Equipment
What GolfWRXers are saying about using a 54-degree wedge for all short game duty
In our forums, our members have been discussing the strategy of using a 54-degree wedge for all short game duty. WRXer ‘RoyalMustang’ says on the plan:
“My thinking is that time would be better spent learning to do all of the shots with a single wedge, rather than learning 2 wedge distances and feels with the limited practice time I have.”
And our members have been having their say on the subject in our forums.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- OsnolaKinnard: “I have a 50* GW that is really like an 11 iron. My 54* wedge does pretty much everything around greens and inside of 50 yards except bunkers. The 58* lobber is my ‘sand wedge’.”
- mizunotpz: “The 54 degree is really versatile. As long as you have a grind that is easy to open up. I use 50/54/58. I can hit full shots with my 50, but I never do that with the 54 or 58. That’s 80% shots tops. Most bunkers I use the 54, think its easier to control distance with a 54 vs a 58.”
- Munich77: “I have a PW, 54, and 60. The 54 could be all I need as I use it the most.”
- Minarets: “My 54 degree is my go-to unless the 60° is needed for some kind of flop. I use a 50, 54, 60-degree setup but feel most comfy with the 54.”
Entire Thread: “Using a 54-degree wedge for all short game duty.”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Lefthack
Dec 22, 2020 at 6:16 pm
I am pretty much using my 56 for all things within 50 yards or so. I have a GW and a 60 that I just don’t use.
Pelling
Oct 28, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Most players in their late 50’s and older grew up playing one wedge besides the pitching wedge, usually a 56 degree. Worked great, learned to invent shots. Back then, you didn’t have to buy a new driver, a few wedges, hybrids, irons, or putters every couple years. Clubs lasted. Courses were considered long at 7000 yards. The game was simple. Players took pride in their equipment. There were no lasers, no Trackman, no green books. And, amazingly, a 72 still took 72 shots!
CP
Oct 26, 2020 at 7:53 am
A little clickbaity headline when he’s actually using three wedges for various purposes, not one 54* for everything. Makes it sound like they go from PW straight to 54* when it’s actually PW/50*/54*/58*. Also last I checked bunker shots are part of your short game.
Chungussss
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:57 am
I agree