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what is grind relief in a golf wedge

by Althea Brekke Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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A narrow grind that has relief out of the heel and toe area will allow the face to open or shut without the leading edge coming off the ground. 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.

Heel relief allows the club to move through the turf without catching the heel in the grass or sand. Grinding the heel allows the player to play pitch shots with lower hands and a slightly opened face.

Full Answer

What is the Grind on a wedge?

In layman’s terms, the “grind” on your wedge is the geometry of the sole, which can be manipulated by removing (grinding off) material from the heel, toe, trailing edge and leading edge to perfect how the club interacts with the turf.

What is a grind in golf?

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. So how is a grind good for my golf game?

Should you grind a wedge to reduce bounce?

A player may wish to grind a wedge to reduce its bounce when he’s playing a course that features hard turf or firm bunkers. Other players may have the club head ground near the heel so they can open the wedge’s club face to produce more lofted pitch shots without increasing the club’s bounce.

What is the best way to improve my wedges?

Wedge bounce and grind improves your consistency and control over your wedge shots. Find your next wedge according to the wedge bounce and wedge loft that works for your swing.

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What does grind mean on wedges?

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 relief on a wedge?

1:177:33Golf Wedges Discussion | Heel and Toe Relief - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOpen you don't get that point of that of that heel sticking out okay if you think about some of theMoreOpen you don't get that point of that of that heel sticking out okay if you think about some of the great wedges in the past the original ping eye wedges.

What Wedge grind is most forgiving?

K-GrindK-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.

What bounce should I get on my 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 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 is the difference between S grind and W grind?

S – A standard, straight and versatile sole for players who rarely open the club face. High W – A wide-soled option with extra bounce. Low W – Popular on the PGA Tour, this grind has a narrow heel so players can open the face.

Should a high handicapper use a 60 degree wedge?

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.

Which wedge is best for chipping?

Included in this guide:Titleist. Vokey SM9 Wedge. Check Price.Ping. Glide 4.0 Wedge. Check Price.Callaway. Jaws Mack Daddy 5 Wedge. Check Price.Cleveland. CBX ZipCore Wedge. Check Price.Callaway. Jaws Raw Wedge. Check Price.Mizuno. T22 Wedge. Check Price.Ping. Glide Forged Pro Wedge. Check Price.Cleveland. RTX ZipCore. Check Price.More items...•

What is the easiest wedge to chip with?

Best Wedges for Beginners and High Handicappers for 2022Cleveland CBX Zip Core.Callaway Mack Daddy CB.Callaway Sure Out 2.Cleveland CBX Full Face.Cleveland Smart Sole 4.Titleist Vokey SM9.TaylorMade Milled Grind 3.King Cobra with Snakebite Grooves.More items...

Can you have too much bounce on a wedge?

If we open the face on a high-bounce wedge, the leading edge is raised too high off turf, and we will run the risk of hitting it skinny or be forced to hit down on the ball too much. this leads to getting too steep, creating a lower-than-desired shot that relies on spin and a good bounce.

Do pros use low bounce wedges?

Cleveland said that unlike their predecessors, many of whom favored low-bounce wedges, many of today's PGA Tour pros use wedges with about 12 or 13 degrees of bounce. Opting for sole grinds that remove excess material in the heel, and often in the toe as well, makes their sand wedges and lob wedges more versatile.

Is 12 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 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.

Are TaylorMade milled grind wedges forgiving?

Most Forgiving Wedge: TaylorMade Milled Grind TaylorMade has started on a series now with the milled grind wedges, and we don't blame them. This is an excellent wedge for a variety of players and one of the most forgiving wedges on the market. In addition to being an easy to hit wedge, it also has some great feel.

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...•

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.

Who is Luke Kerr-Dineen?

Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF .com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.

Who is Jonathan Wall?

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour.

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.

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.

