56 or 60 for pitches (50 yards and in)

[SoundandFury]

I've always used the lob wedge, but after hitting a few short (20-40 yards) with my 56*, I'm thinking the 56 might be a better choice.  Referring to both fairway and rough lies.  What do you use?

[Jakester23]

I just got rid of my 56 & 60 for a 54 & 58 but when I had the 56/60 I preferred the 56. I could hit more shots comfortably with the 56. If you haven't already seen the quickie pitching video on this site look it up. Once I put that shot in my bag I started using my 58. Now I pretty much use the 58 all the time.

[saevel25]

Depends on the shot. I try to take the ball as low as the shot suggest. I don't carry a lob wedge, and only use my 58 when i need to get it up fast and land soft. Besides that, i use my 56 mostly, then i will drop down to a 48 for shots as well.

For me it depends on the pin placement, the green (sloping away or with), wind, rough or fairway, wet or dry conditions. Overall my confidence in the shot i want as well. If i dont feel like i want to hit my usual shot i might go to something else. Overall i just don't like to forces shots.

[WUTiger]

Years ago, I played on bermuda turf with an unusual amount of moisture in it: Ball always set up nice. I used a 60* for quarter and half swings inside 40 yds. Many golfers I know, including some with single-digit HDCP, only use LW for half swings or less.

Then, I moved to SW Oklahoma with hard clay, and the LW was a disaster (lots of skulled shots).

I played a PW, 50, 54, 58 for a couple of years, but dropped the 54 + 58 in favor of a 56 (traditional SW). I hit the 58* cleaner than a 60*, but still had distance control problems with it.

I now carry 46* PW, 50, and 56. (I also found four wedges took up a lot more practice time than three).

Then again, take into account that I'm 62 years old. I was hitting greenside cut shots with a SW for 25 years before the LW ever appeared.

Also, for 56* vs. 60*, consider the amount of bounce in each, and how you hit partial approaches.

[Motown88]

I prefer my 56° from that distance. I only use my 60° wedge when I am in the sand or have to play a lob shot over a hazard. I don't like full swings with my 56° or 60° and from 50 yards that's probably a full swing with the lob.

[tiger187126]

i use a 58* and have a point in my backswing for certain distances. 1/4 swing is 25 yard, 1/2 is 50, 3/4 is 75 and it doesn't go any further back than that.

the problem i have is getting under the ball when it's sitting up and hitting it sky high and way short.

i need a good greenside bump and run shot that i think i'm going to use a more upright iron for those.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by SoundandFury

I've always used the lob wedge, but after hitting a few short (20-40 yards) with my 56*, I'm thinking the 56 might be a better choice.  Referring to both fairway and rough lies.  What do you use?

For me it depends on the lie, wind, elevation, etc., but I'll use anything from an 8I to a 56°, with the 56 being my last choice.  I'm more likely to pick my PW (47°) or GW (51°).

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Years ago, I played on bermuda turf with an unusual amount of moisture in it: Ball always set up nice. I used a 60* for quarter and half swings inside 40 yds. Many golfers I know, including some with single-digit HDCP, only use LW for half swings or less.

Then, I moved to SW Oklahoma with hard clay, and the LW was a disaster (lots of skulled shots).

I played a PW, 50, 54, 58 for a couple of years, but dropped the 54 + 58 in favor of a 56 (traditional SW). I hit the 58* cleaner than a 60*, but still had distance control problems with it.

I now carry 46* PW, 50, and 56. (I also found four wedges took up a lot more practice time than three).

Then again, take into account that I'm 62 years old. I was hitting greenside cut shots with a SW for 25 years before the LW ever appeared.

Also, for 56* vs. 60*, consider the amount of bounce in each, and how you hit partial approaches.

I played most of my golf in Colorado on many varying turf conditions.  I started out with nothing lower than a 9I, then I got a PW and thought that was the ultimate.  After playing around with different lob wedges for years, I dropped the whole idea and went to a 56° as a utility wedge like you did.  My SW for 99% of my bunker play is a 54°.  Most of my greenside play is with the 47° and 51° clubs I mentioned above.  (By the way, I'm 66 so I know where you're coming from)

[inthecup]

I like a PW from 100 to 70 and a 56 from 70-30 and a 60 from 30 in if I am going high.

If I am hitting a  low bounce check and trickle I go with a 52.