When to replace wedges?

[goaliedad30]

I play around 150 rounds a year, and practice pretty much close to daily. When practicing and warming up for my rounds, I will hit a minimum of 40-50 balls with my wedges daily. I'm wearing a nickel-sized spot on my wedge faces (sadly, it used to be dime-sized .... ).

 

I replace the grips on the wedges probably three times a year. What's the rule of thumb / conventional wisdom on when to replace the wedges. I play lofts of  50 / 54/ 58 for gap, sand, lob. They wear in inverse proportion .... 58 is most worn, followed by 54 & 50.

 

I've been a Cleveland guy for 25+ years, so was hoping to wait until whatever their 2023 intros will be, but I'm concerned I've gone too long. Current wedges probably have 200+ rounds on them, with associated practice.

[stephenmatt]

For someone using them as much as you I would probably say at least once per year.

[zap311]

Titleist says after 75 rounds you will see degrading spin around the greens, but they also have a vested interest in selling more Vokeys. 
 

Based upon your frequency of play, it would seem like you should replace at least your 58* every year and maybe the 54* too. I heard that pros replace the gap wedge less often since it’s mainly used for full shots and rarely in the sand. 
 

Ultimately, the answer to your question is to replace it (a) when you start to see your ball check less than you’re used to and (b) when you can afford to get a new one. 

[ohioglfr]

Judging by some of wedge offings I see on Ebay, there are people who play their wedges far too long.  There are some hideous examples going for ridiculous "Buy it Now" prices. 

[RacineBoxer]

You are probably in that 1% of golfers who should replace them every year.

 

If money is no object you could replace them 2-3 times if you wanted. 

 

That's a ton of golf. Congrats. 

[JAMH03]

First off congrats on the nickle sized sweetspots wear! Many of us aspire to get there and we only ever get to oblong 50 cent pieces.

Secondly with all of that practice you're going to be pretty dialed in and new wedges will behave differently. It will take a bit of getting used to.

Thirdly what are you trying to get out of changing wedges? Because if you're just asking if you're losing performance the answer is yes. Problem is the more important question. How much performance are you losing and how much will it affect your enjoyment or your scores I think will be much harder to pin down.

Been a while since I compared old grooves to newish grooves around the green to see ho much difference there really is. Suffice it to say playing 150 rounds with practice only only three wedges means you're losing spin, stopping power, some consistency and your misses are going to be slightly worse. 

Rule of thumb is 75 rounds for someone who practices as much as you do I'd suggest that you try that. If you're game is not as spin sensitive as a tour pro maybe 100 rounds but you will be putting from farther away.

Maybe to keep costs down just do 2 wedges every 75 rounds and then all 3 at the start of the next season.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[MattC555]

Depends on your wallet.  You can get away with worn wedges, but spin will be reduced somewhat.  If I were you I'd probably be replacing my 58deg every year and the rest every few years. 

[tofur99]

I replace when there's a visible wear mark and the ball isn't responding the way it used to on pitches.  I mention wear mark cause it keeps you from coping and blaming the club for bad pitch results lol need both the obvious visible wear AND bad checkup on greenside pitches

Edited September 14, 2022 by tofur99

[vmann]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:25 PM, goaliedad30 said:

I play around 150 rounds a year, and practice pretty much close to daily. When practicing and warming up for my rounds, I will hit a minimum of 40-50 balls with my wedges daily. I'm wearing a nickel-sized spot on my wedge faces (sadly, it used to be dime-sized .... ).

 

I replace the grips on the wedges probably three times a year. What's the rule of thumb / conventional wisdom on when to replace the wedges. I play lofts of  50 / 54/ 58 for gap, sand, lob. They wear in inverse proportion .... 58 is most worn, followed by 54 & 50.

 

I've been a Cleveland guy for 25+ years, so was hoping to wait until whatever their 2023 intros will be, but I'm concerned I've gone too long. Current wedges probably have 200+ rounds on them, with associated practice.

Bob Vokey thinks that, if the grip is worn out, the wedge is ready to be replaced. 

[Mascot]

Yes I'd say you've gone too long!!  I replace mine when I feel as if I'm losing performance which is typically around the 2 year mark.  Seeing you play ~50 more rounds then me annually you might have to make that closer to every year and a half!

