My gap wedge is superfluous!!!

[North Butte]

2 hours ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Exactly. I'm carrying 5 wedges. PW at 44, GW at 48, and then 52, 56, 60. Am I really carrying 5 "wedges"?

 

No, because the clubs marked PW and GW are used basically as "irons" for full swings at the appropriate yardage gaps below the club stamped 9 (40*). My wedges, meaning the clubs that see partial swings and most around-the-green work, are the 52/56/60, so I'm really only carrying three clubs that see typical "wedge" usage. 

For my set at least it's easy to see and obvious. There are two of my irons stamped "P" and "A" (Callways). Other sets I've owned had them stamped "W" and "U" (Ping) or "PW" and "50" (Titleist) but they're irons. They came in an iron set, they look like my other irons, I use them with my irons swing, they are irons.

 

And the wedges look totally different. No cavity, fancy contouring on the sole, heavier shafts, different head shape. They are obviously meant for a wider variety of shots than just stepping up and making a full (iron) swing. 

 

My wife doesn't know a C-grind from a Cavity Back but even she can identify a club I leave lying around as an "iron" or a "wedge". 

[rt_charger]

I think every golfer should carry a wedge in the 48-52 degree range - It's such a useful club for chipping. Doesn't matter if it doesn't get used for full shots.

[Barfolomew]

PW 44

GW 52

LW 60

 

Dumped the SW 56 cause too bunched up and never looked back, play par golf.  So not a chop, not normally haha

[harlequine]

I only use my set gw for full shots and l actually do not like to chip with that club. A few years ago l had a Callaway MD3 S grind  50* wedge that i had many bad full shots with but better success when chipping so l think sole will be a part of how a set gw works compared to a special wedge.

[North Butte]

15 minutes ago, harlequine said:

I only use my set gw for full shots and l actually do not like to chip with that club. A few years ago l had a Callaway MD3 S grind  50* wedge that i had many bad full shots with but better success when chipping so l think sole will be a part of how a set gw works compared to a special wedge.

Callaway now has an interesting alternative with the 50 or 52 degree Mack Daddy CB. It is a little bigger than an MD3/MD4/MD5 and has a much wider sole. So it plays like a specialty wedge when you're doing partial shots but isn't that different from a Game Improvement iron if you make full swings. Best of both worlds. 

[jdl]

On 8/1/2021 at 8:44 PM, North Butte said:

I play Callaway irons and my favorite club has a “A” on it. Which is such a ripoff. If I hit a good shot and somebody says, “Great shot, what club was that?” I have to say “That was my A wedge”. Huh???

Just tell them you hit your Canadian wedge - A.

 

I have a 50 degree gap wedge now, Cleveland like my 54 and 58. Went for a club fitting and it was recommended to get the A wedge that is matched to the irons instead since I don't use the 50 around the green much.

Edited August 3, 2021 by jdl

[North Butte]

3 minutes ago, jdl said:

Just tell them you hit your Canadian wedge - A.

 

I have a 50 degree gap wedge now, Cleveland like my 54 and 58. Went for a club fitting and it was recommended to get the A wedge that is matched to the irons instead since I don't use the 50 around the green much.

Which Cleveland 50 have you been using?

 

I have tried a CBX 2 50-degree and it just seemed so clunky to me. The Zipcore Mid 50 on the other hand looks like a butter knife. 

[jdl]

3 minutes ago, North Butte said:

Which Cleveland 50 have you been using?

 

I have tried a CBX 2 50-degree and it just seemed so clunky to me. The Zipcore Mid 50 on the other hand looks like a butter knife. 

588 RTX. A few years old and needs replacing but still works fine for full swings. 

[chippa13]

I go PW 45, AW 50, SW 55. The AW gets plenty of play as I never want to take a full swing with the SW.

[harlequine]

My gw is now in the clubcementery in my garage…

[harlequine]

I bump my thread for some more thoughts. I still do not miss my gw under ordinary course condition but now in Sweden autumn is coming and a LOT of water has made courses muddy. For me it means that i hit shorter than ususal so now l have a lot of 6-7 irons shots or hybrids in to greens. I also more often then come up 40-50 yards short because a duff will punish. So from that distance l tried my gw again but l have better result with a more of a punched low pw shot. Gw with its more loft gives me to much inconcistency so it will again be passed to the garage. 

Edited September 17, 2023 by harlequine

[bcjim]

On 8/3/2021 at 12:05 PM, chippa13 said:

I go PW 45, AW 50, SW 55. The AW gets plenty of play as I never want to take a full swing with the SW.

Same.  I don't like full swing with any wedge. 3/4 something is my usual play from ~100y in.

 

Often hit GW even from 60 or 70. Could easily hit SW, I'm just more confident with a GW and an easier swing. Specifically, my full swing miss on wedges is getting it high on the face and those come up short.

[HGLucky13]

My GW is a 49.5° set wedge. I use it from 125 yd full swings to bump and run from the fringe. Unless it's in a deep bunker, or I need to land and stop a short side pin, I'm grabbing my GW.