What is the bounce of a golf club?
The bounce of a golf club is the angle between the leading edge of the sole of the club and the ground. The sole is the part of the club that really interacts with the turf.
When was Golf invented?
A scene from the Golf Book, circa 1540, shows a game with similarities to modern day golf e.g. knocking a ball down a hole with a crooked headed club.
What is wedge bounce in golf?
Wedge Bounce Explained. Wedge bounce is the angle created between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole or trailing edge. This is the area of the club that hits through the ground as it contacts the ball.
How has the game of golf evolved?
The evolution of golf can be explained by the development of the equipment used to play the game. Some of the most notable advancements in the game of golf have come from the development of the golf ball. The golf ball took on many different forms before the 1930s when the United States Golf Association (USGA) set standards for weight and size.
What is golf bounce?
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.
Why do golf clubs have bounce?
Why is bounce important? Bounce is important because it gives the club the characteristics to make it easy to hit from a variety of different lies. The curvature on the sole prevents the club from digging into the ground at impact and to 'bounce' through the sand or turf instead.
Do all golf irons have bounce?
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.
Is bounce good golf?
The bounce on your wedges is one of those small details that so many golfers don't understand but can really improve your game. As Bob Vokey said, “Bounce is forgiveness in a wedge. The better the bounce matches your swing type and specific shot, the better your wedge game.
What bounce do pros use?
A club that has a bounce of 10° or above is called a high bounce wedge. PGA professionals commonly use low-bounce wedges as it gives them better versatility in their shots, but these have a smaller margin for error.
Is more bounce better for wedges?
If you have a steep angle of attack resulting in deep divots, a higher bounce is recommended. If you are a sweeper resulting in shallow or no divot, low bounce is recommended. Vokey encourages golfers to go through a wedge fitting to ensure they get the proper bounce for their swing type.
What is the bounce on a 7 iron?
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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.
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.
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 bounce Does Tiger have on his wedges?
As one might expect, the 15-time major champion is as persnickety about his wedge grinds as he is about, well, pretty much everything. The line extension includes a 56-degree model with 12 degrees of bounce and a 60-degree version with 11 degrees of bounce.
What game was played with a bat and a sach?
In 1571 the book, "Biblia dat is, de gantsche Heylighe Schrift, grondelic ende trouwclick verduydtschet", describes the game of "Kolf" played with a "bat" and "sach".
Why was Kolf banned in 1657?
On December 10, 1659, an ordinance was issued to prevent playing Kolf in the streets of Albany due to too many windows being broken. A young trained elephant used as a caddy on a Florida golf course in 1922.
Where did golf originate?
The modern game of golf is generally considered to be a Scottish invention. A spokesman for The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, one of the oldest Scottish golf organisations, said "Stick and ball games have been around for many centuries, but golf as we know it today, played over 18 holes, clearly originated in Scotland." The word golf, or in Scots gowf [gʌuf], is usually thought to be a Scots alteration of Dutch " colf " or " colve " meaning " stick, " club ", " bat ", itself related to the Proto-Germanic language *kulth- as found in Old Norse kolfr meaning " bell clapper", and the German Kolben meaning " mace or club". The Dutch term Kolven refers to a related sport where the lowest number of strokes needed to hit a ball with a mallet into a hole determines the winner; according to the "Le grand dictionnaire françois-flamen" printed 1643 is stated the Dutch term to Flemish: "Kolf, zest Kolve; Kolfdrager, Sergeant; Kolf, Kolp, Goulfe."
How fast can a golf ball go?
These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second.
How did golf evolve?
The evolution of golf can be explained by the development of the equipment used to play the game. Some of the most notable advancements in the game of golf have come from the development of the golf ball. The golf ball took on many different forms before the 1930s when the United States Golf Association (USGA) set standards for weight and size. These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second. Since this time, the golf ball has continued to develop and impact the way the game is played.
When was the first round of kolf played?
In December 1650, the settlers of Fort Orange (near present-day Albany, New York) played the first recorded round of kolf (golf) in America. The Dutch settlers played kolf year round. During the spring, summer and fall it was played in fields. In the winter it was played on ice with the same rules.
What happened on December 10th 1659?
December 10th, 1659: The W. Commissary and Commissaries of Fort Orange and Village of Beverwyck [ today City of Albany ], having heard divers complains from the Burghers of this place, against playing at Golf along the streets, which causes great damage to the windows of the Houses, and exposes people to the danger of being wounded, and is contrary to the freedom of the Public Streets; Therefore their Worships, wishing to prevent the same, forbid all persons playing Golf in the Streets, on pain of forfeiting fl. 25 [Guilders] for each person who shall be found doing so. "
What do you call a golf ball that tumbles into a bunker?
