Gap Wedge???

[prakcom]

Hi!
In short game, for distance between 50 to 25 yards, I have to manupulate the SW but I am not very sure of my shots for this distance with SW.

Please advise whether GW will help me to overcome this shadow area or I should practice/fine tune SW/LW for this distance.

My short game distance clubs are
PW= 100 to 75 yards
SW= 75 to 50 yards
???= 50 to 25 yards (shadow area)
LW= less than 25 yards

Thanks
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[GregJWillis]

Re: Gap Wedge???

50-25 yards in is normally not a gap wedge. This is the LW or SW at 1/2 power, 1/4 power, something like that. But looking at your distances, this may be waht you need. What are you hitting your 8i? and 5i?

[james.welsh]

Re: Gap Wedge???

My GW is 52* (between a PW and SW) that's why it's called a GAP wedge -- it fills the gap between the PW aprox 48* and SW range around 54* - 57*.

[proshank]

Re: Gap Wedge???

a gap wedge is between a SW and a PW not a LW and a SW. However at my pro shop they sell a 'strong SW' which is 58 degrees. this could maybe help you. they are really good out of bunkers. look on e bay aswel for some deals

[prakcom]

Re: Gap Wedge???

50-25 yards in is normally not a gap wedge. This is the LW or SW at 1/2 power, 1/4 power, something like that. But looking at your distances, this may be waht you need. What are you hitting your 8i? and 5i?

Hello Greg,
I shifted recently from my old (very old) blades to Ping G5 irons and the distance may change after some time but presently I am hitting...

120= 9i
130= 8i
140= 7i
150= 6i
160= 5i
170= 4i
180= 3i
200= 3w (old spalding)
240+= Driver (9* callaway Hawk eye)

After some practice with new irons, I may add maybe about 10-15 yards more.

[LowPost42]

Re: Gap Wedge???

Since you've gone to modern clubs with modern lofts, you will most likely need a gap wedge, or suffer a large distance gap between your PW and SW.

[prakcom]

Re: Gap Wedge???

Since you've gone to modern clubs with modern lofts, you will most likely need a gap wedge, or suffer a large distance gap between your PW and SW.

Well! I do realize the benefit of these modern clubs even though I have to reassertain the distances and also to learn to curve the ball.

As Greg advised, the best bet would be to confirm distances of 1/4 and 1/2 swing of PW/SW.

Loft of my wedges ...
PW= 46*
SW= 54*
LW= 60*

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Gap Wedge???

I replaced my SW with a GW. I found that I did not need the bounce on the SW due to the types of courses I play most of the time. Bunkers, fairways,.....everything is very firm. Do I miss the bounce when in the rough? Sometimes, but my GW still does the deed quite well for me. Now if I play a course with fluffy sand, I might pull the GW, and go with my SW, but, I also carry a LW that works quite well in the softer, fluffy sand.

My bag make up does not allow me to carry 4 wedges, and still stay with in the 14 club rule. I sometimes wish the USGA, and/or R&A would make a change to allow 15 clubs. Heck, my current bags has separate slots for 17 clubs??????

I once met a crafty old golfer who carried 15 clubs. He had the best answer I have heard so far. While at the 19th hole he expalined it to me. It seems his putter was on the "outside" of his bag. Since it was out side, he only had 14 clubs "in" the bag. Was not about to argue with him about his logic, since he was buying..........GJS

[BrianW]

Re: Gap Wedge???

As a number of replies suggest a 52 deg gap wedge is between a PW and a SW.

I have a nice 52 deg Vokey gap wedge and it is now my favourite club, I use it for high approach shots from 80 to 50 Ft but also use it for most of my chipping as it has great control and feel. I can choke down on the shaft if I want less height and let it rip for shots over trees etc.

Regards
Brian

[vp27519]

Re: Gap Wedge???

I had a 52* g/w. Don't carry it in the bag as I found no real need. Personally think that it is another marketing tool by the companies to grab my money - they did

I use 48* p/w, 56* s/w and 60* l/w.

I'm considering taking out the 56* and getting a 54* s/w.

Then the degrees b/w the wedges will be equal.

[AussieGolfBoy]

Re: Gap Wedge???

At the time i tested a Gap wedge for the exact same reason as yourself.. to fill in that nasty gap from about 50 - 80m out.

i ended up hitting my sand wedge just as far as the gap wedge.

not having one doesn't worry me at all. I just use less power on the clubs i have in the bag and learn how hard to hit them for certain distances.

p/w - 110m
s/w - 65m
l/w - 30m
8i - 135m

[prakcom]

Re: Gap Wedge???

50-25 yards in is normally not a gap wedge. This is the LW or SW at 1/2 power, 1/4 power, something like that.

Hi!
I tried and practiced different power, as greg had mentioned, and it worked well for me. Using different "power" (back-swing) I was able to cover the distances under 100y with 3 wedges. Now I don't think there is any need for a GW.

Enjoy Golfing

[BrianW]

Re: Gap Wedge???

Hi,

Which clubs someone uses is very much a matter of personal preference, Phil Mickelson for example carries 4 wedges, some people never use a driver, some replace long irons for recovery woods.

I agree it is fine to use a PW and SW and to vary their performance by choking down on the grip and shortening your swing. I like to use an additional wedge as it allows me more flexibility and keep a relaxed tempo in the short game, I also find the bounce on a sand wedge causes problems with some shots from hard lies.

I guess its "Horses for Courses" when deciding the best clubs for your own game. Sounds as if you have sorted it now.

Regards
Brian

[bloodredsun]

Re: Gap Wedge???

I bought a Gap wedge last year and it has been one of the most used clubs in my bag.

Apparently, the lofts on clubs have been getting progressively stronger over the last few decades, so whereas the PW used to be 50 it's now 46-48 degrees, as mentioned previously. That makes it up to 10 degrees separation to my SW which makes it about 40 yards difference to me, especially as I never hit full swings on my SW. That's similar to AussieGolfBoy who says he has a 45 metre difference between PW and SW and I don't want to end up taking either a half swing PW or an over-swing SW to make the 110 yard mark.

Using a GW, I can consistantly hit this distance so it's a no brainer to me (and it is also easier to hit off of a bare lie than a SW). I'd rather leave the LW out. Unless you're playing on very fast PGA speed greens or on a course with lots of bare lies around the green, I can't see the point of a LW. Maybe that's because I live in London and the courses are often fairly soft (current heatwave excepted!). Opening the face of the SW will give you the loft you need if you want to play a flop shot onto the green.

[golfseeker]

Re: Gap Wedge???

I've got four wedges in my bag now. I got rid of my long irons, 3 & 4 and replaced them with a 7 wood. My wedges are the PW @ 48 degrees, three Adams Tom Watson wedges which are the GW @ 52 degrees, SW @ 56 degrees and LW @ 60 degrees. 4 degrees separation between each. I went out for a couple of weekends and got yardages for each one at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30. Then I taped the yardages on each club (it is legal) and now I know exactly the distances for each club. It works really well if I just use a slow and easy swing speed for each club. They are not designed for power.