Wedge shaft flex

wildcatden · November 1, 2021

I'm sure it has been discussed before, but when moving to your junior's first set of OEM wedges, what flex do you go with in the shaft? For example, do you use Senior flex graphite?

Currently, 10YO boy (about to be 11YO) with USKG TS3-57 irons and wedges all in "junior steel" shafts.

I know there is debate on moving or not moving to OEM too early. The USKG wedges (52, 56 and 60) are fine around the greens, but just not cutting it on approach shots from 40+ yards.

Edited November 1, 2021 by wildcatden

leezer99 · November 1, 2021

Honestly, I'm going to my local golf shop and trying out a bunch of used wedges to see what he/she likes. If something stands out then I'd buy new.

MB19 · November 2, 2021

21 hours ago, wildcatden said:

I'm sure it has been discussed before, but when moving to your junior's first set of OEM wedges, what flex do you go with in the shaft? For example, do you use Senior flex graphite?

Currently, 10YO boy (about to be 11YO) with USKG TS3-57 irons and wedges all in "junior steel" shafts.

I know there is debate on moving or not moving to OEM too early. The USKG wedges (52, 56 and 60) are fine around the greens, but just not cutting it on approach shots from 40+ yards.

I'm pretty sure I did it the wrong way. I bought a 60* SM7 in jet finish that had been fitted with a Tensei Red (A) shaft, cut down to 32" and ported for a junior. I had followed it on eBay until it finally dropped to a price I could deal with. My at-the-time 8 yo daughter loved it (of course she did, the club was sick), so I bought a 52* and 56* SM7 with the idea of putting the same shaft in and getting them ported for a matched set. Well, after many emails and responses, I determined that porting them just wasn't going to happen without a greater effort than I was willing to put up. I did, however, put Tensei Red (A) shafts into these wedges with the idea that maybe my son would grow into them in a couple of years.

But now, I had two wedges that were a little too heavy for my daughter to swing right. So, I set them aside and replaced them with Glide Forged wedges that I found for a downright decent price on eBay and I fitted them with the same shafts that the GLE2 irons get--ULT 230. They were working for awhile, as they were noticeably lighter than the Vokeys... but her swing degraded with them--still too heavy and now she's 9. We went back to TS3 wedges, and they were just OK but at least they didn't change her swing. Then she hit a growth spurt, and we try the 52 and 56 SM7 wedges back out--and it worked. She just turned 10, and is a sturdy 58.5"/92 lb and the clubs suit her well. We'll play those wedges until they wear out sometime next year, then maybe I spring for new ones instead of newer-used.

Ironically, she uses the 60* less as she gets better with the other two wedges--but it gets her out of jail from time to time, still.

My son (8yo, 56"/73 lbs) plays Prodi G PW, 52 and 56 wedges and he will be in them at least through the rest of the year. His TS3 set includes wedges, but if he likes the Prodi G wedges better I will let him roll with those for a bit longer.

Edited November 2, 2021 by MB19

wildcatden · November 2, 2021

33 minutes ago, MB19 said:

I'm pretty sure I did it the wrong way. I bought a 60* SM7 in jet finish that had been fitted with a Tensei Red (A) shaft, cut down to 32" and ported for a junior. I had followed it on eBay until it finally dropped to a price I could deal with. My at-the-time 8 yo daughter loved it (of course she did, the club was sick), so I bought a 52* and 56* SM7 with the idea of putting the same shaft in and getting them ported for a matched set. Well, after many emails and responses, I determined that porting them just wasn't going to happen without a greater effort than I was willing to put up.

But now, I had two wedges that were a little too heavy for my daughter to swing right. So, I set them aside and replaced them with Glide Forged wedges that I found for a downright decent price on eBay and I fitted them with the same shafts that the GLE2 irons get--ULT 230. They were working for awhile, as they were noticeably lighter than the Vokeys... but her swing degraded with them--still too heavy and now she's 9. We went back to TS3 wedges, and they were just OK but at least they didn't change her swing. Then she hit a growth spurt, and we try the 52 and 56 SM7 wedges back out--and it worked. She just turned 10, and is a sturdy 58.5"/92 lb and the clubs suit her well. We'll play those wedges until they wear out sometime next year, then maybe I spring for new ones instead of newer-used.

Ironically, she uses the 60* less as she gets better with the other two wedges--but it gets her out of jail from time to time, still.

When you pulled the 52 and 56 SM7 back out, what shaft? I'm not interested in porting heads for my 10YO (soon to be 11YO) son. Your daughter is around the same height/weight as my boy at 58.5" and 92lbs. Did you put the A-Flex Tensei Red's in the SM7's?

MB19 · November 2, 2021

12 hours ago, wildcatden said:

When you pulled the 52 and 56 SM7 back out, what shaft? I'm not interested in porting heads for my 10YO (soon to be 11YO) son. Your daughter is around the same height/weight as my boy at 58.5" and 92lbs. Did you put the A-Flex Tensei Red's in the SM7's?

Yes, the A-flex Tensei Red shafts are in the 52 and 56. I tracked them down on eBay fairly cheap, maybe $25 for one and $32 for the other.

Edited November 2, 2021 by MB19

wildcatden · November 2, 2021

46 minutes ago, MB19 said:

Yes, thr A-flex Tensei Red shafts are in the 52 and 56. I tracked them down on eBay fairly cheap, maybe $25 for one and $32 for the other.

Thanks. Good to know. Looking at some Hogan Equalizer II wedges that have Recoil's in A-Flex.

MB19 · November 2, 2021

5 minutes ago, wildcatden said:

Thanks. Good to know. Looking at some Hogan Equalizer II wedges that have Recoil's in A-Flex.

Good looking heads!

killer21 · November 3, 2021

I think from experience, 9 year old girl is too young to get into OEM irons / and wedges. Very hard to find the right balance and shaft softness to hit higher softer shots and chips. My daughter is 12 and uses a 60 degree Cleveland RTX Black pearl w OEM ladies flex shaft and PXG 56 Sand wedge with Accra 60i Senior shaft that matches her irons. I think she chips better with the Cleveland because honestly its a bit softer and lighter but I'm too far invested in the PXG Sand wedge to take it out of the bag🙄. It's not terrible but if I had to do over again, I would have left the Cleveland 56 in there too. Live and learn and wait for next growth spurt. My advice is to err on the light, soft side for wedges.

Edited November 3, 2021 by killer21
update

MB19 · November 3, 2021

28 minutes ago, killer21 said:

I think from experience, 9 year old girl is too young to get into OEM irons / and wedges. Very hard to find the right balance and shaft softness to hit higher softer shots and chips. My daughter is 12 and uses a 60 degree Cleveland RTX Black pearl w OEM ladies flex shaft and PXG 56 Sand wedge with Accra 60i Senior shaft that matches her irons. I think she chips better with the Cleveland because honestly its a bit softer and lighter but I'm too far invested in the PXG Sand wedge to take it out of the bag🙄. It's not terrible but if I had to do over again, I would have left the Cleveland 56 in there too. Live and learn and wait for next growth spurt. My advice is to err on the light, soft side for wedges.

Agreed. At 9, my daughter likely wasn't strong enough yet to be as consistent as she needed to be. At 10, 2" taller and 8 lbs heavier, she is strong enough now.

Investment can really be an albatross. Selling those Glide Forged was tough because they are so beautiful, but my son was at least a year away from swinging them as a hand-me-down. Somebody got their junior one heck of a set of wedges for $160.