58 or 60 degree wedge?

[sheppy335]

I prefer 58, found it was easier to hit for me. Much more consistent.

[nostatic]

I'm finally getting a handle on my 58, which is a Glide 2.0 Stealth in TS grind. I've tried ES and SS grind, but given where I came from and where I am at the moment, the TS is finally clicking better than the others. I spent a lot of years of my youth pitching with either PW (48*) or 7i (36*), so I learned to be creative. Fast forward to today after a long layoff, the four wedges in the bag thing is a bit foreign to me. I am convinced that a flop shot is something that is useful, hence working with the 58. But for whatever reason if I'm inside of 100 yards I feel more comfortable taking a partial swing with a PW - or more accurately for today, a GW, as opposed to full swing on a higher lofted club. At least until I get inside of say 25 yards.

 

Nothing more practice won't sort out...I think we can make most anything work if we want to make it work. Just a question of tradeoffs wrt time/effort. There may be easier paths.

[Joelsim]

The 58* is a far more flexible club.

[T.B.]

I’d go with the 58. I’ve had a 54 and a 62 and had some issues with yardage. Seems a 58 and do everything around the greens that a 60 or higher lofted wedge can do. Right now I’ve got some Cleveland wedges in 50/54/58 and seems to work well

[matchavez]

If you're asking, that makes the answer a 58. You would _know_ you needed a 60. You don't, therefore, you don't. Get the 58 for all the reasons above.

[bodhi555]

Definitely the 58 for me, far more consistent on full swings, and easy enough to lay wide open if you want the full Mickelson. I don't use it much at the moment as with soft spring UK greens I can lay the 54 open and get that to check up pretty quickly, but if I've short sided myself or in a pot bunker the 58 is perfect.

[gsrjc]

What are people's thoughts on bending a 60 degree to a 58? i believe that also affects the bounce right by decreasing it a little.

[kcd38]

I have done both, and have decided that I am more comfortable with a 60 degree around the greens. I have the SM7 with the 12 degree D Grind. I had it bent to 59, and the reduction in bounce messed with me. For longer shots, if I have an in-between yardage I will practice a soft 55 degree shot.

[Chuck905]

> @gsrjc said:

> What are people's thoughts on bending a 60 degree to a 58? i believe that also affects the bounce right by decreasing it a little.

 

It adds offset which just looks ugly at address but would work out of the fairway if you are yardage gapping.

 

But for green side priority, I actually have my 58* weaken to 60* to reduce the offset for added precision and bounce.

 

[sambodoors]

> @SetTheBarrHigh said:

> I've primarily played a 52°, 58° setup since college. I experimented with a 60°, but I've found the 58° a little more versatile and easier to manage.

 

I have the same setup as you but I feel like I'm usually reaching for my 58* more than the 52*. What do you mainly use your 52* wedge for?

[SetTheBarrHigh]

> @sambodoors said:

> > @SetTheBarrHigh said:

> > I've primarily played a 52°, 58° setup since college. I experimented with a 60°, but I've found the 58° a little more versatile and easier to manage.

>

> I have the same setup as you but I feel like I'm usually reaching for my 58* more than the 52*. What do you mainly use your 52* wedge for?

 

The 52° is mainly for full shots. I'm not a long hitter, so it's my 100-115 yard club. I use it around 50% around the greens as well.

[mootrail]

> @agolf1 said:

> I need one wedge for little greenside shots and it could be anywhere from 57*-64*.

> I don't think it really matters much.

I absolutely agree and disagree with you. If I'm carry a full bag, then I always want to bag a 60° lob wedge. But as far as the loft goes, the higher you go, the better skills you need (One trick ponies helper wedges like the 64° Sure Out, not included).

 

A 60° wedge is just that much more difficult then a 58° to play. But the up side is, it will get you out of worse situations. A downhill lie above the green running away from you and over a bunker. I don't care how good you are with a 58°, you've got no chance. At least with a 60°, it looks possible to lob it up and have a prayer that it won't run off the green. I tried playing with a 54° & 58°, but found the 58° just couldn't do what a 60° can do (ditto for the 54° as I much prefer a 56°).

 

So in regards to this thread, always a 60° over a 58°, unless I'm carrying a Sunday bag, I'd play a 58° as my only wedge.

