PW from my iron set or match my wedges?

[steeletaylor]

I'm sure this been discussed before, but what are the pros and cons of pulling the PW that matches my irons in favor of a 46* vokey or similar?

[shart6]

I my case if I was going to keep playing my current set of irons I would play a 48 degree Vokey or Callaway X wedge. I'm building a set of Titleist 735 CM stainless irons and the wedge has 8 degrees of bounce and I like the PW for chipping so it will stay.

More of a fitting question which club gives you the best descent angle? Based on my wedge fitting last week, bounce is critical and head type is not.

[jbrunk]

Specialty wedge: you use the PW around the green a lot; or you’re managing a gap between 9i and GW.

Set wedge: PW is a full swing-3/4 approach club almost all the time, gapping between 9i and GW is good.

Both: able to choose based on the course or conditions; balance out the wear over time

[Joelsim]

I’ve always gone for the UW before, but I’ve just got a 50* SM8 this time, I’d actually ordered the G410 UW along with a 54* SM8. I liked the 54* so much after one practice round that I cancelled the order and went for a 50* as well. So far so good, one round in.

[ChipNRun]

One consideration: Do you use your PW mainly as a wedge (partial and finesse shots), or as more of a 10-iron? (lots of full shots)

If your set PW has good feel and moves through turf well, why not keep it? Don't fix what isn't broken.

Years ago, I played MacGregor MT irons that had an 10-iron at the top of the set that most used as a PW. It had a rather sharp leading edge, however, and tended to bite too much on short shots. It was designed as more of an iron head, than a wedge head. But, that's largely history now. Most modern iron heads, including PWs, have a rounded leading edge and a bit of bounce to ease turf interaction.

[Vater]

I look at it as are you using your PW as your "10 iron" or as a wedge.

If the former, go with the set one. If the latter, there's a case to swap it out for a Vokey or whatever, but still, why not just keep the set PW?

I go even further where my irons have a set PW and a set 48* wedge. I use them like a 10 iron and an 11 iron, haha. Though I do chip/bump and run with the 48*.

But then I go to a Vokey SW and a Hi-Toe LW, so to each his own.

[steeletaylor]

Great feedback, thank you! I tend to use this club as more of 10 iron as it fits well with my distance gapping. 9i @ 41*, set PW @ 45*, 50* gap wedge, 55* sand wedge, and 59* lob wedge. I don't have any issues with turf interaction with this club, so it stays in bag.

[jjfcpa]

PW (from set) is 43*

Callaway MD5 Jaws 48* - approach wedge (this gets used only when a certain yardage from the green, which is to say, not very often)

Callaway MD5 Jaws 54* - sand wedge (this gets used in the bunker or if I'm in the rough around the green)

Callaway MD4 58* - lob wedge (my most used wedge... from 60 yards and in, this is my goto wedge)

 

I could probably pull the 54* and still get by pretty well, but the 54* turns out to be my 14th club.

[steel09]

I had this dilemma. Went with a vokey like my wedges and love it. Upped the swing weight a bit to make up for any loss in tech because my irons aren’t blades. Helped me with gapping and love it

[MinimalistGC]

I’ve battled with this for years but I always end up using my set PW. I can confidently swing my PW at 110% but I wouldn’t feel confident doing that with a Vokey for some reason. Plus I can use my PW on tight lies around the green for bump and runs due to lower bounce than a 46* Vokey.

 

I will continue to have this internal battle bc I don’t want to make a $160 investment on something I might not like.

[setter02]

Current set up (flavor of the week it seems) has me with a wedge in place of the set one currently, but if it misbehaves, the set wedge will go back in. I generally like set wedges down to GW's as I primarily hit full to 3/4 shots with them mainly and they give me a little more added comfort and forgiveness. Have been trying to flight bottom end of the set more, so trying this route.

[bombs]

I attempted to swap the AW in my Apex 19 set for a 48 degree RTX-4 wedge and it didn't last long.

The RTX-4 spun WAY too much on full shots. I had balls pitching on the back half of greens and still spinning off the front. Could not hold a green.

The RTX-4 was also very harsh on off centred hits. Unless you play blades your set wedge is going to be MUCH more forgiving.

I'm very happy with my set PW and AW, but still carry three additional wedges to hit my numbers.

[Oqvist]

My new sets pw was quite strong 43 degree and just goes longer so I initially kept my old 45 degree PW. But I am consider sacrificing ut for my chipper but my gap wedge is frustration me. Had I bought now I would get it in 48 not 50. I may still feel I need that 45 degree high spinning pw...

Pw for me I need to be comfortable taking full shots. I have blade wedges but blasting them causes more spread om average du to no cavity help. Though that seldom happens and seldom have to blast them. I love the feel.

[MattyO1984]

I go set PW. I am completely comfortable chipping with it around the green if the shot calls for it but, in the main, it is a club that I am using for full or 3/4 swings so for me a set PW works an awful lot better. I find that I can’t hit a speciality PW the distance I need it to go as I just spin it too much.

[wsomol]

I also use the PW mainly as a full swing club, down to like 80%. In that regard, I prefer it to feel more like the rest of my iron set. I have 3 other wedges that are plenty for me for pitch shots and finesse shots around the green.

[cgasucks]

If you do mostly full swings with your PW, I think it is best to stick with the one that matches for your irons for consistent yardage gapping, and feel.

[cabinetboy]

i went to a vokey pw last year and I’ve never looked back. It gives me a little more control on yardages and when I choose to chip with it. It is worth giving a try if curious.

[karstens_ghost]

What no one is saying is that it basically doesn't matter.

The question to answer for anyone considering a 46, or a 50 for that matter, is if it's with the set you get the iron shaft. If you get the 46 wedge, you get the "wedge shaft".

For those that custom, it's not a big deal. I put S400's in the irons AND wedges, so nothing for me to decide. If your iron shaft is significantly different than your wedges, then you have a real choice - for example, if you have graphite iron shafts and steel wedges, you'll have a bigger decision.

The minor things… a 46 wedge can be a little shorter off the tee/full shot. Might have a slightly higher CoG. The lie angle is sometimes flatter than the irons.

Play around, and you'll know pretty quickly.