Pitching wedge

[jsmil4901]

So I watch a lot of golf on tv, and it looks like most of the pros don't use the pitching wedge from their iron set. Is there a reason for that? How about most of you? Are you using a 46 Vokey, instead of your AP2 PW? If so why?

[MelloYello]

It depends on what you want out of your PW. Is it strictly a 10-iron? Or will you be using it as a versatile wedge?

 

Check out Mark Crossfield's fitting video where he discusses the issue with the guys at Titleist about whether to carry his MB wedge or to switch to a similar Vokey model.

 

I would say it's mostly a function of having the right tool when it comes to partial shots where a Vokey might feel better to someone versus say, an AP2 10-iron.

 

Also, if a new Vokey is going to run you another $150 or $200 then maybe it's not really worth it and just becomes another thing to spend your money on, LOL.

[mcs4]

For what it is worth, I don't think that is strictly correct about the pros. From the WITB's I've seen, I believe that more pros use their set PW than not, although there certainly are plenty on both sides.

 

Heck, some of the more old-school-minded pros (including Tiger Woods) basically use a set GW, given that their "PW" is actually around 49-50 degrees of loft.

 

 

[jsmil4901]

> @mcs4 said:

> For what it is worth, I don't think that is strictly correct about the pros. From the WITB's I've seen, I believe that more pros use their set PW than not, although there certainly are plenty on both sides.

>

> Heck, some of the more old-school-minded pros (including Tiger Woods) basically use a set GW, given that their "PW" is actually around 49-50 degrees of loft.

>

>

 

I think it may be better to ask about the irons you are playing. If you are playing a CB iron do you use the set PW or a Vokey for example? Is a blade type pitching wedge more versatile?

[MelloYello]

I would think that most players would prefer an MB to a CB, yes, but whether it's worth replacing any set wedge is really up to the guy with the $200.

 

Also keep in mind that the Vokey may end up being more demanding on full shots--particularly when compared against CB wedges.

[Z4Z3R]

I purchased a Vokey PW (46) after many years of wanting to try it out. At first, I still didn't really like it and jumped back in a set pw for a while due to a bit more forgiveness on those 135-120 shots that are very important when scoring for my game. However, after spending more time with the vokey pw, I've come to really like it and feel like it has a lot of versatility. However, not a complete gamechanger.

[dubbelbogey]

I've gone back and forth, but for the past couple of seasons, I've been my set PW (47*). 80% of the time, it's basically my 10i. The other 20% of the time, it's a bump an runner club, so doesn't require anything particularly different from my 8i or 9i. My "real" wedges are the typical 52/56/60 set and those are where I take fuller advantage of the variations in loft and bounce and adapt to the myriad of short game situations that come up.

[sambodoors]

I use my pitching wedge that came with my 919HM set. I don't see why I need to spend extra money to get another PW when this one is fine.

[MountainKing]

I guess it depends how you view things. I came from Ping Eye 2 lofts with playing them for a solid 20 years. With more modern lofts I end up having a 46 P in the bad and then go to a set of 50/54/58. Even tho the PW is marked as a P it's still more of a 9 iron in my mind.

[howellhandmade]

I grew dissatisfied with the set PW in my MP18 MMCs. Too big, didn’t seem to blend with the wedges all that well, seemed kind of hot and jumpy on partial shots (there’s no physical reason for that so far as I can tell). So I ordered a MP18 MB PW in the same specs and love it. Feels much more linear on chips and partial shots and really like how it looks behind the ball.

[randy4]

I prefer the pw and most of the time the gap wedge from the sets. I just prefer the shapes of irons.

[texcrom]

For whatever reason, my short game improved and I gained more confidence when I moved to a 48 degree Vokey wedge. I actually had a 46 degree initially, but went to the 48 when I found I was hitting the 46 almost as long as my 9 iron.

[golfinrig24]

I was a gamer of an iron set matting PW up until last year. all my previous sets I would look at the pw, 8 and 5 to determine if I liked the shape of the heads to decide if I was going to try and purchase but the PW is a club I used very seldom. now that I have a PW wedge that matches my other wedges I feel I was able to get a wedge with function and versatility

 

[Josh L.]

I use a 48° wedge instead of the set wedge, started doing it years ago when I bought a used set that didn't come with the PW, I find I can flight shots a bit better with the wedge.

[Z1ggy16]

I used my P790 PW no issues playing little 100 yard knockdowns. Only downside was it drew a little bit more than I'd like, I assume it's maybe a degree or two more upright than something like a vokey 46*.

 

Advantage of the vokey 46* maybe it launches the ball a little lower with more spin, but if you still miss hit shots, it will probably be less forgiving. I'd consider maybe something like a Glide 47*.

[GMN_02]

I game a Vokey 46 but my other wedges are a 52 and 58. If I gamed a 4th wedge I would probably match my PW to my iron set. All depends on how you use the PW. Are you hitting almost only full shots with your PW? If so you should probably stick with the one that matches your irons. I find the Vokey to be much better for me on partial shots or long pitches.

 

Also just to comment on the price of paying another $150-$200 for a Vokey PW, AP2's for example are $185 per club...

[Z4Z3R]

Another thing I love about gaming a vokey pw (or other wedge manufacturer) is that if you have an iron purchasing problem like me, then you can swap out irons without really effecting your game too much since ALL of the scoring clubs essentially stay the same.

[596]

Depends on your set and your game. My Gap wedge is 48* in my Mizuno 800s. I play the 44* Mizuno pitching wedge. I then play a 48*, 52* and 56* MD4. At times I also play a full set to 54* SW in a ping g15 set. But I add an MD4 56* for bunkers.

It all depends!

[scott_Donald]

I bump and run a lot with my 46* Vokey with my normal iron shaft so makes sense never buying a JPX919 Tour Pitching wedge, very happy with my setup.

[ChipNRun]

In my current 48 / 54 / 60 wedge mix, the 48 is a compromise between a Calla 46* PW and a Cleveland 50* GW in my old iron/wedge set-up. In cases where the 48 would be a little short, I either play it back an inch to deloft it, or hit a choke-down 9i. (I include half and 3/4 swing 9i distances in my wedge matrix card.)

 

As for us everyday golfers, go with what works. Also, golfers who play mostly square-face, plain wedge shots may go quite the other way: playing quite well with stock P, G, S and L wedges from their GI iron set.

[JAMH03]

> @ChipNRun said:

> In my current 48 / 54 / 60 wedge mix, the 48 is a compromise between a Calla 46* PW and a Cleveland 50* GW in my old iron/wedge set-up. In cases where the 48 would be a little short, I either play it back an inch to deloft it, or hit a choke-down 9i. (I include half and 3/4 swing 9i distances in my wedge matrix card.)

>

> As for us everyday golfers, go with what works. Also, golfers who play mostly square-face, plain wedge shots may go quite the other way: playing quite well with stock P, G, S and L wedges from their GI iron set.

 

Can you post a pic of your wedge matrix card, please? @ChipNRun thank you if you can.

[RogerinNewZealand]

If you buy sell irons a lot having stability in wedges helps so its been Callaway or Vokeys mainly last 5 years.

50 54 58 allows me to miss the 46 and go to 42 9 iron as next club. Chipnruns are 8 iron and chipped in from 40 yards on saturday so thats what works! I play the old driver 3 wood 5 wood bag so nothing flash here! I have used Blade pw and really report no difference vs a cally or vokey wedge in feel.