Why is there no gap wedge in many issued iron sets?

[Foxx]

Why are lots of sets made without the option of a gap/approach wedge?

 

It's a full shot club, so I don't see why it wouldn't be an automatic inclusion in the set, like the PW?

 

The only answer I got from a rep was that most people want specialty wedges.

 

But those wedges are basically blades. Why would most people prefer playing a full shot with a blade?

 

I understand if the set is a low handicap set, but many CB sets are also lacking one..

 

 

 

Edited May 23 by Foxx

[2Down]

They are usually the same companies that offer an option from their wedge lineup.  So everyone.

 

 

 

[North Butte]

Define "lots". Outside of super player-ish blades and such, seems like almost every brand has one or more "GW" or "AW" or "UW" or similar clubs beyond the PW in their iron sets. 

[ShortGolfer]

My Callaway MD5 52/10S is the best club I have in the bag for punching out of gnarly rough with a wedge.  I also carry the SGI set 48* AW for full swings from good lies.

Edited May 23 by ShortGolfer

[Foxx]

18 minutes ago, North Butte said:

Define "lots". Outside of super player-ish blades and such, seems like almost every brand has one or more "GW" or "AW" or "UW" or similar clubs beyond the PW in their iron sets. 

 

Almost every GI does. But mid-handicappers irons upwards, plenty don't.

 

[Ger21]

Every Titleist except the 620CB and 620MB have a GW available.

Every Ping except the Blueprints have a GW available.

Every Taylormade except the P7MB, P7MC, and P7TW have a GW available.

 

Basically, except for one piece forged "players" clubs, the vast majority of irons sold today have a matching set GW available.

 

Edited May 23 by Ger21

[Foxx]

20 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

Every Titleist except the 620CB and 620MB have a GW available.

Every Ping except the Blueprints have a GW available.

Every Taylormade except the P7MB, P7MC, and P7TW have a GW available.

 

Basically, except for one piece forged "players" clubs, the vast majority of irons sold today have a matching set GW available.

 

 

So plenty dont then.

[Joesti]

A lot of irons offer a gap wedge. I purchased a gap wedge with my 243 iron set but after testing ended up still using my mg3 50 degree instead. A real wedge gets through the turf better and im a little bit steep in the short irons.

[Ger21]

14 minutes ago, Foxx said:

So plenty don't then.

Sure, but the ones that don't tend to have 46°-47° PW.

Most set gap wedges are in the 49°-50° range.

[Foxx]

7 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

Sure, but the ones that don't tend to have 46°-47° PW.

Most set gap wedges are in the 49°-50° range.

 

Still need a gap wedge. Big gap to the SW otherwise.

[Ger21]

2 minutes ago, Foxx said:

Still need a gap wedge. Big gap to the SW otherwise.

25 years ago, very few people used a GW between a 47° PW and 56° SW.

[OnTheBag]

48 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

Every Titleist except the 620CB and 620MB have a GW available.

Every Ping except the Blueprints have a GW available.

Every Taylormade except the P7MB, P7MC, and P7TW have a GW available.

 

Basically, except for one piece forged "players" clubs, the vast majority of irons sold today have a matching set GW available.

 

This is your answer.  To my knowledge, all or most iron sets today have a G/A wedge option, except for better players irons.  Those players are looking to fill specific gap windows and might use a 51° or a 53° or 54° wedge after their 46°/47° PW.  

[Foxx]

2 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

25 years ago, very few people used a GW between a 47° PW and 56° SW.

 

I don't understand how that is relevant.

[Puttersaurus Rex]

There are specialty wedges that are not blades as well.  Plenty of options to find a gap wedge that works for you.

[Cellis]

Personally I never use my GW as a full club iron. That is why I think it is incredibly important to have one for myself out of a regular set due to the different grinds and bounces to suit my game better. 

[Foxx]

2 minutes ago, OnTheBag said:

This is your answer.  To my knowledge, all or most iron sets today have a G/A wedge option, except for better players irons.  Those players are looking to fill specific gap windows and might use a 51° or a 53° or 54° wedge after their 46°/47° PW.  

 

Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't.

[Rbsiedsc]

1 minute ago, Foxx said:

 

Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't.