Golf Magazine

If you’re someone with a shallow angle of attack who tends to sweep the ball, finding a wedge with a narrower sole — some will have material removed around the toe, heel and trailing edge to create a narrow low bounce sole — will certainly benefit your short game.

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If you’re someone with a shallow angle of attack who tends to sweep the ball, finding a wedge with a narrower sole — some will have material removed around the toe, heel and trailing edge to create a narrow low bounce sole — will certainly benefit your short game.

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 sole grind?

In basic terms, the sole grind refers to the additional shaping of the sole of the wedge usually around the heel or the toe. More wedge manufacturers are now offering a range of sole grinds in addition to the standard wedge sole. They literally grind the soles with a machine to suit specific turf conditions or shots.

What is the square inch effective bounce?

Square inch effective bounce readings below .101 in. 2 fall into the cautionary "expert only" area. Without very high skill levels, it is very easy to hit these wedges "fat" or be very inconsistent with your wedge play. My very honest advice is to put aside the golf ego and realistically assess your skill level - 95% of the time it pays off to move up to the next forgiving Effective Bounce category.

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.

What is effective bounce?

Effective Bounce is the real consideration of how your wedge will interact with the ground. Don't think that a stamped angle on the bottom of the wedge will be the ultimate characteristic to consider. Many clubs can have smaller bounce angles yet play more forgiving.

Why do golfers use wedges?

A professional golfer may sometimes have a wedge ground to alter its playing characteristics to fit a particular course. Grinding the club head may change the wedge’s bounce, or it may sharpen or soften the leading edge.

How much bounce does a wedge have?

Wedges feature larger bounce plates on the club head’s sole than irons. Pitching wedges, for example, have about 7 or 8 degrees of bounce, while sand wedges have 12 to 14 degrees.

Why grind a wedge?

Why Players Grind Wedges. A player may wish to grind a wedge to reduce its bounce when he’s playing a course that features hard turf or firm bunkers. Other players may have the club head ground near the heel so they can open the wedge’s club face to produce more lofted pitch shots without increasing the club’s bounce.

What does grinding the back of the sole do?

Grinding the back edge of the sole can make the club more versatile. By playing the ground club with the leading edge down, golfers can still take advantage of the wedge’s full bounce plate -- for hitting bunker shots, for example.

Hoondacky

So I get that heel relief allows the club to add loft, and cut more heel first into turf (flop shots, and bunker shots up in one’s stance). But what purpose does grinding down the bounce on the toe serve? People always say it is to improve contact with turf during an open club-face swing, but why? Isn’t that what the grind in the heel is for?

Hoondacky

Thanks—by toe chipping do you mean the technique for going against the grain of grass in a thicker lie?

nova6868

Bumping this old thread because I keep thinking the same thing. What's the point of toe relief?

mizunoMP14

My thought on this is that heel relief only allows you to open the face and get the leading edge closer to the ground but you still have all the bounce from the toe area. Think of the Nike toe sweep wedges.

Cwebb

They say that it can allow the sole to move through the turf "faster". It creates less sole area that is coming into full contact with the turf.

Valtiel

Bumping this old thread because I keep thinking the same thing. What's the point of toe relief?

Pepperturbo

Bumping this old thread because I keep thinking the same thing. What's the point of toe relief?

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

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.

How does the grind affect the wedge?

Along with the bounce of the wedge, the grind will influence how the leading edge sits on the ground at address and how it behaves through impact. Grind and bounce characteristics can dramatically affect the feel, dynamics and subsequent performance of a wedge.

What is bounce on a wedge?

Bounce is simply the angle between the leading edge of the wedge and the lowest point on the trailing edge of the sole.

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.

What would happen if a golfer played in wetter conditions?

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.

Why is a higher bounce better for a wedge?

The higher the bounce, the more likely the wedge will slide through the sand - maintaining club head speed. Browse our range of Wedges.

What is a narrow grind?

A narrow grind that has relief out of the heel and toe area will allow the face to open or shut without the leading edge coming off the ground. 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.

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