How do you know if your wedges are worn down?
You might not notice how worn down they are on a clean, dry street. But put water or debris on the road and look out. Such is the case with wedge performance on the course. Worn out grooves lead to more inconsistency on imperfect lies.
How important are wedge grooves on the golf course?
But put water or debris on the road and look out. Such is the case with wedge performance on the course. Worn out grooves lead to more inconsistency on imperfect lies. So if you have wet conditions or anything other than a perfect lie on the fairway, you are going to see considerable discrepancies in how much you can spin the ball.
Why do some golfers never practice with a wedge?
Woody said that Bubba Watson told him he never practices with the wedge he uses in competition to keep the grooves as fresh as possible. So it’s challenging to come up with an exact rule for every golfer because it depends on the material of the wedge, playing conditions, and practice frequency.
How many rounds of golf do wedges need to wear out?
Titleist has done tests with their Vokey wedges that suggest 75 rounds is when you will see a significant decline in performance. However, he believes there is no such thing as a set rule because there are so many variables. For starters, many wedges are not made from the same material.
How do you tell if your wedges are worn out?
It's a basic test, but Briand suggests doing what's called the “fingernail test” on your wedge to get a quick idea of where your grooves are at. Run your nail down the face of the wedge and notice if your nail gets caught up in each groove. If it does, you're doing just fine in the groove department.
When should I replace my golf wedges?
So if you are serious about your equipment, and want to maintain peak performance, it might make sense to consider swapping out your wedges every 12-36 months depending on how often you play, practice, and the durability of the material.
How do you know when a golf club is worn out?
If the crown of your driver is literred with dents, or the face of your irons/wedges have no grooves because of so much wear, then it's time for new equipment. McKee says that when irons and wedges lose their grooves, the ball will lose spin going into the green.
Should my wedges be rusty?
Do rusty wedges spin more? Rusty wedges do not offer an increased amount of spin compared to wedges with a plated, finished coating. Many golfers prefer the look and appearance of a rusted wedge because it minimizes the suns glare at address and allows a better feel for the grind of the club.
Do pros use Rusty wedges?
Rusty wedges appear in many a tour pro's bag. Sometimes, the rust is a result of a hard life spent splashing shots out of bunkers and pounding golf balls from the turf on ranges around the globe. But usually it is totally inentional.
How often do PGA pros change wedges?
If you want to maximize your game, you should consider swapping out or buying new wedges every 12-36 months, depending on how often you play and the durability of the equipment. When in doubt, take the time to get fitted and seek the services of the professional club fitters from Tour Quality Golf.
Are 30 year old golf clubs still good?
There is no evidence that golf clubs deteriorate over time. Well maintained clubs will last a lifetime. 10+ year old clubs should be checked for better options but clubs less than 5 years old do not need replacing except for wear and tear issues to which wedges and forged irons are most vulnerable.
Do golf clubs lose their pop?
A golf driver can go dead and lose its pop when there is a crack, or defect, in the club face. This can be caused by faulty manufacturing or weakness in the driver head, and affects distance and performance.
Do sand wedges wear out?
“On average, a guy like Jordan Spieth will replace his pitching wedge once per year, he'll replace his gap wedge twice per year, he'll replace the sand wedge three times per year, and he'll replace the lob wedge four or five times per year,” Stone said. “That's an indication that not all wedges wear at the same rate.
Why do Vokey wedges rust?
The Jet Black will rust as the dark finish wears, while the Raw wedges will rust more quickly with exposure to air and moisture.
How long does it take for TaylorMade wedges to rust?
TGW: So how long does it take rust to develop on a wedge like this? CC: Surface rust can happen overnight, after just one round. If the ground is a little wet or has just any kind of moisture, you can notice surface rust right away.
How do I stop my wedges from rusting?
0:253:47The GolfWRX Shop: Refurbishing Rusty Wedges - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo here's what you use double strength cleaning vinegar. This stuff is ten percent acetic acid. AndMoreSo here's what you use double strength cleaning vinegar. This stuff is ten percent acetic acid. And what that's going to do is it's going to help eat away at the rust.
How long do wedge grooves last?
The general rule of thumb is that the grooves of a golf wedge can last 2-3 years of moderate playing. As time goes on, the wedge grooves will start to fade which will cause changes in distance control and in the ability to spin the golf ball. Many golfers, however, don't keep good care of their wedges.
Do older wedges spin less?
The results were practically identical on both the short and the long shot. On average, the backspin hardly differs at all between the two wedges. So little, in fact, that even we were surprised. The backspin of the old wedge tended to be slightly lower, but not noticeably so.
How often should you sharpen your grooves?
A decent rule of thumb though would be to re-groove every 15 - 20 rounds of golf. You'll need to experiment to determine what frequency is best for you. How many passes with the groove sharpener across each groove should I make? Again, a decent rule of thumb is that you should make 5 - 10 passes on each groove.
Can you refurbish golf wedges?
