Newbie Wedge Question

Hi Guys,

 I have been playing for a few months now and now starting to get to grips with the finer details.

 I have a set of Wilson di6 irons 4-SW (2nd hand ebay), but was wondering what loft the PW and SW would be and would getting specialist wedges be beneficial - if so what lofts would you advise and what does lob and gap wedge mean?

many thanks

Stuart

Stuart, I honestly believe that there should be an equal number of degrees between each wedge that you use. My PW is 48 deg, GW/AW is 52 deg, my SW is 56 deg and my LW is 60 deg.

I am also a firm believer in the old adage that shots at the scoring end of the game are very important and that is why I carry 4 wedges, giving me a magnitude of shot making abilities.

Stuart,

Typically a PW is around the 46-48* mark and a SW 56.  A gap wedge (called an approach wedge in the US) fills the "gap" in loft between the PW and SW.  Typically, this is 52.  A lob wedge has even more loft than a SW and is typically 60*, although you can get them as high as 64* (I would advise against these though as the ball could disappear up you left nostril!) 

John - It's your skill, not the number of wedges, that give you a "magnitude of shot making abilities".  Everyone knows that even Mikelson eyes your short game with envy.

Stuart, I feel that all distances from say 100 yards downwards are shots that can be played in many different ways with many different clubs.

What you need to find out is exactly what each club with the method you employ is succesful.

For example a shot of say 20 yards requires no strength at all so attention can be transferred to the feel required to perform the task successfully.

The ball can be run in low with anything from a five iron to a PW and with practice I am sure you will soon learn to run them in close.

Personally I always like the first bounce to be on the putting surface and the amount of room available to the pin is what dictates the club and kind of stroke I am go to play. I could play it in low with a little check so that it does not run too far or I could pitch it a little higher, but softer. The options are surprisingly many when one really thinks about what is needed to be done to get the ball where you want it.

I have said it before on this forum but I will say it again, think of what you would do if the ball was in your hand and you wanted to get it near the pin. Yes you would throw it, but how, would entirely depend on your instinctive reflex action. Just copy that feeling with the club.

Chris, I am quite sure that Phil has no need of my input for any department of his game, even though I played many of his favourite shots years before he started playing.

I saw him play on Thursday and then again on Friday John.  Did you by any chance receive a phone call from California between those two rounds as he improved significantly?

I did not see any of the US Open, but I know that what works today does not necessarily work tomorrow and you have been playing long enough to know that, Chris.

I am quite sure there are days wehn you would chip and pitch better than me, but overall I am currently a little more consistent than you in this department and it is only this department that is keeping my handicap as my long game is not as good ss yours.

"my long game is not as good as yours"

We both know where the scoring takes place though John, and that's why you're still a better player than me in my humble opinion (and probably that of many others)