Wedges, match to iron set or not?

[zripp3]

I struggled with this for a while, as well. My previous set of irons were Cleveland's so I got CG11's to match feel, brand, etc. I kept them through another set of irons but, unfortunately I never got comfortable with them so ended up getting Vokey's after doing my due diligence and actually trying clubs out. Regardless of popular opinion they actually felt the best to me. With a new (to me) set of MP-33's on the way I don't plan on giving them up unless something comes along and "feels" much better. So, to answer your question, I think trying the wedges out and finding one that you like is more important than maintaining a consistency among manufacturers.

[Fourputt]

My Cobras came 4I-GW. My Cleveland CG11 56° SW and Callaway 58° X Tour wedge are the only ones which aren't Cobras. I like all 4 of my wedges, even though they are of 3 different brands. The key is that the wedges need to feel good in your hands and on the course, but much like a putter they don't really have to match your set. I wouldn't buy Vokey's just because others do though, I'd try several brands and see what actually feels best to you. I like the feel of my X Tour better than any Vokey I've handled, but that is just me, and I love my CG 11 SW.

I think that too many players, especially high cappers like you appear to be, buy clubs that are recommended by blokes like us who have never seen you play and know nothing about your game. That can get expensive for you, constantly buying a lot of high priced clubs that actually aren't suited to your current level of play. If you want my opinion, as a 25+ handicapper, you don't really need 4 wedges, nor do you need the expensive, super spin, forged types. Buy a set that includes at least to the PW, then add a 55-56 degree SW and play with it a bit. See how those feel for chips and pitches from different lies and different green conditions. Then take what you've learned with you when you decide you're ready to expand your set.

I played for many years with only a PW, then added a SW and played with just the 2 wedges for another 10 years. During that time I worked my handicap down to 9.6. It isn't thee number of wedges you carry, but how well you can use them that makes the difference, and adding too many too quickly can actually make the learning process more complex. I didn't even own a gap wedge until I bought this set of Cobras 3 years ago, and the 58° Cally was just added last month.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

My Cobras came 4I-GW. My Cleveland CG11 56° SW and Callaway 58° X Tour wedge are the only ones which aren't Cobras. I like all 4 of my wedges, even though they are of 3 different brands. The key is that the wedges need to feel good in your hands and on the course, but much like a putter they don't really have to match your set. I wouldn't buy Vokey's just because others do though, I'd try several brands and see what actually feels best to you. I like the feel of my X Tour better than any Vokey I've handled, but that is just me, and I love my CG 11 SW.

Thanks for the advice.

The main reason I feel I'd benefit from more wedges is that I'm a pretty long hitter, and I hit my pitching wedge about 130 yards (and buying new irons, I wouldn't be surprised if that pitching wedge number gets even longer). So mostly I'm looking to own wedges that fill the yardage gaps between 75 and 120 yards, for approach shots (I've tried hitting my pitching wedge 90 yards, and it doesn't go well for me). -Andrew

[TinCupTampa]

My wedges do not match my irons. I honestly do not care if the brands match... but I would like to change my shafts in my wedges (or get new ones) in order to keep those the same.

[Snake]

My irons and wedges are the same brand but not the same line. I really don't care that they are the same brand - I used to have Cleveland wedges. But after I hit the Mizuno wedges, I liked the feel so much better that I switched. Unless Cobra is paying you use their clubs exclusively, don't worry about brand - go with what feels best to you.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

My irons and wedges are the same brand but not the same line. I really don't care that they are the same brand - I used to have Cleveland wedges. But after I hit the Mizuno wedges, I liked the feel so much better that I switched. Unless Cobra is paying you use their clubs exclusively, don't worry about brand - go with what feels best to you.

It's not so much brand; it's style/design. You wouldn't carry a Mizuno muscle-back 3-iron, an X-20 4 iron, an r7 5-iron, an AP1 6-iron, and an X-tour 7-iron. The reason you wouldn't do that has little to do with brand loyalty, but everything to do with consistency. You want your irons to have consistent feel, ball flight characteristics, swing weight, shaft flex, and yardage gaps. So my question is: wouldn't you want the wedges to fit into that as well? When you're hitting full-swing approach shots, they're really just extra-short irons. Is my thinking wrong here?

-Andrew

[Zeph]

I've got different irons than wedges. I will never have different brands from 1-PW, but the wedges can be different from the rest of the irons. Most wedges look pretty much the same, so they will be different from irons anyways. I haven't seen many lines of wedges that resemble the irons. I take a different kind of shot with my wedges, very rarely take a full swing, the swing is shorter and my set-up can also be different. I don't think using same brand irons as wedges matter, they are all different anyways.

Of course, if I've narrowed my search down to 2-3 brands where one of them is the same as my iron set it will definately influence my decision.

[meenman]

My wedges do not nor will they probably ever match my irons. Maybe some need them all to match but to me they are separate clubs and need to be the ones I feel most comfortable with.

