otto6457
New
Here is the deal folks. I realize this isn't an "equipment" forum, but I posted this in an "equipment" forum and I got zero responses. I don't know if my query was too technical, or if it is so far below the radar that no one really cares.
I trust the information here due to the moderation and the great group of people we have as members, so I thought maybe with the high caliber players and teachers in residence, a little equipment discussion might generate some response.
I play Titleist 755's where my lowest number iron is a 3 iron with 22* of loft and at the other end my PW is 47* with a shaft length of 35.75. (which I mention because it may be important)
My current wedges below my 755 PW are a Vokey 252-08, with a 35.50 in. length shaft, a Vokey SM 56-10 with a 35.25 in. length shaft, and a Vokey SM 60-08, with a 35.00 in. length shaft. So, including the PW, I carry 4 wedges for a lot of my rounds.
I like the consistent 4* gap between each wedge and my yardages are reliable on full swings with each wedge as they set up now.
Now, when I carry all 4 wedges, and I have to drop the 3 iron, the club gap at the top gets pretty bad. I carry a 18* 5 wood instead of a 2 iron, and then next is my 25* 4 iron or I can add my 23* hybrid to replace both the 3 and 4 iron. (The hybrid is actually a direct replacement for my 3 iron) But on windy days, (which are common here in West Texas) I need to add the 22* 3 iron because it has a flatter and more boring trajectory in the wind. That means, when the wind blows, I have to drop a wedge, and I usually drop the 252-08 gap wedge, which makes the gap between my 47*PW and my 56* SW huge. Plus, I feel like the 1/2 in. longer shaft in the 755 PW makes the gap a bit worse. (by the way, all of my iron shafts are Project X) I could drop the 60* wedge, but I love it around the green. Plus the 56* has more bounce for the sand I play and the tight turf in the fairways does not like much bounce, so the 60* is a better club most of the time around the greens.
So, should I drop back to a 3 wedge setup with 47, 54, 58* , or maybe bend the 755 PW to 49 or 50, and keep the 56 and 60? Is the gap between a 49* or 50* PW and the 56* SW too big? Plus, I'm not even sure if the 47* can be bent that far. The bounce will increase which may give me a less useful wedge for the tight fairway turf. Maybe the best choice is to go to a 3 wedge set and bend all three to close the gaps? I could add a 48* Vokey, bend it to 49*. Add a 54* and leave it standard, and add a 58* lower bounce LW and bend it to 59* That would give me 5* between all of my wedges and with my 9 iron at 43*, that would be a 5* gap between my 9 and PW.
How much distance can I change by going to a 35.25 in. shaft in my PW instead of the 35.75 in shaft? Is shortening the shaft a 1/2 in. in length going to make any difference in a wedge?
At the top of the bag, (when I carry my 4 wedges)I can add my 23* hybrid and use it to replace both my 3 iron and 4 irons. The 23* hybrid carries the same distance as my 3 iron and I have to choke down to hit it a 4 iron distance, but that is somewhat manageable. I much prefer the 4 iron but I usually use my gap wedge more than a 3 or 4 iron, so the hybrid makes sense as long as the wind isn't howling. When the wind blows the hybrid is not the best option. I can't hit it as low as my 3 iron, especially off of the tee. I just don't feel as confident with the hybrid when I choke down to try and make it a 4 iron. I can do it, but I would hate to have a tournament on the line and me needing a perfect 4 iron. I am not sure I can manufacture that shot under pressure. So, in my perfect world, I think I prefer adjusting my wedge set-up and keeping the 4 iron, but I am open to any solution that will solve my dilemma.
I know everyone faces these problems since modern club lofts have gotten so strong, and I am looking for suggestions from some of you that have fought this battle and like your solution. I was looking at the new AP2's and the issue is even worse. Titleist has as much as admitted that the lofts are too strong since they don't offer a 2 iron at all (the 3 iron has 21* of loft) and include 2 wedges in the set (a 47* PW and a 51* W) I foresee a time when the 3 iron will disappear. A 19* 3 iron is not too far away, which is only 1* off of my 5 wood. I don't personally know too many people that can hit a 19* iron off of the fairway.
