Low launch shaft for 58* MD4?

[ChipNRun]

I picked up a slightly used MD4 for $80 last Thanksgiving. The shaft has no label tag... I assume it's the TT DG Tour 115 S200.

 

It's great for touch shots around the green, and up to half swing. Lately the 3/4 swing sometimes come up short.

 

That said, would a lower launch shaft improve distance consistency? I'm thinking about:

• KBS Wedge Regular: 110 grams with firm tip/firm shaft design
• KBS FLT for PW: 110 grams with shorter iron low launch, and still with added spin

 

Or, if the unlabeled shaft is the stock DG 115, am I already getting lower launch?

 

I often have distance control problems with 58* and 60* wedges once I get beyond half swing.

 

My 48* and 54* MD3 wedges have KBS Tour R-flex, 110 grams, PW blanks, which give me a medium launch. Good distance control with these two.

[Adam C]

I am sure you are already aware of this but it's not the shaft, it's the swing. Shaft changes especially with wedges are going to make tiny differences at best unless you find a certain shaft feel that promotes a better swing, shallower attach with less loft presented at impact, for what you are trying to accomplish.

 

Probably better off cranking down the lofts a degree or two so you don't need to swing so hard for the distances you are trying to cover.

[animalgolfs]

Need to control your distance by flight

 

Shaft change isn't going to help much - 

KBS Tour 130 - DG x100 - PX - 6.5 increased weight might help control your flip but I doubt it

[Matt614]

You can try the KBS 610 wedge shaft. Per their site it is designed to deliver a lower flight.

[markheardjr]

If you're releasing before impact to feel like you're generating spin or helping get the ball up in the air you may be creating way more spin loft than you mean to. I do this and it is why my 56° maxes at 80y. I don't even carry a 60° because full swings go 45y and I can flop a 56° even on tight lies.

 

That said, I am told I need to get my hands more forward through the ball and that will deloft the wedge. I also find that delofting wedges creates even more variability in my distance so why bother? I have no issue standing up to a 100y shot and full swinging a 52° because I know it will go that distance every time. I don't need to bang a 150y GW, I have an 8i for that. Let wedges be wedges and irons be irons. Just my approach to the short game.

[mcounci2]

Will a different shaft help???  Probably not.  But DG S400 and KBS 610 Wedge will be lower-launching

[animalgolfs]

1 hour ago, markheardjr said:

If you're releasing before impact to feel like you're generating spin or helping get the ball up in the air you may be creating way more spin loft than you mean to. I do this and it is why my 56° maxes at 80y. I don't even carry a 60° because full swings go 45y and I can flop a 56° even on tight lies.

 

That said, I am told I need to get my hands more forward through the ball and that will deloft the wedge. I also find that delofting wedges creates even more variability in my distance so why bother? I have no issue standing up to a 100y shot and full swinging a 52° because I know it will go that distance every time. I don't need to bang a 150y GW, I have an 8i for that. Let wedges be wedges and irons be irons. Just my approach to the short game.

My swing to a tee...... I know I flip & just play it. The harder I swing = higher the launch & flight. I did put 125g in my wedges to help ME 

 

[Red4282]

Hate to pile one, but it isnt a shaft issue. It may not contribute the right balance or feel which can lead to contact issues. But for the most part , look at technique, grind could be wrong for you as well. 

[ChipNRun]

On 9/2/2020 at 6:08 PM, Red4282 said:

Hate to pile one, but it isnt a shaft issue. It may not contribute the right balance or feel which can lead to contact issues. But for the most part , look at technique, grind could be wrong for you as well. 

 

And, others have nudged me toward a solution. Not grind, but lie angle.

 

Turns out the LW had a lie angle 3 degrees upright!  The clubsmith that fixed it said I basically was swinging a 58* chipper, not a true lob wedge. He took it from 3* U to 1* Flat... Night and day difference on medium shots. Now I can get handle lower on set-up and get a longer swing arc with more separation on backswing.

 

58* shots are much more stable on distances up to 3/4 swing, although I need to tighten the left and right drift on about half the shots.

 

Also: I got the lie flattened 1 degree on the 48* and 54*, and this has straightened out the shots a little. Had misses slightly to left before bending. And, all three wedges "look the same" at address.

[Red4282]

Good deal, glad you got it worked out!