How do you test a wedge?

[Doppelganger]

There is no doubt that I need a new set of wedges. I bought a cheap set of tour edge bazooka jp15 wedges earlier this year and they do their job but using them is so... unsatisfying. The weight and balance, the feel of the ball coming off of the face, they just don't excite me and I think I could probably even play better with newer clubs. My trouble though is quantifying what is and what is not a good wedge.

 

To prepare I called around a little this morning because I was nervous about just going to a retail store and hitting their new wedges in the practice area (with good reason, the only way golfsmith would do it is with masking tape on the face). I found a place that will let me try all of the big names used wedges outside with a target green, and I also want to stop by The Golfworks retail store in town to try out the maltby wedges. I would like to go into this with a better plan than to just try them all and pick the one that feels the best, but I know this is a touch game and if that's the best method then that is fine.

 

So, my question is how do you objectively rate a wedge? With other clubs I can take a good swing and look at the numbers and say, "wow, this club is straight as an arrow and 10 yards longer than my club!". What is the equivalent of this for wedges? Am I basically just checking to make sure I can get the ball on the green relatively well or is there some other way to measure my performance to parity?

[Ri_Redneck]

First, ignore all the marketing BS like 10 yds longer, spins 20% more, blah blah blah. First, swing them and see if the balance is what you prefer. If not, re-weight it till it is. Then hit balls with them on every lie and type of sand. THAT's the ONLY way to know if they are right for you.

 

BT

[hammy83]

I relate wedges to a relationship. If you like to look (curves and lie position(s) move onto the feel. You probably will just move on to the next stage and throw down some cash for a keeper. This is usually why must will upgrade the model but stick to a similar type. Ones you dont really have a feel for tend to not stick around as long or just until something new comes along.

[4Par]

My take when I try wedges is "does the ball do what i expect it to do"..... If they're the wrong bounce or grind you'll see the ball do things you aren't expecting.... Then I just go on looks and feel.....

[jjj912]

I suggest hitting chips and pitches and flops. If the club feels good and the shots seem to go where you want them, then it's probably a good wedge for you. Then try out some half-swings and 3/4 swings and full swings. Does the ball feel good off the face and does it seem to go where you want? If so, then you probably have a good wedge for you.

 

If you have trouble hitting the finesse shots, then it's likely that that combination of grind, bounce, and sole width isn't for you.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about distance unless it is critical for you to have a wedge go a particular distance.

[ghill85]

I use a lie board with wedges to objectively find out where the player is bottoming out and how this interacts with the bounce of the wedge. You must hit a variety of shots for this to be effective, not just full wedges.

[Socrates]

Testing wedge before you buy is really hard to do even at a green grass facility. Most do not have demo wedges. Find something you like the look and feel for and then buy it. If you like it, great. If you don't, you are like the rest of us selling it on ebay or putting in with all the other clubs you bought and don't really like.

 

Don't be afraid to bend, add weight or length, change the grip and fiddle with it to suit your needs. I rarely buy a wedge and just leave it stock before I use it. That's why I have a bunch. No one wants my bastxxx mods.

[nsxguy]

I'm looking for new wedges as we speak.

 

Since I use wedges (Gap & higher) more for chips and pitches around the green, that's what I do in the store. The full swing results aren't as important to me. Now PGA Tour Store and Golfsmiths by me ALL have demo wedges so I don't have to tape them up.

 

And they both have areas where I can chip all the balls I like.

 

I realize that chipping off mats isn't exactly the same as chipping off grass but I'm more about the contact and feel off the wedges and whether I can control the distance the ball carries.

 

Unless there's something really funky about the club causing me to shut the face or leave it wide open, on FULL shots, the dispersion of the clubs I like will essentially be the same. If the distance on full shots is off by a few yards I figure I'll get used to it after a short time.

 

The one problem though, is sand interaction. Very few places you can test that out. I've learned I need a bit more bounce than average and a wider sole suits my eye (and confidence) more than a narrower one so for bounce angle on the SW,,,,,,,, best judgement I guess,,,,,,,,,,

[Ivyguy]

Wedges, like putters, have to visually inspire confidence.

 

Outside of the obvious bounce and grind issues that can directly lead to performance factors, the bulk is mental (and by this I mean visual).

 

I don't play dark wedges because they look strange to me. I've always used chrome finish wedges.

[tobiasjd]

I end up buying a ton of wedges until I find one I like through extensive testing and then I stick with it.

 

Takes a long time and costs a fortune.

[chandlernutt]

I'm in the market for new wedges and this thread completely changed my outlook. While I do think I'll still go with the new RTX-3 because of my Cleveland/Srixon discount, I have now moved away from the idea of getting them custom stamped. It'd be too hard to sell a wedge with CN on the back. My current wedges are +0.75" and I'll probably stick with that or maybe go down to +0.5". The real question is: raw or black!? I cannot make this decision!

[asw7576]

By simulating small chips : feel the chips, feel the yips , feel the full shots.... after some testing, I can feel this wedge is more balance than the other ones.

 

For examples, cleveland rtx 2.0 cb , is the most I like , the feeling is positive ... and vokey sm6 is the second most I like. I dont like the feeling of mizuno T5 , S5 at all.

[Divot License]

First thing I do is find a wedge that looks good to my eye when behind the ball. Once I've picked several of them it's simply a matter of hitting different varieties of shots (full, half, chips, flops etc) with them to find which performs best overall.

 

I tend to look for best overall as that way it's most comfortable for each shot. I made the mistake once of buying a 58* wedge simply because it was amazing out the bunker but i couldn't get it to work at all of the fairway or fringe. now I want something that is at least a 7/10 in all categories rather than a 10/10 in one and 4/10 in the others.

[Warrick]

I end up buying a ton of wedges until I find one I like through extensive testing and then I stick with it.

 

Takes a long time and costs a fortune.

 

this guy has it right.

 

Buy, play, no like, sell, rinse, repeat.

 

I don't know any other way to test wedges, outside of "live play" on course.

[widow-maker]

You've got to give them a chance. I buy them and use them for awhile before I decide if it sticks. All of the major manufacturers are making decent wedges.

[jslane57]

I think wedges are like the shoes of today. They are either right, or they're not. The wedges I use are quite old, but I just like them. I give up a little spin with them, but it's worth it to have the control. I've got several sets of newer wedges, but they don't make the cut. I also have sets of wedges that I feel works better with different sets of clubs. My advice is: if you really like your irons, bring in the PW. Get the overall weight and swing weight measured. The GW may want to be a little heavier overall weight with a swing weight at point or two heavier than the PW. The SW just a bit heavier again with both. The LW is more personal, some like it lighter than the SW, some like it heavier. Getting the weights right will give you a better chance of actually liking them, and still liking your irons...