Getting your wedge make-up right takes a little effort but can save you a heap of strokes.
In the pro game, the wedges a player carries and the specs of those clubs is a constant discussion with equipment reps and clubfitters – and it can change week to week depending on the course. You don’t need that level of scrutiny, but having, say, only a pitching wedge and sand wedge in your bag isn’t enough.
Let’s start with why. Safe to say, you’re missing plenty of greens. Also, you hate less-than-full swings, and carrying clubs you can swing from various distances inside 100 metres helps. Plus, you’re probably hitting your 5-wood as far as your 3-wood and your 5-iron as far as your 4-iron, so those clubs are ripe to drop and replace with a wedge or two.
We acknowledge that deciding on wedges is one of the toughest scenarios in the equipment world as there is so much to consider. Loft gapping, bounce angles, sole grinds, even shaft preferences are not immediately intuitive. Turf conditions at your course might impact the ideal wedges for you, too.
Perhaps the most obvious question is: how many wedges? Ideally you should have four, including your pitching wedge. If you have a strong-lofted pitching wedge (44 degrees or less), five might be better. That said, a pitching wedge, 50, 54 and 58-degree constitute a sensible make-up that provides plenty of shot options.
Now let’s get to some details. What about shafts? The tendency is to just go with whatever shaft comes with the club, but that’s not always the right call. If Jordan Spieth’s clubs offer any insight, the move would be more than a single shaft. Spieth’s 46-degree Titleist Vokey SM10 has a Project X 6.5 shaft – the same shaft he has in his irons. His 52, 56 and 60-degree, however, have a softer Project X 6.0 shaft, which adds feel. The theory is, lower-lofted wedges are used more as full-swing clubs that benefit from having the same shafts as the irons, while the sub-flex shafts help on greenside plays. For you, consider matching the shafts of your irons to your 50-degree, as that will also probably be a full-swing club.
Next come grinds and bounces. This can get a little complex, but let’s begin with the fact that they are two very different things. We’ll take them one at a time, starting with grind.
The simple explanation of wedge grind is that it is the removal of material (known as “relief”) from the sole of the club to enhance turf interaction and versatility. This allows for more creative shot-making around the green.
The type of grind you need often is dictated by swing style and ground conditions, along with the kinds of greenside shots you like to play. Some grinds offer heel and toe relief, making it easier to open up the clubface. Others feature trailing-edge relief that reduces the effective bounce. Conversely, some grinds provide more bounce in the leading-edge area.
Wedge grind and wedge bounce in some ways go hand in hand, so you should understand the effect one has on the other. For example, a grind that makes it easier to open up the clubface will create additional bounce. A grind that promotes more of a square clubface will lessen the amount of bounce.
That brings us to bounce. Perhaps the most misunderstood thing in golf equipment is that bounce is connected to the width of the sole. No! A wide-sole club can have very little bounce.
Swing type should play a part. There’s the digger-driver who is steep, taking big divots. That player needs wedges with a lot of bounce (10 degrees or more). The sweeper-slider – somebody who clips the ball off the turf – needs wedges with a low bounce (4 to 8 degrees) as that allows the club to get down into the ball for better contact. In between the digger and the sweeper is a golfer who takes more of a regular divot. That player needs moderate bounce, like 7 to 10 degrees.
One last tip: you should frequently check your lob wedge for groove wear. Titleist master wedge designer Bob Vokey says to replace lob wedges every 75 to 100 rounds because they sustain extra wear due to their usage on spin-heavy shots, like flops and bunker blasts. Bottom line: keep a closer eye on that club than your other wedges.
