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why are golf wedges blades

by Prof. Vicky Koss Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Many low handicap golfers have muscle back or cavity back irons in the long and medium irons, but prefer their wedges to be blades. Blade wedges are more consistent off the face offering the required spin and distance control. Do Pro Golfers Use Blades?

If controlling spin is a tool in your short game arsenal, blade wedges may be a better option. Lower Center of Gravity: Typically, a lower center of gravity is a good thing, because it helps get the golf ball in the air. However, many golfers like to “flight their wedges” in order to control spin and trajectory.

Full Answer

What are wedges in golf?

Wedges are the clubs which are built to play the attacking game. They could be a very handful in playing pitch, chip, and bunker shots. You can even hit a shot up to a distance of 125m using wedges. Wedges come with the highest loft and the shortest shaft. They also have the heaviest clubhead.

Why play blades in golf?

With those two facts established, let’s run down a list of reasons to play blades Some players will find more distance with a lower launching iron. Those that play in the wind may find a lower launch to be more accurate and predictable. Some just prefer to see the ball in a lower window.

Why do I pull my wedges so much?

Pull with wedges can be due to a few different factors, but the first most common problem is what I call “happy hands” through impact. Happy hands refers to a slowing down of the body’s rotation through impact, causing a flipping or rolling of the hands. That thrusts the face angle left of the club path.

Why do wedges back up on the Green?

Because wedge shots have such a high trajectory, they tend to roll very little once they hit the green. More accomplished players can produce a great deal of backspin with a wedge, causing the ball to back up (or "bite") once it hits the green. Any wedge can also be used for chipping around the green.

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Why do pro golfers use blades?

Part of the allure of blades is their sleek appearance, and blades give top golfers the ability to shape shots. Blades make it easier to work the ball to the left or the right, whereas cavity-backs tend to reduce sidespin and make it harder to deliberately hit draws and fades.

Are golf wedges blades?

There are traditional blade-type wedges, cavity back wedges, wedges that match irons, and even super specialized wedges like chippers. In this edition of Golf Myths Unplugged, we're pitting traditional wedges against cavity backs and set-matched wedges to see which one performs the best.

Do most PGA players use blades?

Do pro golfers use blades? Around 26 percent of PGA Tour players use complete sets of blades. Roughly 44 percent game cavity back irons, while the remaining 30 percent use a mix of muscle-back and cavity-back clubs.

Are blades harder to hit golf clubs?

Are Blades Easier To Hit? The short answer is absolutely not. The head of each club is smaller which means your margin of error on off center strikes is significantly reduced. In fact Callaway reckons the difference is size is as much as a 25% reduction in sweet spot between SGI irons and blades.

Are blade wedges hard to hit?

While blade irons are generally considered difficult to hit, blade wedges, because of their shorter lengths and higher lofts, are still used by most golfers.

Why do I hit blades better than cavity backs?

Hitting a blade you'll know right away when you hit it solid or not very well. A blade iron will also be easier to shape the ball around. You'll be able to draw or fade the ball much easier compared to a cavity back. You'll also be able to control the trajectory better and that's what most professionals would want.

Why dont pro golfers use cavity back irons?

The top iron (cavity back) has a thicker base and also has some of the weight removed in certain spots. The bottom iron (blade) almost looks like a single piece of metal. Blades are definitely harder to hit consistently compared to cavity backs, and that's the main reason they aren't as popular.

Do blades go further than cavity backs?

Blades Vs Cavity Backs – Distance As an average golfer, you would likely achieve greater distance with cavity backs. For starters, the average golfer struggles to consistently strike the ball in the sweet spot and generate sufficient ball speed for longer carry and total distance.

When should a golfer switch to blades?

Conclusion: If you're a consistent ball striker who can hit the ball in the center or center heel, blades will give you great performance with exceptional feel. If your miss, however, is more spread out with toe and heel misses, then stick with cavity-backs as they give you better overall distance loss across the face.

Should a beginner play with blades?

A beginner should not use blades, they are thinner and have a lower sense of gravity than cavity back irons having far less margin for error due to a smaller clubhead sweet spot.

