Please Help Me I'm Addicted to Wedges

[FlopShotGang]

I was wondering if its it normal or okay to become completely obsessed with wedges like I have?  I'm fairly new to golf and started playing at the beginning of the pandy (pandemic) but I practice all the time since I work from home and have a hitting net in my yard. Practicing with my wedges is my personal form of meditation but it has certainly come at a cost. I've been playing for less than a year but I have 9 wedges of different lofts and bounce and I'm always reading about different models, bounces, sole grinds which makes me want to test and buy more wedges. 

 

The PW, GW, SW, and LW's I currently own are a :

- MP-20 MMC set PW (46*) 

Vokey

-SM7 (46.10)

-SM8 (56.10, 62.08)

Ping

-Ping Glide Forged (50.10)

-Ping Glide Stealth 2.0 (54.08, 56.12, and 60.10)

-Ping Glide 1.0 (58.08)

 

As you can tell I really like Ping and Vokey wedges and have multiple versions. My typical go to set up is the Vokey SM7 46.10, Ping Glide Forged 50.10, Ping Glide Stealth 56.12 and Vokey SM8 62.08.

 

 

 

I've only been playing for 10 months but I think I have a decent swing and I just love experimenting in all types of short game shots. Living in Southern California also helps because I'm never far from a golf course so I've recently been playing about 1-2 rounds per week. I also happen to conveniently live near a 9-hole pitch and putt course as well as an 18-hole par-3 only course and I love playing at these courses when I'm short on time because the longest hole within both these courses is around 150yds. So its wedges all the way and maybe a 9-iron if its really windy. What's interesting are how different these par-3 courses are because the 9-hole course has soft greens, soft fairways, and fluffy bunkers while the 18-hole course is completely opposite with firm everything... I think playing at these two courses so much and their different conditions is the root of my obsession with wedges because it's all short game practice and experimenting for me. I always game 4 wedges whether playing at a pitch and putt or full par 72 course and just end up changing out clubs different lofts and bounce to optimize the playing conditions of where I play.

 

Just want to know from you golfing veterans if it's normal to nerd out on wedges when you start playing?

 

 

[thed0n]

You’re a club ho!  Welcome to the club.  Everyone has their own vice.  I Iove putters.  But I have some different wedges, fairway woods, hybrids, and driver shafts as well.

[jerryo]

Be Grateful it’s wedges!! Seriously!

[ThreeBoxers]

No, it's not ok.  I can help, mail me the stealths.  Kidding of course.  You're a club junkie in the making, so what?  Look, since you're new, you may not have noticed, but the new club "Tech" stories are generally overstated and especially when it comes to wedges.  They're a hunk of metal, very little fancy construction, so it's going to come down to new grind offerings, improvements in face/groove millings for spin characteristics and maybe some COG differences.  The best thing to do is test them.  Getting fitted outdoors for turf interaction is tough for a lot of folks.  Buying a bunch of them will help you find what you really just jive with.  If geeking out on wedges brings you joy, go for it.  If you happen to stumble upon one that works great for you, 2 birds...

[cgasucks]

Welcome to the forum and you are in good company.  There's a lot of hoes here spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year getting the latest and greatest.  I don't have a problem with that, it's their money.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not one of them.

 

I suggest you pick a wedge that you like in terms of feel and looks and just fool around it and learn the basics of chipping, pitching, and eventually, flop shots.  To me, wedge design hasn't really changed in decades and a 30 year old $10 Wilson Staff Dynapower found at your local Goodwill will perform just as well as a $500 one that is hand stamped with your initials and hand ground by Bob Vokey himself in the hands of a skilled player.  

Edited January 15, 2021 by cgasucks

[cardoustie]

I wish I was at home, I think I am past 40 wedges right now, mostly Vokey and Ping as well

 

Have fun

 

Find some old BeCu some BeNi Ping stuff

[cgasucks]

1 hour ago, jerryo said:

Be Grateful it’s wedges!! Seriously!

Yeah.  If it was putters he will have problems in the financial sense.

[scooterhd2]

Much better to be addicted to wedges than drivers. Less expensive and will probably become a better golfer for it.

[tannyhoban]

You can never have too many wedges.

or putters. 
 

Options for the short game are good.

[Lobby]

Is there really much difference wedges right now?  They all look the same, as if everyone has copied the Vokey design.  

I was at Golf Galaxy a few days ago, checking out the wedges.   Honestly, I think I could do just as well with Ping, Callaway, Mizuno or even Cleveland wedges compared to the Vokey I carry.

 

[Hawkeye77]

Happy to help - get in touch with @joey3108 - he makes the best wedges, you need some!

