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what does a hollow grind golf wedge do

by Dr. Nicholaus Ledner III Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What is a wedge grind on a golf club?

Wedge Grinds. Vokey wedge grinds are the Tour standard in creating shot versatility for any level of player. Learn how the proper wedge grind can help lower your score. Wedge grind is the manipulation or removal of material from the sole of the club, helping to improve contact with the turf.

What is the best grind for lob wedges?

This grind is ideal for high loft, high bounce options and is a top choice for lob wedges and for floating it up in the ether around the greens. Wedges for the Job : Callaway MD5 Jaws C-grind or Callaway MD5 Jaws X-grind.

Who is the X grind wedge used for?

The X grind is made for golfers who have moderate to steep angles of attack and tend to play in soft conditions. We hope that helped explain how wedge grind and bounce can affect your game and provided enough insight to help you choose the correct variation to help you around the green.

What is a sand wedge in golf?

Usually in the range of 54 to 58 degrees, the sand wedge was originally designed, as the name suggests, to escape from green side bunkers thanks to the heavier and wider design of its sole.

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What grind is best for wedges?

Wedge Grind Options for Swing Type and Course Conditions For instance, the L grind is ideal for firm conditions and sweeper swing styles, the M grind offers the most playability, and for some players, the best Vokey grind for sand is the K grind, with the highest bounce.

What wedge grind is most forgiving?

K-Grind. The highest bounce wedge in the lineup, the K Grind is the ultimate bunker club and the most forgiving wedge in the lineup for all shots.

Does wedge grind really matter?

Because we tested short shots with a high-lofted wedge, most players did not see huge differences in accuracy. However, because every yard is more critical in the short game, these differences are still important. This is unequivocally busted – no player found one wedge to be the best for every type of shot.

How does grind affect wedges?

“Grind is the manipulation of removal of material from the sole of your golf club to improve it visually behind the ball and more so to improve contact with the turf.” Once you move a wedge from its normal address position in most occasions, opening the blade presents more bounce, closing it down less bounce.

What is the easiest wedge to chip with?

For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching or gap wedge will produce the most consistent shots around the green. Using a gap wedge will be the best place to start for standard chips, but a pitching wedge could work better if the ball is sitting up in the rough.

What are the easiest wedges to hit?

The easiest wedges to hit are cavity-back wedges like the Cleveland CBX 2 and the Callaway Mack Daddy CB. This style of wedge makes it easier for players to get the ball up in the air quickly, even without making perfect contact.

What bounce do pros play on their wedges?

10 bounce pitching wedges are the most used by the top 100 PGA Tour players while 10 and 12 bounce are common when it comes to gap wedges. More variety of bounces are found in the sand and lob wedges chosen but 10 bounce sand wedges are again the most used. The preferred bounce is 8 for lob wedges.

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.

What is the difference between C grind and S grind?

The C Grind has less bounce so suited to firmer course conditions and there's increased relief on the heel making it easier to play shots with the face open. The S Grind has a medium width sole with slight camber at the back and moderate heel relief to keep the leading edge low through impact.

What is the best bounce for a 56 degree wedge?

The best bounce for a 56 degree wedge for most golfer is about 12 degrees. This is a versatile number right in between the low end of 8 degrees and the high end of 14 degrees. You can play most courses with a 12 degree bounce sand wedge and enjoy your golf.

What wedges do pros use?

When it comes to common wedge setups on the PGA Tour, there are far more golfers playing with four wedges than three. Looking strictly at the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking, 80 percent are using a pitching wedge, 50/52-, 56-, 60-degree loft combination.

What is D grind?

The D grind provides high forward bounce for shots in the square position, while the crescent shape provides for versatility in the open position, allowing for a variety of shots and face angles for the player that uses their sand wedge greenside.

What is wedge grind?

To make things easy, we’ll keep our answer to what is the grind on a golf wedge simple. Wedge grind refers to sole shape. To get more specific, it’s how much material gets shaved off the bottom of the club to make it easier to hit different types ...

How many grinds are there in wedges?

Some brands have a ton of grinds. Others have only a few. For every major brand that we looked into, their wedges have at least three grind variations. Some brands have more than a half dozen.

Is wedge grind important for beginners?

Knowing about golf wedge grind isn’t all that important for a new golfer. As you advance past beginner status, your swing, approach, and skills will change. What might have been good for you in the first season you play probably won’t suit your game in the following years.

Do all golf clubs have different grinds?

We mention this slightly in the section above, but every brand of golf clubs has different grinds for their wedges. Unfortunately, there is no uniform system that allows you to easily transition from brand to brand. Let’s be honest, every brand varies with every type of club – why would wedges be any different?

What matters when it comes to golf?

