A proper set should produce 10–15 yards of consistent carry between every club, top to bottom. When the gaps run tight or wide, you're either leaving distance on the course or stuck between clubs on every approach. Here's how we run a gapping analysis using a launch monitor and a loft/lie machine.
What You'll Need
- Launch monitor (TrackMan, GCQuad, Foresight, SkyTrak, FlightScope, etc.)
- Loft and lie bending machine
-
Brass bending bar
- Quality range balls (or premium balls if outdoor)
- Notebook or fitting software to log carry averages
- The player's full set, including wedges and any hybrids
Step 1 — Set Up the Launch Monitor
Calibrate the monitor and confirm it's reading carry distance, not total. Carry is what matters for gapping — total distance varies with wind, roll, and turf condition.
Step 2 — Hit 5-10 Shots Per Club
Work from longest to shortest, or shortest to longest — just stay consistent. For each club:
- Have the player hit 5–10 full shots.
- Throw out the obvious mishits (thin, fat, off-toe).
- Record the average carry of the remaining shots.
Aim for repeatable strikes, not the longest one. The goal is the player's average carry, not their best.
Step 3 — Build the Gap Chart
Lay out every club's average carry in descending order (driver down to lob wedge). Calculate the gap between each adjacent pair.
What you're looking for:
- Gaps under 10 yards = clubs are doing the same job. One needs to be strengthened or weakened
- Gaps of 10–15 yards = Perfect. Leave it alone.
- Gaps over 15 yards = a hole in the bag. The shorter club needs to be strengthened, or longer club to be weakened.
Step 4 — Identify the Problem Clubs
Common findings:
- Long irons running together (4i and 5i hitting the same number) — usually swing speed is too low for the long iron. Swap for a hybrid.
- PW to GW gap too wide — modern game-improvement irons have a PW at 43°. A standard 50° 52° or gap wedge leaves a 7° - 9° jump and a 15-20+ yard hole. Solution: a 48° gap wedge instead.
- Wedges bunched too close — Aim for at least 4° of loft between wedges in a wedge system.
Step 5 — Adjust Lofts on the Bending Machine
The math: 1° of loft change ≈ 2–4 yards of carry distance.
- Strengthen loft (less loft) = more distance
- Weaken loft (more loft) = less distance
For an iron carrying 5 yards short of the gap target, strengthen the loft by ~2°. For one carrying 5 yards too far, weaken by ~2°.
Bend per our Loft and Lie Adjustment guide — and remember, strengthening loft increases offset and reduces bounce. Don't over-bend wedges where bounce matters for turf interaction.
Step 6 — Re-Test on the Launch Monitor
Hit 5–10 more shots per adjusted club and re-measure. Iterate until every gap falls in the 10–15 yard window.
Important Notes
- Drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids can't be bent for loft. Use the adjustable hosel sleeve to change effective loft, or swap the head.
- Indoor vs outdoor data differs. Indoor launch monitors estimate carry from launch and spin — not a measured ball flight. Outdoor data on a real range is more accurate for gapping.
- Gapping is a snapshot. Swing speed changes seasonally. Re-run the analysis every spring or after any significant equipment change.
- Faster swings produce wider natural gaps. Tour-level players often see 13–15 yard gaps; mid-handicaps typically see 10–12. Dial to the player, not to a fixed number.