No Distance From New Wedge

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By Norris

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  • 13 Replies
  1. Norris

    Norris
    Springfield, MO

    I'm really confused. I bought a new Vokey SM 54-11 wedge from my local GC that was last years demo, but it still had the plastic wrapper, and labels on it so I guess it was never used. I've been playing a CG 11 56* wedge with two blue dots, (CG wedges go by the number of dots instead of numbered bounce) so two blue dots means middle bounce. (one dot= low bounce, two dots middle, three dots high bounce) I was looking for a wedge with med. bounce for all around shots, so I figured Two dots, and 11* bounce would be the same. My confusion is, I'm hitting the CG 56* a good 20-25 yards farther than the Vokey 54*. In fact, I'm hitting my CG 60* lob wedge about the same as the 54* Vokey. Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? I really like the way I hit the Vokey, it just doesn't go anywhere. (50 yds. at the most.) It seems like I'm sliding under the ball with the Vokey, and not with the Cleve.

  2. Paul B

    Paul B
    Fairfax, VA

    Is the trajectory of the ball different? 

  3. Norris

    Norris
    Springfield, MO

    Thanks all for your thoughts. Paul; The trajectory of the 54-11 is very high. It is about the same as my CG 60* lob wedge. The 54* and 60* are just about identical in traj. height and distance. I would have to look at the two clubs to be able to tell which one I was hitting. I've been playing CG 56* & 60* wedges, and was wanting to go to Vokey 54* & 58* but that's not working out too well so far. Although, I do seem to hit the 54* Vokey more consistently than the CG 60* so I guess I could use it for my lob wedge instead of buying a 58*.  

  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Try taking some of the bounce out by putting ball slightly behind center in your stance.
  5. NDeCon26

    NDeCon26
    Stoughton, MA

    Norris,

    Find out where your impact is on the face of the club. Use impact tape if you have it, or color the face of the club with a dark dry-erase marker (I use purple). Chances are most likely that you're sliding underneath the ball and hitting it high on the face with the new Vokey (adding loft, decreasing distance). Do this for both wedges and see what you find. Hope this helps!

    Nick D.

  6. Norris

    Norris
    Springfield, MO

    Great idea Nick. I do have some of those stickers that show impact on the club face. I'll try that. Thanks.

  7. Norris

    Norris
    Springfield, MO

    Nick; went to the range today and tried out your idea by putting the ball marking stickers on the 54* club face. When I set up with the ball in the center of my stance I hit the ball just about center of the club face, and hit the ball high, and about 50 yards, when I set up with the ball back about 1/2 way from center to my back foot I hit the ball at the very bottom of the club face, with lower flight, and got about 60-65 yards out of it. I'm hitting my CG 56* out to 75-80 yards. I'm hitting the Vokey 54* really well, and consistently, but just can't get the distance. Thanks for your suggestions. 

  8. Thomas C

    Thomas C
    Columbia, SC

    Military

    Norris - I can't help you with comparing the Vokey and the CG but I can tell you that 95% of my bad wedge shots with the Vokey are "scoops"/hitting under the ball.  It happens everytime I get too much wrist into the shot and specifically too much right hand.  When I keep my hands quiet, I get 90-95 yds from my SM4 60-10 and 95-105 yds with my 56-14. 

  9. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Thomas C said:

    Norris - I can't help you with comparing the Vokey and the CG but I can tell you that 95% of my bad wedge shots with the Vokey are "scoops"/hitting under the ball.  It happens everytime I get too much wrist into the shot and specifically too much right hand.  When I keep my hands quiet, I get 90-95 yds from my SM4 60-10 and 95-105 yds with my 56-14. 

