Question about my wedge setup!

[westcyderydin]

I have a question about wedge set up.  My current set has a 52.07, 56.13, 60.07.  They are Adams Tom Watson Series wedges.  I hit my PW 140 yds, my 52* 120, my 56* 110, and my 60* 100.  I do not really like the 10 yard gap in there.  I also happen to be a bit of a digger when it comes to chipping and pitching and use my 60* for that like 95 % of the time.

So while the 60* is my go to club around the green, it has a low bounce and with my digging it doesnt do well in wet conditions.  But on the other hand i like to hit some touchy shots with the face open and i dont want a lot of bounce for that reason.

But my real question involves a 58* Nicklaus wedge i bought with 11* bounce.  Should i just switch my 60* out for this club in wet conditions?  maybe just get used to hitting my 56* more often?  try to fit in a 5th wedge? i like to use a single club around the green just for the feel of it but could probly adapt.  any thoughts?

After i buy new irons (later on when i can afford them) then im going to get a new set of wedges so i can get the gaps right.  also how do you buy the right wedges?  they all go different distances when you consider differents brands, models, bounce angles, etc.

[Gioguy21]

Your goal shouldn't be finding wedges to optimize your gaps, 10 yards apart in club max's aren't too bad. My suggestion is going to the range with just your wedges, and find distances working backwards, utilizing the clubs in your bag choosing different efforts to get to different targets. ie hitting your 52* at 80%...or your 56* at half...etc....obv when you go out you're not gonna wack your wedges 100% everytime. find your distances through your swing instead of using your wallet. practice can help you get more feel with those wedges. Don't bail on those watson's just yet

[max power]

Another wedge?  Sounds like you hit your wedges fine and have 10 yards gaps between 52-56-60, which is great.  I'd just get the 52 bent a degree or two strong and call it a day.

[sambino24]

i agree, get to the range, or got out to the course on a slow day and at each hole in different spots throw 5-6 balls down and hit, get a good feel for those wedges before tossing them..although with the 60, you might want to look around to find one with a just a smidge more bounce i have a 60* with little bounce and i dig that club almost every time, but all in all if it feels good for you then thats the club for you

[mihi4]

Youre setup looks nearly the same like mine (except the distances, I'm waaaay shorter).

I'm using some sort of Pelz' teachings - I don't do the swing technique, but I use 3 lenthes of backswing to control the distances.

I.e. one day I had a 60m approach into a green and the fairways were really hard. Usually I would have played a 9 o'clock shot with the 56, but I feared, the high bounce wouldn't work well on the tight lie. So I took a 0730 swing with the 52 and it worked great.

Maybe you could do it the other way around? When the course is too wet for you 60, just practice with the short swing shots with the 56 and you will be ok, I think.

greetings

michi

[westcyderydin]

thanks for all the replies...my main problems are shots that are around 125 yards...especially on a par 3 on my course where the pin is usually near the back and the green slopes pretty steeply to the front.  And also the fact that my 60 has such little bounce.  i like this on hard and dry lies..that my main course has a lot of.  But then it likes to dig on soft lies.  so thats why the 58 degree with more bounce could come in...i will just have to decide what i want to do with that once the season starts and i actually know how i will hit the 58 around the greens.  Purely speculation now, but its winter and im bored...the other thing too is that i like using one club around the green...i might change that.

[TourSpoon]

First of all, I would have all my lofts checked...the Titliest DCI  990 PW is supposed to be 49* which is only 3* from your 52.  Something seems slightly off because you have that 20 yard gap and then go to tens.  I state my distances with the wedges as smooth full swings, not all outs because the wedges are not all out clubs.  My gaps are 48-54-60 and run from 125-105-85.  I have learned how to knock down the PW to hit a 110 yard shot (one of the best shots in golf), how to juice one (watch the spin), and how to cover the distances and trajectories.

I think you need to learn how to adjust using what you have.  Swapping a 58 that is close to your 56 for your 60 does little for you.  A better solution is to become more proficient with the 56 and learn to hit more shots with it.  Whenever I have a questionable lie, I take a good rehearsal stroke and if I don't have enough bounce I either open the face creating a bit more or switch to a club that is more suited.  The way your wedges are set up you have a good variety of weapons to choose from.  IMO, if you can't get it done with these adding another is just going to give you too many options. If you add the 58, I would keep the 52 and simplify.  The 58 is a versatile loft that could potentially kick out the 56 and 60.

Good luck.

[westcyderydin]

you are very right about checking the lofts, dont know how i havent thought of that... these irons have been owned by 3 or 4 poeple before me and i know one of them would do something like adjust the lofts...and of course they are 10 years old too.

[WUTiger]

Do you hit your full wedges at full length shaft, or choke down on them?

Originally Posted by westcyderydin

...my main problems are shots that are around 125 yards...especially on a par 3 on my course where the pin is usually near the back and the green slopes pretty steeply to the front.  And also the fact that my 60 has such little bounce. ...

If you hit the PW 140 yards at full length shaft, you might choke down a half-inch and see if that will cover the gap 125-yd. for you. You appear to have good distance control, so you might be better to "learn an extra shot" with your current stuff rather than changing up too much.

[westcyderydin]

You are right...i choke down for a 130 yd shot, there is just the one par three i run into where it gets annoying to be inbetween clubs...either light PW or hit my 52 a lil short and hope it doesnt roll back down the hill haha... but this year i think i am going to try to dial back my approach shot swing and maybe try to learn to hit my clubs different distances.  Up to now for simplicity purposes i have pretty much swung what feels like full and just choked down if needed....but now if i can swing softer and hit it shorter distances then i can also go back to the full swing and use that distance if i need it.  does that sound like a good idea?

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by westcyderydin

... it gets annoying to be inbetween clubs...either light PW or hit my 52 a lil short and hope it doesnt roll back down the hill...

You might try to hit a slight draw with 52 and see if it will release uphill. Can't draw a wedge a lot, but just a little uphill roll might do it. Also, you avoid spinning it back off the green.