New wedges = spin, older wedges do not?

[SpacklersEdge]

I had a lesson today, and on a side note I mentioned how last yeaar I was able to get some spin on chips/pitches, and would be able to back the ball up on occasion, and how this year I am not able to do that too much. My teacher said that while the ball being used will be a factor, it is mostly based on how new your wedges are. I bought them last year, when I was spinning the ball. He said the tour pros probably changes wedges every two weeks or so, maybe some do it more often.

Do you feel his information was correct? How often are you changing wedges (expensive!)? How much play do your wedges get before you notice this drop in performance.

[twinke masta]

every two weeks? I highly doubt it. Can't you get sharpening tools for your grooves?

[SpacklersEdge]

every two weeks? I highly doubt it. Can't you get sharpening tools for your grooves?

I don't doubt that some do it, like Phil, he can spin a 5 foot shot. But most probably don't.

I have heard of these sharpening tools, but phyicall speaking the only way to sharpen your groove would be to remove some material (small amount sure), which makes the groove even bigger. Eventually you will not be able to do it anymore and I always assumed this was not really legal either, maybe some here have info on this?

[MI Rob]

I'm sure tour pros dont change their wedges every 2 weeks or so. I have been playing mine for almost a year and havent noticed any changes. I play usually 3 times a week.

[CJL]

I don't doubt that some do it, like Phil, he can spin a 5 foot shot. But most probably don't.

I think it's probably legal to a point. Once the grooves exceed the depth and/or width limits set by the USGA, they would indeed be deemed illegal. That being said, I could be wrong

[twinke masta]

I don't doubt that some do it, like Phil, he can spin a 5 foot shot. But most probably don't.

Unless you are playing on the tour I doubt anyone is going to check that your grooves might be 1 micrometer thicker than they should be.

Buying a wedge every 2 weeks is gonna cost you a **** ton of $$. Even if you buy 40$ wedges, 40x26 = 1040$ a year in wedges. I think that's a little ludicrous.

[SpacklersEdge]

Unless you are playing on the tour I doubt anyone is going to check that your grooves might be 1 micrometer thicker than they should be.

I think you missed my point, I never said I was going to do that. I am simply asking if people who do put a lot of spin on shorter and full shots notice a loss in the amount of spin after time, and what that amount of time is.

[twinke masta]

Frank, After many rounds and lots of practice the grooves on your wedges are naturally going to wear down. Can they be "re-grooved" rather than buying new wedges? Thanks. --Brian Brian, I have been asked this question many times and feel the need to be more specific about how to go about getting your grooves reconditioned. First, let me say that using a hand-held groove tool is a risky way to recondition the grooves in your wedges. The reason is that as soon as you alter (recondition) the face of the club it is considered new and ruled on accordingly. “Rule 4 1-b. Wear and Alteration, states; “A club that conforms with Rules when new is deemed to conform after wear through normal use. Any part of a club that has been purposely altered is regarded as new and must, in its altered state conform with the Rules” This means for example, even though the face is concave or the grip has indentations for you fingers because this is how it wore down through normal use, it is OK to use it without penalty but as soon as you start reconditioning the club it must be considered new. A hand held tool will not only do a number on the grooves but will most likely render them non-conforming because of the tight specifications the USGA has for grooves, i.e. depth, width, ratio of groove-width to pitch, radius of groove edges and even groove straightness. These specs are difficult to maintain even for an accomplished custom club maker with a milling machine. The question is; are you better off getting a new wedge rather than trying to recondition an old one? First, don’t try to recondition it yourself. Second, to get it done professionally may take up to six weeks depending on whether the club head is chrome plated or not. Most forged iron clubs made of mild steel, will need to be protected from rusting, which requires a layer of chrome to be deposited on the head after the grooves have been milled, rolled or stamped into the face. Some clubs are forged but made of stainless steel, which do not require chrome plating. These, as with most cast clubs can be re-grooved and do not need the additional protective layer of chrome. To get your wedge i.e. the GAP or Lob Wedge (not your Sand Wedge which doesn’t need sharp grooves to be effective out of the sand) re-grooved you can send it to GolfWorks. To get more details regarding how and where to send it call their toll free phone number (800) 848 8358. It will cost about $20 for a club that does not need to be rechromed which will include the shipping both ways. You can add another $12 if the club needs to be chromed. GolfWorks will make sure that the clubs conform with the rules. In many cases, the lack of being able to get the ball to do Yo-Yo tricks on the green may have little to do with the condition of the grooves, but rather the condition of our technique. We should also recognize that under dry conditions where there is not grass intervening between the ball and the club face – off a tee or tight fairway -- a sand-blasted face will do as well as a face with brand new grooves. It is only when grass juice gets between the clubface and the ball that the grooves really start doing their thing. This only happens out of relatively light rough not the real juicy 4” stuff where it doesn’t matter what type of grooves or condition of those grooves makes any difference. So if you feel you need to recondition the grooves in your wedges because you don’t want to give up an old friend call GolfWorks. If you would just like to make a change – wedges don’t change very much in style or shape --you can buy a new one which will cost about $110. If you do decide to buy a new wedge make sure it has the same specs, i.e. bounce, loft and lie as the good friend you are about to give up.

I think this answers some questions in regards to regulations

[sasquatcho69]

yeah a lot of pros change they're wedges every week. i heard vijay changes them every round, i doubt that but they change them a lot. and the newer the club usually the more spin. i try to get a new wedge atleast every 18 months.

[anthonykim3]

change them once a year and you will be good