I like having plenty of options at short range. The wedge from my Hogan Icons set is 46*, with the Hogan Equaliser II wedges lofted at 50*, 56* and 62*. I chip/run with my 8-iron, pitch with my 50* wedge, play most bunker shots with the 56* and my 62* lobby is my "OMG - Emergency!" club. This gives me a good range of wedges which I feel this gives a large range of options. This suits me, as I like to travel around to different courses and get into many different situations.
I worked with my pro to build a matrix of shots with my 58, 52 and pw this gives me so many options from 60 - 135 yards. Would absolutely recommend people do this. For the shorter stuff I use a variety of clubs as that works for me. Not being afraid to try and experiment really helps you grow as a player
Mark - easily one of the most important & helpful videos you've ever made. Most better average golfers are still not great in this area - and that Cleveland CBX 52, I would wager $100, would help 95% of them improve their confidence, and become better pitchers & chippers. Wider sole & less loft - it's 85% of what the ChipR brings. 58 'pro-ish' wedge when needed, then use that 52 for the 80%, and finally, a wider soled 46/47 PW (or ChipR). I'm scratch & I do this.
My SW was the oldest and worst club in my bag. All my shots gained were inside 100 yards. Replaced with new 50, 55 and 60 and now getting up and down far more often. Game changer.
I have multiple wedges, but tend to bag the on occasions, so different numbers for summer or winter, full or half bag, boggy course or dry hard courses, etc, etc. I have 5 wedges i can pick from, but the likes of the 62 doesn't really see use outside of summer, i try to use one wedge many ways through winter as well.
I watched this video yesterday, and decided to drop my 60* wedge for todays round since I’m very comfortable using my 56* in most situations. All but one pitch/chip was spot on. I think I’m gonna stick to this set up for the time being. Do I need to let everyone know I did shoot 72 (E) missing a 4’ for par to shoot my first ever round under par? 😢
Including the PW (46) I have 4 wedges, 52, 56, 60 and I play and practice lots of yardages with them all but sometimes it doesn't help if you don't have confidence in a shot. This time of year I worry about over-spinning a full shot and I have a slight tendency to chunk full shots, so I might get to 90 yards or so, which would be a full 56 but go down to the 52 and try to finesse one but because I'm not hugely confident with doing that (even though I practice it for hours!), I get a bit nervous, quit on it or look up and blade it over the back. It's bloody irritating and I wish I'd just play a full shot past the flag and let the spin bring it back but I've developed a phobia of going long (the first few holes on my home course you're dead if you're over the back) and I just can't make myself do it. It's very frustrating, sometimes I wish I only had one or two wedges, to take all the combinations of shot choice away but I just love wedges! When you're hitting them well and nipping them in close there's no feeling like it! I have different bounce options for summer and winter as well, more bounce in winter, less for the hard ground in summer.
I have played with so many wedge configurations. Right now I have a 50, 54, and 60. I really only use the 50 on full swings. I like the versatility of the 54 and 60 inside 100 yards. But I've also used 52-56-60, 50-58, and 50-56.
My bag setup is similar to yours, driver, 2 hybrids, 5 wood, irons 6 to sand wedge and a chipper. With index of 31.3 I get as near the green as possible and then pick whichever club I think I can use best in the situation to get me on the putting surface.
I have a 45 pitching wedge, a 50 approach wedge, a 55 sand wedge, and a 60 lob wedge. A 5 degree gap between them suits my game well. But there's a really short par 3 night course by my place that we occasionally play and i switch out my driver or 3 wood for a 5th wedge at 52 degrees, just cuz I'd never be either to use either of them, so i would rather have another tool in the bag i can use. Plus, its a really reliable 52 that id rather take full shots with accurately
Hi Mark knowing your distances for full shots with your wedges helps. My set pitching wedge is 48° which will go 100 meters a 52° a 56° and a 60° all my clubs are geared towards 10 meter gaps. As for chipping depending on the shot it can be anything from a 7 iron to the 60° I don't use one club for all chipping and pitching. 10 hcp.
Hi Mark. My comment re: number of wedges would be what is the loft of the lowest iron set "wedge". Some iron sets now have a PW of 42 or 43 degrees which then leaves a massive gap to 58/60 degree lob wedges. So in this case it makes sense to have more bespoke wedges My set wedge is 44 so it then works well with 48, 54 and 58 degree wedges,
Hi Mark I’m super interested to know if you count a Pitching Wedge in this? So you’d have irons up to PW and the specialist wedges or 9’iron straight to 52?
I carry 3 wedges on my home course and most other courses. Regular wedge, 55 degree wedge, and a 60 degree wedge. I Just change to loft to get any of the other wedge loft angles and then how you swing at the ball. I do have other wedges (all the way up to 70 degrees) and may change certain clubs depending on the golf course being played - what ever works the best. Same goes with other clubs in the bag.
