How often do you change your wedges?

[ephmen]

So , I play once or twice a week, and occasionally have practice sessions mixed in. How can I tell when my wedges need to be replaced? How often do you replace your wedges, and how often do you play?

[ocburg17]

I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts. I always buy wedges new and I'm on about a 2-3 year cycle. Not sure if that is good or bad. I play 2-3 times per week and have good distance off the tee so my wedges are used quite often. However, we only play 6 months of the year here in Wisconsin.

[timsummers]

just check the grooves, if they are totally worn flat then you should replace it. I would say that you could get 3 years out of a wedge easy, thats what i do.

i play 2 times a week and have had my 56* that i use for almost every shot inside of 100 yards for 2 years and havent thought once about replacing it

[pmcuk]

Play once a week. Always buy used wedges. Never change them if they work. I'm not too worried about the grooves.

[MagnoliaTiger]

Play them until I get tired of them. I've never worn any out. I doubt most people do. Changing once every 6 months or a year when they cost $140 apiece with tax is silly.

[Jeckert07]

[quote name='MagnoliaTiger' timestamp='1405448533' post='9705875']Play them until I get tired of them. I've never worn any out. I doubt most people do. Changing once every 6 months or a year when they cost $140 apiece with tax is silly.[/quote]

Agree 100%. I play my wedges until I convince myself that I need new ones, but I've never worn out the grooves on any and I've played wedges as long as 4 years.

[Kratus977]

I typically change out my wedges every two years or so. For me, I use my 50* gap wedge the most of any club. It's usually the first to wear out. Depending on what wedges I'm playing, I'll normally replace all my wedges. However, with my current wedge set up - 50*/54* Gorge Wedges and 60* Eye2XG wedge, when the 50* goes, I'll probably just replaced it and the 54* so they match and keep the Eye2XG L wedge as it probably won't be worn out. We see in two years if that holds true...

[martinbns]

[quote name='ocburg17' timestamp='1405430579' post='9703803']
I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts. I always buy wedges new and I'm on about a 2-3 year cycle. Not sure if that is good or bad. I play 2-3 times per week and have good distance off the tee so my wedges are used quite often. However, we only play 6 months of the year here in Wisconsin.
[/quote]

I would be similar to you, I am also curious.

I also use my 54 degree wedge for almost all shots inside 100 yards except flops etc with my 60.

[martinbns]

Vokey says every 60-70 games, which I tend to think is a bit goofy.

[cliche]

i play about 3 times a week plus practice sessions on the weekend. i practice mostly chip shots and bunker, so my 58° which i use most wears out quick.
i replace it every spring

[Hat Trick]

[quote name='martinbns' timestamp='1405452255' post='9706275']
Vokey says every 60-70 games, which I tend to think is a bit goofy.
[/quote]Vokey and Titleist would make a lot of money if everyone did this!

[rbhan12]

When I get bored. Wish I was kidding.

[timbo08]

Not to thread hijack but what makes the wear on say a cast wedge so much worse than a set of irons?

I realize that you are purposely in most cases trying to generate spin with a wedge so it would be important to keep the grooves "fresh". However I have seen studies and articles that from a clean fairway lie, a wedge with no grooves does not spin that much differently than with full grooves.

So then it must be part of their alternative purpose which is to clear debris out of the way as you travel through the rough when you miss the fairway. Which brings me back to my original question, why would that be any less important with a wedge than say a 9 iron? Would they simply wear more because you are more likely to use your wedge 7-8 times in a round versus maybe 2-3 with a 9 iron?

[dunn]

Bout every 6 months....play a lot so they wear out kinda fast....All depends on how much you use em....Some can get prolly 5 yrs

Play forged and bout 200 rounds or more a year plus practice and dribbling when waiting ...so takes a toll....go by spin, once I start losing bite a bit

Another thing I wear out is golf shoes...get trashed pretty quick

[MotoSD]

Also gotta factor how often you hit the range, and how hard/new the balls are. Ive seen several wedges with the lower grooves completely worn off, but only because the guys hit the range every day. In all my years of playing, ive never needed to replace a wedge due to groove wear. Its always been to try a new loft/bounce.

[diehllane]

[quote name='timbo08' timestamp='1405480706' post='9709657']
Not to thread hijack but what makes the wear on say a cast wedge so much worse than a set of irons?

I realize that you are purposely in most cases trying to generate spin with a wedge so it would be important to keep the grooves "fresh". However I have seen studies and articles that from a clean fairway lie, a wedge with no grooves does not spin that much differently than with full grooves.

So then it must be part of their alternative purpose which is to clear debris out of the way as you travel through the rough when you miss the fairway. Which brings me back to my original question, why would that be any less important with a wedge than say a 9 iron? Would they simply wear more because you are more likely to use your wedge 7-8 times in a round versus maybe 2-3 with a 9 iron?
[/quote]

I think you answered your own question at the end.
Wedges typically get used more often than the individual irons, and for different shots. Full swings, half-swings, bunker shots, chips.
Depending on the player, also a lot of practice possibly.

[Bkgeneral]

[quote name='ephmen' timestamp='1405430320' post='9703769']
So , I play once or twice a week, and occasionally have practice sessions mixed in. How can I tell when my wedges need to be replaced? How often do you replace your wedges, and how often do you play?
[/quote]

I play a similar amount and live in Ohio, so about 6 month season. I would have easily got 4-5 years out of my last set of Vokeys, but they were non conforming and the ball shredding was a cost I got tired of. I have the new SM5's and I expect to get them to last at least 3 years, and maybe up to 4-5 years.

