4 wedges or 5 wood

At the mow i have driver, 3 wood then 3 hybrid pw 51* 56* an 60* wedges in bag.

I was under the impression that the short game is where its at. but watching the LPGA and even some of the lower handicappers at our club they dont have 60* wegdes in there bags. Im normally ok with my wedges but does having 3 specialist wedges give me to many options and confuse me around the green as sometimes i dont know which one to hit. I also tend to use them when a bump and run or chip would be better suited. 

so been toying with the idea or dropping one and getting a 5 wood. and theres a par 3 thats to short for my 3 wood now but to long for my 3 hybrid. 

Whats the distances of your 3 wood , 5 wood, 3 hybrid just so i have some reference. 

Do you think this is a good idea or stick to the wedges. 

 TIA

Matt,

I have 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 48* PW, 52* GW and 58* SW in my bag.  Off the tee I get (roughly) 230 yds, 210 yds and 190 yds and I'm reasonable around the green with these wedge options.  The little bit of extra loft on my SW means the gap between my wedges is consistent and I can pop it high by opening the face if I need to. 

I tend to chip mostly with my PW and only take one of the other wedges if I am more than 30 yards out, I have to go over something (bunker, mound, etc) or I am in deepish rough that requires the ball to get up in the air.  I think this means I have improved my chipping and pitching because using the same club all the time means that you have better feel for the distance. 

Edit: - The reason I don't normally use my GW or SW close in is because of something The Lyth posted; "Don't try to chip over something that isn't there".  One of the best bits of advice I've ever had for improving my short game. 

Question - How often do you use the LW Matt?  I used to have one in my bag and found I wouldn't use it for three or four rounds at a time and then use it twice in a round.  I decided it wasn't worth having it in my bag. 

How many times have you tried that shot and thinned it through the green or duffed it two yards though, Matt?

If that ball had been on the green and the same distance away you wouldn't have thought twice and just pulled the putter out.  The idea of a bump and run is it is much more controlled and less susceptible to error (although you can still get it wrong, trust me on that!).  The stroke is very similar to a putt (except there is more body turn as you follow through) so it is much easier to get a feel for the distance required.  On big multi-level greens (the PGA has quite a few!), I have been known to chip whilst on the green as it removes some of the vageries associates with going from one tier to another. 

Personally I would drop the 60*, but if that's you go to club around the green then I can see your dilemma. 

If it's a flat run in to a flat green, I'd go half a PW.  If it's a raised green or the fairway could kick it, I'd go 3/4 GW. 

Matt,

drop the 60' & go for a 5 wood, you'll get a lot more use out of it. I carry 3W, 5W, 3 rescue & PW, GW & SW. 

I've got the same in my bag as Floody, but the 5 wood or rescue occaisionally gets replaced by a 3 iron. 

Martin - Why are you restricting your SW to bunker shots?  Don't let the name fool you into thinking that's all it's for!

I'm with Steven with regards to 10,11 and 12 iron.  That's how I view my wedges. 

Also Martin, given that you are supposed to hit the ball before the ground, how can the bounce be causing you to thin the ball?  It is possible that the bounce is very high (14* is the most I have seen, I use 10*) which will make it more difficult, but that shouldn't stop you using it from the turf.  Just because it's call a sand wedge doesn't mean it should only be used from the sand.  Would you not use a 3 wood off the tee because it's called a fairway wood?

64*?  Do you get a free drop when it disappears up your own nostril?????

The difference in loft between each club is usually 4*. A 3wood is 14/15* and a 3iron or 3 Hybrid is 20*, the idea being that a Hybrid gives you more forward momentum and is easier to hit.

Take a look at your game and think "do I find that at times that a 3wood is too much and a 3 Hybrid not enough against not using one of your wedges". You will then answer your own question. I have 18 clubs including one putter, and the 14 that go in the Bag depends on two things, The Course, and The Weather.

TheLyth

I must've misunderstood your post Martin.  I read it as you only took your SW from the sand and the pro had told you to do this.  I do agree that you are better with a PW around the green and have less chance of thinning it, especially with bare lies. 

There can be a tendency to take the club that goes the least distance (most lofted) the closer you are to the green as it seems the logical thing to do.  Problem is, golf is not a logical game.  As I posted above, don't chip over something that isn't there was one of the best pieces of short game advice I've had.   

As for admitting you're a lawyer, you're opening yourself up for all kinds of stick there (sorry about the smiley, I know you don't like them but I needed to make sure you knew it was a joke and didn't sue me!)

I carry four wedges and use them all during a round for different types of shot. I have no interest in a five wood.

Im with you john, ive got  44PW 50AW 54SW and 60 LW.

If I need to get out of the sand high and stop within a couple of yards the 60 is great, it works well from a fluffy lie also.

I know the gaps arent consistent but the yardages are.

I dont really have much need for a 3 wood either and its always a toss up between 3I and 3W. I prefer hitting the 3W but is can be a little unpredicatble, or should I say I can be a little unpredictable with it!!

That's a very strong wedge you have there, David. That must go miles.

I carry a three wood but usually chicken out of playing a fairway shot with it, as the penalty is far more than the gain when compared to a long iron. Having said that I did hit a rather nice one off the last tee this afternoon.

 I've got to agree with JP here. I would favour an iron over a wood everytime (the only 'wood' I carry is a driver) simply because of the risk that JP mentions. There are players however that knock it down the middle whatever but alas I'm not one of them and anyway, the difference in distance is compaeable.

