Wedge gapping

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By Michael B

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  1. Michael B

    Michael B

    Thought's on wedge gapping guy's. I currently game sm6 48,52,56 and love them. Cant get away from the fact i love the look of the sm8's though. this wedge set up was for a slightly stronger lofted AP1 set i gamed a few years ago. Firstly i will frob get fit if i end up buying and i dont mind having a 56 as my most lofty. Im comfortable opening it up when needed. My current T-MB iron loft are 9 iron 41, pw 45 degree. Question is 3 degree gap between pw and 48 or go 50 with a 5 degree gap. 50,54,58 or 48,52,56. What would you guys do ?

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  2. Gsoup

    Gsoup
    Nashville

    T200's have a 43* pitching wedge. I went with the 48*, 52* and 56*. I experimented with the 46*, 50 and 56*. The 48*, 52* and 56* seemed to work better for my swing and home course.
  3. Pat R

    Pat R
    Elizabethtown, KY

    I play 718 AP3’s and T300’s and use the 48-degree set wedge with SM6 52 and 56 degree wedges. Have played with 54 and 60 degree wedges, but gaps were a bit too large.
  4. Anthony C

    Anthony C
    Tinton Falls NJ

    Right from Vokey: 4 to 5 degree gapping in the wedges. I keep it simple and go 4 degrees; 48, 52, 56, 60.
  5. Ryan L

    Ryan L
    UK

    I don’t find a 5 degree gap to be too big. I’d have more of a problem with a 3 degree being too small tbh but that just me - I like between 4 and 6 gap. If you want the 50, 54, 58 to get you to a 58 loft then I’d go with that but if you are happy with maxing out at 56 I wouldn’t change and keep it keep it 48, 52, 56.
  6. Former Member

    Former Member

    I'm probably the wrong person to answer this as I typically have bigger gaps between my wedges than most. A lot of that is I'm more of a feel player and extremely rarely hit any iron or wedge full-out. Up until this spring I have been playing 716 AP1 irons and I got the 47* W that comes with the set. For whatever reason I've never really liked my gap wedge to be the style of a typical SW or LW, but instead more like my iron set. Since my iron set stops at 47*, I've been playing a 54 and and a 60 to round out my wedges (first SM4 and now SM 6) and have never had a problem with the 6-7* gap. But again, that's just me and the fact I like to hit less that 100% shots. Now I have the same issue as the OP since I got a set of 718 T-MBs with the 45* PW. I should probably get a 50* to between the 45 and 54, but I love that AP1 W so much it's staying in the bag for now. If I had to pick from the options given, I'd go 50, 54, 58.
  7. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    John W. said:

    I'm probably the wrong person to answer this as I typically have bigger gaps between my wedges than most. A lot of that is I'm more of a feel player and extremely rarely hit any iron or wedge full-out. Up until this spring I have been playing 716 AP1 irons and I got the 47* W that comes with the set. For whatever reason I've never really liked my gap wedge to be the style of a typical SW or LW, but instead more like my iron set. Since my iron set stops at 47*, I've been playing a 54 and and a 60 to round out my wedges (first SM4 and now SM 6) and have never had a problem with the 6-7* gap. But again, that's just me and the fact I like to hit less that 100% shots. Now I have the same issue as the OP since I got a set of 718 T-MBs with the 45* PW. I should probably get a 50* to between the 45 and 54, but I love that AP1 W so much it's staying in the bag for now. If I had to pick from the options given, I'd go 50, 54, 58.

    7* isn’t that hard to manage. For me, less is better.
  8. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    Presently playing T200s with 43* PW, after coming from AP2s with 46* PW. For now, I am playing SM8 48.10F, 54.12D and either a 58.12D (or 60.08M LW, depending on my mood and the conditions of the day). When I played the AP2s I bagged 50/54/58 Vokeys. Since moving to a 6* gap between my GW and SW, I have had no issues. I've easily adapted with the 48* to take a little something off whenever I can't reach with the 54. No big deal.

    In my opinion, when you think about gapping with wedges, there is an optimal distance that you hit each with your full swing, then there are the "other distances" you you might need to accomplish with that same wedge. It doesn't matter whether they are gapped in 4* , 5* or 6* increments. There is always going to be a shot necessary that isn't the perfect comfortable full-swing, ideal distance. So, you have to adapt, one way or the other. That's just golf.