When it comes to golf, all that matters are results (and having fun, I guess). What some might see as ugly or unconventional won’t matter if every chip you hit gets within 10 feet. Do your research, put in practice time, and then do what works for you.

Is it important to know the gold wedge grind?

Let’s walk it back a little. Knowing the ins and outs of gold wedge grind isn’t all that important right now. However, understanding the concept is key to advancing as a golfer. The more you know about your game, your equipment, and how things work on a golf course are key to mastering your short game (and everything else).

Can you grind your wedges?

It is undeniable that grinds lend themselves to certain types of shots, but they are not locked into a single method. By opening or closing your clubface, you can hit your wedges with more or less spin and on a different flight path. The same could go for hand position and weight distribution.

What is wedge grind?

Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: A wedge grind refers to the shaping of the bottom part of the wedge. It’s the part of the club that actually impacts the ground, so the particular shape of the grind has a huge impact on how your club interacts with the turf. The most common would be a “C grind” which has the toe and heel sections of the sole shaved off a bit to make the sole more rounded. This allows the wedge to play a bit more versatile from different lies and face orientations (open face, shut face, etc.). The only thing you really need to know, though, is that you probably need more bounce on your wedge. More bounce makes the wedge more forgiving and will keep you from hitting those embarrassing chunks and skulls around the greens. Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you.

Can you pick out a wedge from a retail store?

Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you. 2. It helps off different kinds of turf.

What is wedge grind?

The “grind” of a wedge is simply the geometry of the sole, which includes the leading and trailing edges as well as the heel area of the clubhead. I can’t explain all the grinds here because, like any recipe, there are many different ones used in the production of wedges that each wedge designer believes will work for specific types of players. What you do need to know about wedge sole grinds is that they can make a huge difference in how a wedge performs in different turf conditions for different types of swings. And, while there are many variations, the main focus of common sole grinds is to provide an option for players who are steep swingers or play in softer conditions (wider, more bounce), and one for shallower swingers or those who play in firmer conditions (narrower, less bounce). Another consideration is the type of short game shots typically played – those who like to open the face quite a bit will do better with a heel grind with relief (less material), while those who tend to hit square faced shots most of the time would do better with less heel relief. There are a ton of other grind types available, many of which combine aspects of the narrow/low bounce design and the wide/high bounce design, for players who play in variable conditions. To get the right one for your game and swing, a professional fitting is a great idea. And if you want to learn more, check out some of the manufacturers websites, as some give nicely detailed descriptions of various grinds and who they’re aimed at ( vokey.com is a good place to start).

Why is a shorter wedge better for bunker play?

For some players a shorter length wedge might work better for bunker play or chipping simply because they’re used to the length, or because a slightly shorter club is a bit easier to control.

Do gap wedges fill the gap between a PW and a PW?

Yes, the gap wedge did come about to fill the distance “gap,” between a PW and more lofted wedges when the typical PW loft went from around 50-degrees to 48-degrees. Back then gap wedges were normally 52-degrees and filled the space between the PW and a 56-degree sand wedge.

Do you need longer wedges on irons?

Short answer – probably. If you require longer lengths on your irons then you will almost definitely benefit from a consistent length in your wedges , especially for full shots. And when you consider that wedges are the shortest full-swing clubs in the bag, adding a bit of length is likely to increase your distance a bit and also make them more comfortable to swing. The only issue here could be how the added length affects your short game. For some players a shorter length wedge might work better for bunker play or chipping simply because they’re used to the length, or because a slightly shorter club is a bit easier to control. However, it’s pretty easy to choke down on a longer club for greenside shots, and overall I would say you’ll be better off matching the length of your wedges to that of your irons than you would be playing a mixture of custom irons and off-the-rack wedges.

What is wedge grind?

Wedge grind is the manipulation or removal of material from the sole of the club, helping to improve contact with the turf. Grinds allow for more creativity and consistency around the green, letting you play with ball spin, flight, power, and other factors.

What is hand ground on Vokey?

We just introduced the Hand Ground program through Vokey WedgeWorks. This program is designed for players looking to fine tune their wedges, just like the Tour pros. Learn more about our custom wedge grinds today.

Which grind is best for sand?

For instance, the L grind is ideal for firm conditions and sweeper swing styles, the M grind offers the most playability, and for some players, the best Vokey grind for sand is the K grind, with the highest bounce.

Is there a one size fits all wedge?

There is no one-size-fits-all wedge. Each wedge in your bag is a tool and has a role play. To discover the high performance of Vokey wedges, achieve total confidence on every shot, and shoot lower scores, experience a Vokey wedge fitting for yourself. We design the best product possible, and take it to the tour.

What is the importance of a wedge in golf?

