Trying to decide what to do with my wedges

[Drivingrangehero]

I was an older Mizuno wedge player for years, mainly the MP-T/R series from 2006, but recently discovered Vega wedges. 
 

I’m also in Florida near Sarasota, I have the Vega VW-10 54 which is 54° and 10° Bounce and I have the VW-06 56 bent 2° weak. They have a great leading edge grind with heal and toe relief 

 

Another wedge I like that I had in 50° was the Honma TW-World

 

 

[Retrop1]

21 hours ago, aquapig said:

For reference, if it matters, I'm about a 2 index right now. I have a steepish swing. I play in Florida and my course is typically very soft. Ofcourse there are some hard pan areas around some greens when chipping. 

 

I know I'm in a minority but I play 3 different brand wedges right now. Old SM5 Vokey 50, newer Mizuno T22 54, and a 58 Jaws.

 

I'd like to replace them and get on brand and stick with the 50, 54, 58 setup. 

 

Any suggestions?

I would suggest a wedge specific fitting. I know Titleist does it and I am pretty sure others do it as well, and while we are in the swing of demo day season, it would be good to do. I recently did a Titleist one and it has been great. My 54 is higher bounce for the softer and grainy lies, and the 58 is lower bounce with a good grind for the tighter and hard pan stuff. But I got to try all of them and actually measured things like spin rates from the mid range pitch shots, instead of just guessing based on a few swings in one moment of time. 

[RHenderson]

@aquapig Good morning, just a little food for thought.

I play all over the place, normally around 30-40 courses across 4-5 states, then throw in a golf trip or two and it's 6-10 other courses, problem playing a lot of different courses is the turf is not the same. So what I've learned or landed on is I play or keep several sets of wedges with different grinds & bounce for just these occasions. I know which set plays the best at each course and it's not as much switching as you would think. But here is a list of my recommended wedges if it helps.

NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER! Because of turf conditions.

 

Fourteen Golf: Great wedges that seem to work almost anywhere

Vokey: I agree with above poster, almost to many grinds, confusing and some hard to get. Wedge Works

Cleveland RTX 6: Good wedges and a simple approach to grinds and bounces: LOW - MID - HIGH

Ping S159 or Glides: Really come on the last few years and stepped up their Wedge Presence

Edison: Wedge system to help most.

Again I probably left some off, not by design but just trying to give you a good starting point.

 

Specialty Wedge's:

There is a lot of specialty wedge makers that can grind or build you just about anything, if you can think it they can build it.

To Many to list! but do some research

* In this group you will find a ton of wedges, from Japanese to US Custom Wedge makers, old Wedges like Nike, Cleveland, Wilson Staff & others, I'm sure I have left a few off ( Sorry )

 

I find Wedge play to be like a game within a game. I keep track of all my approaches from 125 yards and in. Finding a good set of wedges takes some time and it can be rewarding, especially when you find that magical set or single wedge that just fits.

Good luck with your journey and depending on how far you proceed I hope you find what your looking for.

 

Rich     

   

[aquapig]

9 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I played Vokeys for some years, very good wedges. But I think they have gotten almost too specialized with grind varieties that now seem to be multiplying like rabbits.

 

Difficulty I have is that I play all over the place. Now live in central NJ, courses commonly have bentgrass,  long but relatively loose root systems. Also play a lot in Texas and Florida (in fact, house hunting in the Tampa/Sarasota area right now). Where the normal bermuda is very different - shallow but very dense root systems (which is why it can withstand scorching summer heat so well). Even have to alter my swing. Usually a digger doing healthy divots in the north, but I'd break my wrists if I hit down that hard in the south - so swing slightly flattens, and I become more of a picker ... lean towards brushing the grass instead of "clean up on aisle 5".

 

And because I have to adjust to so many different course conditions, my primary variable in choosing wedges grinds has to do with versatility. They need to be able to adapt to a wide variety of conditions and turfs. 

 

Discovered Miura wedges a couple years ago. They look very simplistic, but in practice I've found the grinds to be positively brilliant. With slight changes in grip, stance, and swing, way different turf interactions get exposed. It's like having five different Vokey grinds in a single club depending on how you tweak your setup. 

 

Am currently playing a 52* low-medium bounce, and a 58* high bounce. When combined with a 46* Mizzy MP 20 MMC PW (with a small offset, fairly low bounce, and a leading edge so precise I feel like I could pick a ball off a cart path), I've got three clubs that all work from 100 yards in, no matter what the conditions or turf. 

