Ditching the “Gap” Wedge

[MountainKing]

Not me, my gap gets used more than any club in my bag.  

[PuffyC]

I think my set 50 degree AW is a top used club in my bag. No way I could live without it, that thing is money inside 100 yards. I did ditch my 60 degree wedge however - that thing was a par killing waste of space. There's nothing I can do with a 60 that I can't do 10 times better and easier by just opening the face of my 50 degree SM6. Maybe if I was better things would be different.

[azgreg]

I fricken heart my gap wedge.

 

[bladehunter]

The answer is what hogan said “ there’s not a 7 iron on this course “.   Just don’t leave it at gap wedge distance is the answer.  Then you don’t need one.  😂

Edited November 5, 2021 by bladehunter

[J.Bex]

I've contemplated removing gap wedge many times, and the same with driving iron, but I came to the realization that I really like those clubs and can keep them by dropping a middle club whose gap is not as important for me - 5 iron. 

 

I feel a little vindicated on this by Lucas Herbert's win last week without a 5 iron to do the same thing - keeping the top and bottom clubs:

https://golf.com/gear/irons/lucas-herbert-taylormade-p7tw-iron-loft-gaps/

 

Sorry 5 iron.  I like you, but not as much as GW or DI.

[lefthack]

My set PW is 48 but the Takomo is a 44, so I bought a 48 to gap between that and my fancy 52/56 wedges.

[dbleag]

On 11/3/2021 at 9:41 PM, HoganHO said:

Ive done 52-58. It works.

I'm committed to only having 12 clubs in the bag, so my lower end must be 52/58.

 

I think I can cover my short game needs with them.   👍

[Mike_Honcho]

i keep one in the bag but hardly use it.

[R5Two]

52-56-60 

 

Tried it. It all depends on how many times you get that yardage (for me 97-105) per round. I hit 5 knockdown pitching wedges one round and said NOPE! Went right back to having it in. 

 

I would try it out and just keep your data in mind. It woukd be nice to put a long hybrid in my bag full time though. 

[hardten]

On 11/3/2021 at 9:25 PM, HoganHO said:

Coming to the realization that the so called gap wedge (50 or 52) may not be the best use of one of my 14 slots. I’m finding I’m getting better results taking some off my set PW (Srixon Zx7) versus hitting a 50 or 52.

 

Currently have a 56 and 60. I just don’t mind that gap and truth be told I did not grow up playing a gap wedge—they weren’t really a big thing in the 80’s early 90’s.

 

I’m actually better off having more versatility at the top of my bag…

 

 

Anyone else feeling this?

Yep. Last few years the thinking has shifted for many to 5-g instead of 4-p . Stronger lofts probably has something to do with this along with the advancement of the “utility irons” and hybrids. Play G410 with SF 5-g and same set up with the MAv Pros and 0211 within last 12 months. Also the Apex 19. In all cases I found myself usually favoring a choked PW Vs the Gap except maybe on full shots of a certain distance but even then used only because it was there. Anyway for me as I approach mid 70s my issues are more in the longer shots. Just ordered the Takomo 201 which come 4-p and hopefully I get as much use out of the 4iron as I did a few years ago with my 545 4iron.

[braincramp52]

I played all of last season going from a 46° PW to a 58° LW. Worked fine for me. Just have to practice your 1/4 and 1/2 swing shots with the PW. But I've always been a feel player.

[CUBuffaloes]

Whatever works for you, go for it.

 

I wanted to play just 3 wedges and used to do the 52 - 58* thing (+ PW) but I play on such varied conditions I realized that I needed two options to play out of bunkers. One with high bounce and one with low bounce. In the end I went back to a PW - 50 - 55 - 60 setup with a high bounce SW and low bounce LW. I'd still like to get rid of my GW so I'm looking into replacing my set PW with a specialty 48* and weaken my 9i a tad to fill in the gap. It'd then go 48 - 54 - 60 for my wedges.