Research shows that around a quarter of all shots are played using a wedge so clearly, they are a vital part of every golfer’s game. They can create birdies or save pars but can also cause problems for those of us who struggle around the greens if we are not using the right type of wedge for the shot.

Why are wedges important in golf?

It is essential that the wedges you carry, improve your game and assist scoring.

What is a gap wedge?

Gap Wedges (GW) As the name suggests these wedges fill the ‘gap’ between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Occasionally referred to as an attack (AW) or utility wedge (UW), these wedges tend to carry a loft of around 50 to 53 degrees.

What is a pitching wedge?

Pitching Wedges (PW) The first and most common wedge is the pitching wedge. Typically, with a loft between 44-48 degrees it is used primarily for full shots into greens and some longer chip shots.

How many degrees are sand wedges?

In the old days that was okay because most pitching wedges were around 51 degrees. But now they're 45 to 47 degrees while the sand wedge has stayed at 56. That's a two-plus club difference because now the pitching wedge is essentially the loft of a 9-iron.".

What is the bounce of a wedge?

The ‘bounce’ of a wedge is the area of the club that hits the turf, hence ‘bounces’ the club through the surface under the ball at impact. The term "bounce" covers many of the elements involved in sole design: the bounce angle, sole width, leading edge, rocker and camber of a wedge.

How many yards should you put a wedge in golf?

Two thirds of all golf shots are from 125 yards or less, making consistent wedge play a key to lower scores. For most players, we recommend 4 – 6 o of loft between your wedges. This should lead to consistent 12 to 15-yard distance gaps for full shots.

What is a grind on a wedge?

A grind is the contouring around the sole, heel and toe areas of a wedge. A grind can vary the width and camber of the sole.

What wedges are good for bunker shots?

If the ground is spongy and the bunkers fluffy, a high bounce wedge with a wide and forgiving cambered sole grind will make bunker shots simple while guarding against chunky strikes on the fairway and around the greens.

How do I know what the bounce angle of a wedge is?

The bounce angle is the number that comes after the loft of the wedge. For example, if a wedge has 60/8 printed on the sole, it means the wedge has 60 degrees of loft and eight degrees of bounce.

Is more bounce better for wedges?

A golfer that plays in wetter conditions and has a steeper angle of attack would benefit with a greater bounce degree. However, a player that tends to sweep the ball (shallow angle of attack) and hardly takes a divot would gain improved spin, control and contact with a lower wedge bounce.

How to pick a golf ball off the turf?

If you tend to brush the turf rather than send a divot flying forward, then grab a broom - you’re a sweeper. A low bounce wedge (4-6 degrees) with a flat grind will get the leading edge spot-on through impact, so you can precisely pick the ball off the turf.

How does bounce work on a golf club?

Bounce can provide a level of forgiveness by stopping the leading edge from digging in and grabbing the turf too much, instead "bouncing" the club through the turf. Bounce is also intertwined with sole grinds and loft - a grind that changes the sole camber or takes relief out of the heel or toe will alter the bounce and loft significantly.

Why is the bounce higher in golf?

The higher the bounce, the more likely the wedge will slide through the sand - maintaining club head speed.

What wedge to use for bump and run?

For shots around the green, using a Lob Wedge to get over a bunker or loft it up high will be the better club, but the Gap Wedge is perfect for any bump and run style shots.

What is the difference between a gap wedge and a sand wedge?

Gap Wedge Vs Sand Wedge. A Gap Wedge has more loft than a Sand Wedge, this means the Sand Wedge will go shorter than a Gap Wedge. A Sand Wedge will be used more out of the bunker and for chip shots, where the Gap Wedge will be used more for bump and run shots around the green and full shots.

How far should a gap wedge be between clubs?

Be sure to check the loft of your Pitching Wedge before you buy a Gap Wedge, as you want the gapping to be correct. Aim for 4 to 5 degrees between clubs, this will give you the perfect distance between each club.

How far apart should you gap a pitching wedge?

We suggest picking your Gap Wedge based on the loft of your Pitching Wedge. You generally want the degree to be 4 or 5 degrees apart, this will give you a nice 10 to 12 yard gapping between clubs. So, if your Pitching Wedge is 45 degrees, then you will need to choose a Gap Wedge with a 50 degree loft.

Why was the gap wedge invented?

It’s sole purpose is to fill the gap now created between the Sand Wedge and Pitching Wedge.

What is gap wedge?

Gap Wedges Overview. The Gap Wedge is not some special weapon that will make you hit it closer than another club. A Pitching Wedge was originally invented for pitching and shorter shots towards the green, while a Sand Wedge was originally invented to get out of the sand.

Which has more loft, a gap wedge or a pitching wedge?

A Gap Wedge will have more loft than a Pitching Wedge, this means the Pitching Wedge will go further than a Gap Wedge.

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