[lumberman2462]

Guys that play in Florida with the sandy soil will wear a wedge much quicker than those of us in the Midwest or northeast.

I take a few Florida trips each fall winter for tournaments and am constantly surprised the nicks, dings and wear marks for 4-5 days of play. Especially on my 60.

Not at all surprised Vokey wants you to change wedges after 60-70 "games". I think we'll next see a scientific study published by Titelist that proves that wedges used for more than 50 rounds actually costs a player 3 feet in hole proximity and 1.3 strokes per round. They'll put it on a commercial.

[Bimmer1]

Just noticed a little article in the new August 2014 Golf Digest addressing this. Their short answer......"the grooves on your wedges can wear down in a couple of years if you play more than 40 rounds annually and practice regularly."

As for golf balls......"with today's solid core balls, the cover would be scraped and dinged long before a ball lost anything in terms of distance or spin because of aging or overuse."

[Aviador Naval]

I used to focus on the grooves and found I never wore one out. Usually bought a new one every couple years when I got the itch.

Then this year, my wife got me an SM4 54-11 for Christmas. Second day out, I hit a ball out of a rough patch and some rocks put a pretty decent gouge in the bounce. Through two or three short game practice sessions per week and an average of one full round per week, the bounce has been smoothed to the point the gouge is no longer noticeable.

Makes me wonder if the focus for replacement should be bounce vice grooves.

[bellview17]

When the grooves look like they are rounding and not sharp....

Or, as a wrx player may say, every 3rd day or 15 round since all I hit
are 375 yard bombs and 125 yard 64 degree wedges...all day.....

[rsh0308]

I have a Callaway X-tour Vintage 52 that I've easily played 150 rounds with and average a range session a week too. I use it from everywhere <120 yards except greenside bunkers and flop shots around the green. Still shreds balls when I hit it. I've been through at least 4 drivers and 3 putters since getting this wedge... not getting rid of it anytime soon.

[Noble6]

I have never worn out a wedge. If something new and flashy comes along that I NEED, then i get it. This will continue into next season, when I'll be due for some SM5's. Wish the black nickle finish was on those...

[Edaw68]

[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1405512085' post='9711005']
Guys that play in Florida with the sandy soil will wear a wedge much quicker than those of us in the Midwest or northeast.

I take a few Florida trips each fall winter for tournaments and am constantly surprised the nicks, dings and wear marks for 4-5 days of play. Especially on my 60.

Not at all surprised Vokey wants you to change wedges after 60-70 "games". I think we'll next see a scientific study published by Titelist that proves that wedges used for more than 50 rounds actually costs a player 3 feet in hole proximity and 1.3 strokes per round. They'll put it on a commercial.
[/quote]
Also dull wedges will cause wrist and back injuries, your auto insurance will go up, your wife will leave you for the mailman and orphans will cry.....

I've had my current wedges for 3 years, I play 60 or 70 rounds a year, and I haven't noticed a performance difference. My sand wedge isn't chrome on sole anymore, but is still intact. No reason to change.

[tkgolf5]

The worn groove rule is a good one. That's what I stick to. Once I see the face degrade, I go get a new one.

[EdMan63]

I' play once a week on average 5-6 months a year (Michigan). I've never worn out a wedge however I have an absolute love for wedges that goes back a long time. I could buy wedges every year just because I love them so much. I did get some raw black SM5's this year to replace my 2 year old spin milled Vokeys. The grooves were fine but I had an itch for some new ones.

[jeggolfer68]

I am a single digit handicapper. My ping L wedge is over 30 years old. I use my PW and sw from my 10 year old g2 iron set. I refuse to get caught in all the marketing hype on wedges. John

[lumberman2462]

[quote name='Edaw68' timestamp='1405561237' post='9716841']
[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1405512085' post='9711005']
Guys that play in Florida with the sandy soil will wear a wedge much quicker than those of us in the Midwest or northeast.

I take a few Florida trips each fall winter for tournaments and am constantly surprised the nicks, dings and wear marks for 4-5 days of play. Especially on my 60.

Not at all surprised Vokey wants you to change wedges after 60-70 "games". I think we'll next see a scientific study published by Titelist that proves that wedges used for more than 50 rounds actually costs a player 3 feet in hole proximity and 1.3 strokes per round. They'll put it on a commercial.
[/quote]
Also dull wedges will cause wrist and back injuries, your auto insurance will go up, your wife will leave you for the mailman and orphans will cry.....

I've had my current wedges for 3 years, I play 60 or 70 rounds a year, and I haven't noticed a performance difference. My sand wedge isn't chrome on sole anymore, but is still intact. No reason to change.
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure I would shoot the same score with my fancy wedges as I would with my vintage Ben Hogan wedges that I used in the 80s....and those things are surely worn out.

[sgniwder99]

I think a lot of this has to do with where you play and practice, and what your definition of "worn out" is. I've lived in the north all my life until the last year, and I'd never even come close to "wearing out" a wedge. I've now lived in Atlanta for nearly a year, and worn through the chrome on a set of soft forged wedges that I bought in November because the range where I practice (usually a couple of times a week) is so sandy. I don't pretend that I detect any difference in performance, but I also don't like looking down at brown spots, so I've replaced them.

[patrick421]

[quote name='bellview17' timestamp='1405553004' post='9716135']
When the grooves look like they are rounding and not sharp....

Or, as a wrx player may say, every 3rd day or 15 round since all I hit
are 375 yard bombs and 125 yard 64 degree wedges...all day.....
[/quote]

Posts like this are more cliche then the guys who say they hit it 350.