56 and 60 or just 56

[JML22]

so i had a spot today where i used a firend's 60 and it worked well
do you think a 20 handicapper should bother bu ying a 60 or is a 56 good enough

[iammpspeer]

Both I think.

[kpaulhus]

Im using both since there are shots where u might have the pin tucked next to a bunker and have to hit over that bunker from the rough. Really that loft can benefit you if used right

[bogeyhitter25]

If you have room for another club, defnitely go 60*. I can't live with my LW.

[FHopper]

four wedges is the new black

[WUTiger]

When I saw the title, I thought maybe I had posted it and just forgotten about it. It's one of my questions from the past season.

The 56º is my highest wedge. It works fine from bunkers, and I can hit a cut shot out of the rough and get a one hopper going into the pin. (Can't back it up ten feet, though.)

I had a LW with my old set. LW gave me super shots - 35% - and assorted blown shots - 65%. A guy at the range let me hit his CG12 60.04 in November, and it worked nicely (tight lies that time of the year). One debate is whether to have low, mid, or high bounce in LWs. Some die-hards suggest low bounce LW for spring and fall, and high for summer.

You just have try it out and see if it helps, and if it fits your game. Some 20HDCP players do quite well with a LW.

What I might do is add a LW for rounds at courses that fertilize every inch of turf and have horrendous rough - maybe drop out the 4i for those rounds. Don't think I need a LW on less fluffy courses.

[kpaulhus]

  WUTiger said:

When I saw the title, I thought maybe I had posted it and just forgotten about it. It's one of my questions from the past season.

Very good tip. In the winter I dont really use the 60 a lot from the rough cuz the grass is dead and thin....in the summer it will be lush and perfect for the 60

[natp0wers]

I say go for both, i carry a 46, 50, 54, and 58* and love the versatility of having four wedges.

[B Keller]

  natp0wers said:

I say go for both, i carry a 46, 50, 54, and 58* and love the versatility of having four wedges.

My PW may be 45*, but this is what I carry and I find the 50* is by far the least used.

[Fourputt]

Personally, I think that a 20 handicap would be better served by just focusing on learning to use what he has. One more club, especially a high lofted wedge, just means more practice, and more decisions on the course. When I was a 20 capper I used a PW and a SW. No GW and no LW. I worked my way down to to a 9 handicap just by learning how to use those clubs well. Since I started tinkering with additional wedges, I've struggeld with my short game. I've now gone to just the 2 utility wedges (52° and 56°), and I seem to be starting to get some consistency back in my game.

I'd learn to use what you have well, then make an informed decision as to whether or not you need a LW too. In the end it's your choice.

[JML22]

well my problem right now is putting
averaging a stupid amount of putts.
And i dont have a 56 but i used my buddie's wedges today and its so much easier when you have options not just a pw or gap. I was just trying to decide to buy a 60 along with a 56 when i go soon

[Tom]

I think higher lofts are terrific around the green, and that's where all of us need to focus. Everyone is around the green when not on (30 yards, 50 yards whatever). Personally, I have three wedges above PW; a 56, 60 and 64. I am able to do this because I don't carry a gap wedge. I think the 64 is the best club in my bag - truly, it's a weapon - I'm deadly from 90 yds and in. Here's what I did recently (two weeks ago) and it's really accelerated my scoring - my hndcp will be 0 or + soon, I know it.... I should've done this long ago...

I went to my home course super early. I talked to the GM and told him I wanted to drive out to a flat hole hours before anyone would be golfing there. My intention was to use 100 yards. He agreed and said "That's a pretty unusual request." So, I was there and I brought a bunch of yardage markers so I could step off whatever I needed (10, 20, 25, 30, 35, etc.). I opened a notebook, had pen in hand then proceeded to spend about two hours working on shots. I documented all my results, later put them in a word doc, printed it on a scorecard sized paper, had it laminated, and now I'm well armed. Honestly, this move has helped my game so much that I can't overemphasize. I'm pulling this thing out of my pocket a ton... think about it. If I hit 12 greens, there's 6 that I've missed. I need to get up and down... generally from 40 yards and in...

