A wedge spending decision

[mcanadiens]

As a high handicapper on a budget, I have to make a decision with less than a week before my club championship. My old Black Max SW hit its last ball a few weeks ago. In a pinch, an ancient Northwestern SW filled in. Gave it a shot but there was zero forgiveness. From inside 50 yards, anything less than a perfect shot was a disaster. I simply can't be messing with that thing this weekend.

Given the tight time to actually practice with the thing, I'm figuring on hitting Golf Galaxy tonight. Do I go whole hog and buy the $130-$150 Vokey or Cleveland model. Maybe, a $70 Tommy Armor model is essentially just as good given the man who would wield it. There's even a $50 Top Flite model, that would be more friendly on my wallet. 

There's enough in the budget I can do the more expensive model, I'm just trying to decide if it is worth it.

[Moxley]

Lofted wedges are the only category of club that I don't look for forgiveness in , but if I was,  then I'd probably go Cleveland CBX series instead of the RTX that I have. 

Otherwise, a SW in your iron set, if there is one, would probably also be forgiving and most closely 'slot in' to your bag without needing much adjusting time. 

 

[Grinde6]

I love the Taylormade Milled Grind wedges.  I swapped out my 60* and 52* with the Milled Grind (coming from Nike's) and have not missed a beat with them.  Highly recommend giving them a look. 

[PeterB]

These puppies are decent tooo...

Either way, updatings a good idea. Mac I don't think you can really go wrong these days.

Good luck with your purchase mo.

 

 

 

 

[DaveP043]

52 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

As a high handicapper on a budget, I have to make a decision with less than a week before my club championship. My old Black Max SW hit its last ball a few weeks ago. In a pinch, an ancient Northwestern SW filled in. Gave it a shot but there was zero forgiveness. From inside 50 yards, anything less than a perfect shot was a disaster. I simply can't be messing with that thing this weekend.

Given the tight time to actually practice with the thing, I'm figuring on hitting Golf Galaxy tonight. Do I go whole hog and buy the $130-$150 Vokey or Cleveland model. Maybe, a $70 Tommy Armor model is essentially just as good given the man who would wield it. There's even a $50 Top Flite model, that would be more friendly on my wallet. 

There's enough in the budget I can do the more expensive model, I'm just trying to decide if it is worth it.

Obviously I don't know your game, but I'd guess that you can probably perform just as well with the $40 Tour Edge as with the Vokey that costs $100 more.  I know that @iacas highly recommends using lots of bounce, and these wedges don't appear to be available in anything more than 12 degrees.

[tinker]

Price has nothing to do with the effectiveness of a wedge. It’s about sole grind, sole width and how it sets up and feels in your hand. Price is a result of brand marketing.

[Shindig]

I've been pretty happy with my Ping Glides.  I don't know where the Member Review section for them went, but I can dig up my review if it'd help.  One thing I really like about the new models (I have the 1.0s) is that the high bounce option is present in all of them.

I have been debating swapping out my 50/56 for a 54/58 (since I also carry a 49.5 U-iron) and the Ping Glide 2.0 have been at the top of my list (unless I go about getting fit for an Edel).

[DeadMan]

Are the used selections at the Golf Galaxy any good? For your situation, I think a used wedge would be fine. You can probably find a pretty good brand for less than $50. Wedges obviously aren't the ideal thing to buy used, but as long as the grooves aren't super worn, it would work fine. If you want to stick to a budget and get a Cleveland or Vokey, that's probably the best way to do it.

[TN94z]

You can sometimes find the older model wedges, new for good prices too

[mcanadiens]

Lots of good suggestions guys.

Thanks for the feedback.

48 minutes ago, DeadMan said:

Are the used selections at the Golf Galaxy any good? For your situation, I think a used wedge would be fine. You can probably find a pretty good brand for less than $50. Wedges obviously aren't the ideal thing to buy used, but as long as the grooves aren't super worn, it would work fine. If you want to stick to a budget and get a Cleveland or Vokey, that's probably the best way to do it.

