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64 degree wedge


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Hey Everyone,

I am new to the sand trap and this is my first post.  Question for the community out there.  I currently have a 52,56,and 60 degree wedge.  However I was thinking of replacing one of them for a 64.  My thoughts are for 40 yards and in, it'll give me more confidence.  I swing down a lot, de-loft the club. I seem to always over shoot the green from 40 and in.  plus around the green it will be easier too.  What are your thoughts?

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A 64* is a terrible hard club to hit clean. I made that mistake bending a 60 to a 62 and I bladed alot of the balls. Ended up buying a 58 and making it a 59 giving me the option to open the club.

callaway.gif Razr Fit 8.5* Stiff

callaway.gif Big Bertha Hawkeye 3W

callaway.gifFT Fusion 2H, 3H

callaway.gif  X-22 Tour 5- PW PX 6.0


vokey.gif SM5 48-08 FG
vokey.gif SM5 54-10 SG

vokey.gif SM5 59-07 SG

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A 64* is a terrible hard club to hit clean.

I've never tried one, but I always wondered why people always say things like this. When I started playing, people told me a 60° wedge was too hard to hit, now it's pushed on the 64° wedge. If you can hit an open-faced 60°, how much harder can the 64° be?

I remember asking about it once, and an employee at a golf store once told me that a 64° with conforming grooves can't be hit longer than 40 yards or something ridiculous like that. He told me full swings would cause the club to slide right under the ball and the face wouldn't grab it at all.

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Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

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Hey Everyone, I am new to the sand trap and this is my first post.  Question for the community out there.  I currently have a 52,56,and 60 degree wedge.  However I was thinking of replacing one of them for a 64.  My thoughts are for 40 yards and in, it'll give me more confidence.  I swing down a lot, de-loft the club. I seem to always over shoot the green from 40 and in.  plus around the green it will be easier too.  What are your thoughts?

I've personally stopped hitting my 60° full, instead learning my partial wedge distances. So while my 60° would be my 85 yard club when hit full, I would too often catch it a little fat and it wouldn't go anywhere. So I switched to hitting a pitchy gap wedge that gives me way more confidence in distance control. The 60° is only for greenside recovery shots when I'm laying it wide open. I wouldn't benefit from a 64°. I would say you should look at the "How to hit partial wedges" thread to get some ideas to try before going for the 64°. I was all about adding a 64° early on in my golf career but I learned that partial wedges are higher probability shots. That's just my own view on this, but I think it's probably right. If you do get a 64°, I'd recommend something with relatively high bounce, but with a versatile grind to help you build in some margin for error.

Dom's Sticks:

Callaway X-24 10.5° Driver, Callaway Big Bertha 15° wood, Callaway XR 19° hybrid, Callaway X-24 24° hybrid, Callaway X-24 5i-9i, PING Glide PW 47°/12°, Cleveland REG 588 52°/08°, Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind 56°/13°, 60°/10°, Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter w/SuperStroke Slim 3.0 grip, Callaway Chev Stand Bag, Titleist Pro-V1x ball

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I've never tried one, but I always wondered why people always say things like this. When I started playing, people told me a 60° wedge was too hard to hit, now it's pushed on the 64° wedge. If you can hit an open-faced 60°, how much harder can the 64° be?

I remember asking about it once, and an employee at a golf store once told me that a 64° with conforming grooves can't be hit longer than 40 yards or something ridiculous like that. He told me full swings would cause the club to slide right under the ball and the face wouldn't grab it at all.

I've personally stopped hitting my 60° full, instead learning my partial wedge distances. So while my 60° would be my 85 yard club when hit full, I would too often catch it a little fat and it wouldn't go anywhere. So I switched to hitting a pitchy gap wedge that gives me way more confidence in distance control. The 60° is only for greenside recovery shots when I'm laying it wide open. I wouldn't benefit from a 64°. I would say you should look at the "How to hit partial wedges" thread to get some ideas to try before going for the 64°. I was all about adding a 64° early on in my golf career but I learned that partial wedges are higher probability shots. That's just my own view on this, but I think it's probably right. If you do get a 64°, I'd recommend something with relatively high bounce, but with a versatile grind to help you build in some margin for error.


So what is your "go to" for a 75 yard shot?

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I have a  64, and even a 72 wedge. Probably have 1/4" of dust on them, and 4 or 5 black widow spiders living among them, some where in a deep, dark corner of the garage.

I messed around with that 72 just to see if I could hit it. When my wife told me I needed a straight jacket, :loco: I figured that was enough for that club. The 64 just never did the trick for me.

I do have a 60*, zero bounce wedge that I sometimes use, that can be played quite a few different ways. Seems to work the best on tight, and firm lies. Of course with the 4 wedges I now carry, I could not tell you what the loft, and/or bounce is on any of them....with out looking them up. I just know when to use one, or the other.

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So what is your "go to" for a 75 yard shot?

Flighted gap wedge (50°). 75 yards is my target distance for a 3/4 GW.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

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So what is your "go to" for a 75 yard shot?

It's either a 3/4 SW or a very soft GW. The first will land and stop, the latter will roll out.