[Snake]

It's not so much brand; it's style/design. You wouldn't carry a Mizuno muscle-back 3-iron, an X-20 4 iron, an r7 5-iron, an AP1 6-iron, and an X-tour 7-iron. The reason you wouldn't do that has little to do with brand loyalty, but everything to do with consistency. You want your irons to have consistent feel, ball flight characteristics, swing weight, shaft flex, and yardage gaps. So my question is: wouldn't you want the wedges to fit into that as well? When you're hitting full-swing approach shots, they're really just extra-short irons. Is my thinking wrong here?

Actually, that's kind of how my irons are. They are all from the MX900 line, but the 5, 6 and 7 are hollow cavity backs and the 8, 9 and PW are solid cavity backs. And then the wedges are typical wedges. So 5 iron - 58* are made up of 3 slightly different types of irons (construction-wise). I guess there is a slight difference in feel, but it has never really bothered me. But if keeping everything as uniform as possible affects your game in a positive way, then go for it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that IMO.

[Jay-Bird]

Same brand, different line. I love my wedges. When I played s59 irons they all matched, doesn't matter at all though. It's personal preferrence - whatever you can (and know you will) hit well.

[thr33]

Although I no longer use wedges that match my irons any more, if you're a high handicapper it's not such a bad idea to have at least one. A couple years back when my handicap was around 18 i used a 50* AW from my iron set (rac cgb). This really helped my short game alot considering most of my approact shots were ~90-110 yards and that extra bit of forgivness definitely helped drop my scores. I personally wouldn't recommend any higher lofted wedges from your iron set as I don't believe they perform as well around the green. Either way, try them all out and see what works best for you!

[glebert]

It's not so much brand; it's style/design. You wouldn't carry a Mizuno muscle-back 3-iron, an X-20 4 iron, an r7 5-iron, an AP1 6-iron, and an X-tour 7-iron. The reason you wouldn't do that has little to do with brand loyalty, but everything to do with consistency. You want your irons to have consistent feel, ball flight characteristics, swing weight, shaft flex, and yardage gaps. So my question is: wouldn't you want the wedges to fit into that as well? When you're hitting full-swing approach shots, they're really just extra-short irons. Is my thinking wrong here?

It's all preference, but my preference is the same as yours. I like to have them matched to SW, and my lob is for around the green only. I think it also depends on the courses you play. If you club has very grabby rough or very fluffy sand or whatever you might want a very specific wedge to handle it.

[GaijinGolfer]

My irons and wedges dont match and its really not an issue.

[Stacey_E]

I really prefer my AW to match my iron set. That is usually the shortest club that I almost always hit full shots with and almost never chip or pitch with. To me that is a pretty good rule of thumb as well. That being said my AW does not match my current set. I find there is about 10 yards max difference and sometimes more like 5 between my PW and AW. This is where the shaft mismatching problem has come into effect for me (I think). I hit nice high shots 115ish with my regular flex, small cavity PW but slightly lower boring shots with my "wedge flex", blade type Vokey to at least 105 sometimes 110. I really need to pull the loft back on my AW a degree or 2.

I would consider using a SW from the set as well especially if you hit a lot of full shots with it. I always had a problem balooning the SW from my old X12s. A smooth full shot went 80 yards for me back then. But when I really cranked on one it would go a mile high and 75 yards. But, man, those cavity sand wedges are great from the sand. The wider sole gives them a greater effective bounce than would be stated in their specs.

[tonyy]

My set matches now by chance. I was in love with Vokeys until I hit a set of Mizuno wedges.

[firstcut]

When I got backl into golf I played with an old set of pings and the PW only.

Then I bought a set of A2s and was going to buy the A2 wedges to go with it. My friends talked me into buying premium wedges. I never hit well with them.

I just recently bought some A3s and THIS time bought the A3 GW, SW and LW to match. I hit all 3 MUCH better as it simply feels like an extension to the rest of my set.

As a side bonus, it's my experience that people will be happy to "keep" a lost Vokey or G14, but they'll return a stock GW from a set. Sucks, but is true....

As always, YMMV. Good luck.

[americanfighter]

personal preference My dad plays a set of Slazenger's but has a 60 degree and 64 degree wedge. It really all comes down to personal preference. Some people play with a set where no one club is made by the same company.

If I May suggest a high degree wedge I say get a callaway x forged c-grind. It is the best high degree wedge I have ever hit and it is so much easier to hit lob shot with high spin and make a ball stick to the green with it. as someone to let you hit it and compare it to the other high degree wedges you will love it.

[Blades4me]

So at some point hopefully soon, I'll be ordering a new set of irons. I plan to get fitted so I haven't made any firm decisions yet, but from reading/research I'm leaning towards the Cobra S9's. I have a hybrid 4, so I think I'll buy my iron set as 5-9 iron, pitching wedge, and possibly more wedges (gap, sand, maybe lob).

LOL, no becuz the MP-60 wedge(s) are UGLY! All my wedges are Edilons.