64 wedge too much for me?

[Cgjohnst]

Hey guys. I've been golfing for almost a decade now, but have never really worked on improving my game until this past year. I've always just enjoyed the game and am really trying to get my HC down to single digits now. I consistently drive 280-300 and straight. My iron shots are typically very consistent and straight. My short game is absolutely pitiful. With my long drives on the courses I play, it sets me up for short wedge shots(<80 yards). I step up with my wedges and it's not uncommon to take 3 wedge shots to get it on the green, then 2-3 putt. I recently bought a 58-08 vokey which I absolutely love. Would a 64 vokey be a good club to add to my setup for these close shots? It just seems like a lot of loft. Currently my setup is:

Driver: Taylormade Burner 2.0

3-wood: Taylormade Burner 2.0

5-wood: Taylormade Burner 2.0

3-SW: MDD Progressive Offset (Ping knockoffs?)

58* Vokey

Putter: Odyssey White Hot #7

I can add in one more club, which I figured could be a higher loft wedge. I'm also looking for a set of game improvement irons that aren't $700. Once I pick those up, the plan is to pick up a 52* vokey as well.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give!

[Shorty]

It's not so much that it's too much clubm it's just unnecessary.

You would be better off trying to play a variety of shots with a 56 or maybe learning how to use a 60. It depends very much on the courses you play and the way you play.

But..........  WARNING!!!!!! You stated in your OP:

I consistently drive 280-300 and straight.

I am sorry, I have never seen you play, but I am telling you, you do not. If you did, you would be one of the best drivers on the planet.

If you hit the ball 240 and straight half the time that would make you an exceptionally good driver of the ball.

An accurate and honest assessment of your game is the most important thing in terms of working out what direction to go in.

If you can't consistently hit a wedge to the green from 80 to 100 metres, I'd be running a mile from a 64 degree wedge.

[mdl]

What Shorty said.  His tone is a little pissy (as per usual :) ), but it's literally impossible that you driver 280-300 consistently and straight and hit your irons a proportionally good distance consistently and straight and give away enough strokes on short game and putting to play to a 20 HC.  If you have the physical ability to do those first two things, the only way you could give away enough strokes to get a 20 HC is to be sandbagging BIG TIME. It's literally impossible to be hitting 65% of fairways at ~290 and be able to hit a 4i ~215 where you want it most of the time and not have the ability to avoid consistently hitting 3 wedges from 80 yards.  You gotta be honest with yourself.

Also, the 64˚ is probably unnecessary, but I've heard lots of people here tell me my favorite wedge (my 60˚) is only for scratch players or only for Phil or whatever, so if you find one you really love, then go for it.

[Stacey_E]

Im the first one to admit that having a 64* wedge in your signature will get some eyes rolling That being said, for the price of a new 64* you could get an entry level GPS.  I promise you two things about a GPS....#1 you will have accurate distances for all of your clubs.  #2 you will hit more GIR.  If you then find you are shortsiding yourself a lot, and/or laying up to 60-80 yard distances a lot....go for a 64*.  Also try keeping track for about 4 or 5 rounds of how many times you hit each club in the bag.  This will help you know exactly what clubs are useful vs. dead weight.  As always, good luck and hit em straight!

[Cgjohnst]

Well I got most of my set finished out today. This is what I'm currently looking at:

Driver/3wood/5wood: Burner 2.0

4-PW: Ping G15

52/58 Vokey Spin Milled

Odyssey White Hot #7

That leaves me with one more club slot available. I'm thinking either a rescue 3 or a 64 vokey. What do you guys think would be better?

[Aquaguru]

I would go with a 56.  You can just open the face of your 58 to get the loft you are looking for.  Plus your 5 wood and a rescue 3 wouldn't be too much different

My only question is how you are intended to use your 52 and 58.  If you are more comfortable with full shots I would try to fill the gap in between those.

My set includes a 49, 52, 56.  I use the 56 for full shots from 90 and all other shots around the green, I can open the face and flop shots when needed (once every 2-3 rounds) so to me there is no reason to buy a 64.

As stated above I would use the money and buy a GPS.  I think you could shave 2-3 strokes with one.

[Cgjohnst]

I've been using the free GolfLogix app on my iphone. It may not be as good as an actual GPS, but I can definitely see how that would make a large improvement. I pick up my G15's tomorrow afternoon, then I'm going to hit the range over the next couple days to get my distances for each club logged. An accurate GPS seems like it would make a big difference. I shot a +16 today. 17 Bogies and 1 Birdie. I was about a foot away from the pin...it would have been sad to lose that birdie haha.

I'm pretty comfortable with full shots on the two vokeys. Is 6 degrees too much of a gap? My PW is 45 degrees if I remember correctly, so would it be better to fill in that gap or between the two vokeys?

[Leftygolfer]

There is nothing unique or more difficult to play a 64.  I've had one for around 4 years, it has been in my bag most of the time.  If you can hit a good wedge shot with a 56, you can do it with a 64.  Just keep your hands in front of the ball at impact.  I am much more accurate from 60-70 yards with that than a 60.  I really think the stigma behind that loft is in peoples head or they never have played one.  When I'm playing well it is a huge advantage on par 5s b/c I expect to hit it to at worst 20 feet from 60 yards.  FYI I've worked hard at being a good wedge player.  That is my strength.

I think that the PW, 52, 58, 64 would be a nice set up.

[Aging Boomer]

Originally Posted by Leftygolfer

I think that the PW, 52, 58, 64 would be a nice set up.

That's what I have, except instead of the iron matching PW, I have my 9-iron bent 2° weak, and instead bag a favorite dedicated sand iron just for bunker play.

[johnclayton1982]

I love this book (specially for distance wedge shots) :

http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Pelzs-Short-Game-Bible/dp/0767903447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid;=1337002204&sr;=8-1

I play with a 64.  I like it.  I'd rather have more options around the green than more options from 200 yards out.  Just me, though.

I agree with the other posters that you might be exaggerating your driving.  Alot of people do it.  The other day, I played in my clubs member-member.  Guy hits a nice drive, other guy says "where'd it go" he says "up the gut, about 270".  It was a nice, drive right down the middle, but when we got to the ball, it was maybe 225.  People think any drive down the middle hit hard is over 250.  Its hard to consistently drive a golf ball over 250 yards, let alone 280.

I would spend your money learning how to hit wedges as opposed to buying one.  You may need a 64, you may not... get some technique then figure it out.

[inthecup]

Originally Posted by Leftygolfer

There is nothing unique or more difficult to play a 64.  I've had one for around 4 years, it has been in my bag most of the time.  If you can hit a good wedge shot with a 56, you can do it with a 64.  Just keep your hands in front of the ball at impact.  I am much more accurate from 60-70 yards with that than a 60.  I really think the stigma behind that loft is in peoples head or they never have played one.  When I'm playing well it is a huge advantage on par 5s b/c I expect to hit it to at worst 20 feet from 60 yards.  FYI I've worked hard at being a good wedge player.  That is my strength.

I think that the PW, 52, 58, 64 would be a nice set up.

I was thinking of adding a 60 but I can't decide why?  I can put a 56 pretty high without opening the face if I do open it I can go very high.  I have a 60 that I experiment with from time to time and I always leave it out.

It might come up one time per round.  A little bump a few feet off the green beyond that I don't see it.  A 64 is even more questionable in my mind.  I am not saying you are wrong but he is describing a game lacking consistency.  Learning the different shots with a 56 makes more sense to me.  After you master that then decide if you need a 64.