Can you, should you, or have you?

[jmanbooyaa]

Weird question. Have any of you decided for whatever reason to buy a separate PW? Different loft or brand? Can you even buy just a PW and what different lofts still qualify as a PW? I have a 45 deg X-20 which matches my irons and was just curious if any of you switched it up. I wouldn't mind switching to a Cleveland or Nike PW is 48 deg still a PW?

[ajschn06]

Chalk this one up on the list of guys tryin to think of too many different things to improve their game...

[jmanbooyaa]

Absolutely my head is all messed up trying to figure the wedge gaps. I am asking so I don't make an impulsive decision.

[uttexas]

As my game improved, I wanted forged short irons and wedges for more feel, so I purchased these individually on the internet.  Depending on the brand a PW can be anywhere from 43 to 50 degrees.

[tristanhilton85]

Never really wanted a different brand PW... always felt like that was still part of the iron set.  Normally PWs are between 45 and 48 degrees,  I guess some could go all the way to 50 degrees but I'd consider that more of a gap wedge myself.

[Blades4me]

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

Weird question. Have any of you decided for whatever reason to buy a separate PW? Different loft or brand? Can you even buy just a PW and what different lofts still qualify as a PW? I have a 45 deg X-20 which matches my irons and was just curious if any of you switched it up. I wouldn't mind switching to a Cleveland or Nike PW is 48 deg still a PW?

Yup, I've done that, but have since decided that the pw from the iron set is better than an after market pw for me. So I perfer the pw from the iron set. I will also use the same make of shaft for my pw and irons. IMO I don't think you will see much, if any difference.

PW's go from 45-50* most common loft is 48* from what I've seen. The 50* pw's are from pre 90's iron sets.

[xxsoultonesxx]

For me, when I was playing my Pi7 irons, I used the PW from my RAC TP's because it was a blade and not a full cavity. I just liked the sole on it to be a little narrower. The j36's I play now have a nice bladed 9 iron and PW which I really like. I know Vokey makes a 48* that almost tempted me away from the RAC I was using with the Pi7's

[Shindig]

When I bought my current set of irons, my previous (SGI) PW had almost never come out of my bag except at the range.  I couldn't chip or pitch with it, due to its size.  I ended up getting a 47˚ Mizuno wedge, with the same bounce that my set's PW would have had.

When I got my irons re-shafted recently, I realized it had been about 30 months since I got the set.  But Mizuno wasn't making 47˚ wedges anymore.  My options were ordering a new one or re-shafting an old wedge.  The latter option was clearly out.  I had been looking for which wedges I liked, and found a fondness for the Nike SV line.  Unfortunately, that ALSO didn't have a 47˚ PW, but it did have a blade iron in that loft, so I got that.  Furthermore, my preference is for wedges with high bounce, and Nike VR blades have some nice high bounce angles!

As for what counts as a PW... I've seen as extreme as 43˚ being called a PW in a Cobra set.  Heck, even Mizuno's new lines of players' irons are down to 46˚.

[DaSportsGuy]

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

Weird question. Have any of you decided for whatever reason to buy a separate PW? Different loft or brand? Can you even buy just a PW and what different lofts still qualify as a PW? I have a 45 deg X-20 which matches my irons and was just curious if any of you switched it up. I wouldn't mind switching to a Cleveland or Nike PW is 48 deg still a PW?

PW's typically run anywhere from 45-50. I'm not sure why you would want to buy a seperate PW but to answer your question, you can buy just a PW. If you get on TGW, Edwin Watts, or any other online golf superstore, you can look at different wedges and see what different lofts are available.

When I think of a PW, I think of it more of an iron and less of a wedge so I try not to break up the standard set of 4 or 5-PW. When I think of wedges I think of anything from GW/AW-LW.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

Weird question. Have any of you decided for whatever reason to buy a separate PW? Different loft or brand? Can you even buy just a PW and what different lofts still qualify as a PW? I have a 45 deg X-20 which matches my irons and was just curious if any of you switched it up. I wouldn't mind switching to a Cleveland or Nike PW is 48 deg still a PW?

My feeling - I did just the opposite.  When i bought my AP-2 irons I just bought them through the PW, and was using a Vokey GW.  Last summer I ordered the AP-2 GW that matches my set, and I've never regretted it.  It gives me better consistency through the range from 5 iron to 51° wedge.  I then carry a 54 and 56° SW and I'm good... unconventional, but it seems to be working.  So I wouldn't make the jump you are considering unless there is a clear reason for it.

[jmanbooyaa]

I think it is probably just an excuse for me to buy more golf stuff. Really want to grab either a spin milled Vokey in 48* or 50* or a Cleveland CG15 because I feel I am very confident with my X-Forged 58/10 wedge and I think it has to do with the look of it, does this make sense? I have seen sets that have different types of clubs in the set, I think Nike has cavity back and than 8-pw are blades. I could be wrong.

[dbuck]

Looking at your sig, you have a gap of 45-54, so something around 50* would fill that nicely.

