Equipment
When to replace wedges? – GolfWRXers discuss
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/wedgesgolfwrx-2.jpg)
In our forums, our members have been discussing the optimal time to replace wedges for those that play a lot of golf. WRXer ‘GoalieDad30’ kicks off the thread saying:
“I play around 150 rounds a year and practice pretty much close to daily. When practicing and warming up for my rounds, I will hit a minimum of 40-50 balls with my wedges daily. I’m wearing a nickel-sized spot on my wedge faces (sadly, it used to be dime-sized …. ).
I replace the grips on the wedges probably three times a year. What’s the rule of thumb/conventional wisdom on when to replace the wedges? I play lofts of 50 / 54/ 58 for gap, sand, lob. They wear in inverse proportion …. 58 is most worn, followed by 54 & 50.
I’ve been a Cleveland guy for 25+ years, so I was hoping to wait until whatever their 2023 intros will be, but I’m concerned I’ve gone too long. Current wedges probably have 200+ rounds on them, with associated practice.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts in our forum.
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.
- StephenMatt: “For someone using them as much as you, I would probably say at least once per year.”
- zap311: “Titleist says after 75 rounds you will see degrading spin around the greens, but they also have a vested interest in selling more Vokeys. Based upon your frequency of play, it would seem like you should replace at least your 58* every year and maybe the 54* too. I heard that pros replace the gap wedge less often since it’s mainly used for full shots and rarely in the sand. Ultimately, the answer to your question is to replace it (a) when you start to see your ball check less than you’re used to and (b) when you can afford to get a new one. “
- RacineBoxer: “You are probably in that 1% of golfers who should replace them every year. If money is no object, you could replace them 2-3 times if you wanted.”
Entire Thread: “When to replace wedges? – GolfWRXers discuss“
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Whats in the Bag
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (July)
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1474.jpeg.a5c612d10479367b74816b12d23b9457.jpeg)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM TI (14 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P-Series Proto (4), P7CB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (5-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-SBC)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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Whats in the Bag
Wyndham Clark WITB 2024 (July)
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_9071.jpeg.bd7e193a75ba8f846701cac826f21671.jpeg)
- Wyndham Clark what’s in the bag accurate as of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 60 6.5 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX
Irons: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi, Titleist 620 CB (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 100HY X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (P, G, S), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey AI-One Jailbird
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wyndham Clark’s WITB in the forums.
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Product Reviews
Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black, Ventus Red review – Club Junkie Reviews
![](https://www.golfwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_6057.jpg)
About the 2024 Ventus: Fujikura has big shoes to fill with the 2024 Ventus shaft lineup as the previous shafts were deemed iconic by most. VeloCore Plus is the technology that will set the new Ventus lineup apart and we saw its debut earlier this year in the 2024 Ventus Blue shaft.
Now it is Ventus Black and Ventus Red’s turn with VeloCore Plus to round out the lineup. VeloCore Plus is the shafts bias core that is made up of different layers, and types, of carbon fiber sheets. This core is built around stability of the club head to ensure it can help deliver center contact more often while adding ball speed. The 2024 Ventus line is now complete with Red for mid/high launch, Blue for players seeking mid-launch, and Black for low launch.
Look & Feel
Out of the box, the Ventus Black and Red match their Blue sibling with a new matte finish to their paint. Black has a simple matte black finish that almost looks charcoal grey in the sunlight. Red is a little more of a drastic change with a deeper hue. I would consider the new Ventus Red’s paint a maroon color that has some nice depth with the matte finish. Out in the sunlight, both shafts look great and don’t transmit any glare from the sun. The classic Ventus graphics are present up near the grip and the Ventus text is now a silver outline near the center. While everything seems new with the 2024 Ventus line, they are easily identified as Ventus shafts.
Feel is such a subjective thing to describe, but both of the new Ventus shafts have good feel to them. For me, the new Black and Red shafts have a slightly stouter feel to them through the swing. The Ventus Black is definitely a stiff profile that is designed for players with speed that takes a little more power to load. The great thing about Ventus Black is that you can get the low spin and launch you need without having a harsh feel and lots of vibration. At impact, you get a little less “kick” as your hands get to impact than the previous Ventus Black. Black will also feel a touch harder to turn over, taking away that feeling of losing it left.
Ventus Red has a softer and more active feel to it than Ventus Black. The handle section feels very stiff and stable while the mid and tip sections allow you to feel the flex of that shaft throughout the swing. As you start your downswing, you can feel Red flex lower down the shaft compared to Black. The softer tip section makes the shaft feel like it really is releasing energy at the point of impact and Red is a little easier to square up and hit a draw with.
Performance
I think we can all agree that the Ventus shafts released in 2018 performed exceptionally well. This new 2024 lineup leans on VelCore Plus to do even better. Ventus Black sticks to its roots as a low launch and low spin shaft. It keeps spin down no matter where you hit it on the face of the club. Typically a low heel shot ramps up the spin number but Ventus Black kept that, and other shots, spin down. Looking at launch monitor numbers, I never had a shot hit 3,000 rpm of spin, while there were a few under 2,000. Launch was also lower than Red both on the monitor as well as just looking at the window of the shot. A flat penetrating flight is what Ventus Black produced shot after shot. The starting line of my shots with Ventus Black were also a little more right of Red. Stability is key with the Black and swinging hard won’t cause the shaft to get loose and create an offline shot.
Ventus Red will offer a higher flight but without adding too much spin. I noticed almost 1.5 degrees more launch but with only around 350rpm more spin. I know people get scared of higher launching shafts, but the new Ventus Red can add some height without adding spin and losing control. While the flight isn’t as penetrating as Ventus Black, Red has not ballooned on me or shown any rise into the wind. The shaft is easier to square up and hit a draw with, but even as a drawer of the ball, I haven’t feared going left with it. For me, Red wasn’t high spinning either with shots averaging just under 2,400rpm for good and poorly struck shots. Shots that didn’t hit the center of the face stayed online well and had less curvature on them than I would have expected.
Final Thought
Fujikura had a tough job to replace the original Ventus, and I think they have done well to make an updated shaft that still shares the core Ventus DNA. You have the same three flight and spin options with a slightly tighter and stiffer feel to them. Performance is top-notch, and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with the new shafts.
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