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how does selecting test golf wedges

by Prof. Alverta Wilderman Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Wedges are consider low bounce usually if they have a bounce angle of 4 to 6 degrees. A quick test to determine if you should use a low bounce wedge is to look at your divots. Do you take shallow divots, sweeping the golf ball of the ground?

Full Answer

How to choose a set of wedges?

The key in choosing a set of wedges is to make sure that there are no big gaps in loft between the lowest lofted iron in your golf club set and the first wedge.

How many degrees of gap between wedges should you have?

It’s recommended to have four degrees of difference between wedges. For example, if your pitching wedge has a 48° loft then you should have a 52° gap wedge, a 56° sand wedge and a 60° lob wedge. Proper gapping depends on how many wedges you prefer to carry in your set and the loft of the highest-lofted club in your set.

What is a gap wedge in golf?

This is why the pitching wedge is often a staple club every golfer carries in their bag to cover the gap between your chipping wedge and your 9 iron, but some players also add a gap wedge as well. If you’ve ever analyzed a wedge closely you’ll notice that it doesn’t sit perfectly flat on the ground.

How many wedges should you carry in your golf bag?

Not every golfer is comfortable with a high-lofted lob wedge. If you want to carry two more wedges, you can add a gap wedge and sand wedge with large loft gaps to stay consistent. For example, if you have a 45° pitching wedge, you could play a 50° gap wedge and 55° sand wedge.

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Is a 58 or 60 degree wedge better?

As a general rule, average golfers have an easier time hitting a 58-degree wedge compared to a 60 degree. A 58-degree wedge will give most golfers more forgiveness and will also provide more consistent distance control.

Is a 56 or 58 degree wedge better?

For the average golfer, having a 56-degree wedge in your bag will be much more beneficial than having a 60-degree wedge. Sand wedges (54-56 degrees) are the most versatile wedge you can have while lob wedges (58+ degrees) should only be used by better golfers.

What degree wedges should a high handicapper carry?

What Loft Wedges Should A High Handicapper Carry? High handicappers should carry at least a 56-degree wedge. In addition, it makes sense to have a 52-degree wedge and a 60-degree wedge to have a variety of shots. The thing that you have to pay attention to is the loft gapping in the set.

What wedges should an average golfer use?

Pitching Wedge A pitching wedge is generally the only wedge included in a modern iron set. Golfweek explains that the average male golfer hits a full pitching wedge between 100 to 110-yards. Obviously, that distance depends on the wind, moisture, and how cleanly you strike your shot.

What 3 wedges should I carry?

Know your pitching wedge loft. If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

Which wedge to use for chipping?

What degree wedge is best for chipping? For most golfers, a gap wedge or a sand wedge with loft of between 52° and 56° will produce the most consistent outcome when chipping. This is because you'll be able to play most short-game shots you're likely to come across out on the course.

What wedges should a 15 handicapper carry?

A mid handicapper should have a sand wedge with a higher bounce (10+ degrees) and a lob or gap wedge with a mid bounce (7-9 degrees). Mid handicaps should avoid wedges with low bounce.

Why are Vokey wedges so good?

The Vokey SM8 wedges feature spin-milled grooves that create acute spin control and progressive CG placement for optimal launch. The CG's of the wedges in this set are also set slightly forward to increase MOI. This is the main feature that makes these wedges so congenial for high handicappers and beginners.

How far should you hit a 56 degree wedge?

How Far Should You Hit A 56 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 56-degree wedge 84 yards, but the range can vary between 75 and 105 yards. Longer hitters who take a full swing typically hit over 100 yards, but most golfers take a 1/2 to 3/4 swing with their sand wedge.

What are the best wedges for a mid handicapper?

Best Golf Wedge For Mid HandicapperTitleist Vokey SM9 Wedge. A wedge so good it features in our 2022 Editors Choice Awards. ... Ping Glide 4.0 Wedge. ... Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge. ... MacGregor V Foil Wide Sole Sand Wedge. ... Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 Wedge. ... PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge. ... Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge. ... Mizuno T22 Wedge.More items...•

Is a 64 degree wedge a good idea?

