Leading Edge Grind Irons - How much to take off

I've been trying to do a little digging (intended) on doing a leading edge grind to my irons. Unfortunately most of the pictures in the older threads on wrx are dead so they can't be viewed. Basically I am trying to find out, when someone does a leading edge grind to your irons how much material are you removing? For instance if we were going to measure up the face from the leading edge (and a similar measurement front to back on the sole) like in the picture below, how big would you want that measurement to be? 1/16 on each side? 1/32? 1/8? This is assuming you draw a line on the face and the sole by measuring approximately 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc from the leading edge and then remove the material between the two lines.

Or is everyone just eyeballing the material removal until they like how it looks?

I’ve done wedges in the past.

I do the rough grinding by marking the face with a piece of tape running the full length of the face, then fine tune it by eye.

Good luck. It’s a bit of trial and error to get the right amount taken off and right angle. I’d practice on a couple old throw away heads first.

The first one I tried I made too blunt. It didn’t dig anymore, but it sort of “got stuck” with the leading edge being sort of flat and wide. Went in the trash.

Definitely an art to it.

I just use a sharpie to color what needs to come off. I try to round it off rather than blunt it. I am always looking at another wedge that is already the way I like it, as my visual guide. So as I grind or sand, I stop and compare the new one to the old one.

I don't want to make out like I'm an expert. Just a hobbyist, and I've done just a few of them.

Just had a thought. Take a good look at the new TM p760.

I like the leading edge relief on them.

My Hogan PTx have a more severe relief that I like as well. V grind. I’ve also bent them all 2 degrees weak to intensify the bounce.

You do realize they are chrome plated?

Just had a thought. Take a good look at the new TM p760.

 

I like the leading edge relief on them.

 

My Hogan PTx have a more severe relief that I like as well. V grind. I’ve also bent them all 2 degrees weak to intensify the bounce.

Obviously this is just a graphic but it does look like the p760 have a nice leading edge on them.

Yeah. Go look at the 760 in the store. Nice soft leading edge.

Matt makes an important point. If your clubs are chrome plated the area you grind will rust.

You will drastically reduce their resale value if they are in decent shape now....Food for thought.

Yeah. Go look at the 760 in the store. Nice soft leading edge.

 

Matt makes an important point. If your clubs are chrome plated the area you grind will rust.

 

You will drastically reduce their resale value if they are in decent shape now....Food for thought.

I'd be looking at doing this to some 431 stainless heads

That thread going where fellas are shaping their own irons from blanks would be informative. I've also seen a Joe Kwok youtube where he grinds a wedge. I think he colors where he wants to grind with a sharpie, grinds the ink off, checks it, draws more on it, then grinds again. Remember you'll change the head weight, too.