Wedges... So many lofts, so many bounces...

[MSB256]

I'm getting ready to sell my Nike SV tour wedges in hopes that I can buy one Vokey wedge for the money.

I have been using a 56/14 and 60/10.

With so many different lofts and bounces out there, how do you figure out what works for you? I know that course conditions, your swing, etc... can affect what bounce is good, but what about loft?

I mean I could get a 54 or 56 degree sandwedge. How much difference will 2 degrees make? One might argue for the 54 and say open it up a tad to get 56. 50 or 52?

It seems like the typical set is 52, 56, 60. How about a 54 and 58 to cover all that?

I'm telling you, this golf stuff is too expensive for trial and error!!!

So what is your wedge set-up and why?

[Titleist Man]

I have a 52 and 58*. I love the combo and i chose it cause it cause it seemed to fit.

[becksfan2185]

I have a six degree gap in my wedges - 52 and 58 as well. This spaces out the distance from my stock PW and the additional wedges also. But I do understand the need/desire for better players to carry a thrid wedge and gap them at 4* instead of 6. For me, it's just fine.

In terms of bounce, there is a great book... been mentioned on this site and I personally recommend it - The Art of the Short Game, by Stan Utley. Whether or not you agree with the technique he outlines, he does an excellent job of talking about the role of bounce to the wedges... how it helps out of bunkers and through thick rough. His recommendation is to never have less than a 8-10 measurement of bounce, but he also talks about how too much bounce makes it tough off hard fairways. Anyways, a good short read and good bounce advice.

[PiKapp23]

Choosing lofts and bounce on wedges is sometimes a bit tricky. For choosing lofts I think it's more about distance control (especially with full swings) than anything else. I wouldn't think you would want 4* between all of your clubs, then have 2* or 6* between your PW and GW. Especially in short irons and wedges it's important to have even distance gaps. If you have 10 yards between 9I and PW, you wouldn't want to have 15 yards between PW and GW, but nor would your want (probably) 5 yards between them. 2* difference in a wedge can account for 4-7 yards distance on full swing. My 8i is 39*; 9i 43*; PW 47* so my GW is a 51* wedge and fills yardage gap perfect. My SW is 56*, but bent to 55* just to keep them the same. In my old set I carried a 50, 54 and 58 and really liked that config (the 54 was my SW and I liked having a stronger SW and LW than normal).

As for bounce, as you said, course, swing, etc. all factors into the decision. For most average swings and course conditions you'll want low bounce (4-8*) on GW and LW and a higher bounce (at least 10*) on SW. If you use your 58 as SW then it should have higher bounce. This is for versatility as much as anything. In most cases a set of irons will have bounce around 6-8* which is fine for most shots. You might want less on a LW to make it easier to use from thin lies and more on SW because it makes it easier out of sand and wet/soft ground conditions or thick rough.

[lumpuckeroo]

I carry a 52 and 56, my PW is a 48 so my gaps are consistent. I can not hit a 60 so I do not carry one. I choose this set up mainly because a full 52 is 100 yards for me, from there I can adjust to those odd yardages. 75 yards is a 75% swing or basically hands shoulder high. 50 yards is 50% or basically hands waist high, you get my drift. I selected my wedge lofts based on the distance I hit (and I'm dense, makes the math easier) them not so much on the loft.

[elsito99]

I used to carry 48, 56, 60 and I am pretty good with distance control and taking something off. Then I replaced the 56 and 60 with 54 and 58, to have a bit stronger lofts which I like to keep it down a bit.

Then bought the Wilson Ci7 that came with a 50 degree wedge, so now I have a perfect set 50, 54, 58.

I can open the 58 up and basically turn into almost a 64

[klaymon]

From PW to LW, I have 48*, 52*, 56*, 60*. For me, it's about easier distance control because there are more yardages I can take full swings on by having a nice even loft spread.

[Dub]

My old set-up was PW, 54 and 58.

New set up is different PW-46, UW-50, SW-54

I was hoping to cover the gap that exhisted on my old set up between PW and SW.

I may throw in a more lofted wedge at a later date (perhaps when I develop the skill to hit it ).

[Danny Noonan]

I may throw in a more lofted wedge at a later date (perhaps when I develop the skill to hit it

I say go for it, or at least get a more lofted wedge to play with while practicing. I am quite good with my 60*, yet overall my game is hacktastic. But I use my 60* at least two or three times at a minimum in round.

