Why do so many pros use the 46 52 56 60 degree wedge gaps?

[Nachosgrande]

I switched to 46 50 54 58 to keep the 4* gap between clubs throughout the set, but I really miss having a 56* and 60*. So this year I'm going to add them back plus a 50 or 52 gap wedge, but can't decide where I want that 6 degree gap. Any particular reason so many guys on tour prefer the 6 degree gap where they do, instead of between the gap and sand wedge?

[CDLgolf]

I would assume its because they are really good at partial shots with their wedge. One thing to consider, which has worked well for me is 5* gaps through your wedges. I have a 45* pw then 50, 55 and 60. My gaps are perfect at about 10 to 12 yds per club on full swings.

[Nessism]

I'm also a fan of 5 degree spacing.  I'm not good enough to worry about controlling distance with narrower gap spacing.  For example, my 55 is a perfect 100 yard club for me.  But I hit it anywhere between 90 and 110 depending on how hard I swing.  And distance control related to loft is far less important than making a clean strike with the ball on-line with the target.😬

Edited February 22, 2021 by Nessism

[sharkiesj]

Why? Because those hacks on the PGA Tour ain’t good enough to keep up with Wrxer’s spacing of wedges.  That’s why.  I ain’t lyin..

[buckI]

I would also add that their lofts may be adjusted regardless of what the number on the club says so they get that gapping perfect.

[timmekang]

I switched to 46 for pw given loft difference to 9 irons these days. However I kept the 60 because you always need at least the option of the softest flop/bunker shot possible in your bag or else I think you’re at a disadvantage by only having as high as a 58. Where it gets tricky is what you do with gap and sand. Personally I’ll take full swinging a 50 over 52 anyday. Lastly 54,55,or 56? 🤷‍♂️

[bnperrone]

I suspect most of them are either locked into familiar distances going back to 52* being the norm for gap wedges and/or they'd hit the GW too close to the same distance as the PW by going 46-->50. Just my best guesses.

 

 

[shoot4par]

46* is close to a stock PW. They can take off 5 yards with relative ease. Also it may be bent to 47.  52,56,60 is a common 4 wedge set.

Edited February 22, 2021 by shoot4par

[cw1209]

Go with a 5* gap in wedges. I'm with you, 4* gap between full swing irons makes sense. Wedges can be spaced a little further without any issue. I have 4* between all irons. Play 50*, 55*, 60* with wedges. 

[cardoustie]

Don’t we have 47-53-59 as super popular as well?

[DArnie]

47 minutes ago, cardoustie said:

Don’t we have 47-53-59 as super popular as well?

I used to have 53 and 57 Clevelands no one would believe it til they saw them.

[kiwihacker]

3 hours ago, cardoustie said:

Don’t we have 47-53-59 as super popular as well?

10 or 15 years ago I always thought 47/54/60 was the most common setup in pros and a lot of amateurs bags. That was before 62-64 wedges were in vogue. 

[jomatty]

5 hours ago, cardoustie said:

Don’t we have 47-53-59 as super popular as well?

I’m considering something like this or 53,58.  Then I could have a 3 wood and 5 wood...

[rwl]

5 hours ago, DArnie said:

I used to have 53 and 57 Clevelands no one would believe it til they saw them.

The Cleveland 53 Diadic (sp?), was a great wedge.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

It just fits what they are doing and is simple. I like 56 for sand mainly but can approach or chip with it too. 52 is primary chipper and pw for chipping that i want to run. 60 is rarely used but handy here and there.

[1221]

I have 46,50,54 and 58 but play on a short course so wedges are really important and having a solid gap.

[MattyO1984]

46, 50, 56 and 60 for me.

 

I rarely hit anything like a full shot with the 56 and 60, they are clubs for around the green. I am really comfortable with 3/4 swings with the 50 and if I am any closer than that I am really looking at little bunts with the higher lofted clubs. Gapping is definitely extremely important but once you get within a certain distance it starts to become a question of feel. 

[smoky25]

Max Homa: 46,50,56,60

[AC168]

I think it has to do with target yardages.  I did the fitting with Bob Vokey and the first thing the assistant did was do a grid of target yardages.  

[Fairways_and_Greens]

You see plenty of guys playing 50, 54, 60. It depends on that person's game. A lot of time, the guys with 56 use it as their primary club from 35 yards out. Most guys generate more spin from 50 yards with a 56 than a 60.

[PSHCT]

11 hours ago, rwl said:

The Cleveland 53 Diadic (sp?), was a great wedge.

I have one of these in my bag now, use it for nearly every chip and pitch shot, and love it from about 105-110.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I tend to like to use what im feeling more for that shot at the moment... i might be thinkin... i can use 52 or 56 here... but im much more feeling the 52 so ill use it.. or vice versa. I noticed whenever i fight that feeling and do opposite.... BAD SHOT. Stick with your gut.