The X-20's had an approach wedge which was 50* and 11 bounce, and if you can find one in good shape, that might be my first choice. If you can't find one or don't like the idea, something that fits your eye around 50* and 10-11 bounce would probably be useful tool for you.  As many have said, the number or designation on the bottom of the club is less important than having a tool which fits your needs as far as yardage and shot shape.

I am not a good one to be giving this advice probably, as I use only one wedge in addition to my set. It says pitching wedge on the bottom but has a bit of flange and bounce like a sandwedge. I have no idea of the loft or bounce, but I use it from the sand and most fairway or rough lies from about 80 yds in and most pitch and chip shots around the green.

[Aquaguru]

I bought a Cleveland 588 49 degree to replace my ping eye2 PW.  However, I ONLY did this becuase for some reason the loft on the club has gone from 48 degree to 54 degrees over the years.  I have no clue how this happened but I noticed I lost alot of distance with it early in the year.  I went to GG to get the loft checked out and it ended up 6 degrees weak.  I have had these irons basically my whole life and they have not lost any groove depth or damage to the face.  They are almost invincible.  I shopped around for weeks looking for a new ping eye2 black dot PW but failed.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Aquaguru

I bought a Cleveland 588 49 degree to replace my ping eye2 PW.  However, I ONLY did this becuase for some reason the loft on the club has gone from 48 degree to 54 degrees over the years.  I have no clue how this happened but I noticed I lost alot of distance with it early in the year.  I went to GG to get the loft checked out and it ended up 6 degrees weak.  I have had these irons basically my whole life and they have not lost any groove depth or damage to the face.  They are almost invincible.  I shopped around for weeks looking for a new ping eye2 black dot PW but failed.

A PING Eye 2 did that? Maybe dropped it in the parking lot and someone drove over it, then backed up over it, then drove over it . . . . 50 times?!?!

Anyway, @ the OP, it depends on the iron set and the PW.

Ben Hogan Apex:

1984 (PCs) - not a fan of the E in general but this one is a keeper (the Equalizer is Hogan's cutesy name for a pitching wedge)

1994 (Channelbacks) -  a completely useless and unweildly overly offset shovel. No way that POS makes it in the bag outdoors - off mats it's tolerable though so I do use it indoors.

Mizuno MP-11 - swingweight too high and after having it bent to 50 degrees it has too much bounce. I replace it with a Mizuno Pro 52 bent to 50.5

Cleveland TA1 - best PW I've ever used. It's almost perfect - needs to be bent a degree flatter.

Burke blades (ca. 1960) - don't care for really old 9-irons or PW so I only carry 2-8 then a modern GW.

Tommy Armour 845 c/m - the 7-PW are almost identical to my TA1s so I'm sure the PW will stay in the bag.

Long story even longer, like I said, it depends on the set.

[Quinn07]

It's an interesting question, especially for SGI irons as I would think that it would be difficult to pitch and chip with it.  I have considered getting a wedge and having it bent to my PW stats just to have all of my wedges the same head shape, feel, etc. but I just haven't pulled the trigger.  Now that I am using the x-forged, I probably won't bother.

I see that you have gone ahead and got a Vokey...let us know how that works out for you.

[jmanbooyaa]

Originally Posted by Quinn07

It's an interesting question, especially for SGI irons as I would think that it would be difficult to pitch and chip with it.  I have considered getting a wedge and having it bent to my PW stats just to have all of my wedges the same head shape, feel, etc. but I just haven't pulled the trigger.  Now that I am using the x-forged, I probably won't bother.

I see that you have gone ahead and got a Vokey...let us know how that works out for you.

Ya I pulled the PW from my bag and replaced it with a 48 Vokey. My SC trip got pushed back a few days so now won't be able to use till after the new year. Will keep you posted. Thanks for the post.

[Aquaguru]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaguru

I bought a Cleveland 588 49 degree to replace my ping eye2 PW.  However, I ONLY did this becuase for some reason the loft on the club has gone from 48 degree to 54 degrees over the years.  I have no clue how this happened but I noticed I lost alot of distance with it early in the year.  I went to GG to get the loft checked out and it ended up 6 degrees weak.  I have had these irons basically my whole life and they have not lost any groove depth or damage to the face.  They are almost invincible.  I shopped around for weeks looking for a new ping eye2 black dot PW but failed.

A PING Eye 2 did that? Maybe dropped it in the parking lot and someone drove over it, then backed up over it, then drove over it . . . . 50 times?!?!

Yes !! I know I couldn't believe it I was so bummed.  Other than that the club is in great condition, no wear on the club face or scratches, those clubs are amazing.  It also helps that I baby them and clean them all the time.

[TourSpoon]

The pw for my current set is the best pw I have seen in a while and is a performer very similar to SM's TAs. The 735 cm wedge is versatile and Is great from 125-100 and around the greens. I had it bent a degree week to 48. I would have no problems getting a Vokey or Cleveland if I didn't like it so much.