ATTN: High handicappers...advice wanted on those easy-out sand wegdes

[Stacey_E]

I'm really wanting advice from some of the higher handicappers out there or people with sand play troubles. I find I almost never hit my 60 degree wedge anymore and I'm thinking of replacing it with a Cleveland 588RS 60* just for greenside bunkers.

I'm looking for people's advice and experience with the 588RS, the McGregor EZ Out, Hogan Sure Out, the Alien....what ever. But you know the type of sand wedges I mean. They are all the ones with the really deep soles that are supposed to do all the work for you. I know I need to learn to hit bunker shots better. I'm sure I'll get tons of unsolicited advice on how to play bunker shots, everyones favorite short game guru, tips and such. But for this thread, the only thing I'm really interested in is those wide soled specialty wedges.

Anybody who has played them and aren't ashamed to admit it, your advice would be greatly appreciated! Do they work? How do you set up to them? Can you make your regular pitch shot same as from the fairway?

Thanks in advance for any advice on those wedges!

[tim31x]

stacey,

when I first started, I had one in my bag, a walter hagen or something. It was enormous, a 56* but from the sand, it worked. I just took a regular swing and it plopped out of the bunker just fine almost every time. as my game started improving rapidly, I dropped the wedge in favor of hitting better approach shots from the fair way, that way I wouldn't need a good sand game haha. the clubs work, but a better sand shot with a normal SW or LW is a better option in my opinion.

[Laxplayer201092]

Alien user!

The word "plop" as said before is a word i would use..

Definetly didnt like it, felt waaaaay weird from the fairway, kidna like a driver/putter, good for one shot, and one shot only.

Never found a liking for it, couldnt spin it coming out, preferred having the 110 yard shot (my normal sandwedge distance) in the bag, as i couldnt do that with the alien..

One idea..rather than a new club, get your current lob wedge or what ever you use in the sand ground.. i played a friends 54 Ping MB, he had a grind on that worked great

[Stacey_E]

stacey,

I apreciate that input on your experience with the club. And you are right about hitting better approaches. The truth is I often play 18 holes and never get in a bunker. But that is because I play way far away from them. I think I might save a stroke or two a round if I fired at the pins more. I know which bunkers on my home course that I never want to challenge though. I used to have an awesome splash shot. But as my grip went stronger, my sand play went south.

[Stacey_E]

Alien user!

Plop...haha...as in...

? I don't really mind a one shot club in the bag. I've got the room for it. But what in particular was the grinding process? What part on the sole and in what way? Believe it or not, the club I use most from the sand is a 50/8* AW laid wide open (which I am about to bend to a 51/9* I think).

[Laxplayer201092]

Lol yes.

It was ground on the sole, near the hosel, but on the sole part that still lays on the ground at address. Next time i am down at teh airforce academy i will take some pics of it.. it was ground all the way to the face almost. It was crazy weird, said some guy at PING did it in a custom fitting.

But i would really advise against them, i never could decide if you lay it open, leave it square.. confusing club for me lol. and for the few times im in a bunker, i can usually manage to get out

[Righty to Lefty]

I don't have any experience with any of those wedges but I am certain that you can develop a descent bunker technique. I would first look up some lessons and tips online like shawn clements on youtube. and then get into the bunker and tell yourself that you are willing to stay in here for hours until you get it. Most people don't realize how much you have to choke down on the club to get it to take the proper amount of sand. I found that I had to choke down almost to the very bottom of the grip because if you dig in to the sand 2 to 3 inches then hit and inch or too behind the ball you are probably gonna hit about 4 or 5 inches behind the ball and you aren't likely to have enough speed to get the ball out of the bunker. Also light grip presssure is very very important in the bunkers. Just pay attention when you are practicing your bunker shot to how far you are hitting behind the ball and how deep the divots are because if you hit and 2 inches or so behind the ball, you have the proper grip pressure so you don't dig too deep, and you don't decelerate the ball will come out but you have to trust it becasue it is difficult to take the club back halfway or three quarters and then accelerate through the swing when you are right next to the green. In the long run I would say go through the hell to learn the proper technique rather than try to put a band aid on it.

[Stacey_E]

I know I need to learn to hit bunker shots better. I'm sure I'll get tons of unsolicited advice on how to play bunker shots, everyones favorite short game guru, tips and such. But for this thread, the only thing I'm really interested in is those wide soled specialty wedges.

Once again, I do appreciate the tips, but this is really a thread about equipment rather than swing.

[Fourputt]

Never owned one but I have swung them a time or 2. The huge downside is that they are so one dimensional. They do one thing, and one thing only and that's get you out of the sand (and IMO still aren't any more likely to get you close to the hole). I personally wouldn't waste the money for a club that I will use so rarely.

I have to add that I really don't understand your unwillingness to learn the correct stroke for bunker play. It really isn't that hard. Not offering any tips, just lacking comprehension. IMO, a professional lesson is a better cure for your problem than a gimmick wedge.

[flopdarock]

IMO, a professional lesson is a better cure for your problem than a gimmick wedge.

this is exactly what i was thinking...

but to the OP... youre asking advice from high handicappers? there might be a reason they have a high handicap... anyways... a good friend of mine is a huge addict to the latest gimmicky clubs but the one thing he swears by for sand shots is his mggolf great escape wedge