Dom's Sticks:

Callaway X-24 10.5° Driver, Callaway Big Bertha 15° wood, Callaway XR 19° hybrid, Callaway X-24 24° hybrid, Callaway X-24 5i-9i, PING Glide PW 47°/12°, Cleveland REG 588 52°/08°, Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind 56°/13°, 60°/10°, Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter w/SuperStroke Slim 3.0 grip, Callaway Chev Stand Bag, Titleist Pro-V1x ball

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Hey Everyone, I am new to the sand trap and this is my first post.  Question for the community out there.  I currently have a 52,56,and 60 degree wedge.  However I was thinking of replacing one of them for a 64.  My thoughts are for 40 yards and in, it'll give me more confidence.  I swing down a lot, de-loft the club. I seem to always over shoot the green from 40 and in.  plus around the green it will be easier too.  What are your thoughts?

What's the loft on your pitching wedge if your gap is 52? I am in a similar position with all wedges at 46, 50, 56 and 60. When the course is dry and firm I like to swap in a 64 since I have a lot of tight places to hit to. The 64 is the new 60. When 60 wedges were relatively new they were the hardest to hit, IMO, but they have come a long way. Instead of tight shots around the green they are applicable for fuller shots from 100 yards in (long hitters) or for me 80 yards and in. A 64 flies noticeably higher than a 60 when you hit it well. The issue is that for the rarer occasions where you might need it for the loft, are you taking something out that is more beneficial. Right now where I live is water logged and my 64 is gathering dust. The ground gets firm and fast again and something might get swapped out for it. A good rule of thumb on wedges is an average of 6 degrees between them. Don't take out a 52 or 56 when a 64 will be hit less. But you know where you play, so if there is a hardly used wedge, give it a try. Mine has saved par a nice number of times.

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—Adam

 

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It's fairly dry where I'm at right now. I think the tight lies and firm grass would be beneficial for a 64. I Wonder if Im able to control the distance on my 60, would that be better than trying to buy a 64? Or from 40 yards and in just open the 60 up a little?
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It's fairly dry where I'm at right now. I think the tight lies and firm grass would be beneficial for a 64. I Wonder if Im able to control the distance on my 60, would that be better than trying to buy a 64? Or from 40 yards and in just open the 60 up a little?

I would go and hit some shots with your 60 degree from 40 yards in and see what feels comfortable.   For me personally, I've gone up and down (pun intended) on whether to use more loft for these shots or less.   Unless you have to clear a bunker/hazard/whatever or are pitching to a tight pin, you can take less of a swing and run the ball up with any iron, or use a less lofted wedge and not swing as much.   There are a variety of different setups with your body to help accomplish this.   You can stand open to the target.  I even stand almost sideways for some pitch shots depending on how the ground feels beneath my feet.

For me personally opening a 60 does not make the ball go as high as my 64.  The 64 just seems like a big scoop and throws it up high.   There's not a comparison.  Of course that is what I felt about my 60 degree wedge 5 years ago.

I re-read your original post and if you are over-shooting the green from these smaller distances then I think you should separate out the equipment choice from your mechanics.   This is an area where a lot of people struggle (not a full wedge of any type) and while myself and others have discussed the technical merits of a 64 wedge, what will be more beneficial is to think about how you can use the clubs in your bag to produce a variety of shots for any distance that is less than your current 60 degree.   A 64 might be right for you, but that still leaves a big opportunity to hone your game from Pitching Wedge down to your highest degree wedge.

A combination of choking down on each wedge and hitting shots will give you distance options, as well as working on taking 1/2 3/4 and full shots with each wedge.   If you are over-hitting from 40 yards in, I would recommend trying something like what my pro went over with me.   Come up with a setup that you are comfortable taking a shorter swing that doesn't produce the distance that a normal setup would.  For me that is standing open to the target, my hips slightly turned but the club is square to the target.   Try to watch golf on TV and see how the pros set up to a shot like that as well.

—Adam

 

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I would go and hit some shots with your 60 degree from 40 yards in and see what feels comfortable.   For me personally, I've gone up and down (pun intended) on whether to use more loft for these shots or less.   Unless you have to clear a bunker/hazard/whatever or are pitching to a tight pin, you can take less of a swing and run the ball up with any iron, or use a less lofted wedge and not swing as much.   There are a variety of different setups with your body to help accomplish this.   You can stand open to the target.  I even stand almost sideways for some pitch shots depending on how the ground feels beneath my feet.

For me personally opening a 60 does not make the ball go as high as my 64.  The 64 just seems like a big scoop and throws it up high.   There's not a comparison.  Of course that is what I felt about my 60 degree wedge 5 years ago.

I re-read your original post and if you are over-shooting the green from these smaller distances then I think you should separate out the equipment choice from your mechanics.   This is an area where a lot of people struggle (not a full wedge of any type) and while myself and others have discussed the technical merits of a 64 wedge, what will be more beneficial is to think about how you can use the clubs in your bag to produce a variety of shots for any distance that is less than your current 60 degree.   A 64 might be right for you, but that still leaves a big opportunity to hone your game from Pitching Wedge down to your highest degree wedge.