[Pepperturbo]

Gaping of irons is determined by the golfer's ability to adjust his swing mechanics to cover yardage gaps.  Gap in irons is talked about a great deal on Golfwrx.  Seems as if it's a discussion based on static logic as opposed to creative ability to adjust how far you can hit said club.  Six degrees is easy to cover.

 

Pro's look at clubs differently than most amateurs.  Pros create shots using clubs you wouldn't expect them to use, lets call it double-vision.  Most amateurs see in single vision with one club.  Reason some people might have five wedges, yet don't benefit from the diversity.

Edited February 22, 2021 by Pepperturbo

[dlygrisse]

Because they are more worried about what clubs they have in the bag for short game shots than perfect yardage gaps for full swing wedges.  Plus they know how to hit partial wedges and control distance, trajectory and spin.  

[ChipNRun]

A couple of things to consider. First, the 46-52-56-60 of @Nachosgrande seems fairly standard now, but may be a shift from five years ago.

 

In 2016, GolfWRX’s Nick Maybin took a look at the 2015 Wedge Mixes of the “top-10 wedge players on the PGA Tour in 2015 based on average proximity from the hole from 50-125 yards.”

 

 

 

That year shows a 50-50 split between three- and four-wedge setups.

On 2/21/2021 at 4:59 PM, cardoustie said:

Don’t we have 47-53-59 as super popular as well?

A couple of years back, the 48-54-60 and 46-52-58 were popular among pros and ams. Not sure why more tour pros don't play it.

 

As an update, I looked at the wedge mixes from a sampling of recent GolfWRX WITB features. The tableau below shows the wedge mixes of four LPGA and 14 PGA tour pros.

 

To read the tableau, a gold highlight over a PW loft indicates it is a stock loft for an iron set PW. I looked up the stock loft as it was not listed in the WITB. Also, a - means the loft was decreaed a degree from factory, and a + means its was increased a degree.

 

First, the 46-52-56-60 was tops, with two women and five men selecting it. And 46/47-50-56-60 was tops with three men.

 

And two pros, Madelene Sagstrom and Hunter Mahan, had the amateur-popular PW-50-54-58 mix. 

 

Among loft choices, 11 elected a 56° SW, and 12 had 60° as the highest lofted wedge. Only Steve Stricker went Mickelsonian with a super-lob bent to 63°.

 

As to why so many pros make the 46-52-56-60 mix?

• First, a majority use an iron set PW. With the specialties going 52-56-60, the pros have a long-term  plan to work from.
• They have a lot of time to practice, so they just have to know where the 6° gap is... they can handle it. Also:
• Some use the PW as more of a 10i than a wedge. So, 52-56-60 becomes its own wedge sub-package.

If you want the "full meal deal" of wedge models and shafts for our 18 pros, see the spoiler below.

Spoiler

WITB….. Wedge mix

          Prepared 21 Feb 2021 by John P. Orr. Data extracted from What’s In The Bag features on GolfWRX.com web site.

LPGA

Michelle Wie – 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship

PW: Callaway X-Forged – 45 (stock loft)

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 4 (52, 56 and 60 degrees)
Shafts: Nippon Modus 3 Pro 115 Wedge

Hinako Shubuno – December 2020

PW: Ping i210 – 45 (stock)

Wedges: Ping Glide 3.0 (52-SS bent to 51, 56 SS @57, Orange Dot)
Shafts: Fujikura MCI 105

 

Madelene Sagstrom – 2020 Gainbridge LPGA winner

PW: Calla X-Forged ’18 – 45 (stock)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (50, 54, 58 degrees)

Angela Stanford – Winner (Dec.) 2020 Volunteers of America Classic

PW: Ping i210 – 45 (stock)

Wedges: Ping Glide 3.0 SS (52 degrees, 56 degrees, 60 degrees) (.25″ under length)
Shafts: True Temper XP95 R300

 

==========================

PGA

Max Homa – Winner 2021 Genesis Invitational

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (46-10F, 50-12F, 56-14F, 60-04L)
Shafts: KBS $ Taper 130 X (46-56), KBS Hi Rev 2.0 125 S (60)

 

Brooks Koepka – January WITB

PW: Srixon ZX7 set PW – 46 (stock loft)

Wedges: Vokey Design SM8 (52-12F, 56-10S), Vokey SM5 TVD (60-08ML)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Sam Burns – 2021 Genesis Invitational

Wedges: Callaway MD5 Jaws Raw (46-10S, 50-10S, 56-10S, 58-12X)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Tony Finau – 2021 Genesis Invitational

PW: Ping Blueprint PW – 46 (stock loft)

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged (50-10, 56-10), Vokey Design SM8 (60-10S)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125 X (50, 56), Modus3 125 Wedge

 

