When is this club used?

[JackT]

Hello to All -

I'm getting re-acquainted with the game of golf -after about a 20-year hiatus - so I would consider myself new to golf. Because there have been so many technological changes and advancements in the equipment, I'll probably be posting from time to time to get a handle on things. Today my questions involve the use of wedges. What is a gap wedge and a lob wedge? Under what circumstances/conditions would each club be used, e. g., if you are 30 to 40 yds. from the green, would you use a pitching wedge or lob wedge?

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.

JackT

[GregJWillis]

Re: When is this club used?

Gap wedges are supposed to fill a gap distance betweet the PW and SW. Some have a SW that is very lofted, so they only get about 80 yards. Their PW is usually standard, and get 125 yards. So there is a big gap there. THey get a wedge that gets them about 105 yards. But you need to figure out your distaces first.

The LW is the most lofted club you have. Anything from 58-62 degrees. Distances are usually 40-60 yards. But most importantly is the hight you get. Getting out of trouble, or making sure you get over a trap to a short pin.

I don't carry either. I have my SW and PW set to get me 100 and 130 yards. When I want hight, I open up the face on my SW and can hit it almost straight up for 10 yards if needed. You swing as hard as you can, and is fun to play it, but hard to execute perfectly. Play around with the amount of openness and you will get your SW to be your LW no problem. Choak up on a PW about an inch and that becomes a gap wedge too.

[jamesh]

Re: When is this club used?

I don't carry either. I have my SW and PW set to get me 100 and 130 yards. When I want hight, I open up the face on my SW and can hit it almost straight up for 10 yards if needed. You swing as hard as you can, and is fun to play it, but hard to execute perfectly. Play around with the amount of openness and you will get your SW to be your LW no problem. Choak up on a PW about an inch and that becomes a gap wedge too.[/QUOTE]


Excellent.... I will experient with my short irons and see if I can open the club face more and control distance better. I have been really struggiling with my pitching wedge - its part of the Callaway Hawkeye Series, and I find PW to be too thick. I used my brother-in-laws "Golden Bear' LW and I couldn't believe how easy it was to hit and control be ball.

I think some clubs may be better suited to us, on an indivdual level. As a newbe, perhaps the Callaways are for more experienced users - thought when I do connect with the ball properly the flight of the ball is both high and far. I have struggled with my short ions - the woods and driver were a breeze in comparision!

James