![]() ![]() SchiavettaGolf Academy will be having a wedge clinic this Saturday, December 4th, from 12 – 1 pm. Why? Added bounce makes it easier to play without digging too deeply into the turf. Bounce angles of 10 – 13 degrees are preferable. Because of its wide sole, lob wedges can be used for high, soft sand shots. Lob wedges come in lofts from 58 – 61 degrees. Lob wedges are used most commonly when players need very high trajectories and a lot of spin. You can certainly hit those shots with an open faced sand wedge, but a lob wedge makes it much easier. Do you need a lob wedge? From time to time you will be faced with shots that require high carries over bunkers or water hazards to tight pin positions. If you play on tight fairways and hard conditions, low bounce wedges are better ( 0 -10 degree bounce angle). The only finish with performance benefits is the raw finish which will rust over time and helps add spin Which wedges are best for you? If you play on course with lush conditions and fluffy sand, a higher bounce will benefit you most (10 – 14 degree bounce angle). All finishes wear slightly over time and you should choose one that sets up best to your eye at address. FINISH Wedges come in a variety of finishes including polished chrome, satin, black/gunmetal and raw. The “thump” you hear when the pros hit sand shots is the bounce on the sole of the club making the first contact with the sand and not the leading edge digging in. Wedges with a higher bounce angle perform better out of fluffy sand or high grass. A lower bounce will perform better on golf courses with thin bunker beds and and tight lies. Bounce is the angle of the sole measured against a horizontal line (the ground) when the club is in address position and the shaft is vertical. It is designed for high shots around the green, particularly if the golfer needs to hit over an obstacle and have the ball stop quickly.When Gene Sarazen created the first sand wedge, he was creating what we now call ‘bounce’. The lob wedge may also be identified as the L-wedge or UL-wedge, for the ultra lob or 64-degree wedge. The lob wedge is the most lofted club in a golfer's bag, typically with a loft of 58 to 60 degrees, although some club manufacturers are offering lob wedges with up to 64 degrees of loft. ![]() The loft is similar to that of an older pitching wedge - between 51 and 53 degrees. The gap wedge, also known as the approach wedge, got its name because it fills the distance gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The sand wedge an angled sole, measured in degrees of "bounce," that performs better in fluffy sand. The sand wedge typically has a loft ranging from 54 to 58 degrees. The sand wedge, as the name implies, is designed for use in the sand areas, called bunkers, but like the pitching wedge, you can use it for full-swing shots off the turf and for short shots around the greens. This wedge can also be used for half-swing pitch shots and low chip shots around the green. The distance varies from one golfer to the next, but typically, amateurs hit the pitching wedge from 80 to 110 yards. It is designed for full shots when the 9-iron would create too long of a shot. The basic pitching wedge has a loft of 46 to 48 degrees. This readjustment of iron lofts and the desire for more lofted shots around the green led to the development of the gap and lob wedges. The loft of the sand wedge, however, has not changed. ![]() In other words, a pitching wedge has a loft that is similar to that of an older 9-iron. ![]()
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