Less playing = More Shovels

[Stanks]

Playing off 10. Current irons of choice are Ping S55 (it'll take a lot of get them off my hands). Driver is Sim 2, 3 wood is Cobra F7 (Rick Shiels ol' bluey), then Adams Idea 3 Hybrid and 4 - P for S55. Two specialist irons for Sand and Gap Wedge. No lob.

I'm calming down. I'm moving to shovels. At my strongest and most consistent play of 3 - 4 range sessions plus two 18 hole rounds a week, I played C Taper 130X, X100, PX 6.5 and 7 (sorry to the Nippon Modus team, never had the pleasure) in my irons. 

I was offered a set of "Game improvement" irons in 3 through Lob Wedge today. Lighter, stock shaft (85g), in stiff flex. And it sounds nice. It will be able to help with the mishits since I don't practice and it will be able to help with keeping the game fun and forgiving. 

But, my question is this, how many people have gone from specialty wedges like Vokey and MD and Hi Toe etc. etc. to the stock set wedges and what is your comfort with doing so? The brand I am going with is Taylormade and the set wedges don't look bad at all but, don't look to have the versatility around the greens I'm used to. 

Let me know if you're a 3 - Lob Wedge or even Sand Wedge guy in the the same set. I'm interested to read your opinions. 

[phizzy30]

I did a long time ago in my teens.  Like you, my father played blades for a very long time and switched to GI irons about 5 years ago.  He had XXIO irons 4-GW and gave it a good 3 months before he decided to go back to Vokeys.  GI/SGI irons just aren't versatile enough in deep rough and bunkers IMO.  The soles aren't conducive to hit out of certain lies effectively.  I think you will find that as well and there's a strong possibility that you will go back to your specialty wedges. 

[WristySwing]

7 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

I did a long time ago in my teens.  Like you, my father played blades for a very long time and switched to GI irons about 5 years ago.  He had XXIO irons 4-GW and gave it a good 3 months before he decided to go back to Vokeys.  GI/SGI irons just aren't versatile enough in deep rough and bunkers IMO.  The soles aren't conducive to hit out of certain lies effectively.  I think you will find that as well and there's a strong possibility that you will go back to your specialty wedges. 

 

Agreed. Companies recognize this now, which is why almost all of them offer a more forgiving model that plays and feels like a Tour wedge but has that extra forgiveness.  OP, if you are unhappy but still want forgiveness, look at Glide 4.0, CBX Zipcore, MacDaddy CB, or Mizuno Hot Metal wedges.  Should be an easy transition and most of these have subtle grinds on them to help with bunker play and finesse shots around the green.

[Stuart_G]

8 hours ago, Stanks said:

I was offered a set of "Game improvement" irons in 3 through Lob Wedge today. Lighter, stock shaft (85g), in stiff flex. And it sounds nice. It will be able to help with the mishits since I don't practice and it will be able to help with keeping the game fun and forgiving. 

 

That's a pretty good jump in shaft weight.   You may be fine - but there is the potential that it might mess with rhythm and timing and make the mishits worse.    Lighter isn't always better and it is possible to go too light.   Although at what point that might be for you is not something anyone here can answer.  It's just something you should be aware of.

 

8 hours ago, Stanks said:

But, my question is this, how many people have gone from specialty wedges like Vokey and MD and Hi Toe etc. etc. to the stock set wedges and what is your comfort with doing so? The brand I am going with is Taylormade and the set wedges don't look bad at all but, don't look to have the versatility around the greens I'm used to. 

Let me know if you're a 3 - Lob Wedge or even Sand Wedge guy in the the same set. I'm interested to read your opinions. 

 

For me it was all about how they look at address.   I tried and went back to the specialty wedges - but ones that were a little bit more forgiving - like clevelend  CBX.   However, I can't really say for sure whether the difference in "forgiveness" is really that significant (for me) for the different wedge designs - certainly not the the same extent I see with mid and long irons.

[ShortGolfer]

They don't have to be mutually exclusive.  I have XXIO 48* AW and 56* SW.

As well as a Ping  3.0 thin sole 58/6 and Mac Daddy CB 60/12.  The 58/6 is useful for getting out of wet bunkers.  They have been consistently wet in the last month!

