Recently I was watching short game expert Dave Pelz on the golf
channel demonstrating various shots around the green with four
different wedges.
Recently I was watching short game expert Dave Pelz on the golf channel demonstrating various shots around the green with four different wedges.
He has wonderful imagination and technique we could all benefit from. It’s obvious the clubs can be a great help in getting the ball upa nd down. My question to you is “Do you need four wedges and do you have the time to practice and learn what they’re capable of?”
In most cases, the answer is “no.” So how many wedges should you carry? It depends on your ability. If you’re a weekend golfer, keep it simple. Play a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
For the more serious golfer, find out what the loft is on your pitching wedge. This will give you some guidance on what wedge combination you choose to carry.
Most of today’s pitching wedges have 48 to 50 degrees of loft. If that’s the case, you may want to add a gap wedge of 52 or 53 degrees. Then add a sand wedge of 56 or 57 degrees. If you choose to add a 60-degree wedge, you may want to eliminate the 52-degree and add a 54-degree.
A rule of thumb is you should never have more than four to five degrees of loft in between clubs. This will leave too many gaps in between clubs. Once you find the combination you like, practice and experiment with them. Later on, you may want to add or change the combination depending on your playing level.
Don Leone is Director of Instruction at Coyote Creek Golf Course and a certified Nicklaus/Flick instructor. He can be reached at 463-8024 or at dl****@*************lf.com.
