This is fantastic Mike. It really helps to understand the principals behind gapping and makes total sense. This could be the difference of a couple shots per round for sure. Thanks for all you do.
I tossed the 60° out the bag recently. I swapped my 52° out for a 50° and now use a 56° with 11° of bounce. This works good for me because I can manipulate my 50 and 56 fairly well enough to manage distances. I am now working on partial shots with my PW (44°). Fixing my putting issues will solve a lot of my issues too.
Interesting video. I am a mid handicapper and carry 4 wedges. PW 46, then 50, 54, 58. I can dial in a "half shot" - which I regard as lead arm horizontal on backswing, but that is about it.
Great video - to have this 'gap' at your level really surprises me - I don't mean that to sound critical but just that you are humble enough to listen to advice of this 'club' guy (Greg) is awesome. You're beyond expert but Greg is micro expert... I listen and watch your videos so much - and take notice and try to implement. As others have listed I have 45PW which is about 135 standard, then 50 and 56 (125, 110) - for some reason I have 59 vokey which I have never hit well so it stays at home - maybe its the courses I play and the bounce (which I forget now)...
@@carlor.s.4742 YEs, agreed, but in the 60s and 70s when you bought a set of clubs the PW was 52 and the 9 Iron was 48, 49 and a sand wedge was 56. How far off am I? Now the PW is 48 and sand wedge stayed at 55, 56, so now there is a gap, near 52 so you have to buy the gap wedge. There was no such thing in the past. The easy fix is what Hogan did, put the lofts on clubs and buy your set dependent on that. Funny how as educated we think we are we are still at the mercy of our egos
For these reasons, I prefer the old-school weaker PW of 47 degrees moving and then a 42-degree 9 iron. I then use 52, 57, 62 wedges. If I want to add another iron at the top end of the bag, my strongest is 24 degrees, then I swap out the 57 wedge for a 58.5 and drop the 62. If you are going to go the route of a 52/58 type combo, I would suggest getting a weaker than 52 (a 54 as an example) and bending it weaker because these 54-degree wedges come in more flexible grinds that are better at partial shots around the green.
This video was really great. I have a 48° PW, 56° and 60°. I know my distance and gaps. Thank you for showing how important it is to fill those gaps with the right wedge. I love your channel! It had helped me a lot with my range sessions. Thank you.
Great video! My son has been playing junior golf since he was 6 yo. He just turned 13yo. We started with only a 56 wedge. A few years later added a 52 wedge. A year later a 48 wedge and last year a 60 wedge. He has a wedge from 65 yards to 110 yards so he doesn't have to try and take anything off a shot.
Of these videos and thanks for making this one. I'm in the process of getting fitted and getting a new set of irons and really need to include a gap wedge. This just substantiates what I've always known. I love superstition mountain golf courses and I've played out there a number of times with my friend Dan that lives there. Can't wait to get back. Great video keep up the good work boys.
Love it, interesting stuff. These wedge decisions are so key because wedges demand precision for scoring. A 9 degree gap at the lower (yardage) end of the bag is unacceptable.
I prefer learning to be more proficient with a full, 3/4, and 1/2 swing with a specific wedge(s) rather than having several wedges for specific distances. The former is demanding of more time to develop better skills and abilities and sharpen short game techniques which is where more of my time is needed. Though important to have proper gapping between wedges, it is just as important to have gapping distances within a single wedge (full, 3/4, and 1/2), imo. It's a good video to get other golfers thinking about proper gapping and what is the most practical way for any golfer to achieve their desired distance goals.
I also have the P790s and ended up getting the A wedge in them. Mostly because I carry the P wedge 135, A wedge 120. then carry a 54 and 58 cleveland. Fine tuning the yardage on approach is still the hardest part of the game and requires the most practice
Always an eye opener watching your videos. Great clear explanations. When is it time for an amateur to realize they have maxed out their speed with their current physical condition? I am 58, 5'9", 145 lbs. zero muscle, been playing for 20 years, played from 15-9 handicap and, no matter what method, moves, etc., the max speed with driver is 93 mph.
I currently have a matched PW (the same as my other irons), but I'm considering just going with a 52 degree & a 60 degree and skipping the 56... I carry my clubs most of the time so if I can leave a club out the better. (My current full without the wedges set is D, 3H, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW which is a 46 degree). My controlled swing is about 60%, I can dial it up to about 70% but also go to about 40% with decent consistency so the gapping isn't a huge concern. I may reevaluate this at some point this season.
Coach Mike I know this is a long shot for you to answer but worth a try. What is your best advice for a LEFTY to stop slicing the ball. I’ve been watching your videos for few months now and applied it to my game. My iron game has improved a lot but for some reason I can’t get my driver to go straight. Any drills you recommend?
i have a 46 degree pitching wedge which goes 152 on a full swing, 50 degree which goes 139 full, 54 goes 126 full, and 60 goes 105 full. anything under 100 I use a 60 degree 90 percent of the time unless I need a knock down shot
How can I find out the average club head speed to carry the ball 50 yards? Would it be the same for LPGA, PGA and recreational golfers since the ball is going 50 yards. Assuming they are all using a 56 wedge.
