Wedge distance gapping

Equipment
#1

I’ve got a club to add to my bag since my 4i (player distance iron) now goes as far as my 3i (old blade).

At the top of my bag I feel pretty good with 4i 207, 3Hy 225, 3W 245 to not need to worry about adding at the top end.

With the new player distance irons being about a club strong from a loft standpoint, my wedges are:
58* 90yds
52* 115yds
PW 135yds

Think that adding a wedge would help with scoring (not having to dial a PW back to 120) but trying to determine what to do. The PW is part of the iron set so looks like 43*

What would the ideal gapping be? Had someone mention getting a 50* to target ~122yds and bending the 52* down a little so it’s in the 110 range.

Any experience?

#2

Here’s what I have, my bag is identical to yours at the top in terms of distance/clubs

60* - 95-100yds
56* - 105-110yds
51* - 120-125yds
PW - 135-140yds

I think you could definitely use another wedge there, but it looks like you would need to make some loft adjustments, you’ve got a fairly big gap between the 52 and PW.

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#3

It’s interesting, but I’ve noticed that in the summer my PW (135 was on track man condition neutral) can get into the 145+ range when it’s hot, but I don’t seemingly add as much distance on the wedges when it’s hot. I can get the 52* to 120 but not that much more so the gap widens in the summer.

#4

it’s possible you’re just swinging faster with that particular club versus when you feel like you have a shorter shot that requires more touch. I don’t think the temperature can account for that much distance change. Sometimes we don’t notice this, but when it is warmer out our body is a bit looser, so it can move a little faster than it can in colder temperatures.

#5

My PW loft is 46*, so I go 50-54-58.

If I have to I can hit the PW 150, but stock is 135-140. I don’t like to take full swings with wedges and really see no need to, so my expanded PW range is really 125-150. I like to hit my others as follows:
50* - 110-125
54* - 80-105
58* - 0-75

I like the consistent gaps because it keeps my range of shots I can hit wider than if I gap them too close together. My two cents.

#6

I’d have thought that but the 135 was condition neutral on trackman and within a week on the course was close to 150 in the heat. Hit 52* hard and saw maybe 122-125 but nowhere near the same gain in distance. I don’t believe there was wind/hill or anything but obviously there are a variety of factors. I’m certainly not planning to hit PW 150 everytime!

#7

That’s a good range and what I’m looking for as well. I don’t often hit full wedges either so a 90 shot unless it needs height is usually a 3/4 52* for me. I don’t have a problem with the PW and taking it down to 125 if I have to, but obviously would be nice to take a 3/4 or closer to full swing on something than guessing a little more on the PW

#8

I have New Level Golf wedges.

60°- Up to 90yds but I try to get myself in 75 yd range
54°- From 90 - 115 yd. 105 is my ideal distance for a smooth controlled swing
50°- from 115 -125 yd.
PW - I use this from 125 -150 yd . It’s not ideal yardages and it’s a bigger range than I’d like but I’ve worked a lot on choking down to help with it and it has been working out well.

The key for me, like I’m sure for everyone else is to get me to my ideal yardages.

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#9

Mine is very similar in distance as your and I added a 64 degree and via Dave pelz have the four wedges pretty dialed for “half”, “soft”, and full. I have a cheap lie/loft adjuster and just fiddled with the 58 to reliably get 100yds and the 64 goes 75. Altogether, they have me covered well from 135 in or so.

I much prefer having 4 wedges over having an extra longer club

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#10

My PW is 45* (hit it about 130) so a purchased a 50 (118 max), 54 (107 max), 58 (95 max) wedge setup and it works well for me.

#11

I guess building off the 4 wedge discussion from a different angle - how does it change your mindset for to how to play shots around the green? Currently I primarily use 58* unless trying to play a runner or skip/check in which case I’ll use the 52*. I “can” hit almost any shot with either club and practice that way, but try to stay consistent on the course to not over think anything. I can see adding another wedge leading to more ways to play shots but also some additional indecision.

#12

I’m not the best at the short game but my “go to” is to find the least lofted club that can find the closest flat spot that can run the ball to the hole so it could be an 8 iron or one of my wedges depending on the distance. I don’t have the best feel landing the ball uphill or downhill so landing uphill/downhill is the last resort. That might mean If I’m 50ft away from the flag just off the fringe, I might hit a 6 or 8 iron if it’s flat on the front of the green or a wedge if it’s uphill on the front to a plateau 20ft or whatever beyond that. If I have a crap lie, I might have to improvise more where I opt for a lower loft if I’m worried I might blade it or such.

The only exception is the bunker where I feel more confident always using my 64 with a big bounce and opening/closing the club face to create the right loft.

I do something similar for sub-100yd shots. I typically have up to three different clubs I can use to get a similar distance with more/less swing so I use the countour of the green and loft/spin I need either to go directly at the pin or land a few yards or more back and let it run up. I play on a couple courses that have hard fast greens where going straight at the flag every time and having it always bite isn’t an option.

It works for me but I obviously have seen better short game players have different approaches.

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#13

I think you make some great points here. You have to play the shots/technique you are most comfortable with. Whatever you know will get you on the green most of the time is the right play. You don’t have to get fancy and have tons of shots in your arsenal. Keep it simple!

#15

Looks like something around a 48 should do the trick for you.

You could also try gripping down on your PW with a full swing and see what kind of distance that gives you.