    I've been using the SM4 60-10 (bent to 59) since last May and that is the "magic lob wedge".  I've had the 54-11 (bent to 53) since March.  I've had some of my lowest scores with these in the bag (39 on a par 37 9 hole layout and followed with a 40 on a tougher par 36 layout; +1 on a 2200 yd par 34 exec course, +2 starting with a bogey and a triple being -2 for the remaining 7 holes, and +3 on a rather wicked par 30 layout where most of the par3s were between 170-205 yd).  I have to have a good short game because my distance is "average" (100 yd for a PW, 150 for a 30H, 190 for a 5 wood and 220 for a 13* driver); I'm capable of 10-20 yd more but score better playing conservatively. 

    In regards to what Tom said, I've observed too many people getting "wristy" with wedges.  "Keep It Simple, Stupid" works -the basic golf swing doesn't change much regardless if full swing, pitch or chip.  Watch too many taking a half swing to hit a 20 yd chip shot and then stopping the club at impact.  Tony Jacklin says to hit "through the ball" instead of at it.

  10. Joshua L

    Joshua L
    SLC, UT

    The simplest thing to do would be to take all your wedges to your local shop and get the lofts checked on all of them. It's entirely possible your CG's are bent way strong and your Vokey is bent weak. If the CG's are longer than the Vokey that'll have an effect on distance as well.

    You should rule out the clubs as a variable before you attempt to make changes to your swing. All manufacturers have tolerances in their club building and you may have two clubs that are one end of the spectrum while your Vokey is at the other end. 

  11. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Norris said:

    I'm really confused. I bought a new Vokey SM 54-11 wedge from my local GC that was last years demo, but it still had the plastic wrapper, and labels on it so I guess it was never used. I've been playing a CG 11 56* wedge with two blue dots, (CG wedges go by the number of dots instead of numbered bounce) so two blue dots means middle bounce. (one dot= low bounce, two dots middle, three dots high bounce) I was looking for a wedge with med. bounce for all around shots, so I figured Two dots, and 11* bounce would be the same. My confusion is, I'm hitting the CG 56* a good 20-25 yards farther than the Vokey 54*. In fact, I'm hitting my CG 60* lob wedge about the same as the 54* Vokey. Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? I really like the way I hit the Vokey, it just doesn't go anywhere. (50 yds. at the most.) It seems like I'm sliding under the ball with the Vokey, and not with the Cleve.

    Have to remember that Cleves all have full soles (except the CG 15 DSG).   It is easier to hit off turf with this sole profile (I had a SM c-c 54-14 and also an SM4 52-12; they were great around the greens and for pitching but tended to dig in soft sand).

    The advertised bounce is a bit misleading.   That is the "effective" bounce (concierges help me out on this) - if you drew a straight line fore-aft on the sole with the shaft perfectly vertical, that would be the bounce angle. The leading edge is probably about 15* and the trailing edge about -4*.    Along these lines, I find that the M grind actually has less bounce than the T grind.  I find that I have an easier time off tight lies with the 60-10 vs a 64-07. 

    You probably are most likely sliding under it with the 54-11.   I have this club (bent to 53) and it is the best sand wedge I've ever owned.   I get about 85 yards on a full shot and 50 yards on a pitch.  Try playing the ball slightly "back" so you remove some of the bounce (keeping the head behind the ball).  

  12. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Historically, my general full swing distance for a SW (53-55) is between 80-90 yards almost irregardless of brand.   I had a 55* cavity back that hit ~ 85 yd.   Vokey SM c-c 54-11 (bent to 55) is 80 yards.   SM4 54-11 (bent to 53) is 90 yd.   Pitch distance 50-55 yd.

    52-12 was about 90 yd.

  13. Ron R

    Ron R
    Houston, TX

    I switched to Vokey SM4 this year in the following lofts 48, 52, 58, 62 and had the same problem.  Took me about a month to get my distances back and I had switched from swoosh.  48 is back to 125 yards and 58 is back to 80 yards. Just keep swinging it will come back!

  14. Norris

    Norris
    Springfield, MO

    Thanks for the encouragement Ron. I'll stay at it and hope the distance will come back. Don't know why this is happening but if it worked for you, then maybe it will work for me.

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