Have Modern Iron Lofts Put FIVE Wedges In Your Bag?

[BostonSal 554]

It seems that if I wanted to use a classic 52-56-60 matched wedge set,

I'd need, with many of the newer iron sets,  both the matching PW and  GW to get to it.

Not a problem for me, but longer players need more longer clubs above the 5-iron than I do.   

Do you go with five wedges,

gap your wedges wider,

or adopt another solution?

What's the current trend?

 

[ZenGolfer 928]

You basically need 2 gap wedges with modern irons lofts.  Thats one of the many reasons why I reject modern iron lofts and instead play older irons.  Especially if you are playing expensive wedges like Vokeys, you are basically looking at spending $500+ just on wedges.  To me, thats just crazy.

[cnosil 24,335]

It really doesn't matter what the lofts or number on any club is.   Hit your longest and shortest club.  Usually driver and a sand/lob wedge.   Then fit clubs in between that have about a 15 yard gap.  

[RickyBobby_PR 9,233]

1 hour ago, ZenGolfer said:

You basically need 2 gap wedges with modern irons lofts.  Thats one of the many reasons why I reject modern iron lofts and instead play older irons.  Especially if you are playing expensive wedges like Vokeys, you are basically looking at spending $500+ just on wedges.  To me, thats just crazy.

Wedge is cheaper than a hybrid or fairway. Two wedges are cheaper than fairways and some hybrids

[Riverboat 774]

7 hours ago, BostonSal said:

It seems that if I wanted to use a classic 52-56-60 matched wedge set,

I'd need, with many of the newer iron sets,  both the matching PW and  GW to get to it.

Not a problem for me, but longer players need more longer clubs above the 5-iron than I do.   

Do you go with five wedges,

gap your wedges wider,

or adopt another solution?

What's the current trend?

 

I was about to insert a 5th wedge between my 56 and the gw (48*) that came with my new clubs. I have always avoided full swings with wedges, and there was quite a gap between these two clubs. While looking for a wedge to fill the gap, I experimented with a full swing with the 56. Lo and behold, that swing with that wedge filled the gap perfectly, and I'm actually hitting it very accurately. I'd always hit only 1/2 and 3/4 swings with clubs shorter than pw, but this one certainly works. Live and learn. 

[BostonSal 554]

14 hours ago, cnosil said:

It really doesn't matter what the lofts or number on any club is.   Hit your longest and shortest club.  Usually driver and a sand/lob wedge.   Then fit clubs in between that have about a 15 yard gap.  

That's the most popular, and for most people, probably the most logical way to configure a set--- but not the only way.

I choose every club that I want for specific shots, and then, with whatever number of slots are left, I fill in as best I can.

I'm going to include clubs that I particularly like whether they fit into a linear distance progression or not.  I'm not recommending it, but that's what I like to do.

 

But we're not talking about lofts and numbers, per se.   Wedges don't often have numbers other than their lofts or a letter designation.  

We're talking about if your nine iron is less that forty degrees, how many wedges do you need?

Just a curiosity thing, because if you buy irons in "sets" like many people do, you may need both the matching PW and GW PLUS three add-on wedges.

Custom ordered clubs can be bought one at a time, of course.

 

If one simply assumes linear loft progression or linear distance progression, then yes, how many wedges you bag doesn't matter, of course.  I was merely curious as to how many clubs people are bagging that are designated as wedges.

 

Edited September 30, 2021 by BostonSal

[Hook DeLoft 698]

5 wedges?  Well, yes and no.  My club that is stamped with PW is a 9 iron 20 years ago, or an 8 iron 60 years ago.  I then have a 48 degree gap wedge, or PW 20 years ago, then a 54 degree sand wedge and then a 58 degree sand/lob wedge and then a 62 degree lob wedge.  60 years ago, I would have had 42, 46, 50 and 55 degree clubs; or even 44, 48 and 52 degree clubs plus the sand wedge.  The 2 lob wedges are just my own craziness.  If you want to play traditional lofts, just forget the number on the club and build a set that stops at 55 or 56 degrees.  People go nuts about strengthened lofts, but if you think of your 7 iron as a 5 iron, then it's not a problem.

[BostonSal 554]

10 minutes ago, Hook DeLoft said:

5 wedges?  Well, yes and no.  My club that is stamped with PW is a 9 iron 20 years ago, or an 8 iron 60 years ago.  I then have a 48 degree gap wedge, or PW 20 years ago, then a 54 degree sand wedge and then a 58 degree sand/lob wedge and then a 62 degree lob wedge.  60 years ago, I would have had 42, 46, 50 and 55 degree clubs; or even 44, 48 and 52 degree clubs plus the sand wedge.  The 2 lob wedges are just my own craziness.  If you want to play traditional lofts, just forget the number on the club and build a set that stops at 55 or 56 degrees.  People go nuts about strengthened lofts, but if you think of your 7 iron as a 5 iron, then it's not a problem.

