Any scratch guys use 56 as highest lofted wedge?

[cgasucks]

The 2008 US Open Runner Up doesn't carry a LW and I think he's a touch better than a scratch player.

 

Edited July 1, 2022 by cgasucks

[llewol007]

Gotta game your own bag though. As much as we all want to have the short game of the tour players, there is a bunch in between that happens as to why we are talking about them and they are actually doing it.

Edited July 2, 2022 by llewol007

[NJBigFish22]

My wedge set up was always pw, 50, 54 and 58.  I don’t think I hit the 58 more than a few times a year.  The 50 was used for just about anything around the greens, except a bump and run.  The 54  was used out of the bunkers or short sided if I needed more loft.  To me it was a confidence issue and a game management issue.  If I was in a bunker, my only goal was to get it out, and with the 54 was successful because I was confident.  Plus I could hit full shots as well.  As I look at my bag, I would almost rather have 2 - 54* with different bounce and grinds than a 58 or 60 which I don’t have confidence in.

[DFS PFD]

Depends on where I'm playing. Home course has tucked pins, long rough, and some awkward length wedges into elevated greens. Could get by without a 60* and 64* when it's really firm, but would definitely lose some strokes. Assess what your course demands, your skill set, and choose from there. 

[BIG STU]

5 minutes ago, DFS PFD said:

Depends on where I'm playing. Home course has tucked pins, long rough, and some awkward length wedges into elevated greens. Could get by without a 60* and 64* when it's really firm, but would definitely lose some strokes. Assess what your course demands, your skill set, and choose from there. 

Dead on it. 

[mryank]

9 minutes ago, DFS PFD said:

Depends on where I'm playing. Home course has tucked pins, long rough, and some awkward length wedges into elevated greens. Could get by without a 60* and 64* when it's really firm, but would definitely lose some strokes. Assess what your course demands, your skill set, and choose from there. 

What's your usual bag setup, when you have 60/64 in there?

 

And without?

[DFS PFD]

2 minutes ago, mryank said:

What's your usual bag setup, when you have 60/64 in there?

 

And without?

Driver

4 wood

2 iron

4-PW

56-60-64

putter

 

Built off 48* PW, and I like hitting knock down wedges so no need for gap wedge. Can drop 64 if needed for another iron or gap wedge

[mryank]

2 minutes ago, DFS PFD said:

56-60-64

 

Curious -- what do you use each of these for, respectively?  

[eagle2838]

I'm a +1, currently carry a 57* as my highest loft but for years topped out at 56*. My reasoning is pretty similar to what a number of people have mentioned about "old times" (although I'm definitely not one, in my mid-30s), I am really comfortable opening the face of a SW to hit lobs, etc. I grew up playing this way and I spent tons of time screwing around on the short game green as a kid trying to hit impossible shots and whatever we can cook up. I just haven't really ever been comfortable with playing those shots with a squarer face and a club with more loft. 

 

To answer OP's question, the grind on my 57* has some similarities to the TW grind, and I'd agree it's a super versatile sole shape. That said, TW certainly pairs his 56 with a 60...

 

Funny timing, as on Monday I was in the first spot I can really remember where I didn't have enough loft to get the job done. Was playing a downwind 345y hole in a local tournament, hit my drive just short of the greenside bunker in an area where carts drive to the next hole and it was basically hardpan, to a tucked front pin. I can imagine 62* or 64* would have been a nice option there, I had no chance to stop it near the hole. But, that's the only instance I can remember going back years where I wanted something else. 

[DFS PFD]

11 minutes ago, mryank said:

Curious -- what do you use each of these for, respectively?  

56 is used for full shots between 120-100 yards as well as longer bunker shots or chunk and run, as well as most chipping around the greens. Also my go to club from 70-100 on windy days where I need to flight the ball down.

60 is used for short sided bunker shots, tight lies, and 50-100 yard tucked pins or places that need lots of spin. Manipulate the face and spin on awkward shots from 30-50 yards with 60 and use lots of spin. 

64 is used for extreme carry and short sided shots out of fairway or deep deep rough that requires lots of clubhead speed, hitting into downslopes or severe elevation changes. Definitely see's the least use, but is a great tool to have when I need it. I'm long off the tee and also somewhat errant, so playing on a shorter course I can end up in lots of peculiar spots that a 64 is nice to have. 

[hammergolf]

I think a good short game player with the correct grind could adjust to a 56* and be fine. In fact, I’ll take out my 60* and try it for a couple weeks and report back.

[Northsider]

You really should change “scratch” to “anybody” in your topic. I’m a single digit and play a 56 as my highest. The 60* is too sketchy for me and I can do just about everything with a 56.

[puresurfr]

Sei Young Kim, she's won a major and she's one of the few women who play pure blades

[ZacR88]

I play to +1 right now. 

