Question about bunker shot wedges

[nvr3putt]

It's time to get new wedges and I'm considering Vokey SM10 in 54 and 60 degrees. I use both from the bunker depending on the distance and situation.

I'm a mid handicapper (~14), take shallow divots and looking for the most 'generic' BOUNCE and GRIND that would fit most situations. 

What do you currently use and suggest for a mid handicapper? I am open to other brands as well.

 

[Pepperturbo]

2 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

It's time to get new wedges and I'm considering Vokey SM10 in 54 and 60 degrees. I use both from the bunker depending on the distance and situation.

I'm a mid handicapper (~14), take shallow divots and looking for the most 'generic' BOUNCE and GRIND that would fit most situations. 

What do you currently use and suggest for a mid handicapper? I am open to other brands as well.

 

For a mid-cap, I suggest bounce be 12'-14' on the wedge most used on soft sand or turf.  Difficult to suggest grinds as they are more user skill, specific.  

 

I use SM10 F52.12 and T58.4 and open the face of both.  With my 2i-8i, I pick or scrap the surface, 9i and shorter clubs divots to turf roots or there about.  

[rsballer10]

3 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

It's time to get new wedges and I'm considering Vokey SM10 in 54 and 60 degrees. I use both from the bunker depending on the distance and situation.

I'm a mid handicapper (~14), take shallow divots and looking for the most 'generic' BOUNCE and GRIND that would fit most situations. 

What do you currently use and suggest for a mid handicapper? I am open to other brands as well.

 

wedge fittings on grass are hard to find, but if you can try to book one. If not, at least book a fitting on a launch monitor. Fitting isn't about matching skill level, it's finding grinds that work with your mechanics or technique. 

[ShortGolfer]

A 54* works really well with my stock high fade for punching the ball out with sand between the ball and the club face.

I can pick the ball off the ground with a lob wedge to spin the ball but that may be outside your skill level.  A very useful  technique if you play out of washed out bunkers with no sand.

Edited Wednesday at 07:13 PM by ShortGolfer

[alexc93]

See if you can find a titleist fitting event near you and try all the grinds/bounce combos.

They are pretty knowledgeable on the live chat also to make recommendations. 

 

Or, do the PGA SS 90 day playability and if you don't get along with it you can exchange it for a different grind/bounce.

[Jeff58]

M. It’s the most universal in terms of both versatility and player application.

 

IMO/
 

Overall, you’re not helping your play by using Vokey’s. Cleveland and TM wedges go out of their way to be more appropriate for a wider audience. The new Pings even more so. If I was a 14 capper (and even if I’m not) there’s no way I would pick an unmodified Vokey over the new Pings.

[Bobb3rdown]

I've been very happy with my cobra mim wedges. V grind in 56° and wl grind in 60°. 

 

I really like the wide low grind from greenside bunkers. Gets in and out of the sand nicely.

[Capreolus]

The Vokey online selector tool should give you something very close to ideal.

I would go 54-10S/60-08M

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

This is such a difficult question to answer because it can be really subjective and players can adapt to different options.

 

It’s good that you’re aware enough that you tend to be shallow. Here are a few more factors…

 

What is your turf usually like? What are your bunkers usually like? Are conditions pretty consistent everywhere you play, or totally varied? Do you want options to cover different situations? What do you use each club for both in and out of the bunker? How much for full swings, how much for partials, how much for greenside, etc.? How confident are you in your bunker game? How strong/weak is your wedge game as a part of your overall index? Do you usually come into the ball square, or are you comfortable manipulating the clubface? On normal pitches and chips, how much are you leaning the shaft forward at impact?

 

All of these things would be factors for me in addressing bounce/grind and I’d consider each before buying new wedges (and possibly a few more).

[hook_or_slice]

20 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

It's time to get new wedges and I'm considering Vokey SM10 in 54 and 60 degrees. I use both from the bunker depending on the distance and situation.

I'm a mid handicapper (~14), take shallow divots and looking for the most 'generic' BOUNCE and GRIND that would fit most situations. 

What do you currently use and suggest for a mid handicapper? I am open to other brands as well.

 

 

Ping E (Eye2) grind. 

Magic out of the sand.

[st1800e]

41 minutes ago, hook_or_slice said:

 

Ping E (Eye2) grind. 

Magic out of the sand.

Depends on the bounce, and the sand conditions.  Bought an Eye grind with 8° of bounce, flange looks substantial , but it digs too much.  
Now using Cleveland CBX 4 in 54°- 14° and 58° -12° , both great in sand. I thought the large flange/bounce would be a problem off turf, but they perform well. 

[Rbsiedsc]

Love my Cleveland zipcores from the sand. Play a 54/full and 5/mid. Had some extra grinding as they are tour racks. 