 

Problem is that Miuras are expensive (relatively speaking), and (most importantly) have virtually none of the retail distribution other OEMs have in the US. I do not think I have ever actually seen any Miura clubs in a big box US store anywhere. I stumbled across them because I was fortunate enough to have a buddy that had some, and fell in love the minute I hit one. (The fact that the first time I hit one I holed out from the sand probably helped heehee.) But it would be difficult to try them. Don't think there are any Miura "demo days" at clubs like Titleist, TM, Cally and others so commonly run. 

 

But - if you're on the hunt for a new configuration at the short end of your bag, and you somehow get a chance to try Miura wedges - you might find it well worth the effort. They are a bit obscure, but I think there's a few other guys on WRX that are also fans. 

 

 

PS. They're pretty freakin' sexy.

 

 

Those are some gorgeous wedges my friend 

[azone]

On 2/15/2024 at 10:05 AM, 1s1k said:

I would go other way around if you're playing softer conditions

50- mid to high bounce

54- high bounce

58- low bounce

xactly!

[Rosco1216]

Go into your clubhouse and demo multiple grind and bounce options for each desired loft of wedge you plan on playing. Go out to the practice area and hit them from lies that best mimic your on course conditions. 
 

You‘ll find out pretty quick what works best. 

[Bye]

The first thing to clarify is what will you use each one for. Is the gap wedge just an extra iron or will it be used for some shorter shots? 

 

Which club will you pitch/chip, what will you use from the tighter lies or when you’re in some thicker stuff.

 

I use my 56 & 60 for nearly every shot from about 80 yards in. The 56 is used for general chipping/pitching & bunker shots. The extra bounce helps keep the strike lower in the face. 

 

My lob wedge has a bit less bounce on and gets used out of the rough as it goes through the grass quicker. It might get used for really tight lies and short sided bunker shots. I tend to use the 56 more now.

[aquapig]

8 hours ago, Bye said:

The first thing to clarify is what will you use each one for. Is the gap wedge just an extra iron or will it be used for some shorter shots? 

 

Which club will you pitch/chip, what will you use from the tighter lies or when you’re in some thicker stuff.

 

I use my 56 & 60 for nearly every shot from about 80 yards in. The 56 is used for general chipping/pitching & bunker shots. The extra bounce helps keep the strike lower in the face. 

 

My lob wedge has a bit less bounce on and gets used out of the rough as it goes through the grass quicker. It might get used for really tight lies and short sided bunker shots. I tend to use the 56 more now.

Good questions. 

 

My 50 is usually just used as my full shot 115 yard club. Occasionally I'll use it as a bump and run chip shot, but not often.

 

My 54 is my go to 105 yard club, but again I will use it for chipping when I need some some roll out.

 

Typically from 90 yards on in, I use my 58. I like that I can hood in back in my stance for lower pitches and chip, trust the loft on my courses fast greens. I can open the face and hit flop shots with it when needed and also use it for bunkers. 

 

The short answer is the 58 will definitely get the most use for chipping, pitching and bunkers.

Edited February 20 by aquapig

[Bye]

16 hours ago, aquapig said:

Good questions. 

 

My 50 is usually just used as my full shot 115 yard club. Occasionally I'll use it as a bump and run chip shot, but not often.

 

My 54 is my go to 105 yard club, but again I will use it for chipping when I need some some roll out.

 

Typically from 90 yards on in, I use my 58. I like that I can hood in back in my stance for lower pitches and chip, trust the loft on my courses fast greens. I can open the face and hit flop shots with it when needed and also use it for bunkers. 

 

The short answer is the 58 will definitely get the most use for chipping, pitching and bunkers.

I only really pay attention to what Vokey offers, but it should be fairy easier to match against another OEMs product. 

 

The 50 should be fairly straightforward as it’s either a like for like switch, just check you are happy with the strike location. Purely based on the distance you have mentioned I would have a go with the alternative option, I.e if you have a 50.08 test the 50.12. It might be that you are catching it either too high or too low on the face. My bet/guess is too high, but it may be ok, it’s worth checking.

 

54, probably an S grind will work well for you here, maybe even just the standard F grind. 
 

From what you have said, the 58 needs to be versatile so I would start with an M grind and move up (D) or down (L or T) in bounce depending on how you get on. From what you have said the M should be a good option.