If you’re like me, it’s painful to watch the golf ball tumble into a bunker, or as you Americans like to call them, “traps .” Fear and trepidation soon follow while surveying the next shot from the sandy grave.
What was the best golf club for short approach shots?
Prior to the 1930s, the best club for short approach shots was the niblick, roughly equivalent to today’s 9-iron or pitching wedge. The design of this club, however, featured a flat, angled face and virtually no sole, making it difficult to use in sand and other soft lies as it was prone to digging into the ground. Players had to pick the ball cleanly off the sand, which required a good lie. The other alternative for bunkers was the jigger; it was similar to a chipper with a short shaft, but little loft. Less loft prevented the club from digging in too much on soft lies, but the compromise was the low launch angle and it was useless at moving through the sand to dig out a buried ball. The club was also not ideal for approach shots from a greenside bunker, as a chip shot made with this club tended to roll for most of its distance. The club designers in those days were often blacksmiths who offered up all sorts of strange solutions to the bunker dilemma. The rake iron (pictured above) was invented by a Scottish optometrist who became fed up of having to remove sand from the eyes of golfers playing at the local links, and created a club designed to cast up less sand when swung.
Do golfers prefer sand or rough?
With endless hours to practice and a technique honed to perfection, these guys make it look easy. In fact, they sometimes prefer sand to greenside rough. The average weekend warrior has a much bigger fear factor and is less concerned in leaving the ball beside the hole as he is in not leaving the ball in the bunker. And the anguish of today’s golfer is only heightened as he sees the ball in anything but a perfect lie on the beach.
What were the first golf clubs made of?
The first golf clubs were rather primitive looking things made mostly from hickory wood. Go into any collectors golf shop and you see them displayed conspicuously in the “unplayable classics” section. Golf clubmaking was an artful and tedious task in which some of the early golf professionals specialized, but because of this clubs were expensive and the game remained an elite affair.
What percentage of golf clubs are cast?
A more efficient, economic way to make golf clubs, casting has pretty much sent forged clubs packing. Ninety percent of irons today are cast, and all the woods… or metals, I mean, are cast.
Why did steel shafts become popular?
The invention of mass produced steel-shafted clubs brought golf to more people because they could afford them, but steel had another effect — they played much differently than hickory shafts. It was said that one could hold the shaft of a hickory club in one hand and the head in the other hand and twist it almost halfway around. Compare that to the low torque graphite shafts of today, and the picture is quite clear: The same swing for both clubs is simply not going to work.
Why did Bobby Jones retire?
An interesting note: Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf when he was 28, allegedly to escape some of the pressures he faced and pursue his myriad other interests. It is also said that his golf swing never quite adjusted to the steel era, which was well under way by the mid 1930s (steel shafts were patented in 1910). Personally, I think he would have figured it out.
What year did the 14 club rule end?
The 14-Club Rule. It wasn’t really an “invention,” but it shaped a lot of future ones. The year 1938 saw the end of unlimited clubs in the bag and I’m sure caddies all over the world rejoiced. Lawson Little, the great amateur player of the 1930s, once went to battle with 31 clubs in his bag.
When did golf carts become popular?
Although they were used as early as the 1930s, golf carts were everywhere by the 1950s. Their impact was immediate, bringing many more people to the game and allowing people who previously had trouble walking the course to play. In fact, the 1950s saw a huge wave of popularity in our game influenced largely by the emergence of fan-favorite Arnold Palmer and Dwight Eisenhower, a popular president who played a lot more golf than any of his predecessors and didn’t care who knew about it.
When did the club in the bag end?
The year 1938 saw the end of unlimited clubs in the bag and I’m sure caddies all over the world rejoiced. Lawson Little, the great amateur player of the 1930s, once went to battle with 31 clubs in his bag. Shotmaking has evolved in the modern era, or at least it had until the ball became nearly impossible to curve.
Example 1. Bunker with lots of sand
You are in a bunker with fine, but deep sand. If you come in too steep the club will disappear well below the ball and you will fluff the shot and maybe leave it in the bunker.
Example 2. Firm flat pan lie on your local seaside links
You are facing a delicate shot over a bunker from a firm, flat plan lie at your local links course in the middle of summer. It is important that you create a crisp strike hitting down and through the ball with the leading edge. A wedge with too much bounce will do exactly that – bounce.
Example 3. Short bunker shot to a tight pin out of a bunker with not much sand
We all come across a bunker that has little or no sand in it once in a while and a sense of dread comes over us as we wiggle our feet on the firm surface. You may have noticed that more often than not your shot will come out thin and fly over the green from this sort of lie. This is where you can be clever about the use of bounce.
Do You Need to Care About Bounce Angle?