I miss greens from 150 yards more often than I hit it never mind from further out :) so I need to get wedges to help me out rather than longer end of the bag. In fact I carry 2 P.W's one "set" and the other a "specialty" As manufactures make lofts stronger the gaps appear at the bottom end as we all know.
Also depending on loft of your PW. Current is set PW is 45 so I am happy with 50 and 56 special wedges But new PW is 51 so I am thinking a Set GW 45,5 and combine it with the special 50 and 56 I like the set wedges because of the thicker sole than the special wedges so I can vary
Carry 46, 50, 54 CBX ZipCore with wider soles, cavity back, more forgiveness. Full shots 90, 105, 115, chips, pitches deepening on height of elevated green, green to work with. Use 58 RTX ZipCore, full shot 75 yds, also my sand wedge, local courses have very high lips, at least 3’, Take distance off by choking down, full swing.
For me its 3 wedges for sure, PW, lob wedge (58) and gap wedge (52)! I also really don't like trying to go all out with any wedge so my max distance I try and get to with the lobber is 85-90yds. My regular PW I can comfortable swing and control from 117-130ish. Therefore I need a gap wedge I can control between the two. I'd say the longer hitter you are, the more wedges would be beneficial, if your PW is going 150+ then 4 might be best, you probably don't need as many options at the top end!?
This is another “old school” versus “modern” debate isn’t it? I still use traditional lofts, PW at 50 degrees, which means only one PW and one SW. This teaches you how to create the required shots and is much more fun and confidence inspiring when you have the skill. Load the top end I say
I agree Craig. Currently I have a 23 year old set of blades with set wedges, 48* PW and 56* SW (I love old set wedges!). The PW gives me most of the shots up to 110yds. I only use the SW in greenside bunkers and lies that can benefit from the bounce. If I can use a bump and run within 30 yards I'll hit a 9, 8 or 7 and keep it on the ground as much as possible. This bag setup means I have D, 3w, 5w, 2-SW in the bag. Theres some overlap on yardages at the top end but the 5w goes high and the 2 and 3 irons are good for wind avoidance, landing short of the green with a bit of run and fairway finding. I've tried to update into modern clubs with 4 wedges and hot irons but that didn't go so well.
@@BSKTCreation I couldn’t agree more. I was also seduced into trying the modern irons. They don’t feel the same, just dead feeling. I also ended up over the back of greens which was totally new and not a great idea for scoring. I also have a 2-SW, the old lofts 20-30-50 from years gone by. 20 degree 2-iron, 30 degree 5-iron and a 50 degree PW. I add in my 56 degree SW like you. I also like the creative bump and runs and with old blades, these shots are much easier. I also have Driver, 3W and 5W but these are also older lofts at 14 & 18 in the fairway woods. It just makes sense to me and I strongly believe that modern equipment makes the club golfer worse in most aspects of the game and has certainly diluted the skill of the golfers I see today. I will only use the modern stuff when my body stops allowing me a full swing, until then I am old school all the way 👍
46 52-08 56-10 & 62-06 for me. The lie dictates the club around the green by bounce. Short or no grass and it's the 52. Long grass or deep sand the 56 and a good lie or no sand and it's the 62.
PW+3 (46, 50, 54, 58). I think this discussion is important, but misses a bit of the point. If you're within 50ish yards, do you have the tools to get up & down. MOST players, say 25's and better, are going to be GIR, or within 50 yards of the pin in the same number of strokes. The difference between a "16" and an "8" is only about two GIRs. The "8" is getting up and down a lot more. So the question isn't just about "hitting numbers" from 110. It's about having the ability to get within 6 feet when you're just off the green. It's about getting within 12 feet far more often than not. And it's about chipping and pitching your way into more 1-putt pars. If your wedges can do that, you're good. Anyone who's decent can play 2 wedges from 60 - 100 out. You might want 3 options if you want to have a "toolbox", and you don't *really* need that second hybrid.
I like having plenty of options at short range.
The wedge from my Hogan Icons set is 46*, with the Hogan Equaliser II wedges lofted at 50*, 56* and 62*. I chip/run with my 8-iron, pitch with my 50* wedge, play most bunker shots with the 56* and my 62* lobby is my "OMG - Emergency!" club.
This gives me a good range of wedges which I feel this gives a large range of options. This suits me, as I like to travel around to different courses and get into many different situations.
