Considering Wedge Setup Changes

[wolverine_man]

My current wedges include the following:

48 PW - Set Matched PCB Tour (115-120 yds)
52.10 GAP - CG12 (100 yds)
56.10 SW - Mizu Faldo or MP-R (85 yds)
60.09 LW - TA 588 or MP-R (70 yds)

Now, the reason I am debating all this is that I have the plastic still on the MP-Rs that I bought last night. I was thinking that I MIGHT be able to get down to 3 wedges instead of 4. I usually do end up using all 4 wedges in a given round of golf, but I'm not sure that I NEED them all. I was thinking I might become better with my wedges if I reduce their number and get more creative (more 1/2, 3/4 shots, open face, etc.) . So . . . .

I thought maybe I could go 48, 52, and get the MP-R in the 58.10.

The sole grind of the MP-R - heel and toe relief - allows it to be opened while providing only a tad increase in effective bounce. Therefore, I thought I could use it quite effectively slightly opened instead of using a 60. I rarely ever use the 60 from the fairway. It is solely a flop and deep bunker wedge or used when the green is running away - a specialty club.

Am I thinking too much about things or should I move to this new 3 Wedge Setup? Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of time to return my club purchases and it isn't getting warm out anytime soon here in Michigan.

[etlreams]

If you want to take out a wedge, I'd suggest you either take out your gap wedge or you lob wedge. How often do you really use your lob wedge? Seems like people with a 60* either use it alot (personally, I use mine for everything within 30yrds) or they rarely use it. Also...how consistant are you with it? Many people struggle with that club.

You can open the face of you 56* to do flop shots.

If you like and often use your lob, then I'd take out your gap wedge. If your PW is really 48* (which seems a degree or two more than usual) then you can just choke down and open or close the face and get the same results you would with your gap wedge.

[kfowler]

I'm seriously considering dropping my 60* and adding a 2i hybrid. Seems like the 60* gets me in more trouble than good shots. I think I could do everything with my 56*.

[wolverine_man]

My PW really is 48, actually more like 48.5. I checked them out on golfclubspecs.com and had them measured at a shop. I also own a set of MP-14s and that PW is 50. Seems like the older players clubs had more loft. I think the lofts on irons these days have gotten out of control. IMHO

At any rate, I bought the 52 last year because it was to be my 100 yard club and I convinced myself that I really needed that club. I previously had a gap of about 30 yds+ between my PW and my SW. I use my lob wedge out of bunkers, and very short chips out of the rough. Again, I rarely use it from the fairway. I am good with it though when I need to. I love hitting the flop at any opportunity I get. The thing is I use my current 56 SW from the fairway on 80-85 yard shots, full swing and I can't be too sure how far I'd hit the 58.

If I go with PW, 52, and 58, I will free up one club. I think I plan on dropping my 2 iron as well. That's two free clubs. The club I want to add is a Bobby Jones 2 or 3 Hybrid and possibly a strong 4 wood. Every time I hit that BJ 2H at the pro shop, I fall in love with it.

[Fourputt]

I can't really speak for you, but my wedge setup is 47° PW, 52° Vokey, and 56° Vokey. I dragged around a 58° Vokey much of last year, but I found very few instances where it was any more useful than the 56°. This year I'm just going to focus on 2 actual wedges (the PW is more of a 10 iron after all), and try and get my short game back to where it was 10 years ago before I bought into all of the wedge hype and started experimenting with different setups. I had a good short game for many years with just a PW and SW, so I'm going to try and get back to the basics again.

[wolverine_man]

OR . . . I could get the 58.10 and bend it to a 57.09. I could also get the 56.10 and bend it to a 57.11. 48, 52, 57 . . . Hmmm.

[etlreams]

Maybe the PW, 52 and 58 is your best route, if you really want to free up a club. I know it's a pretty common wedge set up.

I'd say if you are good at judging the affects of opening and closing the club face, are good at judging the 1/2 swing and 3/4 swing distance, and the bounce * of the 52 and 58 is condusive to your course conditions, maybe that's the route to go.

[wolverine_man]

I am going back to the golf shop today after work. I think I'm going to get the 58.10, thereby having 48, 52, 58. If I don't like the setup, I can always buy a 56 later and reintegrate the old TA 588 60, which wasn't that worn down anyways. Thanks for all the help guys.

[WUTiger]

At any rate, I bought the 52 last year because it was to be my 100 yard club... . I use my lob wedge out of bunkers, and very short chips out of the rough. Again, I rarely use it from the fairway. I am good with it though when I need to. I love hitting the flop at any opportunity I get. The thing is I use my current 56 SW from the fairway on 80-85 yard shots, full swing and I can't be too sure how far I'd hit the 58.

You might go with the 58 as a third wedge, as long as you can hit it out of the bunkers.

This would mean you have 6 degrees between your 52 GW and the 58. You probably would make your 52 GW more than just the 100-yard club. If you choke down 1/4" on the GW, you could close the gap with the 58 in distance. If you carried just the PW, 52 and 58, this would simplify our practice. You could use the 52 and 58 for partial shots, roll opens and slight choke-downs. Learning partial distances on just two wedges would be manageable. One guy from a post this summer said he actually made a distance card for himself on Wedge x Swing length. Also, consider a 4 wood. Lots of pros carried the 4 wood as their single FWwood before the hybrid craze started.

