Wedge Gapping & Bounce - Need help ...

[Robi1026]

All,

I'm looking to upgrade / purchase new wedges ... I'm currently gaming 4 - PW: 45 / AW: 50 / SW: 55 / LW: 60

Those 4 are from a RBZ set I purchased 1 1/2 years ago ... I'll probably keep the PW and possibly the AW ... the SW & LW gotta go! - Then again, who knows ... I like to tinker with my clubs ... I could replace the whole set tomorrow if I feel like it ... lol

I have an old Vokey 60 / 04 - which I absolutely love around the greens, bunkers and for 1/2 to 3/4 shots - I'm not great with full LW shots ... I'd prefer to hit a knock down or 3/4 SW shot from 80-100 yards then a full LW.

I'm leaning towards Titleist as imo they are the best wedges / But I'm up for trying out other companies ...

I've played a 64 before and love it out of green side bunkers - but I see it as a specialty club that I'd only use in close sand situations.

Also, I have an old nike 56 / 14 and hate it ... I have a "Bounce Phobia" ... Can someone help talk me out of this? Please! - What are the benefits of bounce? - I've never been properly taught how to use it effectively ... I know it helps a lot of people ... I just don't know how or why ...

What's your current wedge set-up, why & explain bounce to me ...

Thanks,

Rob

[Golfingdad]

... I have a "Bounce Phobia" ... Can someone help talk me out of this? Please! - What are the benefits of bounce? - I've never been properly taught how to use it effectively ... I know it helps a lot of people ... I just don't know how or why ...

What's your current wedge set-up, why & explain bounce to me ...

Thanks,

Rob

I think you came to the right place with this question!  Check out this thread to start: http://thesandtrap.com/t/57874/my-edel-wedges-or-super-bounce-and-why-its-good-for-you-or-the-sweet-spot-is-finally-in-the-right-place/0_30

Bottom line, no matter how much bounce you have on your club, you can always "take it off," or hide it, when you don't want it, by leaning the handle forward a bit.

But there are a lot more cases when you need it than when you don't.  Who in the world likes digging their wedge into the ground and "knifing" the ball 10 yards when you were hoping to pitch it 30?

IMO, there isn't any case where having bounce is going to hurt you, but there are several caes where not having it definitely can hurt you.

Hope that helps.

[mvmac]

What's your current wedge set-up, why & explain bounce to me ...

@Golfingdad basically hit the nail on the head. Check out that thread.

I try to use as much bounce as I can get. Vokey is also a big fan of bounce, he thinks of bounce as "forgiveness". Basically the bounce helps the club "glide" through the turf. If you take off too much bounce or don't have enough, the club will dig.

[saevel25]

@Golfingdad basically hit the nail on the head. Check out that thread.

I try to use as much bounce as I can get. Vokey is also a big fan of bounce, he thinks of bounce as "forgiveness". Basically the bounce helps the club "glide" through the turf. If you take off too much bounce or don't have enough, the club will dig.

I am glad to see Titleist coming out with more grinds in their newer models. I know the listed bounce on wedges isn't necessarily the bounce at impact. Its really tough to figure out which clubs fit you wedge-wise unless you are willing to get fitted with a company like Edel.

I guess the best way to instinctively tell is by contact. If you are hitting wedge pitch shots and catching them fat or chunky with proper technique. That being an athletic move that promotes the use of the bounce. Then I would say that more bounce or a different grind is needed for your pitching motion. Finding that might be a bit more trial and error. Tough to do indoors in the local golf store thought.

[WUTiger]

Club designer Ralph Maltby discusses bounce - along with diagrams - in his link on Wedge Playability.

http://www.ralphmaltby.com/50

[mvmac]

I am glad to see Titleist coming out with more grinds in their newer models. I know the listed bounce on wedges isn't necessarily the bounce at impact. Its really tough to figure out which clubs fit you wedge-wise unless you are willing to get fitted with a company like Edel.

I guess the best way to instinctively tell is by contact.

Yeah you basically want to be able to just scuff the ground, barely bruise the ground. Want to listen for the light "thump" sound.

[Robi1026]

Gents,

Thanks soo much for the links & explanations ... Truly appreciated!!!

I did do some research after I posted the thread ... Basically, what I've gathered is that bounce can offer greater diversity to a golf club if used properly ...

http://www.golf.com/instruction/make-your-wedges-more-versatile-right-mix-bounce-angles

I need some psycho analysis ... If I now know the following: Bounce helps & gives you the ability to play different shots = What I ultimately want ... Why do I still have a phobia?????

Background on me: this is my 4th golf season - I was traditionally a picker (No Divots whatsoever ...) - This off season through lessons and range time, figured out the proper way to swing a golf club, hit down damn it!!!

All of my lessons and time has been on matts so I have no idea what sort of divot I take - Should I wait until it warms up, examine divot patterns & then determine the right degree of bounce???

Thanks,

Rob

[boogielicious]

@Robi1026 ,

Bounce will not hurt you on full swings when you are trying to make a divot.  Where you need bounce more is in sand and for pitch shots.  Check out this thread below.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/39411/quickie-pitching-video-golf-pitch-shot-technique

[David L Yskes]

I had this same thing happen to me last summer....  Went golfing with my brother and he looked at my wedges which was old Cleveland RTX's and goes wow thats a lot of bounce for your 54... which i think was a 12 ???  and my 58 had 8...

Now before this weekend my wedge game was as i usually said , pretty good for my game..    But when my brother started explaining bounce to me... I swear he flippin Sharked me lol..  and i couldnt hit my wedges for crap...

So much i ended up going to the local golfsmith and trading in these two wedges and getting a new 52-8 cleveland...  and about a week or so later, snagged a couple of Vokeys  56-8 , 56-12, and a 60-4.....

So about 500$ later i am right back to where i was with hitting my wedges lol..

Honestly if you are really unsure about what you should be using for bounce goto your local PGA Pro and ask him...   generally different regions , play differently and sometimes play more towards " less bounce or more bounce "

but my thoughts are,,,, if you can hit your wedges good now.....then who gives a crap what the bounce is lol

[mvmac]

Honestly if you are really unsure about what you should be using for bounce goto your local PGA Pro and ask him...   generally different regions , play differently and sometimes play more towards " less bounce or more bounce "

I think "wedgeducation" is getting better. Wedges designers like David Edel, Vokey, instructors like us, Stan Utley, James Sieckmann are putting the word out there about the benefits of bounce. Use as much bounce as you can stand and you'll be better off.