Having the Right Wedges

[Foot Wedge]

I did some research on what wedges to have and it doesn't look like I've got the right setup.  I have Ping G2 irons so in terms of wedges I have the G2 47* pitching wedge and 50* utility wedge, along with 52* and 64* wedges.  This was the setup I got with my hand-me-down clubs when I first started playing a few years back, so I never gave it much thought, but now I'm playing a lot more and improving my game.  So I'm hoping to get the most out of my wedge setup.  Given the G2 47* PW and 50* UW, do y'all have any recommendations a proper setup?  There's a golfsmith nearby so I'm looking into fitting, but I 'd just like a general idea.  Thanks in advance!

[Patch]

I use to carry 4 wedges for a couple of decades. My game was such, that 4 wedges served me well. I liked the options 4 wedges gave me. And yes, I suppose it looked cool having 4 wedges in my bag. Especially when I could show off a little with them. 

Fast forward to last year. I culled those 4 into a 48* pw, and a 55* aw. I still keep a 52* sw around for when I play courses where bounce is impotant due to softer sand. I don't need my lw anymore as I have learned to open up pw and aw to get the same results. Their bounce, which is low, allows me to do this. By going to 2 less wedges, I also made room for other clubs that can better benefit  my current, longer game. 

I recommend that golfers should educate themselves as to how wedges work, based on their different designs. Width of sole, and bounce has alot to do with what different wedges can be used for. There's quite a bit of useful info available on the web on this subject. 

Edited April 5, 2016 by Patch

[chilepepper]

My GW 52. And my SW 56 are pretty consistent in full and partial swings. My  LW not so much, it's in time out 1/2 the time. 64 deg wedge , I wouldn't want one. 

Id suggest trying some out and get an even distance progression

[dave s]

As point of reference, my wedge loft numbers:

PW - 45

Approach / Gap Wedge - 50

Vokey wedge - 54 (SW)

Vokey wedge - 58 (LW)

I've shared this info here before: Go to the Titleist Vokey Wedge website.  There's a link to help you pick wedges based on the course conditions you play most.  It was helpful for me the SECOND time around getting wedges I'm most comfortable with.  What is most important (IMO at least) is to understand the bounce number and bounce GRIND that works best for you.

Lastly, my 58* wedge can easily be turned into a 60, 62 or 64 degree just by opening up the blade.  Hence, I don't see a need for a high-lofted wedge than the 58.

dave

 

 

[Foot Wedge]

Thanks for the input everyone.  Seems like I need to close that 52-64* gap.  Plus I hate hitting that club.  With the 47* PW and 50* UW, 54 and 58* wedges might be a good option.  That Vokey website had a lot of good info.  Hadn't known a thing about bounce or grind beforehand but I'm definitely in the sweeper camp, so I'm going to try some clubs out and get a feel for them.  Thanks again y'all.

[Mop Bucket]

I just changed my wedge system this year. Up until now, I used to always carry 4 wedges.

PW: 48*

GW: 52*

SW: 56*

LW: 60*

It was nice to have a full swing for anything between 90 and 145 yards until I started playing a lot more 3/4 swings and knockdowns into greens. I'm hoping this will help cut down on my occasional left side block and give me a little bit more spin control. This is my set up as of now:

PW:48*

SW:54*

LB: 58* reduced bounce

I usually try to avoid spacing wedges more than 7 or more degrees though.

[Berryhill]

Personally, I like having a 47, 52, and 58.  These give me options but don't take up a ton of space in the bag so I can still have the long clubs that I want.  The 58* wedge is really an all star at most chip shots that you need to get into the air.  The 52* throws it up and can carry a bit farther if you need it to.  I've tried the 52, 56, and 60 plan but I never found that I knew when to use the 56 vs the 60.

[Foot Wedge]

Thanks for confirming my initial thoughts, seemed like the 58 would be good for getting the ball in the air in a hurry.  My 54* Cleveland 588 just came in yesterday, so I've got to hit the range.  My only concern with the 58* is getting a club that may too hard to hit, but even if it's limited to lobbed up chips, it would be more useful than my 64* hand-me-down.

[Berryhill]

14 minutes ago, caddystacks said:

Thanks for confirming my initial thoughts, seemed like the 58 would be good for getting the ball in the air in a hurry.  My 54* Cleveland 588 just came in yesterday, so I've got to hit the range.  My only concern with the 58* is getting a club that may too hard to hit, but even if it's limited to lobbed up chips, it would be more useful than my 64* hand-me-down.

Good luck with the new wedge!  I've found that the 58* is not terribly hard to hit, and is certainly easier than the 64*.  I've always thought of that loft as a niche club for when you expect a lot of short chips that need a lot of spin.  Plus, the gap between your new 548 and old 64* is bound to be significant.

[Foot Wedge]

Yes I'm going to be getting rid of the 64*.  I had always thought it was a standard sand wedge!  I did anything to avoid landing in a bunker.  A little research led me to all this. Thanks again for your advice.