Ditching the “Gap” Wedge

[Tupperwolf]

Currently 48*PW, 54* SW, 58* LW.  I'm going to bend the LW to 59*.  I have played a couple of sets this year with 45* or 46* PW and 50* GW.  I really like the GW at that loft but honestly, it's just a renamed classic lofted PW.

[pitchnputt]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:25 AM, joostin said:

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.

Oh man, you are speaking my language. I just have not had the cajones to drop the 5i (just got a new set of irons and feel I need to give them a bit of time) but the 5i is the one I struggle with! My 4ut Iron is one of the most reliable clubs in the bag off a tee or on a fairway and I worry about gaps at the top of the bag as I run a 7w. PW is 47* but not much bounce where my 50*GW has a ton. Then my 54*SW has not a lot of bounce and 58*LW has a bunch. I think bounce options end up underrated a lot when the talk goes straight to loft on wedges. There are just a lot of different scenarios when trying to land it on the green near the pin for regular 2 putting (or chances for one putts).

Edited November 18, 2021 by pitchnputt

[WilCox]

On 11/17/2021 at 8:39 PM, pitchnputt said:

 I think bounce options end up underrated a lot when the talk goes straight to loft on wedges. There are just a lot of different scenarios when trying to land it on the green near the pin for regular 2 putting (or chances for one putts).

I agree.  Bounce is just as important as loft.  I almost always want more bounce when I'm trying to shoot at a flag than when I'm just trying to hit a green.

[J.Bex]

On 11/17/2021 at 8:39 PM, pitchnputt said:

Oh man, you are speaking my language. I just have not had the cajones to drop the 5i (just got a new set of irons and feel I need to give them a bit of time) but the 5i is the one I struggle with! My 4ut Iron is one of the most reliable clubs in the bag off a tee or on a fairway and I worry about gaps at the top of the bag as I run a 7w. PW is 47* but not much bounce where my 50*GW has a ton. Then my 54*SW has not a lot of bounce and 58*LW has a bunch. I think bounce options end up underrated a lot when the talk goes straight to loft on wedges. There are just a lot of different scenarios when trying to land it on the green near the pin for regular 2 putting (or chances for one putts).

To me it comes down to this:

- Does my 5 iron range come into play all that much right now?  Yes- keep, No- maybe drop.

- Can I take a little off the 4 iron (or utility or hybrid) to cover the 5 iron range well enough?  Yes- maybe drop, No- keep 5i.

- Am I trapping myself to a 5i because convention says I'm supposed to, and is it preventing me from putting in another club that may be more useful?  Yes- maybe drop, No- keep

 

Same goes for any club.  I enjoy hitting non-stock shots, just playing for fun, so it makes sense for me to be different with club setup.

[bladehunter]

Dropped mine in favor of 3 iron recently.  Couldn’t be better. I just didn’t like the club.  And my pw is always my favorite club. I buy iron sets based first on pw.  Other criteria. But if the pw sucks. The set sucks.   
 

 

i think it depends on the player. And how much they like to hit flighted shots with pitching wedge. For me the yardage gaps are this.  54 at 115 58 at 100 pitching wedge is 140 full bore with a draw .  130 is a comfortable off speed fade with pw so I’m only covering 15 yards with less backswing.  I just prefer to leave it either less than 100 yards. Or more than 130.  Not too hard to plan for that.  

[Jmccas]

I’ve been contemplating dropping the Gap wedge mainly because I tend to be indecisive at that distance and choosing between 3 different clubs. 
 

Currently I’m at 46-50-54-58 and I am thinking about picking up a 52 to replace the gap/sand wedge distance. Only thing giving me a pause is the bounce options for a 52 wedge tend to be low bounce but that might match well with my MP4s and I’ll relegate my Eye2 58 for beach play.