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Do I need a Sand Wedge?


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I am a newbie in golf and just bought myself a new set of clubs. The set came with the irons 3-pw. I borrowed my friends set before and I noticed that there was a sand wedge, but my new set did not have it. Is it necessary to have a sand wedge or can another iron replace it?
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You can use a driver to get out of a bunker but it's a heck of a lot easier with a SW. A SW can be any wedge loft that you feel comfortable. I'd like at a 54* or 56* with a lot of bounce.

Kevin

-------
In the Bag
Driver: G15 9.0*3 & 5 Wood: BurnerHybrid: Pro Gold 20*; 23*Irons: MP-58 (5-PW)Wedges: Vokey Spin Milled 52*8; 56*14Putter: Newport 2.0 33"Balls: NXT

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Yeah, I'd get a wedge, but it doesn't have to be a sand wedge, like what kfowler said. For instance, I use a 64* wedge instead of a sand wedge.

You should go to your local golf store, test out a few wedges, and see what you're comfortable with.

Driver: :cobra: BiO Cell (10.5º)

Wood: :ping: G15 3 (15.5°)

Hybrids: :callaway: Diablo Edge: 3 (21º), 4 (24º)

Irons: :callaway: Diablo Edge: 5-PW

Wedges: :cleveland:588 RTX CB 50º, Paradise Black Chrome II Sand Wedge 56º

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You play to a 20 and dont know if you need a sw? Seriously?

In my L8...
Driver: Launcher 460 9.5
Fairway Wood: 18 degree hybrid
Irons: G5 3-GW
Wedges: m/b 50, 56Putter: Anser 2Ball: D2 Feel

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You play to a 20 and dont know if you need a sw? Seriously?

Could be one of those sickening "naturals". I had a friend in college that started tagging along with us to the golf course, and within a month, he was whipping us like rented mules. He eventually became a PGA teaching professional.

:ping:

  • G400 - 9° /Alta CB 55 Stiff / G410-SFT - 16° /Project X 6.0S 85G / G410 - 20.5° /Tensei Orange 75S
  • G710 - 4 iron/SteelFiber i110cw Stiff • / i210 - 5 iron - UW / AWT 2.0 Stiff
  • Glide SS - 54° / CFS Wedge / Glide 2.0 SS - 58°/10 / KBS 120S / Hoofer - Black

:scotty_cameron: - Select Squareback / 35"  -  :titleist: - Pro V1 / White  -  :clicgear: - 3.5+ / White

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Well actually it kinda depends on what kind of sand is in the bunkers at your course, if it is loose and fluffy .... buy a Sandwedge with about 12* Bounce.

But if it is hard or heavy sand, you don't need a Sandwedge and you can just use the PW or buy yourself a lofted wedge, like a 58* or even 60* which might be a good thought for a newbie starting at hc 19.1 ....... !

Cal Razr Hawk 10.5 | TM Superfast 3W | Adams Idea Pro Black 20 | MP-68 3-PW | TW9 50/06 + 58/12 | Ram Zebra Putter

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I absolutely loved my 56* the moment I bought right up until my new relationship with my Cleveland G15 60* mmmmmmmmmm. Its like my favorite club to use from anywhere under 60yds out.
 Driver:callaway.gifBig Bertha 460cc 10* Hybrids: adams.gif A7 3-4H  Irons: adams.gif A7 5i-PW
Wedges: cleveland.gifCG 12 50*, CG 14 56*, CG12 60* Putt Putt:odyssey.gif White ICE Tour Bronze 1 Putter
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... A SW can be any wedge loft that you feel comfortable. I'd like at a 54* or 56* with a lot of bounce.

As a newbie, get a SW as your second wedge. SW loft plus bounce helps you blast ball out of the bunkers, and it can be used for pop-and-stop shots around the green.

Learning to use the PW plus SW should keep you busy for the first year or two. If somebody you play says you need four or five wedges, smile and ignore them.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

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Do you need a SW? No... Could it be helpful? Maybe... If you can hit your PW ok out of the trap than a SW will be a good purchase but if you can't hit PW out of the sand then it might not help you. I'd look at getting a 56* SW anything more than that I think would be difficult to hit for a new golfer. Good Luck...
Driver: i15, 3 wood: G10, Hybrid: Nickent 4dx, Irons: Ping s57, Wedges: Mizuno MPT 52, 56, 60, Putter: XG #9 
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Yes, you need a sand wedge. IMO, its one of those clubs that you simply dont want to be without.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S

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I'd get a SW because of the bounce as WUTiger mentioned. Get a used one to start with.

'09 Burner (UST ProForce V2 77g - S)
4dx 15.5 hybrid (UST V2 - Stiff)
'99 Apex Plus 3-EW (Stiff)
TM rac 50/6 GW
Arnold Palmer The Standard SW (20-30 years old)'99 Dual Rossie Blade

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He's obviously not a 19. You can tell he's only played 3 or 4 times. he probably jsut picked a number he thought was a beginign golfer handicap like I did when I started. Im not a 20 either. Closer to 25 now. But was closer to 30 when I put that 20 up there.

"My greatest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my golf clubs for what I told her I paid for them."
What's in my SQ Tour Carry bag?:
Driver: R7 Quad 9.5*
3, 5 Wood: G5 clones
Irons: : AP1 (4-PW) Wedges: 52*, 56*, 62* Spin Milled Putter: White Hot 2 Ball BladeBalls: Shoes: My...

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Depends on the courses, as was said above. It's not a necessity---you can get out of sand just fine with a PW or 9I, but it's a bit easier with a wedge. You need to practice, of course... Also, don't be fooled by the "sand" in the name. The club is useful in a lot of situations, not just for use in the sand. I used to do all my chipping with my sand wedge.

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

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You don't need a sand wedge. You don't need to play golf. Nor do you need golf clubs.

Current Gear Setup: Driver: TM R9 460, 9.5, Stiff - 3W: TM R9, 15, stiff - Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro Black, 18, stiff - Irons: Callaway X Forged 09, 3-PW, PX 5.5 - SW: Callaway X Series Jaws, 54.14 - LW: Callaway X Series Jaws, 60.12 - Putter: PING Redwood Anser, 33in.

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you don't need a sand wedge. You don't need to play golf. Nor do you need golf clubs.

:-d :-d :-d

Cal Razr Hawk 10.5 | TM Superfast 3W | Adams Idea Pro Black 20 | MP-68 3-PW | TW9 50/06 + 58/12 | Ram Zebra Putter

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Yes you do. There are a lot of different ways to hit a lot of different shots with different clubs, but there's simply no better option for the sand than a relatively high loft, high bounce sand wedge. You get to carry 14 clubs and a sand wedge should be one of them.

Welcome to the obsession!

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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Note: This thread is 4980 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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