Voice over: Michael Robles
Music: Andrew Apple pie
Most golfers understand that wedges differ by loft – typically from a 45 degree pitching wedge up to as high as 64 degrees for the most extremely lofted lob wedge. But what about the bounce angle? As the name implies, the ‘bounce’ (in layman’s terms, the curvy bit on the sole of the wedge) enables the head to ‘bounce’ out of the sand or rough without snagging. On a sand wedge, for example, you’ll see that the trailing edge hangs below the leading edge. Take a club and put in the address position and you’ll see a space between the ground and the leading edge of the wedge. High space = High Bounce angle.
The most bounce you’ll ever see on a wedge is about 18 degrees – but it can be as low as 2. Doesn’t amount to a hill of beans we hear you say. But there you’d be wrong. Using a wedge with the right combination of bounce and loft for the sort of course you play and the sort of swing you have can make a big difference to your short game. So how do you decide what’s best? Here’s a quick guide – with thanks to Cleveland golf for the imagery.
Low Bounce Wedges
Low bounce wedges Low Bounce Wedges are ideal for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions. The combination of less bounce and narrower sole-width lowers the leading edge of the blade to promote a clean contact. Perfect for players who like to be creative around the greens and in the bunkers and who have shallow attack angles through impact. Less bounce and narrower sole width make it easier to open the face and hit high, soft landing flop shots. Low bounce wedges are typically in the lower loft range – eg pitching and gap wedges which are used for longer approach shots. A lot of bounce would be undesirable because it would make it more difficult to get the leading edge under the ball, causing you to ‘thin’ it.
Golfers who strike down at a sharp angle can put a lot of back spin on the ball – and may benefit using wedges with very little bounce (less than 8 degrees), but they are a minority of golfers. As a rule, most golfers are better off with more bounce (10 to 14 degrees), not less.
Standard Bounce Wedges
Low bounce wedges Standard Bounce is the best all-around wedge for playability in all types of conditions for all types of players. It is very versatile for players who like to be creative around the greens. The Standard Bounce is also an excellent choice for players who like to play an open or square face out of the bunker, and who have an average to slightly steeper attack angle.
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