Too many wedges in my bag?

Question

I'm not a long hitter. I'll layup to 90 yards and pull out a Gap Wedge for a smoth gap to the green. If I'm 160+ yards, I'd rather lay up to 90, instead of going for the green and missing and needing a harder shot: chip or pitch.

I pulled a long club out in favor for another wedge because my wedges are at odd degrees.

I only use a 60* in sand bunker (soft sand) and downhill chips, but i needed a wedge with no bounce for tighter lies and harder bunkers. I added a 58* SW for this reason. I used to carry a 56* instead of a 54* but the inbetween distances were killing me.

Here's my setup with distances. I'm a 15 handicap:

Cleveland Hibore XLS Draw 12* (230yds)

TaylorMade 3 wood 15* (210yds)

Cleveland Hibore XLS 3 Hybrid 23* (180yds)

Cobra Carbon CB irons 5-9 (168-125yds)

Cobra Carbon CB PW 46* (115yds)

Cobra Carbon CB GW 50* (105yds)

Cleveland CG 12 54*:12* (95 yds)

Titleist Vokey Spin 58*:8* (85 yds)

Cleveland CG 12 60*:12* (80 yds)

Should i just get a 54* with no bounce for hard sand?

Answer 1

I think whatever works for you, but your score would improve greatly if you worked on your mid iron game.  Obviously you can chip and hit the wedge, so why not go for the green.  As far as the 54*, the 60* Cleveland you are carrying now is the right club for any sand shot.

Answer 2

In my humble opinion, I'd say ditch the 58 and the 60 for a 56* with 14* bounce and a 60* with 8* bounce.  These two, along with your PW and GW, should keep you well covered for every situation 105 yds and in.

Honestly, there isn't a real need to carry two clubs that have a 5 yard distance.  Learn to hit your wedges at thigh-high (7 o'clock), waist-high (9 o'clock) and shoulder high (10 o'clock).  Say your GW goes 105 yards, but your 90 to the green.  Your 56* SW goes 85, but if you try to kill it, bad things will happen.  Instead, swing your GW to 10 o'clock (everything else being normal) and that'll give you an easy 90 yard shot.

Since you say you're not a long hitter, go with the above and throw in a 5 wood.  There's a 30 yard gap between your 3 wood and 3 hybrid, so maybe put in something that can go between those two.  Or, don't do anything and stay with 13 clubs... at least your bag will be lighter!!

That's what's cool about golf... you can tinker as much as you want, and you can have your set EXACTLY as you want it, and you don't have to have it like anybody else's.

Answer 3

WOW. 5 wedges and you want to add 1 more? Ya crazy? no body will ever need THAT much wedges. You only need 3. 4 max. but 5-6? thats a bit of an overkill.

Answer 4

Get rid of the 58 degree wedge, and carry the 46,50,54, and 60 degree wedges. Add a hybrid club or a fairway wood the is about 19 degrees. You have much too big a gap between your 3 wood(15 degrees) and your 3 hyrbrid(23 degrees).

If your handicap is 15, then you need to take those 4 wedges to the driving range and practice shots under 80 yards. I usually grip most of my short wedge shots down on my grip for better control; I suggest you do the same.

You seem to be obsessed with how much bounce your wedges have for different conditions. Don't. Just practice your

80 yards and under shots, and your handicap will go down.

As far as your strategy for laying up, I recommend you practice your 25-40 yard shots with your 60 and 54, faithfully, until you can get 90% of them inside 8 feet. Forget about laying up to 90 yards. Believe me, I am a 9 handicap, and my ability to get the ball close to the hole from 25 yards is MUCH better than from 90.

Answer 5

Too  wedge or not too  wedge that is the question?????? LOL

Well I think if your a short hitter and good at the short game you might want to do a few things.

1) You need to work on the long game at the range contrary to popular thought which is work on your short game but for you this sounds like this is not your weak point as it sounds like you score with the short clubs so they are not your problem practice THE LONG GAME!!!

