Will new wedges really help my score at all?

[Kmagnuss]

I play a set of well worn Cleveland Tour Reg 588 wedges (I think the grooves are non-conforming and couldn't possibly care any less about that).

I hit them really well.  Chipped in 3x last week and really like how they react on my local greens.  Full wedges usually end up taking a hop and spinning back near the ball mark.  I don't see how more spin could help me because I really don't want my full wedges zipping back any further.  So other than the extra spin, would I be gaining anything else at all?

 

Thanks.

-Mag

[Buzzkill]

I’m not a believer in new wedges and grooves.  My California buddy has MP14 irons which he bought new when they came out in early 90s.  Grooves are virtually gone on his irons 7 thru wedge and he has no problem holding greens.

[cgasucks]

Me personally, I want to get the most amount of spin I can produce around the greens by using a tour level ball, and technique in order to hit the ball crisply with a wedge with clean grooves.  That is like 90% of the reason the ball spins but wouldn't hurt to have the grooves newer and deeper for that extra advantage.

[m3fuz]

If you’re hitting it that well and getting what you want out of it, then don’t change it.  Put on a new grip if you want.  I still have my RTG588 56* that was in my bag for ~20 years.  I switched it out when I bought new clubs and went to graphite.  That said, the CBX Full Face is just as easy to hit as the 588, and that’s what replaced my old wedge.  

[scooterhd2]

42 minutes ago, Kmagnuss said:

I play a set of well worn Cleveland Tour Reg 588 wedges (I think the grooves are non-conforming and couldn't possibly care any less about that).

I hit them really well.  Chipped in 3x last week and really like how they react on my local greens.  Full wedges usually end up taking a hop and spinning back near the ball mark.  I don't see how more spin could help me because I really don't want my full wedges zipping back any further.  So other than the extra spin, would I be gaining anything else at all?

 

Thanks.

-Mag

 

You've answered your question. If a player feels like the ball is rolling out too much or not biting enough, or really has trouble in rough, or in wet conditions, or gets an unpredictable response from the ball, then it is time to look at new equipment, ball included. But if you are happy with your wedges, theres no need to change. You may find yourself having to adjust to the new spin and hurt your scores initially. 

 

[jholz]

Wait is this WRX? Of course new wedges are going to improve your scores. Without a doubt... for about the first 3-5 rounds you play with them.

 

Then, of course, the magic will wear off and you will need to buy new, new wedges. Then of course, new, new, new wedges - so on and so forth..

 

Once you are going through 5-6 sets of wedges a year, you'll be shooting in the 60's and will have gained the respect of every degenerate club ho on the forum. 

[Abh159]

59 minutes ago, Kmagnuss said:

I play a set of well worn Cleveland Tour Reg 588 wedges (I think the grooves are non-conforming and couldn't possibly care any less about that).

I hit them really well.  Chipped in 3x last week and really like how they react on my local greens.  Full wedges usually end up taking a hop and spinning back near the ball mark.  I don't see how more spin could help me because I really don't want my full wedges zipping back any further.  So other than the extra spin, would I be gaining anything else at all?

 

Thanks.

-Mag

 

Based on what you stated above why are you even asking this question?

 

It would be like someone saying "I really love my putter. My speed and alignment are perfect, and I not only drain all my 6 footers but all my 30 footers too! What would I gain out of getting a new putter?"

[GLF4EVR]

From your post.......would wonder if you might have a mental condition for thinking you need new wedges?  Either that, or you spend way too much time on WRX.

[Kmagnuss]

Lol… I just want to make sure I’m not missing out on some magic forgiveness or fairy dust I haven’t been privy to. 

[Hickory4ever]

My advice, step away from your mouse. Go down to your golf bag and reassure your 588’s that you are sorry 😀😀😀.

[@_the_crook]

as the owner of a few Vokey Oil Can SM200's that have oxidized nicely over the years, I can say - maybe.

they might not stop the ball on a dime, though I can still hit the green.

 

 

 

[MrCook]

4 minutes ago, @_the_crook said:

as the owner of a few Vokey Oil Can SM200's that have oxidized nicely over the years, I can say - maybe.

they might not stop the ball on a dime, though I can still hit the green.

 

 

 

 

"Missing the green with a wedge is like missing your mouth with the fork."

 

- David Feherty

[ChipNRun]

Grooves on irons and wedges help most when coming out of the rough, or off of wet turf. The grooves channel grass and moisture away from the clubface.

 

At the GolfWorks clubmaking school, the instructors do a test in which students try out wedges with different grooving. One specially-tweaked wedge has no grooves at all, and a second one has standard grooves. Off a fairway lie, the spin differences between the two is minimal.

 

Also, when the new groove rules came in in 2010, club manufacturers did tests on how whether pre-2010 grooves bit better than 2010 restricted grooves. The groove change was initiated in part to prevent golfers from getting too many easy birdies out of the rough.

 

Results showed that a person needed to have driver clubhead speed of 105 MPH to benefit from pre-2010 grooves out of the rough.

 

And, when you get to short irons and wedges, grooves and backspin is only part of the stopping story. A steep angle of descent also helps stop the ball, which is one big advantage of LWs in hitting smaller target areas on green.

-------------------------

Personal note: I have never been guilty of collecting too many easy birdies. The only birdies I get are hard-fought.

Edited January 28, 2022 by ChipNRun
Clarify early vs. later grooves / 2010 divider

[jomatty]

I think about this sort of thing all the time.  I think I have these two competing sides.  On is sensible and knows I don’t need any new clubs.  The other side is a club ho and needs to buy something new.  The wedges are an easy way for the club ho to rationalize buying something.  
Do new wedges help my score?  Nah.  Not in any measurable way.  Spin difference doesn’t seem like much on full shots.  On little 1/2 swing nippers I feel like it spins a little more.  The thing is there aren’t that many times when I 1. Need to hit a little 1/2 swing nipper and 2. Execute it properly.

so get some new grooves if you feel like it.  It doesn’t hurt my score.  But it doesn’t help much either, so if you like you wedges no big reason to change.

[ac6]

1 hour ago, @_the_crook said:

as the owner of a few Vokey Oil Can SM200's that have oxidized nicely over the years, I can say - maybe.

they might not stop the ball on a dime, though I can still hit the green.

 

 

 

 

I think the early oil can finishes are way nicer and wear to a superior patina than the newer oil can finishes. I had matching ones (252.08, 256.12, 260.04) for years and once the grooves were gone, replaced the 56 and 60 with oil can SM4s. The new oil can finishes are really just a flat brown compared to the old ones. The gap wedge is still in my bag and unless something really weird happens it's staying in there. 

[@_the_crook]

1 hour ago, MrCook said:

 

"Missing the green with a wedge is like missing your mouth with the fork."

 

- David Feherty

I recall DF describing how he fatted a clutch putt at the RC.

confirmed he was a normal bloke.

 

[lefthack]

No, but you will look cooler while sucking. So it's totally worth it.

[nikeblades00]

Since you don't care about conforming groves, you can get a groove sharpener for cheap and see for yourself what extra spin is all about.

[Pepperturbo]

My current wedges are 2016, prior wedges lasted 3 yrs, 1018 soft forged wedges before that lasted 15+ years.   Grooves are there for debris, not so much spin.  Spinning the ball is more about how you impact the ball and ball profile.