Finally Dialing In the Lob Wedge ...

**dave s** · September 8, 2008

Added a LW this spring and took pretty much all season to dial it in on the closer wedge shots. It's both amazing and scary taking a full swing with a club when you can practically see the cup!

Nearly staight up and hit-stop by the hole. Finally getting the shots ALL the way to the hole and having faith in the 'stop' part of the shot. Nice concept these 60* wedges! Now, it's back to the putting green to dial in dropping the 5-6' putts on a more regular basis.

It's always something ....

dave

**dragonflyin** · September 8, 2008

I also love my 60 degree wedge for those flop shots, but I've been fighting the urge to use it on all greenside shots. Gotta keep the PW and SW for those bump and runs!

**Dub** · September 8, 2008

Glad you are getting good results with it.

It is certainly an interesting club when used at the right time.

I'm not smart enough to discern when that always is, though.

I've got to get some quality golfing time with my father, soon. He's the best lob wegde player that I've ever played with. I really want to have him teach me some feel shots.

The full swings from 55-70 yards are "no-brainers"...I set up with the ball back from center and take a full swing. I'll also use it for tight greenside bunker play. That is about the extent of my own proficiency with this club.

Dad is able to take a nice full length flowing swing and follow through and nestle the ball tight from close in. It simply amazes me. I've seen him hole out these shots on numerous occasions.

One of his keys is that he highly values the short game thus he invests the time on practicing it. He also loves the soft & spinny balls. I don't think I'll ever see him switch from his beloved ProV1s. Gonna try to get him on the Bridgestone 330 RX, though.

dragonflyin...you are right on target....gotta keep the right bump-n-run clubs active, too.

**JCDot33** · September 8, 2008

I too added a LW to my aresenault this year ... this is a club that takes a lot of confidence to swing ... it is scary to take a full swing from 50 yards out if you aren't used to it ... but when you get the right "spinny" ball the results are amazing ... I have been isolating this club during some practice time over the last week and my ball is just "popping" off the club-head right now and almost stopping on a dime on the green ... it's a lot of fun when you get it dialed in ...

When it comes to bump-n-runs I was taught that you use a 5 or 7 iron (depending on the amount of "bump" or "run" you need ... ) I am not sure I could ever do it with a P/SW I just don't feel that there is enough "run" with those clubs ... maybe I am just hitting the shot incorrectly ...

**goblue107501** · September 9, 2008

I also love my 60 degree wedge for those flop shots, but I've been fighting the urge to use it on all greenside shots. Gotta keep the PW and SW for those bump and runs!

If you can get the touch and feel down to hit it on all shots it would be a great advantage. If I was good enough to determine the distance control on a 20 yard uphill shot out of the rough and a 13 yard downhill shot from the fairway to just flop the ball next to the hole and have it stop, I would. Problem is the consistency, it would be very hard to do every time.

**dave s** · September 9, 2008

If you can get the touch and feel down to hit it on all shots it would be a great advantage. If I was good enough to determine the distance control on a 20 yard uphill shot out of the rough and a 13 yard downhill shot from the fairway to just flop the ball next to the hole and have it stop, I would. Problem is the consistency, it would be very hard to do every time.

Rarely do I even attempt a 'flop shot.' As you mentioned, results are too inconsistent because the shot is so rarely needed if at all.

I use the 60* wedge for about anything beyond 25-30 yards, or a bit closer if in the rough, but NEVER off a really tight lie like the approach apron of the green where it's cut down nearly as close as the green. Still use the SW, PW or even a 9 iron for those shots depending on the lie whether uphill (9/PW) or flat (SW). Lot of options around the green depending on the situration. But it is really cool to swing nearly full out from the rough about 25 yards out and have the ball stop within 5' of the hole with the LW! Earlier in the year I was hitting it 80-90% of the distance to the hole and that's pretty much where it was stopping. It was kind of a mental barrier I have to overcome to get that last 10-20% fly back to the hole. Just couldn't break through swinging harder due to the conditioning of the SW distance and swing! Cool to get 'em to the hole on a more consistent basis now! dave

**jasongst** · September 9, 2008

I seem to be using my lob wedge less and less. I don't know what the typical yardage is, but lately I'm preferring to hit a partial sand wedge. I think I fear the occasional blade or shank that, due to the full swing, sends the ball to some very undesirable spots. The lob wedge still comes in handy around the green though.

What I don't understand is how pros can hit it 90 yards.

**rgoudy1975** · September 9, 2008

What I don't understand is how pros can hit it 90 yards.

I know...I can hit it 90 yards

high . :) I love my lob wedge but I use it discerningly. I play weekly with a friend who uses it for every shot around the green and he mishits it 75% of the time; he always comments "awwwwww, I didn't get all of it". I have tried to talk him into using a 7 iron (or so) to chip with when necessary, but he won't have it so I've stopped harping on him. To each his own, and I pick up about 1 stroke on him around every green.

**907golfer12** · September 9, 2008

I seem to be using my lob wedge less and less. I don't know what the typical yardage is, but lately I'm preferring to hit a partial sand wedge. I think I fear the occasional blade or shank that, due to the full swing, sends the ball to some very undesirable spots. The lob wedge still comes in handy around the green though.

I carry my 58* LW 103 yards, how do I do it, I don't know? But I know that it's legit since I laser the yardage to the pin and hit the LW.

**jasongst** · September 9, 2008

I carry my 58* LW 103 yards, how do I do it, I don't know? But I know that it's legit since I laser the yardage to the pin and hit the LW.

How far do you hit your other clubs?

**907golfer12** · September 9, 2008

Driver- 240
3 Wood- 225
4 hybrid- 205
5 iron- 185
6 iron- 175
7 iron- 165
8 iron- 155
9-iron- 145
PW- 130
GW- 120
SW- 112
LW- 103

These are all my carry distances

**jasongst** · September 9, 2008

Weird! You have about 10 yards on me with the other clubs (except driver, which I seem to have plenty of distance with), but certainly not enough to justify the difference in our wedges. I can only dream of hitting my 56deg 103 yards, let alone a 58 or 60!

What setup do you use for your full wedge shots?

Driver- 240

**907golfer12** · September 9, 2008

Half a ball back of center, turn, keep my weight over the ball, and accelerate through the bottom.

**jasongst** · September 9, 2008

How far apart are your feet, and how open/closed is your stance?

Half a ball back of center, turn, keep my weight over the ball, and accelerate through the bottom.

**907golfer12** · September 9, 2008

I have a fairly narrow stance, and my stance is a tiny bit open.

**ScottRempel** · September 9, 2008

I think a lot has to do with the true loft you are hitting the ball with. I can take a full swing with my LW and hit it 90 yards...or I can do the same and hit it 60-70 yards. If you deloft the club it is still technically a LW, but it might be playing more like a SW, for example. It's the same reason Sergio can hit a 4 iron 250 yards or whatever.

So, if you are playing it back in your stance and keep your hands well ahead you may be closer to 56 degrees of loft then 60. I know I'm not hitting my 60 degree nearly as far anymore because I've moved my ball position for all irons towards my front foot.

**907golfer12** · September 9, 2008

Yeah, that is very true, but my ball position is just barely back f center, and my hands are at my zipper.

**Open-Faced Club Sandwedge** · September 10, 2008

Yeah, that is very true, but my ball position is just barely back f center, and my hands are at my zipper.

At address, or at impact? You may think they're the same, but they may not be, and the ball only cares about impact. I know from watching slow-motion swings of pro golfers that their hands at impact are much further ahead of the clubface than they are at address, meaning much less loft.

-Andrew

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Finally Dialing In the Lob Wedge ...

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