Shaft stiffness in wedge not used for full shots

[Brett]

If one were to use stiff shafts in the rest of their clubs and also use say a lob wedge, but almost exclusively for partial or "finesse" shots, could it be a good idea to use a more flexible shaft in that club?

[LuciusWooding]

It could be a good plan, but not imperative, especially if you have the same shaft in all your irons and wedges. Stiffer shafts may help distance control, and will help a lot on full shots. You will get a different feel from soft shafts, more spin for a given amount of force, and higher shots on pitches and full shots, especially if the shaft is softer in the tip.

The most common wedge shaft is a true temper DGs400, used in a lot of models. Many pros use the X100 on their irons and the s400 in wedges, others will use the x in both. Some even use project x 7.0 in their entire iron set and wedges, which is a shaft that few players can or choose to handle even on tour.

There are also shafts designed to increase spin such as the DG spinner, but many people find them to feel weird. It's a feel thing and there isn't much difference necessarily. People go both ways on the issue so don't stress over it. I personally like the option of using a wedge on full shots so I like matching shafts due to their versatility and extra control. It might not be the best for the majority of the shots I take, but the 20% of the time I hit a full rather than partial shot, I prefer to not be in a bunker.

[MiniBlueDragon]

For a while I thought about putting S300's in my wedges but more often than not the wedges are used for partial shots rather than full shots. I decided to stick with the default 'wedge flex' for now and see how it goes; if I find myself needing far more full shots than partial/feel shots I might think about reshafting.

[rebby]

For a while I thought about putting S300's in my wedges but more often than not the wedges are used for partial shots rather than full shots. I decided to stick with the default 'wedge flex' for now and see how it goes; if I find myself needing far more full shots than partial/feel shots I might think about reshafting.

FWIW, the TT "wedge" flex shaft is simply an S200/S300/S400 (depending on the weight that the wedge OEM was aiming for). Personally, I like my wedges to share the same shaft as my irons. Mainly for consistency. If I were to use a different shaft in my wedges than in my irons, I'd go stiffer/heavier in my wedges and short irons for more control and lower trajectory (ie: the same school of thought as a "flighted" set of shafts, more or less).

[MiniBlueDragon]

Originally Posted by rebby

FWIW, the TT "wedge" flex shaft is simply an S200/S300/S400 (depending on the weight that the wedge OEM was aiming for).

Personally, I like my wedges to share the same shaft as my irons. Mainly for consistency. If I were to use a different shaft in my wedges than in my irons, I'd go stiffer/heavier in my wedges and short irons for more control and lower trajectory (ie: the same school of thought as a "flighted" set of shafts, more or less).

So without removing the grip is there a way to find out what version is installed in for example my MP R-12's?

[VMAN]

Most off the rack Mp wedges have the spinner shaft.  Just bought a 64 to mess with and that is what it has.

My wedges 52,56,60 I put in the same shaft as my irons.  They are also 1/2" long and 3 deg upright, like the rest of my set.  I like the consist feel throughout the set.  It doesn't seem to cause any problems with spin, I have enough to stop the ball dead or give it a little extra if needed.

[MiniBlueDragon]

In the US that's true but in Europe the spinner shaft isn't installed. Something to do with humid weather rotting something inside the shaft which makes it 'whistle' on full shots.

[mlf16507]

I use the same shaft in all my irons,but I tip the SW and LW the same as my 8 iron.  If it is good enough for Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, I figure it would work for me!

[The Tin Man]

My re-shaft my wedges to match my irons. I like graphite and there's not much available other the SCOR (I wish somebody would review these), and game improvement CB's.

[WUTiger]

Some Cleveland wedge players don't need the DG Spinner shaft.

Recent Cleveland wedges (at least as far back as CG12) come with the TRAction wedge flex shaft. With a stiff butt and a more flexible tip, the ball launches a little lower, but still generates spin on partial shots. TRAction functions pretty much the same as the new DG Spinner shafts.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by mlf16507

I use the same shaft in all my irons,but I tip the SW and LW the same as my 8 iron.  If it is good enough for Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, I figure it would work for me!

Same here.

[Laws of Woo]

I opted for the Rifle Spinners in the same flex as my Project X Flighted iron shafts. I was looking for a similar feel from iron to wedge, that I wasn't getting with the KBS or DG I tried.The feel around the green with these is great, launch is a little higher on full shots but not too bad, and I can noticeably spin the ball more. They play pretty similar in flex to the PX Flighted, but have a softer tip so partial shots don't feel to rough.

[rebby]

So without removing the grip is there a way to find out what version is installed in for example my MP R-12's?

Probably not, at least not unless you know the exact head weight of the wedge. Even if you pull the grip, it might not be stamped in the manner expected anyway.

[TourSpoon]

I really don't think that the average amateur gets much out of changing wedge shafts to more flexible because they are so short to begin. For the record, I play S300s in my irons 4-P and S200 (wedge flex) in the 54 and 60.

[patrick]

Fascinated both by your process and Trevino story!

I recently discovered acquired a cobra 3iron with a stiff shaft and suddenly, what do you know, I can hit a fairway with a  long club.

That's my first insight into shaft flex can really make a difference.

I'm curious if you have other flexes or changes to your shafts across your set?

[mlf16507]

Originally Posted by patrick

Fascinated both by your process and Trevino story!

I recently discovered acquired a cobra 3iron with a stiff shaft and suddenly, what do you know, I can hit a fairway with a  long club.

That's my first insight into shaft flex can really make a difference.

I'm curious if you have other flexes or changes to your shafts across your set?

I hard step my PW andGW (tip 1/2" more than normal ) , This makes for a more pentrating flight on PW abd GW.

I also have long irons 1* upright and all wedges !* flat This helps in keeping long irons from going right and wedges going left.,

[patrick]

Take me a while to digest the physics of that....Probably gong to get fitted as I think I need stiffer shafts in my longer stuff.  But I need some kind of metric to judge that by, can't afford too much shaft experimentation

[johnclayton1982]

Quote:

and all wedges !* flat This helps in keeping long irons from going right and wedges going left.,

+1.  I do the same, all wedges are 1* flat.  utley recommends it in his book "the art of scoring".  It is a significant change, and makes it much easier to avoid that occasional pulled wedge (which is my mistake with the wedges).

Have a problem missing long irons to the right - gonna try bending one of my old clubs and see if it helps.  Thanks!