 

 

[rt_charger]

I personally think every golfer should carry a wedge between 48 and 52 degrees - it's too useful a loft range for approach shots and chipping around the green.

[JAMH03]

On 11/3/2021 at 6:44 PM, HoganHO said:

I guess what I am saying is that the 46 to 56 doesn’t create a huge problem for me, and actually my results are better taking a little off the 46 versus trying to hit full 50 or 52 shots.

I play a good amount of golf and this is what I am experiencing.

That's true for most people it's sort of how the game is played. "Flighted approach shots."

None the less imagine how accurate you'd be if you played your gap wedge the same way as your PW? I'd hazard to say you'd have better misses and shoot better scores.

Now what's good for one is not good for everyone and there are plenty of ways to skin a polecat and if it works for you then great!

But you're probably making the game harder with more of a need for precision with the one club. 

All the best.

[Andygolderson]

comfortable in the bottom of the bag and looking to add at the top. sounds like someone's getting old 😛 

 

Jokes aside, i think it's a personal choice depending on which GAP (huhuhu) you need to fill. Not all gaps will be the same as well.

 

Example: i have 2 sets of irons ; 4-Pw and 2i-Gw. I purchased  a 52 degree to be my gap wedge in my 4-P set. This was because my set Gw had a similar distance to my Pw, since i seem to hit it too well. I recently noticed i lost maybe 10 yards on my wedges (Might be due to wet weather), which makes my 56 degree kind of useless, since it's too close to the 52.

 

Pw - 135 yards

Gw - 120 yards

52* - 110-120 yards

56* - 90-100yards 

 

You could argue that nobody needs a lob wedge, so a 56 or 58 would be sufficient for many distances and variety of shots. I'm trying out my 2i-Gw set, with a 56 and a 60, because i'm sure the Gw will cover the 52degree distance and possibly even P wedge.

 

Try to figure out which distance you need regularly and focus on that range. For most of my par 3's or approach shots, i should be within 8 iron to wedge. 

My trade off is to maybe drop the 60* and play either 56 or 58, together with either Gw or 52*, ditch my driver and fill my 220yards spot.

However, i would not consider personally dropping the 100-120 yards range.

 

Also consider how you can have a different bounce on those clubs in the lower end for more versatility and different shot condtions.

 

It's also a lot easier to manipulate your lofted clubs for multiple distances, like half shot, pitch, chip. I find for me, anything from 4i to 7i generally have a similar result from a punch or half.

 

Consider a 4 or 500 yard hole where you leave yourself 140 or less to the pin. You can easilly make up the 360 yards with 2x5iron, 4i + 8i etc. But you will always need to approach or chip.

 

Depends on your distances, play style and what you feel is missing in your game, or what you want or need to improve. 

 

I play with a lot of older people averaging 60's and they can still play a good score without big distance in the top of the bag. I often see that they tend not to hit these types of clubs as well as they can with a wedge.

[TM4me]

How consistent are your gaps at the top of the bag?  Distances can vary greatly on the long clubs depending on the quality of the strike.

Edited November 9, 2021 by TM4me

[amace04]

On 11/4/2021 at 10:14 AM, PEI_Golfer said:

 

 

I also don't buy the argument of having more options at the top of the bag, how many do you need?  I have 4 with driver, 4wd, hybrid and 4i.  If I need a 5th, then I'm doing something really wrong.

 

Depends how far you hit I guess.  My gapping is pretty good with a D, 3w, 3h(19) 4h(22) until I get to the 4h/5i, but obviously that doesn't mean everyone's is like mine.  I've debated losing the 60 degree for a 4i, but I hit the 60 way more than I'd ever hit a 4i.

