I always try to set my SW to D6 it just feels better with a hefty weight. I also hit a lot of 1/2 3/4 shots with my Sand Wedge and I think the extra SW makes it easy to feel where the head is during the abbreviated back swing.

Higher SW in clubs that are primarily used for fractional swings makes some sense to me. Too easy to get handsy on fractional swings, higher SW will remedy that to some degree.

Stockton specifically mentioned Steve Gallagher and Francis Molinari who once they used his D6.5 wedge had no problem getting out (higher) of the bunker. Stockton said the Nike wedges are the best in his opinion. I believe he said they have less weight in the hosel and more in the toe. He said he's not surprised no one knows how good the Nike wedges are because they never did any advertising. He also likes a no taper grip on his most lofted wedge. Helps with keeping a light grip pressure.

Graphite in a SW may not be a good idea. Unless you have a very low torque shaft, which would also be very heavy(in graphite), and you play out of sand as described above, twisting is a real possibility after the head enters the sand. I have tried graphite in my SW, but quickly found a steel shaft for replacement and never looked back. imo, it makes a huge diff in whether you get out straight, or sideways, or not at all. And the overall weight makes it even easier. I don't think just adding head weight will do it, in fact, I think it will make matters worse(with the twisting).

I use 20 kg-cm2 more 2700 than my hybrids/irons which are 2680 kg-cm2. . 🙂

I have graphite in all my clubs except the SW and putter. I like the extra overall weight for Bunker shots and the SW is D4 on my Eye 2 sand wedges (lead tape).

May pick up a Nike Engage wedge for ~ $71.00 on sale. If it's no better than what I have I can get full credit back at Edwin Watts or Golfsmith. Lee Trevino played a qualifier at my course several years ago and was asked what he thought of the course? He said "they must've got a good deal on the sand." They recently put new sand in and it's the same crappy sand. I have no trouble with my graphite wedges at other courses. It's just the thick sand you need to be very precise it seems. Everyone struggles in our bunkers so it may be that nothing will work any better.

P and V grinds work well in deep sand because of the higher bounce with the narrow leading edge. I like higher SW, D5 or higher, I had a vokey 260 with an E2 SW and it was money.

Like some of the previous posters, I play with graphite shafts in everything EXCEPT my sand wedge and lob wedge.
They are Titleist Vokeys, and I left the steel shafts in them. When I got done lengthening them to fit me, they weighed in at about D-8.....I've played some wedges that were even heavier. That's fine with me, b/c I seldom use the SW or LW for full shots. The heavier weight makes it easier to feel the clubhead on half swings.

I've been doing that in my sw & lw for years,
Don Anderson (Almo knows him) once told me that guys like Nicklaus, used to
pour sand down the shafts of their wedges and cork them so they'd feel
heavier and make it easier to get out of bunkers.

    darpar Baab just puts metal brake fillings down his. well at least his putter, but now he may start doing it on his wedges 👍