Wedge Gaping???

[Albusdumble831]

Please forgive me if this question has been asked, but is the standard gaping 4 to 6 degrees between your wedges? Assuming your PW is 48, that would make the GW 52, SW 56, and Lob 60? Should there be a variance when using Callaway's, TM's, Cleveland's or Vokey's? And for the 2nd part of my question, why aren't most PW's milled on the face like your other Wedges?

[Mych]

Oh so many ways this topic could go (gaping).

 

I think it depends on:

1) loft of your PW

2) What distances you need to cover

3) Types of shots with each wedge

4) Whether you want/need a lob wedge, or would rather use that spot in the bag for something else.

 

My PW is 45* and I generally play 5-6 degree gaps (45/50/56). I've also played 45/52/58 (52 wasn't covering my 120yd need), 45/50/54/58 (54 and 58 were mostly being used interchangeably), 45/50/56/60 (60 got the boot in favor of a 3i). I think the textbook answer would be either 4 yards for a 4 wedge setup or 6 yards for a 3 wedge setup, but it really is completely personal.

 

If you're starting with PW at 48, a 4 wedge setup would theoretically be 48/52/56/60 and a 3 wedge setup would be 48/54/60, but I'd probably end up with something more like 48/52/58 because my experiences with gaming 60 degree wedges haven't been great.

[cardoustie]

atomic wedgies can cause gaping problems

[tobiasjd]

Does face milling even do anything?

[milesnotsmiles]

I dont really understand 'variance' when using brands. Of course different wedges will fly different distances, not really a brand specific thing. I think most PW aren;t milled because they are set wedges that come with the rest of the irons. Every not set wedge in PW loft range is made like the other wedges from that manufacturer, either milled or forged. I guess most see the PW as an extra iron and not extra wedge to be purchased separately if that makes sense.

[eleven bravo]

4* is a good standard gapping but a fitting would dial you into the exact yardages you’re hitting.

[mufasis]

it all depends on the loft of your pw. i play 46 degrees on my pw and then i go to a 50 degree and then 54, then 60. i like my gaps tighter between the pw/gap/sand my 60 degree is like a utility club as im never putting a full swing on it.

[Albusdumble831]

Thanks for the info! I completely agree with your advice on Gaping. I do play my 60 but not as much as my 52 or 56. > @Mych said:

> Oh so many ways this topic could go (gaping).

>

> I think it depends on:

> 1) loft of your PW

> 2) What distances you need to cover

> 3) Types of shots with each wedge

> 4) Whether you want/need a lob wedge, or would rather use that spot in the bag for something else.

>

> My PW is 45* and I generally play 5-6 degree gaps (45/50/56). I've also played 45/52/58 (52 wasn't covering my 120yd need), 45/50/54/58 (54 and 58 were mostly being used interchangeably), 45/50/56/60 (60 got the boot in favor of a 3i). I think the textbook answer would be either 4 yards for a 4 wedge setup or 6 yards for a 3 wedge setup, but it really is completely personal.

>

> If you're starting with PW at 48, a 4 wedge setup would theoretically be 48/52/56/60 and a 3 wedge setup would be 48/54/60, but I'd probably end up with something more like 48/52/58 because my experiences with gaming 60 degree wedges haven't been great.

 

 

[gsrjc]

I play 45 PW so 49, 54, 59.

[kcsf]

> @Albusdumble831 said:

> Thanks for the info! I completely agree with your advice on Gaping. I do play my 60 but not as much as my 52 or 56. > @Mych said:

> > Oh so many ways this topic could go (gaping).

> >

> > I think it depends on:

> > 1) loft of your PW

> > 2) What distances you need to cover

> > 3) Types of shots with each wedge

> > 4) Whether you want/need a lob wedge, or would rather use that spot in the bag for something else.

> >

> > My PW is 45* and I generally play 5-6 degree gaps (45/50/56). I've also played 45/52/58 (52 wasn't covering my 120yd need), 45/50/54/58 (54 and 58 were mostly being used interchangeably), 45/50/56/60 (60 got the boot in favor of a 3i). I think the textbook answer would be either 4 yards for a 4 wedge setup or 6 yards for a 3 wedge setup, but it really is completely personal.

> >

> > If you're starting with PW at 48, a 4 wedge setup would theoretically be 48/52/56/60 and a 3 wedge setup would be 48/54/60, but I'd probably end up with something more like 48/52/58 because my experiences with gaming 60 degree wedges haven't been great.

>

>

 

So, I'm not one to say what you should and shouldn't be doing with your gaping wedge, just...um...well....be careful.

[Baitkiller]

There is more than loft to a wedge. I like a ton of bounce on my 58. Lets me do some floppy stuff when needed without carrying 4 wedges.

[jkim27]

All I can add is not to look just at the lofts. Shaft and head make a huge difference. I have a buddy that has a 46* and a 48* but his gaps are appropriate. Then he jumps to a 56*

 

I also picked up 10 yards in my SW by just getting into the right shaft. Some off the rack options are a 'one size' that does not really fit all.

[kiwihacker]

> @milesnotsmiles said:

> I dont really understand 'variance' when using brands. Of course different wedges will fly different distances, not really a brand specific thing. I think most PW aren;t milled because they are set wedges that come with the rest of the irons. Every not set wedge in PW loft range is made like the other wedges from that manufacturer, either milled or forged. I guess most see the PW as an extra iron and not extra wedge to be purchased separately if that makes sense.

 

Yeah the set PW is more like a 10 iron these days. The gap wedge (50-52) is more like a traditional PW and a specialized club to give you versatility around the greens.

[ChipNRun]

Meshing your iron set's PW with three specialty wedges can lead to yardage gaps.

 

Years ago when I played Callaway irons and Cleveland CG14 wedges, the Callaway 46* PW and CG AW had the same shaft length. I assumed I needed a CG 52* for good gapping, but the Callaway had a hotter face. So even a CG at 50* was still 12 yards short of the PW on full shots.

 

Another factor is what you do with your wedges. Do you hit full shots with all wedges, or do you rarely use the SW and LW for full shots?

 

Next, lob wedge loft is always interesting. For most 60* wedges, I pick up the **lob effect** at anything more than half swing. By lob effect, I mean the point in your wedge mix at which a longer swing hits the ball higher, but not much longer. I may shift form a 60* to a 58* LW to get better distance control. A few years back, I even encountered the lob effect at half swing with a user-friendly Wilson 56* SW.