A 64 degree wedge is best used for very short distance shots, or shots where a lot of height is needed. Generally, if you are about 5 yards away from the green, or are on the far side of the green, this club will benefit you greatly. Any distance beyond 40 yards and this club will come up short for green shots.

What wedges does Phil Mickelson use?

He has opted for a raw, uncoated finish that tarnishes over time but Callaway PM Grind wedges are also available in a platinum chrome finish. A KBS Tour V 125 S+ is Phil's choice of shaft in his wedges.

Different Types of Golf Wedges

Choosing which wedges to keep in your bag is a difficult decision, there are a plethora of factors to consider.

Characteristics in Wedges

Now we look at the different aspects of a wedge and how to determine which one to buy and which characteristics would suit you better. The first thing for you look at is the loft of the wedges.

Golf Practice Plans with Step by Step Schedules to Follow

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What is a lob wedge?

A lob wedge utilizes a very shallow club face, allowing for full swings even when close to the green, with the ball traveling very high instead of very far. The majority of all shots on a golf course occur within 150 yards of the green, making a vast arsenal of wedge shots helpful for getting the ball as close to ...

How to increase loft on a golf ball?

Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, while moving your lead foot away from the ball slightly, to open up the club face, increasing the degree of loft. This technique is useful when you need to play a shot at a flag where there is a bunker or rough in the way and you need to stop the ball quickly.

What does the groove on a golf club do?

The more grooves on the face of the club, the more back spin the ball will have as it leaves the club face. The grooves serve to catch on the ball as the club slices through it, spinning it backwards as it launches it off the face.

Can you play more than one wedge?

When more than one wedge will work in a given situation on the course, choose the wedge you are most comfortable playing for each individual shot on the range. For example, if you are more comfortable hitting a flop shot with your lob wedge (where the ball is hit high into the air with a lot of backspin), that is still an acceptable shot, ...

What is the rule change for wedges?

Andrews, has eliminated the use of deep grooves in wedges. Deep grooves gave golfers an unfair advantage by creating more backspin.

What are the new rules for grooves on golf wedges?

Deep grooves gave golfers an unfair advantage by creating more backspin. The new rule restricts groove volume and edge radius on wedges, resulting in a higher launch angle and less backspin. As a result of the new rule, you’ll see two types of grooves on wedge – vintage finish and laser-etching.

What is the loft of a pitching wedge?

A club’s loft is the angle at which the club face lies relative to the shaft. The loft dictates how far the ball will travel and its likely trajectory. Wedges have the highest lofts of any club. It’s recommended to have four degrees of difference between wedges. For example, if your pitching wedge has a 48° loft then you should have a 52° gap wedge, a 56° sand wedge and a 60° lob wedge.

How does a sand wedge work?

Made with a heavy club head and specifically designed to slide through sand and tall grass, the sand wedge pops the ball in the air quickly so as to avoid contact that will slow the ball down. In addition to preventing the ball’s contact with sand and tall grass, this high trajectory also limits the ball’s spin so it won’t land on the green and bounce or roll away from the hole. Sand wedges are designed with a loft between 54° and 58° and can travel from 80 to 100 yards.

What is the loft of a lob wedge?

Made popular by flop shot-master Phil Mickelson, the lob wedge lifts the ball high into the air with a loft between 59° and 65°. These tricky shots are great when you’re trying to avoid an obstacle blocking the green or when you need to place the ball ever so gently on the green, as the high trajectory yields a soft landing and limited rolling.

What are the different types of wedges?

Four Types of Wedges. The gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge form the different categories of wedges. The most commonly used wedge, the pitching wedge, is often included in the sale of a typical set of irons while the other three types of wedges are usually sold separately.

How do grooves work in golf?