I worked with my pro to build a matrix of shots with my 58, 52 and pw this gives me so many options from 60 - 135 yards. Would absolutely recommend people do this. For the shorter stuff I use a variety of clubs as that works for me. Not being afraid to try and experiment really helps you grow as a player
Mark - easily one of the most important & helpful videos you've ever made. Most better average golfers are still not great in this area - and that Cleveland CBX 52, I would wager $100, would help 95% of them improve their confidence, and become better pitchers & chippers. Wider sole & less loft - it's 85% of what the ChipR brings. 58 'pro-ish' wedge when needed, then use that 52 for the 80%, and finally, a wider soled 46/47 PW (or ChipR). I'm scratch & I do this.
My SW was the oldest and worst club in my bag. All my shots gained were inside 100 yards. Replaced with new 50, 55 and 60 and now getting up and down far more often. Game changer.
I have multiple wedges, but tend to bag the on occasions, so different numbers for summer or winter, full or half bag, boggy course or dry hard courses, etc, etc. I have 5 wedges i can pick from, but the likes of the 62 doesn't really see use outside of summer, i try to use one wedge many ways through winter as well.
I watched this video yesterday, and decided to drop my 60* wedge for todays round since I’m very comfortable using my 56* in most situations. All but one pitch/chip was spot on. I think I’m gonna stick to this set up for the time being. Do I need to let everyone know I did shoot 72 (E) missing a 4’ for par to shoot my first ever round under par? 😢
Great thoughts Mark! I’ve been bagging 3 wedges with a similar mindset.
Including the PW (46) I have 4 wedges, 52, 56, 60 and I play and practice lots of yardages with them all but sometimes it doesn't help if you don't have confidence in a shot. This time of year I worry about over-spinning a full shot and I have a slight tendency to chunk full shots, so I might get to 90 yards or so, which would be a full 56 but go down to the 52 and try to finesse one but because I'm not hugely confident with doing that (even though I practice it for hours!), I get a bit nervous, quit on it or look up and blade it over the back. It's bloody irritating and I wish I'd just play a full shot past the flag and let the spin bring it back but I've developed a phobia of going long (the first few holes on my home course you're dead if you're over the back) and I just can't make myself do it. It's very frustrating, sometimes I wish I only had one or two wedges, to take all the combinations of shot choice away but I just love wedges! When you're hitting them well and nipping them in close there's no feeling like it! I have different bounce options for summer and winter as well, more bounce in winter, less for the hard ground in summer.
I have played with so many wedge configurations. Right now I have a 50, 54, and 60. I really only use the 50 on full swings. I like the versatility of the 54 and 60 inside 100 yards. But I've also used 52-56-60, 50-58, and 50-56.
My bag setup is similar to yours, driver, 2 hybrids, 5 wood, irons 6 to sand wedge and a chipper. With index of 31.3 I get as near the green as possible and then pick whichever club I think I can use best in the situation to get me on the putting surface.
I have a 45 pitching wedge, a 50 approach wedge, a 55 sand wedge, and a 60 lob wedge. A 5 degree gap between them suits my game well. But there's a really short par 3 night course by my place that we occasionally play and i switch out my driver or 3 wood for a 5th wedge at 52 degrees, just cuz I'd never be either to use either of them, so i would rather have another tool in the bag i can use. Plus, its a really reliable 52 that id rather take full shots with accurately
Mark.. ‘I have two wedges’ Marks bag.. 58, 52, weak pitching wedge, strong pitching wedge.’ 🤯
Hi Mark knowing your distances for full shots with your wedges helps. My set pitching wedge is 48° which will go 100 meters a 52° a 56° and a 60° all my clubs are geared towards 10 meter gaps. As for chipping depending on the shot it can be anything from a 7 iron to the 60° I don't use one club for all chipping and pitching. 10 hcp.
Hi Mark. My comment re: number of wedges would be what is the loft of the lowest iron set "wedge". Some iron sets now have a PW of 42 or 43 degrees which then leaves a massive gap to 58/60 degree lob wedges. So in this case it makes sense to have more bespoke wedges
My set wedge is 44 so it then works well with 48, 54 and 58 degree wedges,
Hi Mark
I’m super interested to know if you count a Pitching Wedge in this? So you’d have irons up to PW and the specialist wedges or 9’iron straight to 52?
I carry 3 wedges on my home course and most other courses. Regular wedge, 55 degree wedge, and a 60 degree wedge. I Just change to loft to get any of the other wedge loft angles and then how you swing at the ball.
I do have other wedges (all the way up to 70 degrees) and may change certain clubs depending on the golf course being played - what ever works the best. Same goes with other clubs in the bag.
I have pw 50 54 58 in my bag
56 and 52 and pitching wedge. I can do most things with a 52 and strangely enough it is the best part of my game
Two forged wedges, and my set PW. Cheer's
I miss greens from 150 yards more often than I hit it never mind from further out :) so I need to get wedges to help me out rather than longer end of the bag. In fact I carry 2 P.W's one "set" and the other a "specialty" As manufactures make lofts stronger the gaps appear at the bottom end as we all know.
