How Do You Use Your Wedges?

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Wedge play is one of the more fascinating aspects of golf to me. With the numerous types of shots you can make with different wedges, it allows for some creativity to shine through from player to player. 

As no two individuals are the same in terms of play style, I want to know how you utilize your wedges? Are there certain shots you'll only attempt with a specific club? Do you have a wedge that is a jack of all trades? Which one is your go to when you have to stick an approach close to save par?

Let's hear it, spies! What wedges do you carry and how do you use them?

[DeanJellyBean]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

Wedge play is one of the more fascinating aspects of golf to me. With the numerous types of shots you can make with different wedges, it allows for some creativity to shine through from player to player. 

As no two individuals are the same in terms of play style, I want to know how you utilize your wedges? Are there certain shots you'll only attempt with a specific club? Do you have a wedge that is a jack of all trades? Which one is your go to when you have to stick an approach close to save par?

Let's hear it, spies! What wedges do you carry and how do you use them?

SMB7 52, 56, 60 Degree Wedges.

Full Swings / 3/4 Swing / Half Swing:

52 Degree - 125 /115/85

56 Degree - 105/95/75

60 Degree - 90/80/65

65 and less is typically a feel with a 52 degree. Short-sided in rough or bunker 56 degree/60 degree.

[cnosil]

pretty basic with wedge/short game.  I move ball position to control height and don’t manipulate the face very much.  
4 wedges:

• Set PW - used for full swings and partial wedge shots.
• set GW - used fior full swings and partial wedge shots 
• Vokey 54/12 - used for full shots, bunker, partial wedges.  Typically square faced and don’t open it up much.  
• Vokey 60/8 - lives in the bag. 
   

while not wedges I used most of my clubs around the green chipping.   

[Michael.Sandoval33]

I currently don't use any of my wedges full swing unless digging out of the deep rough. Haven't practiced that part of my game with them. My personal favorite wedge is my 52° as it can do it all from half swing and down. I am very comfortable with the versatility in that wedge from the sand, rough, or fairways. My 56/60 I bring out when I need a quick & short chip or a good flop but that is much more rare than where I find use in my 52°. And my 48° honestly sees minimal use, haven't found a good spot in my game for it quite yet. 

Also, great topic! Love wedge talk

[Donn lost in San Diego]

PW is the 45 deg Ping I 500, set., from 100 yards.  (I am old).  Then a Mizu, the S18, 52 x 9.  From 80 yards in, my best club.  Another Mizu, a T7, 60 x 6, from 25 yards in, but only if I have to go over stuff.

My CHIPPER is where I am different.  I don't use a wedge near the fringe unless I have to.  I have a 60 year old Don Martin Up-n-In bronze chipper with 25 degree loft.  The sooner you get the ball on the ground, the less chance of a bad result, so 25 deg is easier to control than 58 or 60 deg around the green.  I give up a long shaft in my bag to make room for it.

Sand is another oldie, an original Hogan Sure Out, 56 x 12.  The sole is bigger than a 460 cc driver and heavier than a EV pickup truck.   I am on my 2nd onet.  It might not be the most accurate, but it gets me out almost every time with the type of sand at my local, Oceanside (CA) Muni.

When the 52 deg Mizu wears down, I will try a fittiing for a 50 degree Indi Golf wedge, their home is 10 minutes away.  I want to close the 20 yard gap between my 45 PW and 52 Mizu.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

 

Cobra King Tour set PW - used for full swings. 115-yard club

Cobra King Tour set GW - used for full swings and partial wedge shots and all chip shots. 100-yard club

Cobra Snake Bite 54* - used for full shots, longer bunker shots.  Square faced.  85-yard club

Cobra Snake Bite 60* - used for short sided pin placements from the bunker, good lie in the grass for 60 yards or less that the ball needs to sit where it lands. Like having to hit over a trap to a tight pin location. Square faced. 

[tdroma98]

T200 PW - used generally for full swings 118 to 129 yds 

Callaway 48 degree 10/S - Jaws Raw - Full, chip (30 to 40yds) & pitch shots. Full swings 100 to 118 yds

Vokey SM9 54/ 12D wedge - 85 to 100 yds - full, chip (from 20yds to 35 yd chipping) & sand shots

Vokey SM9 58/ 08M wedge - 55 to 85 yds - full, chip (max 20yd chips) & sand shots.  This club is used most often for sand shots.  For fluffy sand shots, I'll use the 54-degree.  

[BreakfastBall15]

9 hours ago, Michael.Sandoval33 said:

I currently don't use any of my wedges full swing unless digging out of the deep rough. Haven't practiced that part of my game with them. My personal favorite wedge is my 52° as it can do it all from half swing and down. I am very comfortable with the versatility in that wedge from the sand, rough, or fairways. My 56/60 I bring out when I need a quick & short chip or a good flop but that is much more rare than where I find use in my 52°. And my 48° honestly sees minimal use, haven't found a good spot in my game for it quite yet. 