[wolverine_man]

Thanks WUTiger. Truth is, I already hit the 52 on less than 100 yd shots by choking down when I am not confident I can full out blast a 56 to the pin. I'd say I can use my 52 from 105 to 90 yds pretty comfortably. My current 56 SW is maxed out around 87 yards so perhaps going to a 58 will create a bit of a gap, but I think I can just work a bit more with the 52. Then again, having two clubs free, would I really want to add both a 2H and 4 wood? I def want the 2H. I need to stop thinking about this so much. Arrrgh.

[wolverine_man]

Hit balls for another 45 mins tonight. These were my distances:

52 GAP - 85 - 98 yds max
56 SW - 85
58 S/LW- 79 tops
60 LW - 70ish

I really did feel like I could hit a full shot, choked down 52 at 85 yards comfortably all day. I love the CG12 for that. However, I feel prone to more thin shots that way and I thought that if I went 52, 58, I would not comfortably be able to hit a distance between 80 - 85 yards. So . . . final answer: I'm going with the 52, 56, 60. It is what I have been using and it works for me. Plus, while I am replacing my 2 iron with either a 2H or a strong 4W, I do not have a need for adding an additional wood on top of that. 48,52,56,60. Close the thread.

[Shindig]

If you carried just the PW, 52 and 58, this would simplify our practice. You could use the 52 and 58 for partial shots, roll opens and slight choke-downs. Learning partial distances on just two wedges would be manageable. One guy from a post this summer said he actually made a distance card for himself on Wedge x Swing length.

I don't know if it was me or not, but I do this. In fact, I've started figuring out half-irons for 8- and 9- irons. I have a second stock 50-yard shot now!

It's amazing how this trick will do more for your scoring game than a 5-wedge configuration. When I'm tempted by a LW in the store, I remember that I can do most of that with other clubs.

[sherwoodnatl]

My setup of 46 51 58 is pretty unconventional...but hey, whatever gets ya up and down, right?
PW- 120+
GW- 105
SW/LW - 75

Gap wedge is my favorite club in the bag. I also use the 58 for bunker shots. To me, the 58 is extremely versatile. if i want a lower spinning shot, i move the ball an inch back. I can also open the face for a 60*. So really, i think i got 2 wedges for the price of 1.
Your though of PW 52 58 wouldnt be a bad setup...works for me

[Danattherock]

My current wedges include the following:

Play a round of golf and add up all the shots you take inside 100 yards. That should make it easy to decide if you should use less wedges. I would drop that 2 iron like a bag of rocks and get the 2 hybrid you were talking about. I would keep the wedges and continue learning how to use them. Dave Pelz's "Short Game Bible" and a 2 hybrid is my suggestion.

[doof_dizzler]

Hit balls for another 45 mins tonight. These were my distances:

Final answer? It's winter and you have months til golf season. If you're anything like me, you'll change your mind 20 more times before the snow melts!

[wolverine_man]

Ha ha. I know right? I do hit my 2 iron quite well. I really like using it off the tee as well on shorter par 4s or ones that require a precise shot with no room for error. But I also rarely miss a fairway with my driver. Nonetheless, I have decided it's time for a change. I was hitting the Bobby Jones 2H2 210-225 off the deck on the simulator - might not be too accurate. But it's also very important that hit whatever hybrid I get well off the tee. I am deadly with a 2 iron slightly teed up and I do not want that shot to leave my bag.

[enis750]

Hit balls for another 45 mins tonight. These were my distances:

hey man

you sound A LOT like me right now!! hahah! this is what I rock: 48º PW - this is my 115-125 club 52º GW - this is my 90-115 club 56º SW - this is my most versatible club in my bag EASY - covering distances from 1yd to 85+ or - a few what has helped me is learning how to use those 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 shots from all over the map but MAX for my 56º is the 85yds (depending on wind) also thought about adding the 60º for those 10 times i MAY need it all year.....but im diggin havin 12 clubs only on the 2H - STRONGLY consider a 4w instead your game sounds very similar to mine and our HCP's arent too far off either literally the day i put my 4w in my bag, i started birdying (sp?) more par 5's this thing fires lazer beams dude...it's sick!!!! i even rock the steel shaft iin it - dont know why, but i like the weight of it first time i used it, I hit one from 245yds slightly downhill (probably playing 235), into a PAR 5 almost zero wind the ball hit and stuck!! it was like i hit a 9i into that green...I was only 6 ft for eagle (I was so excited to birdie the hole!!! .....not) I had a similar shot on a different course and the green was like a hardwood floor........hit and only rolled 4ft and the funny thing - i got it for free by mistake (long ebay story gone wrong!! haha) and it's practically BRAND NEW!!!! 4 woods are the shizz homey!! haha!

[wolverine_man]

Interesting and I truly appreciate the suggestions. I was strongly considering either a 2H or a 4W originally, but I had thought I limited it down to a 2H for the following reasons:

1. I rarely ever find myself more than 220 out after my tee shot even on par 5s. (partially due to the fact I need to play tougher, longer courses)
2. I have a tendency to hit poor shots with my current 3 and 5 wood - which are outta the bag - and of all the the newer fairway woods I have tried, none of them inspired a significant increase in confidence.

I also thought a 4 wood and possibly a 2H or 3H, dropping my 3 iron, but I love my 3 iron, especially on 200 yard or so par 3s. I don't think I could get anywhere near the tight shot dispersion that I get with my 3 iron by going to a 3H. I think I'd be aiming for the green on those long par 3s instead of the pin. So . . . I'm at this point still thinking the Bobby Jones 2H.