Can average golfers use blades?

This might not be a problem for a scratch golfer but the average player needs all the height and distance they can get. Blades are lower launching and that's going to hurt a lot of people's distance. If you don't strike the club pure then you're distance will suffer big time.

Can a beginner golfer use blades?

8:5810:41CAN A BEGINNER GOLFER HIT BLADES??? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo can a beginner golfer use blades. Yes yeah should they're supposed and it's a bit of a kind ofMoreSo can a beginner golfer use blades. Yes yeah should they're supposed and it's a bit of a kind of open-ended.

What is a Golf wedge used for?

Golf wedge used to hit chip, pitch, and bunker shots.

Is an approach wedge is the same as the gap wedge?

Yes, approach wedge and gap wedge are the same wedges.

Should my wedges be the same length?

No, each wedge has a different length according to your handicap.

What is a wedge in golf?

Wedges are the club that can provide you with the maximum flight and backspin keeping the ball within the green. A golf club set consist of the following wedges: Pitching wedge: The most common wedge. Gap wedge: The bridging wedge. Sand Wedge: The rescuer wedge.

How long should a golf wedge be?

Like the other Golf Clubs wedges also differ from each other based on the shaft length. Ideally, the length of a pitching wedge should be 0.25m shorter than the 9-Iron; the gap wedge should be a half-inch shorter than the pitching wedge; the sand wedge should be shorter by 0.75 inches than the gap wedge and the lob wedge should be 1-inch shorter than the sand wedge.

What is the angle between the clubhead and the shaft called?

The angle which the clubhead makes with the vertical plane of the shaft is known as the loft of a golf club. In other words, the angle between the clubhead and the shaft is called the loft. The broader loft allows you to gain more height in your shots but at the same time, this will give you the minimum distance.

What is a gap wedge?

Gap Wedge. A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The gap wedge’s loft ranges from 50 to 53 degrees and the bounce is between 5 to 10 degrees. The major use of a gap wedge is to hit mid-chip shots. You can reach a distance of up to 65m.

What is the bounce of a pitching wedge?

The Pitching wedge has a bounce between 2 to 5 degrees. The Gap wedge has a bounce between 5 to 10 degrees. The Sand wedge has a bounce of between 10 to 14 degrees. The Lob wedge has a bounce between 0 to 10 degrees.

How much bounce does a golf club wedge have?

Apart from this the bounce also helps you to get a higher flight of the ball. The bounce of golf club wedge varies between 2 to 14 degrees. The standard bounce of different wedges are as follows:

How far can you hit a shot with a wedge?

You can even hit a shot up to a distance of 125m using wedges. Wedges come with the highest loft and the shortest shaft. They also have the heaviest clubhead. A pro golfer always uses the appropriate wedge matching the purpose of his shot that allows him to roll up on the scoreboard.

What does a blade do in golf?

A blade is going to take those mishits and turn them into shots that are shorter and further offline than they would be with a cavity back iron.

Why do golfers launch their irons higher?

Due to a combination of mishits (particularly thin shots), a lack of club head speed, and other swing-related issues , most golfers will get more distance from launching their irons higher, not lower. In addition to distance, most golfers would benefit from higher launch because it will help their balls stop on the green.

What is cavity back iron?

The purpose of cavity back irons is to make off-center shots perform more like shots hit on the center of the face. That means shots toward the heel or toe will have more ball speed with a cavity back (CB) than a blade. The club head will also twist less with a CB, so the shot will be straighter.

Why is higher spin important?

Higher spin is what some players need to maximize distance and improve the stopping power of their shots. More spin also allows you to curve your shots more and more easily.

What is the benefit of a ball striker's lower launch and higher spin?

For these players, the lower launch and higher spin give them a measurable benefit (distance, trajectory control, shot shaping), and the absence of forgiveness doesn’t matter because they always hit the center of the club face.

What is the difference between golf and tennis?

Golf is different: you don’t have to be in competition with yourself or anyone else. You can play to enjoy the outdoors and your company. You can play to enjoy the one shot that you hit perfectly and forget the rest.

