Wedges - Opting for two

[lcfd42]

I browsed around and coudn't find my exact answer, so. My question here is what would be the best set-up for a 2 wedge bag and why (no asking for brands, just loft and bounce). I am a 10HI and play a fairly good short game. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best parts of my game. I'm putting together a second bag and going 2-wedge. I play 3 in my current bag, but the Gap wedge (very) rarely leaves the bag. I seem to always play the S or L wedge around the green to 50yds.
Considering:
54* - 10
58* or 60* with a 4* - 6* bounce

Most of the courses I play have a very firm base under the turf (firm soil/clay)
Thanks to all who reply.

[walfice]

I play a 54/12 and 60/10. My PW is 47 degrees. My yardages are 60=80 yards, 54=100, yards and pw=120. I play high bounce because I don't open the face up too much and on fuller shots play the ball quite far back in my stance to ensure contact with the ball first and a downward strike.

[wolverine_man]

Went through this same issue this month in creating my new bag. I take it you are not counting your set PW when you say two wedges, correct? Anyways, for me, I loved my 60* 588 LW. I will hit the flop shot anytime it is even mildly appropriate and it is great from deep bunkers. HOWEVER, I could count the number of times on one hand where I used that LW from the fairway last year. As a result, my LW was only my show off or specialty club.

For this year, and in my new bag, I decided to go 58 with a "C" grind. The lower loft will inspire more confidence and usability from the fairway - I am hoping - and the grind will allow me to easily open up the face when I really feel the need to flop one. As a result, and in order to keep my spacing more even between wedges, I will not be using a 56* in my new bag. I do have a 52* GW which I am currently using and I can hit that club a variety of distances just by choking down, let alone 3/4 and knock down shots. However, that gap wedge may eventually be replaced by a 53* as my set PW is 48 and that will allow an even 5* separation between PW (48*), GAP (53*), and SW/LW (58*). I'd bend my CG12 52* one degree weak to a 53* but that will also increase my bounce which I def do not want. Plus, it just so happens that Mizuno made the MP-T in a 53*!

I encourage you to think hard about your yardages, the gaps you have - if any - and the types of shots you will have to use to fill those gaps if you drop a wedge. Above all, go with what you feel comfortable.

[Big_M]

1) by two wedges I am assuming you mean 2 + a PW.
2) I think the easiest way to choose loft is to figure out what you want your highest lofted wedge to be (for me it was 58*), then just split the difference between the LW and PW for the GW (again, for me it was 52* since my PW is 46*). You don't have to do it this way, but it is what worked for me.
3) Bounce is really a preference thing... I open up my wedges a fair bit so I went with the Clevelands with the DSG... they are both 10* bounce. I hit down more than sweep, so the somewhat high bounce works for me, and both play pretty well from a variety of lies and types of sand.

[iammpspeer]

Though I would disagree all day long with a two wedge set, I would say bend your PW to 50* and put a 56* in the bag. Ideally, imo, would would want two wedges AND your PW.

[lcfd42]

The irons I purchased for the set are 3-PW. They were used so I may be adding hybrids fo the 3 and 4, but we'll see. I just want to get the short sticks filled first.

[sean_miller]

The irons I purchased for the set are 3-PW. They were used so I may be adding hybrids fo the 3 and 4, but we'll see. I just want to get the short sticks filled first.

I think most people would have assumed you meant 2 wedges, in addition to the one that came with the set.

Anyway, in one bag I have a 52 degree with 8 degrees bounce (I open it up for use in the sand - adds a bit more bounce). I also have a 60 degree with more about 10 degrees bounce. I can use that out of the sand, but it's good for knockdowns. In another bag it's a 52* and 60* matching wedges (Mizuno Pro irons and wedges - not sure of bounce). The PW in that set is bent to 50 dergees but it's more of a muscleback and with the longer shaft it goes about 15 yards farther - a good transition to the utility wedges. With my Hogans I have a 50* Tom Watson (Ram) bent to 51* and a 56* MacGregor MT - similar sole and appearance at address - they just seem to fit together as a set.

[billysandy]

My wedge set up wasn't well planned, but i like how it turned out. 46* pw, the (stock loft) 51* mizuno mx wedge, and a high bounce lob wedge (see sig.) i use my 51 from just about anywhere, and bring my 58 out when really needed (over a bunker to TIGHT pin and of course alll bunker play) instead of using it on full shots. 51 is a satisfying loft for me to play with from 100 yards in, and use it for greenside chips too - a lot easier than using the lob wedge when u dont need that loft in that situation!

