Wedge loft gapping

[CSgolf006]

I have been golfing a decent amount this year and hope to continue next season. I am looking to get a new set of irons and wedges. My question is if the iron set comes with a GW of ~49 degree loft and my bag only has room for 2 more wedges, is it better to get a 52 and 56 or a 56 and a 60?

P.S. I realize its also possible to get a 54 and 60 but I don't want to break the bank and 54s seem rarer and offered by more expensive brands.

Thanks in advance.

[dhen9]

I always try to keep 3-5 degrees between my wedges. buy the 52-56 and have them bent 1* weak. 

[xmanhockey7]

If it were me I’d go 54-60. 

[dlygrisse]

54-58

54-60

 

[DarthFader17]

2 hours ago, dhen9 said:

I always try to keep 3-5 degrees between my wedges. buy the 52-56 and have them bent 1* weak. 

This is what I am going to do. I also have a 49 * gap. I feel a 53, 57 should be perfect. But just curious, why bending weak is better than strong? Is it something to do with removing bounce instead of adding it? Also curious if anyone knows how grind would be affected (if at all) when bending wedges?

 

thanks!

Edited October 24, 2020 by DarthFader17

[setter02]

Are you sure you need a 3i, ermmm umm a '4 iron' at the top of the bag that's is a wee bit strong?  But personally I'm a 54/58 guy, so that would be my direction.

[ChipNRun]

You seem to be lukewarm about the LW. In the past, have you used a 58* or a 60*?

 

Personally, I have struggled with 60* wedges on distance control, but have done well with 58*.

 

If you got a 54 + 58 this might give you some even gapping. (Note: quite a few players only hit partial shots with LW)

 

If you're mixing set wedges with specialty wedges, one or the other may have a hotter face. So, this means you should avoid bending until you have hit trail shots to see how far each one carries. 

 

8 hours ago, CSgolf006 said:

P.S. I realize its also possible to get a 54 and 60 but I don't want to break the bank and 54s seem rarer and offered by more expensive brands.

Wedges with 52-56-60 only in offerings tend to be the budget wedges. Nothing wrong with budget wedges, but you don't get the variety offered by major brands. 54* is not all that rare.

 

If we get a break in COVID (hope, hope...) try some of the spring golf expos. You likely could pick up a couple of matching phased out wedges for under $100 each. 

Edited October 24, 2020 by ChipNRun

[azgreg]

8 hours ago, CSgolf006 said:

I have been golfing a decent amount this year and hope to continue next season. I am looking to get a new set of irons and wedges. My question is if the iron set comes with a GW of ~49 degree loft and my bag only has room for 2 more wedges, is it better to get a 52 and 56 or a 56 and a 60?

P.S. I realize its also possible to get a 54 and 60 but I don't want to break the bank and 54s seem rarer and offered by more expensive brands.

Thanks in advance.

Consider a component company for a better price. I use Acer wedges and the heads are only $12 ea.

https://www.valuegolf.com/wedge-heads/acer-xb-satin-wedge-heads

[BogeyParBogey]

Hit them if you can.  Loft gaps don't necessarily mean distance gaps.

 

Dave

[jvincent]

6 hours ago, DarthFader17 said:

This is what I am going to do. I also have a 49 * gap. I feel a 53, 57 should be perfect. But just curious, why bending weak is better than strong? Is it something to do with removing bounce instead of adding it? Also curious if anyone knows how grind would be affected (if at all) when bending wedges?

 

thanks!

 

There's nothing better or worse about bending strong or weak. It just depends on what you're trying to get to.

 

Bending weaker will add bounce and stronger will remove bounce. But if you are only talking about a 1* change it really won't matter. The grind of the sole doesn't change when you bend.

 

As others have pointed out, don't get too hung up on the actual number. Make the gaps work for the distance you want.

[Fairway14]

On 10/24/2020 at 6:56 AM, CSgolf006 said:

. My question is if the iron set comes with a GW of ~49 degree loft and my bag only has room for 2 more wedges

 

Buy a 56* and a 64*

[gsrjc]

On 10/24/2020 at 9:56 AM, CSgolf006 said:

I have been golfing a decent amount this year and hope to continue next season. I am looking to get a new set of irons and wedges. My question is if the iron set comes with a GW of ~49 degree loft and my bag only has room for 2 more wedges, is it better to get a 52 and 56 or a 56 and a 60?

P.S. I realize its also possible to get a 54 and 60 but I don't want to break the bank and 54s seem rarer and offered by more expensive brands.

Thanks in advance.

I’d go 54 and 59 (bend a 60 to 59) 

[cardoustie]

Current mix .... 44-49-54-59-64 

[shart6]

On 10/24/2020 at 6:56 AM, CSgolf006 said:

I have been golfing a decent amount this year and hope to continue next season. I am looking to get a new set of irons and wedges. My question is if the iron set comes with a GW of ~49 degree loft and my bag only has room for 2 more wedges, is it better to get a 52 and 56 or a 56 and a 60?

P.S. I realize its also possible to get a 54 and 60 but I don't want to break the bank and 54s seem rarer and offered by more expensive brands.

Thanks in advance.

 

If I continue to play my Titleist T-MB set one of my options is bend my Callaway X wedges one degree weaker 49, 53, 57. I'm currently using 50, 54, 58 Titleist wedges.

[LeoLeo99]

Back in the 80's we went 49°, 56°.  Back then the PW was 49°.   I really like the 56° for versatility.  Maybe because I learned with just one specialty wedge in the bag.  

[DarthFader17]

for any curious followers...

 

Went with the 54/58 standard, and will bend if necessary, but actually the 54/58 seems to be the ideal lofts for me personally. I always had a feeling that the 56 just didn't quite give me enough, but wow does the 54 solve that problem. Now a huge shout out to the wedges themselves (Maltby TSW wedges) holy smokes are these things legit. I've never been a "low spinner - 1 hop and stop" player, but my goodness, I get why players like to try that shot, with these wedges, all of a sudden, it's a possibility! (to my surprise, I wasn't even trying to, it just happened, and then again, and again...etc). The wedges are so intuitive that after about 5 shots each on the practice green, I went out and played a round and was able to instantly "feel" the shot I wanted to hit and the wedges performed excellently. For 43$ a piece, with custom assembly, I'd say it's the best wedge in golf. Really smart design, with a great grind that allows for maybe the most amount of shot-making I've ever seen (not a wedge expert by any means) but I honestly feel there isn't a shot "type" I couldn't hit. very reliable too, on multiple occasions I could drop a blanket on 5 or 6 balls I hit into the green with each wedge. (it was cold and windy and so I was able to drop a few extra balls).

 

Back to the topic at hand, I lucked out that the standard option allows for the best gapping for me, all of a sudden, 20-100 yard gaps are covered. Now I may end up adjusting my G-9 i to work with the new setup, but that is ok with me, as the closer to the green the more precise one needs to be. 

 

Thanks for the info in this thread, helped my make a wise decision!