    The only thing I would suggest is that you don't gap your wedges too closely. It's tough enough getting in at only 14 clubs. Better to have your full swing LW-PW cover a range of 60 yards, than say only 45 or 50 because the lofts are too close.
  9. Matt B

    Matt B

    I recently purchased the T100 irons, 46* pw & 50* gw. I took my sm7 54* wedge and added 1* of loft, my wedge set is in 5* increments 50*gap - 55*S grind - 60*M grind. I find the gapping easy to control distances on in between yardages, also the different grinds fill any need I have around the green. I seem to use the 55* the most, but I find myself needing the 60* at least 2 times a round.
  10. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    SM7 54.10S and a 58.08M
  11. Dave M

    Dave M

    3* may not be too bad since the tmb will be a little hotter face than vokey wedges. Check your ball speed gapping 5mph between clubs is about where you want it.
  12. Timothy J

    Timothy J
    Raleigh, NC

    I play 718 AP3's and use the 48* set wedge. I normally carry 54* and 60* SM7's. I also have 52* and 56* SM7's that I use depending on the course. As others have said there will always be that one shot every round where you just don't have the perfect club in the bag.
  13. BHutto

    BHutto

    My iron set goes up to a 46-degree PW which for me is a 108-110 yard full swing club. So I "gap" my Vokeys to try and get three wedges that let me cover from 100 yards down with three wedges and a couple of basic swings (full with square face, almost full with slightly open face, 3/4 swing with slightly open face).

    This is probably more of a technique thing than a club thing but here goes...

    For years I had DCI 990 irons (4-9) and played 50, 54 (bent to 55) and 60 (bent to 61) Vokey wedges. With a full swing and square clubface my stock numbers were 100, 84 and 72 yards but I usually went with a slightly open face less than full swing for 90, 75 and 60 yards.

    Then I spent nearly a decade playing non-Titleist irons and non-Vokey wedges before returning to my old favorites recently with an 718AP2/SM7 setup.

    I know I don't hit my irons loft-for-loft any longer now at 60 years old than I did in my 40's but for some reason that little slightly open-face shot (50 degree) that used to go 90 yards is nearly 100 and same swing with a 54-degree (bent to 55) that used to be 75 yards is at least 80.

    I wonder if there's anything about the SM7's that makes them play a bit longer than the old Spin Milled or SM4's did for me. By eyeball I think my current Vokeys have a little more bounce on each club than I remember from 10-15 years ago. Does a little extra bounce make full swings carry a few yards farther?

    Normally I wouldn't complain about extra distance ;-) but I'm having to open the face up a good bit to hit the distances I'm used to with those clubs.

    Maybe the modern Pro V1x flies a few yards farther than whatever balls I was playing circa 2006.
  14. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    The SM7s were designed with a progressive center of gravity based on loft and bounce to optimize distance and consistency. Basically, the CG is positioned slightly higher on the higher lofted clubs. Typically, you'll hit a 60* a groove or two up on the face simply due to the loft angle. Consequently, the SM7s (and now even more so in the SM8s) have their CG on a 60* designed a bit higher than on a 54*, which is higher than a 48*. I'm not so sure that was always the case back with earlier versions of Vokeys. I know that when I switched from SM6s to SM7s, I seemed to average a touch more distance out of my LW, consistently. I didn't notice much difference with my 50* SM7 GW vs. my 50* SM6.

    The progressive design was purportedly enhanced further in the SM8s, though, I haven't noticed much difference in distance with my new SM8s. However, I only had them for a few rounds before our courses shut down, so my experience with them is somewhat limited. I got them as soon as they came out, but it was still cold here. I was out there daily playing, but conditions were not ideal for judging distances. I did love the feel of them though.

    One thing I can say, I have been playing Vokeys exclusively since the Spin Milled version initially appeared on the scene back around 2008. IMO, the first version was the best for spin around the greens, up until the SM6s came out. The SM7s and SM8s are as good or better, even though they do not have the square (now non-conforming) grooves of the originals. As far as distance goes, I used to fly my original 2008/9, Spin Milled Vokey 60* LW about 67 yards. Now, 12 years later (and into my 60s), I play a 58* LW, but average about 78-80 yards with it. I realize it's a 2* stronger loft, but should 2* equal 12-13 yards? Not in my mind. I think I get a bit more out of my higher lofted wedges than I did 10 years ago. Better club or better swing? Who knows?
  15. BHutto

    BHutto

    Doug E said:

    The SM7s were designed with a progressive center of gravity based on loft and bounce to optimize distance and consistency. Basically, the CG is positioned slightly higher on the higher lofted clubs. Typically, you'll hit a 60* a groove or two up on the face simply due to the loft angle. Consequently, the SM7s (and now even more so in the SM8s) have their CG on a 60* designed a bit higher than on a 54*, which is higher than a 48*. I'm not so sure that was always the case back with earlier versions of Vokeys. I know that when I switched from SM6s to SM7s, I seemed to average a touch more distance out of my LW, consistently. I didn't notice much difference with my 50* SM7 GW vs. my 50* SM6.