[makana]

50 degree gap wedge is my favorite club in the bag....if anything i could ditch a lobwedge no problem...54 is enough loft for most on the courses that aren't tour firmness

[NoTalentLefty]

On 11/3/2021 at 8:25 PM, HoganHO said:

Coming to the realization that the so called gap wedge (50 or 52) may not be the best use of one of my 14 slots. I’m finding I’m getting better results taking some off my set PW (Srixon Zx7) versus hitting a 50 or 52.

 

Currently have a 56 and 60. I just don’t mind that gap and truth be told I did not grow up playing a gap wedge—they weren’t really a big thing in the 80’s early 90’s.

 

I’m actually better off having more versatility at the top of my bag…

 

 

Anyone else feeling this?

My GW is 47 on my GIs but remember when my wedge was 49. The 52 is okay but not necessary for me. Wonder sometimes if I’d be better off with out it . Back in the 80s and 90s had less options and had better feel for distances using a PW than now. You might be on to something. 

[mcs4]

No chance... I want my distance gaps at the bottom of the bag as small as possible. I am currently gaming a set of PXG 0211's with two gap wedges bent to different lofts (50 and 46), because their stock setup tries to compensate for the jacked-up lofts by going from a 42 degree PW to a 48 degree GW.

[Barfolomew]

I ditched the 56 and go 52 60

[T.B.]

I’ve done the 52 - 58.  Was skeptical at 1st but it works well.   Just takes a little practice. 

[playit]

On 11/3/2021 at 8:37 PM, lefty1978 said:

Back in the 80's and 90's the pw was 48-50 degrees. So a gap wedge wasn't necessary. Going from a 46 pw to 56 sw will create quite a gap. Why not ditch the 60 and go 52 to 58?

 

So, would the 52 be a GW or SW? I assume GW, don't know that I've ever heard of a 52 SW. Your 52-58 idea might have a lot of merit!

[Mitchell]

When first getting a bit of competency at this crazy game, played a 49-49 loft pitching wedge and 56 loft sand wedge, depending upon the set. With the changes in lofts of irons and the launch/spin of balls, found that 48-54-60 and 48-53-58 loft distributions tend to allow me best spacing of yardages and flights based upon amount of practice real life allows.

[cgallery]

Ive been thinking about this too.. however I feel I am a pretty good wedge player with 4 so I'm not sure why I want to change lol. Ive played a few rounds dropping my 50 degree but feel the gap between 45 and 54 is a little too big... I like playing different shots with my wedges but think I'd have to go for a 52 if I wanted to make the full switch 

[lefty1978]

4 hours ago, playit said:

 

So, would the 52 be a GW or SW? I assume GW, don't know that I've ever heard of a 52 SW. Your 52-58 idea might have a lot of merit!

I don't have a dedicated sw. My 52, 58 or 47° pw can be used as a "sand wedge". I mainly use my 58, but my 52 open to add bounce can get the job done just as good in fluffy sand. I use my pw for longer green bunker shots.

[ChipNRun]

In my prior iron sets, I played three seasons with 48-54-58. (The 48* was a blend of PW and GW).

 

With my new MAX irons, I'm keeping this. The set PW is 43*, and gaps nicely with the legacy wedges. Besides wedge duties, the PW also serves as a 10i for lots of full shots at short end of iron yardstick.

[karstens_ghost]

There are quite a few pros that don't play gap wedges, but those are the players that have the time to cover their numbers with practice… and a lot of it. They also benefit from another long game club.

 

If it fits for you, great. You're likely a feel player. For those of us who have a distance grid, that'll never work.

[bobfoster]

On 11/4/2021 at 11:58 AM, animalgolfs said:

46-52-58

 

This exactly ^^^

 

And it works really well for me.

[phizzy30]

I've had a gap wedge in the bag for years but found out I barely used it so I took it out a few years back.  I hit a lot of partial swing/shots with all my wedges.  I don't ever use gap wedge around the greens.  It was pointless to carry one.  I play with 12 clubs in the bag atm but at least I have the option of putting another club in if I ever need to.