How often should you replace your 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. When in doubt, try to seek the services of an experienced clubfitter to get the straight story.
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.
Do wedges last longer on sand or grass?
For starters, many wedges are not made from the same material. A cast wedge will last much longer than a forged one. Additionally, the kinds of conditions a golfer plays will affect a wedge’s lifespan. Sand will wear out the face more than pitch shots off the grass.
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 does a wedge lose spin?
Testing shows that wedges experience significant loss of spin after 75 rounds. Learn how to identify when you should replace your golf wedges with Titleist.
What causes groove edge wear?
Golfers encounter a variety of conditions with their wedges that lead to the groove edge wearing down over time. - FREQUENT PLAY: Regular practice and play creates normal wear and tear to the wedge and results in a gradual wearing down of the groove.
Does Titleist have a wedge?
However, because all wedge grooves wear out eventually, our Titleist Certified Fitters are also here to provide professional wedge evaluations, helping you maximize spin and stay on top of your game. Find a Titleist Certified Fi tterto see if a wedge replacement can help add spin to your short game.
What shafts are used for Vokey wedges?
For the test, Titleist established exactly what a worn wedge looks like using face-mapping. Vokey SM6 (56-14 F Grind) wedges were used with S200 shafts, and the clubs were hit hundreds of times in a bunker: 500 swings to replicate 75 rounds, 1000 to replicate 125 rounds. Testing was performed with a robot that’s designed to hit wedges off the turf. Shots were hit onto a completely flat green.
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.
How many rounds does groove wear last?
As you can see from the video, Titleist found that groove wear begins to affect performance after about 75 rounds. It continues to worsen around 125 rounds.
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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways. It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
How long do fairway woods last?
Fairway woods can go five years or even a decade in your bag before you need to change them out, while putters usually change when 3 footers stop going in. But then there’s wedges, which are more tricky.
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Can you change wedges on the PGA Tour?
While PGA Tour pros are afforded the luxury of changing wedges whenever they want to , you’re likely limited by a budget.
How to tell if you need new wedges?
Woody told me that looking at the groove on the face is usually one of the best ways to diagnose whether or not you need new wedges. If they look worn out, they probably are.
How long do Vokey wedges last?
The first question I asked Woody was how long a golfer could expect a wedge to last. 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. A cast wedge will last much longer than a forged one.
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.
What happens if you wear out your grooves?
Long story short, the more worn out your grooves are, the less control you will have over the ball around the greens. You’ll be making it harder to score with your wedges.
How does sand affect wedges?
Additionally, the kinds of conditions a golfer plays will affect a wedge’s lifespan. Sand will wear out the face more than pitch shots off the grass. If you happen to play a course with more bunkers, they will likely wear down quicker.
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.
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 often do golfers replace 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. There are practice rounds at home and countless hours spent working around the green.
How long does a wedge last?
For the average recreational golfer who plays regularly, that comes out to about every 18 to 24 months.
How to tell if your wedge is in groove?
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.
What is the best shot to get if the ball starts squirting off the green?
If there’s one wedge shot where you should start to get concerned if the ball starts squirting off the green, Briand said it’s the 40-50 yarder from wet rough. Shots from around the green will give you a more accurate picture of where your grooves are at than any full swing from the fairway with a wedge.
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 does it mean to analyze the grooves on a wedge?
Analyzing the grooves can give you an idea of the life left in your wedge.
Do wedges rust?
Check your finish. 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. However, if you decide to go away from ...
How many degrees should a wedge be?
Most fitters agree that a gap of 4-6 degrees per wedge is best, says John Ioris of The Complete Golfer in New York, a 100 Best Clubfitter: “The equal spacing between the wedges will make it easier for most golfers to control their distances and avoid fewer in between distances.”.
What lofts do you play wedges in?
Your ability level is an important consideration. Just because there are dozens of options in blade-style wedges in lofts that range from the mid-40s to the low-60s doesn’t mean you absolutely must play specialty wedges whenever possible. The same kind of sole and the cavity-back construction in your irons might be exactly what you need for those lower-lofted wedges—because like your irons, they’re going to be used mostly for full swings.
Is a gap wedge better than a 3-hybrid?
Additionally, for average golfers more wedges might be more useful than more long clubs. A gap wedge might be more useful than 3-hybrid for a lot of golfers, for example. The pitching wedge should be the starting point for deciding how many wedges you should have and how they should be spaced apart, says Craig Zimmerman at perennial 100 Best ...
Do blade wedges have grooves?
While it is often the case that specialty blade wedges can have more precisely milled grooves and surface roughness designed to increase spin, the “full swing” rule is good guidance, says Nick Sherburne, founder of Club Champion, a 100 Best Clubfitter: “If it’s more of a full shot wedge, stick to more game improvement, and if it’s more of a half-shot or touch wedge, you don’t need game improvement. That being said every year the companies are creating game improvement wedges that have soles and spin like regular wedges, just more forgiving.”
Can you put a wedge on a golf course?
“The best way to decide on which is best is to take a few different types out to the range and hit some shots that you typically have on the course,” he said, noting that the wedge with the right bounce should produce the most consistent, solid contact in those situations .
Why do you need treads on a golf wedge?
To return to Cleveland’s tire analogy: when there’s water or dirt on the road, you need treads to maintain a hold on the road. The wedge’s grooves channel the water away so that the club face can grip the ball. When the grooves are worn down, the water stays between the club face and ball and reduces friction.
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.
How much spin does a wedge lose?
One spray of water caused a brand new wedge to lose 30% of its spin on a full swing!
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.
Can you use one wedge as a primary sand club?
If you use one wedge as your primary sand club, it should definitely get priority for replacement.
Do we play golf in perfect conditions?
While this is an interesting finding, we don’t play golf in perfect conditions. On to Myth #2.
Do golfers swap wedges?
If you follow the equipment on the PGA Tour, you regularly hear about players swapping out their wedges to have fresh grooves . If you look at the golf bags of your fellow amateurs, you’ll regularly see wedges that measure their age in decades.