When was the last time you went for a wedge fitting? Have you ever had a wedge fitting?
For most of you, the answers will probably be never and no. Whilst driver and iron fittings have grown in popularity, many golfers are still choosing their wedges with little input or consultation from fitters.
The sheer variety of options available could be a factor behind this. Modern wedges aren’t simply differentiated by loft, with manufacturers offering a range of bounce and grind options designed to suit different swings, turf conditions and types of shot.
And according to Avoda UK and European General Manager Toby Graves, wedge fittings deserve far more attention.
“For sure,” Graves said when asked if wedge fittings are overlooked.
“If you look at all the top players in the world, they’re unbelievable from 130/140 yards out.
“From that distance, it’s always going to be wedges or the lower end of the irons, like a pitching wedge, that golfers hit.
“Our ethos is that everyone’s different. Everyone needs a fitting. You could be tall, small, longer arms, longer legs, whatever it might be. Everyone’s different. So why would you then go into a retail store or a pro shop, and just order a set of irons or collect a set of irons from the shelf?”
Why a fitting is so important
It is very rare that the same set-up works for more than one person. What loft, grind or even model you have is very personal and becomes customised to your movements in a fitting.
“Everyone needs to be fitted, and then the club will work for you rather than you changing your swing to work for the club. So for us, it’s super important, whether that be for wedges or irons.”
Avoda is a golf brand that looks to deliver clubs that make the game easier. They’re designed to give players a greater margin for error. The wedge range alone takes a fitting-led approach, with different sole designs and bounce options designed to suit different types of turf and conditions.
These fittings include feedback with professionals to develop a set-up that helps to minimise things like chunks and thins.
For Graves, choosing the right wedge is about having the right tool for the shots and the conditions you’re more likely to play in. Wedges that perform well on wet ground may not necessarily produce the same results when the turf firms up.
“Irons and wedges, it’s like a toolbox,” he added. “You’ve got different clubs to fit different things and different shots. It’s super important to have different options.
“Whether you have the W3s, which is a high-bounce option for us in the UK when it’s wet, which is the majority of the year, as this will help the club to not dig into the ground.
“It makes a huge impact when the club actually hits the ground, whether it’s going to help you or hurt you, depending on what sort of wedge model or grind you have.”
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