Wedge Gapping w/Vintage Irons

[baloo]

What do you all do for wedges? Currently, I have a PW and SW from the same set that I like, but I need a gap as well. I've been using a dynapower PW that's bent weak, but the shaft is pretty whippy. Clubs in sig.

It's not easy finding good wedges with stiff shafts in my experience.

 

I'm thinking of just bending all the irons weak so the PW sits at 52 degrees. Then I can drop the dynapower and get a 4 wood for par fives or long par 3s. Any other thoughts? Anyone use a GW as well? I kind of prefer having 3 wedges, but I have tons of vintage clubs and don't have a good wedge to put in that spot yet.

[HoldenCornfield]

I'm thinking of just bending all the irons weak so the PW sits at 52 degrees. Then I can drop the dynapower and get a 4 wood for par fives or long par 3s. Any other thoughts? Anyone use a GW as well? I kind of prefer having 3 wedges, but I have tons of vintage clubs and don't have a good wedge to put in that spot yet.

 

I think this is probably your best bet. I bend all of my 2-9 vintage iron sets from 20* to 48*, which leaves the pw at 52* and sw anywhere from 55-58*, depending on your preference. Your 1954 Spaldings were probably designed around the 20* 2 iron with 4* gaps so it would make sense in that regard, as well.

 

Personally, I've never been comfortable with any loft over 52-53* for full shots so any wedge over 53* or so is strictly for trouble shots, and I'm generally reluctant to try these trick shots anyway. Frankly, I've been leaning more and more towards just carrying a single wedge at 53*. If its got the right grind, like my Tad Moore Dominie hickory sandwedge, I find it versatile enough to hit everything from full 100 yard shots to chips, pitches, flops, and blasts. For me, its easier to master one (good) wedge for multiple shots rather than multiple wedges for specific uses. But that's just me.*

 

*And I'm an admitted contrarian. I enjoy the "You only carry one wedge?!" incredulity as much as I do the "Is that a real wood wood?!"

 

This leaves room in my bag for four woods, 1-2-3-4. I use the 2 wood like a second driver, since I hit it higher and straighter or with a slight draw. Then I have a driver that launches lower and with fade action. So I mix and match my tee club to the hole design. The 3 wood is my 220-230 fairway club, and the 4 wood I hit anywhere from 195 to 215. I also carry a 2 iron that I hit from 185 to 210, which is a bit redundant distance-wise with the 4 wood, but with a much different trajectory and vector control than the 4 wood. So for me -- like the two driving clubs -- they fill two different roles.

 

I guess my response isn't so much about wedge gapping as it is set makeup. My theory is to have more options off the tee and long approaches that hopefully minimizes my need for trick shots around the green. But I've always been better with woods than irons, and that includes wedges so my advice probably has limited application for you.

[baloo]

Thanks Holden.

 

Found the insight very helpful. I'm definitely leaning that way. I figure it will reduce the offset and increase the bounce on the irons, which is good since they have razor-sharp leading edges and close to no bounce as is. I also think it will help to have an extra fairway wood in the bag. I use the 2 wood and driver off the tee. The 2 wood is okay from the fairway, and I use it occasionally. But it's not great. Especially if I want to hit it high off the deck.

 

I'll probably be in the same boat as you, where the 2 iron and 4 wood are pretty close in yardage. But they will be completely different trajectories. The 2 iron will be a tee club and the 4 wood more of an approach club.

[Par-net-birdie]

This has been an issue for me as well

But I have 2 haig ultra sand irons , one is a contour sole and the other is a standard sand iron

I didn't like the contour out of bunkers and around the greens so I bent it to 54• the other I bent to 58•

Which is my modern set up

I reshafted with Nippon 1150x and they're great

 

I swap out a lot of different sets and woods but these are my wedges

I recently picked up a ram tw855 sand iron but due to the weather I haven't hit it yet , but it looks good

 

 

[mike8212]

This is just my opinion so take it how you like. I think golfers should learn 1/2 swing, 1/4 swing etc. Every shot doesn't have to be a full swing, you can hit the same shot using multiple clubs. Usually at 100 yards everyone uses some sort of wedge. You could swing easier with a 7 or 8 and still get good results.