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what does the bounce mean on a golf club?

by Mrs. Jalyn Macejkovic MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Definition of Golf Club Bounce

  • Purpose. All irons have some bounce. ...
  • Bad Bounce. Bounce can be a problem on some shots. ...
  • Effective Bounce. You can change the effective bounce of the club in various ways. ...
  • Choosing Bounce. Although your regular set of clubs comes with a predetermined amount of bounce, you'll want to specify the bounce you want for your wedges.

Bounce is the measurement of the curvature of the sole and is usually related to irons and especially wedges. It is measured in degrees as the angle from the front edge of the club's sole to the point that actually rests on the ground at address.May 29, 2014

Full Answer

How does bounce affect golf clubs?

How does bounce affect golf clubs? The high bounce helps the club glide through the ground. Players with a steep angle of attack can benefit from high-bounce wedges as the bounce can help prevent the leading edge from digging into the turf or sand. High bounce wedges are great for softer turf and sand conditions as the club can more easily ...

What does the "bounce" of a golf club mean?

Simply put, bounce is created when the trailing edge of a club’s sole is lower than its leading edge. The effect is that the leading edge will be off the ground when the club is placed flat. Bounce is measured in degrees; the higher the degree, the deeper the trailing edge. Understanding bounce is key when choosing a sand wedge.

What does degree of bounce mean for a golf club?

Degrees of Bounce on Golf Wedges. Golfers generally know that the loft of a club helps get the ball in the air. But bounce, which according to "The Sand Trap," is the angle of the sole against the ground at address, is just as important to a good golf shot as loft. The higher the degree of bounce to a club, the better it runs over the ground rather than cutting into it.

What Bounce is right for your golf wedges?

What Wedges Should you have in your Golf Bag?

  • PW (pitching wedge 48 degrees)
  • GW (gap wedge 52 degrees) – This one should have low bounce, and medium to high depth.
  • SW (sand wedge 56 degrees)
  • LW (lob wedge – 60 degrees) – Lastly, you should have a lob wedge with low bounce and low depth. Use SW for fluffy rough and fluffy sand.

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What bounce should I have on my wedges?

Low bounce wedges are great for firm conditions and players that take very little divot. A low bounce wedge will tend to dig or cut into the turf. High bounce wedges are great for softer conditions and players that take a bigger divot. A high bounce wedge will tend to glide through the turf and resist digging.

What does bounce on a golf club do?

The purpose of introducing bounce into club head design is to control how easily wedges, with their steep angles of attack, penetrate the ground under the ball. A low- or zero-bounce club has a streamlined profile, and the sharp leading edge of the club will tend to cut into the ground readily.

How much bounce should my irons have?

Bounce ComparisonBounce LevelPlayer ProfileTurf ConditionsLow (4-6°)Shallow angle of attackFirm sand & turfMid (7°-10°)Neutral angle of attackWidest variety, not particularly soft or firmHigh (10°+)Steep angle of attackSoft sand & turf

Is 14 degree bounce too much?

Mid Bounce Wedges Wedges with a mid bounce angle (10 to 14-degrees) are the best all-around wedges for playability in all types of conditions and all golfers.

What bounce is best for high handicappers?

Wedges with a bounce angle between 4 and 6 degrees are best for players who tend to sweep the ball. They also are much easier to hit the ball from firmer grass, tight lies, hardpan, and bunkers with hard sand.

What bounce do most pros use?

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. ... 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.

What bounce is best for sand wedge?

BounceThe sand wedge (54-56 degrees) - is expected to have the most and the deepest bounce.The lob wedge (58-60 degrees) - have the smallest and the narrowest bounce.The “gap” wedge (50-52 degrees) - is expected to have a low bounce and a medium depth.More items...•

What is a good 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.

Is 12 degree bounce too much?

Clubs with a bounce of more than 10 degrees are considered "high bounce" wedges, according to Publinks Golfer. Sand wedges and some specialty gap wedges usually have high bounce, making them a good choice for light sand, deep rough or a shaggy fairway.

What bounce should I get on a 60 degree wedge?

What is the best bounce for 60-Degree Wedge? A 5°-8° bounce is considered best for a 60-degree wedge. Bounce refers to the angle formed between the leading edge of the club and the sole (bottom of the club). This angle is visible when your golf club establishes contact with the ground during impact.

What is the best bounce for a 50 degree wedge?

The average bounce for a 50 degree wedge is 5-8°. However, a few specialty wedges offer higher bounces at 12°. This is often the highest bounce that is found on a 50 degree wedge. A bounce of 8° is considered to be good if you're playing on firm courses or with a golf club that has a beveled leading edge.

What is the best bounce for a 52 degree wedge?

A low bounce of 8-10° is the best for a 52-degree wedge. Heavy sand bunkers and a firm golf course demand low bounce while high bounce works best when there is soft sand in the bunker and the golf course isn't as firm.

