Golf-FAQ.com

how often should you change golf wedges

by Daron Kuvalis II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Studies have shown that a typical wedge will last 65-75 rounds before there's a dip in performance. For the average recreational golfer who plays regularly, that comes out to about every 18 to 24 months.Jun 12, 2020

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 often should you change your golf equipment?

There’s never really been any definitive guidelines on when you should change your equipment. Often new purchases are made in a bid to start hitting more fairways or to get a bit more consistency with iron play. But they are not based on any particular deterioration of the current equipment – some people just love spending money on golf equipment.

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 long should you wait before buying new wedges?

Let’s do a bit of maths. Your average golfer who plays once a week should probably start thinking about new wedges after roughly 18 months. Casual golfers who play once or twice a month should get decent performance for about three years.

image

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 often do pro golfers change wedges?

“I PLAY WITH FOUR VOKEY WEDGES AND I CHANGE MY 60 DEGREE EVERY FEW TOURNAMENTS,” SAYS TITLEIST STAFFER JORDAN SPIETH. “THE REST OF THE WEDGES I SWITCH MAYBE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.” While PGA Tour pros are afforded the luxury of changing wedges whenever they want to, you're likely limited by a budget.

How long do grooves on wedges 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.

How important are new wedges in golf?

Research shows that around a quarter of all shots are played using a wedge so clearly they are a vital part of every golfer's game. They can create birdies or save pars, but can also cause problems for golfers who struggle around the greens if they are not using the right type of wedge for the shot.

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.

Are Vokey wedges worth it?

Developed by the gifted hands of Bob Vokey and with input from Titleist tour staff, the variety of grinds and lofts allows golfers to dial in the SM8 wedges that will best benefit their game. And for those who enjoy a little personalized flair, or desire customization, Wedgeworks is worth the experience.

How do you tell if your wedges are worn out?

Fingernail test 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.

Can I Regroove my wedges?

Getting the wedge regrooved is an option, but it's an inexact process that's probably not worth the time. "A lot of things can happen when you regroove an old wedge," said Kyle Cronkright, the director of club fitting at the Jim McClean Golf School's Texas Golf Center (Ft. Worth) facility.

How do you know if your grooves are worn out?

Learn the fingernail test To do the test, simply run your fingernail down the face of your wedge to see if your nail gets caught in each groove. If your fingernail runs smoothly across any grooves, it's probably because they're worn and it's time for a switch.

Should I get a 56 or 58 degree wedge?

For the average golfer, having a 56-degree wedge in your bag will be much more beneficial than having a 60-degree wedge. Sand wedges (54-56 degrees) are the most versatile wedge you can have while lob wedges (58+ degrees) should only be used by better golfers.

What 3 wedges should I carry?

Know your pitching wedge loft. If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

How many wedges should a high handicapper carry?

Three wedgesThree wedges is standard, but you might want four or more.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

How long should I play wedges?

Let’s do a bit of maths. Your average golfer who plays once a week should probably start thinking about new wedges after roughly 18 months. Casual golfers who play once or twice a month should get decent performance for about three years.

How many rounds did the golf wedge have?

One had played 125 rounds, one 75 rounds and the other had fresh grooves. Using a wedge robot hitting full shots, each wedge was hit to a 100-yard long green that is perfectly flat. The wedge that had 125 yards of play launched at 35 degrees, spun at 6,500 rpm and rolled out about 24 feet.

Where did the Vokey Wedges test?

How did the Vokey Wedges team carry out the test? Using a wedge robot at their Manchester Lane testing facilities in Acushnet, Massachusetts, the Titleist Vokey team used three different SM6 wedges for an experiment.

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 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 ...

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 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.”.

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.”

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 ...

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9