Do I need a 60 degree wedge?

[Old Golfer]

Right now my highest lofted wedge is a 58 degree sand wedge. Does it make sense to get a 60 degree wedge or should I make do with the 58?

[Vinsk]

Well honestly some more info is needed. How many clubs do you carry? Why are you considering a 60* if your 58* is working fine? For better bunker play? Around the green? Have you experimented with different degrees of bounce? What primarily are you speculating a 60* would perform better for you? Could you lose a club and add a 60* if you’re already at 14 clubs? What sort of playing conditions do you normally play in? Firm/soft sand, tight fairways/lush fairways...etc.

[Mr. Desmond]

If your wedge gapping is 4-6 degrees, the 58 is fine. When I bagged a 58, I found it more versatile and used it on most shots around the green. If you're a one wedge guy around the greens, the 58 with some bounce and relief is a good choice (for me).

[WUTiger]

A few years ago, Golf Digest reported that half the players on the PGA Tour had a 58* as their highest-lofted wedge. So, plenty of pros forego the 60*.

As for your case... If you gave us more info such as @Vinsk asked about, we could be more helpful.

I redid my wedges last fall to 48-54-60... one goal was to reduce to three wedges. My 60*/10 is a high-toe MD-PM grind, and simply flies better than a half-dozen other 60* LWs I have tried the past 10 years.

But, I played with a 58* for many seasons. If your 58* works, keep it.

[rehmwa]

I have 4 wedges:  46, 50, 54, 58

previously it was 46, 50, 56, 60

I don't get much difference between the 58 and 60 since they are different models but give similar feel and distance range for use, I'm just thrilled to have a LW as it's really paying off lately.  (the SW bounce was the 54 and 56)

What's your gaps and yardages now.  Maybe your 58 is functioning more as a LW than a SW as you note.  If not, you might reconsider your entire wedge stackup, not just adding a 60 to something pretty close already

[Groucho Valentine]

Without knowing much details - no. Make do with the 58. If it has 10-12 degrees of bounce it can do everything for you a 60 could. 

[mcanadiens]

For what my situation is worth, I carry a standard 56 degree SW and a very old Cleveland 60-degree.

For me, 95% of all shots inside 80 yards are with the SW, but the 60-degree helps out in very specific spots that normally involve green-side bunkers. I'm either trying to pop one over the bunker or I'm hard against a lip. I've actually hit some half-way competent looking shots that way.

I guess it comes down to the composition of your bag and whether or not you would be missing a more useful club by including the LW.

[Hacker James]

Pretty subjective. It's not just loft. Bounce factor comes into play. I gave my LW to my grandson, SW not used all that much except in deep, soft, bunkers. Most of the time, even in shallow bunkers, I will opt to go with PW or GW. Funny part is that I find myself using SW from off the green more often than GW. Still the GW "feels" better.   Maybe if I used the SW in a manner it is supposed to be used, I would go with the conventional wisdom.  

[Old Golfer]

Thanks everyone for the info. I'm just starting out and was looking at a lot of Dave Pelz videos on chipping and pitching. I also watched a lot of Phil Mickelson videos (I'm a lefty). All I see and hear is use a 60 degree. After all of your input, I think the smart thing would be to see how the 58 works out for me. 

[wannabe]

If I remember correctly, Jack Nicklaus gamed only a 54 degree wedge for every shot around the greens.

So there's that.  But of course, he is the Golden Bear.

Edited October 13, 2017 by wannabe

[iacas]

1 hour ago, wannabe said:

If I remember correctly, Jack Nicklaus gamed only a 54 degree wedge for every shot around the greens.

So there's that.  But of course, he is the Golden Bear.

Jack also wasn't exactly known for his short game.

[colin007]

My highest lofted club is 56°.

[billchao]

On 10/13/2017 at 12:20 AM, Old Golfer said:

Right now my highest lofted wedge is a 58 degree sand wedge. Does it make sense to get a 60 degree wedge or should I make do with the 58?

If your wedges are gapped properly, the 58° as your highest lofted wedge should be fine. There isn't that much difference from 2°. Sand wedge or lob wedge, those are just names. What matters is the amount of bounce and the grind you have fits your game.

[WUTiger]

12 hours ago, iacas said:

Jack also wasn't exactly known for his short game.

Jack discusses this in the Endpiece chapter of Golf My Way. He said that chipping was "a weak link in my armor." When he was playing well he hit a lot of greens in regulation, and simply didn't need to chip that much. But, he admitted working on his chipping more later in his career.

14 hours ago, wannabe said:

If I remember correctly, Jack Nicklaus gamed only a 54 degree wedge for every shot around the greens.

His low-bounce SW doubled as his pitching club. He struggled in powdery sand, he said, because of the low bounce. He self-rated both his putting and sand game as "in and out."

[CCC]

My SM6 wedges are 50, 54, 58. I used to play w/ a 61. Don't miss it much.

My short game is better than my shots from the fairway. That's why I have to hit the short irons so much. I get a lot of practice from off the green.

Edited October 15, 2017 by CCC

[MarvChamp]

I was taught to pay attention to the bounce...High for soft conditions and bunker shots...Lower for firm tight lies and if you have shallow attack angles through impact. A lot of times, our fairways and even bunkers are pretty firm.

In addition to wedges that came with my iron sets, I have a CG10 60* 3-dot that I think has 18* of bounce. I just do not use it because I can't trust myself. (Maybe if I practiced?)

I also have a custom wedge set 47*, 50*, 53*, and a 56* with 12* of bounce and a 56* with 15* of bounce. All have beveled leading edges and are weighted for me. The 56*,15 bounce is a little easier, but I still have more luck with the lower bounce in firm conditions. Anyway, long story short, I'm better off without a 60*. -Marv

[Pablo68]

I can't imagine going without my 60 (I have 48, 52, 56 & 60). Pitching, short chips, etc......

On the average round, you'll use a 60 degree wedge a heck of a lot more than a 3 iron or a hybrid.

[Old Golfer]

42 minutes ago, Pablo68 said:

I can't imagine going without my 60 (I have 48, 52, 56 & 60). Pitching, short chips, etc......

On the average round, you'll use a 60 degree wedge a heck of a lot more than a 3 iron or a hybrid.

Thanks