Wedge wear and spin rates

[jdiddyesquire]

That other website just ran an article today looking at some Trackman stats on whether or not wedges should be replaced frequently due to worn grooves causing loss of spin.

 

Now, it's a terrible article, mind you, as it presents only one guy's shots using three wedges that are not of the same make and model. However, what do you think anecdotally?

 

I know lots of people bag rusty ass wedges because they think they spin better. Should wedges be replaced more frequently? Is 500rpm loss due to worn grooves really worth changing away from a wedge that you are super super comfortable with?

 

I know I bag a pretty beat up 60 degree vokey. But it's one of my absolute go to clubs.

 

If MGS was going to do an apples to apples comparison #datacratic look at this, how would they do it? I'd propose probably having 10-20 people hitting the same three wedges (all of the same make and model) with different wear patterns. How else could you get worthwhile data?

[Jmikecpa]

All that matters is if it works for you or not.  I tend to replace wedges every year and that is what works for me.  I play with guys that get 6 or 7 seasons out of a wedge before they replace it and that is fine for them.

[hckymeyer]

While not exactly pertaining to the question of how much wear in groove matter, this is still an interesting read.

 

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/andrew-rice-golf/2014/5/to-go-milled-or-not-milled

 

What I am taking out of this is that on well struck balls with no grass in between the face and ball, the grooves really do make the most different.  The little micro grooves/milling doesn't really do much of anything.

 

Basically grooves matter and if yours are worn down you are leaving spin on the table.  How much that affects your game only you can decide.  If you are a high spin player and like to make the ball check up on the greens you are going to want to replace wedges more often.  If you tend to play more bump and run pitches then you can probably go much longer without replacing.

[jdiddyesquire]

While not exactly pertaining to the question of how much wear in groove matter, this is still an interesting read.

 

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/andrew-rice-golf/2014/5/to-go-milled-or-not-milled

 

What I am taking out of this is that on well struck balls with no grass in between the face and ball, the grooves really do make the most different.  The little micro grooves/milling doesn't really do much of anything.

 

Basically grooves matter and if yours are worn down you are leaving spin on the table.  How much that affects your game only you can decide.  If you are a high spin player and like to make the ball check up on the greens you are going to want to replace wedges more often.  If you tend to play more bump and run pitches then you can probably go much longer without replacing.

Good link. A wedge without grooves look an awful lot like a weapon of some kind. They should sell those to mounted cops in college towns.

[revkev]

I played my Eye 2 PW for 20 seasons - 20 - I'm sure there was some difference in spin from start to finish but not enough for me to care.

 

I'm a moderate spin player - where I care most about spin would be chip shots around the green and since those are played from clean lies the grooves have next to no impact on what goes on.

 

But again this is a case of - does it matter to you and your game more than anything else.

[Kenny B]

Agree with rev.  I don't think my swing speed will have much affect on the grooves.  I played my Eye 2 SW up until I got my SCORs and it was used when I got it.

 

Continuing from the movie quote thread...   Men in Black:  "You can have my SCORs when you pry them from my cold, dead hands."

[RoverRick]

I have some Titleist Series 200 that perform admirably.  I can make the ball dance with them as well as most people can use new ones. Now, do they spin as much now as when they were new? Since I am better now than then, the answer is probably yes.

[sp0rtsfan86]

Interesting. I've had two pokey wedges 60 degrees, with the exact same specs. One is about 4-5 years old and the other is barely a year old. One I use as my everything wedge, and the newer one I use for shots I need spin on. There's a pretty substantial difference between the two when I hit a spinner with them. Not sure if it's just me, my purposeful use of both or what the deal is, but I always tend to get a good stop on a ball with the new one.

 

I was going to trade the older one in, but for ten bucks, I'd rather keep it and use it as a full and half shot wedge.