What is bounce angle in golf clubs?

The higher the bounce angle, the more the leading edge of the sole is off the ground at address. And different levels of bounce angle (higher or lower) in a wedge lead to slightly different playing characteristics. Bounce and bounce angle are elements present in all iron golf clubs, not just wedges. But the terms are commonly used almost ...

What is a bounce angle?

Bounce and bounce angle are elements present in all iron golf clubs, not just wedges. But the terms are commonly used almost exclusively in reference to wedges.

What does higher bounce mean on a wedge?

The more bounce a wedge has—the higher its bounce angle—the better it will resist digging. Another way of saying it: Higher bounce equals smaller, shallower divots . You can also think of bounce as a feature that reduces the drag on a wedge moving through sand, or through longer grass or thicker grass.

What is the average bounce angle?

Bounce angle can range anywhere from zero degrees to 14 degrees or higher. You can think of bounce angles of four degrees or less as low bounce; 5-10 degrees as medium bounce; and anything above 10 degrees as high bounce.

Does swing type affect bounce?

Yes, swing type does have an impact on how much bounce will work best for you. "Golf course conditions and the way the golfer swings the wedges down into the ball have a bearing on how much bounce is good or bad for any golfer," says club designer and clubfitting researcher Tom Wishon, founder of Tom Wishon Golf Technology .

Do you need more bounce when swinging wedges?

These are the general guidelines: Golfers who swing their wedges steeply into impact (a steep angle of attack) need more bounce; Golfers who sweep into the ball (shallow angle of attack) require less bounce.

What is golf club bounce?

Definition of Golf Club Bounce. Sand wedges have bounce angles of 8 to 16 degrees. The whole idea of bounce often confuses golfers. At its simplest, bounce is merely the angle between the ground and the sole of a club at proper address. Having said that, bounce is more than just an attribute of a club. Bounce can make a big difference in ...

What does it mean when a golf club has a high bounce?

Higher bounce means the leading edge of the clubface is higher than the trailing edge.

What is the difference between a low bounce wedge and a high bounce wedge?

Although your regular set of clubs comes with a predetermined amount of bounce, you'll want to specify the bounce you want for your wedges. Low-bounce wedges are best for shots off tight lies and in bunkers with very little or very firm sand, and for players with very steep swings. High-bounce wedges are best for shots from the rough, soft lies, bunkers with a lot of sand or very soft sand, and for players with flatter swings.

How to use a high bounce wedge?

You can sometimes use a high-bounce wedge off of a tight lie by moving the ball back in your stance, delofting the club and eliminating the bounce almost entirely. Altering the effective loft of a club in this way requires some skill, but it can allow you to make otherwise improbable shots.

Why does my golf ball not fly far enough?

In these cases, the ball may not fly far enough or might barely move because the club digs goes under it.

Do irons have bounce?

All irons have some bounce. Its purpose is to limit how much the front edge of a club digs into the ground when you contact the ball. Most irons have only a small amount of bounce. Fairway lies are generally pretty good and you want the club to take a small divot after you hit the ball, so lower bounce allows the front edge to dig slightly into ...

What is the bounce angle of golf clubs?

This is the bounce angle. All clubs contain bounce, but it is more pronounced, and significant to your game, in the wedges. Bounce allows for the club head to glide through the turf more easily. Every iron or wedge has a measured degree of bounce. Manufacturers vary the bounce depending upon the target market for a particular club.

What does it mean to bounce your wedges?

Understanding bounce can help you determine which of your wedges gives you the highest chance of success with different shot types and turf conditions.

What is the angle of a golf club's sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge?

Bounce is the angle of a club’s sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge. If you hold a wedge upside down with the head up and the shaft perfectly vertical, you’ll notice that the leading edge sits lower than the trailing edge. This is the bounce angle. All clubs contain bounce, but it is more pronounced, and significant to your game, ...

Can you tell how much bounce a wedge has?

Many recreational golfers can identify the loft of their wedges, but most couldn’t tell you how much bounce they each have, and only the rare few could truly explain the purpose of bounce and how it impacts different shots. Even though it’s often overlooked, understanding bounce and how it impacts your short game can be just as important as knowing ...

What is the bounce angle of a golf club?

Bounce angle is the angle between the ground and the leading edge of the club when the sole is rested on the ground. This is the part of the wedge that hits and moves through the ground when you hit the ball. It’s what helps you achieve the proper contact, control, and spin on your wedge shots. The bigger the bounce angle, the higher ...

What is important when selecting the right bounce?

Turf conditions are also important when selecting the right bounce. Pay close attention to the types of ground on the golf courses you typically play on. It can be the club you are a member of or the public course you play every weekend.

What is a low bounce wedge?