 

Could easily remove my 60 and just use a 56.

 

I just have the 60 because it makes more sense than carrying another club in the top end of my bag, and yes its easier to hit some shots with instead of opening of the face on my 56 off a super tight lie for example. 

[ZacR88]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

I think a good short game player with the correct grind could adjust to a 56* and be fine. In fact, I’ll take out my 60* and try it for a couple weeks and report back.

Easily. With out a doubt. 

[naval2006]

7 hours ago, getitdaily said:

If you practice a bunch with that 56 and are really good at ironing the face then rock on. 

 

 

I thought I was the only one using the term “iron the face flat”.  I spent years telling that to my dad with very limited success. 

[getitdaily]

11 minutes ago, naval2006 said:

I thought I was the only one using the term “iron the face flat”.  I spent years telling that to my dad with very limited success. 

Somehow my phone autocorrected opening to ironing...I'm just too lazy to go fix it.

[shoot4par]

I'm shocked it wasn't mentioned but didn't Mr. Nicklaus play only a 56* for a long time? 

Edited July 1, 2022 by shoot4par

[Tree Levino]

17 hours ago, mryank said:

Been debating this for awhile.  Use a 56 for 99% of shots around the green, and the 60 basically only for bunker shots, but feel like I can get similar results with 56.  The MG3 TW 56 grind is as versatile as I've seen, and feels like opening up the blade has effectively the same playability/purpose as a 60.  Could see the same logic for M/D grind, C grind, etc...

 

Anyone game a versatile 56 + nothing above that?

A buddy I play with who is a +2 uses a low bounce 56 and no lob. Great wedge player. 

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, cav5 said:

i love this topic and have so many barely used wedges around the house because of it. i'll play with 16-17 clubs a lot of times just to experiment.

 

most recently i'm in favor of a higher bounce 57* being my main scoring club from pretty much 100 yards an in. obviously there are some outliers.

 

the full soled 57* keeps it dummy proof for the most part and has enough loft to hit floaty ones and low drivers too and also in crappy lies.

 

i then carry a 61 primarily for bunkers, nifty up and downs, tight greenside lies etc..

Oh I do the same thing on my afternoon practice rounds--- I have been known to stuff 5 or 6 wedges in a staff bag along with other stuff you know--- Just Because--- You know when it gets to 16 or 17 clubs then I have to drag out one of my staff bags. Those rounds can be a hodge podge for me with a bunch of wedges a vintage set of irons persimmon woods and several vintage putters. LOL with my bad back I have to take several clubs out before lifting the bag and put them back in once the bag is on the cart. But it darn sure is fun

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, shoot4par said:

I'm shocked it wasn't mentioned but didn't Mr. Nicklaus play only a 56* for a long time? 

Yep but in his heyday a 56 was the highest loft he had.

[Esox]

When I was a + golfer all those decades ago, 60 degree Lob wedges were either non existent or very rare till the 90's. My old Hogan Sure-out is a 57..... My Yonex ADX Tour set had a 46 degree 10 iron, a 52 degree  pitching wedge, and a 58 degree sand wedge. I was considered well armed like that back in the day.. Today, I play 44, 50, 54 and 58 degree.

[getitdaily]

25 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

Yep but in his heyday a 56 was the highest loft he had.

And greens ran 7

[BIG STU]

7 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

And greens ran 7

Yep and Balata balls would spin like mad too

Edited July 1, 2022 by BIG STU

[getitdaily]

1 minute ago, BIG STU said:

Yep and Balata balls would spin like mad too

I bet he played wooden woods too.

[BIG STU]

8 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

I bet he played wooden woods too.

You got it

[ebitdaiquiri]

My short game toolbox has PW 45*, GW 53*, and Putter

[gunmetal]

Sei Young Kim is probably scratch. She's only got a 56°

 

I'm tinkering with 56° and then a 62° or 64° that I'll swap out with a 5 wood or driving iron depending on the course I'll play. 

[R5Two]

I think that particularly on fast green with large ungelation you are putting yourself at a disadvantage not having a 60° or equivelant. Totally possible to be scratch or plus with any equipment setup you can imagine, it just become harder as you have one less scoring club. That part of the game typically takes you from a 2-4 to scratch. My instructor has me worlingnshort game 80% of my available practice and it is paying off. That doesn't necessarily required a 60° wedge, but I'm not sure how I woukd stop a ball when I get shortsided without a 60°

[Esox]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

Yep and Balata balls would spin like mad too

Heck even surlyn covered wound balls spun like crazy. I preferred surlyn  because it was too hard to keep balata from yanking back off the green on a full short iron.  I still prefer more moderate spin rates Like a TP5X with the incredible spin todays micromilled wedges produce.