Is getting a SW worth it?

[Garthmo]

Just curious if I should get one and use it out of the sand. I have only used a 60 degree out of the sand but am finding latelt that the gap between my AW and my 60 could use a little something. Is a SW something that you guys use alot out of the sand and around the green? Also find

[Eore]

i use my sand wedge (56*) ONLY out of the sand, and i use my gap or pitching wedge around the green.
for me, a SW with enough bounce for the sand has too much bounce to use off the turf

[teal]

I am in a similar situation. I golf some Accuity clubs. Not the best but I make do. I have a real desire to slowly upgrade my gear. Like this weekend. I can afford 1 club. It will either be a wedge or a putter. (no SC for me right now)
I HATE my SW, HATE isn't a strong enough word really. When I replace it I will turn it into a tomato stake or at the least melt it down and then throw it in Lake Michigan.

So my conundrum is get a new wedge (figure a SW style, CG Black Pearl or Vokey spin milled) or a new Nike Ignite putter. I have used one (35") at Dicks and the thing has eyes. Bottom of the cup 95% of the time and then if I did miss it was less than 2 ball lengths side to side. LOVE that thing. Problem is I can putt decent with the Accuity mallet I have (hate mallet putters) so the wedge makes more sense for me (I think).

[davechen]

I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My sand wedge is my bread and butter club. I do pretty much all my chipping and pitching with it.

[CG031]

I use my 60* for the sand and almost always use my 56* around the greens.

[xamilo]

I have only used a 60 degree out of the sand but am finding latelt that the gap between my AW and my 60 could use a little something.

You should definetely get one. Having a long gap is a mistake a lot of players make thinking they can shape every shot with one or maybe two wedges. Pro's recomend to keep a gap around 4 deg. between one and the other. Phil M. uses five wedges for example; there has to be a reason don't you think? lol.

[Sandwedge74]

I agree totally - dont have a big gap for too long - however - going without a gap wedge for a while has really helped develop my half and 3/4 swings with my pitching wedge which has a positive effect on my ball striking - not sure why but being able to smooth clubs has definitely helped my overall game. but i think a 56 is important if your going from a gap or PW straight to 60.

also see my ad in the For sale section i have a basically new 56 Cleveland CG 11 wedge for sale along with a 60 if anyone is interested

[bruce]

I use my 56* all the time around the green,bunker,chip,pitch, and pitch and run,rarely i use my 60*,it gets me in more trouble than anything.

[Garthmo]

Hmm interesting.. I use my PW to chip with and find when i have a bunker shot that i need to get the ball to the other side of a large green the 60 just doesnt get it far enough, Guess i may have to look into one. thanks

[joshtpa]

I play a GW, a SW, and a LW, they all are needed for me

[xamilo]

I used to think I could do everything with just my SW, from 50-120yds any shot was a Sand Wedge shot. When I started using an AW and a LW I realized it was so much easier without having to concentrate on getting exactly 4/9th of a swing with have the speed for 70yds, or 7/15th of the swing with full velocity if I wanted 62yds, etc.

[Soup Fan]

All I have after my pitching wedge is a SW (56*). Around the green I like to bump and run a lot so that is usually p-dubs for me. If I have an obstacle to go over I bust out the sand wedge, but by-and-large I just use it out of greenside bunkers or off the turf <100 yards.

I have a love/hate relationship with my SW. I can make it do what I want, but I am not long enough with it. Anything over 85 yards and it can get dicey for me.

Definitely a worthwhile investment, though.

[blackxpress]

I played without one for years. Now I don't know how I ever lived without it. Of course, my short game really sucked until very recently and trying to get by with just one wedge was a big reason why. Now I have 4 wedges. I use my 56* out of the sand almost exclusively. The only exception is when the ball is right below the lip of the bunker and/or the pin is close in. Then I use my 60* and try to pop it up and stop it short. I also use my 56* out of the fairway for shots around 50 to 75 yds. and the 60* for anything under 50 yds. except I use my PW to hit bump and run shots from the fringe. I have a GW for 75 to 100 yds or so and use my PW for 100+ depending on the lie and pin placement. The only one of those 4 that I might be willing to leave out of the bag is the GW. I could probably hit most of those shots just as well by choking down on my PW.

[DJYoshi]

i think the sand wedge is the most versatile club in the bag.
from shots 40 - 105, I don't have to pull out a 60 degree. I can adjust to the shot.
A sand wedge can be opened to hit a flop
it can be closed to hit a bump.
it's the perfect club to pitch with up to 50 yards
it can be used as a putter from the fringe when you just want to hit the equator of the ball and push it out and not pop it.
best of all it can be used as a sword to hit things with when you get angry (kidding)

[klvanzu]

I use my SW out of the sand and around the greens. I bet I use it more than any other club, which doesn't really explain why the one I own is the shittiest club in my bag.

[odstore]

i think the sand wedge is the most versatile club in the bag.

Agreed. I took my 60 out of the bag a year or two ago and really haven't missed it at all. My SW makes up about 85% of my short game because I can hit a million different shots with it. I generally use a less lofted club for bump and run shots, but any shot that needs hight or spin is easily done with a SW.