The new clubs are designed to make us buy more wedges. They used be to included with the irons, the current PW was a 9 iron and the PW was the gap wedge. Ah, marketing.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the swing I could see that all shots looked almost full swing, and none of them looked to 3/4 or say even a 2/3 swing to work distance
Hi Mike. I play with - PW, GAP, 56 (12 bounce) and 60 (8 bounce) wedges. I know my carry for a full, 3/4 and 1/2 swing for each wedge. Do not like taking less than a 1/2 swing for wedge shots. Often, I only hit 3 to 6 greens. So my wedge play gets a work out. Some days I have more chips and less wedge shots. Proximity to the hole is always a good thing for me. This is certainly a worthy topic. Am interested in the topic of launch angles. What are your strategies for wedge shots at 30, 45, 60 and 75 yards? How do you play them? Thanks.
Do you count the set pitching wedges k have almost an identical setup but but it's 46 50 54 59...but I have a pw in there which I'd dumb cause irs 41 degrees and its really a 9 iron
I typically carry my sand wedge about 170, but only when I'm in a greenside bunker.
😂👍😂
Gold.
This is fantastic Mike. It really helps to understand the principals behind gapping and makes total sense. This could be the difference of a couple shots per round for sure. Thanks for all you do.
I tossed the 60° out the bag recently. I swapped my 52° out for a 50° and now use a 56° with 11° of bounce.
This works good for me because I can manipulate my 50 and 56 fairly well enough to manage distances. I am now working on partial shots with my PW (44°). Fixing my putting issues will solve a lot of my issues too.
Interesting video. I am a mid handicapper and carry 4 wedges. PW 46, then 50, 54, 58. I can dial in a "half shot" - which I regard as lead arm horizontal on backswing, but that is about it.
Great video - to have this 'gap' at your level really surprises me - I don't mean that to sound critical but just that you are humble enough to listen to advice of this 'club' guy (Greg) is awesome. You're beyond expert but Greg is micro expert...
I listen and watch your videos so much - and take notice and try to implement.
As others have listed I have 45PW which is about 135 standard, then 50 and 56 (125, 110) - for some reason I have 59 vokey which I have never hit well so it stays at home - maybe its the courses I play and the bounce (which I forget now)...
I have 4 wedges--48,52,56 &60. Use the 52 a lot & use the 60 rarely & mostly from any bunker around the green.
Funny, when I was young they were called a 9 iron, PW, Sand wedge and laughed at someone who even thought more than 58!
@@wayneriley7367 The 52 is called a gap wedge often, the 56 a sand wedge & the 60 often called a Lob Wedge.
@@carlor.s.4742 YEs, agreed, but in the 60s and 70s when you bought a set of clubs the PW was 52 and the 9 Iron was 48, 49 and a sand wedge was 56. How far off am I? Now the PW is 48 and sand wedge stayed at 55, 56, so now there is a gap, near 52 so you have to buy the gap wedge. There was no such thing in the past. The easy fix is what Hogan did, put the lofts on clubs and buy your set dependent on that. Funny how as educated we think we are we are still at the mercy of our egos
For these reasons, I prefer the old-school weaker PW of 47 degrees moving and then a 42-degree 9 iron. I then use 52, 57, 62 wedges. If I want to add another iron at the top end of the bag, my strongest is 24 degrees, then I swap out the 57 wedge for a 58.5 and drop the 62. If you are going to go the route of a 52/58 type combo, I would suggest getting a weaker than 52 (a 54 as an example) and bending it weaker because these 54-degree wedges come in more flexible grinds that are better at partial shots around the green.
This video was really great. I have a 48° PW, 56° and 60°. I know my distance and gaps. Thank you for showing how important it is to fill those gaps with the right wedge. I love your channel! It had helped me a lot with my range sessions. Thank you.
Great video! My son has been playing junior golf since he was 6 yo. He just turned 13yo. We started with only a 56 wedge. A few years later added a 52 wedge. A year later a 48 wedge and last year a 60 wedge. He has a wedge from 65 yards to 110 yards so he doesn't have to try and take anything off a shot.
Of these videos and thanks for making this one. I'm in the process of getting fitted and getting a new set of irons and really need to include a gap wedge. This just substantiates what I've always known. I love superstition mountain golf courses and I've played out there a number of times with my friend Dan that lives there. Can't wait to get back. Great video keep up the good work boys.
Love it, interesting stuff. These wedge decisions are so key because wedges demand precision for scoring. A 9 degree gap at the lower (yardage) end of the bag is unacceptable.
