when to use lob wedge in golf

1. Pick a lob wedge that has a loft of no more than 60 degrees. If it has more loft, it will be very difficult for you to use.
2. Practice hitting your lob wedge before you take it with you to the golf course. ...
3. Use your lob wedge only when you have a shot that requires a high trajectory and a soft landing. ...
4. Decide which club you will replace since you will now carry a lob wedge (you are only allowed 14). ...

How do you hit a lob wedge?

• Make sure the grooves on your lob wedge, sand wedge and pitching wedge are clean.
• Work on your pitch shots around the green. This will help with feel and touch.
• Your backswing should not be too long. Partial wedge shots are easier to control and typically have less trajectory.

How much bounce should you have in a lob wedge?

Sand wedge: 56 degrees loft, 12 degrees bounce (notated as 56:12 on the wedge) Lob wedge: 60 degrees loft, 4 degrees bounce (notated as 60:04 on the wedge) Before reading further, check your wedges so you can understand how to use each one to your advantage. Here are the main types of bounce you will find in your wedges.

What degree loft is a lob wedge?

The loft of a lob wedge is traditionally 60 degrees, however some players will carry 58 degree wedges, which can also be classed as a lob wedge. Players like Phil Mickelson have lob wedges as lofty as 64 degrees. The loft of a putter is traditionally between 3.5-4.5 degrees.

What loft is a ping W wedge?

What is W wedge in golf? A pitching wedge is the lowest-lofted of the named wedges, used to hit a variety of short-range shots. The term “pitching wedge” is now used by virtually all manufacturers and players to describe this club; Karsten Manufacturing (maker of the PING brand) simply labels their pitching wedges “W” for “wedge”.

What is a lob wedge used for in golf?

A lob wedge, also known as a lofted wedge or an L-Wedge, is a wedge used in the sport of golf, known for being one of the shortest-hitting clubs and providing the most loft on a shot. Lob wedges are used to produce shots with a very high arc, and are most often used for shots over hazards and other obstructions.

What is a 60 degree wedge used for?

A 60-degree wedge is considered a lob wedge and is mostly used to launch the ball high up in the air and land softly on the green. Examples could be hitting the ball over water or sand and quickly stopping it on the green. I used to have a 60 degree in my bag and it did come in handy in certain situations.

Do pro golfers use lob wedges?

For professional golfers, a 60-degree lob wedge around the green could be classified as a surgical scalpel. Many pros—most notably Phil Mickelson—have built their reputations on the ability to hit miraculous recovery shots with these higher-lofted clubs.

How far should you hit a lob wedge?

How Far Does The Average Person Hit A Lob Wedge? On average, a full shot for a recreational player with a lob wedge will be 73 yards, but the range can be between 60 and 90 yards. Most golfers only use their lob wedge around the green, so chances are, you won't ever take a full swing.

Do high handicappers need a lob wedge?

The Lob Wedge Lob, or high, shots can save high handicappers strokes. High handicappers who have difficulty playing from tight, or bare, lies and who have a propensity for taking large divots should consider carrying a lob wedge in their bags.

Can I use a lob wedge in the sand?

Can I Use A Lob Wedge From The Sand? Most of the time, yes. Unless you specifically purchase a low bounce lob wedge, you might find that a decent number of LWs and SWs have a pretty comparable amount of bounce out of a sand trap (my SW and LW, for example, have identical bounce numbers).

Which wedge is best 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 degree wedge is best for sand?

56-degreeA 56-degree sand wedge is suited for hitting out of the sand or for a golfer who hits behind the golf ball a lot. The higher degree of bounce helps the club glide through the sand or dirt, which makes it the most versatile wedge in the bag.

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.

Do I need a gap or lob wedge?

The rule of thumb is that a player should have four degrees of difference between wedges. For instance, a golfer with a pitching wedge lofted at 46 degrees should have a gap wedge of 50 degrees, a sand wedge at 54 degrees and a lob wedge of no less than 58 degrees.

Which wedge to use around the green?

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 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.

When to use a lob wedge?

Use your lob wedge only when you have a shot that requires a high trajectory and a soft landing. Do not make the mistake of using your lob wedge when you have plenty of green to negotiate and a less-lofted club is more appropriate.

What golfer hit his lob wedge in 2010?

Phil Mickelson hits his lob wedge during the 2010 Masters.

How to stop a shot in golf?

You must hit the shot high, and impart a lot of backspin to make the ball stop quickly. Lob wedges can help to accomplish this.

Why do golfers eliminate long irons?

Many players eliminate a long iron, since it is the most difficult club in your bag to hit. Others accommodate their new wedge by eliminating a wood if they find it hard to use.

Step 4

Make your back swing steeper than you would for a normal chip or pitch shot. Keep your wrists cocked just before impact and pull the club down to the ball with your arms and body weight.

Step 5

Transfer your weight smoothly to your left side with your feet, legs and hips, keeping your head steady. The club head should still be extended from the shoulders.

What is wedge golf?

Wedges are high lofted clubs for use around the green and fairway which specialize in hitting the ball high and giving the golfer the ability to spin the ball once it lands . Although the specific loft, bounce, etc. of each individual club can change depending on the club producer, wedges come in four main classes and each one has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Why use a sand wedge?

As the name suggests, the primary use of the sand wedge is to help golfers escape the sand but it’s heavier weight and large bounce are useful for a variety of different shots. Personally, I like to use the sand wedge when I take most of my chips, especially those around the green.

What is the best club for bump and run chipping?