Refurbishment involves removing scratches, dents and dings from the wedge head, sole, paint fill, and resharpening the grooves, either original or deep per the player's wishes. Not every wedge can be restored, as sometimes the damage is just too much to repair.
How do wedges create spin?
At impact, the grooves are responsible for biting into the cover of the golf ball. The downward strike on the ball, coupled with the sharp grooves, traps the ball against the ground and creates backspin . Over time, the lower grooves will start to wear out and eventually will not catch the ball as sharply.
How wide should a golf club be?
The rules of golf state that grooves must be no more than 0.035 inches wide, 0.020 inches deep and 0.075 inches from any adjacent grooves. If you play competitively, using a groove sharpener could make your clubs non-conforming and illegal for competition.
What is the SM8 wedge?
What Titleist says: “SM8 features a reimagined progressive center of gravity, which produces the most accurate and forgiving Vokey wedge yet. Using tungsten weights and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey R&D team has moved the CG outside of the wedge head and placed it in front of the face, resulting in increased MOI and exceptional feel.”
Why does the ball lose spin?
When the ball rolls up the face, spin is lost because friction is lost. Creating spin is not done by the grooves alone, however. Spin is a function of the golf club as a whole. Research is finding more and more that spin also has a lot to do with the roughness of the face of the wedge. Pick up a new Cleveland wedge and look closely at ...
Do wedges wear down grooves?
Although this may seem counter-intuitive, as using your wedges will only wear down the grooves, it is a great opportunity to get a good feel for how much life is left in them. When you are practicing, take note of your ball flight.
How many shots did the golf wedge hit?
After initial testing, each wedge was used for a different type of shot. One wedge hit 1,000 pitches, another hit 1,000 full shots, and the third hit 1,000 bunker shots. Each wedge was re-tested after 500 shots and 1,000 shots. All testing was done with the help of Club Champion.
What happens when a golf club groove is worn down?
When the grooves are worn down, the water stays between the club face and ball and reduces friction. What the averages fail to show is even more important: the worn-groove shots were very inconsistent. Some shots would spin like they did in the pre-test; others carried no spin at all.
How to tell if a groove needs to be replaced?
According to Stone, some telltale signs of grooves that need to be replaced are increased launch angle and decreased spin. If the ball is coming off your face and ballooning or floating, rather than penetrating and spinning when it hits the surface, it may be time to change.
What does Taylormade say about the driver?
What TaylorMade says: “First we reshaped the driver, then we reconstructed it. Completely rebuilding the driver from the ground up to give you both forgiveness and distance. Go ahead, the tee box is yours. Swing away.”
Why does Bubba Watson tell Woody to practice with the wedge?
So it’s challenging to come up with an exact rule for every golfer because it depends on the material of the wedge, playing conditions, and practice frequency.
How many rounds are in a titleist wedge?
Titleist has done tests with their Vokey wedges that suggest 75 rounds is when you will see a significant decline in performance. However, he believes there is no such thing as a set rule because there are so many variables. For starters, many wedges are not made from the same material.
Who owns Pete's Golf Shop?
Woody is the co-owner of Pete’s Golf Shop in Mineola, NY. They were once again recognized as one of the top custom fitters in the industry and golfers from all over the world trust them with their games (including yours truly). The first question I asked Woody was how long a golfer could expect a wedge to last.
Can you spin a golf ball in a clean lie?
So if you have wet conditions or anything other than a perfect lie on the fairway, you are going to see considerable discrepancies in how much you can spin the ball. If you have a clean lie on the fairway, you likely can put a similar amount of spin on the ball because nothing is getting in between the grooves and the ball.
Do wedges wear down faster?
Unlike the other clubs in your bag, your wedges will typically wear down much faster , and there will be significant changes in performance on the course. While there are some generalized recommendations on how often you should upgrade your wedges, I’ll share some information that can help you make a smarter decision.
How many rounds does a golfer need to replace his wedges?
The average Tour player replaces his wedges at least a handful of times per season. It probably comes out to 35-50 rounds, with many requesting fresh sets in advance of major championships. Of course, each wedge in a Tour player’s bag is logging more than just competitive rounds.
How long does a wedge last?
For the average recreational golfer who plays regularly, that comes out to about every 18 to 24 months.
What to do if your nail slides over the groove?
If your nail slides over the groove and onto the next, it’s time to start searching for a new wedge. Most of the time, severe groove wear is easy to spot without running your nail along the grooves, but it’s always worth doing a quick check to make sure everything is kosher. 5. One shot. If there’s one wedge shot where you should start ...
What is raw wedge?
Raw (or unplated) wedges are a popular option in the professional ranks. They rust over time, are generally resistant to glare, and tend to produce a softer feel at impact. Nearly every manufacturer offers a raw option these days, so getting your hands on a set isn’t a problem.
Do wedge shots produce positive results?
Spending extra time on the short game practice area can make it a reality, but if you find that even well-struck wedge shots aren’t producing positive results , it might be time to take a closer look at your scoring clubs. Every wedge has a lifespan and depending on how often you practice and play, you’ll eventually hit a point where a new wedge ...
