Abandoning the 4 wedge setup...

[laxbballgolf]

I think it has more to do with how strong typical PW lofts are now. My PW is 46 so I think I definitely need something else before my sand wedge. I used to have a 52, but like others have said it seemed too close to the sand wedge. 46, 50 ,56 , 60 works great for me; I like all the options from 100 and in.

[Shorty]

Very odd to be reading posts from people who see the 60 degree wedge as a tool for a specific distance.
And....no mention (that I have seen) of the different bounce needed for a SW.
I have recently swapped from PW, 52,56,60 to PW,54, 56,60.
I see the high bounce 56 as a sand club only unless I am in rough or don't have a tight lie like I tend to have on my home course.

[Marinemike]

I think it has more to do with how strong typical PW lofts are now. My PW is 46 so I think I definitely need something else before my sand wedge. I used to have a 52, but like others have said it seemed too close to the sand wedge. 46, 50 ,56 , 60 works great for me; I like all the options from 100 and in.

I'm not arguing with you at all, because I don't really know, but isn't a 9 iron 45*? So your first wedge is about the same as your 9. What are the major differences between them that compel you to carry two clubs that are 1 degree different?

[rebby]

Yeah, totally understand that. I tend to feel my way around the golf course so I feel like sticking to my old options is probably the best course of action right now. Which sounds stupid, because if I've been out of the game for a while and am trying to get my feel back, it should be beneficial for me to have more full-swing clubs, not the other way around. Oh well.

Nothing really, I used to carry only 13 clubs (Driver, 2-PW, SW, LW, P) so when I added the GW all that I was really doing was filling out my bag. When I went w/the ZM's I ended up dropping the 2 iron (they don't make one and I've had a little trouble finding a 695MB 2 iron) in favor of a 3 wood.

[youngskip40]

Some interesting responses. Also some interesting lofts for what people consider a pitching wedge. My PW is 47* which is really just a 9.5 iron. The problem is, with my new irons I am very happy with my traj so I'm hesitant to weaken them any and very happy with the way the clubs interact with the ground so I don't want to mess with the bounce at all...

So I figured this stronger wedge creates a need for a gap wedge, but it just really isn't working for me. With such high lofted clubs, there is not enough distance gaps between clubs to make it worthwile for me to have 4 wedges. My long irons only have a 3 degree gap between them, then it moves to 4 degrees into the mid-short irons... so to me, by having a 5-ish degree gap between wedges allows me to keep roughly the same yardage gap and keeps me guessing less.

Also, as someone said, it helps me to commit when I know what club I need to hit and what swing I need to make, without having 10 other options that get in my head.

[NM Golf]

To each their own, I tried the 3 wedge system with 47° 54° and 60° and I felt I had to manipulate too many shots. I went to a 4 wedge system 47°, 52°, 56°, 60° I thought it was better but I still struggled with the short shots into greens from like 50-75 yards. My latest configuration is 47°, 52°, 58°, and 64° is the best I have had. A lot of people scoff at the 64° wedge as hard to hit or unnecessary but for me it has been great. While it is not a club you would ever want to hit full out, the 3/4 swing produces a 75 yard shot that hits the green and sits down immediately. It is also fantastic around the green for tight pins.

Basically, I want the club to do a lot of the work. I don't want to have to hit 8 different shots with one club I would rather hit 4 different shots with two clubs and get 8 different results. That is completely my opinion, some people love the creativity with using one club. You have to figure out what type of player you are and design your set of clubs around you.

[thr33]

I actually had the best luck using just 47, 52, 56 without a lob wedge, but am currently using 47, 50, 54, 60 and my wedge game has gone down the crapper. I want to use my old wedges again, but feel bad abandoning my new wedges :(

[youngskip40]

Basically, I want the club to do a lot of the work. I don't want to have to hit 8 different shots with one club I would rather hit 4 different shots with two clubs and get 8 different results. That is completely my opinion, some people love the creativity with using one club. You have to figure out what type of player you are and design your set of clubs around you.

Very well said.

[AbsoluteZero]

My PW is 47* which is really just a 9.5 iron. .

Are you saying this because the old school PW were 48, 49, or even 50 degree? I think one thing we should all remember is that while many manufacturers have made the lofts of their clubs "stronger" they have also created heads that launch the ball higher. meaning a 48 from 20 years ago may have the same exact launch angle as a 46 from today. The actual loft is not the only factor in launch angle.

