Lob Wedge... yes or no?

[ipark1303]

Hi Guys,

just curious to hear your opinion on the advantage of having a lob wedge in

the bag...

[seppo]

I have a Lob Wedge in the bag and i really like the fact that the ball stops dead where it lands, something i haven't done with my sand wedge yet. The Main Problem is i am not to good at pitching. I always aim to much to the right (I suppose i must have a serious eye problem ) and therefore the "stop dead shots" are only nice to look at but the resulst need to get better.

[aquacooled]

I have one.. sometimes two a 60° and a 64° however I only use one when the weather is as wet as it is..

[ezmoney5150]

I have a Cleveland 60 degree wedge and I use it when I have to hit the ball high like if I short side myself. I really don't hit full shots with it. The thought of blading the ball over the green keeps me from trying it

[cmarkmyers]

I love my 60* - Full shots are never a problem, short bunker shots are not so scarey, the occasional flob shot works, and I have honed a perfect 50 yard pitch. Well, perfect for me. I know that most people would say high handicappers just get into trouble with 60* wedges but I get out of it more than I get in.

[John Boy]

I carry one, but I could live without it. I think too many high handicappers try to make it work. I also prefer to spin a sand or gap wedge then flop a lob wedge. In fact, the only time I really use it is if I got served up a fried egg and I am short sided to the pin or if I am 80 yards from the pin and it is tucked up tight to the front of the green. Otherwise, I feel better with a sand or gap wedge in my hand. I can keep my turn and swing tighter and hit a much more controlled shot.

[popey]

I cant stand the things!!!!! I only carry 13 clubs and could easily find foom for one but i dont want one!!!

Carry a sand wedge for all those tricky little shots but always try to use a lower lofted club around the greens to get the ball on the deck and 75% get up and down. I find it easier to open up a 56 to flop the ball.

I heard a while back that the R and A and the USPGA were considering banning lob wedges to bring more skill into the game. I have not heard any more but the fact that they have not rulled it out and that Tiger has shown his support to the idea that it might happen in the near future.

[puttmaster]

Watch one of Micklesons flop shots and tell me that is not skill. If they want to bring more skill back into the game then they need to quit making the courses so long and bring in more trees and traps. Make shots more risk-reward.

But to answer your question...a lob wedge is a must for me. It is by far the most deadly club in my bag. From 60yds in.....watch out. It is also helpful for short sided sand shots.

[allin]

I use mine a lot. In response to the high handicappers shouldn't post I believe that any handicap level that is willing to practice with one can use them, they are just not that tough. If you are a short hitter like me, and don't hit the ball high with a lot of spin they work great for short shots into the green. I do see a lot of golfers try to do to much with them. Taking the club way outside with the face layed way open takes incredible nerve. If you are that good then you probably have other options. Since a lot of courses are adding rough close to the green, short chips, especially down hill are more consistent for me than with a bellied wedge or 7wd.

[LarryK]

Consider the following situation:

Ball sitting in moderately deep rough about 35 yards from the green with a large, tall tree midway between the ball and the green completely blocking your approach. Trying to go under means negotiating more rough and maybe even a sand trap.

I have actually pulled this shot off two of the three times I had to try it. Open the blade on my 60-degree as wide as possible and come straight down behind the ball as hard as I can. The one time I missed, I clipped a few of the upper most branches and came up short. No other club would have given me a chance.

Definitely love my lob wedge.

[wachesawgolfer]

Great idea. Buy one and first, use it at home and chip on the carpet to a target to get a feel for the club. The fuller shot is really no different than any other wedge. Be careful chipping with it as it is easy to skull the ball. It works great out deep trap shots, you can putt with it from the edge of the fringe, and take a full swing just off the green from deep rough. The list is endless. Keep it handy to chip on the carpet as it hones the chipping motion very well by its unforgiving blade.

[pmcarync]

Yes, I have a 60degree in my bag mainly because I can get it a little higher and stop it faster than with my 56degree (admittly it could be mental). That said, if i'm in a game/match/tournament where the number of clubs matter, if ground or wind or etc. conditions merit I might leave that one out to keep the hybrid in the bag. The two wedges I can't live without is the 56 and 52.

[jrbechthold]

I have a 60, but have never used it. I just got it over christmas and aside from chipping onto the couch cushions in my front room, I will have to wait for the snow to melt - but I guarantee it will be in my bag.

[Chas]

I own a LW, but stopped putting it the bag a while ago. Instead, I learned to play the flop shot with a SW, open up the face, aim left (for a RH person) and give 'er a full, smooth swing with plenty of follow-through. Like Tiger does (OK, not exactly ....). It's a surprisingly reliable shot actually, you just have to commit to it and don't play off of hardpan of course.

I've got nothing against the LW really, but I needed the extra slot in the bag for another club - an extra hybrid in fact. Your experience may vary.

[Lumpy_22]

As quite a few members have said, it's great for short sided shots with not much room to work with... Can work it past the hole and back as opposed to fooling with that short landing area in between a bunker and fringe....

But it all comes to preferance and course... If you're playing a longer course, you might consider as mention an extra hybrid... I've carried a 52 & 58 when I opt for two wedges...helps brige the gap...helped I bent an old one two degrees closed for this purpose..lol

But best to use course management, use full shots into the green for higher handicaps, and work on that short game twice a much as the full swing, you'll see improvement much quicker... I know the 12 footers are easier to make than the 30 footers.....

Best of luck...

[BritBoy]

I guy I play with is a killer with his 60. If I took it out of his bag he would be lost!!! But I never had that much success with one.
I used to have 1 in the bag but I dont carry it anymore. I always found it hard to convince myself that a 75 yard shot would need a full swing, a 3/4 SW is a much more confident shot for me to play..... and we all know what confidence does right!?!?!?!

[uglande]

Yes! But you can't swing it like a weenie. The lob wedge will make a chump out of you if you let it. Just take your normal swing and let the club do the work. If you make it your BEE-ACH, you won't know how you got along without out. But if you play scared with it (look up, flip your wrists, shorten your follow through) you'll be unloading it on eBay as quick as you can say "SKULL!"

[jrbechthold]

I guess I am just odd, but I use my 60 out of the sand - my 52 is my go to wedge, either full, 3/4 or half... but if I need a good flop over an obstacle/bunker, I will use the 60. I love swinging my wedges. I probably practice more with those than any other club other than my drivers. (I have 2 and I can't decide which one I like more. Decisions, decisions.)

In my above post it should read I have a New 60 - but have yet to use it. My old one was used too much.