3 or 4 wedges?

[sean_miller]

For most mid and high handicappers a 4th wedge is a waste because they cant hit their 58*/60* consistently anyways.

That logic could be applied to several clubs in a high handicapper's bag. There are probably a few that could be pulled from any high handicapper's set. Like the driver for example.

[Yukari]

I carry PW (140 yds), GW (120 yds), and SW (100 yds). Anything closer, I use SW. While, I have contemplated putting a lob wedge (60 or 62*) in my bag, I really don't need it as SW serves me well on anything inside 100 yds.

So if you have problem with a distance control between your SW and 60*, add another wedge. Otherwise, look at your game and add whatever the club you think would help out your game.

[GaijinGolfer]

Being a 21 HDCP, I agree. But, even if my HDCP drops, I'm not sure a LW is in the cards. I hit greenside cut shots with my 56 which are fairly reliable. Average golfers I play with often end up hitting LWs after they shortside themselves going after sucker pins. Avoid situations where you need LW.

Agreed.

That's why we are high handicappers and not single. Chipping, and the long game really, is about making good contact. If you do that, chipping with a LW is no problem.

Exactly why mid and high-handicappers shouldnt carry a LW. They dont make good contact on a consistent basis.

[VMAN]

I think four wedges are great, not only for the loft options but especially for the other characteristic of a wedge...bounce. I find that in any round I will use all my wedges, but rarely will I use my 4 wood, 3 and 4 hybrids in one round.

I carry four: pw, 52/05*, 56/12*, and 60/06*. Not so much for the loft differences since I rarely hit full shots with either the 56 or 60 but because I may choose a club based on the bounce I need for the shot.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by WUTiger..... Chipping with LW? Tried that with previous set of clubs, and most LW chips ended up as skulls or big fats.

Agreed.

The LW didn't work for chipping, but I do pretty well with 8-iron chips. And for the chip from above the hole, I hit a "cut punch" shot: open the face a little, and get check-spin which lessens roll. LW feels really strange - the one season I did OK with LW, I had to really practice with it, and neglect other parts of my game.

Also, VMAN is on target with his advice about tapping into high and low bounce in different wedges.

[onthehunt526]

yeah I did.. did them myself actually... I build my own clubs and like to tinker... but I've found with the weaker lofts I have more control... I've thought of going back to a 48-degree PW and "standard lofts" but the weak lofts just give me more control less chance to curve the ball.

[leezer99]

I play five wedges. My PW is 47* and I carry Vokey SM 50*, 54*, 58* and a 62*. Each of them I play different shots with due to their sole grinds but can play just about any shot with either my 50 or 58 if I had to.

[WUTiger]

JP talking to

onthehunt526 ...

Did you have them bent this way? I have never seen a PW more than 48*

Until the advent of cavity-backed clubs, the standard PW was 50˚ to 52˚. Perimeter weighting on cavity-backed irons popped the ball up higher than did traditional musclebacks, so the clubmakers delofted clubs a degree or two to prevent distance loss. Good idea led to a delofting even more - an

arms race so you can claim your XX 7iron goes 15 yds. farther than anybody elses. This led to the Gap Wedge, which fills the gap between stronger PWs and the SWs, which stayed around 56˚ or so. My current GW is the same loft - 50˚ - as the PW in my old Ping Eye-2 clones.

[Zeph]

Agreed.

Not when chipping perhaps, but I play it quite well from the rough, when needing a flop shot and from the bunkers. A sandwedge is usually 56º, mine just happen to be 58º. Wouldn't make that big difference with 60º either, but more than that I don't want.

[bcgolf]

I currently play 3 weges.

PW 46 - GW 52 - SW 56

And I don't like it one bit. I am not a long hitter, so I feel I don't have enough gap between GW en SW. PW = 90 meters, SW = 70 m and the GW i bought with intention to bridge that gap and hit about 80 m only gives me 70-75 m. Could be offcourse it's totally off spec, haven't had it checked out by fitter. But anyway I am contemplating of going a different route:

PW 46 - GW 52 - SW 58

So with my short distances I do get some gap and the 58 will be nicer to get me out of greenside bunkers !

[Waku]

Usually when you´re a high handicapper, you don´t get much greens in regulation, so it´s easy to have 4 wedges to match several distances.
Then when you improve to a lesser o low handicap, you need more help from the long clubs (woods and irons) to attack par fives in two, and less wedges. At that time, you´ve mastered the partial swing, so with PW-SW-LW it´s enough.
At a time, I carried only a 4W and PW-GW-SW-LW, now I carry also a 13º 3W and PW-SW-LW, and I´ve my distances of 110-100-90-80-70-60-50-40 yards covered with full and half swings from 9 iron to LW

[Belt Sanders]

2 wedges.
49* PW and 55* SW

[ET-Taylor]

4 i use 46º/52º/56º/60º i use all of them especially my TM wedges

[Deryck Griffith]

This question comes up a lot. Do you leave yourself shots frequently at 115-120 yards out? You are probably a long hitter 145 PW? Whats the longest club you can get up and the air and hold a firm green with? You probably only need fairway wood and driver after that. I have noticed many good golfers who are long leave one of the longer irons, usually a 3 carry a strong 4i or hybrid to make room for a fourth wedge, or replace the 3w with a 4w and drop the 5w. Getting gaps that allow you play to the distances you want or need is all that matters.

This is the truth...I use my PW for my 140- 130 yard shot, my 52 degree for that 120-110 shot, my 56 for 110 in. My 60 is only ever used out of the sand or when I am short sided on a chip.

[wolverine_man]

Went from 48, 52,56, 60 to 48, 52, 58. So far, no regrets! Considered getting a 53 MP-T to replace the 52 CG12, but I feel I can hit the 52 100 yds more comfortably.

[Belt Sanders]

This is the truth...I use my PW for my 140- 130 yard shot, my 52 degree for that 120-110 shot, my 56 for 110 in. My 60 is only ever used out of the sand or when I am short sided on a chip.

I dropped my 60* LW because ever so often I would chunk or bone a full swing with it. It ruins my day. To keep from being tempted to hit the LW with a full swing I just dropped it completely. I swear I have dropped a stroke a round using just a SW. My hat is off to you for the descipline to use your LW greenside only.

[jpalermo]

4 - see sig
pw-47*
51*
55*
59*

[Deryck Griffith]

I dropped my 60* LW because ever so often I would chunk or bone a full swing with it. It ruins my day. To keep from being tempted to hit the LW with a full swing I just dropped it completely. I swear I have dropped a stroke a round using just a SW. My hat is off to you for the descipline to use your LW greenside only.

I hear ya man! The 60 deg can be a dangerous club if it isn't hit square. I use the 56 all around the greens..which reminds me, I need to buy a new one before the beginning of the season because my grooves are worn out!!