What if you’re a longer hitter and don’t need all the stuff at the top end? Is it better to have more wedges for the bottom end of your bag?
Also depending on loft of your PW. Current is set PW is 45 so I am happy with 50 and 56 special wedges
But new PW is 51 so I am thinking a Set GW 45,5 and combine it with the special 50 and 56
I like the set wedges because of the thicker sole than the special wedges so I can vary
Are you better off having more clubs and closer gaps at the top end or at the bottom end of the bag?
Carry 46, 50, 54 CBX ZipCore with wider soles, cavity back, more forgiveness. Full shots 90, 105, 115, chips, pitches deepening on height of elevated green, green to work with. Use 58 RTX ZipCore, full shot 75 yds, also my sand wedge, local courses have very high lips, at least 3’, Take distance off by choking down, full swing.
For me its 3 wedges for sure, PW, lob wedge (58) and gap wedge (52)! I also really don't like trying to go all out with any wedge so my max distance I try and get to with the lobber is 85-90yds. My regular PW I can comfortable swing and control from 117-130ish. Therefore I need a gap wedge I can control between the two. I'd say the longer hitter you are, the more wedges would be beneficial, if your PW is going 150+ then 4 might be best, you probably don't need as many options at the top end!?
T200 PW (43°)
T200 GW (48°)
SM9 54°
SM9 58°
Going from a £30 60° to an SM9 58° has improved my game massively (I think) 😅.
I have two wedges 50,56 Hi toe
This is another “old school” versus “modern” debate isn’t it? I still use traditional lofts, PW at 50 degrees, which means only one PW and one SW. This teaches you how to create the required shots and is much more fun and confidence inspiring when you have the skill. Load the top end I say
I agree Craig. Currently I have a 23 year old set of blades with set wedges, 48* PW and 56* SW (I love old set wedges!). The PW gives me most of the shots up to 110yds. I only use the SW in greenside bunkers and lies that can benefit from the bounce. If I can use a bump and run within 30 yards I'll hit a 9, 8 or 7 and keep it on the ground as much as possible. This bag setup means I have D, 3w, 5w, 2-SW in the bag. Theres some overlap on yardages at the top end but the 5w goes high and the 2 and 3 irons are good for wind avoidance, landing short of the green with a bit of run and fairway finding. I've tried to update into modern clubs with 4 wedges and hot irons but that didn't go so well.
@@BSKTCreation I couldn’t agree more. I was also seduced into trying the modern irons. They don’t feel the same, just dead feeling. I also ended up over the back of greens which was totally new and not a great idea for scoring. I also have a 2-SW, the old lofts 20-30-50 from years gone by. 20 degree 2-iron, 30 degree 5-iron and a 50 degree PW. I add in my 56 degree SW like you. I also like the creative bump and runs and with old blades, these shots are much easier. I also have Driver, 3W and 5W but these are also older lofts at 14 & 18 in the fairway woods. It just makes sense to me and I strongly believe that modern equipment makes the club golfer worse in most aspects of the game and has certainly diluted the skill of the golfers I see today. I will only use the modern stuff when my body stops allowing me a full swing, until then I am old school all the way 👍
Hi Mark why do you say you have 2 wedges when you have PW, 52 and 58.. Surely that is 3 wedges? Are you seeing a PW as a 10 iron?
My pw wedge is a9 my second is just a set wedge. 👍
46 52-08 56-10 & 62-06 for me. The lie dictates the club around the green by bounce. Short or no grass and it's the 52. Long grass or deep sand the 56 and a good lie or no sand and it's the 62.
I’ve got a 60, 55 and 50 before PW which is 46 degree. I’ll be honest the 60 comes out for sand only
PW+3 (46, 50, 54, 58). I think this discussion is important, but misses a bit of the point. If you're within 50ish yards, do you have the tools to get up & down. MOST players, say 25's and better, are going to be GIR, or within 50 yards of the pin in the same number of strokes. The difference between a "16" and an "8" is only about two GIRs. The "8" is getting up and down a lot more. So the question isn't just about "hitting numbers" from 110. It's about having the ability to get within 6 feet when you're just off the green. It's about getting within 12 feet far more often than not. And it's about chipping and pitching your way into more 1-putt pars. If your wedges can do that, you're good. Anyone who's decent can play 2 wedges from 60 - 100 out. You might want 3 options if you want to have a "toolbox", and you don't *really* need that second hybrid.
We’re obnoxious golfers. We only need 2 wedges, but want to bag about 6 of them.
I think It's so dumb to see golfers carry 4 clubs to a spot 6 ft off the green. SMH.