Wedge Talk - shaft suggestions

[techbase2000]

With all the wedge talk recently I'm hoping to get some advice on shafts. I've used many different brands for my drivers, Fairways and hybrids. Current favorites are the Crazy Noir's and FW-80's. I'd like to get an expanded more boutique quality experience with my wedges. KBS Tour has always been shaft of choice for my irons and wedges...simply because it works. Spinner's are right there as well when talking wedges. With my recent Crazy Toyoshima purchase I was hoping to install a shaft that would present these heads better both in style and performance.

Wedge Hx:I have tried the 2012 vokey cold forged, s-yard bolds, Epon 210's, GS GT-SW, several Miura's and most U.S. cleveland's and vokey's for those rocky beaches. When there is a demand for more precision I always fall back to the Miura Wedges. I just click with those. Current favorite Grinds on the Miura's are Y, K. If anything I would be looking for more spin. A bit difficult with my path. I have a steep path I'm working on and my divots are shallow to haircut thin. You guys have a lot more experience with shafts changes and some of the best quality shafts so hopefully you can help or maybe turn this into a wedge shaft review. Thnx

[RLL33]

Hi, maybe I'll get this started with a slightly different point of view. The short game is my thing. I spend hours and hours practicing with my wedges, and I can never get enough. I have a pitching/putting green in my backyard and I pull a net across the back of it to practice my wedge game from just off the green to back 10 to 20 yards. I simply love my wedges. (And yes, I've slept with new ones next to my bed at night so often that my wife doesn't even say anything any more...) What I hear most often from playing partners is, "Nice touch..." when I get out of trouble or wedge one close.

Long story reduced, like you, I tend to stick with Miura's for the feel and precision, although I experiment a lot with my gap wedge. (Most recently am giving the 51.5 Zodia Point-5 a workout.)

To get to your actual question though about shafts, after A LOT of experimentation, I've moved toward lighter shafts, especially for my higher degree wedges. I stuck with DG Spinners the longest, but just lately have moved to a shaft recommended here on the site, the NS Pro 105 weight WV shaft.

In a long line of shafts that have come and gone, this one has stood out for me both in terms of feel and precision. And I include spin in that last part. For me, great spin has to be variable, depending on the shot that's called for. And this WV shaft is the most versatile I've found in a long while. I can hit bump and release shots or I can pinch a shot to stop dead. On approaches, I can back it up or make it release. There seems to be a great communication between my hands and the shaft. I know I'm different in preferring a lighter shaft, and maybe that has to do with my touch, but I find that light often equates to precision for me on the most delicate shots, which for me is just about anything where I have a wedge in my hands.

At the moment, I can't say enough good things about this shaft -- especially in my Miura's, both Y and K, where it seems a perfect fit for the feel and precision I've always appreciated in the heads.

Good luck and good experimenting to you.

[chiromikey]

For the past few years I've not found a wedge specific shaft that I've been keen on. My biggest complaint is a wedge shaft that performs or feels completely different than the rest of my irons. I don't need the help on specialty shots or spin (in fact, I'd rather reduce spin) so consistent feel is more important to me. I'm also not a fan of the extra weight wedge specific shafts tend to have. With all that in mind, I've gone to using 8iron shafts that match the shafts in the rest of my irons. Now I have the feel and weight consistency I'm looking for and a tad more spin than my short irons which is helpful on less than full shots (if you want even more spin go with a 7iron shaft). I've done this with several sets of irons, the last few being KBS C-Tapers and UST Recoils, and I couldn't be happier!

[supo]

the dg spinners i really like , except on full shots they get very sketchy and "thin"

but when do u ever hit full tilted wedges anyway ?

i find they give excellent spin are heavy enough to load some oommph into the shot . but are still very good on flops when abit more finesse is needed.

the other shaft i use is the NS wv. they are heavy , do NOT feel flimsy when hit hard.

go very high and plop on a dime.

for the LW i go the ligher 115 and the 52- 56 i use the 125

i prefer the NS slightly over the DG

ive used every shat imaginable

and these are what ive gravitated to for me they just work

oh i take massive divots like striiped beaver pelts!

Edited June 18, 2014 by supo67

[techbase2000]

Thanks guys, I've heard and read about using longer iron shafts. Did you tip it or go up in flex? 7 Iron would be too much loss of control from what it is now for me. I might try an 8 or 9 iron X. Question is would be too much for the Toyoshima wedges?

[chiromikey]

Most people go up in flex but I don't...I just butt cut to desired length.

[Bunches]

How do you guys compare the NS Pro WV vs. the DG Spinners? I've got Spinners in my 56, 60 and 64 Ks, but just put a XP95 in my 52 to match my irons. I have a Fourteen RM-11 with a NS Pro Wedge shaft that I like, which was the predecessor to the WV, but balked at trying the WV 105 in favor of more spin on short chips with the Spinners.