2)I see you have a 12* driver I think your giving up some distance with your choice of drivers

I would consider looking a maybe trying a lower loft driver as a 12 is more like a 2 wood

get a 9 or a 9.5 or a 10 or 10.5 yes they are a little harder to hit but you should gain some distance making your approch shots easier

3) or drop two or more of your wedges and add  hybrid's so you have a 2.3.4.5 hybrid as they are easier to hit or get a couple of fairway wood or a combintaion of the two.But only if you get fitted for them and not just one fitting or if your swing is not in top form and over a few weeks

MAKE SURE  THE FLEX AND KICK POINT ARE RIGHT FOR YOU and while your at it check your ball maybe it's to soft so any swing errors on the full shots are multiplied maybe try a slighty harder ball for less spin and more distance on the long shots only problem will be less control on the short stuff...But this should be ok for you as you are good around the green and will adjust to it. Just find a good comprimise  of less spin and more spin for your game

4) you gotta try a few times a round to go for it so you get the confidence too try it more.Funny thing is when you start to get longer and able to get it close whith your improved long play you will be able to add wedges too your bag so you can score off the the improved distance

So in closing its your bag so you make the final discion Good Luck

But I would think about dropping some wedges and adding some support for you long game

FORE!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

try to find a low bounce lob wedge , the 5 wedges is a food idea , since the loft of your pitching wedge is really a nine iron , try a 62 degree wedge , 58 and 60 to close together , my lob wedge is 64 , but i also am a senior . sounds like a couple of sessions with just your 3 wedges , at a grass range would restore your confidence . chipping stroke can be developed at home without a ball . i think your confidence is down a touch , it is still early in the golf season , dont be too hard on your self . if you need wedges have at least 60 in the basement . little practice you will be fine . have a great season . thank you .

Answer 7

That seems to work for you. I used to wear a chain around my neck that I could feel against my arm on my backswing to aid in my dailing in of my wedges.

Answer 8

I don't want to interfere with your golf strategy because that was not the question. Laying up from 160+ yards?! And you say you are a long hitter. That is the wrong strategy. You must go for the green and rather get closer. Some will reach. And you will lower your handicap.

YES you have too many wedges - definitely but is because of your strategy.

Answer 9

I agree with the first guy. Nobody should be laying up from 160 yards. If you're a short player that's fine, but you need to learn to be fairly accurate with mid and long irons. According to your own yardages, you'd be playing a 5 or 6 iron from 160 yards. That's not the type of clubs you should be that inaccurate with that you'd be laying up. I could see laying up from over 200 so you don't have to pull out a wood, but not 160.

And no, you don't need more wedges. Your current setup is fine since you're obviously not comfortable with your woods. If you want to buy a 54 degree with no bounce fine, but you shouldn't be taking something else out of your bag to use it. If you're playing a course you know typically has hard sand, you could pull out the other 54 degree wedge and replace it with your new one.

Seriously, you need to hit the range and get some confidence with those longer irons. You're never going to get that handicap down if you're laying up on 170 yard par 3s.

Answer 10

Hi, I'm not a long hitter too but a little longer than you. I play sometimes three wedge system as well: using 52/8, 56/10, and 60/4 degree. There's no such thing as wedge with no bounce. All wedges has bounce; in fact all iron clubs do. I think 4 is the lowest you get in the market already. 160-165 you should be looking at 6-5 iron at least, otherwise you're in trouble. (In Baron Nelson PGA tournament recently, I've seen Adam Scott hit 7 iron something like 196 yards on the second shot to the par 5: Man, these guys are something else!) People play lots of wedges (3) because they are long hitter and they have problems with short shots. You're on the contrary should be looking at dumping your wedges.

I think you'll need a new approach to your game. You should be packing three, five, seven woods, or even one additional hybrid. If you have problem reaching the green from 200 yards down and the problem is distant. I guess you only need pitching wedge and a sand, and you should be looking at 56/10 or 12 only. Basically, I think you have no need for 60 at all.

A hybrid or seven wood should give you 16-170 approach easily. Five wood should give you the 170-180, and you should do fine with three wood at 210-220.

I sometimes use only pitching wedge from 110 down to chip shots around the green. My 60 degree is only when I need 80 down and want to spin the ball lots, otherwise my pitching is sufficient to stop the ball.

Think of it this way, from 170 downward, you should be looking at one shot approach close to the hole and the ability to stop the ball. This will allow you to shape atleast five strokes a side from your game.

Best to do is go to lots of driving ranges and get a pro.

Answer 11

in my personal opinion you can never have to many clubs in your bag well that is unless its to heavy for you to carry but i always get a cart anyway. The more clubs you have the better prepared you are for any situation besides if you are a short driver than it would be nice to have a large variety of irons since they keep your game alive out there hahaha hope ive helped

Answer 12

A 54 with less bounce may help, 12* is a lot, I have a 56 with 10* I de-lofted to 54, so it has like 8* bounce, I love it.  

Your not that short, 230 drives are long enough to play any course less than 7000 yards.

I commend your short game focus, but try getting comfortable over longer shots.  

I would suggest ditching the 50 or 60 and adding an 18* hybrid (2i).