Purchased new Wedges

Hello: I just bought (off the rack), 2 Cleveland 588 wedges. A 56 degree sand and a 60 degree lob. My irons are fitted 2 degrees flat. Should I get a hosel bend on the wedges or leave them std lie?

Hi again John,

You should always have them fitted, wedges more than any other due to the loft.

Depending on your height wedges can be bent in minuets for £5.00 no sure about US. Your other clubs depending on make,model etc can be bent by your pro or like my Callaway's they have to be done by manufacturer due to the hosel design.


My clubs are:

1 degree flat 3-5
2 degrees flat 6-9
3 degrees flat P-lob

Ian.

Hello Ian,

Thank you for your reply amd you have made a good point. Most golfers over here get a new set of irons fitted, 3-PW and then just buy their wedges off the rack, (As I did.) My irons are Titleist 804 3-PW. The fellow who owns the Pro Shop where I buy all my Golf gear will have them bent for me at no charge. There is a club maker just down the road, with a bending machine, who gets a TON of business from my dealer. I also had my irons fitted by the Titleist factory. And, yes indeed, thank God for Driving Ranges! I live on Long Island, on the North Shore, (35 Miles East of NYC.) We have 3 million people who live on this island which is 110 miles long by 25 miles at its widest point, and I swear, 85% of the population plays golf! Accordingly, we have around 100 golf courses, 60% Private - 40% Public, and around 25 Driving Ranges. The one I use has 75 hitting stations on two levels with wind curtains on three sides and heaters. Open 7:00 AM to 11:00PM every day of the year except Christmas. (We're workin on them with that Christmas Closing nonsense.) I mean, you have to have someplace to try out your Christmas Golf goodies!

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"Everything in Moderation, Keep it Simple, Less is Best."

Good man, I wish more golfer's would have the clubs fitted! I cannot tell you how often I get students who use equipment which is not suited to them.

Definately have your wedges fitted, the tolerance on a wedge is not great at the best of times. Don't just assume that they must be the same "flat" as your other clubs - fit them individually.

And I thank you for that tip. Are you suggesting that I get on a lie board with some impact tape and hit a few with each wedge? I use my lob wedge from about 30 yards out when I have to get over something. Out to 60 yards, I'm one of those guys who likes to use my sand wedge. The bounce prevents me from digging a new foxhole, because I usually have the "Whips & Jingles" when I'm that close and have to use a scoring iron!

Could I take my existing irons to my pro and get him to fit them for me???

Is this expensive?

Hello Craig: As Ian stated, this is not an expensive proposition. 5 pounds in England per club(??) Here in the States, when you buy new Irons, it costs no more to have them fitted than it costs to buy them off the rack. It just takes a few days longer to get the clubs because the factory has to bend them to your lie specification. Also, over here if you buy clubs with a standard lie, and then determine that you need a lie adjustment, the dealer will get that done for you at no charge. You can also have your dealer bend them after you are fitted, (Go on a lie board, swing the clubs with impact tape, and see where you are striking the ball on the clubface), or, if he does not have a bending machine, he will send them to a club maker, (They have to have a bending machine), and they can bend them for you. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest to you that if you are between 5'10" and 6'2", you can most likely use standard lie clubs, ie; off the rack. I am only 5' 7" tall and my clubs are fitted to 2 degrees flat. I use std length clubs however because when you shorten the length of your clubs, you are also shortening the swing arc, and this will have a negative effect on your hitting distance. One word of caution: depending on the make and/or offset design of the hosel of your clubs, you may only be able to have a lie adjustment done at the factory. Your dealer will be able to tell you that. Also, I might add; if you are a 25 handicap using std lie clubs and you get your clubs fitted, you will not become a 5 handicap because you had this done! However, the road to becoming a 5 handicap will be a bit more attainable because you have acquired the best possible equipment required to achieve that goal. Hope this helps. JRY

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"Everything in Moderation, Keep it Simple, Less is Best."

Word of warning with the Cleveland wedges, I had my Pro try and adjust the loft and lie on one a while back and he nearly gave himself a hernia!!! The cast manufacture of the Clevelamds makes them pretty hard. I'm not sure about the very newest ones but you may have to get them sent away to the factory to get the adjustment made.

Yes you are correct. The club maker down the road has professional equipment and bends them all the time. I can't see a local PGA Pro, (Working in a little area of the Starter's Hut) trying to bend golf irons, be they cast or forged.