The grooves grab the ball just like the tread grips the road, creating spin and producing ideal shot trajectory. The grooves also produce ball- stopping power when contact is made between the ball and the green. A recent rule change instituted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A, a spin-off from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, has eliminated the use of deep grooves in wedges. Deep grooves gave golfers an unfair advantage by creating more backspin. The new rule restricts groove volume and edge radius on wedges, resulting in a higher launch angle and less backspin. As a result of the new rule, you’ll see two types of grooves on wedge – vintage finish and laser-etching.

Wedge Guy: The science of selecting your wedges

In my 30-plus years of designing wedges and running small wedge brands, I’ve reviewed tens of thousands of wedge-fitting profiles. And one of the most curious things to me about set makeup is how little science is typically applied to the selection of wedges.

The Wedge Guy: The secret angle of golf success

From observation of thousands of recreational golfers, I believe one of the most misunderstood intricacies of the golf swing is how the golf club “releases” through impact. Almost universally, golfers seem to think that the club releases through impact by or with an unhinging of the wrists, so that the left arm and shaft form a straight line.

Club Junkie: Reviewing the new Mizuno Pro irons, Mizuno ST-X hybrid, and Cobra LTDx hybrid

The Mizuno Pro iron lineup offers something for everyone. The 221 is a great looking and feeling blad, the 223 is an easy to hit players cavity, and the 225 is a tech packed iron with distance and forgiveness. The Mizuno ST-X 220 hybrid is a forgiving and easy to launch long iron replacement.

What is a pitching wedge?

Pitching Wedges (PW) The pitching wedge is most common of the four wedge types and is a staple club every golfer should have in their bag. The loft is typically between 44-48 degrees and is used for full swing shots approximately 100-130 yards away from the green.

What angle should a low bounce wedge be?

Low Bounce Wedges. Wedges are consider low bounce usually if they have a bounce angle of 4 to 6 degrees. A quick test to determine if you should use a low bounce wedge is to look at your divots.

What is a mid bounce wedge?

Any wedge with 7 to 10 degrees of bounce is considered to be a mid-bounce wedge. It will be the most versatile option, suited to a wider range of conditions and swing types.

What is gap wedge?

Gap Wedges (GW) Gap wedges serve the purpose of filling the “gap” between a pitching wedge and sand wedge. The loft is typically between 50 to 53 degrees. It’s a great club to have in the bag for those tough 70 to 100 yard wedge shots, allowing you to make a full swing or three quarter swing to achieve such distances.

What is the loft of a sand wedge?

The loft on a sand wedge is typically 54 degrees, 56 degrees, and 58 degrees depending on which wedge loft option you prefer to have in your bag. This golf wedge is used most commonly for chipping around the greens as well as greenside bunker shots.

What is the angle between the contact point of the sole of the club and the ground?

Bounce is the angle created between the contact point the sole of the club makes with the ground and the leading edge of the wedge face. Bounce get’s its name because it’s the part of the golf club that hits the ground and then “bounces” through the surface under the ball, at impact.

What shaft type do you use for senior golfers?

For senior players, you may prefer graphite shaft wedges or if the wedges are part of a graphite set of clubs then this will be your shaft type by default. Shaft flex is important especially in wedges to give you maximum feel and control. Most steel shaft wedges still have some flex to give you feel.

How many degrees are golf wedges?

Wedges have many different lofts (it could be as low as 44 or as high as 64 degrees, with several different lofts in between). Different lofts (and therefore different wedges) are used for different purposes.

What are the factors to consider when picking a wedge?

All of this means there are several factors to consider when you’re picking the right golf wedge: the total number of wedges you should carry and their lofts; the shaft (type and flex); and the bounce angle.

How many wedges do amateur golfers have?

As mentioned above, most amateurs have two – a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. But by choosing the right golf wedge to add to those two, you could improve your short game significantly. There’s a good chance you have a large gap between the lofts of your pitching wedge and sand wedge.

How many wedges do golfers carry?

Most amateur golfers carry two wedges in their bags – a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. In contrast, most pros carry three or four wedges, adding a gap and often a lob wedge. Four wedges represents almost a third of their clubs, indicating just how important the pros think the right wedges are.

