Conference 7.286::golf

John,

	I have recently come to the same conclusion and have ordered
a Ping Lob Wedge.  Unfortunately, it will take months for it to come
in.  Does anyone know where I can get a green dot Ping LW off-the-shelf?

	Another significant point in favor of a LW (other than to make full
shots from 50 yards) -- I feel the LW will be much easier than a SW around
the greens. The LW has more loft and will allow for higher shots that will
(hopefully) stop easier.  Also, the SW is made for the sand. In my opinion,
the SW is the best club in the bag for mishits around the green due to the
size of the flange.  For example, a short SW shot off of hardpan, over a
bunker, and to a tight pin placement is extremely tough. The bounce
provided by the SW makes the shot even more difficult since it requires an
almost perfect hit. The LW has very little flange (producing much less
bounce) and should be better suited for pitch and chip shots.  Other
opinions? 

Jeff 

    I have also switched to pings. I also have watched the ball sail
    over the green. I have stopped using the sw for short approach
    shots. I am considering the lw, but the wait of 8 to 10 weeks
    is outrageous. I think Abenaqui in Rye, NH may have the wedges, I'll
    drop in there this weekend. I'll post my findings. The least expensive
    place I have found is Charmingfare, ping clubs are around $56 a piece.
    
    Dave 

    I play RAM tour grins axials. I don't even consider my sand wedge
    for any shot other than in the sand. My issue isn't the flange or
    angle but rather the radious of the bottom of the blade of the
    club. I find that with any bounce I get what looks like a shank
    shot out of the club. I've been considering lookng for a sand
    wedge that has a straighter blade on the bottom similar to a normal
    wedge with a good sized flange.
    
    
    Tom 

    I use three wedges, PW SW and 60 degree wedge. The 60 degree wedge
    is a tough club to work with... the ball must be sitting up with
    a good lie. If the ball is sitting down, I find it very difficult
    to "pick it off" clean. Usually the shot ends up fat and very short.
    The 60 degree wedge has had it's days though, but usually if I'm
    trying to pop one over a sand trap to a tight pin, the conditions
    must be ideal, or I'll end up with a chunk of mud and a sand shot
    up coming.
    
    Over the last year I began to use the SW for all lob type shots.
    If I need to decrease the yardage, I choke up or take it back and
    through a little easier. If the ball is sitting down, I'll play
    a punch down SW... which reacts more predictably, taking less mud/dirt
    due to the bounce effect. But you are right, the impact must be
    exact or sk_ll. But I feel the SW does have a higher percentage
    of success.
    
    One other thing... try playing the ball back, like way back, hands slightly
    ahead . The bounce effect of the SW is decreased, you'll take a divit
    but you'll get the ball up and with predictable distance.
                           
    Walt
                   

    I went by Abenquai last evening, lots of ping irons and woods, lots of
    lofting wedges, but no green lie. 
    
    Dave

	I have one of the 60� and love it.  It's already got me a birdie and
saved a par for me.  Both were short shots (20yds) over a bunker with
little green to the pin.  Lobbed them over the bunker and both found the
cup!  

mc

    Re:< Note 579.6 by ASABET::CORBETT "Go Habs" >

    Again the  problem  of being a lefty.  I haven't seen any left handed
    LW, so in  those  situations  like you mentioned (close to the green,
    but behind a bunker), I  have  to  really  open my PW face and hope I
    don't skull it.  I have  been  praticing  that shot in my backyard, I
    usually can get 3 out of 4 good shots.
    
    Tavo

    
        I'm looking for a good all-purpose sand wedge.  Jack Nicholas 
    recommends using a SW with a narrow flange for greater flexibility;
    I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
    
        I just got myself a set of 'Quadram' clubs, which did not include
    a SW (from Nevada Bob's).  I went back yesterday and looked at the
    selection of SW's:
    
        - the Quadram SW has a medium-sized flange, and is fairly flat,
    	  and costs $30 at N.B's
    
        - the Tommy Aaron (sp?) SW has a rounded and more narrow flange
    	  (about the width of my thumb), but costs $75 at N.B's
    
        - others either had very wide flanges or were not perimiter
          weighted, which I definately want.
    