Low bounce wedges generally have 4°-6° of bounce and are best used on firm turf and bunkers with harder or more coarse sand where the club will tend to skip off the ground on its own. They also are a great fit for golfers with a shallow angle of attack that takes little to no divot on their wedge shots.

Why is wedge bounce important?

Wedge bounce is important to understand, both what it is and how it affects your shots, because the right combination of loft and bounce can make all the difference in your short game.

Why is medium bounce good?

Medium bounce is a good choice for golfers who want to create their shot around the greens because they are made for control. They are made to help golfers hit their exact distance and control the trajectory of the ball.

What is a pitching wedge?

Pitching wedges are designed for full shots either from the fairway or the rough as you approach the green. Golf club manufacturers have strengthened the lofts of wedges over the years to try to squeeze every bit of distance they can out of each club.

What does a divot tell you about wedges?

Your divot can tell you a lot about which wedges you should be playing. Low bounce: Golfers with a shallow angle of attack who take little to no divot. Mid bounce: Very versatile, fits all types of swings but best for golfers with neutral swings and a moderate angle of attack.

What is the difference between a low bounce wedge and a high bounce wedge?

The difference between a low bounce and high bounce wedge is minimal. Even so, there is a section between the two, wedges with between 6 and 10 degrees of bounce. Like most pieces of golf equipment that straddle two extremes, these fit the game of the most golfers.

What is the low bounce of a wedge?

These are the hardest to hit and should be reserved for the most talented golfers only. Low bounce for a wedge is between 4 and 6 degrees.

What is the degree of bounce?

The actual degree of bounce will be a number, usually between 6-12, it can be simplified into three categories - low, standard, and high - with each one great at some things but not so good at others. Below is a guide on how each one will behave to help you pick the right bounce for your game.

What is mid bounce?

Mid bounce is also an excellent choice for players who like to play an open or square face out of the bunker as the dynamic bounce does not change too drastically. However, this is something to be aware off and is the start of the conversation around grind. You can read more about that below and here.

What is the loft angle of a golf club?

Most golfers understand their golf clubs, in particular their 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 there is also another angle you need to be aware of, and that's a wedge bounce angle. As the name implies, the bounce enables the clubhead to bounce off the sand or grass without digging in before impact.

What is a low bounce wedge?

Wedges with low bounce (less than 8-degrees) are ideal for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions - think links golf and The Open Championship. The small bounce angle lowers the leading edge closer to the ground to put a premium on good ball-striking - most tour professionals will have a low bounce in their wedges.

What angle of attack do you need to pick a golf ball off the turf?

If you pick the ball cleanly off the turf, barely bruising the ground through impact, then you've got a shallow angle of attack. The sweeping motion through the bottom of the swing drastically reduces the chance of the leading edge digging in, and therefore the need for a higher bounce angle.

What is the best wedge angle for golf?

Wedges with a mid bounce angle (10 to 14-degrees) are the best all-around wedges for playability in all types of conditions and all golfers. These wedges are very versatile for players who like to be creative around the greens.

What is a low bounce golf club?

Low Bounce (4-6°) Low bounce clubs are usually between 4° and 6° and typically work best on courses with a tougher turf and harder and coarser sand in the bunkers. These are harder clubs to hit, but they ultimately can reward you if you strike them well. They are perfect for lob and flop shots around the green.

Why is wedge bounce important?

Ensuring that you have the proper wedge bounce and grind option allows you to control your shots better to get better contact and spin on shots.

Why do wedges bounce higher when you close the face?

The more you open up the club face, the higher the wedge bounce will be because the leading edge will be higher off the ground. When you close the face, you will lessen the bounce. Golfers will play with the angles of their club face to spin the ball or get a higher loft on it. Loft, grind and bounce work hand in hand to best suit your short game.

How to get better at golf?

Using your wedges for your approach shots to their fullest capabilities is how you’re going to get better at golf. One way to get the most out of your wedges is to understand how the wedge bounce in your clubs affects your game. Making sure you have the correct bounce on your wedges is just as important as the loft angle.

What is a mid bounce wedge?

Mid Bounce (7-10°) Mid or medium bounce wedges range between 7° and 10° in the degree. The average golfer who plays different courses throughout the year will likely rely more on these types of wedges because they won’t know the layout of a course, what the turf feels like, or how the sand is in the bunkers.

Why do you need to pop a ball up out of a bunker?

For anyone who may chunk a ball on occasion or likes to dig into popping their ball up out of a greenside bunker, this delivers because it prevents the leading edge from dragging for a while when you’re hitting out of the sand. You’ll typically want a higher bounce in your sand wedge.

Is grind better for swing?

It’s smart to get grinds that work better for your swing, as certain grinds are better for bounce, and others are better for sweeping types of shots that will lift the ball higher. The existence of grind in your clubs also gives you a better look at your shots when you’re staring downward while lining up your approach.

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