Can you use a lob wedge for beginners?

Hitting these high-lofted clubs well can be tricky, but they can be stroke-savers around the green . Lob wedges aren’t for the faint of heart or beginners, though. If you decide that choosing the right golf wedge means buying a lob, you’ll need plenty of practice to learn how to hit it effectively.

Do irons need graphite shafts?

Consistency in the clubs throughout your bag is important, so if your irons have graphite shafts you’ll probably want your wedges to have graphite shafts too . Likewise, if your other irons have regular-flex shafts, you’ll probably want that flex for your wedges.

What wedges are on Tour Edge E521?

Our take: The Tour Edge E521 wedges feature the “Houdini Sole.” Which, according to a tester during GOLF’s ClubTest, worked like magic. “They glide through wet turf well,” the tester said. “They pave the way for me instead of trying.” As for their next act? Turning your bogeys into birdies.

What is a CBX wedge?

Our take: The CBX Full-Face wedge sports a design that makes it easy to play a variety of open-faced shots. You’re sure to impress your buddies while popping the ball up high and tight with this one. According to a seasoned tester, “I like the way the ball feels coming off the face, and the milling marks on the toe give it a high-end look.” Bonus: This wedge delivers all the spin you can handle.

Is Mizuno ES21 hollow body?

Our take: A hollow-body wedge is not the type of scoring club we’ve come to expect from Mi zuno, but consider us among the true believers of the ES21’s awe-inspiring technology and surprisingly efficient performance. According to a recent tester, “The weighting is amazing. I felt as though I always knew where the head was during the entire swing.” It looks like a traditional wedge but read below and you’ll quickly see it’s far from it.

Do MG wedges have a finish?

Our take: As the name implies, the Hi-Toe MG Raw wedges don’t have a finish on their faces. Our testers found this to help produce notably higher spin rates on shots from around the green. “This raw face had me ripping the ball back on command,” one tester said. Also, when hitting shots from thin lies, testers commented positively on the way the leading edges sat closer to the ground.

What is a wedge in golf?

Wedges are the club that can provide you with the maximum flight and backspin keeping the ball within the green. A golf club set consist of the following wedges: Pitching wedge: The most common wedge. Gap wedge: The bridging wedge. Sand Wedge: The rescuer wedge.

How long should a golf wedge be?

Like the other Golf Clubs wedges also differ from each other based on the shaft length. Ideally, the length of a pitching wedge should be 0.25m shorter than the 9-Iron; the gap wedge should be a half-inch shorter than the pitching wedge; the sand wedge should be shorter by 0.75 inches than the gap wedge and the lob wedge should be 1-inch shorter than the sand wedge.

What is the maximum loft of a lob wedge?

A lob wedge has the maximum loft that ranges from 60 to 64 degrees. The bounce of a lob wedge could be anywhere between 0 to degrees. You should not hit the full-swing shots with a lob wedge since it will raise the ball too high ad you will not get the desired distance.

What is a gap wedge?

Gap Wedge. A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The gap wedge’s loft ranges from 50 to 53 degrees and the bounce is between 5 to 10 degrees. The major use of a gap wedge is to hit mid-chip shots. You can reach a distance of up to 65m.

What is the bounce of a pitching wedge?

The Pitching wedge has a bounce between 2 to 5 degrees. The Gap wedge has a bounce between 5 to 10 degrees. The Sand wedge has a bounce of between 10 to 14 degrees. The Lob wedge has a bounce between 0 to 10 degrees.

How much bounce does a golf club wedge have?

Apart from this the bounce also helps you to get a higher flight of the ball. The bounce of golf club wedge varies between 2 to 14 degrees. The standard bounce of different wedges are as follows:

How far can you hit a shot with a wedge?

You can even hit a shot up to a distance of 125m using wedges. Wedges come with the highest loft and the shortest shaft. They also have the heaviest clubhead. A pro golfer always uses the appropriate wedge matching the purpose of his shot that allows him to roll up on the scoreboard.

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