How Many Wedges Do You Carry?

[ChetlovesMer]

14 minutes ago, billchao said:

Not sure what the point of this question is. 

Just poking fun.

[billchao]

8 minutes ago, David in FL said:

And my GW is more similar to your PW than it is to a SGI 9-iron.  Is my GW not a wedge?

Trick question. A chipper is not a wedge 😜

8 minutes ago, David in FL said:

I keep it simple.  If it says wedge on it, I consider it a wedge.  

But my pitching wedge doesn't say wedge on it, it just says "P" and none of my wedges say wedge on them either, so they're not wedges? Does your driver say "driver" on it? 😉

[David in FL]

10 minutes ago, billchao said:

Trick question. A chipper is not a wedge 😜

But my pitching wedge doesn't say wedge on it, it just says "P" and none of my wedges say wedge on them either, so they're not wedges? Does your driver say "driver" on it? 😉

I’ll rephrase. If the manufacturer calls it a wedge I’ll do the same.  I just don’t find any need to redefine something that is already well defined.  

I expect that the OP defines a pitching wedge as a wedge too.  If not, he can let us know and everyone but you can change their answer.  
 

[ChetlovesMer]

14 minutes ago, billchao said:

But my pitching wedge doesn't say wedge on it, it just says "P" and none of my wedges say wedge on them either, so they're not wedges? Does your driver say "driver" on it? 😉

Quick quiz: Is this a wedge or an iron?

Hmm... It has a "W" which seems to imply wedge, but it's built like a game improvement iron?

It's a W-iron? Maybe?

3 minutes ago, David in FL said:

I expect that the OP defines a pitching wedge as a wedge too.  If not, he can let us know and everyone but you can change their answer.  

Yeah, I pretty much call a pitching wedge a wedge. But it's cool. If @billchao doesn't like calling a pitching wedge a wedge, he can call it what ever he likes. 

I was just curious how many folks were going with the 4 wedge (or 3 wedge, plus a 10-iron) system. I really didn't think it was going to be a controversial thread. 

[dennyjones]

7 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I really didn't think it was going to be a controversial thread. 

Now you did it.   Bring in the boats!😉

[Patch]

My two PWs have a "P" stamp in them. Both are 48* degrees, purchased 10 years apart from each other. Same brand/company, but different styles. They both play the same for me

That said I have seen some older clubs in the 46*-49* degree range, with the number "10" stamped in them. 

Wedges, or irons, it doesn't really matter. They are all just tools, with a specific use, based on the golfer's talent level.

[cooke119]

PW (46*); GW (52*); a 56* and a SW (58*). I know the yardage for each, using my 56* or the 58* depends a lot on the lie if not in a trap. I tend to hit the 58* more even though it is a SW with a large sole.

[WUTiger]

14 hours ago, billchao said:

Bounce, grind, sole, head shape, weight.

If I handed you a 46° Edel wedge and my 46° MP4 PW the difference would be plain to see. One is more like an iron and the other more like a wedge.

That's because the PW being basically a 10 iron isn't a modern design concept. I think it's only called a wedge because back in the day they called the highest lofted irons wedges. But they had all sorts of weird names for clubs back then and my golf equipment history isn't the greatest.

Starting in 1974, I played for some 20 years with MacGregor MT irons. The set ran 2i-10i. The 10i got used as a PW, but it had certain drawbacks because it was designed as an iron head. While great for full and half shots, it could be iffy for short touch shots around the green. The head had a sharp leading edge, and would sometimes dig in too much and leave the approach short.

I found a MacGregor SW that had some flange-bounce to it - actually an old split-, or step-sole, and this worked better for touch shots. And, it was great for greenside cut shots in the pre-LW era. (And, it was solid out of bunkers)

As non-blade iron heads became more popular in 1980s, rounded leading edges and cambered soles showed up in many clubhead models, both numbered irons and wedges.

[IowaGreg]

I Typically have 5 wedges I like to use...….

Cleveland HB Launcher PW 44 Deg  125 Yds
Cleveland CBX  50 Deg 100 Yds
Cleveland CBX  56 Deg  80 Yds/Sand
Cleveland CBX  60 Deg 60 Yds
Callaway X Forged 64 Deg - 40 yds and in

 

 

 

 

[rehmwa]

4 -  PW(46), GW(50), SW(54), LW(58)

PW came with my iron set Mizuno

GW is a JPX wedge from awhile ago

SW and LW are both Callaway McDaddy is found a few years ago - of course the SW has a higher bounce

 

I use all 4 pretty much every round

[Darkfrog]

Four for me:

PW (47^*), GW (51^*) from my iron set. I'd guess 90% of the time I use these just like an iron, full swing at a specific distance, 125 and 115 yds respectively.

