Wedge Distance

[upah]

I've been working at getting more consistent with my wedges to band-aid the fact that my putting is sporadic at best. I'm getting to the point where I have full and 3/4 distances dialed in to the yard, but I'm at a loss about how my distances fit in with the rest of my set. The 9 & PW are Mizuno MP57, and the remaining wedges are Cleveland CG11.

My short iron distances are as follows:

9i (43*) - 138
PW (47*) - 125
GW (52*) - 98
SW (56*) - 82
LW (60*) - 65

I hit my 9 and PW really well in terms of consistency, but the others are lacking. I obviously have a much larger gap than with the rest of my clubs. If I really lay into one, I can hit the wedges farther, but these numbers are a typical swing. The rest of my clubs have a pretty consistent 10-15 yard increment.

Why are my gaps so messed up with the gap, sand, and lob wedges? Its almost 20 yards! Am I doing something wrong? Should I get them bent or is this common between different club manufacturers?

[mc0388]

I've been working at getting more consistent with my wedges to band-aid the fact that my putting is sporadic at best. I'm getting to the point where I have full and 3/4 distances dialed in to the yard, but I'm at a loss about how my distances fit in with the rest of my set. The 9 & PW are Mizuno MP57, and the remaining wedges are Cleveland CG11.

Is your LW's shaft much shorter than your SWs'?

[upah]

Nope, all have been lengthened to match the specs of my Mizunos. The gap, sand and lob wedges are all the same length/lie. I see no reason to have such large distance gaps for only those clubs.

[Golf'nBiker]

You wanna see screwy...check mine out!

9i-150-156
PW-135-138
52*-110 PERIOD
56*-83-85
60*-60-63

When I'm between 110-135...I'm totally screwed, the other distance I'm just screwed! Choking down on the shaft does not help me at all...and, NO..I dont practice..I'm a full shot kinda guy!

[KwSipp]

Here is mine
9I 152
pw 137
52* 115
56* 103
60* 80
That is when I am swinging with good balance and actually transfering my weight so to say lol.

[Yukari]

You wanna see screwy...check mine out!

Well there is your problem.

But seriously, If I am in between club, I take 3/4 swing with the longer club. Actually, if you just practice a little bit, you'll find you get a much more control with 3/4 shots.

[2-dogs]

I would guess that its the head weight / weight distribution that is probably the reason.

You need to do more than just adjust the length of the shaft to match one type of irons to another. Head weight needs to be accounted for. (force = mass X acceleration, dont forget the mass!!)

Also - different head designs can distribute the weight very differently. Some put all the weight down at the bottom - some around the perimeter ... etc.

There are sooo many variables that it gets very difficult to match different sets on specs alone. Trial and error will get you close, a really good club fitter will do the rest :)

[ks8829]

bring your wedges into a golf store with a launch monitor and hit the wedges again to check distances. then have someone at the store hit your wedges and see if there is a gap in distance between each wedge.

Your conclusion might be that your wedges loft are not correctly as stated or you are not hitting the wedges solid for their true distance.

I have wedges loft and distances below:

Pw 47 130 yards
52 100 yards
56 90 yards
60 80 yards

[WUTiger]

Upah,

Good advice from both KS and 2-dogs .

Also consider sending your question to club designer Ralph Maltby (post it to his blog). He could identify technical differences between club models and how they compare.

Tell him the model (and shaft) for both your irons and our wedges, and the problem you're having. Ralph might have some ideas on the physics differences between the heads of the MZ irons and Cle wedges.

[qgroven7]

I have noticed a difference between different wedge brands. I used to hit all Mizuno MP-T wedges and recently switched to Titleist wedges. I will admit they aren't as big of gaps that you have but it was a difference. My 60 degree wedge used to carry 100 yards and stop, now with the Titleist it carries 95 and comes back to 90ish.

My wedge carry distance:

47* = 135 yards
54* = 115 yards
60* = 95 yards

[Danattherock]

I think you are over thinking things a bit. Those yardages you posted are not bad at all in my opinion. If I did anything, perhaps I would consider taking the gap wedge one degree stronger. Get professionally fit if not done so already. I have bought wedge sets before that were not graduated in length properly from the factory.

[Matt M]

I'm not sure what the reason is for the difference in yardage. I will say I spend a lot of time working on my wedges. I think it's really important to learn distance control with all of the wedges in your bag. I mean how far does a belt to belt swing go, or shoulder to shoulder swing go with my sw or my gap or my pw, then if im trying to hit it high how far does the same swing go with the said clubs. Then move to a low ball flight with that same swing and so on. The distance that the full swing goes with a wedge is far less important, everything from 130 and in is a scoring oppurtunity not a full out assualt on the golf ball. I was once told by an instructor that you mean to hit drivers, but your wedges are about scoring so you should back off the speed/power and make sure u hit where your aiming.