Is high spin good for golf?

While high spin is great for stopping your ball where it lands, it’s a negative for most golfers when it comes to accuracy. If you hit slices or hooks, higher spin will make those unwanted curves even bigger.

Pro Golfers and the Blades

Golf equipment has evolved considerably over the last decade. Golfers are carrying lofted long irons, which were designed for extra carry distance, instead of traditional long irons like the 3 wood and 5 wood.

Pros Are Fetish People!

It’s no secret that club manufacturers put out new products to keep their names in swingers’ bags. Design companies have taken notice of what professional players are carrying and have created new designs intended to fill a need or improve on what is being currently being played.

Beginner Golfers and the Blades

I often get the question in my mind when teaching golf in my lesson is “should I use a blade or should I use a cavity back?”. This is always asked by beginning players, which is good because it tells me that they are willing to learn and think about the game.

High Handicappers and the Blades

Blades are characterized by their smallish, or short, head and thin topline. The smaller the head the better for high handicappers which is the best answer of What handicap should play blades as this allows them to take a faster swing with less effort than would be possible if they were using larger-headed clubs.

Putters –What are blades in golf?

Golf’s newest club is the “blade.” With a putter head that has no bulge and is shaped closest to the blade of a shovel, it can be aimed with eyes closed. This allows most golfers the ability to aim the leading edge of the putter face toward their intended target line.

What is a wedge in golf?

Golf Wedges Explained. Great wedge play is a major reason Tiger Woods has been so successful. Wedges are the short irons with the most loft. They aren't designed for distance shots; you use them to hit the ball extremely high and land it softly on the green. More than any other club in your bag, wedges are position clubs.

What is a gap wedge?

Gap wedges are especially popular with big hitters who need an extra club to cut the distance difference between their pitching and sand wedges. And lob wedges are popular for shots where the ball must be thrown extremely high and stopped very fast, especially on hard greens or after a green has been short-sided.

What is the loft of a pitching wedge?

(Of course, players can also have the lofts adjusted, just as with their standard clubs.) Pitching wedges are typically lofted between 45 and 49 degrees, and sand wedges between 54 and 58 degrees. Gap wedges, logically enough, fit in the gap between them – around 51 to 53 degrees. And while lob wedges can be more than 60 degrees, the typical lob wedge is 60 degrees while the typical X-wedge is 64 degrees.

What is a bounce on a golf club?

When bought separately, any of the wedges is available with a choice of bounce. Bounce is the angle between the club's sole and the ground during normal setup.

How many types of wedges are there?

There are four recognized types of wedges. Two of these, the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, have long histories and are carried by virtually every player, pro or amateur.

What is the difference between a low bounce golf club and a high bounce golf club?

Low-bounce clubs are better for tight lies from the fairway and hardpan; high-bounce clubs work best from soft lies , thick rough and sand. In addition, sand wedges typically have much heavier soles than the other wedges, to better cut through the sand.

Blade vs cavity back style wedges – GolfWRXers discuss

In our forums, our members have been discussing wedge style preferences. WRXer ‘Jjfcpa’ is curious to see what style is used by the majority of members and why, and WRXers have been sharing their thoughts on both types.

Peter Malnati WITB 2022 (February)

Peter Malnati’s what’s in the bag accurate as of the Genesis Invitational. More photos from the event here .

Aaron Beverly WITB 2022 (February)

Aaron Beverly’s what’s in the bag accurate as of the Genesis Invitational. More photos from the event here .

What is wedge grind?

Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: A wedge grind refers to the shaping of the bottom part of the wedge. It’s the part of the club that actually impacts the ground, so the particular shape of the grind has a huge impact on how your club interacts with the turf. The most common would be a “C grind” which has the toe and heel sections of the sole shaved off a bit to make the sole more rounded. This allows the wedge to play a bit more versatile from different lies and face orientations (open face, shut face, etc.). The only thing you really need to know, though, is that you probably need more bounce on your wedge. More bounce makes the wedge more forgiving and will keep you from hitting those embarrassing chunks and skulls around the greens. Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you.