 Re wedges: you shouldn't get hung up about using a sand wedge from the fairway. In my case if it's 90yds then I'll go in with that everytime regardless if there's a bunker/lake or not. Around the greens is a different matter for me. I'll use my 60* if I need to go over something but otherwise it's a 9 iron bump and run.

 JP mentioned something a few months ago which stuck with me: he practices mainly from 100 yds out and I've found myself doing that too...knowing how far each club and type of shot will go. Just got to sort the putting out now.

You must be doing something right, Patrick, dropping into single figures. Well done.

 Thanks John, first time I realised was when I made a post today (haven't had much chance lately) so it must have been the CGL game in Derbyshire last month. You should have seen me @ Willow Valley Monday thoughh...what a nightmare.

Yes JP, the PW at 44 degrees is very strong, good for about 140 at a push. I love the clubs R7 XD's but the lofts are strong. The 9 Iron is about 155 yards but is probably a 7.5 iron in most other sets ive seen. Not a problem now i'm used to the lofts but i'm sure it will take a while to adapt the inevitable new shiny set on the horizon!

We can all have our off days,especially on a strange course. That round is history now anyway, so forget about it.

I am suffering from a lack of confidence at the moment mainly because I am finding it very difficult to put a shape on my driver that will enable me to find the fairway. I don't have this problem with irons, so I am obviously doing something different when using the driver. Four times today I only hit it 120 yards into deep rough.

yip i agree drop the 60 for a 5 wood ,and i also agree a 8 iron can be exellent around the greens i use mine alot it can save u a hell of a lot ,you would be suprised how many chips ya can sink with a iron by running it up like a putter.

 John, yes I also have a confidence problem with my putting. It's so strange how quickly it can hit you (in my case it was a four putt a couple of weeks ago) and I really don't know the answer...perhaps I'm thinking about it too much, anyway I'll have to deal with it as I can't go on having 42-45 putts in a round.

 To add to what I've already said, and it's even more important to me in current putting crisis to ensure I'm as close to the hole as poss.

 Around the green the lie is crucial in what club I take. The tighter the lie the lower the loft, however if your greens are heavily contoured then it's worth considering the highest loft you can confidently use to fly it to wherever you envisage the pitch as a bump and run onto a down sloping green invariably will be big. 

I carry 4 wedges ie. PW GW SW LW

Of them all I use the GW 53* most (my babba) and the PW the least.

In fact I could drop the PW and not notice but if I did ya know what will happen...

I once used a 5 wood around Crook. particulary off the tee and my GW and LW for the green shots due to the speed of the greens and the contours. A bump and run will bump run then run and run and run - Matt knows what I mean..

Horses for courses Matt but a 5 wood in the squad won't harm...

I've gotten into the habits with putts of 6-8' or less of saying out loud "that's a gimmee".  I've found that when I do that the brain clicks into confident mode and I sink them. 

With regards to your question about 50 yards of rough Matt, 3/4 SW or 3/4 GW depending on the lie. 

Yes.  As a rule of thumb for bump and runs/chips, the following applies: -

• SW - 80% carry, 20% roll
• GW - 70% carry, 30% roll
• PW - 60% carry, 40% roll
• 9 iron - 50% carry, 50% roll
• 8 iron - 40% carry, 60% roll
• 7 iron - 30% carry, 70% roll

Obviously the fuller the swing the greater % carry, but if you're taking no more than a half swing this is a good guide.  Your half swing will normally get you around two thirds of full club distance. 

Matt, Chris, thanks for the tips. I've tried hitting the 10'' to 3 footers harder so they keep their line which works great on the practice green.

 With regards to hitting 50 yds from the rough: it does depend on how deep it is but my take on it is to hit as full a swing as you can with a high lofted club because you wont get much spin coming out of the rough so the higher the loft will reduce the amount of roll once it (hopefully) hits the green and the club head speed will help generate what spin is available. I'd go in with my 60* and grip down if nearer. I'd not entertain a half shot unless the lie was ok and no bunkers as the lower the club head speed the more chance of the club getting tangled which is where the full shot wins again.

 There's aleways the chance of a flyer though. 

Patrick,

You will learn the greens at Moor Allerton the more you play. Take the bad with a pinch of salt. A 30ft uphill is way way better than a 10ft downhill on some greens. If I had a bad day on the greens at MA, which I did many times, I used to shrug it off. You couldn't even find a Flat 6 footer on the Putting Green.

TheLyth

 David, thanks for the encouragement. I am finding this out . In fact that was the reason I got the 56* and 60 wedges in the first place (I really would like to master a 64* but that is going to be out of my league...the lie has to be spot on otherwise there's a chance of going right underneath) so I'll leave that for the green side bunkershots.

These different wedge shots are ones that I usually have no trouble playing. I have a LW that is excellent from the rough and good for about 50 yards.

I tend to play more pitches than chips as I like to stop the ball quicker.

Stuart,

Place the ball in the middle of your stance & make a 'putting' style stroke. Nice & smooth, don't worry about where the ball ends up whilst practicing just concentrate on making a clean contact.

Hi guys , just thought i'd give you my input on 4 wedges , i do actually carry 4 i have PW 47 (120 yards) ,GW 51 (105 ), SW 56 (95 ), LOB 60 (75-80 ) , i dont carry a 5 wood no more as i hit my 3 iron 215 , i do have the 3 wood which sometimes i grip down a little to take some distance off it ,this suits me really well , didnt have 4 wedges in my bag till 3 months ago ,handicap has dropped since using them, hope this helps guys,

happy golfing

G