Stockpiling "Square" Grooves

[Fourputt]

All of the controversy over the Anchored putting ban got me to thinking about the last battle when they changed the rules on grooves. There was at least as much crying and hand-wringing over that as there is about the putting ban.  But there was one difference, and that is that the groove rule allowed wedges manufactured before 1/1/2011 to still be made with the larger grooves, and club level players are still allowed to use them until 2024 unless playing in a competition in which the conditions disallow them.

At the time of the change, a lot of players swore that they were going to stockpile a supply of the old wedges to last them until the ban when into effect.  What I'm wondering is how many of us actually followed through on that commitment?  And how many are still using the old large groove wedges?  By the way, it's a fallacy that the the new grooves are all V-grooves.  The only thing that was changed was the allowed width, spacing, volume, and edge radius.  They are still allowed to be "square", but not as deep or to have the sharp edges.

I have two pre 2011 wedges, not because I made a point of getting them, but because I don't change out my wedges as often as many do.  I just happened to have bought them before the change.  Mine are a Cleveland CG 15 56° and a Titleist Vokey 54°.

So, do you still have some large groove wedges?

[TourSpoon]

I didn't make a point of stocking up on the pre11 wedges and recently replaced them with conforming wedges. Sometimes, I use the old ones to practice with. I know there is a slight difference, but it hasn't reflected in my play. So to answer your question, there was no wedge stockpile in my garage. I was not a "Wedge Prepper".

[David in FL]

I still have 2.  Both Vokeys..... 56* and 58*.  Both will likely be replaced this year.

My irons are pre-2011 too.

Certainly not stockpiling.  I'm nowhere near good enough to discern any real world difference.

[dsc123]

I bought a set of wedges a bit sooner than I otherwise would have because of the groove rule (got GC 15's) but I've lost them on the course and replaced them with conforming wedges.  Probably doesn't make a difference at my level.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by David in FL

I still have 2.  Both Vokeys..... 56* and 58*.  Both will likely be replaced this year.

My irons are pre-2011 too.

Certainly not stockpiling.  I'm nowhere near good enough to discern any real world difference.

My Titleist AP-2 irons are pre 2010 too, but they were already made with V-grooves.  I do 95% of my greenside chips and pitches with the PW and GW from that set.  I never did get what the fuss was all about.  A year from now everyone will have forgotten the anchoring debate too.

[indyvai]

Hahaha! I just announced my stockpile in an anchoring thread... I think I have 4 sets with 1 year of wear on 2 sets... so I'm peachy! Gonna use a broomstick this year as well...

[dave67az]

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would need to stockpile clubs (unless you play on a lot rougher courses than I do).

Do you guys seriously damage clubs so much that they are unplayable after a few years?  Hell, I'm still playing with my first set of irons (over 30 years old now).  Granted, I'm not a great golfer so maybe I'm playing the game wrong, but how are your clubs getting damaged?

[Derrick Parker]

I am still using my 17 year old 55 degree SW.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by dave67az

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would need to stockpile clubs (unless you play on a lot rougher courses than I do).

Do you guys seriously damage clubs so much that they are unplayable after a few years?  Hell, I'm still playing with my first set of irons (over 30 years old now).  Granted, I'm not a great golfer so maybe I'm playing the game wrong, but how are your clubs getting damaged?

I've never quite understood it either.  I used the first SW I ever bought for more than a decade.  F or one thing, I spread the wear out over the whole face so they last a lot longer that way.

[mp33 man]

For the most part your wedges/irons don't get "damaged" they simply get worn. If your using cast wedges/irons than they probably wont wear as fast but if your using forged wedges that are forged from a much softer metal then they wear pretty quickly...

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

I've never quite understood it either.  I used the first SW I ever bought for more than a decade.  For one thing, I spread the wear out over the whole face so they last a lot longer that way.

You know, I think we're in the same boat because the only thing getting worn out on some of my irons is the edge of the blade.  Could be worse...could be the hosel.

Originally Posted by mp33 man

For the most part your wedges/irons don't get "damaged" they simply get worn. If your using cast wedges/irons than they probably wont wear as fast but if your using forged wedges that are forged from a much softer metal then they wear pretty quickly...

This I did not know.  So basically if you buy forged wedges and play a lot of golf, you're pretty much committing yourself to buying new clubs every few years?

[mp33 man]

You know, I think we're in the same boat because the only thing getting worn out on some of my irons is the edge of the blade.  Could be worse...could be the hosel. This I did not know.  So basically if you buy forged wedges and play a lot of golf, you're pretty much committing yourself to buying new clubs every few years?

Not really, it also depends on what type of ball striker you are and where you practice. I don't know about you but when I hit short irons and wedges I take a pretty big divot therefore making contact with a lot if dirt/sand (abrasives) instead of turf and therefore go through wedges about every two seasons. If the range/s that you practice at use a lot of sand to fill divots, that can contribute as well.

[mp33 man]

At the same time though if you've ever hit a good forged wedge and compared it to a cheap cast wedge you may never go back to a cast.

[jamo]

At the same time though if you've ever hit a good forged wedge and compared it to a cheap cast wedge you may never go back to a cast.

You can say the opposite as well: if you hit a crappy forged wedge and a great cast wedge, you're never going back to forged. Neither proves anything.

[mp33 man]

You know, I think we're in the same boat because the only thing getting worn out on some of my irons is the edge of the blade.  Could be worse...could be the hosel. This I did not know.  So basically if you buy forged wedges and play a lot of golf, you're pretty much committing yourself to buying new clubs every few years?

[quote name="jamo" url="/t/65325/stockpiling-square-grooves#post_817596"] You can say the opposite as well: if you hit a crappy forged wedge and a great cast wedge, you're never going back to forged. Neither proves anything.[/quote] I don't think that anyone will argue that you don't get more feel from a good forged wedge. I wasn't implying that all cast wedges are cheap either...I think vokeys are cast, am I right? Very nice wedges. Then you also get into the subject if "cast forged" wedges. I didn't go into depth earlier so as to make a quick point and comparison.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by dave67az

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

I've never quite understood it either.  I used the first SW I ever bought for more than a decade.  For one thing, I spread the wear out over the whole face so they last a lot longer that way.

You know, I think we're in the same boat because the only thing getting worn out on some of my irons is the edge of the blade.  Could be worse...could be the hosel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp33 man

For the most part your wedges/irons don't get "damaged" they simply get worn. If your using cast wedges/irons than they probably wont wear as fast but if your using forged wedges that are forged from a much softer metal then they wear pretty quickly...

This I did not know.  So basically if you buy forged wedges and play a lot of golf, you're pretty much committing yourself to buying new clubs every few years?

That is a bit of a fallacy too.  My first full set were forged Golden Ram blades and I used them for nearly 15 years.  My current set are Titleist AP-2 forged and are almost 4 years old.  I have no intention of getting rid of them in the foreseeable future.

[mp33 man]

That is a bit of a fallacy too.  My first full set were forged Golden Ram blades and I used them for nearly 15 years.  My current set are Titleist AP-2 forged and are almost 4 years old.  I have no intention of getting rid of them in the foreseeable future.

True. But once again what type of hitter are you? Are u a picker or a digger?

[mp33 man]

I'm a digger and am on my second set of Mizuno mp33s since 04, I've also replaced just the pitching wedge and 9 iron once on this set...