Wedge bounce on 56 deg?

[Topper]

My sand wedge has been my go-to club around the green.  I occasionally use a gap wedge with OK results although the lob wedge is a little "iffy."  But I'm just not as comfortable with them as my good old sand wedge.  This seems to be especially true this year since I've stopped topping and thinning my shots as much as last year and notice much more of a difference between wedges.  However, one problem I seem to have is using my sand wedge from tight lies which happens regularly on the courses I play where fairway maintenance is modest.  I tend to hit thin.

Here's my question, does anyone carry two 56 degree wedges where one has a standard bounce (~12 deg) and another with low bounce (6-8 deg) to provide more options from different lies?

I know I could probably practice with my gap wedge and open the face or spend more time with the lob wedge, but I am thinking about replacing my lob wedge which I find is the more difficult of the wedges to hit consistently.  Any thoughts on this?

[jesup]

Carrying two wedges that only vary by bounce seems a bit too nit-picky and a wasted opportunity cost as far as taking up one of those precious 14 slots in your arsenal.

With that said, lob wedges are tough to hit off of tight lies.  My advice to you would be to practice these shots if you have some time.  Loosen your grip and drop the club head on the ball as opposed to making a swing at the ball.  This will instantly make your wedge a more forgiving club.  The looser grip and smoother downswing will 'let the club do the work' as they say.

Confidence is a big factor, and practicing boosts confidence!  Most of the time, adapting equipment to your game isn't as good as adapting your game to your equipment, if that makes sense.

[LankyLefty]

This man speaks the truth. I hated my 60 until I started hitting the ground with it like it was a club. It feels weird but you get these amazing little shots that carry way up and rill out only 5-6 feet its really quite nice.

I still have trouble on long swing but on a swing where I need to loft the ball over an obstacle and only have a few feet of green to land on there is nothing better.

[WUTiger]

The irons I played from 1994 to 2008 has a PW, SW, and LW in the set. In 1994, conventional wisdom said that a SW worked better than a PW out of fluffy lies because it had "more flange." Everyday golfers didn't know about "bounce" back then.

Anyway, I pretty much used the stock wedges that came with sets until 2008. I had read casually about "bounce," but hadn't paid much attention to all the variety in wedges. When I switched out irons in 2008, my biggest adjustments was deciding on my wedge "mix."

I talked to my teaching pro, and he's giving people a lesson just on wedges. He'll show different things you can do with bounce, and what wedges just won't work with certain short shots. I plan to take a wedge lesson soon.

Ideal bounce also varies by personal swing type (Sweeper, Average, Digger) and turf conditions. See Ralph Maltby for details: http://www.ralphmaltby.com/50

As for two SWs, some competition golfers own a mid-bounce and a high-bounce SW. On a given day, they carry the one which matches conditions for the day's sand conditions (light, medium or heavy).

[WUTiger]

if you're interested, Maltby's site has other links on wedges besides #50.

[broombroom]

it would be a waste and pointless to get another one with the same bounce it wouldnt provide you with any more options.  you need to work on your technique a bit more and make sure your hitting the ball first.  Having  a lob wedge is an important club I never stopped using them.It is your other option to hitting of tight lies which is one of the many things you can do with it.  It is the easiest club to hit in the bag being the shortest with most loft definately keep it you will use it more when you get better.

[MiniBlueDragon]

I'd say you're better off just taking the 12 bounce with you and learning to hit with the face open various degrees to reduce/increase the bounce as needed.

[glock35ipsc]

My 60°-8° wedge is my go-to club from 65 yards in.  About he only time I ever use the 56°-14° wedge anymore is strictly from the bunker.  You can do a lot of things with the 60° just by opening the face, changing ball position in your stance, etc.  I practice with mine more than any other club, other than the putter.  I'd say keep the lob and practice with it A LOT.  You'll come to love it!

[BostonSully]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

My 60°-8° wedge is my go-to club from 65 yards in.  About he only time I ever use the 56°-14° wedge anymore is strictly from the bunker.  You can do a lot of things with the 60° just by opening the face, changing ball position in your stance, etc.  I practice with mine more than any other club, other than the putter.  I'd say keep the lob and practice with it A LOT.  You'll come to love it!

Yeah I am finding it harder to justify what to do with my SW. I find that by working my GW/LW a bit I dont really need to pull the SW out of the bag very much. I tend to use it only on full shots where the GW would be too strong and I cant hit a full shot with the LW to save my life. So its like a 1purpose club for me.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

Yeah I am finding it harder to justify what to do with my SW. I find that by working my GW/LW a bit I dont really need to pull the SW out of the bag very much. ...

Some of the tour players have split the difference between SW and LW. Rory McIlroy, Jeff Overton, and Lee Westwood have this wedge mix: 48*, 52* and 58*.

[erock9174]

Out of curiosity, what bounce is your LW?

I play a 54.12 out of the sand and use my 60.4 for chipping and full shots.  I agree though with you, the high bounce club is very tricky to play off tight lies.  I tend to only use my 54.12 out of the sand.  Every blue moon I will attempt a full shot, but I'd rather just take a little off my 50 GW and usually get better results.

I guess what I am getting at is, if your LW has less bounce, work with it in the yard until you get real comfortable with it.

When I bought my 60 last year I worked with it at home for about a month before I would take it to the course.  Now it's my go to club around the greens.

try playing it back in your stance and try keeping your weight forward otherwise you will start to blade and chunk shots with it.

[Cut68]

I play a 54 with 8 degree bounce, a 58 with 12 degree bounce, and a 64 ground to 3 degree bounce. I like the 58 from the bunker, on pitches, and from the rough. The 54 is mostly a full swing club for me, but I can play all kind of shots with it. I use the 64 the most of the 3, as I will hit it from 70 yds in from the fairway, most chips, and pitches off tight lies. I can spin the ball to a stop with it from most any distance between 10-70 yds.

It really just depends what you like to do around the greens.