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I originally posted this message in the wrong forum (Meet and Greet) so I will now post it here. Anyway, the issue is, i got a 54 degree wedge (Ben Hogan Riviera) for Christmas, but already have a 56 degree and a 60 degree lob wedge.

My question is: Is it ridiculous to have the 54 and 56 in the same bag? Would it make more sense to change the loft on the 54 to say 52?

Welcome to the board. I may not be the best one to answer you since I carry a Vokey 51* and a Vokey 60*, but 54* and 56* are awfully close to each other. Any chance you could exchange the 54 for say, a 51*?
If you don't carry a gap wedge a 51/52 would fit in there.

what do you think about changing the loft on the 54 degree? Someone suggested that and I was just wondering if changing the loft will damage the chrome finish or the integrity of the club?

I just bought my wedges so I can be of a little help on this one. Your clubs are suppost to be around 4 to 5 degrees difference between each other. My Gap wedge is a 50*, my Sand wedge is a 55* and my Lob is a 60*. You really need to have the loft checked on you PW and then start you gap wedge 4 or 5 degrees from there and then go up 5 degrees each club from there. Then you get into the bounce and that is something that the salesperson may have to help you on depending on your playing conditions.

I'd see if you can exchange the 54* Riviera for a 52* Riviera.

I think drstroud has the right idea. But if you can't exchange it, try hitting both sand wedges together in the same bunker some time for comparison. You might like one better than the other. Maybe one has more bounce than the other and you might carry one where the sand is really soft, and the other where it might be firmer. Bunkers tend to be a bit firmer after rain and softer during the dry weather. Just a thought.

thanks, that helps a lot. I've been playing for years and never knew that.

I actually use a 54* sw, just because I like it more than the 56* I was playing before. I also hit a 58* lw as opposed to the somewhat standard 60* because I can still get the same touch with a little added distance...But, if I were you(I'm definitely not, and our games are most likely totally different, but if I were you) I'd try to trade the 54* in for the 52* like drstroud suggested. But then again, that's just me...

I agree with the above posts that the 54* and 56* are probably too close. It's probably best to go with a gap wedge with the correct loft spacing as suggested by stroud.

Also, keep in mind if you decide to just adjust the loft on the 54* (ie, make it stronger), the bounce of the club will change.

You can usually only bend a forged club +/- 1 degree without possibly damaging the clubhead. This also changes the amount of effective bounce the club may have, i.e. if you bend it to 53, it will have less effective bounce.

Definitely check the loft on your PW first. For instance, my PW is 46*, so I carry a 52* gap wedge, and a 58* lob. I find that a 58* is far more useful than a 60*, at least it feels that way to me. 54 and 56 are far too close together though. See if you can get the 54 bent to 52 and it will be a far more useful club.