Edited October 19, 2022 by ShortGolfer

[ChipNRun]

Ancient history: I went from 1994 to 2008 playing a set of component irons based off the Ping Eye2. The set P-S-L worked fine.

 

When I swapped out my irons, I was faced with a forest of specialty wedges available from the OEMs: Titleist, Cleveland, Callaway...

 

My clubfitter was a PGA pro who also gave me lessons, and he said that I practiced enough that I could handle the tour style wedges. For the next six seasons I played mostly the Cleveland CG14 wedges. The CG14s with the gold polymer head insert emerged as a bridge wedge played by both tour pro and happy amateurs for a multi-year stretch.

 

In pre-COVID days, I would select wedges by going to demo days and trying them out. Usually, I would order wedges with a KBS Tour R-flex iron shaft. This shaft was 10 to 15 grams lighter than the Wedge flex DG S200 and S300 variants that came stock in  many wedges.

 

And, don't forget shaft weight. My choice is now somewhere between 10 and 20 grams heavier than my iron shaft weight. My current mix includes three legacy MD wedges which I had refitted with Catalyst 80 6.0 | 85 gram graphites  - they come in about 15 grams heavier than the Catalysts in my MAX irons.

 

 

 

 

[PuffyC]

I used to carry two different 50 degree wedges - the set wedge for full shots and an SM6 for chips and whatnot, so you can do both. The set wedge was a little more comfortable on full shots, especially if you needed to step on it, but a specialty wedge like a Vokey can do things a set wedge could never dream of when you're around the green. The set I play now has a GW at 48 but I still carry both for the same reason. If forced, I could get by without my set GW but I could never do without the Vokey. 

[boggyman]

Set G/SW. The times I carry a LW it’s an older Adams CB I’ve owned for a few years, with a duplicate that’s still new just like it.  Have experimented with CBX style LW as well but normally choose to not carry one. Current “irons”?? are OG W/S Launch Pads FWIW, currently an 8hc.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Wedges should be blade type, IMO.

[Stanks]

19 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

I did a long time ago in my teens.  Like you, my father played blades for a very long time and switched to GI irons about 5 years ago.  He had XXIO irons 4-GW and gave it a good 3 months before he decided to go back to Vokeys.  GI/SGI irons just aren't versatile enough in deep rough and bunkers IMO.  The soles aren't conducive to hit out of certain lies effectively.  I think you will find that as well and there's a strong possibility that you will go back to your specialty wedges. 

 

This is my main concern. I am aware that set wedge soles, bounces and grinds might not cater to the the packed / tight lies that I play off of. SoCal munies are well known for their lack of water and bare grass and obviously, with much trial and error, most of us carry a low bounce option in lob or sand wedge.

 

4 hours ago, boggyman said:

Set G/SW. The times I carry a LW it’s an older Adams CB I’ve owned for a few years, with a duplicate that’s still new just like it.  Have experimented with CBX style LW as well but normally choose to not carry one. Current “irons”?? are OG W/S Launch Pads FWIW, currently an 8hc.

I've entertained a set GW. Never minded it in the least. I could really go either way on that. I know people that enjoy CB LW. I haven't had the pleasure of actually gaming on but a few chips here and there with no issues. 

 

4 hours ago, Is Golf Fun or Work said:

Wedges should be blade type, IMO.

That's all well and good. Explanations are better. Chances are, if there was been a blade style wedge released in the last 5 - 7 years that you're referring to from a one of the major OEMs, I've tried or played it. Vokey, Mack Daddys, Zip Core, Glide, TM, Wilson, etc. etc. tried them all. This new adventure is definitely going to set the record straight for me.

[me05501]

I'd hate to have to swap out all my wedges because I decided to try a different set of irons.

[callawayjay]

Always get the gap wedge to match the set then specialty grind sw and lw. 

[Stanks]

Revisiting this subject. I went and bought the 3 - L set of Taylormade Speedblades. There were a super nice set. Very fun and forgiving. Actually got my first Ace with them.

Then I sold them to a friend who has sworn he will never ever sell them back to me or anyone else, ever. I moved onto Bridgestone J15 blades as I was playing more and they were a steal of a deal. 

