64 degree wedge, who has one and who has had one?

[njlam]

I have a Cleveland 588 64 degree in my bag and I love it.

A few qualifications:

I never hit it if I am further from the green than I can throw the ball.

While it goes 72 yards on a full swing, rarely will I take a full swing with it.

In windy conditions with hard lies (like at Bandon/Ireland/Scotland) caddies have always taken the club out of my hands after my first double bogie initiated by the 64.

They are hard to find, so I pick them up on ebay when I find them. Love the Cleveland 588, Callaway X forged, or PM when one in good condition is available.

[AllDunn]

I have one bent 2* flat and absolutely love it. Has saved me more times than not. I should add that I only use it when I've shortsided myself, or out of greenside traps. So easy to get the ball out of the traps with plenty of spin to stop on a dime. I'm at 12 so I find myself in these situations more than I care to admit. If I were any better, I could probably leave it at home, but I'd absolutely say that' it's saved me more strokes than it's cost me.

[TwistedSister]

Ask Phil....he used to carry one?

[bladehunter]

On 12/20/2022 at 6:28 PM, cardoustie said:

I think a 64 is great for full 75 yard shots or partial shots inside 50 .. maybe my sole grind is just right for me 

This is where I see it as useful.  If you end up with 2 or more 40-75 yard approaches every single round , then you can absolutely get closer looks with a 64. Because  you can simply put a 3/4 to full swing on it vs taking a 58 or 60 and having to manipulate a 1/2 ish swing out of it to see a 55 yard flight.  But it’s an animal you must find a great fit with. A poorly fit one is almost the worst case scenario.  It will be way less help than nothing at all. 

[icemakr]

Callaway 64 Sureout

 

“Break Glass in Emergency”

 

can’t hit a full shot with it but it

is a wonder at the superflop 

[nitram]

About 20 years ago I came across a 64* Vokey 200 and messed around with it off & on for a couple years and never felt it was worth a full-time slot in the bag. So it ended up in the closet for several years and occasionally, out of boredom mostly, I'd get it out and try it again but it would always end up shelved.

 

A few years ago I did some trading and ended up with a Miura K Grind 64. It was a different animal. It made using a 64 useful and fun. I rarely use it these days but I see a day coming, like getting ready for next season, when it will get a chance for a slot.

[philly2kuk]

I tried one many years ago, a 64 degree Wilson trouble wedge. Bought it just to try the loft. Its name was apt - it put me in more trouble than it ever got me out of. Went back to a normal 60 and not changed since.
 

I rarely use my 60 unless I need a high floaty shot with no green to work with, but that doesn’t come up often. 64 would be wasted on me.

[Simp]

I have one but it only comes out for bunker shots. 

[Frank_Kasule]

I've had one in the bag ever since the PM Grind came out. It is ridiculously good. 

It was a bit of a change to adjust to the PM Grind 2 but I absolutely love it, probably my favourite club in the bag. Just so easy to use especially out of bunkers. 

I usually play it very open with an aggressive swing. 40 yards and in is where I am most effective but I can play it from 70 out if I need to carry a tree etc. 

I think the PM Grind is a unique wedge where the 64 is so easy to use once you master playing it open. I am now genuinely worried about having to replace it as no other wedge is similar to it. 

[bekgolf]

The order was delivered today.  They sent a 58 instead of the 64.  Perhaps it's just not meant to be.  The 58 will go back to CPO, it's a beautiful new in wrapper (typical like new from CPO) full toe raw jaws.  I already have three  58 degree wedges from different manufacturers, lol.

 

Cleveland still has the CBX full face on sale, if the urge gets to be too much I'll pick one of those up in 64.  Right now I have a Christmas spending hangover and really don't want to spend any more money for awhile.

[radiman]

3 minutes ago, bekgolf said:

The order was delivered today.  They sent a 58 instead of the 64.  Perhaps it's just not meant to be.  The 58 will go back to CPO, it's a beautiful new in wrapper (typical like new from CPO) full toe raw jaws.  I already have three  58 degree wedges from different manufacturers, lol.

 

Cleveland still has the CBX full face on sale, if the urge gets to be too much I'll pick one of those up in 64.  Right now I have a Christmas spending hangover and really don't want to spend any more money for awhile.

I’m a fan of the callaway shape over the Cleveland. But they’re both nice. I mean you’ve already spent the money at cpo. May as well just get the 64° haha. I promise you that they’re a ton of fun. 

[mister2cool]

I have several and regularly carry one. No idea how far it goes on full shots because I never have and never will. The club is purely used for greenside emergencies when I must get the ball to go straight up and straight down. I have a 58 SW so it can handle about 99% greenside shots and anything inside 90yd. Generally I think I use the 64 maybe once every 3-4 rounds. One time I had to use it 3 times before the turn and I knew it was gonna be a long day. 

Being that it has such a limited role, recently I have been re-evaluating if I should continue to carry it. However I haven't come up with the need for another club so we'll see if it goes back into the bag next season. 

Edited December 26, 2022 by mister2cool

[black bnr32]

I’m not a well travelled golfer so I must not understand the courses y’all are playing.  Because a 64 is darn near necessary in my area of the world.  Hard, raised greens surrounded by rough are the norm.  A 64 is club of choice around the greens for roughly 90% of shots.  So about 10 shots a round for me LOL.