A combination of choking down on each wedge and hitting shots will give you distance options, as well as working on taking 1/2 3/4 and full shots with each wedge.   If you are over-hitting from 40 yards in, I would recommend trying something like what my pro went over with me.   Come up with a setup that you are comfortable taking a shorter swing that doesn't produce the distance that a normal setup would.  For me that is standing open to the target, my hips slightly turned but the club is square to the target.   Try to watch golf on TV and see how the pros set up to a shot like that as well.


Thanks.  That makes a lot of sense.  This is the area where I struggle the moisten my game. First when i started, it was compressing the ball.  But after I got that down, its turned into a more technical struggle or rather "feel" of my wedges.  The finesse isn't there yet for me to feel comfortable while I at varying distances from 100 yards and in

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I've saved countless strokes by leaving my 60 and 64 in the bag the past 3 months...unless they were absolutely needed...which is rare. Anytime I'm 80 to 20 yards and in I'm using SW now. It's just soooo much more reliable then my Lob wedges, and I love my LW's and hit them well. But there's just no denying that amateurs should be hitting them less. When I'm 20 yards and in I'm now almost always using an 8 iron bump and run whereas months ago I'd always deloft my 64.

I'd try getting used to using your 64 less and less and only at times when you seriously need it, that only happens for me nowadays about maybe once a round.

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Joel Holden

https://twitter.com/JHolden138

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Hey Everyone,

I am new to the sand trap and this is my first post.  Question for the community out there.  I currently have a 52,56,and 60 degree wedge.  However I was thinking of replacing one of them for a 64.  My thoughts are for 40 yards and in, it'll give me more confidence.  I swing down a lot, de-loft the club. I seem to always over shoot the green from 40 and in.  plus around the green it will be easier too.  What are your thoughts?

I played a 64 for about a month several years ago and I rarely used it. Just think you'll have more shots available to you with the 60 than the 64. You should still be able to hit high lobs, pitches and 40 yard shots with the 60. The 64 tends to be a "one-trick" type of club. Can be useful on certain courses but a 60 is basically just as good for those higher shots.

Also if the problem is hitting it over the green from 40 yards, a club change probably isn't the right way to go about fixing it. Check out this thread.

Mike McLoughlin

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I played a 64 degree for a while, rarely pulled it out of the bag.  I could hit it 40-50 yards at most with a full swing, but the more usual result was that I'd skull it and hit it 120-130 yards.  I don't like full swing wedges on approach shots, would rather hit partial shots.  If I have a shot that requires a high lob/pitch to clear a bunker or whatever, my 58 does the trick.  I carry PW (45), UW (50), SW (54) and LW (58).

OTOH, a friend of mine tried my 64 and loved it.  He bought one and it's his favorite club in the bag now and he's money with that thing.  It's his go-to club for basically any shot inside about 90-100 yards.

Mac

WITB:
Driver: Ping G30 (12*)
FW:  Ping K15 (3W, 5W)
Hybrids: Ping K15 (3H, 5H)
Irons: Ping K15 (6-UW)

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX CB (54*, 58*)

Putter: Ping Scottsdale w/ SS Slim 3.0

Ball: Bridgestone e6

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I played a 64 degree for a while, rarely pulled it out of the bag.  I could hit it 40-50 yards at most with a full swing, but the more usual result was that I'd skull it and hit it 120-130 yards.  I don't like full swing wedges on approach shots, would rather hit partial shots.  If I have a shot that requires a high lob/pitch to clear a bunker or whatever, my 58 does the trick.  I carry PW (45), UW (50), SW (54) and LW (58).

OTOH, a friend of mine tried my 64 and loved it.  He bought one and it's his favorite club in the bag now and he's money with that thing.  It's his go-to club for basically any shot inside about 90-100 yards.


Interesting how different people use a wedge (or any club).   When mine is in the bag, it's never for a full swing.   I do take some pitches where it might come 2/3 of the way back of a normal swing, but it's still a 30 yard shot, tops.   And I am not taking a full swing stance.

I specifically got it for flop shots around the green where I can make it land really high.   Number of shots on my home course where you can hit the land the ball in the higher grass before the fringe to slow it down and still not hold the green.   The 64 does help there.   And tight bunker shots.   First bunker shot I hit with it I said to myself, "this is like cheating".

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—Adam

 

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The 64 does help there.   And tight bunker shots.   First bunker shot I hit with it I said to myself, "this is like cheating".

I have a ton of trouble with consistency w/ my 64 and bunkers. I have to swing really hard to get it out of most bunkers, it checks up really nice but consistency isn't there.

Ended up going back to SW for most my sand shots.

Joel Holden

https://twitter.com/JHolden138

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I've tried a 64 on various occasions, and did not use it enough for it to make the bag. Even had a 62, and while that was a better club for me, it just did not get enough use.

I think it is to your advantage to use a versatile 60 for a wide variety of shots. You grow accustomed and comfortable with that one club for all shots.

If you're overshooting the green on 40 and in, it's technique, setup, length of swing, lack of practice, etc. And it's about soft arms.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Note: This thread is 3179 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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