Edel 55^* and 60^*. These are typically for short shots around the green normally 75 yds or less, and rarely with a full swing.

 

[Bonvivant]

PW (49^o), 53^o and 58^o as in my description. I do consider my PW a wedge because it is lofted weak by today's standards. They all look the same as well for the most part except the gap in sole surface area is larger between PW and 53 than any other gap in the set.

[pganapathy]

PW (45*), SW (55*) and LW (60*).  The PW and SW came as part of the set.  The LW was an impulse buy during a time when I played regularly.  Today it isn't really a club I use much except when I need a high loft shot on hard pan type surfaces since it is low bounce.  My go to club from 100 yards in is the PW in most circumstances, except when I need the additional loft or in a hazard/bunker.

[Lihu]

4 wedges.

PW 48 degrees

52 or 3i switch out depending upon the course I’m playing. if I have a ton of 110-115 yard approaches then 52.

56

60

[Double Mocha Man]

I carry 5 wedges.  The courses I play, with friends from the regular tees, are seemingly short.  So I'm usually playing a wedge into the green.  Thus, I want lots of choices.

[djake]

On 10/21/2019 at 7:18 PM, billchao said:

Bounce, grind, sole, head shape, weight.

If I handed you a 46° Edel wedge and my 46° MP4 PW the difference would be plain to see. One is more like an iron and the other more like a wedge.

That's because the PW being basically a 10 iron isn't a modern design concept. I think it's only called a wedge because back in the day they called the highest lofted irons wedges. But they had all sorts of weird names for clubs back then and my golf equipment history isn't the greatest.

But my point is, today there is definitely a distinction between a wedge head and an iron head, design-wise. Most people's pitching wedges are irons IMO.

@billchao you are correct and thus you are a gearhead of significant proportions.

Wedge design is different then iron design and the common PW  may or may not follow wedge design, all depending on the the club producer.

 

I carry 4 wedges, 48, 52, 56 & 60.  I am still learning what I can and cannot do with a 60 thus I rarely use it on the course.  

When I started playing I only had a PW which was a 50 back in the long ago days.  So you had to learn to hit a multitude of shots with that club.  It was both fun and hard.

I prefer today with the multitude of wedge options available. It has made the game easier for me.

[Wade Patton]

I understand that one might play a different bag for different courses, but say you're going to a new place of no particular extreme and are carrying your normal arsenal of 14.

I did discover the few years ago when I first got re-interested in golf that there are all sorts of new wedges out there now, and I bought a few. But I'm back to the pair that I grew up with. Two reasons, one is that I'm playing old weak blades, so there is no "gap" to fill (so one was redundant). The other is that I learned how to make those two wedges do what I needed to be done with wedges.  But that's just me and those odd few like me.

I'm not mad about how many wedges or clubs anyone uses. Use what you like and enjoy and works for you.

I ask because I was looking/shopping for a lightweight, low capacity bag for use on short courses or limited-club challenges on normal courses. In the reviews at one particular place selling such bags, one fellow berated the bag for not holding the number of clubs claimed. He happened to list the clubs he was trying to carry. Those were a 9i, a putter, and FIVE wedges.

Of course the problem is that those bag capacity is rated for standard grips and not midsized, or OS, or jumbo putter grips (which another cat was whining about.).  Anyway, with regard to wedges, I understand how the gap came to be and get how three or four is common number of wedges these days (I think), but I had no idea there were folks using five wedges-or maybe he's the only one. What says this bunch?

And, as always, feel free to redirect me to any recent topic of this sort, I searched and didn't find. I know how worrisome it can be for folks new to a forum to post again the same questions that have been hashed over three times already in a last six months. I try not to be that person.

Edited September 24, 2022 by Wade Patton
I moved the word "two" from the wrong side of the word "wedges" in one sentence. Also changed "a" to "any". in front of "recent topic".

[iacas]

@Wade Patton, TST has been around for almost 20 years. I've merged your topic into this pre-existing one. We'd rather you bump an existing topic than start a new one.