        Based on what Jack Nicholas says, it sounds like the Tommy Aaron
    club should be the better choice.  Does anyone have any opinions?  Will
    the rounded bottom cause more bounce?  Are Tommy Aaron clubs considered
    to be of superior quality?  Will I have a harder time trying to sell
    the clubs someday if the set isn't matched?
    
        btw, I don't like the idea of getting both.  I want to pick one SW
    to use from 60yds - 10yds from the green to maximize consistency.
    
    /jim
    

    
    p.s.  Should I insist on a specific club-face angle for all-purpose
          use?  e.g. avoid if >= 60� ?

    
    Hi Jim,
    
    	I wouldn't pay so much concern on whether or not the SW is
    	perimeter weighted or not. Most of the tour play a muscle-back
    	type... like the #1 used on tour Cleaveland Classics SW.
    
    	The bounce specific is critical. 
    
    	If you play from traps that have soft deep sand, you'll need a
    	SW with a large bounce. 
    
    	If you play from traps with hard packed sand, you'll need a SW
    	with less bounce.
    
    	Trade-offs;
    
    		Large bounce limits the variations of shots you can play
    		with the SW. If say you wanted to lay the face wide open
    		to hit a flop shot, you might skull it into the next
    		area code. The larger bounce does make it easier to hit
    		the ball, because it allows you to hit down hard and
    		not hit it fat.
    
    		
    
    	I ended up getting a SW with a small bounce, but covered myself
    	by buying a Lob Wedge with a large bounce.
    
    	hope this helped;
    
    	thanks Walta
    		
    
    		

A medium flange allows the SW to be easier used from the fairway, whereas a
rounded bouncy flange makes playing from the short grass more difficult. The
bounce is good for sand; not good for grass.

If you only intend on owning one sand wedge, then it should be suitable for
fairway shots up to 60 yards, different kinds of "outs" from long rough (e.g
lobs, runners), and sand shots. Most folks however use a SW from grass far
more often than from sand. 

If sand is all you're worried about, then the wide flange is best. If it is
flexibility, then a medium flange is best - you can always gain bounce by
openning the clubface.

Most pro shops have demo clubs. The pro can help and trying a few from grass
can only help.

Good luck!

Eric

    
 
    I'm primarily concerned about fairway shots, so it looks like the more
    narrow-flange club would be the better choice.
    
    The narrow-flange club also had a rounder bottom, though.  Does the
    shape of the bottom make a difference (or should I be looking at the
    height of the leading edge or...)
    
    Elsewhere in this conf., Ping SW's are mentioned favorably.  Are there
    important differences aside from the width and shape of the flange that I
    should consider when making my choice?
    
    /jim
    

    Probably the best all purpose SW I've ever seen (unless you want to
    spend a lot of cash for an old "Dyna-Power") is ths Spalding "Johnny
    Miller. I know some very accomplished players who could play with
    anything that use this wedge, and I highly recommend it. Reasonably
    priced, too - probably around $60, or so.
    
    IMO, stay away from the 60 degree wedges, unless you carry 'em as a 3rd
    wedge - too limited. If you live in Texas or the SouthWest, forget 'em
    completely...
    
    __Jack

    I would recommend the Cleveland Classic Sand Wedge - 55 degree - has
    narrow flange.  I use this everywhere - I call it my trouble wedge - it
    gets me out of any bad situation near a green, good from the fairway
    and OK in the sand.  Getting the right wedge for use around the green
    is worth spending a little money.

    
    Well, Father's day nears, and so I decided on the Ping Zing SW; the
    flange has a very interesting shape that varies with your lie; on the
    perfect, level fairway lie the flange is very narrow (this lie has
    never actually been observed in the wild) with very little bounce.  As
    the face is opened or closed, the effective flange width increases.
    
    neat idea.
    
    /jim