If you are a golfer who wants to maximize your ability to score well, bounce angle in your wedges is definitely something to consider . You can experiment with demo clubs, or discuss your options with your friendly local PGA Professional or knowledgeable pro shop staff. Better yet, you can schedule a wedge fitting with a clubfitter.
What is the purpose of bounce on a wedge sole?
What is the purpose of bounce on a wedge sole? Think of bounce as a way to control how much your wedges dig into turf or through sand or rough. 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 .
What does higher bounce angle mean?
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.
How often do tour pros change wedge specs?
These are good rules of thumb. Many tour pros change out the specs on their wedges from week to week based on the golf courses they are playing.
What does "bounce" mean in golf?
"Bounce" is a golf term referring to the lowest part of the sole of a wedge, that part of the wedge sole that is actually in contact with the ground at address and that causes the front of the sole to be off the ground at address.
Which angle of attack requires less bounce?
Golfers who sweep into the ball (shallow angle of attack) require less bounce.
Is there an industry standard for bounce angle?
There is no industry standard for bounce angle; each manufacturer decides how much bounce to build into its wedges, and what options of loft and bounce angles to offer.
What Bounce Should I Get On My Wedges?
There is no standard answer for what bounces you should get on your wedges. Bounce angles vary per wedge, grind, and brand. The best answer to the question ‘what bounce (s) should I get on my wedges?’, is a variety. At Bestgolfaccessories.net, we recommend that you get with a coach and professional fitter to properly get fit for a wedge set and to discover what type of swing you have. The professional club fitter will help you get fit for your wedge set and a coach will help you figure out your swing and make recommendations on what type of wedges you need, how many wedges you need and more information that is vital in the bag making decision making. Your coach can help you hone in your steep swing and a professional fitter can help get you set up with a wedge set of high to mid bounce wedges that will help you not dig too much into the ground. If you decide to not use any coaches or fitters, we recording your swing and examining your divots to figure out what type of swing you have. Then consider the types of wedges you are going to need – gap, sand, lob – and think about the types of situations you are going to use those wedges in. Personally I play a 60 degree wedge with 4 degrees of bounce because, my swing is a drop steep and my local courses sand is commonly coarse.
What is the difference between a high bounce wedge and a low bounce wedge?
Wedges with high bounce tend to not dig down into the turf as much and sort of ‘pop’ the wedge away from the ground. In contrast, wedges with low bounce tend to dig further into the ground, giving you a more precise hit.
What is the bounce angle of a golf club?
The bounce of a golf club is the angle between the leading edge of the sole of the club and the ground. The sole is the part of the club that really interacts with the turf. The bounce angle prevents or helps the sole of the club dig into the ground, sand or turf. There are benefits and drawbacks to each type of wedge bounce.
What does it mean when a golf club bounces?
What Does Bounce On a Golf Club Mean? The bounce angle on a golf club affects how the club interacts with the ground. Wedges that have low bounce (4 – 6 degrees) will dig into the ground more than wedges with high bounce (10 – 14 degrees).
Why use high bounce wedges in golf?
High bounce wedges help produce a lot of spin and can give players more control around the greens.
What is a medium bounce wedge?
Medium bounce wedges – Wedges with medium bounce usually have between 7 and 10 degrees of bounce. These wedges are good in all conditions, firm and soft. Wedges with medium bounce are extremely versatile. Players can use these wedges around the greens to create a number of shots.
Can you dig a wedge with high bounce?
However, a wedge with high bounce can stop you from digging as much an can help hit the ball a little more clean. A lot of players prefer higher bounce wedges out of the sand to avoid over digging.
Why is bounce important in golf?
In fact, Bob Vokey says that “Bounce is your friend,” because it provides forgiveness on all wedge shots, allowing you to still strike ...
What is the best bounce for a sand wedge?
The best bounce for your sand wedge depends on your swing type and course conditions. If you have a steep angle of attack resulting in deep divots, a higher bounce is recommended. If you are a sweeper resulting in shallow or no divot, low bounce is recommended.
What swing style is a mid bounce wedge?
While mid bounce wedges are suited for almost all swing types, they most favor a neutral swing style with a moderate attack angle.
Why use mid bounce wedges?
Players tend to choose mid bounce wedges to create shots around the green, as they help achieve exact distance and trajectory control. This wedge bounce type is the most versatile for more players, and can apply to a wide range of course conditions.
What is a low bounce wedge?
Low bounce wedges are designed for clean ball contact, giving you the precision you need in your short game. For instance, low bounce lob wedges can be used to hit high flop shots off tight lies near the green.
Is there a one size fits all wedge bounce?
There is not a one-size- fits-all wedge bounce. Every player is different and course conditions change. The only way to get the best performance out of your wedge set is to be properly fit for your swing type. We design the best product possible, and take it to the tour.