[jmagri78]

1 hour ago, scooterhd2 said:

Much better to be addicted to wedges than drivers. Less expensive and will probably become a better golfer for it.

@scooterhd2How are you liking that ER3? Just ordered an ER2 with the gravity grip, super pumped to get it

[scooterhd2]

30 minutes ago, jmagri78 said:

@scooterhd2How are you liking that ER3? Just ordered an ER2 with the gravity grip, super pumped to get it

 

Honestly, I was pretty set on getting an ER2b, stability shaft, gravity grip, but I didnt want to commit the funds. I was routinely browsing the aftermarket pages for the ER2, when a really good deal came up on the ER3, where I could resell it and make some money if it didn't work.  And I just fell in love with it. I'd probably feel the same way about the ER2, but I have no reason to switch right now. I'm putting really well. And the last thing I want to do is collect putter$. 

[elwhippy]

This is normal on WRX. Welcome aboard. 

[jmagri78]

26 minutes ago, scooterhd2 said:

 

Honestly, I was pretty set on getting an ER2b, stability shaft, gravity grip, but I didnt want to commit the funds. I was routinely browsing the aftermarket pages for the ER2, when a really good deal came up on the ER3, where I could resell it and make some money if it didn't work.  And I just fell in love with it. I'd probably feel the same way about the ER2, but I have no reason to switch right now. I'm putting really well. And the last thing I want to do is collect putter$. 

Thanks great feedback. I've always been someone to change putters every year. This year, I made a commitment to myself to spend the money on a quality putter that I can keep for years to come. I tried about 30 different putters out at the local golf store and kept coming back to the Evnroll products. I was between the 5 and the 2. It came down to the amount of toe hang, which the 2 has less than the 5. With the Gravity Grip, the toe hang is 0, which is what I need with SBST stroke. I'll get it in 2-3 weeks, which then I will go back and get fitted for lie/loft if needed to get adjusted. Looking forward to keeping it in the bag for years to come

[FlopShotGang]

5 hours ago, cgasucks said:

Yeah.  If it was putters he will have problems in the financial sense.

Agreed. I have one putter and find it hard to nerd out on them since I can only game one per round as opposed to 3-4 wedges.

[FlopShotGang]

4 hours ago, tannyhoban said:

You can never have too many wedges.

or putters. 
 

Options for the short game are good.

Exactly why I love them theres just so much variety in wedges. 

[dmecca2]

Ignorance is bliss. I will stick to lofts, lies, head shapes, alignment lines, neck configurations, lengths, shafts, and grips of putters. 

[FlopShotGang]

6 hours ago, cgasucks said:

Welcome to the forum and you are in good company.  There's a lot of hoes here spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year getting the latest and greatest.  I don't have a problem with that, it's their money.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not one of them.

 

I suggest you pick a wedge that you like in terms of feel and looks and just fool around it and learn the basics of chipping, pitching, and eventually, flop shots.  To me, wedge design hasn't really changed in decades and a 30 year old $10 Wilson Staff Dynapower found at your local Goodwill will perform just as well as a $500 one that is hand stamped with your initials and hand ground by Bob Vokey himself in the hands of a skilled player.  

Thanks for the input and I definitely agree with you about performance for me can be the same with old clubs and a new Vokey. Especially as an amateur it’s probably more important to just work on technique but I just like the feeling of hitting a wedge with new grooves.  
 

Since I can practice a lot I get to mess around with wedges from week to week and do drills to refine fundamentals of chipping, pitching, and 3/4 swings. 
 

I know they’re not for amateurs but I also love practicing flop shots (hence my name) in my backyard by softly flopping them over my net. They’re just so much fun and I love watching Phils flop shots on YouTube.
 

This is a video of me hitting a big floppa a couple months ago- I know my technique still needs a lot of work but whatever it’s so fun to see that thing pop up in the air. 

[SammyShaf]

Welcome to the club!  My winter project has been building wedges to try old grooves.  I bought Vokey 8620 raw wedges in 52.08,56.14, and 60.06.  I initiated my 9 year old daughter into the world of club building by having her epoxy the clubheads on the shafts after installing ferrules.  I stripped the rust so that we can experiment with paintfill.  I have gone through most major brands and have found a set that works, so these will be the practice wedges that live in the trunk to extend the life of my current wedges.  Make sure you try some glare reducing raw wedges while on your journey.  The more you have, the longer they last if you rotate them...

[phizzy30]

7 hours ago, jerryo said:

Be Grateful it’s wedges!! Seriously!

