Gap Wedge: match your irons or not?

[bvanlieu]

I gamed my set A for 2 years at 50 with a 46 PW (P770 CB), but as I tried to work on more chipping/pitching and partials I preferred the look and slightly different grind of a specialty gap wedge.

 

I spent an hour or so by myself around a practice green with both wedges and simply played a variety of shots with both clubs to see how the set and in this case Miura Y grind reacted with normal turf.

 

I did this not hitting the same shots over and over, varying the shots to not grove or adjust one club to behave differently just what I thought the shot required.

 

It was a close contest as the A wedge is a forged CB with good feel, but it liked to be mostly square. If I wanted to manipulate the face open or closed the miura seemed to react better. 

 

Is that the WRX way to just convince me to go with another club? Perhaps. 🙂

 

 

[kiwihacker]

When a set PW was 47-48° it made sense to have a 52° or 54° specialty wedge. Now that a lot of set PW are 44-45° your next club is likely to be 48-50° so the set wedge makes sense as a full swing club. I just bought the ZX5 irons with a 44° PW and would have bought the 50° set GW but I was looking at a couple of months delay. So I bought the next best thing. The CBX 2 50° cavity back wedge. Best of both worlds?  Good for full swings but also versatile around the green. So far I'm very happy with this setup. 

[JamesWA]

I have a newish set of Ping G425 irons 5-Gap wedge with graphite shafts.  Also 54, 56, and 58 Callaway Jaws wedges bought a few months earlier before I realised the benefits of cavity irons for my game. 

I'd love to pick up a 54 degree G425 and a Ping Glide 58, but trying to get them in the same specs as my Ping irons is like throwing a feather in the wind at the moment. 

[ccorrada]

Great discussion.  It is personal preference but I really wish all manufacturers would at least make a matched GW an option.  Currently my 50 matches my wedges but that's only because Bridgestone doesn't make gap wedges.  My next set will likely be with a matched gap and therefore my choices will be limited.  

[Boomersooner523]

Not for me...I used a SM7 50 (bent to 49) as my GW since I like a softer swing a lower ball flight. I like the look of a "specialty" wedge at address over those common GW distances you find yourself at. 

[Flip4000]

For me I am trying to fill a distance gap between my PW and 54. If I can find a specialty wedge that fits it, perfect as it gives me more versatility however if I cannot achieve my distance gap with a specialty wedge i'll go with a set wedge. I'll always lean towards the specialty wedge because I feel I get more versatility out of it

[riehlg]

I started with a GW from my iron set. Switch to a Mizuno MP-T5 because the feel around the green is just a lot better for me. I didn't hit my GW on full shots too frequently so having some extra workability is better for me.

[Roejye]

I go with the set gap wedge, mainly because it came with the set when I bought it. I do use it for a lot of different shots, but I don't do to much manipulation with it. It's actually one of my favorite clubs to hit.

[riehlg]

1 hour ago, Roejye said:

I go with the set gap wedge, mainly because it came with the set when I bought it. I do use it for a lot of different shots, but I don't do to much manipulation with it. It's actually one of my favorite clubs to hit.

I think this is key, if you're using a GW like an extension of the iron set like a PW where you're hitting the PW like a 10 iron and GW like an 11 iron, then go with set GW. If you want to do more manipulation of opening/closing the face, etc MAYBE (not definitely) but maybe a separate GW is your friend. You can do both with the set one but I feel more comfortable doing it with an actual wedge than a set wedge.

[dulaney22]

I went with the set gap because that used to be a pitching wedge lol

[Phabs]

Shaft wise … Yes

Head wise …. No 

[MPAndreassi]

I play 46, 50, 54 and 58 in Vokeys. 
 

Like others have said, it’ll depend on your usage. 
 

None of my wedges are exclusively for fuller swings, and I use them all green side or on partial approaches to the green. 

[bladehunter]

I think at 50 degrees yes. Match the set. At 52 it makes sense to be a specialty wedge. 
 

my thinking there is at 50.  That’s just a traditional pitching wedge.  I have a set gap im about to put into play , which will make the setup im playing a traditional 3-pw loft for loft or 4-pw if the second hybrid is in.  Then a sand and lob.  

Edited August 25, 2021 by bladehunter

[wareagle902]

Probably gonna be a must that my next iron set has a matching gap wedge. I’m playing it much more like an iron than a SW/LW.  Use the same shaft as irons. I really don’t want it to play like a wedge even though I use it around the greens sometimes.
 

Basically the problem is it spins too much on full shots and even the shots around the greens I’d use it for are run outs don’t want the extra spin characteristics of a wedge. 

[cwilk]

Mine matches my other wedges.  I primarily use a GW as a full swing club and occasionally a partial (100 yard) shot.  So it wouldn't bother me to use a set GW.  The irons I typically play don't offer set gap/approach wedges.

[sheppy335]

Mine does not match as of now. 

[2four22]

I have the Cobra XL Speedset (+1").  The set comes with a PW (45*) and SW (55*):

https://www.cobragolf.com/cobra-xl-speed-complete-set

 

My golf is improving (low 20s HC) and I'd like to add a Gap and Lob wedge.