That's basically true, Hook, but forgetting the number stamping, the length / loft correlation is also changed.

 

I figured out how to set up my bottom end.

The Titleist T100 9-iron is 42° and the PW is 46°

The Titleist T100S gap wedge is 48°.

If you choose the T100S gap wedge INSTEAD of the T100 pitching wedge when you order,

you can go with just three wedges with 6° gaps from 9-iron to lob wedge. [ 42, 48, 54, 60°] 

That's how I did it to make room for a tee-shot-only driving iron.

Edited September 30, 2021 by BostonSal

[cnosil 24,335]

27 minutes ago, BostonSal said:

That's the most popular, and for most people, probably the most logical way to configure a set--- but not the only way.

I choose every club that I want for specific shots, and then, with whatever number of slots are left, I fill in as best I can.

I'm going to include clubs that I particularly like whether they fit into a linear distance progression or not.  I'm not recommending it, but that's what I like to do.

 

But we're not talking about lofts and numbers, per se.   Wedges don't often have numbers other than their lofts or a letter designation.  

We're talking about if your nine iron is less that forty degrees, how many wedges do you need?

Just a curiosity thing, because if you buy irons in "sets" like many people do, you may need both the matching PW and GW PLUS three add-on wedges.

Custom ordered clubs can be bought one at a time, of course.

 

If one simply assumes linear loft progression or linear distance progression, then yes, how many wedges you bag doesn't matter, of course.  I was merely curious as to how many clubs people are bagging that are designated as wedges.

 

While you say it is the most popular, I would say it isn’t what most people do as they just buy a set of clubs.   I know people that build sets like you described; they typically play one or two courses and build the set to play the shots they need.  That approach could potentially leave distance gaps or a clubs that is not frequently used because it is so specialized; such as a club used only for flop,shots. Not wrong just one way to approach building a set.  
 

Currently Most manufacturers sets are simply a specific number of clubs and not a something that starts at a particular number.    Really not different than “traditional” lofts where it stated at a 3 iron and players added a 2 or 1 iron as add-ons.  
 

in my current setup I have a PW, GW, SW, and a LW.  I could drop the LW and play just the SW.   So even with “modern” lofts I could effectively play 3 wedges.  Back when I started in the late 70s I had a PW and SW.  I could potentially build a set of clubs that is hybrids and 7 wedges with no “irons” but why does the number odiferous wedges really matter?  If anything, it is better in the current marketplace because wedges have different grinds and bounces that make then more effective unless the player chooses to take a grinder to their traditional lofted set.  
 

we continually get into discussions about club lofts and at the end of the day what does it matter?  Pick the clubs that let you play golf the way you want. 

[jlukes 16,186]

Hi Nifty!

[BostonSal 554]

8 minutes ago, cnosil said:

While you say it is the most popular, I would say it isn’t what most people do as they just buy a set of clubs.   I know people that build sets like you described; they typically play one or two courses and build the set to play the shots they need.  That approach could potentially leave distance gaps or a clubs that is not frequently used because it is so specialized; such as a club used only for flop,shots. Not wrong just one way to approach building a set.  
 

Currently Most manufacturers sets are simply a specific number of clubs and not a something that starts at a particular number.    Really not different than “traditional” lofts where it stated at a 3 iron and players added a 2 or 1 iron as add-ons.  
 

in my current setup I have a PW, GW, SW, and a LW.  I could drop the LW and play just the SW.   So even with “modern” lofts I could effectively play 3 wedges.  Back when I started in the late 70s I had a PW and SW.  I could potentially build a set of clubs that is hybrids and 7 wedges with no “irons” but why does the number odiferous wedges really matter?  If anything, it is better in the current marketplace because wedges have different grinds and bounces that make then more effective unless the player chooses to take a grinder to their traditional lofted set.  
 

we continually get into discussions about club lofts and at the end of the day what does it matter?  Pick the clubs that let you play golf the way you want. 

csnil makes an excellent point about set composition.

I do play almost all of my rounds on the same track and club accordingly.

I wasn't making any comments on modern lofts, but was merely curious about how many wedges people tend to play with the modern lofts.

[DaveP043 5,444]

I got the T200 from Titleist, for a MGS review.  Those have strong lofts, but came with two wedges in the set, 43 and 48 degrees.  These took the place of my previous PW and 9-iron.  My irons now stop at 5-iron, rather than 4 previously.  I have the same number of irons (including 3 "specialty" wedges and 2 wedges in the set) as I did before, its just that 5 of them are now labelled as "wedge".  I really don't care.

[Middler 3,436]

Just wait until you have 9 wedges and few or no irons with stamped numbers. If the current trend continues that's what you'll find offered. 2 and 3 irons have all but disappeared but you can still buy irons with similar lofts - that's nonsense. Manufacturers, driven by naive customers, have rendered the numbers stamped on the bottom of irons almost meaningless. There was no reason they couldn't have kept the iron # vs loft correlation as it was, but that's been debated endlessly here already.