Can you pick out a wedge from a retail store?

Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you. 2. It helps off different kinds of turf.

Why do I get wedge pulls?

A side note about equipment: Wedge pulls can also be caused by wedges that are not fit correctly. If a wedge is too upright, golfers can hit pulls when the heel of the club impacts the ground and flips the blade left… the heel dragger. Standard off-the-rack lie angles for wedges are 64 degrees, but many PGA Tour players use wedges ...

What is the third worst pull in golf?

The third and worst type of pull is the over-the-top, happy-handed yank shown in Figure 4. This is caused when your right shoulder starts the downswing and your pivot stalls through impact, allowing the hands to take over. In fact, this type of shot is one that kills beginning and intermediate golfers when the ball is above their feet.

How to hit good chips and pitches?

To hit good chips and pitches, you need to “get down”. Get closer to your work for better precision. Too many golfers I see stand up too tall and grip the club to the end. And having your weight favored to the lead foot almost guarantees a proper strike.

Chuck905

I was just thinking why better player prefer blade wedges vs cavity backs?

sdandrea

I prefer blade style wedges because I have more finesse/control with them around the greens. At full swing, I'm not a low handicap ball striker so I use GI irons, but on the little stuff, I like the scalpels vs the shovels. I could probably use blade irons from the 8i down thru my wedges.

lenman73

I prefer blade wedges. For years I couldn't hit the ball out of my own shadow. This year luckily I got some distance back but for years I relied on the short game. And I found that after having both kind of wedges, I could hit the shots I wanted to easier with blade style wedges.

1Mordrid1

I prefer blade style wedges but I am currently using the G700 UW and PW and getting along well with them. But I do use my PM Grind 56 and 60 from 100 and in.

BiggErn

When it comes to wedges I think it depends on how often you hit full shots with them. But really with wedges it’s probably not a huge factor in any regard especially with partial shots.

cliffhanger

i like blade wedges however i am contemplating putting a 58 or 60 deg wedge in the bag. Considering the type of shots i would hit with it i am thinking a cavity back would be a better option as the tendency is to miss high on the face from the rough especially when the face is opened up..

Shipwreck

I’m a 5hc and have played bladed wedges for as long as i can remember. I dabbled with some RTX 2.0 CB wedges and didn’t see any sort of benefit from them. When it comes to the short irons and wedges, I personally don’t think CBs help in the same way as they do in the mid-long irons. The loft is doing more than enough.

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The Immortal Questions

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“Is there a higher power?” “What’s our purpose in life?” “Is it time for me to ditch these game improvement irons for some blades?” For a golfer, those are the big three, though perhaps not in that order. In this lesson, I hope to help you answer at least one.
See more on pluggedingolf.com

The Facts

  • The question of who should play blades is fraught with opinion, so let’s start with some the objective facts. Fact #1: Blades are less forgiving than cavity back irons. Before we go further, let’s define what that means. The purpose of cavity back irons is to make off-center shots perform more like shots hit on the center of the face. That means shots toward the heel or toe will have …
See more on pluggedingolf.com

The Pros

  • With those two facts established, let’s run down a list of reasons to play blades Low Launch Some players will find more distance with a lower launching iron. Those that play in the wind may find a lower launch to be more accurate and predictable. Some just prefer to see the ball in a lower window. Higher Spin Higher spin is what some players need ...
See more on pluggedingolf.com

The Cons

  • No Forgiveness The average golfer misses the center of the club face most of the time. A blade is going to take those mishits and turn them into shots that are shorter and further offline than they would be with a cavity back iron. Low Launch Due to a combination of mishits (particularly thin shots), a lack of club head speed, and other swing-related issues, most golfers will get more dist…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

So, Who Should Play Blades?

  • We’re back to the original question: who should play blades? My answer is that you should if one of these two statements is true: “I was fit into blades.” There are some players – primarily high end ball strikers with lots of club head speed and shallow angles of attack – who fit into blades. For these players, the lower launch and higher spin give them a measurable benefit (distance, tr…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

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