This is why I'm going down there (and its a haul for me). Had someone suggest they had some decent used clubs that may work. We'll see.

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

Obviously I don't know your game, but I'd guess that you can probably perform just as well with the $40 Tour Edge as with the Vokey that costs $100 more.  I know that @iacas highly recommends using lots of bounce, and these wedges don't appear to be available in anything more than 12 degrees.

That's sort of my suspicion as well. I could theoretically get the expensive wedge, but it would blow the equipment budget for the rest of the season.  

29 minutes ago, TN94z said:

You can sometimes find the older model wedges, new for good prices too

That would be nice if the price is right. Never have had much shiny and new. We'll see what we can do.

 

[upndown21]

Up until last year I would buy used wedges from global golf. Never ordered a "value" rated club and each wedge (bought 4) was in good shape for at least 2 seasons. As I try to improve I went to getting fitted and buying new.

[Mr. Desmond]

HIgh handicap ... usually wants some forgiveness.

Try the Glide 2.0 Stealth 56 ES Grind - 8 of bounce, but the grind (the sole) makes it rather versatile. If you also want a 60, the SS grind also helps.

Cleveland also has a forgiving CB-like wedge.

Check those out. But it's tough to beat the ES Grind in the Ping 56 as a sand wedge.

If you want an easy method of chipping; I picked it up immediately, try Stan Utley - Ping Ambassador who helps in feedback with their wedges. I like his chipping/pitching technique - less arms, more turn ... he has you using the bounce.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2018 by Mr. Desmond

[dbuck]

I am pretty sure Golf Galaxy has the Vokey SM6 for around $100 now. Getting the spec you want might be a problem. Last time I looked online they still had 56 and 58 in the 12* bounce K grind which is the highest bounce fullest sole.

[mcanadiens]

What I ended up buying is a Tommy Armour GXT for about $80. 

So not the big brand name, but it's new. It has new-club grooves. It felt right and seemed to lie right in my address position. It also leaves enough money in the budget to replace my golf shoes when that becomes necessary (which may be before the end of the year).

If the weather and work cooperate, I'll try to put it through its paces this evening. 

Edited August 7, 2018 by mcanadiens

[mcanadiens]

To complete the thought ...

I was pretty happy after working with it last night. Hit about 20 balls on the range to various distances and worked with it at the short-game area. The black finish made it pretty obvious when I hit it in a less-than-ideal fashion and It still generally got up in the air and towards the target. It worked out of the bunker fairly well. 

It should be a pretty liberating thing this weekend to not have to worry about my short game so much. Now I can focus on getting the ball down there to start with.

Edited August 8, 2018 by mcanadiens

[Mr. Desmond]

Good luck with it. And please take a look at the Utley videos above - transformed my short game on the course - solid contact - nice rolling chips. When I want a little air time on a chip, I slightly hinge the wrists, and with every shot - soft hands. Have fun.

[mcanadiens]

58 minutes ago, Mr. Desmond said:

Good luck with it. And please take a look at the Utley videos above - transformed my short game on the course - solid contact - nice rolling chips. When I want a little air time on a chip, I slightly hinge the wrists, and with every shot - soft hands. Have fun.

Thanks.

Had a chance to watch the first of those and it's good common sense stuff. ... The business about "pulling on the handle" definitely rings true when its going all wrong. 

 

 

[Mr. Desmond]

19 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Thanks.

Had a chance to watch the first of those and it's good common sense stuff. ... The business about "pulling on the handle" definitely rings true when its going all wrong. 

 

 

It may be common sense to you, thank goodness, but not for me - I  must refresh my memory once in a while because I get away from Stan's approach. Stan has a lot of technique as in putting, which does not work for me. But the chipping and short pitching tech does wonders. It takes practice on the course, too. It's one thing on a practice green with decent grass; it's another in the rough, on tight lies, going uphill and downhill.

I see so many guys at the range using arms and pulling, and I must keep my mouth shut. lol.