14th bag slot, do I need a lob wedge?

Been playing golf for years, but never enough to actually get better. I usually shot in the upper 90s or just over 100. Over the last 2 years, and especially this year, I've been making an effort to improve and have gotten my scores down to the mid 90s mostly. I'm seeing the best improvement in my short game and would actually say that's what I'm best at (though still far from very good), but I don't currently have a lob wedge. I actually only have 13 clubs in my bag, Driver, 3w, 3 & 4 hybrids, 5 - pw irons (my pw being 45 degrees), then 50 and 54 degree wedges. I've gotten pretty good at opening the face and hitting flop shots with the 54 wedge, so is there any need for a lob wedge? At my current level would I even be able to handle one? Is there another club that might be better for me to fill the 14th spot or would I be better off saving the money and continuing with 13 clubs till I improve more? Any advice is appreciated.

There's nothing stopping you. Some people really like them, and the only way to see whether it's your money club or your worst enemy is to shell out the dough. Don't let people tell you you can't hit them just because they can't. People aren't 30 cappers because they suck with the lob wedge, in fact some are pretty decent with one. Do you need one? Not really. Can you hit one? Probably yes if you learn how. But to get the most out of one, you generally need good wedge technique, but that means you can hit most shots with a sand wedge anyway.

Be aware; it's not for every course and you shouldn't use them for every shot. They're a situational club and should rarely be used for full shots. They may be low or high bounce, which affects the types of lies you should use them on, and they don't help much a lot of times. I like having a low bounce LW because my other wedges have more bounce and certain lies make that a disadvantage. I like them on fast greens, shorter courses where I don't need my woods or long irons anyway, and when it's dry. 90% of the time you could get away with another club or shot type, and often you may get better use from an extra club at the other end. That's basically where you come in. If you don't have any major gaps in the set, by all means add a wedge. Being stranded around the greens a lot is an indication that your long game is hopeless, so it may be worth the extra shot or two a round where the LW can save a stroke instead of adding a club elsewhere.

You have a low lofted SW, so having a higher lofted club may help around the greens. I'd say maybe buy one, but swap out other clubs if you have certain needs? If there's another specialty club you benefit from, it may serve you better. An example would be a long iron used as a driving iron on windy days to keep it down and controlled, a strong 3 wood for extra length off the deck on long par 5s, or maybe an extra wood like a 5 or even a 7 that works better than your hybrids or gives you a different trajectory or distance.

I'd highly suggest getting a 58 or 60. If I were you I'd get the 54 bent to a 55 then buy a 60. That way you have a consistent gap between wedges.

I know I'll take a beating over this from all the high handicappers that "just LOVE their lob wedges", and who think that I'm a low handicap snob, but please don't put one in your bag now.

A lob wedge is a great club and very versatile, but it's also a very difficult club to hit consistently.  This game is all about gaining consistency, especially for newer/less accomplished players.

You didn't mention the bounce on your 54* wedge.  If it's not over 10*, I'd offer that a high bounce (14* or so) 56* wedge would make for a great option and would likely help improve your green side bunker game.

If your 54* wedge has the higher bounce and you like it out of the sand, I'd HIGHLY recommend a chipper.  People who don't know any better may tend to chuckle as you when you pull it out, but you'll cut strokes off your game quickly.  I've known some VERY good players that play them.....and they're deadly around the green.

Alright, let the abuse begin.  I can take it.

Having a 60* as a high capper should be a rarely used club. But... when the situation is right, it can be a great club. Maybe only once or twice a round when you have the ball sitting up and NEED to get the ball high and soft. Resist the temptation to use a 60* and try a flop when you don't really need to. Phil may use his high loft clubs a lot. You are not Phil.

I say go for it.  I just added a lob wedge to the bag.  I don't use it much but I like having it.  NO club is consistently easy to hit for mid to high cappers.  I don't really understand how lob wedges get labeled so hard to hit.  If you are good with your other wedges and your short game is your strength, you should have no problem hitting one.

Thanks for the replies. The bounce on my 54* is 10*. I do feel pretty comfortable in the sand with it so maybe I'll check out chippers. I never even thought of getting one because I was under the impression that if you showed up to a course with a chipper in your bag they would throw rocks at you until you left.

I think I'll see if any of my friends have a 58* or 60* I can try out next time I'm at the range and see how it feels.

Given that your 54* has 10* of bounce I might suggest a 58* with about 6* of bounce. That would give you some versatility in your bag having a low bounce option when you need it. Really a good option when having to hit off of hard packed sand. Also a good option to chip with around the green when you shor side yourself. I agree with the others that it is a club to be used sparingly - not every shot requires you to flop it on.

They'll throw rocks at you when you start taking their money!

As LuciusW says, some people can hit the lob (including mid-HDCPers), others can't. You might get a 58*, as that's easier to handle for some people than a 60*. About half the PGA Tour players have a wedge of 58* or less as their most lofted.

A local pro suggests that some people have trouble with the LW because they try to hit it too hard... the ball only goes higher into the wind and not much longer. A couple of guys I've played with use the LW only for half swing shots or less.

Give it a try, and see if it works. If it doesn't, trade it for some golf balls.

I'VE GOT IT!

Been thinking about the OP and wondering what I'd tell a beginner friend, and I've got a great answer:

Get a Tour Striker 7-iron and use it every time you are on the range or warm up. It counts as a club so I need to leave mine back in the car after warming up. You could keep it in your bag as one of your 14 clubs. It will give you the opportunity to really improve your game as you learn how to hit it well.

Fair enough to offer your opinion.  Just don't pretend it's a fact.  YOU think the 58-60˚ is very difficult to hit consistently.  I never found that to be true.  I got my 60˚ when I was probably a 13-14.  It was instantly and BY FAR my best greenside club.  As I've gotten better I've gone back to mixing it up more and taking shots around the green both with my 54˚ and 60˚, but the 60˚ is still my go to club more often than not.

I don't get the oh so careful with the 60˚ advice.  If you take a fat swing and clump the ball 10 yards, it's still gonna be a fat ugly clumper with a PW or GW, no?  Maybe it'll go a bit further, but it's still not gonna be the shot you want.  And a thin shot is a thin shot.  I feel like the only added danger is actually exactly when the ball is sitting up, cause then with a 60˚ it's easier to basically whiff and slide the club totally under the ball and just sort of fluff the ball up with the grass a yard or two.

I must be off.  I consider my 54* to be a gap wedge and my 58* to be a sand wedge.  I have 12* of bounce on my 58* and it's fantastic from the sand.  Also can be opened up for flop shots when I short side myself.  Which I do often.  I probably use my 58* wedge 3 to 5 times a round.

Do Tour Strikers really work that well? I was actually considering getting one for awhile, but with so many different training gadgets out there I wasn't sure if it would be worth the money.

you dont NEED one, but I strongly recomend you do.

Umm, how 'bout an umbrella?

Don't know if everybody NEEDS a lob wedge. If you feel that it's a part of your game that is missing, then by all means.

I agree with MDL this is your opinion, not fact. I too use a 60 degree wedge and I rarely mis-hit it and use it often. I am not a great player or an instructor, and I have also heard that they are hard to hit.  For me that is NOT the case