Sam,

Thank you for the question. It is hard to say with 100% certainty what is the best thing to do without knowing your game and the courses you play. I would say "most" would benefit from having a closer gap between the PW and SW. Those are considered your "scoring clubs" and a 30 yard gap between wedges is hard to compensate for. I know personally I have a lot more opportunities to score in the 115-125 yard range than I do the 215 yard range. I carry the four wedges you are looking to get (47, 52, 56 and 60). In the top of my bag I have a 15* fairway wood and then I go to a 21* hybrid that is turned down -.75*. This set up works well for me as I need the help with distance control more with the wedges. I hope this helps give you some direction in your decision making process.

-Will

I'm with Will.  I carry 4 wedges, and a 21* hybrid, and a 16.5* wood.  I like my chances more from inside 125 than I do from 225.  I'd kick out your 3 or 5 wood, depending on what ever one you hit better, and get the new wedge. 

I have 15 clubs in my bag, I have the wedges you are thinking of getting (P,G,S,L) and am happy with 15 clubs. 

If you have to take one out because of a tournament, then figure out which on is best to leave out for that round, but casual golf doesn't have any rule for number of clubs, right? Not to mention, you can figure out what is really needed after you're playing with them. 

casual golf? If you use scores for handicap purposes then 14 is limit. 14 should be limit all the time..

Sam, you asked for opinions and that's all this is.  In my bag if I needed to rid a club it would definitely be the 3 iron since I can hit the 4 almost as long but a whole lot straighter.  It looks like your 4 iron is almost out to the 3 as well.  Then I'd have to ask whether a 3 iron would impact my score more than a good array of wedges, in my case my four wedges are far more important to scoring than the 3 iron which usually gets me into trouble.  I'd bet that once you get those wedges in the bag and leave the 3 at home you won't miss it much.   Good luck, you'll work it out ...

I would go with the wedges for all the reasons Will said.  Also consider bending your 4 iron 1 degree stronger.  The gap between you 4 and 5 is only 3 degrees.  Making it 4Degree gap may solve your problem.  Your irons are 4 degree gap. Good luck.

I actually carry only 3 wedges (48, 52 and 59). While the loft gaps seem pretty wide, what is really imprtant is the actual "playing" gaps, or is it easy and controllable to mangage the distances with this wedge setup. For me it works very well.

There is quite a bit of work that goes into a good wedge fitting. Looking at the individual player and determining where the breaks in wedges need to be. The best way to figure this out is to get with a fitter and go through a wedge gap fitting. If you live near either of the Tour Fitting facilities (Manchester Lane in MA or Oceanside in CA), they can get you all sorted out very quickly.

Hi Sam,

I have gone the 4 wedge route for the last 3-4 years.  Driver, 3 wood, 3h, 4-PW, 51, 55, 59.  I would rather have a smaller gap between my hybrid and 4 iron than the larger gap in my scoring clubs.  I definitely have more shots in the 130-80 yards vs the 220-200 yard range.  Having my 4 wedges it is easier to dial in those shorter scoring yardages.

Good luck,

Sean

Ditto..regarding 4 wedges; however, with my new set of irons, I put the 4 iron back in the bag and will test my average distance compared to my 3Hybrid. I've temporarily taken my 56 degree wedge out of the bag and swing my 52 @ 3/4 length back to cover the distance.

Current setup:  Driver, 3wood, 5wood, 3hybrid, 4-PW, 52&60 degree, putter

I teased my two playing partners (who happen to be my siblings) mercilessly  for carrying more than 14 clubs; thus, I'm stuck to conform/comply with the USGA max! :-)

Like everyone else has said, I'd drop the 3 iron.  A wedge will most likely be more useful.  Another option would be to go with a 58* lob wedge and then fill gaps from there.  You might be able to get to three wedges just by adjusting the lofts by a degree or two.  I went with a 48, 54, and 58 degree wedges.  It seemed to work well for me and enabled me to add another hybrid at the top of my set.

Sam,

I faced this dilemma a few years ago and decided to dump the 5 wood. My 3 iron is my go to club when I need a 230 yard shot off the tee that must hit the fairway. I realse that most people prefer a hybrid but the thin top line of my 3 iron gives me more confidence. My old bag has the 3 wedge setup and I used to have about a 25 yard gap that caused problem,

Michael

Hey, Sam!

Go with your gut.

Your instincts say to leave out the 3 iron, which is what I've done for the last 5 years.

4 wedges are the way to go!

Good luck!

Vern

Thanks for all the replies, guys!!

You have all shown me an interesting point that I was entirely overlooking: I do face a lot more shots from the 120 range than the 215 range, so I believe the gap wedge is indeed the way to go.  Most of my golf is in the form of tournaments, so 15 clubs isn't really an option (but I might just hang on to the sub anyway for practice rounds and such).  The 3 iron is my go-to iron off the tee, but a 4 isn't that big of a change...  I could always just learn the "stinger"....  I really like the idea of taking my 24* 4 iron and turning it into a 23 degree club.  I could then adjust my 5 wood as needed.  Filling that gap up like that would pretty much solve the problem.  I realize that I don't need as tight of spacing with the long clubs as I do with the wedges.  I am thinking this would fill in that gap perfectly, but to be sure, I should probably go see a fitter..  I know of one about an hour away from home and I am sure he could take care of all of this.

