How Far Do You Hit Your Wedges?

[tbart1]

I have not came up with accurate distances for any of my clubs this season and the question of how far other people hit their clubs popped in my head. I have some very inconsistent results at times. I always have felt as if my wedges go too high and not far enough, although I'm ensuring I don't increase or decrease the loft at address. Today, I found myself short of the green at 100 yards with my 56 degree wedge.

Currently in my bag I have a 60 degree, 56 degree, 52 degree, 50 degree (Ping G utility wedge), and a 45 degree (Ping G Pitching wedge). 

Before, I had it set in my mind that my 60 degree was somewhere around 75 yards, 56: 100 yards, 52: 110-115 yards, 50: 120-125 yards, 45: 130-135 yards. But I don't know if these are correct and I will have to do some experimentation to find their true carry distance 

What degree wedges do you have in your bag and how far do they carry?

[David in FL]

Wedges are scoring clubs.  They’re not necessarily intended to go far.  Barring an extremely unusual circumstance, I very seldom hit any wedge full.  

100 yards with a 56* SW isn’t “short” by too many standards...  

...While I can hit them all a bit further, comfortable max yardages are 46* PW 118 yds, 50* GW 105 yds, 56* SW 80 yds, and 60* LW 60 yds.  For a stock 100 yd shot though, I’m much more likely to hit a smooth little 3/4 PW, even though I could easily get there with GW.

[Groucho Valentine]

I carry 47, 52 and 58 degree wedges. I hit my 47 about 130 yards in the air. I can expect about 1-2 yards of check or release on it depending on green conditions. I very rarley take full swings my 52 and 58. The focus with your wedges should be controlling spin and trajectory, not so much pure distance.  You could come out of your shoes to hit a GW 120 yards, sure. But it would likely have so much spin on it you'd lose that distance once the ball landed and spun back. 

[3jacker]

Wedges are supposed to go high.  If you putting a bona fide full swing on them, they will go very high.

100 yds for a 56* is above average in in line with Tour players.  

You should be most concerned with where the ball ends up in relation to the hole.

[p1n9183]

Full swing: no idea! never hit them full. Only the driver.

Normal swing: 
51°: 115
56°: 105
60°: 95

3/4 swing:
51°: 85
56°: 75
60°: 65

Less than 60 yards i play my 60° by feel. 

[hoselpalooza]

i carry a 46°, 50°, 55°, and 60°, which are all new to me; as such i haven't dialed in all of the distances. though similar to @p1n9183 i don't take a lot of full swings with wedges anyway, and because my home range isn't set up with consistent distances in mind (moving grass tees and mats and no accurate yardage markers) i've been playing a lot of shots from 100y-in purely based on feel.

the only wedge i've taken a bunch full swings with is the 46°. in winter weather this has been a 140y-ish club though i can step on it to get a bit more. however, i find it's often easier to hit targets by clubbing up, gripping down, and flighting the ball in the windy and rainy conditions we get here in the PNW. the only issue with this is distance here is carry only (super wet/marshy) for much of the season so bouncing the ball up to the green can be a gamble. ?

p.s. @tbart1, i'm in a similar boat with finding distances for all of my clubs. just had a free taylormade "ball fitting" this past weekend which shed some light, and planning to rent some time on a launch monitor from a local pro soon. there may be similar opportunities for you if you don't have a good range to get dialed in either.

[Cantankerish]

46-pw goes 130 these days

50-gw goes 105

56-sw goes 75

60-lw goes 60

 

I don't have any advice for you.  Just this data.

[LMoore]

carry a 50, 55, & 60

115, 95, 75 with a smooth swing. Adjust gripping down depending on wind, lie, and distances in between those numbers.

As for most, those are driving range distances. Lots of factors come into play on the course.

I'm not ashamed to hit a 9 iron from 100 if that's what conditions call for.

[Rip62]

PW- 115/125

50-  100/115

54- 75/100

58- 75 and in

[Piz]

Either too far or not far enough.  I am currently experimenting with fewer rather than more.  The results are, so far, about the same.  Film at eleven...

[DrMJG]

Older geezer her shots may not be a great average.  Distance depends, as well, on the actual shot taken:

50º Between 75 - 80 yards depending on fullness of swing. Can crank to 90 if need be.

56º I plan on about 65 yards; though I often use this as my SW as well

60º I sue for my "Phil" shots so 45 yards is my main expectations.

I use these to set up a score rather than carry great yardage.  I do not try to cut down much on lofts.

 

Edited April 10, 2019 by DrMJG

[Scubasteve]

My  52°  = 80 yds

My  56° = 60 yds

My 58° = 50 yds

 

there not come out of your shoes clubs, they are finesse clubs so choking down, opening or closing the face,  Lie, wind, etc...  and lots more other factors as well. Wedges or more of a unique to the individual and situation club

[Old Pro]

I'm old, so are my irons (1972 Hogan Apex) so these clubs today would be called. PW, GW, SW.  I don't play these for distance, but for a specfic distance! Below are max distance I would ask these clubs to advance the ball. But that would be rare.

9-46*   105

E-51.5*   85

S-56*   65

[David in FL]

37 minutes ago, Old Pro said:

I'm old, so are my irons (1972 Hogan Apex) so these clubs today would be called. PW, GW, SW.  I don't play these for distance, but for a specfic distance! Below are max distance I would ask these clubs to advance the ball. But that would be rare.

9-46*   105

E-51.5*   85

S-56*   65

I miss my old E ...  those Hogan’s were, and still are, great clubs!

[Old Pro]

David, I have 3 sets of them. All I have played with for years. Yes I do like them.

 

 

 

[Piz]

6 minutes ago, Old Pro said:

David, I have 3 sets of them. All I have played with for years. Yes I do like them.

 

 

 

That's your basic golf club porn right there.  What a beautiful club.  

[Typhoon92]

This thread has me thinking of treating my wedges not like an 11,12 and 13 iron.  I'm guilty of  hitting full shots as if I was hitting a 7 iron from 170.  I hit the greens, maybe I could be more accurate doing it the other way.  Might take a while to get the feel but I'm willing to try it.

Right now I hit my 50/120, 56/110, 60/100 and 64/85 yards

[boogielicious]

I rarely hit my GW - LW with a full swing.  So my yardages for my wedges are listed below for full, 3/4, 1/2. This was from recent MEVO data off mats and is the max roughly.

46 PW - 120, 100, 85

50 GW - 105, 90, 75

54 W - 90, 80, 60

58 W - 80, 65, 50