46, 52, 58. all the shots and distances I need. The benefits having more wedges are smaller than the disadvantages (for me).
Is your “PW” the 46 degree? Then you carry a “Gap” wedge and play a 58 degree sand wedge?
I prefer learning to be more proficient with a full, 3/4, and 1/2 swing with a specific wedge(s) rather than having several wedges for specific distances. The former is demanding of more time to develop better skills and abilities and sharpen short game techniques which is where more of my time is needed. Though important to have proper gapping between wedges, it is just as important to have gapping distances within a single wedge (full, 3/4, and 1/2), imo. It's a good video to get other golfers thinking about proper gapping and what is the most practical way for any golfer to achieve their desired distance goals.
Good for Mike to keep pushing himself
I also have the P790s and ended up getting the A wedge in them. Mostly because I carry the P wedge 135, A wedge 120. then carry a 54 and 58 cleveland. Fine tuning the yardage on approach is still the hardest part of the game and requires the most practice
Always an eye opener watching your videos. Great clear explanations.
When is it time for an amateur to realize they have maxed out their speed with their current physical condition?
I am 58, 5'9", 145 lbs. zero muscle, been playing for 20 years, played from 15-9 handicap and, no matter what method, moves, etc., the max speed with driver is 93 mph.
i only carry a pitching wedge at 48 degrees and a sand wedge at 54 degrees.
I never need anymore than that.
I currently have a matched PW (the same as my other irons), but I'm considering just going with a 52 degree & a 60 degree and skipping the 56... I carry my clubs most of the time so if I can leave a club out the better. (My current full without the wedges set is D, 3H, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW which is a 46 degree). My controlled swing is about 60%, I can dial it up to about 70% but also go to about 40% with decent consistency so the gapping isn't a huge concern. I may reevaluate this at some point this season.
I only need one wedge. Grounders are grounders.
Coach Mike I know this is a long shot for you to answer but worth a try. What is your best advice for a LEFTY to stop slicing the ball. I’ve been watching your videos for few months now and applied it to my game. My iron game has improved a lot but for some reason I can’t get my driver to go straight. Any drills you recommend?
i have a 46 degree pitching wedge which goes 152 on a full swing, 50 degree which goes 139 full, 54 goes 126 full, and 60 goes 105 full. anything under 100 I use a 60 degree 90 percent of the time unless I need a knock down shot
Square Strike 55 degree (best), pw, sw, gap wedge. I don't need a 60 degree. The rest is just play by feel.
How can I find out the average club head speed to carry the ball 50 yards? Would it be the same for LPGA, PGA and recreational golfers since the ball is going 50 yards. Assuming they are all using a 56 wedge.
The new clubs are designed to make us buy more wedges. They used be to included with the irons, the current PW was a 9 iron and the PW was the gap wedge. Ah, marketing.
I just choke down by 1/2 inch and get my distance within 3 yards varied.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the swing I could see that all shots looked almost full swing, and none of them looked to 3/4 or say even a 2/3 swing to work distance
here is the thing.....a gap wedge is just an extension of the iron "set". it's not really a "wedge".
I guess everything we do in golf should have a purpose!!
Hi Mike. I play with - PW, GAP, 56 (12 bounce) and 60 (8 bounce) wedges. I know my carry for a full, 3/4 and 1/2 swing for each wedge. Do not like taking less than a 1/2 swing for wedge shots. Often, I only hit 3 to 6 greens. So my wedge play gets a work out. Some days I have more chips and less wedge shots. Proximity to the hole is always a good thing for me. This is certainly a worthy topic. Am interested in the topic of launch angles. What are your strategies for wedge shots at 30, 45, 60 and 75 yards? How do you play them? Thanks.
I carry 4 wedges .
47*- 120yds
51*-105yds
55*-95yds
60*-70yds
Do you count the set pitching wedges k have almost an identical setup but but it's 46 50 54 59...but I have a pw in there which I'd dumb cause irs 41 degrees and its really a 9 iron
@@MarkSmithhhh ya ,my 47* p is part of my mizuno iron set , 51* and 55* are scor wedges , the 60* is a callaway sureout2 .
44,49,54,58 hits all the gaps for me
Why not just go 46, 50, 54, 58-60? Cover every five yard distance 40 ~ 120ish with 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, full backswing lengths.
sorry but how can someone as knowledgeable as you not of thought to add a gap wedge already
Partial shots tend to fall apart under pressure.
Someone told me "why do you carry 5 wedges", my pw is 41 degrees foe gods sakes...I basically carry 4 wedges and another 9 iron
What irons are they? I've never seen a pw with less than 44°
I can't believe Mike did not have a gap wedge. Makes no sense.
False, open up the face of PW: That is the GW.
Makes me LIKE my Hogan FtWorth15’s more & more! 4* increments 60 to 20.