PS: I didn't mean to take so long to reply, but this week has been a little crazy with the holidays..

Thank you all for your direction, opinion, and support.  You have all shown me this issue through many lenses that I would never have noticed without you, so thanks for spending your time and energy to express your thoughts on this issue.  You all have really helped with my decision!  Someday soon I shall rid myself of the 30 yard gap!!

Sincerely,

Sam

Sam,

pull the 3 iron , fill the gap in the wedge game. Looks like You've got enough distance in your game so as to need that gap wedge.

Happy New Year,

Ray G

I agree with everyone pull the 3 Iron and it looks like you would only have a 20 yard gap or so in the long range so choking down on the 5 wood for the 210 range could work. I added a hybrid and pulled the 3 iron and it opened up a wide range for me personally. Chocking down 180 full out 220  and the longer ranges if you can just get close you have a chance at up and down adding a forth wedge you have a chance in the scoring zone for a possible birdie.

Sam,

With your distance I would suggest dropping the 3i and adding a gap wedge.  I have about the same distance and find myself needing a gap way more often than a 3i.  If you find yourself 205+ to 220 you can always choke down on a 5w.  Are you more likely to stick one close from 210 yards (3i) or from 115 yards (gap wedge).   Hope this helps. 

For me this is a no-brainer.  Pull the 5-wood and the 3-iron and replace them with a hybrid that splits the difference, then add the gap wedge.  The majority of your scoring opportunities come at 150 yds. or less.  Take a look at the club combinations in many professional bags and you will see lots of gap wedges.  I did this very thing 5 years ago and lowered my index from 6.2 to 3.9 where it still is today.  I think you will find that the scoring shots are much easier when your yardage gaps are smaller when using the wedges.  Checkout Matt K's bag in one of the latest golf magazines.  Can't argue with his success.

Drop the lob wedge. it's hard to hit consistently unless you have a perfect lie. I have had a Vokey Lob for years and I rarely ever use it. If you follow the guru Pelz, he suggest that you should be able to hit most shots within wedge distance with a pitching wedge....utilizing the necessary feel for distances. I have a SM5 Sand,Gap, Pitching and it's all I need since I can vary the distances of all the wedges.

The 3 iron becomes necessary because if it's versatility and it's ability to obtain a lower ball flight for longer distances. My 915s are great but they do have a high ball flight.  Some time you simply want something  to go far with a low ball flight and some roll................Just Saying

Hey Sam,

Go back and read what you wrote, you already answered your question. When you say "I believe that pulling a 3 iron and replacing it with a gap wedge would be the best option, especially because I struggle with it." If you feel you can't hit it, what are you waiting for? Also, how many times in a normal round of golf do you need to hit a shot exactly 210-215? You hit a 4 iron 205, another 5 yards generally wont matter. If you are 215, choke up an inch or 2 and hit your 5 wood.Why change an entire set because of 5 or 10 yards?

Good luck,

Bob

Sam,

if you. crack a 3 iron down the fairway you friends will keep talking about their kids soccer games that afternoon. When you sick a wedge shot 18 inches from the pin they'll stop and tell you "great shot and nice birdie". You're choice but I love to stick shots with my vokey wedges. Their the only wedges that have been in my bag since I discovered them over two decades ago. 

tim

I would also have to agree with Will because of how close your 4 and 3 irons are in distance. Like they said, the scoring positions are closer to the green and the two-hundred yard range isn't going to make a huge difference. I carry a 46, 50, 54, 59. A 4-5 degree difference between your wedges is what I would recommend.

Alex

Sam,

    I took out the 3 iron and 4 iron years ago I also dropped the 5 wood, it took me a while but I came up with a solution that worked for me. I now carry a 13*--3 wood, 17* hybrid and a 21* hybrid that gives me my 4 wedges which have been a god sent. I found out I can use my hybrids for my different distances by either choking down or swinging at different speeds, many reply's mention they need the shorter clubs because they have fewer longer shots and I couldn't agree more. At time I did this I was a 10 handicap and I am now a 2, I hope this helps but I would try different combinations and find the right for you.

  Good Luck-----

Hey Sam,

          I agree with Will drop the 3 iron and go with the wedges he suggested. I have carried 4 wedges for about ten years now and have never looked back - just watched my handicap fall. 

Good luck,

Tom

For several reasons, drop the three iron.

WW

You and I play a very similar game.

My advice is to get rid of the 3 iron and go with the 4 wedges. As stated, you need more clubs that can help you score better.  The gap wedge will help you get your ball closer to the pin more often.

At the top end of my bag, I have a hybrid 2 iron and a hybrid 3 iron.  For courses 6900 yards and lower, I leave the 3 wood in my trunk

For longer courses 7,000 and longer, I add the 3 wood and usually drop the 3 hybrid or the 4 iron

The more fairways I miss the more I like my hybrids, the more fairways I hit, the more I like my irons

Great question.  I suppose many, many people struggle with which 14 of the 15 clubs they want in their bag