I got a new wedge today...

[Bigvivec]

Saturday 12 July

So I got a new wedge today…replaced my 56 big bounce wedge and my 60 super low bounce wedge (14* and 4*or 3* respectively depending on which 60 I use) with a 58*/8*…it is a Tourstage forged x wedge, a Japanese/Asian distribution only brand that I wasn’t familiar with until moving over here…Tourstage is apparently the parent company of Bridgestone, specializes in forged clubs, and according to my Japanese friend whose tourstage irons I played a couple of times (great feel btw) is pretty highly revered in Japan…they even have their own shop in the Japanese section of town here with only Tourstage equipment…I looked around and their gear is pretty sweet…anyhow, it is last year’s model, reduced 40% so that it was the same price as a new vokey…the Japanese clubs aren’t cheap, but neither are any of the other clubs over here…anyway, none of that really matters, just a little FYI…the thing feels great! There is a difference between cast and forged wedges despite what Bob Vokey and the rest contend…it’s shafted with an S200 shaft…it was either that or a Nippon which is too light and wispy for my tastes, and I was a little concerned that it would still be too light…not a worry, in fact, the little extra flex in the shaft, and the slightly lighter weight contribute to head feel without having to raise the overall weight of the club via lead tape like I have on the rest of my wedges…on top of that I can feel that I load the club easier at ‘tweener swing lengths…half and three quarter swings will load the club and I can feel the head better, making for a smoother tempo and cleaner strikes…opening the face does very little to the height of the leading edge; it is ground with some heel relief, and supposedly exposes the trailing bounce for use in sand but keeps the leading edge low for fairway use…a little over my head, but it sets very nicely to the ball…pretty psyched about this club and am looking forward to playing my morning round with it tomorrow…a little worried too as I saw a couple of fw’s and a driver that would fit pretty nicely into the bag…:rollup: Haven’t bought a new club in awhile and feel like a kid at Christmas…



Tuesday 15 July

So the results are in...I really like this club! The feel is forged, and the feedback is as well...I am hitting my wedge better than I have for a while mainly due to four hours of practice with it and adjusting to the resulting feedback received...it took some getting used to, and I still mentally flinch at impact in some positions expecting to be jarred by the bounce...it is there but as a brake after impact to keep from digging rather than a bump right before or at impact like I used to sometimes get...anyhow, took some getting used to, and the process isn't over,but it is a superior club...the grind makes the club much easier to use than my vokey, the spin is like any new wedge but still nice, and it just "fits"...now I have to get another one to replace my other vokey...

[EddieC]

Are you changing your 52 to a 53 maybe? just curious what yardages you're looking to play to. I play a 52 at 100yds and a 56 at 85. Was thinking of changing to 53, 58 myself. My Vokeys are 5 years old and starting to wear a bit.

[ringin]

Forged wedges are like hitting a ball with a stick of warm butter...ok well maybe not that soft, but I do like forged wedges. Nice purchase you made there.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by EddieC

Are you changing your 52 to a 53 maybe? just curious what yardages you're looking to play to. I play a 52 at 100yds and a 56 at 85. Was thinking of changing to 53, 58 myself. My Vokeys are 5 years old and starting to wear a bit.

I dunno...still haven't dialed in how far I hit this thing...and most likely I'll buy another wedge to replace the 52...I might try bending to 53* for a test, but we're talking apples and oranges as it seems that I hit this new club farther than I thought I would with what would seem to be my normal swing...

[JPsuff]

.


There's nothing like the feel of a forged wedge!

I played a Vokey for a while but I didn't like it either. It was too hard and it just didn't have that solid feel. Your Tourstage sounds like a nice club and with that S200 shaft it must really feel smooth.

I imagine it's similar to using the old 8-iron shaft trick only with a bit more kick at the bottom. A 58 with a shaft like that ought to get you a solid 70 to 75 yards with a little extra when you need it. If you get a 52 or 53 to go with it along with a similar shaft, you'd probably be pushing 110 without jumping on it.

Personally, I like a bit stiffer shaft in my wedges otherwise they tend to feel a bit whippy with a full (3/4) swing and I tend to lose the clubhead a bit. But for smooth easy shots without pushing too hard, the S200 seems perfect.

-JP

[Bigvivec]

I'm really happy with it and it is sneaky long...I made a couple of three quarter swings with it today, swinging easy, full control over my body and swing, and sent the ball 85 yards, then sucked back to 81 (thank you rangefinder)...distance isn't a big deal other than figuring out where it's going to land with a certain swing, but the feel of this shaft is top notch...I'm looking to buy another one and plug it in at 53* and then I'll be set, and on my next trip back to the states, pick up some s200s because I'm sold on this setup...