But, now I am back into Speedblades. I don't have the S or L wedge or 3 iron in this set. But I do have  some nice specialty wedges that I am looking forward to pairing them with. 

I'm happy to be back in shovels. Blades are fun to play and I may not sell them but, I'm not mad with what I have. 

[Louis_Posture]

[Kai Slater]

I used to play Vokeys, but just could not hit them to save my life; I just had to own it that I'm not good enough for those wedges and go to using shovels, which have proven to be better for my game.

[ShortGolfer]

On 10/18/2022 at 11:47 PM, phizzy30 said:

I did a long time ago in my teens.  Like you, my father played blades for a very long time and switched to GI irons about 5 years ago.  He had XXIO irons 4-GW and gave it a good 3 months before he decided to go back to Vokeys.  GI/SGI irons just aren't versatile enough in deep rough and bunkers IMO.  The soles aren't conducive to hit out of certain lies effectively.  I think you will find that as well and there's a strong possibility that you will go back to your specialty wedges. 

Yesterday I was able to hit out of the rough onto a downhill lie with my XXIO 12 9 iron and get it to stop on the green.  It helps that I have L flex high launch shafts and naturally hit a high fade.

I've learned to work with both hands.  The other day I transferred the stuff I was carrying to my right hand and caught a grasshopper with my "nondominant" left hand as it had a better angle.

 

If you have learned to hit a specialty wedge effectively, why switch?  A good answer is that the course has changed and you need to adapt to the new conditions.

Hitting wedges is complicated because you need to read the lie and adjust.  Just too much going on for many golfers. 

You can adjust after a few shots when you practice, but when you play golf you only get one shot!

 

What can you play when you have to make the shot?

Edited September 12, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[596]

I loved my Speedbladez. I had the full set to LW. Had no problem with the set wedges.  I was playing Callaway wedges but the change was no big deal to the SBz.

 

I also recently changed from PX 120g shafts to Recoils at 75g and the change was seamless.  Much easier to hit through 18 holes or hours on the range.  

[iNeedMoreGolf]

Distance wise yes maybe... some people even if they play less... do better with a smaller sole. Im one of those people. A players distance iron to me seems to be the new and better gi iron. Its a touch smaller all the way around but still give you better distance the blades or cb maybe. I personally dont usually see a huge drop off in distance from blades or cb to player distance. Its usually 5 yards... and no more then 10 it seems at worse. Result really depends on any club you hit. Even a shovel can come up short. Turf interaction matters as well. Thats why i cant do too thick sole. Even tho im not a high speed or steep player. If i get snagged im lossing distance from the snag.

Edited September 12, 2023 by iNeedMoreGolf
...

[SofaKingPure]

Okay the matching iron to GW, especially in modern iron sets where the pw is 44 and the gw is 48. 
 

play actual sw or Lw specialty clubs. It will improve your short game if you spend anytime practicing. Visit the short game chef and learn how to use bounce for pitch shots. Use the titleist vokey wedge fitter to dial in your bounce and grind 

[Stanks]

7 hours ago, SofaKingPure said:

Okay the matching iron to GW, especially in modern iron sets where the pw is 44 and the gw is 48. 
 

play actual sw or Lw specialty clubs. It will improve your short game if you spend anytime practicing. Visit the short game chef and learn how to use bounce for pitch shots. Use the titleist vokey wedge fitter to dial in your bounce and grind 

You know, I don't fully agree with you on this. I do advocate for a set GW. I'm actually pro-both. 

 

When you say "play an actual sand wedge..." I gotta say, the Speedblades sand wedge and lob were were VERY solid. Plenty of zip on the ball (at the time I had them, I was using mostly ProV1 / X) and I could manipulate both irons very well around the bunker, fringe and anywhere else I wanted. I was really worried that I was going to blade or belly some shots but, when I'm thinking back on it, that never happened. Whatever equipment you have, you WILL adapt to using it. 

 

I'm all set with Vokeys. I'm fine with set wedges or, what I have right now, MD4 Sand wedge and new version Cobra 58º wedge. They blended well with my blades.