 

 

[NDGolfer13]

I like 58 bent to 59 56 bent to 55 and a 50 be it the set a wedge or one that matches your 55/59. That’s what I’ve settled on which is subject to and probably will change.

[Chuck905]

> @Fairways_and_Greens said:

> > @Chuck905 said:

> > I’ve experimented with 54, 56, 58, 60, 64 and learned what works for me is not full shot gaps from the fairway but green side options.

> >

> > Hence, my LW is 60* with high bounce and my SW is 56* with medium bounce, helps me out of the rough and bunkers under any scenario.

> >

> > Partial shots from the fairway I am able to hit with my PW at 48*.

>

> Did you get your P bent 2 degrees weak?

>

Yes, 46* to 48*. I think my 6-7-8-9-PW are 2* weak.

 

The 5 is 1* weak and the 3-4 are stock (21*-24*).

 

PW is my strength so a GW is redundant.

 

[Hougz79]

For me personally; 58 is a better option. I have more confindence, which leads to more consistency. The courses I play don't require a 60+ degree wedge to hold the greens. I gamed a 60 for years, I tend to believe it's a "risk/reward" club for me personally.

[mgolf]

It really matters where you are going to use it on the course for around the green usage 60 because of the bounces offering and flangs designs. Also, if you are comfortable in opening the wedge wide open and attacking the sand. If your plan is to use it away from the green and around the green very little go with the 58

[SwingBlade]

I’ve long thought that the 58/60 question simply boils down to what each individual player is comfortable with. For me it is a question of what simply “feels” right. We are all different at such fundamental levels of our respective psychologies. At the extremes, some of us tend to be mechanical engineers when it comes to wedges and some of us are touchy feely artists. I’m pretty much towards the feel side of the wedge spectrum. Over the years I’ve tried 54/58 setups and it always like some alien has invaded my golf world. Always completely uncomfortable. With the 60 I simply feel like an old friend is always waiting to help me. Grind and bounce are separate issues related to courses played. But I recognize all this is just me. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone play a 58 or a 60. What I do recommend is coming out of the engineering mode for a brief time and search for your one true wedge buddy at the creative end of play. It may be a 56, a 58, a 60, or even a 62. Then base your other wedges, your green side techniques, and your 60-100 yards and in game off that relationship of trust.

[StackMan1]

My set PW is 47* and last year I played 50/54/58. I thought about going 52/56/60 this year but I really think the 58 is a more versatile club. Really like my SM6 S-grind. I’ve decided to simplify things a bit this year a go 52/58. My wedge collection is getting ridiculous. Lol

[jtmagic]

I switched to the 50/54/58 set up a few years ago and couldn’t be happier. Better gap fitting with modern iron specs and no issues doing everything with 58 that I could do with 60.

[phil59]

i played 52 56 60

now i play 52 58 , i prefer this combination because too hesitations between 56 and 60 or between 52 and 56 for me

[BearQ]

My wedge setup for last decade. Used different clubs same concept though.

 

50 - blends with set pw in shape/feel

56 - high bounce m grind style

60- low bounce wide sole

 

 

[hybrid25]

I think the choice depends on your skill level. My skill level is a mid handicap level that seems to be penalized by using a 60 degree lob wedge. I dropped down to a 58 and am happy with that and hit it more consistently. There was a day when I had a 62 degree lob wedge and loved it oh, but that is some time ago. :/

[RacineBoxer]

I did the 52-58 setup for a year or two but that was probably 8-10 years ago. I'm a big fan of two wedges in the 54-60 range. There are just so many shots <100 yards that I think having a couple options is nice. I've done 56 and 60 for quite a few years but with PW's and GW's getting so strong I actually am going 50-54-60 this year just to even the gaps out a little better.