[youngskip40]

Are you saying this because the old school PW were 48, 49, or even 50 degree? I think one thing we should all remember is that while many manufacturers have made the lofts of their clubs "stronger" they have also created heads that launch the ball higher. meaning a 48 from 20 years ago may have the same exact launch angle as a 46 from today. The actual loft is not the only factor in launch angle.

Manufacturers made lofts stronger to sell more clubs. Same reason some manufacturers sell a stock driver shaft 45.5 inches, even up to 47 inches... how else are they going to live up to the promise that "you'll hit this new Blastmaster driver 20 yards further than your current one!" Well, of course I will. I'll also hit my 47* wedge further than I hit my 49* one. Problem is, eventually you run out of room.

[laxbballgolf]

I'm not arguing with you at all, because I don't really know, but isn't a 9 iron 45*? So your first wedge is about the same as your 9. What are the major differences between them that compel you to carry two clubs that are 1 degree different?

Sorry for the slow response. My 9 iron is 42 degrees. It's the standard spacing for Callaway's X-20 Tours: 4 degrees between most clubs. 424º 527º 630º 734º 838º 942º PW46º Going to 50 degrees for my gap wedge seems natural to me, and it produces a good gap between my PW. I hit the PW just over 135 and the GW about 120-125 for full swings. Also, and probably more to your point, I do like the feel of forged clubs the closer I am to the green. I like being able to have a forged club in my hand if I am in the mindset of attacking an accessible pin from 125 and in. (As I think about it, I kind of wish my PW was a from a blade set, too. It's actually one of my least favorite clubs to hit because it doesn't feel precise enough for the distance I am hitting it from.)

[lewisgl]

I have experimented with a 4 wedge setup (48,52,56,and 60) and found that a 3 wedge setup worked better for me. I have used various combinations such as 48-54-60, 48-53-58, as well as a 50-54-58, and the current setup of 50-56-60 with the irons adjusted so that the 9 iron is now 45 degrees. (The damn manufacturers had to complicate everything by mucking around with the iron lofts, which makes it more difficult to fit wedges into the mix). The 50-56-60 degree setup works pretty well for me over all gap wise and around the green. I get into a little trouble sometimes by trying to do too much with the 60, or the 56, but other than that kind of thing the current setup works pretty good.

[DaSportsGuy]

I've never had a four wedge setup. I stick with Driver, 3 Wood, 5 Wood, 2 Hybrid, 4-9 Irons, 3 Wedges, Putter.

[NormH3]

I currently only have a 45° PW and 55° SW. May just add a 50° and see what happens.

[lewisgl]

I have experimented with a 4 wedge setup (48,52,56,and 60) and found that a 3 wedge setup worked better for me. I have used various combinations such as 48-54-60, 48-53-58, as well as a 50-54-58, and the current setup of 50-56-60 with the irons adjusted so that the 9 iron is now 45 degrees. (The damn manufacturers had to complicate everything by mucking around with the iron lofts, which makes it more difficult to fit wedges into the mix). The 50-56-60 degree setup works pretty well for me over all gap wise and around the green. I get into a little trouble sometimes by trying to do too much with the 60, or the 56, but other than that kind of thing the current setup works pretty good.

[sean_miller]

I've never had a four wedge setup. I stick with Driver, 3 Wood, 5 Wood, 2 Hybrid, 4-9 Irons, 3 Wedges, Putter.

If I hit my 9 iron 110 yards, I'd go with 2 wedges.

[sean_miller]

My wedge and woods setup depends on which irons I'm using. Some irons are inherently longer by design - no stonger loft trickery required. In those cases, I add an extra wedge - which one depends on the set.

I don't go as much by lofts as by yardages, bounce, and head design. I like to keep a consistent aesthetic throughout the set.

The Apex PCs without an E work will with a Ram TW850, MacGregor MT 56*

The Apex Channelbacks (longer) are E, 52* Vokey, 60* BH Colonial, 64* Dunlop

MacGregor M85 - 11 iron, MT 56*

All Mizuno - MP-11, MP 52*, MP56* (I usually leave the 56* at home - too many options and too much doubt).

[Fourputt]

I've been struggling with this for the entire year. At the moment I actually have 5 wedges in my bag, but the 58° hasn't been used in a couple of months. It stays there just because I have room and I haven't figured out just what I want to do. I have a 47° PW, then 52, 54, 56, and 58 degree Vokeys.

When I change it out next spring, it will probably be to go with the PW, then 52 and 56 Vokeys. I've never seemed to be able to get comfortable with any wedge lofted higher than 56°.