[denver_nuggs_15]

For lofts, I go by distance. I hit my 46* 125, my 50* about 115, and my 56* 95-100. Usually, I hit my 50* a few times per round since I have that yardage, so I like having that club. If you don't find that you need a club to hit xxx yards, then don't have that club. I'm rarely inside of 100 yards going for the GIR, so I don't carry a wedge that can hit that distance on a full swing. If the time comes that I need the club, I'll add it.

For bounce, I think it depends on your swing and course conditions. If you play soft sand in bunkers and wetter conditions (thicker fairways) then higher bounce is recommended. Lower bounce for harder fairways and harder sand. I like having medium to high bounce in my wedges. It's just preference. Use a low bounce, then a high, then a medium bounce to see what's right for you.
I'll be adding a 54*/10* and a 58*/10* to my bag this year (and dropping the 56*) just to try things out.

Just try some different things out and see what works for you.

[Jenks465]

I decided that I wanted my most lofted wedge to be 58* (good versatility as both a Sand and Lob wedge) and my PW is 46* so went right in the middle at 52* for the gap. All of my wedges have very low bounce to allow me to open the club face to play a variety of shots from the grass, just requires that I keep my teqhnique sharp and my angle of attack shallow in the sand!

[87vert]

I currently have a 46* PW and 55* SW. But I love wedges so Im gonna get another one or two. Probbaly a 60* lob wedge and maybe a gap wedge around 50*

[Gioguy21]

Hack, I'd highly recommend the CG12 or 14...i've been playing em since they came out and i have to say they're better than vokeys IMO...btw, how do you put "what's in my bag" under a post?

[MSB256]

Hack, I'd highly recommend the CG12 or 14...i've been playing em since they came out and i have to say they're better than vokeys IMO...btw, how do you put "what's in my bag" under a post?

That's covered in another thread, but to save you time, wait till you post a few times and then under user cp look for edit signature... to add logos click "more" under the smilies.

I think I'm going to check into the clevelands and the vokeys. I do not like the cg14 though with that little yellow rubber looking triangle. But I will try the CG12.

[pittpanther]

With so many different lofts and bounces out there, how do you figure out what works for you? I know that course conditions, your swing, etc... can affect what bounce is good, but what about loft?

Can I be honest with you? OK, good.

If you just want to buy something new, then no answer we give will stop you. Go ahead and buy whatever you want. However, my opinion is that if your HC is really 30, then worrying about wedge lofts and bounces is a complete waste of your time. You don't yet have enough "touch" of "feel" to be able to tell a difference in that stuff yet. Sure, you might swing a 56-degree for 100 yards, but the next time you swing it goes 115, then the next time it goes 85. Just get a 56 for now, and work on your ball-striking. Get your game to a point where you NEED a 52 (or a 60). You will know when you need it. Don't just carry it because everyone else does. Notice, you are getting advice from guys with single-digit HCs - these guys CAN feel the difference, and can feel the differences in bounce. If your HC is really not 30, then forget everything I just said...

[87vert]

Can I be honest with you? OK, good.

this is what I have been working on. my "touch" around the green with wedges. Its starting to come togeather. So now Im not 10 feet from the green and end up pitching it 40feet over to the other side lol.

[MSB256]

I'm not really a 30 handicap, I just didn't mess with that when I registered because I don't know my real handicap, therefore I just left it as is.

I am decent around the greens but I haven't hit very many different wedges. That's why I'm asking. I've read the forged vs cast debates and so on. People seem to like forged the best, yet Vokeys are cast and the most popular wedge out there.

As far as the lofts and bounces part... I have a good feel for what club I need to reach a certain distance but I was curious about different people's wedge set-ups because I wanted to see if people prefer a 56 or a 58 with an open face if you need that extra loft. Or perhaps a 58 with an open face as opposed to a 60... and so on.

[Gioguy21]

for stopping chips close to the green, blade forward, square, shorter backswing, steeper angle to the ball

for lob to the hole with spin, open face, varied angles pending on bounce of the club, more bounce = greater angle to get under the ball

also, open your stance almost as if you were aiming your target line to 10 o clock instead of 12, open the face to let a flop or square it with steeper angle...(keep your stance closer together, head still, left forearm/wrist locked, and go as far back on your backswing as your follow through, follow to your target, and you'll be amazed at the difference in feel and distance control)