    The progressive design was purportedly enhanced further in the SM8s, though, I haven't noticed much difference in distance with my new SM8s. However, I only had them for a few rounds before our courses shut down, so my experience with them is somewhat limited. I got them as soon as they came out, but it was still cold here. I was out there daily playing, but conditions were not ideal for judging distances. I did love the feel of them though.

    One thing I can say, I have been playing Vokeys exclusively since the Spin Milled version initially appeared on the scene back around 2008. IMO, the first version was the best for spin around the greens, up until the SM6s came out. The SM7s and SM8s are as good or better, even though they do not have the square (now non-conforming) grooves of the originals. As far as distance goes, I used to fly my original 2008/9, Spin Milled Vokey 60* LW about 67 yards. Now, 12 years later (and into my 60s), I play a 58* LW, but average about 78-80 yards with it. I realize it's a 2* stronger loft, but should 2* equal 12-13 yards? Not in my mind. I think I get a bit more out of my higher lofted wedges than I did 10 years ago. Better club or better swing? Who knows?

    Doug E,

    I am a few years younger than you (only a few!) and I think the center-of-gravity thing is probably more optimized than back in the Spin Milled error and also the current Pro V1/Pro V1x (which I play) are just better balls than what Titleist was making a decade-plus ago.

    So I've just about concluded that age or no age, we've got to expect slightly longer distances loft-for-loft with 2020-model balls and Vokeys than we did circa 2005 or so.

    One comment a buddy of mine made the recently when I hit a couple of those "how did it go too far???" wedge shots. He said my swing is normally really steep with the wedges and that on the shots that go farther and flatter than I'm expected, he notices I'm shallowing out my path a lot better than usual. Never attribute to better clubs what can be explained by better swings ;-)
  16. SMormanis

    SMormanis

    You can also get them bent.
    If you’re happy with 56 being the most lofted you could try, 49, 53, 57 or go with 5° gaps 50, 55, 60, this way you will have consistent gapping and more options close range.
    I run 47, 51, 55, 59, just look at the grinds, and bounce and either get a more lofted bent stronger or less lofted bent weaker as bounce will also change.
  17. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I play 695MB irons so I use 50-08F as a PW, 58-08M (bent to 56*) as a SW and a PM Grind 64/10, I have a 60-04L available but it is, more or less, "nice to have." If I want to carry 14 clubs, I add the 7 wood and the 60* lob.
  18. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    I go with he 52, 56, 60 combo. Sometimes i wonder why have the 52 but i just prefer it on a full shot. Also i fear change LOL! So I've had this combination as long as i can remember and I know once i take it out or change Ill need it!!
  19. Madhatter

    Madhatter
    Edderton, Highland, Scotland

    Same combination of SM7s here Eric H, I also have a 718 AP1 48 degree wedge as well.



    Madhatter
  20. CrazyGolfNut

    CrazyGolfNut
    Omaha, NE

    I play 718 AP1’s with 43-48 - 52-56 that has a separation of 5-4-4. When I use the Vokey selector it tells me that I should go with 43-48 - 54-58 which is a separation of 5-6-6. Not sure what to do.
  21. Derek C

    Derek C
    Northern KY

    CrazyGolfNut said:

    I play 718 AP1’s with 43-48 - 52-56 that has a separation of 5-4-4. When I use the Vokey selector it tells me that I should go with 43-48 - 54-58 which is a separation of 5-6-6. Not sure what to do.

    I also have the 718 AP1s with the 43* so I went with 48*, 54* & 60*.
  22. CrazyGolfNut

    CrazyGolfNut
    Omaha, NE

    Went for a wedge fitting and came up with 52-56. Looks like I will stay with the same setup that I have now but in a new product, SM8.
  23. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I play 695MB irons so the 9 is 44*. My wedge lofts are 50-57-64. I use a 58-08M bent to 57 because that is what works. Sometimes too many wedges gets confusing. I also rarely do full swing square stance shots with the 58 and 64.

  24. Per

    Per

    AP1 718 with set wedge 48*, SM7 52.08, 56.08 and 58.08 bent to 60
    Works just fine with this 4 degree gaps
    Use the 56* for bunker shots

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