[masters2015]

has anybody ever used the kbs hi rev, supposed to be there version of the spinner

[akm10408]

I'm not a particularly good golfer compared to some on here, but since you haven't divulged your own handicap you may find the opinion useful. I've found that I like my wedges to play as an extension of the iron set, so a similar weight and flex is nice for consistency. My PW is 49 degrees, and I play a 54 degree like an 11 iron. The lob wedge has to be a bit more versatile than a 12 iron, but is shafted like the rest for consistency's sake on full shots. I do this to eliminate variables because my technique is nowhere near where I'd like it to be. I try to play the 60 for everything inside ~75 yards except steeply uphill lies and high wind.

So, for wedge shafts, I simply choose a similar weight and flex as the irons. Irons are currently NSPro Modus Tour 130, and wedges are NSPro ST prototypes of the same flex.

[RLL33]

Like the look of that ONOFF bag in your pic, Stew. ;=]

[techbase2000]

I'd have to put myself in the same category akm. Working 12-14 hours a day and living in NYC doesn't really allow me to maintain too much consistency. I have at least a 6 month season and tend to shoot in the low to mid 90's. I play a lot at Bethpage and Willow Creek on Long Island, and then some at Woodloch Springs and Concord Monster in NY, Not a great score…but still let's me enjoy the day without throwing my clubs, lol. I agree with keeping consistency between the irons and wedges and this is probably the way I would go especially with my everyday wedges. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to put too much extra spin on a wedge head that is already rated as having a good amount of spin as stated by some of the forum members and I guess I also wanted to give some respect to a quality wedge head by giving it a nicer shaft with similar specs. Maybe that's just as ridiculous as it sounds. lol. but I do have respect for jdm gear and promote it to everyone that asks around here.

[Bunches]

has anybody ever used the kbs hi rev, supposed to be there version of the spinner

I have and found them to be a little more solid on 3/4 and full shots than Spinners. However, they don't have the (what I call) "sensitive" feel or spin on shorter shots. I kept one in my backup GW (forged ATV), but went with the same shaft (but not hard stepped) that I have in my irons on my gamer K Grind GW.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Bunches

[masters2015]

great info in the thread

[kamen rider]

Why 8 iron shaft for wedge (not PW or 9 iron shaft) shaft? Why do you want to play a softer flex for the wedges?

Do you play a full shot with your wedges i.e. full shot for AW for a specific distance?

[chiromikey]

Why 8 iron shaft for wedge (not PW or 9 iron shaft) shaft? Why do you want to play a softer flex for the wedges?

Do you play a full shot with your wedges i.e. full shot for AW for a specific distance?

It's due to the flex profile. Using an 8iron shaft gives you the characteristic of a spinner shaft but a feel that is more consistent with the rest of your irons. Typically you want to go with 8iron shafts that CPM 10 pts higher than your iron set (approximately 1 flex stronger). Once butt cut to proper length they should be similar in flex to the other irons. It's my personal preference not to do this part because the next flex up is also heavier and since I never make full swings with wedges (or under 140yds), I don't feel the need.

[kamen rider]

That's interesting, I've always thought that the spinner is super stiff, one fitter told me that the spinner has 'no flex'. The spinner has a unique feel for me, couldn't explain why, the KBS Hi-rev has a more active tip.

I've currently using the Nippon WV115 which plays softer than the typical wedge shaft TT S300, but I don't know why they made it 'counter balanced' with heavier butt.

I've also tried Shimada NW110 which is more 'active' than the Nippon. Next, I'll be trying the WV105.

I've tried the various wedge shafts with different wedge heads and mixed results, so I'm even more confused now.........

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Not sure if it's considered a good wedge shaft but I've been playing C-Tapers with great results.

In my Modarts I have the Modus3 130g and it's not bad either.

[chiromikey]

I've also been using C-Tapers in my wedges for years with great results.

[Bunches]

That's interesting, I've always thought that the spinner is super stiff, one fitter told me that the spinner has 'no flex'. The spinner has a unique feel for me, couldn't explain why, the KBS Hi-rev has a more active tip.

...

I've tried the various wedge shafts with different wedge heads and mixed results, so I'm even more confused now.........

I found the opposite - Spinners have a more active tip for me particularly in my 60 and 64 with 1/2 swings or less. I love a high toss with high spin over a bunker to a tight pin.

I'm confused now too, but me next move is to the NS WV when I get tired of the Spinners.

[supo]

Like the look of that ONOFF bag in your pic, Stew. ;=]

yea i get the new model each year.

this is the exact colour of my rugby team so im keeping htis one.

hardly use it its got all my putters in it at themoment. on off makes the best bags

[supo]

c-tapers on links is a super idea.

point noted!!