Pro-Tips – Wedges

Shorter putts, better scores.

How many of you are playing with wedges that were new in the early 2000’s?  “It’s just a wedge, it’s still good.” Everyone likes to hit the new fancy driver, looking for 10 more yards, while ignoring the clubs that can help your scoring.  The groves on the wedges help the golf ball stop on the greens, regardless of the ball you are playing.  They wear out just like tires on your car.  Would you drive on bald tires?  Most would say “no,” but play wedges for 10 years.  What causes your wedges to wear?

 

  •  FREQUENT PLAY: Regular practice and play creates normal wear and tear to the wedge and results in a gradual wearing down of the groove.

  • BUNKER SHOTS: Bunker shots expose the face to millions of small pebbles and rocks, essentially sand blasting the face of the wedge.

  • ABNORMAL CONDITIONS: Sandy lies, debris on the golf ball, rocks, and bag chatter can all lead to gradual groove wear.

  • RANGE GOLF BALLS:  Many wedges are cast from soft 8620 carbon steel. Range balls and other hard covered balls will, over time, wear down the edge of the groove.

 

Titleist did some research and found the following:

As you can see, those trusty wedges that have been in the bag for years could be causing you to putt from much longer distances.  Longer putts lead to higher scores.  Make sure that you inspect and replace your wedges, just like you do the tires on your vehicle.  These are called the “scoring clubs” for a reason so you want to take advantage of everything you can to shoot lower scores.  To find the right wedges for you, visit your local PGA golf shop.

– Chad J. Maxim, PGA
Head Golf Professional

GolfBen Schippers