new wedges

nev adams · March 9, 2020

I haven't had new wedges since about 2012 when I won a bunch of Taylormade stuff. I have the Z spin wedges and I wonder if its time to replace them?

I play probably 20 round a year or more. They have not been stopping the way I think they should but I figured it was either technique or greens maybe. How can you check to see if they are worn?

Jarlaxle · March 9, 2020

According to research done by Titleist, wedges begin to lose performance after about 75 rounds... so 20 rounds x 8 years = about 2x that number.

My suspicion is the wedges you are playing are "fine" (or else you would have already replaced them) but if you got some new ones you would notice a significant difference. Only you can say whether that difference would be worth the $$$$.

eagle2838 · March 9, 2020

Run your fingernail across the grooves to feel if they are worn. Is there a big difference between the grooves in the middle at the bottom of the club and at the top near the toe? The ones at the top basically will stay as-new forever, so a good way to compare to what new grooves should feel like. If the edges of the grooves in the sweet spot are not sharp, you are giving up some spin/control.

Other obvious way is if you can see that you are wearing down the bounce angle, but I'm sure you would have noticed that before asking this question

Myherobobhope · March 10, 2020

if you want, you can also buy new wedges in older models fairly easily... I picked up sm6 wedges at a steep discount.

iNeedMoreGolf · March 10, 2020

I got callaway md5 jaws.. i played 1st time today with them. The ground was a tad soft but man they had extra bite and even a little spin on some wow.

Stinger83 · March 10, 2020

I don't play as much as I used to....but I probably replace my wedges with new ones once a year. So yea

Golf64 · March 10, 2020

OP, you need new wedges!!

naws-golfer · March 10, 2020

you will see a big difference in spin, maybe not as much on full shots, but definitely on pitches and chips.

nsxguy · March 10, 2020

"Wearing down the bounce angle" ?

I guess I haven't heard everything after all.

Jarlaxle · March 10, 2020

P.S. I always love shopping for new clubs but if you really like them otherwise, I would at least try and sharpen the grooves some before you scrap them entirely.

BassCatchr77 · March 17, 2020

Yeah, big difference in spin which is really important in wedges. Look towards some new vokey wedges

Pepperturbo · March 17, 2020

Given the amount of golf the OP plays and Z-wedge groove design, I'd say technique has grown lazy, which means poor spin control.

I play over 200 times a year and practice regularly with wedges. Practice with wedges each day in the house too. Do the math. Been playing the same Vokey SM6 wedges since early 2016 and they spin today like new. But to support my belief in technique I also have a set of four 1018 forged (oh so soft) wedges that are near thirty years old. Even though each has noticeable worn spots in the center of the face, I can take them out and spin them like they are new. Effective ball spin is all about how the club face impacts the ball (technique) and let's not forget ball design. I have watched guys wedges with deep grooves and using ProV1 not be able to stop the ball on the green, because of technique. I don't buy Titleist research on the subject either. I am not selling you anything nor am I a club-ho. Now, if you just want new wedges that's another story. Hit'em straight.