Favorite Wedge Distance?

[kevinmdowney]

What’s everyone’s favorite wedge / distance on approach shots?

 

That is, if you’re going to lay up on a par 5, what distance are you looking to lay up to?

 

For me, if I can’t get to “greenside” distance, I don’t lay up to partial lob or sand wedge. I prefer full SW to Gap Wedge - 90 to 110 range.

What’s everyone’s preference?

 

 

[phizzy30]

120 for 54* or 105 for 58*.  Don't carry a gap wedge. 

[North Butte]

I'm not good enough to hit a 150+ yard layup shot plus or minus a few yards consistently so I don't really think in terms of trying to hit a favorite number. I try to get as close to the green as possible with my layup if there's no water or bunkers fronting the green. Otherwise, I play far enough back not to risk hitting my layup shot too far and into trouble.

 

That said...

 

When I laser my wedge shot and see the number 72 it makes me happy. Or any number between 70 and 73 for that matter. Not sure how it evolved this way but that's a shot I have supreme confidence in with my 54-degree wedge using about an 80% swing, open stance, ball back, clubface very slightly open. Over the past few months some of my best wedge shots have been 72 yarders (give or take a yard or two). That shot goes where I'm aiming and spins enough to grab, trickle forward 5, 6, 7 feet and finish right around the hole.

 

But as I said, when I'm 220 yards from the green if I tried to hit a 7-iron layup exactly 148 yards I'm just as likely to hit it 140 or 155 and get a number that's not a particular favorite. So I don't try to parse it that closely, I just pick a wide, flat, easy to hit layup target that's somewhere far from trouble and inside of 80 yards if possible. 

[iknowbagu]

What is this "laying up" you speak of? 

[North Butte]

6 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

What is this "laying up" you speak of? 

I know, right? 

 

Years ago one of the best players I know saw me laying up one time on a short, potentially reachable Par 5 and asked me what the heck I was doing. I told him I was trying to leave myself a full sand wedge shot of 85 yards rather than having a 40-50 yard in betweener.

 

He said, "If your wedge game is so bad you can't hit a simple 50-yard wedge shot you ought to be practicing instead of out here playing". 

[Sean124]

I guess my favorite would be 100 yards, which is a full smooth 60* for me. 

[jc2]

100-105 is a full sand wedge which is perfect for me.  Anything more than that I'm trying to take some off a gap wedge which I don't control as well.  

[dsmil]

The closer the better for me.  I've practiced the 40-70 yard shots quite a bit so they don't make me uncomfortable.  I like using my 58 and zipping it in there low with spin.  

[dfeldss]

I love 100 yards. Either a 9 to 3 sand wedge or a little knockdown gap wedge. Been more confident with the gap wedge recently

[2Down]

Close as I can get is the standard I strive for.  
 Given an open shot, pitch or chip to the pin from the front where I hope to be.    
 

 

[bvanlieu]

80 and 100 yards is a good number where adequate hight and stopping power can be achieved without playing higher risk 'spinner' type shots. For me both of those number are around a 3/4 swing with 55 and 50 wedges. 

 

Tight front pin downwind where you have to cover a bunker and green slopes away (I have a hole like that on my home course) is where that little 50y wedge shot isn't that much fun compared to the longer one and strategy helps. But normally its just get it as close as you can 🙂 

 

 

 

[hagimihale]

100 or 80.  At both distances I have several options (full swing with one wedge, or 3/4 with another).  

[MP4444]

100 yards. I just have tons of confidence from that number.

 

Number I dread the most... 50 yards 

[mogc60]

75-80 yards…that’s my most comfortable. It’s a fullish swing but it’s also a feel range for me. 

[dugue4]

I'm ok with 40 in or 110 out.  In between I'm a head case

[RoyalStr8Flush]

1. 75-85 yards: Callaway MD5 JAWS 60-degree wedge. I had my first Eagle last year and I love this wedge!   

2. 85-95 yards: Callaway MD5 JAWS 56-degree wedge. Usually lands within 10 feet from the hole.

 

P.S. Perhaps off the topic, but the Mezz.1 putter I started carrying in early May has really boosted my confidence level in putting and my average putting per round is down to 32 (from 36+ prior). This allows me to take more controlled / easy wedge shots knowing that if I stick the ball withing 10 feet from the hole I have a good chance of one-putting that hole. 

[b.mattay]

I do not have a favourite distance. If I'm laying it is one of two scenarios: 

 

1.) Course architecture-lay up to a comfortably wide spot, as close to the hole as possible, without undue risk. 
2.) I'm in trees or a bad lie-get it comfortably back in play, as close to the hole as possible, without undue risk.

[Springsteennut]

Anywhere between 80 to 100.

[Bmurr7]

80-100  is ideal 58*  or 52* depending on conditions for either just change backswing length. 

Edited June 16, 2022 by Bmurr7
Forgot information

[wdaig1]

95 to 105 is a good yardage for me to hit it close a high percentage of the time.

[black bnr32]

Basically any full wedge shot.

[LoopySwing13]

80-85 or 105-110 as both are a nice 3/4 smooth 58 or 52. 

[creerski]

Contrary to common thinking I love a 65 yd shot.  Half-ish swing thought with either my 60 (for high shots needing to land soft) or my 56 (low and spinny shots).

Using Cleveland Zipcore Tour Racks for both wedges.

I do find myself overspinning anything over 65 yds hence my preferred distance.

[Aviador Naval]

I never give the distance a thought.  Always been comfortable with partial shots and have never understood the fascination with “personal ideal distance.”  There are way too many variables with each shot that the idea you can groove an Iron Byron lawn dart seems a false promise.

 

If there is too much trouble in the vicinity of the green to allow the “get it as close as possible” approach, I hit my ‘lay up’ to the flattest area or widest part of fairway to preserve the most options for the approach.

[toastinato]

69 yards... but actually, just a choke up, slightly open face, 3/4 swing with a 56°. 

[Bdck]

Depends on the hole location.  If it's tucked I want 100-120 for a 60.  If I can flight it in, the closer the better.

[ac6]

If I have to lay up, I aim for where the fairway is flattest in the 60-120 range and take whatever wedge that gives me

[tagermo]

80 is my preferred then 105 is a close second. 

[Peezy]

Interesting seeing everyone's response in here.  I quit hitting full wedge shots under 125 or so, which is my gap, as I was so inconsistent with full sand wedge swings.  Give me a 105 number and a choke down 3/4 gap and I'm happy.  

[Haber]

Love getting 110-115. Depending on pin position it’s a stock 54 or a flighted gap wedge.