used? 5i, I've very consistent with the 6i and can lay off a 4h. Or go to the other end and get rid if the 50*, I normally play a 3/4 PW from 100-110, but that 50 is nice if I have to carry it all the way to the pin rather then run it up there. If I dump the 50 do I go 52,58,64? any help is greatly appreciated.

To me, it's a course by course thing. Take a look at Mickelson, I believe he varies wedges based on the course and conditions. If you have a long course with big greens, stick with your current setup. If you have a manageable course with postage stamp greens, bring in the 64 and park the 3H or 4H.

Or if you want a "set" bag, park the 4H, put on more tape for the lower hand on your 3H, and grip down for 4i distance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthehole 

Maybe you would do better replacing your 60 degree with a low bounce "finesse" version which is a bit easier when you open it up for those high lofted shots...

I agree with this, I would just get a 60 with less bounce.  I personally do not see the point of a 64 degree wedge for most of us, unless you just want to have something to talk about.  I have tried all different high lofts(58, 60 and 64) and have gone to just a 56 for my highest.  If we had harder soil here I would probably have a low bounce 60.   If you really feel you need one, then I would get rid of your SW or your 60, if you don't use one of them for the sand or for chipping.  I use a gap and partial shots for anything under 110 yards anyway.  I would go 50, 56 or 58 and 64 if that is what you want. 

I just don't see the need for something so lofted.  I have a 59 as my highest lofted club and that thing goes damn near straight up when I open it up.  There isn't a strong need for anything loftier than that for me.  Heck, I rarely even use it that way.  It goes high enough and lands soft enough most of the time on just a regular pitch shot that I don't ever see the need to try the "hero" flop shot.

I get it for pros who have very specific needs at specific courses, who also happen to be skilled enough to use one, but they ain't for me. :)

I'm not a LW hater and always argue against guys trying to convince people not to go through with adding a 60˚.  But just wondering why you want a 64˚ on top of a 60˚?  I ask because I know why I got my 60˚, and given my experience with it and the distances you give, I don't see why you need it.  I got my 60˚ for two main reasons:

1) Too many green side shots where a stock pitch or chip landed hotter than I wanted with the 54˚.  Plus I'm less comfortable relying on judging long roll out with a low chip than on hitting a higher pitch where if I land it where I want I can be more confident the ball will actually stop closer to where I want it, so 60˚ helps there too.

2) Distance gap between short game shots (say < 50 yards) and shots I'm comfortable hitting with my 54˚ or PW.  60˚ closed that gap for me.  

That's all to explain my question.  Your "full" 60˚ goes 70 yards, and it sounds like you're also fairly comfortable with some partial wedge shots, so it wouldn't seem like you've got any gaps between full 60˚ and green side shots.  So you want the 64˚ for around the green?  Do you play a lot of courses with ultra fast greens where any but the best possible miss leaves you with the choice of a miracle 60˚ shot or barely keeping a more stock pitch or chip from running off?  Do you just like being able to swing more aggressively on green side shots and figure you might as well try an even higher LW?  Some other reason?

Anyway, given you do want a 64˚, it depends on your game.  I personally wouldn't really like having a gap in my long irons.  I find partial shots with those much harder than with the wedges.  So I personally wouldn't drop the 4h.  If you can swing buying a whole new set of wedges, I think I'd vote for the 46/52/58/64 plan.

IMHO, get rid of the 4 wood. You don't need 4 clubs that go 200+ yards. Do you? There are only 3 or 4 par fours on the average course. Good luck with that 64* wedge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 


I wanted a 64* degree wedge for around the green but also that gives me a full wedge from 50 yards in. Last season I only hit about 40% of Girs so I left myself quite a few short chips. I was decent around the greens but there is obvious room for improvement. The issuse I have with opening up my 60 is with the bounce there is a chance of blading it, plus when I open it up I feel like its a very wristy shot.

That's a technical issue rather than an equipment one. When you open the club up at address, you don't close it through impact unless you want the shot to release. Opening up the face plus lowering the hands to make the lie angle effectively flatter will make the loft point high and straight (it will look open based on the blade pointing right, but the ball will come off more or less straight if you do it right). You may also find that holding off the blade through impact, effectively blocking the shot, will give the ball more height and spin than releasing it. It sounds like you're flipping, which is only a good idea on special wedge shots like the flop.

Also, remember to grip down on these shots and use some speed. You don't need the 64 and it won't improve your play. I try to fight the notion average players can't play a 60 degree, but I think 64 is unnecessary for anyone unless you have the empty slot.

EDIT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOKC903KQE0

one minute in, that's you.

Jspangler,

We must be very similar golfers as I was asking this same question roughly two years ago and I hit my clubs very similar distances to yours. After much deliberation I decided to drop my 4-iron; I'm not that accurate with my long irons anyway and when I need a 4-iron distance I simply choke down and swing easy with my 3-hybrid. While that may not be a perfect solution I find that it generally works well enough and I love having the option of a 64 degree around the greens. I realize that it may not be for everyone, but adding the 64* to my bag has definitely improved my short game.

Matt

Ive just started golfing about 2 yrs ago, and picked up on the game fairly quickly, and got hooked! i now shoot low to mid 80's

i use my 64* wedge more than any other of my wedges(48*,52*,56*)! although it depends a lot on the lie, (i wont use it if I'm on a hard surface or dirt) but if I'm on decent grass my 64* is the club for me from about 80yds in! i have even gotten on it before and dropped it on the green from the 100yd marker!

i vary the ball position depending on the height i wanna hit(further back in my stance for higher and move it forward for a lower trajectory) i have practiced a good deal with it but not as much as one would think i needed to! 

it may just be my swing or whatever but i make consistently good contact with it, and have great feel with that club! its all about having the faith to swing through the ball, and not being afraid of a bad shot! I do understand the other side of it, my buddy who basically taught me the ropes of golf don't even like to touch my 64*, but i swear by it!

Don't let a golf club scare you!!!