Truly, I was surprised how much the 64 wedge comes in to play on my cheat sheet. Full shot, choked to metal, 3/4 swing, etc., this thing is weaponry... The most deadly accurate of my shots is ball rear, forward lean, 9 o'clock down and thru. This shot with a 64 is just crazy good. stops on a dime after two bounces - to see the look on the faces of the guys I play with when my ball looks like it's going past the cup at a good speed, then checks stone dead is priceless.

[Gordon McTavish]

  JML22 said:

so i had a spot today where i used a firend's 60 and it worked well

Did you feel confident with the 60? Do you feel that it could be a valuable club for your style of play?

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about conventional wisdom dictating what clubs a certain handicap should be playing. My wedge set is 48, 52, 58 and 64. They're my most valuable clubs in the bag, and last year I chipped in at least seven times with them. They compensate for the shambles of my putting, to such an extent that I'll use the 64 from about six feet away on the fringe!

[wmiller]

  Gordon McTavish said:

Did you feel confident with the 60? Do you feel that it could be a valuable club for your style of play?

+1 If you can play it, throw it in the bag and have fun.

"conventional wisdom" Is that an oxymoron? ;)

[MSDOGS1976]

  Fourputt said:

Personally, I think that a 20 handicap would be better served by just focusing on learning to use what he has. One more club, especially a high lofted wedge, just means more practice, and more decisions on the course. When I was a 20 capper I used a PW and a SW. No GW and no LW. I worked my way down to to a 9 handicap just by learning how to use those clubs well. Since I started tinkering with additional wedges, I've struggeld with my short game. I've now gone to just the 2 utility wedges (52° and 56°), and I seem to be starting to get some consistency back in my game.

I agree. On occasion, I will use a 60 degree but it takes some getting use to. It does come in handy during the summer when the bermuda rough is thick. Usually I carry a GW,PW, and 56 degree SW.

[Fourputt]

  Tom said:

I think higher lofts are terrific around the green, and that's where all of us need to focus. Everyone is around the green when not on (30 yards, 50 yards whatever). Personally, I have three wedges above PW; a 56, 60 and 64. I am able to do this because I don't carry a gap wedge. I think the 64 is the best club in my bag - truly, it's a weapon - I'm deadly from 90 yds and in. Here's what I did recently (two weeks ago) and it's really accelerated my scoring - my hndcp will be 0 or + soon, I know it.... I should've done this long ago...

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are a bit of a freak.

Most players couldn't hit a 64° wedge 40 yards with a normal full swing, and they are far more likely to hit it fat for 10 yards or skull it out of sight when they do use it. It's very much a specialty club requiring precise ball striking ability to use effectively... most Tour players still don't carry one because it just isn't necessary. Advising a 20 capper to try one is simply bad advice, and any PGA instructor would agree with me. Anyone at that stage of his game needs to work on a lot of other things before he introduces another variable into his game. Buying radical wedges isn't going to lower a bogey player's handicap... only hard work will do that.

[MSDOGS1976]

  Fourputt said:

Most players couldn't hit a 64° wedge 40 yards with a normal full swing, and they are far more likely to hit it fat for 10 yards or skull it out of sight when they do use it. It's very much a specialty club requiring precise ball striking ability to use effectively... most Tour players still don't carry one because it just isn't necessary. Advising a 20 capper to try one is simply bad advice, and any PGA instructor would agree with me. Anyone at that stage of his game needs to work on a lot of other things before he introduces another variable into his game.

Again, I agree. I know a guy that takes out a lob wedge around the green no matter what and does his Phil Milkelson imitation. Sometimes he pulls it off, but 75% of the time its just a dud. But whatever floats your boat, I guess.

[Tom]

  Fourputt said:

...Advising a 20 capper to try one is simply bad advice, and any PGA instructor would agree with me. Anyone at that stage of his game needs to work on a lot of other things before he introduces another variable into his game.

...i disagree completely. a 64 is an easy club to hit and it's not as you write. it is a weapon. give one a whirl and you'll probably agree. see you..