Around the same time, lofts started getting stronger and a "gap wedge" became required between the pitching wedge and sand iron.
Then lofts got even stronger so the pitching wedge and gap wedge became equivalent to 8 and 9-irons, not one but two clubs strong.
So now, I've got wedges in my bag set at 44, 49, 54, and 58º plus a sand iron set at 64º.
The 44 and 49 are no bother as they're just very slightly weak 8 and 9-irons from when I started out in the early 1960s.
The 54 and 58 are definitely turf wedges, however, and the sand iron can conceivably be hit from the turf as well. It has a wider sole than I'd like from turf, but no bounce when the face is square.
The plan, when multiple wedges became common, then, was the "clock method." Record a matrix of distances with how far you hit each wedge with half, three-quarter, and full swings.
Well first of all, this resulted in loft overlaps. Second, it required far more practice time than I was willing to devote.
I was forced to discover an alternate short-game strategy for multiple wedges.
I finally settled on something. I now use the FORCE to guide me on which wedge to hit and how hard to hit it.
Much simpler than the "clock method."
