Finesse shots versus full shots with wedges

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By Steve

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  • 4 Replies
  1. Steve

    Steve
    Carlsbad, CA

    Can anyone explain to me the different type of wedge designs that are needed to allow a wedge to be used for the finesse shots (chipping and pitching without side to side weight shift) versus the full shot with side to side weight shift etc? For chipping and pitching it's important to hit launch windows and control the release and bounce for chip and runs, soft landings, and lob shots but for the full shots the release and bounce is very different. Lots going on with wedges...

  2. Good question, so all grinds can be used in most conditions however certain grinds are designed to have the toe open or give more versatility. The D grind and M grinds are examples of this.

    The F grind is used for full shots primarily and to prevent excessive digging normally.

    IMHO
  3. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Chris92009 said:

    Good question, so all grinds can be used in most conditions however certain grinds are designed to have the toe open or give more versatility. The D grind and M grinds are examples of this.

    The F grind is used for full shots primarily and to prevent excessive digging normally.

    IMHO

    I found D grind bent 2* strong to be more versatile than M grind. I’ve favored K grind 2* strong as a SW since 2018 but decided to give D grind a whirl the past year.

    My winning combo for GW, SW, LW is 54-10S, 60—14K bent 2* strong and a PM Grind 64/10. This combo worked at the outset of COVID for a year and I used 58-14K (56*) for 2 additional years.

    I toyed with both a 58-04T and 60-04T. Didn’t care for 58-04T. Played 58-12D (bent to 56) and 60-04T as the “traditional” SW-LW combo for 6 months and 60-12D bent to 58 when using a carry bag. I’ve kept my 58–14K available.

    About a month ago I found a 60-04L in the used bin relatively cheap so I bent it to 58. It blew the 60-04T away. 2 weeks ago I put the 58—14K and it in the bag and they were like magic around the greens.

    I’d also had been doing upgrades to fairways and hybrids and was toying with a TSR2 7 wood and 18 hybrid plus a TS2 18 fairway. The TS2 and TSR2 fairways both hit very well but my last two rounds were rather successful with the 18 off the fairway. I took the 18 hybrid back and got a brand new SM9 60–14 and set it up for 58. My most recent round I played with it and it worked off a variety of lies. So over the weekend I returned the TSR2 7 wood plus took 58—14K and two 816H1 hybrids in for trade and found a new TSR1 23 fairway in the ladies’ bin (already had a Diamana 72 S set up for 41” length); $12 net cost.

    Here I am, back where I started in 2020 but with an almost zero bounce L grind as an enhancement to the K grind. Some things just come full circle. AND I can leave out the 23 hybrid and L grind on one course for an 11 club carry bag.
  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Steve said:

    Can anyone explain to me the different type of wedge designs that are needed to allow a wedge to be used for the finesse shots (chipping and pitching without side to side weight shift) versus the full shot with side to side weight shift etc? For chipping and pitching it's important to hit launch windows and control the release and bounce for chip and runs, soft landings, and lob shots but for the full shots the release and bounce is very different. Lots going on with wedges...

    My two cents is not to make wedge play complicated. Same basic swing motion. Choke down and vary backswing length for distance. Open stance gets the ball in the air.

    My PW is a 48-10F bent to 46.
    GW is 54-10S bent to 52.
    SW is 58*; 58-14K and 60-04L (bent to
    58*)
    LW is “Phil” 64/10.

    I use the PW & GW for both square stance full swing and pitch shots.

    I rarely use a square stance with 58 and 64.
  5. BECK0N

    BECK0N
    New Brighton, MN

    What’s the reason for having a wedge bent to another loft? Is the loft-grind combo just not available for the loft you want?

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