 

It's a little surprising to see so many votes for 58. I imagine that 60's show up in bags at probably a 10:1 ratio. Maybe people who play 60's don't feel the need to come into these threads and defend their selection? I'll say this, I see a lot of comments about a 58 being easier than a 60. OK, I get that. But isn't a 56 easier than a 58 for all the same reasons? I still think having two options in the 54-60 range is wise. Longer bunker shots vs shorter ones, 2 same swing trajectory options, different turf conditions (if you want 2 different bounce options), etc... If you practice 2-3 swings for each club for distance control the extra wedge is extremely helpful: My 54 will give me 100 on a full and I have a 90 yard 3/4 swing that is pretty dialed in, then my 60 gives me 80 yards full and the 3/4 swing gives me 70. It takes some practice but it's an easy way to take the guess work out of the partial swing shots. I'll use this approach all the way down to a 30 yard pitch with my 60 (hands to belt height), the same swing gives me 40 yards with my 54

[Phillipsac18]

I grew up playing 52* and 56* wedges basically through high school. I fell away from the game for 6-7 years and when I came back I initially didnt want to spend a lot of money and bought a 60* wedge simply because it was a cheap option that I found at the time. I learned how to use the wedge very well and I have no doubt that a 60* wedge can do more things than a 58* wedge will do IF you know how to use it well and IF the courses you play tend to require shots that need to land very softly. I now play 52*-56*-60* and they each have their own specific uses as well as all being used on full shots if it calls for it.

 

I would recommend using whatever the highest loft that you feel you need and feel comfortable using and then fill in the gap between that and your pitching wedge however you see fit (1 more wedge, 2 more wedges, etc). As many people have said on here 58* is a very popular option, I just find 60* has changed my game a little but you have to be able to practice with it to get it down. 2* difference doesnt seem like much but it kinda is when talking about high lofted wedge play.

[blakesmittkamp]

i am changing to a 52 & 58 setup from a 50, 54, and 58 setup. In addition to simplifying things i just don't hit my 50 all that much and believe i could get more use off the tee and from the rough by adding a hybrid to the top of the bag.

[mrbluu]

A vote for 58 here too!!

I currently use the 54/58 combo and switch between a 48 and 46 PW. If I got the 46 then I add 50* wedge into the bag.

 

I could never hit a 60, so the thought the 58 was the next best thing.

 

 

[MelloYello]

I am utterly disgusted with the number of people promoting the 58 when that is _clearly_ the wrong answer.

[D0ch0l1d4y]

> @Chuck905 said:

> > @Fairways_and_Greens said:

> > > @Chuck905 said:

> > > I’ve experimented with 54, 56, 58, 60, 64 and learned what works for me is not full shot gaps from the fairway but green side options.

> > >

> > > Hence, my LW is 60* with high bounce and my SW is 56* with medium bounce, helps me out of the rough and bunkers under any scenario.

> > >

> > > Partial shots from the fairway I am able to hit with my PW at 48*.

> >

> > Did you get your P bent 2 degrees weak?

> >

> Yes, 46* to 48*. I think my 6-7-8-9-PW are 2* weak.

>

> The 5 is 1* weak and the 3-4 are stock (21*-24*).

>

> PW is my strength so a GW is redundant.

>

 

I love my PW at 48*. I have a GW that I love and am the most consistent with, so I used that as the baseline for my yardage gapping. 125y-GW, 140y-PW....58* LW at 105.

[Fairways_and_Greens]

I was playing a 46* Z765, 51*, 56*, and 60*. The 56* gets more spin and a controllable trajectory for ranges at 40yds to a full swing than the 60*. The 60* is better for around green and stopping the ball with trajectory instead of spin. This year I'm dropping the 56/60* for a single 58*. My primary course is target golf off the tee and driving iron and 5 wood help take trouble out of play.

 

The 58* seems to do neither as well so far, and is a bit of a compromise... But I need a lot more practice.

 

I know it's not the best comparison, but here are the top 10 pros out of the fairway from 50-125 yards last year. Most of them are using 3 wedges, and most of them are using 60's...


 

[ChaosTheory]

> @chisag said:

> ... Anecdotal but after lofts got stronger with players irons and pw's going from 48* to 46* I switched from my long time standard 54/60* to 52/58*. For me at least the 58* is just so much more versatile for full, 3/4 or even 1/2 shots. Hitting the 60* a little harder just seemed to make the ball fly higher, not longer. With my 58* I can squeeze out a few extra yards when needed. I also found opening the 58* produced similar performance as opening my 60* or at least close enough to make the switch easier than I expected.

 

What he said, exactly, for me.

Plus, I love having only the two wedges after the PW. The 58 is for anything that needs height, and the the 52 for running chips etc.