[lcfd42]

I'm not counting the PW, as it is a given in most sets. I'm just talking about like a SW/LW combination or something. I just don't see the purpose, in my game anyway, for a GW/SW/LW combination. I already play this combination (GW/SW/LW) and it seens I'm wasting a slot I could br using for something else. I am wanting as SW/ and LW or something similar. I just need an idea of a loft and bounce suggestion. I figure the SW should have the bounce for bunker play and out of the rough, but am undecided on the other club or the bounce angles I should use. As I staed in teh origional pose, most of the courses her are of very firm ground. So that is the pursose behing my question. Maybe i should have asked this a different way. If you added a mid loft wedge (about 52*) and a high loft wedge(about 60*) club under the stated conditions. What loft and bounce angles may be suggested and why. Thanks again.

[wolverine_man]

Depends on two more things: your swing style (steep/digger vs shallow/sweeper) and the type of sand you might be using the wedge out of (soft and fluffy or thick and firm). With the firm fairways you mention, I would say if you are more of a sweeper and take little divot, go with mid to less bounce. I am a sweeper and play mixed fairways (firm or soft) but mostly firm bunkers. I decided a mid/low bounce was best for me for all of my wedges. I figure I can add just a tad bit more of bounce even with my C grind 58* just by opening the face if I need to in a bunker with fluffier sand.

As a general rule, you can break it down like this

Lower Bounce
Firm Fairway
Firm Sand
Sweeper (small divot)

Higher Bounce
Soft or Damp Fairways
Light Fluffy sand
Digger (deep/large divot)

[lcfd42]

Depends on two more things: your swing style (steep/digger vs shallow/sweeper) and the type of sand you might be using the wedge out of (soft and fluffy or thick and firm). With the firm fairways you mention, I would say if you are more of a sweeper and take little divot, go with mid to less bounce. I am a sweeper and play mixed fairways (firm or soft) but mostly firm bunkers. I decided a mid/low bounce was best for me for all of my wedges. I figure I can add just a tad bit more of bounce even with my C grind 58* just by opening the face if I need to in a bunker with fluffier sand.

These are the reasons I am looking at a mid bounce club and a low bounce one. So I wil have a club to play out of deeper rough or fluffy sand yet still have a club playable on firmer grounds. I see you play both your CG12 and Mizuno in 10*. I 'm looking for optimum playabilty in a broad range of course condtions. Also, if it matters, most of the courses I play have heavy Bermuda rough. In the green grass season, it's usually cut 2 + balls deep.

[lumpuckeroo]

These are the reasons I am looking at a mid bounce club and a low bounce one. So I wil have a club to play out of deeper rough or fluffy sand yet still have a club playable on firmer grounds. I see you play both your CG12 and Mizuno in 10*. I 'm looking for optimum playabilty in a broad range of course condtions. Also, if it matters, most of the courses I play have heavy Bermuda rough. In the green grass season, it's usually cut 2 + balls deep.

I play a 2 wedge set up, a 52* GW with 6* bounce and a 56* with 12* bounce. A lot of the courses I play in the summer have pretty hard turf here in the midwest so I like a minimum amount of bounce on the GW. The big factor for me on wedge selection was distance, I hit the GW right at 100 yards. To hit different yardages is a simple change of the length of swing. I go with a lot of bounce on a SW for use out of heavy greenside rough and bunkers. So I would say, find a wedge based on distance you hit it and not so much on loft.

[Fourputt]

After experimenting with all sorts of things, I play a 2 wedge set now (not counting my 47° PW). At the moment I'm using a 52.08 and a 56.11, but I also have a 54.11 and 58.08 that I can switch to if needed for different conditions. I find that I so rarely need the 58° that I mostly just stick with the 56° as my highest loft.

Whatever you do I'd try to keep the gaps fairly even, but otherwise it's a personal choice based on the courses you play most often.

[Elvisliveson]

Given the parameters of your situation, I would go with a 54/10 and a 58/6.

[ShriekingSheet]

I use a 54* and 58* two wedge set-up, with '09 Vokey Spin-Milled. Had toyed around with different combinations over the years but found, personally, that the weaker lofted option of 56* and 60* was not for me. The 100-110 distance is one that pops up so often for me, and I found that the stronger SW allows me to cover more ground comfortably in that area, where as a 56 would struggle to get to the 110ish yardages. With the 60*, I found it quite one dimensional, and loved how the stronger 58* could be used for more of a variety of shots and distances, as opposed to being restricted to high fluffy shots.