[Maxer77]

23 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

It's time to get new wedges and I'm considering Vokey SM10 in 54 and 60 degrees. I use both from the bunker depending on the distance and situation.

I'm a mid handicapper (~14), take shallow divots and looking for the most 'generic' BOUNCE and GRIND that would fit most situations. 

What do you currently use and suggest for a mid handicapper? I am open to other brands as well.

 

I had this EXACT issue (except my wedges are 54 and 58). If you're not planning on opening the face super wide, get S grind on both.  If you open the face a lot on your 60, get an M grind on it. 

[Red4282]

I recommend you have one wedge with high bounce and one with low. Gives you maximum versatility with turf and sand conditions. 

[Mobert19]

41 minutes ago, Maxer77 said:

I had this EXACT issue (except my wedges are 54 and 58). If you're not planning on opening the face super wide, get S grind on both.  If you open the face a lot on your 60, get an M grind on it. 

Why not F grind instead of S?

[Maxer77]

Just now, Mobert19 said:

Why not F grind instead of S?

F grind is great for full shots (like gap wedge), but (for me) it's wide and gets stuck in the turf closer to the green. If you're the type of player who likes to move a ton of sand out of the bunker it's a good option for sand too. 

[nvr3putt]

12 hours ago, Poor Mans Ty Webb said:

This is such a difficult question to answer because it can be really subjective and players can adapt to different options.

 

It’s good that you’re aware enough that you tend to be shallow. Here are a few more factors…

 

What is your turf usually like? What are your bunkers usually like? Are conditions pretty consistent everywhere you play, or totally varied? Do you want options to cover different situations? What do you use each club for both in and out of the bunker? How much for full swings, how much for partials, how much for greenside, etc.? How confident are you in your bunker game? How strong/weak is your wedge game as a part of your overall index? Do you usually come into the ball square, or are you comfortable manipulating the clubface? On normal pitches and chips, how much are you leaning the shaft forward at impact?

 

All of these things would be factors for me in addressing bounce/grind and I’d consider each before buying new wedges (and possibly a few more).

My head hurts man. haha

I play different courses that have tight/course fairways. Bunkers are not too fluffy but can get knarly when it rains.

Full swing is square but pitch and chips are slightly opened.

Bunker shots are almost always slightly open, with an slightly open stance.

I play a D grind (12 bounce) currently but I'm really inconsistent out of the bunker.

 

[nvr3putt]

12 hours ago, Capreolus said:

The Vokey online selector tool should give you something very close to ideal.

I would go 54-10S/60-08M

The Vokey wedge selector suggests 54.12D and 60.14K.

I currently have the 56.12D and don't really like it out of the sand. Slightly open face with open stance. 

Is it safe to assume that an indoor fitting won't help?

[nvr3putt]

10 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Love my Cleveland zipcores from the sand. Play a 54/full and 5/mid. Had some extra grinding as they are tour racks. 

My first SW was a Cleveland 588.

[1puttTUT]

I swear by my 58/12. Great out of the bunker and no issues opening the face off a tight lie, and I play all over the place (live in Michigan, but play quite a bit in AZ/vegas and NC/SC/FL).

 

I will say I'm not a take a divot and hit a huge flop shot guy. I like to open the face and sweep it. Gets plenty of height and spin to hit pretty much every shot I need.

 

I will also say I literally never practice short game.  I hit full swings in my basement sim and just go figure the rest out on the course.

[obsessed_golfer]

Big Box store golf guy here....I usually recommend in a Vokey 54-14 and 58-8 or 58-10 to my customers.  Easier to hit 58 than 60 for most and the higher bounce on the 54 makes it easier out of the bunker while still a good full shot club.

 

And an indoor wedge fitting is useless.

Edited 22 hours ago by obsessed_golfer
added

[MountainKing]

12 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

My head hurts man. haha

I play different courses that have tight/course fairways. Bunkers are not too fluffy but can get knarly when it rains.

Full swing is square but pitch and chips are slightly opened.

Bunker shots are almost always slightly open, with an slightly open stance.

I play a D grind (12 bounce) currently but I'm really inconsistent out of the bunker.

 

 

Since we don't get to experience similar course conditions week in and week out like the tour guys do, or have access to tour vans on a weekly basis, you gotta find what works for you in "normal" conditions and then learn to manipulate the wedge to adjust for conditions. Not only opening the face to expose more bounce, but don't be afraid to close the face as well in firmer conditions. 

[hook_or_slice]

On 7/4/2024 at 9:10 AM, st1800e said:

Depends on the bounce, and the sand conditions.  Bought an Eye grind with 8° of bounce, flange looks substantial , but it digs too much.  
Now using Cleveland CBX 4 in 54°- 14° and 58° -12° , both great in sand. I thought the large flange/bounce would be a problem off turf, but they perform well. 

 

I will say the courses I play never have really soft sand.