Need a new wedge - please help

[joem1cha3l]

My golf game has been improving drastically as of late, but once I get inside of 100 yards, I'm leaving too much to luck. Im hitting my Approach wedge 100-115 and Pitch 120-130. Its been working out with partially swining my pitch wedge but I dont have the ability to drop and stop a ball on the green with that. The only time I can use my sand wedge is literally when I'm in the trap. I bought it used years ago so I dont know much about it other than being 56 degree.. My current wedge blade seems incredibly thin and doesnt have much of a heel at all. Most often I'm getting clean under the ball and not striking much of it at all. There are times full swing when I'm getting 20 yards....but every one in a while I'm hitting it a clean and I can get 50 yards out of it. Looking for something that might be a bit more consistent when it comes to striking. Im thinking a thicker heel would really help?

The courses I'm playing I would consider to be about a "medium" on the hardness scale. 

Im currently leaning toward a SM5 Vokey S Grind 60 degree - 7.0 bounce

Thoughts?

Edited August 12, 2016 by joem1cha3l

[Asmanning95]

A lesson could be as valuable if not more so than a new club

[boogielicious]

1 hour ago, joem1cha3l said:

My golf game has been improving drastically as of late, but once I get inside of 100 yards, I'm leaving too much to luck. Im hitting my Approach wedge 100-115 and Pitch 120-130. Its been working out with partially swining my pitch wedge but I dont have the ability to drop and stop a ball on the green with that. The only time I can use my sand wedge is literally when I'm in the trap. I bought it used years ago so I dont know much about it other than being 56 degree.. My current wedge blade seems incredibly thin and doesnt have much of a heel at all. Most often I'm getting clean under the ball and not striking much of it at all. There are times full swing when I'm getting 20 yards....but every one in a while I'm hitting it a clean and I can get 50 yards out of it. Looking for something that might be a bit more consistent when it comes to striking. Im thinking a thicker heel would really help?

The courses I'm playing I would consider to be about a "medium" on the hardness scale. 

Im currently leaning toward a SM5 Vokey S Grind 60 degree - 7.0 bounce

Thoughts?

I wouldn't go as high as a 60. They are harder to hit and less versatile than a lower lofted wedge. It also depends on your wedge set up. What are the lofts of you PW and GW? I use four wedges currently, PW (~120), GW (~105), SW (54 deg 90yrd), LW (58 80 yrds). A 56 degree wedge is very versatile and can do multiple duties.

You need to think about gaps for full swings. In addition, you should learn how to hit partial wedge shots.

Lastly, bounce is your friend. Go with a higher bounce wedge.

[dave s]

Great response from boogielicious.  The only thing I can add is that Vokey wedges also offer sole GRIND choices.  Even with high-bounce but the wrong sole grind, you can still get a wedge that requires a precision strike to make it work.

I called Vokey for advice.  They asked about normal course conditions, grasses, roughs and recommended my two more lofted wedges (54 and 58*) both to be 54-08 and 58-08 (08 = bounce number) with "M Grind" sole.  Let me tell you, the M Grind sole on these wedges will hit shots off a crew-cut length approach areas with spin.  They'll also go through 2" rough like it's not there. For me, the M Grind on my wedges was the difference maker.

dave

[Groucho Valentine]

I agree with @boogielicious, id go with a lower loft for where you're at right now. 60 wedges are such a speciality club.  Maybe 56 or 58 would be better for you. Id also go with a wedge that has more bounce than 7 or 8 degrees. Those can be unforgiving. As he also said, bounce is your friend. Id go with something more in the 10-12 range. It will be easier to hit out of bunkers and thick lies, but you'll lose a little on full swings from cleaner lies. 

I personally use M grind 58 degree Vokey as my SW. I find its the most versatile grind of the off the rack offerings from titleist. 

 

Edited August 12, 2016 by Groucho Valentine

[onkey]

I also concur that a 60 degree may not be the right choice.  I took my 60 degree out of the bag 4 years ago and have never regretted it.

You are hitting your AW and PW far enough to generate the spin you are looking for (stop/drop), what kind of ball are you using?  A urethane cover may help you out with this.

Also, have you might want to take a look at this thread--it helped me immeasurably with my approaches from within 120 yards: https://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/77861-how-to-hit-partial-wedge-shots-learn-your-tweener-yardages/?page=1

[Gunther]

Your gaps are close to mine.  I used to have Vokey 52, 56, and 60.  But the 52 and 56 didn't gap as my normal set aND i had a tough time hit ting full shots with them.  So, I set out to find a GW and SW that matched my set.  Best thing I ever did.  Took me a few months of trekking to the 2nd hand store but now I hit those clubs great, 115 GW, and 100 SW.  Another advantage to using matched set wedges is typically the bounce is higher, which, as has been mentioned here, is helpful.

So, my recommendation is to find gap and sand wedges that match your set and stay away from the Vokey's for now.  My 60 is the only club I use from 85 and in but I agree with others here that it takes a lot of practice to master it so you're better off using your set's SW for now.

[Patch]

I am on the other side of the fence here. I have taken 2 wedges out of my bag. Those two being my LW, and my AW. All I use now are my PW, and SW. 

With some practice, I found that by opening the PW, and SW up, I was getting what the other two gave me. 

Just a thought. Nothing wrong with having more than two wedges in one's bag. 

[WUTiger]

One more thought:

Do  you have...

• a grab bag of assorted wedges...
• wedges P, A and S which match your irons...
• non-iron set wedges, which are matched for model.

It's hard to get a decent yardstick/matrix for partial wedge distances if all the wedges are different models. So, what model(s) are your current wedges?

If you have a pro you use for lessons, you might have him (or her) help you get your partial wedges set up.

Or, you can check out this thread by @mvmac on Distance Ranging for Partial Wedges.

[70sSanO]

My 60* is my all purpose wedge. I have gone from 8* bounce to 12*.

I have also turned back the clock and gone from a Vokey to a CG14. For me it is pretty automatic.

Then again, I'm not hitting a sand  wedge 100 yards.  My 60* is around 60-70 yards with a full swing. Usually 60 yards high and long... lol.

John

[Jmdmbike]

I carry a Vokey SM6 58 K grind - fantastic wedge. I'm a 15 handicap, and have no issue with this wedge. K grind seems perfect, good bounce - 12 degrees - and enough width on the sole that it is easy enough to hit from pretty much any situation. Check it out. 

[stealthhwk]

Two options come to mind:

1) Try a cavity back wedge with some perimeter weighting.

2) Try the Traction Control Wilson wedges. Theyre really great