[BostonSal 554]

10 minutes ago, Middler said:

Just wait until you have 9 wedges and few or no irons with stamped numbers. If the current trend continues that's what you'll find offered. 2 and 3 irons have all but disappeared but you can still buy irons with similar lofts. Manufacturers, driven by naive customers, have rendered the numbers stamped on the bottom of irons almost meaningless. There was no reason they couldn't have kept the iron # vs loft correlation as it was, but that's been debated endlessly here already.

I've got no argument for that at all, but it sets some people off when it's brought up.

[cnosil 24,335]

4 minutes ago, BostonSal said:

I've got no argument for that at all, but it sets some people off when it's brought up.

I does and all for something that doesn’t really matter.  Whenever club lofts are talked  about; and this thread is about club lofts,  there is a divide.  That is generally why the threads get closed and people get warnings about what they post.  Even what people call “traditional” lofts are stronger lofted than the clubs that proceeded them.  I will be a never ending debate and in my opinion any thread that goes down the loft debate should be closed.  

[RickyBobby_PR 9,233]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

While you say it is the most popular, I would say it isn’t what most people do as they just buy a set of clubs.   I know people that build sets like you described; they typically play one or two courses and build the set to play the shots they need.  That approach could potentially leave distance gaps or a clubs that is not frequently used because it is so specialized; such as a club used only for flop,shots. Not wrong just one way to approach building a set.  

Nailed it. Outside of some avid golfers there are not at the driving range I go to or have been randomly paired with or even in the long time group of former coworkers I play with that have setup their bag using something other than buying a full set of irons. Using a 5 hybrid to replace a 5i, same for a 4 or 6. They buy 3w because that’s how it’s always been. They play same wedge lofts they did 20 years ago regardless of what their pw loft is. Most play the same course every week or rotate between a few near their house. 

[BostonSal 554]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

I does and all for something that doesn’t really matter.  Whenever club lofts are talked  about; and this thread is about club lofts,  there is a divide.  That is generally why the threads get closed and people get warnings about what they post.  Even what people call “traditional” lofts are stronger lofted than the clubs that proceeded them.  I will be a never ending debate and in my opinion any thread that goes down the loft debate should be closed.  

The strong lofts are here to stay, and only the oldest players among us remember 32º 5-irons like I do.

But the post wasn't to complain about the modern club number/loft  correlations or the modern length /loft correlations.

It was merely a curious inquiry as to how many wedges people play with the modern lofts.

 

Yes, Middler and I liked the weaker lofts in terms of how they affected putting together a set,

but that's not to say that I would want to impose older standards on a generation of younger players who don't care about them.

 

I will admit that I don't understand how little patience some pre-retirement age players have for our even bringing it up.

 

In any case, it's really not something to fight about or get angry about.

We'll all be dead soon, and you won't have to put up with our reminiscing!

I play with the modern lofts just like you do.  No super problem.

 

[Alf. S 991]

I have Srixon ZX565s and bought 3i to AW. Over the last 15 years I migrated to using 3 matching wedges 52,56, and 60 with a 3i-PW. With my recent irons I found it was more the the  lighter Nippon 850 shafts that was giving me 5-10 yds extra distance 5i to AW. Original my thoughts were to drop the 52 but with the extra yardage on the std set I carry PW, AW, 52, 56 and 60. The issue I have found is that the shafts seem optimised for 5i to PW. I hit my 5i => 180yds, 4i => 180 yds and 3i => 183yds. The 4i and 3i are now in the garage replace with Epic 3h and 4h. The 60' tends to get swapped out depending on course conditions with the 3h i.e fast greens and fairways usually means the 60' is in my bag and vice versa for the 3h. 

[gbtrsc 284]

On 9/30/2021 at 10:55 AM, Hook DeLoft said:

5 wedges?  Well, yes and no.  My club that is stamped with PW is a 9 iron 20 years ago, or an 8 iron 60 years ago.  I then have a 48 degree gap wedge, or PW 20 years ago, then a 54 degree sand wedge and then a 58 degree sand/lob wedge and then a 62 degree lob wedge.  60 years ago, I would have had 42, 46, 50 and 55 degree clubs; or even 44, 48 and 52 degree clubs plus the sand wedge.  The 2 lob wedges are just my own craziness.  If you want to play traditional lofts, just forget the number on the club and build a set that stops at 55 or 56 degrees.  People go nuts about strengthened lofts, but if you think of your 7 iron as a 5 iron, then it's not a problem.

Yup, lofts are stronger and shafts are longer.  They just have the wrong numbers / letters on the bottom!  

[Middler 3,436]

On 9/30/2021 at 2:13 PM, BostonSal said:

Yes, Middler and I liked the weaker lofts in terms of how they affected putting together a set, but that's not to say that I would want to impose older standards on a generation of younger players who don't care about them.

I'd agree except where does it stop, when a 9 iron has a 21º loft and the rest of the irons are wedges? So far 2 and 3 irons have been all but eliminated, some iron sets start at 5 now...