[Roody]

I replace mine every 3-4 years. I probably average about 90 rounds per season. 

[nsxguy]

Wow. 150 rounds AND practice daily ?

 

I'm at about 100 rounds per year. I have 3 games per week but between rainouts, canceled events, punched greens and just not feeling like it, I'm closer to about 100.

 

I do "practice" several times a week BUT that's inside in a launch monitor AND I'm using only the store's 60* wedge; the one I use most often on the course.

 

I'm not the player you are (anymore) so given environmental conditions play a part in determining the club's performance it's sometimes difficult to judge.

 

Anyway, my current Ping Glide Forged are starting to look a bit haggard. The store near me had 3 demos in the rack (the 60* was the one I practiced with 2-3 X per week).

 

They were starting to take inventory the other day and I asked the guy in charge of the demos how much he wanted for the 3 (52/56/60), especially since he had 3 of the current Glide Pro Forged models.

 

He used the "gun" to price the demo and came up with $9.95 per club. "I'll take 'em".

 

They're actually in terrific shape. Face are very clean and the grooves are very sharp. Strangely(?), even the grips have a fair bit of life in them.

 

Sometimes it pays to just ask.

[nitram]

21 hours ago, vmann said:

Bob Vokey thinks that, if the grip is worn out, the wedge is ready to be replaced. 

and I agree with Bob . . .

[nitram]

1 hour ago, nsxguy said:

Wow. 150 rounds AND practice daily ?

 

I'm at about 100 rounds per year. I have 3 games per week but between rainouts, canceled events, punched greens and just not feeling like it, I'm closer to about 100.

 

I do "practice" several times a week BUT that's inside in a launch monitor AND I'm using only the store's 60* wedge; the one I use most often on the course.

 

I'm not the player you are (anymore) so given environmental conditions play a part in determining the club's performance it's sometimes difficult to judge.

 

Anyway, my current Ping Glide Forged are starting to look a bit haggard. The store near me had 3 demos in the rack (the 60* was the one I practiced with 2-3 X per week).

 

They were starting to take inventory the other day and I asked the guy in charge of the demos how much he wanted for the 3 (52/56/60), especially since he had 3 of the current Glide Pro Forged models.

 

He used the "gun" to price the demo and came up with $9.95 per club. "I'll take 'em".

 

They're actually in terrific shape. Face are very clean and the grooves are very sharp. Strangely(?), even the grips have a fair bit of life in them.

 

Sometimes it pays to just ask.

Well played amigo. 👏

[Neo1]

average about 40-60 rounds a year, a lot of short game practice in my yard is what wears my wedges the most. I usually switch every 4 years, but I think this depends on if your wedge is forged or not. was using Cleveland and switched to T22's in the beginning of this year and my T22's look only a little better than the rtx4's that I bought in 2018. 

[Teebs]

I have 50,54 & 58. Even with relatively limited play and practise, the 58 has worn much quicker then the other 2. I guess it all depends on your personal club usage...

[Benkross]

I play a similar amount, but don’t get to practice at all. I use a small fingernail brush and clean the faces after every single shot. Recently I treated myself to the new Jaws Raw 54s and 60z. My approach play with wedges went from a weakness to a strength. I didn’t realize how much performance I was giving up. I’ll now be replacing my 60* 1-2x / season depending on the number of bunker shots I hit and my 54* every season. I’ll try to offset that by hoeing less with putters, driver shafts. 

[jomatty]

I play a lot also and replace my 58 at least once a year (usually I get ho-like and replace it more).  My 54 I replace maybe every other year, unless I get an urge to try something I don’t need.  Gap wedge probably never makes it more than 2 seasons but it could.  I rarely hit it on the range.  Most of the shots I really depend on high spin are done with my 58 so I want that to be in good shape.  My 54 is a lot of 3/4 ish shots that spin plenty.  My 50 is 3/4 to full shots so it also spins plenty.  When I have to hit a 30-60 yard shot with my 58 is when I personally need as much spin as possible.  If I’m using a different club from that distance it generally is because I want less spin so no big deal.