Wedges, shafts and missed greens....

[Bear]

Afternoon all,

I wanted to throw this out to the masses to get some opinion on an issue that's been driving me bonkers as of late.

I've always been able to hit the ball far enough, I've never considered myself to be distance challenged, I can bang it 275 (300+ if I pure it) off the tee and hit my 7 iron about 155. I was measured this spring at 108mph with the driver so I know I can move the clubhead.

What's driving me crazy however is my wedge game. In particular, my SW from the fairway. Despite numerous swing changes, ball placements and alignment tweaks I simply can't hit my 56 degree SW 75 yards consistently. More importantly, it seems to be getting worse. I'm currently playing a Cleveland 588, 5 degree bounce in the aforementioned 56 degrees.

There's nothing more frustrating that striping the ball off the tee right down the middle and not being able to stick it on the flag from 80 yards out. I've started to wonder about the flex of the shaft in my wedge. When I bought it a few years ago the pro suggested a stiff shaft for better feel. I know for a fact that I'm not swinging my wedge in the 100mph range, not even close. I'm guessing it's more in the 70's or 80's so my question is this. If my swing speed is 20 or 30mph less with my sand wedge why in the hell am I using a stiff shaft?

Anyone else struggled with this?

[goblue107501]

I struggle with the same things, although my distances are pretty consistent. I can hit a PW up to 125 and 7-iron 160-165. I have Cleveland wedges and can only hit the 52 GW about 100 and the SW 85 or so. Someone who has tinkered with clubs more than me might have the answer. No matter what club/shaft combo I use (have tried many different ones with the same lofts) it is always the same. I don't know how people hit a LW 90 yards and a SW 115. I am sure it has something to do with the swing dynamics and maybe not so much the club. Even if I really try and swing hard I don't get much extra. My best guess is that it might be more about the length of the shaft than the flex. I can't tell much difference in the wedge flex shafts, they all seem to work the same for me, no matter who makes them. I have a pretty smooth swing with the wedges from the fairway but have never thought that a different shaft would give me more. I don't think I have ever tried an aftermarket wedge with a 'normal' shaft. That might be the trick. Most wedges will have shorter shafts than regular clubs so maybe if you are taller a little extra length would help out.

I really don't have an answer, I would like to know as well. I'm just throwing out possible explanations.

[jrm1493]

I have noticed pretty much the same thing. I have a mid 90's driver swing speed, hit my 7-iron 140ish but can only hit my 56 about 70 yards. I can hit the 49 maybe 100 yards and my 45 PW about 110. When I try to swing hard with the 56 it just goes up higher, not any farther. All in all, I've pretty much just accepted how far I hit it and play accordingly; I do have a bit of a gap between the 56 and 49 but with a 7 deg loft difference I guess that is expected.

I basically don't take full swings with the 56 because then the ball just skies upward (exception would be if I'm trying to clear a tree or something), I'll take something off the 49 which seems to be much easier to control distance wise and it spins plenty to stop where it lands.

[Kcas77]

I struggle with the same things, although my distances are pretty consistent. I can hit a PW up to 125 and 7-iron 160-165. I have Cleveland wedges and can only hit the 52 GW about 100 and the SW 85 or so. Someone who has tinkered with clubs more than me might have the answer. No matter what club/shaft combo I use (have tried many different ones with the same lofts) it is always the same. I don't know how people hit a LW 90 yards and a SW 115. I am sure it has something to do with the swing dynamics and maybe not so much the club. Even if I really try and swing hard I don't get much extra. My best guess is that it might be more about the length of the shaft than the flex. I can't tell much difference in the wedge flex shafts, they all seem to work the same for me, no matter who makes them. I have a pretty smooth swing with the wedges from the fairway but have never thought that a different shaft would give me more. I don't think I have ever tried an aftermarket wedge with a 'normal' shaft. That might be the trick. Most wedges will have shorter shafts than regular clubs so maybe if you are taller a little extra length would help out.

I can hit my lob wedge 90 yards and my sw 105 but I dont feel as if im trying to kill it. But I hit my drives 255ish not sure how I hit irons farther than some people when they outdrive me.

I have never changed the shafts in my wedges didnt see the point because wedges arent made to handle a massive swing.