Custom Wedges

Custom Wedge Trends

Wedges are often called the "scoring clubs" and justifiably so. Look at any top player and their ability to get up-and-down from 100 yards in is pretty impressive. Great wedge play turns three shots into two.

For most club golfers, the difference between a great round and a mediocre score is the 25 - 50 yard range. Think about your last few rounds and how many shots you had in that range. Probably quite a few. How many more pars could you have if you got up-and-down from that range consistently?

Wedge design hasn't changed that much over the last few years. Maybe an overall refinement of the techniques used, but wedges today look pretty much the same as they used to 5 years ago.

Check our Custom Wedges Essentials for a look at the design elements of a modern set of custom wedges.

Custom wedges come in variety of lofts, with most of us carrying a high-lofted wedge, or Lob Wedge in something around the 60 degree loft for soft landing shots that pull up next to the pin for the easy tap-in. I carry three wedges in addition to my Pitching Wedge. A 52 degree Gap Wedge, a 56 degree Sand Wedge and 60 degree Lob Wedge.

My home course has tight fairways and hard packed bunkers, so I go with low-bounce wedges for the best results.

Groove design has changed significantly over the last few years, with wedge manufacturers optimizing the spin from wedges. To good effect, with better ball strikers being able to generate spin and control from even the thickest rough.

Inevitably wedges have also become more forgiving, with Cavity Back custom wedges now available. These are a great option for golfers who need that little bit of extra help with their short game.

Custom wedges are also now available in a variety of finishes, including dark, anti-glare finishes. Great for anybody who dislikes sun reflections off their clubs.

Our Custom Wedges include forged wedges like the Dynacraft Prophet and even ultra user-friendly hollow wedges like the SandBlaster. My friend Cliff couldn't get out of a bunker with a shovel and a pickaxe. Since bagging the SandBlaster his bunker play has improved out of all measure. Not the sand-splash shots we see the pros playing, but shots that get out of any bunker first go and usually make their way to the neighbourhood of the pin. Impressive and effective.

Custom Wedges Essentials

Groove Rules: The new groove rules come into effect in January 2010 but will only affect Tour Pros. Club golfers can carry on playing their existing wedges till 2020 so no real panic. Most manufacturers will be coming out with conforming versions of all their wedges well before that though. No real point having Tiger as a Staff Player if he can't play your clubs is there?

Bounce: The angle between the ground and the raised leading edge of the club, when the club is in the normal address position. Bounce affects how much the club will "dig in" when hitting a golf ball. A higher bounce angle will keep the club from digging into the turf or the sand. Play a high bounce wedge if you mainly play courses with soft, fluffy rough and powdery sand in the bunkers and a low bounce wedge if you mainly play courses with tight lies and hard-packed sand in the bunkers.

Lofts: Generally a Gap Wedge will come in at 52 degrees, a Sand Wedge at 56 and a Lob Wedge at 60 degrees. Try to keep workable increments between wedges and the rest of your clubs.

Lob Wedge: Rapidly gaining in popularity across the board, these wedges are great for those little flop shots that need to stop dead. A great addition to your golf bag. Take some time to get to know your Lob Wedge and it will reward you.