I dunno about that.  The Miura wedges in my bag cost me a pretty penny.  😬

[homergolf]

I can fully sympathize with your wedge fixation.  I live in northern OH where outside golf is 2 months away, at least.  I sent my 4 wedges out to be reshafted and made the mistake of sending them via the USPS.  The expected delivery date of 1/7 to the clubmaker has now become "In transit, delivery later than expected".  In a state of panic, I started checking out wedges and found I really like Cleveland wedges.  So I now have three new Cleveland wedges with another on order and starting to have to stop myself from wanting to buy Mizuno wedges.  There is something about loft and bounce that is irresistible.

[FlopShotGang]

5 hours ago, Lobby said:

Is there really much difference wedges right now?  They all look the same, as if everyone has copied the Vokey design.  

I was at Golf Galaxy a few days ago, checking out the wedges.   Honestly, I think I could do just as well with Ping, Callaway, Mizuno or even Cleveland wedges compared to the Vokey I carry.

 

To be honest probably not. They all kinda of have the same technology and loft/bounce options so I agree with you. I think the only differences at this point would be brand loyalty, comfortability and feel when you hit. 

[FlopShotGang]

7 hours ago, cardoustie said:

I wish I was at home, I think I am past 40 wedges right now, mostly Vokey and Ping as well

 

Have fun

 

Find some old BeCu some BeNi Ping stuff

I’ll be at 40 wedges in a couple years at my current pace. Would love to hear your favorite all time Ping and Vokey wedge models over the years. 

[FlopShotGang]

1 hour ago, SammyShaf said:

Welcome to the club!  My winter project has been building wedges to try old grooves.  I bought Vokey 8620 raw wedges in 52.08,56.14, and 60.06.  I initiated my 9 year old daughter into the world of club building by having her epoxy the clubheads on the shafts after installing ferrules.  I stripped the rust so that we can experiment with paintfill.  I have gone through most major brands and have found a set that works, so these will be the practice wedges that live in the trunk to extend the life of my current wedges.  Make sure you try some glare reducing raw wedges while on your journey.  The more you have, the longer they last if you rotate them...

That’s awesome and who knows your daughter might love it and you have your own personal club builder haha.

 

I don’t have a problem with glare because I LOVE black wedges and most of the ones I game are black besides only my Ping Glide Forged in chrome. I’m intrigued about raw wedges but I’m put off by them mostly because they’re usually more expensive. My 3 Vokeys are in jet black which I guess are technically raw. 

[FlopShotGang]

48 minutes ago, homergolf said:

I can fully sympathize with your wedge fixation.  I live in northern OH where outside golf is 2 months away, at least.  I sent my 4 wedges out to be reshafted and made the mistake of sending them via the USPS.  The expected delivery date of 1/7 to the clubmaker has now become "In transit, delivery later than expected".  In a state of panic, I started checking out wedges and found I really like Cleveland wedges.  So I now have three new Cleveland wedges with another on order and starting to have to stop myself from wanting to buy Mizuno wedges.  There is something about loft and bounce that is irresistible.

Sorry to hear about your late wedges. What kind of Cleveland wedges and loft/bounce options did you get? 
 

also, what kind of Mizuno wedges are you looking at? I’m was thinking of trying Mizuno wedges because I already play mizuno irons. Tested a T20 and ES-21 wedge recently and felt indifferent. T20 was ok but inconsistent for me and the ES-21 was cool but I think they’re only designed for like 80 yards and in because when tested the 54 it performed well for me in everything except full and 3/4 swings. Although the ES21 looks awesome so maybe I’ll get one eventually.

[Go Horns!]

Ha. I picked up another Glide Stealth Wedge this morning. I have four 58 degree wedges, all for different course conditions.

[Thrummyfox]

14 minutes ago, Go Horns! said:

Ha. I picked up another Glide Stealth Wedge this morning. I have four 58 degree wedges, all for different course conditions.

Really interested in your criteria for selecting?

[NorthStar7]

I have 10 PING Glides (or is it 11?), so....I'd say you are perfectly rational!

 

[NorthStar7]

7 hours ago, Lobby said:

Is there really much difference wedges right now?  They all look the same, as if everyone has copied the Vokey design.  

I was at Golf Galaxy a few days ago, checking out the wedges.   Honestly, I think I could do just as well with Ping, Callaway, Mizuno or even Cleveland wedges compared to the Vokey I carry.

 

 

I play Glides.  I can't stand Vokeys because they are tanks.  For example, the swing weight of a 56 Vokeys is D5 versus D3 for Glide 3.0.

 

I'm sure many people feel the opposite. 

 

Mostly, I think it's a brand thing. 15 years ago, everyone I knew played Cleveland. Now Vokeys are the rage with some brand loyalty also, especially for Callaway fans.