[Jeffyr11]

I have a 62 that I only use around the greens and bunker shots.  Found I did not need the 50 degree and decided to give it a shot, as my home course sand traps have way too much sand in them.  I have really grown to like it a lot but whenever I play away from my home course, it is the first club to come out and replace with a long iron.

[James the Hogan Fan]

For 1.5 years my home course was a brutal track with 18 greens either elevated, or cut flat into a slope so one side would have a severe downslopw with the green falling away, the other a severe upslope. If you missed the greens (and they were tiny) you had to get it up and then stop it fast. It was in this environment that I purchased a cheap component 64° wedge.

 

I will admit, it takes some getting used to, and if you forced me at gunpoint to choose between a 64° and a 1-iron for a full swing where I had to make clean contact, I'd probably pull the 1-iron. But it made those greens manageable. I didn't have to think about face angles or flopping or any of that, it just became point and shoot. From time to time I'd fluff some, but I'd more than make up for it with recoveries I simply couldn't make without it.

 

Then I'd go to another favorite course, a nearby links layout. The 64° would go into a closet anf a chipper would make an appearance, but that's a debate for another thread...

[joostin]

I think a 64° can be very useful.  Even built one for my wife who only plays a few times a year, and it's one if her favorite clubs around the green.

 

Just food for thought for those that haven't seen.... Here's something I posted in earlier threads to show effective lofts when opening a wedge.  I'm sure we all play shots with wedges lofted at more than 64° at times.  This is not to deter anyone from playing a 64° or whatever clubs work.  If anything it shows that 64 doesn't have to sound like a daunting loft:

 

This is a 54° wedge at 80° effective loft:

[Jar Jar Johnny]

I played the 64 for a while and changed to a 62 last season. My Wedge Setup is 50, 56, 62 and most of the time i use the 56. A 62/64 is just a club which is nice to have in special situations but when you need it, you‘ll not regret to have this Wedge.

 

I would also go with a flat Lie angle!! 1) when you need a 64, you want to play a high Shot, flater Lie Angle allows you to easier Open the Face. 2) you will not (often) play full shots with this club, so the shaft will not bend that much (Toe Down).

[bekgolf]

I just couldn't shake the 64* wedge want so I kept looking for deals to pop up.  Patience has paid off, it took a few months but CPO has/had a CBX full face for a good price and I had a free shipping coupon so I pulled the trigger today.  I'm sending in a club I don't use for trade. 

 

I already have a 60* CBX full face that I get along with so I'm confident with that model of club, it looks a little clunky but it works for me.  In fact I got along with that club so well that I'm going all Cleveland in the wedge department.

[miles2go]

I carry a low bounce Titleist 64. Mostly use it for 10 foot shots over short sided bunkers. Wouldn’t normally carry it but just happen to have an extra spot in the bag. I’m a god when it works. Maybe 50% of the time.  So embarrassment the other 50%. 

[cfunk11]

On 12/20/2022 at 7:25 PM, mpf08796 said:

My brother went down this road with a PM grind 64. It’s a niche club at best , but it can come in quite handy at times. He does well with it and his ball striking can be lack luster. Our local course has raised greens and it works well. Go for it

It dosen’t sound like you have any respect for your brothers game:(

[st1800e]

On 12/21/2022 at 11:46 PM, 95124hacker said:

It has a permanent spot in my bag

Nothing is permanent….

[mpf08796]

On 3/21/2023 at 7:14 PM, cfunk11 said:

It dosen’t sound like you have any respect for your brothers game:(

I do. I think he is a very special boy for trying so hard and never giving up. I would of changed hobbies by now.

[TheMoneyShot]

Seems like the OEMs are starting to move in from the 64* wedge craze.  Do any OEMs still have 64* wedges in their line?

[reider69]

I used a Callaway x forged 64 for many years.  I pulled off the craziest circus shots with that club...like hitting over a tall tree that was right in front of me.  I also bladed shots 30 yards over green when I didn't make perfect contact.  I then learned how to open the face, use bounce and perform bump and run shots with a 58.  The 64 is in my garage now.  Love that club but risk is not worth the reward.

[AdmiralPicard]

Do they still make that 70° thing they sold on late night infomercials when we were all drunk in the 90s?

[azgreg]

[billyspan]

I carried a 64* for nearly a decade due to my home club having tiny, elevated greens with substantial slope.  I also fell in love with the 58*.

 

However, in order to fill bag (and wedge gaps) more efficiently, I have gone to 56* and 62*. Plenty of flop ability while being a bit more useful for full shots. It also helps that I have a 2012 Cleveland 62* with 10* bounce. Anything less than 10* bounce just doesn't work for me.

[AdmiralPicard]

22 hours ago, azgreg said:

Someone needs to get this in Shiels’ hands. 

[billyspan]

[hammergolf]

On 12/22/2022 at 1:36 PM, njlam said:

I have a Cleveland 588 64 degree in my bag and I love it.

A few qualifications:

I never hit it if I am further from the green than I can throw the ball.

While it goes 72 yards on a full swing, rarely will I take a full swing with it.

In windy conditions with hard lies (like at Bandon/Ireland/Scotland) caddies have always taken the club out of my hands after my first double bogie initiated by the 64.

They are hard to find, so I pick them up on ebay when I find them. Love the Cleveland 588, Callaway X forged, or PM when one in good condition is available.

The grind in the 588 64* was perfection. It was basically the same as the 56*. I always wondered why they never had that option on the 60*.