 

Grateful for advice on whether I go and purchase a new set of wedges (PW, SW, GW and LW) and if so, what lofts ... or keep my PW and SW and just add [anybrand] LW and GW.  And if so, what lofts?

 

Thanks in advance!

[CMZ24]

On 8/23/2021 at 4:23 PM, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Agreed.

 

My set PW is 45* and set GW is 50*, but I had them bent to 44* and 48* respectively. Despite what they're stamped as, I think of them as my 10i and 11i. They are full-swing clubs. 

 

I then have 52/56/60 which are my wedges for "wedge" duty. They're used for pretty much everything from 115 in, and most often are used for partial swings. 

 

However, if the loft of your "gap wedge" is more often used for partials and "wedge" duty, then match it to the specialty. 

You have a set 50 wedges and then a 52 specialty wedge ? Why? 

[SwooshLT]

Had i210s and the U wedge was 50 with full shots around 106 .....switched to T100 irons 4-pw and recently found a 50* to match.....like others have said plays like a weak pw with T100 being 46* ....either way , just a perfect addition for my game hitting full, part , pitch or chip shots .....no need to manipulate the face ; keeping everything square just ball position and gripping down to vary shot selection.  This flies 110 on full swings which I rarely attempt.  Matched with 2021 Prov1 , my flight and distance control is impeccable.  

[solarbear88]

Essentially I am using my GW where I used to use a PW or 9i (combo improved swing and change in lofts), so I like it to be part of the set.  I'd rather buy 6-gw than 5-pw in most cases as I am likely to carry a couple of clubs like the Ping Crossover and the 5i is redundant.

Edited August 1, 2022 by solarbear88

[sshadow2]

I currently use a Vokey GW but I've been told by multiple fitters than I should be using one from my iron set. I'm nearly ready to make that switch since I now have one.

[Kenbone]

Since the gap wedge in my Forged Tec X set is 48 degrees - it's essentially a traditional PW so instead of 4-P I go 5-G. 

Since there's no "standard" anymore I think club companies should start using whatever system they want to name their irons. 

Roman numerals would be cool too.

 

[Cactus Jack]

Traditionally I’ve always played the set gap wedge, but just today decided to switch things up. 
 

I’m gaming ZX5s and for gapping purposes adjusted the set gap wedge to 48*. While perfect for full swings I found the wide soles and high bounce difficult to play partial/chip shots. Today, I swapped it out for a 48* specialist wedge and felt instantly more confident. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

14 hours ago, CMZ24 said:

You have a set 50 wedges and then a 52 specialty wedge ? Why? 

 

Although the stock loft of the set GW is 50, it's bent to 48*. So there is a 4* loft gap between that and the 52 specialty wedge. 

 

The way I look at it, I've got 8 "irons", which are my 4h, 5i-9i, PW (10i), GW (11i), all matching from the same line of clubs. They're all used for full swings, so regardless of whether they're called an "iron" or a "wedge", or even if one happens to have a hybrid head, the important matter is that they have the appropriate gapping between clubs for full swings. I have consistent 10y gaps--which admittedly is narrower than many consider ideal, but they are consistent and predictable. 

 

Then I have three "wedges", meaning clubs occasionally used for full swings to hit a yardage, but are also used for all of my specialty wedge duties, i.e. partial wedge shots, pitching/chipping around the green, sand, etc. At least the 52* and 56* have pretty good gapping down from my 48* GW/11i, so in the instances that I have a set yardage matching those clubs, they can fit nicely there too. 

 

I'm actually considering bending the 44* back to the stock 45* and the 48* back to the stock 50*, and dropping the 52* wedge. It would give me more room at the top of the bag where I have a gapping problem, and as it turns out I almost never use the 52* for "wedge" duties--my 56* is my workhorse and my 60* is used for specialty shots and for sand at the places I play where the sand is terrible, wet, and often hard packed. But I don't know what to put in at the top of the bag right now, so I've been holding off on any changes. 

 

 

[ChipNRun]

Another comment:

 

If you're undecided between three or four wedges, consider this:

 

Work 9i shots with half swing and 3/4 swing into your wedge matrix. This can fill some of the longer yardage gaps.

[ebitdaiquiri]

I carry 2 wedges

45* PW from a Titleist iron set

53* GW from a Cleveland wedge set

[CDLgolf]

I have always used 4 or 5 thru gap wedge in my iron sets. I consider the gap wedge just another iron.

[oz dee cee]

I’m in the gw match the set group at present. I’ve done both but my rationale is that I really only use the gw for full shots so it seems like it should match my full set. 
 

To be fair I’m not sure there is actually much difference for me.

 

Maybe just do what looks better to your eye. 👍

[lil'mike]

Mine matches for the same reason others has mentioned.  I mainly use it for full shots and it is graphite which I really don't like using for chips shots etc.  For those I still prefer the steel shafted wedges.

 

Edited August 2, 2022 by lil'mike

[BabyCarrot]

Currently carrying two gap wedges. 50 degree set wedge with gamer shaft and grip. For full and partial shots. And a 52 degree vokey with heavier shaft and lighter grip. For feel around the greens.