Jason Day – January 2021

PW: Mizuno JPX 921 Tour – 46 (stock loft)

Wedges: Artisan Prototype (50, 54, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Tyler McCumber – February 2021

Wedges: Callaway MD5 Jaws (46-10S, 52-10S, 56-10S, 60-08C)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Jordan Speith – February 2021

Wedges: Vokey Design SM8 (46-08F, 52-08F, 56-10S), Vokey Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Project X 6.0

 

Steve Stricker – February 2021

Wedges: Vokey SM8 (46-10F), Vokey SM6 (54-10S @53), Vokey (60-12@ 59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/ Sensicore

Mackenzie Hughes – Feb 2021

PW: Ping S55 – 46 Stock

Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth 52-SS, 56-WS, 60-SS
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Matt Kuchar – Feb 2021

PW: Bridgestone J15CB – 46 Stock

Wedges: Bridgestone J40 Forged (52 @51 degrees); Cleveland RTX ZipCore Raw (58 @57 degrees, 62-6LO @63)
Shafts: KBS Tour 120S

 

Maverick McNealy- February 2021

PW: Calla Apex MB Proto – 47 Stock

Wedges: Callaway MD Forged (52-10, 56-12 @55), Callaway MD4 (60-08C)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

 

Daniel Berger – Winner 2021 AT&T ProAm

PW:  TP MC ’11 – 47 stock loft

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy Forged (50-10, 56-10), Mac Daddy 4 (60-12C)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
 

Hunter Mahan – 2021

PW: Ping Blueprint 46 S

Wedges: Ping Glide 3.0 (50, 54, 58)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

 

Michael Thompson – February 2021

PW: Ping Blueprint 46 S

Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 (52-SS, 56-SS, 60-TS)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130X

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by ChipNRun
Reset tableau.

[Myherobobhope]

18 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

As to why so many pros make the 46-52-56-60 mix?

• First, a majority use an iron set PW. With the specialties going 52-56-60, the pros have a long-term  plan to work from.
• They have a lot of time to practice, so they just have to know where the 6° gap it... they can handle it. Also:
• Some use the PW as more of a 10i than a wedge. So, 52-56-60 becomes its own wedge sub-package.

I think this is a good conclusion... it's also something I've done in my bag, and taken a step further and gone back to the set GW to have more full swing options on the course... I wasn't using my Vokey GW as a full swing club or an around the green club, so I ditched it... Now I have a set GW that I will hopefully use for a number of stock yardage shots over 100 yards...

 

As for 54 and 58 vs 56 and 60... I was dead set on the 56 / 60 setup,but moved to the 54/58 setup last season (I bought new SM6s cheap) and didn't notice a difference... I'm not good enough to need those extra 2 degrees. I also haven't put in the thousands of hours pros have with their wedges, so it was not much of a challenge for me to switch. Honestly, if you are good enough to notice a difference in 2 degrees, you are good enough to adjust to it... the pros don't really have to make that choice, so I assume they stick with what's comfortable. 

 

I just checked Max's bag from his 2019 win and he was carrying a 50, 54 and 60... which actually surprises me, I had assumed they would play consistent lofts over time in the wedges, though he only changed his sand wedge from 54 to 56. I'd harass him on Twitter, but his probably busy. 

 

Obviously both setups worked for him... I'd also be curious to get my wedges on a loft and lie machine and see if they are actually what's printed on the sole... 

[SwingMan]

On 2/21/2021 at 11:47 AM, Nachosgrande said:

I switched to 46 50 54 58 to keep the 4* gap between clubs throughout the set, but I really miss having a 56* and 60*. So this year I'm going to add them back plus a 50 or 52 gap wedge, but can't decide where I want that 6 degree gap. Any particular reason so many guys on tour prefer the 6 degree gap where they do, instead of between the gap and sand wedge?

 

You could go 50, 55, 60 - take a 56, bend it to 55. I've been doing that for years. I like the GW a little Closer to the PW.

[dlygrisse]

I think one of the reason you see so many 60's is because tour greens are faster and they want more loft around the green.  After that it's a choice between 3 and 4 wedges and how they want to fill their gaps.  A lot of guys like the 56 for shots around the green as well as a higher bounce option.  Some guys like a low and high bounce option which is why you see more 56/60 setups.  

[B_of_H]

39 minutes ago, SwingMan said:

 

You could go 50, 55, 60 - take a 56, bend it to 55. I've been doing that for years. I like the GW a little Closer to the PW.

 

same here.  I bend the 56 a degree strong.  5* gaps give me 15 yard gaps between gw/sw/lw on a stock swing.  4* between my pw and gw.  I don't understand the 52/56/60 thing, that would make me too indecisive about which wedge to use far too often and leave me a 20+ yard gap between my pw and gw.  

[cardoustie]

45-50-55-60 is my favourite wedge spacing right now