Also, great topic! Love wedge talk

Similar boat. PW is the only one I use for full shots. Stock is about 130 but can use it anywhere from 140 to 120. Anything between that and 80 I’m kinda stuck. Don’t like doing full swings with any other wedges and something I need to work on. Prefer the 55 in the bunker and adding the green and the 60 for flop shots or when I need to get it up in the air fast

[RoverRick]

I had a great save today with the Lob Wedge. When I got home from golf, I pitched my wallet into the tray by the door and missed. It bounced behind the TV. I grabbed my 60° and scooped it right out of there without moving furniture. Does that count? 

Edited April 18 by RoverRick

[RoverRick]

Mostly, it is wind dependent. There are only 3-4 clubs in my bag I hit max effort, driver, 3w and hybrids. And usually just the driver on certain holes. So when I say full, I do not mean maximum speed.

Let’s say I’m 125 yards from the flag. I am much more likely to go under a tree with a bump and run 6 iron than try to hit a pitching wedge 125. 

Club-Full-3/4-1/2

7-155-140-130

8-140-124-115

9-128-115-95

P-113-100-85

G-100-85-70

S-88-75-60

L-less than 60

These are feels or just baseline numbers. If I have a 93 yard shot, I am most likely to grab the gap wedge and think “that’s 85, that’s 100, so about here.” 

I can add a few yards by moving it back and trapping it, or subtract a few yards by moving it forward and “cutting the balls legs off”. 

While I do this with the 54° & 60° most often, I use “trail side feels” to determine how far to hit the ball. Ankle, shin, knee, thigh, belt, ribs, shoulder, ear high.

Let’s say I have 60 yards. I know a waist high 54° goes 60 yards, but a rib high 60° does also. How aggressive do I want to swing? 

Unfortunately, I have spent the last 6 weeks working on my full swing (vastly improved) and my short game has suffered. But I’m able to devote more time now to it. 

[Stuka44]

This is my use of wedges

PW/43d (set)... Full shots 125 Yards

AW/48d (set)... Full shots 110-115 yds.  & Partial no wrist break shots 50-75 yds.

52d/Cleveland RTX 4...Full shots 100 yards/ partial swing 100-75 yards.....  No wrist break  shots 50-25 yards ( and under depending on conditions, carry desired, roll out etc.)

56d/Cleveland  CG 14 ....Bunker play...  No wrist break shots 25 yards and less (depending on conditions (over bunker, onto downhill etc.)

[RickyBobby_PR]

Anything higher lofted than 50° doesn’t get a full swing.

I don’t have a go to wedge, I use what the shot calls for, whether it’s distance, pin location, lie or even green conditions.

i keep most shots pretty basic.

height is controlled by speed especially on chips and shorter pitches. Ball position usually stays the same. More speed keeps the ball lower, trajectory comes up as speed goes down which also requires a change in length of swing 

[Willie T]

Participated in the INDI wedge test last year, was fitted with comparable wedges to what I was already using in the Cleveland CBX line: 50* GW, 54* SW, and 58* LW.   Rule of thumb,  the 54* is the go to wedge around the green.  50* is the longer shots into the green wedge or if I need a low spinny, quick stopper.  The 58* is purely short sided up and downs.  The 54* is the primary sand wedge as well.  As the distances covered overlap,  I have a general rule - if its over 90 but short of 110- 3/4 GW will get me there, if its 80-100 and I have a big landing zone I will typically go with the SW and look for the middle of the green, if its less than 80 - it becomes pretty much an adjusted SW (I practice 30 - 50 yd shots so that when I am facing such, I envision the same shot as played out in my drills).  BTW - I still pull the Clevelands out from time to time to stay somewhat familiar with them. 

[Hacker60521]

I carry four wedges and practice / use them all. @GolfSpy_KFT I highly recommend Dave Pelz “Short Game Bible”.  It really helped me organize my thoughts around short game play and strategy

[Al_Mack]

22 hours ago, DeanJellyBean said:

SMB7 52, 56, 60 Degree Wedges.

Full Swings / 3/4 Swing / Half Swing:

52 Degree - 125 /115/85

56 Degree - 105/95/75

60 Degree - 90/80/65

65 and less is typically a feel with a 52 degree. Short-sided in rough or bunker 56 degree/60 degree.

Good take, this is crazy accurate for me as well, eerie considering the nearly unlimited number of options, combinations and possible distances.

 

 

Cheers.

[DanieldR]

I use 46,50,54 and 58 degree Taylormade SM3 wedges with standard bounce for all. I use all of them for all shots depending on what makes sense to me at the moment (what bounce do I want for the lie, what height do I want to hit it with how much roll-out). While I hit bunker shots with all of these (and even a 9-iron on larger distances), mostly use the 54 and 58  there. For  flop shots I mostly use the 58 degree.

I try and avoid making swings as full as I will with my irons (with the occasional exception)

Edited April 18 by DanieldR

[RetiredBoomer]

I have six degree increments from 9-iron [42º] to wedges [48, 54, 60º], but I don't use the clock method anymore.

I use "the Force" to club myself for a shot as the results tend to be pretty similar either way.