So....any suggestions are welcome. I am hoping to get the bag set for the upcoming tournament season. The only other addition is going to be a new driver. Ohhhhhhh goodness........that is going to be even more complex!
I trust the information here due to the moderation and the great group of people we have as members, so I thought maybe with the high caliber players and teachers in residence, a little equipment discussion might generate some response.
I play Titleist 755's where my lowest number iron is a 3 iron with 22* of loft and at the other end my PW is 47* with a shaft length of 35.75. (which I mention because it may be important)
My current wedges below my 755 PW are a Vokey 252-08, with a 35.50 in. length shaft, a Vokey SM 56-10 with a 35.25 in. length shaft, and a Vokey SM 60-08, with a 35.00 in. length shaft. So, including the PW, I carry 4 wedges for a lot of my rounds.
I like the consistent 4* gap between each wedge and my yardages are reliable on full swings with each wedge as they set up now.
Now, when I carry all 4 wedges, and I have to drop the 3 iron, the club gap at the top gets pretty bad. I carry a 18* 5 wood instead of a 2 iron, and then next is my 25* 4 iron or I can add my 23* hybrid to replace both the 3 and 4 iron. (The hybrid is actually a direct replacement for my 3 iron) But on windy days, (which are common here in West Texas) I need to add the 22* 3 iron because it has a flatter and more boring trajectory in the wind. That means, when the wind blows, I have to drop a wedge, and I usually drop the 252-08 gap wedge, which makes the gap between my 47*PW and my 56* SW huge. Plus, I feel like the 1/2 in. longer shaft in the 755 PW makes the gap a bit worse. (by the way, all of my iron shafts are Project X) I could drop the 60* wedge, but I love it around the green. Plus the 56* has more bounce for the sand I play and the tight turf in the fairways does not like much bounce, so the 60* is a better club most of the time around the greens.
So, should I drop back to a 3 wedge setup with 47, 54, 58* , or maybe bend the 755 PW to 49 or 50, and keep the 56 and 60? Is the gap between a 49* or 50* PW and the 56* SW too big? Plus, I'm not even sure if the 47* can be bent that far. The bounce will increase which may give me a less useful wedge for the tight fairway turf. Maybe the best choice is to go to a 3 wedge set and bend all three to close the gaps? I could add a 48* Vokey, bend it to 49*. Add a 54* and leave it standard, and add a 58* lower bounce LW and bend it to 59* That would give me 5* between all of my wedges and with my 9 iron at 43*, that would be a 5* gap between my 9 and PW.
How much distance can I change by going to a 35.25 in. shaft in my PW instead of the 35.75 in shaft? Is shortening the shaft a 1/2 in. in length going to make any difference in a wedge?
At the top of the bag, (when I carry my 4 wedges)I can add my 23* hybrid and use it to replace both my 3 iron and 4 irons. The 23* hybrid carries the same distance as my 3 iron and I have to choke down to hit it a 4 iron distance, but that is somewhat manageable. I much prefer the 4 iron but I usually use my gap wedge more than a 3 or 4 iron, so the hybrid makes sense as long as the wind isn't howling. When the wind blows the hybrid is not the best option. I can't hit it as low as my 3 iron, especially off of the tee. I just don't feel as confident with the hybrid when I choke down to try and make it a 4 iron. I can do it, but I would hate to have a tournament on the line and me needing a perfect 4 iron. I am not sure I can manufacture that shot under pressure. So, in my perfect world, I think I prefer adjusting my wedge set-up and keeping the 4 iron, but I am open to any solution that will solve my dilemma.
I know everyone faces these problems since modern club lofts have gotten so strong, and I am looking for suggestions from some of you that have fought this battle and like your solution. I was looking at the new AP2's and the issue is even worse. Titleist has as much as admitted that the lofts are too strong since they don't offer a 2 iron at all (the 3 iron has 21* of loft) and include 2 wedges in the set (a 47* PW and a 51* W) I foresee a time when the 3 iron will disappear. A 19* 3 iron is not too far away, which is only 1* off of my 5 wood. I don't personally know too many people that can hit a 19* iron off of the fairway.
So....any suggestions are welcome. I am hoping to get the bag set for the upcoming tournament season. The only other addition is going to be a new driver. Ohhhhhhh goodness........that is going to be even more complex!