The pitching wedge is also a great club for bump and run chipping because the low amount of loft allows the ball to fly lower and roll further once it lands on the green.

How far can you swing a gap wedge?

Personally, the most important thing I get from a gap wedge as a golfer is the ability to take a full swing at around 100 yards from the hole which is arguably one of the most common and important scoring ranges any golfer.

Do you use woods or irons in golf?

This is standard in golf, whether you’re using woods or irons except when it comes to wedges. Unfortunately, for a novice golfer or even an advanced one, it’s not always obvious what each different type of wedge is used for, and that can be frustrating.

Why do golfers use wedges?

Because wedge shots have such a high trajectory, they tend to roll very little once they hit the green. More accomplished players can produce a great deal of backspin with a wedge, causing the ball to back up (or "bite") once it hits the green. Any wedge can also be used for chipping around the green.

What is a wedge in golf?

Wedges are the highest-lofted clubs in a set of golf clubs, designed for short approach shots (for most golfers, 120 yards and in), strokes played out of sand, chip shots and pitch shots, and generally any shot for which the golfer wants the ball to ascend and descend sharply.

What degree is a pitching wedge?

With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to 46 degrees, the gap wedge is so-called because it closes the "gap" in loft between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. A typical gap wedge might might be lofted from 48 to 54 degrees. The gap wedge also goes by the names A-wedge, attack wedge and approach wedge.

What is the loft of a lob wedge?

A typical lob wedge might have a loft of 60 degrees to 64 degrees. As its name implies, a lob wedge allows a player to "lob" the ball high into the air, from where it will drop steeply down onto the green, with little or no roll. With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to 46 degrees, the gap wedge is so-called because it closes ...

How far should a lob wedge be?

A lob wedge would be 40-50 yards for men, 25-40 for women. A gap wedge would fall in between your pitching wedge and sand wedge yardages.

What is a 60 degree wedge?

Wedges feature the shortest shafts and highest lofts of any golf clubs. In fact, wedges are often identified by their loft rather than their name. A lob wedge might instead be called a "60-degree wedge," for example. Sand wedges were invented (generally credited to Gene Sarazen) to make shots out of sand bunkers easier.

Why are gap wedges called wedges?

Today, the other two wedges that are common are: Gap wedge: So-named because it falls in-between the pitching wedge and sand wedge in loft. The gap wedge has more loft than a PW, less loft than a SW.

Why do you use a lob wedge?

Being able to effectively use a lob wedge can save a lot of shots around the green, especially when faced with a short-sided up and down or a difficult buried lie, but the hardest part of an open-faced lob wedge shot is repeatability. It’s why you can feel like a hero on one hole, and a complete failure on the next—because the ball ended up exactly where it started…or it ends up on the other side of the green…

How many degrees of loft do wedges have?

Wedges with 60 degrees of loft (and even 56 in some cases) look easy to hit since they have large faces which in turn equals greater surface area to make contact but face area versus effective face area to make contact are two completely different things.

Why are higher lofted wedges so bad?

Higher lofted wedges can become a massive liability because of their limited margin for error and the speed at which they are swung. This is also why we see so many people trying to innovate in the wedge market—small changes for regular golfers can make a noticeable difference.

What is a 60 degree wedge?

For professional golfers, a 60-degree lob wedge around the green could be classified as a surgical scalpel. Many pros—most notably Phil Mickelson—have built their reputations on the ability to hit miraculous recovery shots with these higher-lofted clubs.

What is the difference between a baseball hitter and a golf swing?

He has to rely on quick eye-hand coordination. In contrast, the golf swing is just that – a swing of the club.

How wide is a golf ball?

The ball is 1.68 inches in diameter, and the functional striking area on a golf club is about 1.5-inches wide. If you vary in your setup by even 3/4 inch, you have imposed a serious obstacle to success. If you do nothing else to improve your golf game, learn how to set up the same way every time.

What is a sound golf swing?

A sound golf swing is built like a house. First the foundation, then the framing, roof, exterior walls, interior, paint, and trim. You can’t do one before the other. In golf, it all starts with the grip. If you do not hold the club properly, you’ll never accomplish a sound golf swing.

When to use a lob wedge?

A lob wedge is typically used whenever you feel like using it. Golfers with more experience will use it when they do their pitch shots and their approach shots from the rough or fairway. Golfers with less experience are generally not as confident with this club, so it won’t be used the same way.

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

The main difference between a lob wedge and a sand wedge is the loft degree. Sand wedges will have a loft between 54 and 57 degrees, while a lob wedge will have a loft degree between 58 and 64. There are also some smaller differences to keep in mind when considering the differences between a lob wedge vs sand wedge, including the clubface.

What type of wedge has an open clubface?

Lob wedges will have more of an open clubface.

How much loft difference between pitching wedges?

You should have roughly a 4-degree loft degree difference between each wedge. If your pitching wedge has a loft degree of 48, and you are looking at a sand wedge with a 56-degree loft, you will need to consider adding a 52-degree lob wedge to your lineup.

Why do you need a sand wedge?

This is because they are extremely versatile and have the ability to get you unstuck from tough places.

Do you need a lob wedge for high handicaps?

When it comes to high handicaps, it is debated whether it is necessary or not to have a lob wedge. Most will say that only highly skilled players need a lob wedge as those with a handicap will not benefit from a lob wedge at all.

Who invented the lob wedge?

The release came with the increasingly difficult designs of greens during the time. There is some debate over who actually invented this iron, but it is most commonly said to be invented by Dave Pelz.