Like which ones. To me, I only basically see the blades from OEMs not having a GW. Zx7 has one, t100 does, apex pro does, ping i230 does. I don’t think what you are saying is true

[OnTheBag]

15 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't.

Give us an example please.  No one here has been able to think of a set that doesn't have that option available.

 

[MiloMalt]

20 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't.

Show me what iron set targeted at mid handicappers don't have a set club after the PW.

Edited May 23 by MiloMalt

[Foxx]

26 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Like which ones. To me, I only basically see the blades from OEMs not having a GW. Zx7 has one, t100 does, apex pro does, ping i230 does. I don’t think what you are saying is true

 

Perhaps I'm wrong to a degree then. But seems like every set I'm interested in over the last 5 years hasn't had one available.

Just today I looked up the Titleist 620 CB, and it didn't. Which it really should being a cavity back.

Edited May 23 by Foxx

[Rbsiedsc]

4 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Perhaps I'm wrong to a degree then. But seems like every set I'm interested in over the last 5 years hasn't had one available.

Just today I looked up the Titleist 620 CB, and it didn't. Which it really should being a cavity back.

That is targeted at low handicap golfers. That’s why

[Foxx]

3 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

That is targeted at low handicap golfers. That’s why

 

Targeted. Plenty of midcappers can hit irons well enough to use a cb. It's not a blade.

But yes you are correct. I'll happily stand corrected.

Edited May 23 by Foxx

[MiloMalt]

Just now, Foxx said:

 

Targeted. Plenty of kidnappers can hit irons well enough to use a cb. It's not a blade.

"Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't" Titleist 620 CB are marketed to scratch+ golfers lol. Yes a 30 handicap can play them but it doesn't make them mid handicapper irons...

[Foxx]

1 minute ago, MiloMalt said:

"Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't" Titleist 620 CB are marketed to scratch+ golfers lol. Yes a 30 handicap can play them but it doesn't make them mid handicapper irons...

 

I guess that's the limitations right there then.

[MiloMalt]

Also the 620CB have a 47 degree pitching wedge, there is no need for a set GW for that set. With those irons you'd be getting a specialist ~52ish degree wedge as your next club

[rsballer10]

 

10 minutes ago, MiloMalt said:

"Plenty of mid handicappers iron sets don't" Titleist 620 CB are marketed to scratch+ golfers lol. Yes a 30 handicap can play them but it doesn't make them mid handicapper irons...

Agreed. Matching iron choices to handicap is a bit of a crapshoot, but in general I think people severely underestimate what a mid-handicap iron is. For a 10-20HC, most OEM's are recommending the 2nd to most forgiving iron in their lineup. For Titleist, that's the T200. For anyone over 20HC, most likely the T350 depending on launch conditions. Again, it's kind of a crapshoot because everyone has different launch conditions.

 

[North Butte]

2 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

 

Agreed. Matching iron choices to handicap is a bit of a crapshoot, but in general I think people severely underestimate what a mid-handicap iron is. For a 10-20HC, most OEM's are recommending the 2nd to most forgiving iron in their lineup. For Titleist, that's the T200. For anyone over 20HC, most likely the T350 depending on launch conditions. Again, it's kind of a crapshoot because everyone has different launch conditions.

 

I'm totally about playing whatever clubs give you joy, whether they "target" you or not. But I suspect even a 10-20hcp player who chooses 620CB irons is extremely unlikely to want a "gap wedge" that isn't a Vokey or similar. So they (Titleist in this example) would be having a option that maybe a handful people in the world would be interested in. 

[Binson]

This thread has been hilarious to read. Thank you.

[rsballer10]

7 minutes ago, North Butte said:

I'm totally about playing whatever clubs give you joy, whether they "target" you or not. But I suspect even a 10-20hcp player who chooses 620CB irons is extremely unlikely to want a "gap wedge" that isn't a Vokey or similar. So they (Titleist in this example) would be having a option that maybe a handful people in the world would be interested in. 

Yep. In that style of head, sometimes even the PW turns into a specialty wedge. Also agree on playing clubs that you enjoy.

[MN Moose]

I really have no idea what the big deal is.  There is an infinite number of wedges available in every loft imaginable.  First example after a google search is a 52* Tommy Armor 845 on closeout from Golf Galaxy.  Decent looking cavity back "gap" wedge for only $60. 

 

Why does it need to be set matching?