Bounce On Wedges?

ShriekingSheet

I've been chopping and changing my 60 degree wedge a bit lately trying to find one I like. I have always used 54 and 60 degrees for SW and LW. Lately, I'm using the Vokey Spin Milled ones but am a bit puzzled as to what bounce suits me.

Straight off, I ordered the Titleist 54 degree which came with 14 degree bounce. It seems nice, I hit it pretty well.

I then orderd the 60 degree (without specifying what bounce) but in the meantime picked up my brother's old one which is also Spin Milled, 60 degree with 10 degree bounce. I hit this thing really, really well. It just sits nicely. The new one I orderd came with 4 degree bounce which didn't sit nearly as nicely so didn't take it.

Compared to the LW I like, the leading edge of the 54 degree (14 deg bounce) looks quite low and sharp. But that's a mystery to me given that I thought less bounce meant a lower sharper looking leading edge...?


Maybe my interpretation of bounce is wrong all together...
I thought having little bounce meant the club was easier to nip the ball off a tight lie, being much bladeyer at the bottom.
I thought more bounce meant a club was easier to hit from fluffy lies and bunkers but could lead to more thin shots from tight lies.


if someone could clear this up for me and maybe offer some advice on what spec should be using on my 54 degree I'd be very grateful.

Hobart

I think that you are forgetting about the most important factor in using wedges (any club actually) that's the mind factor . Could it be that your brothers wedge fits better in your head?

You are correct (as far as I know) with regards to the bounce angle and the leading edge. My understanding in relation to bounce is not exactly what you have said, but more dependant to the course you are playing (although you could extrapolate what I am going to say and it could be what you are saying) in that if your home course conditions are normally firm fairways and firm bunkers, well then a wedge with less bounce on it should suit, in that the leading edge would be much "cleaner" and would help the club progress cleanly through the shot.

Similarly, with softer conditions a wedge with bigger bounce would suit.

Your swing also plays a part, in that if you have a sharper swing (ala Lefty) a wedge with more bounce tends to work better and it is more forgiving on slightly mis-hit shots, if your swing is more like Els, less bounce is answer.

ShriekingSheet

Hobart wrote: »

I think that you are forgetting about the most important factor in using wedges (any club actually) that's the mind factor . Could it be that your brothers wedge fits better in your head?

You are correct (as far as I know) with regards to the bounce angle and the leading edge. My understanding in relation to bounce is not exactly what you have said, but more dependant to the course you are playing (although you could extrapolate what I am going to say and it could be what you are saying) in that if your home course conditions are normally firm fairways and firm bunkers, well then a wedge with less bounce on it should suit, in that the leading edge would be much "cleaner" and would help the club progress cleanly through the shot.

Similarly, with softer conditions a wedge with bigger bounce would suit.

Your swing also plays a part, in that if you have a sharper swing (ala Lefty) a wedge with more bounce tends to work better and it is more forgiving on slightly mis-hit shots, if your swing is more like Els, less bounce is answer.

That's exactly my understanding of bounce - cheers for that.

Adiaga 2

I find the lower bounce on LW(mine is 6 degrees) is definitely an advantage from tighter lies. I was caught out in bunkers a couple of times though - where the sand is more 'fluffy' it's really easy to slide under too easily and the ball goes nowhere. So I would only use my 60deg wedge now from wet or really compacted sand.

ShriekingSheet

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

I find the lower bounce on LW(mine is 6 degrees) is definitely an advantage from tighter lies. I was caught out in bunkers a couple of times though - where the sand is more 'fluffy' it's really easy to slide under too easily and the ball goes nowhere. So I would only use my 60deg wedge now from wet or really compacted sand.

Yeah way trying a TaylorMade RAC with 6 degrees of bounce - really difficult from the sand.

Damo.Smith

its almost impossible from the sand

Mister Sifter

I generally never use my 60 degree from the sand. I'd tend to just open up the 56 degree.

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

I generally never use my 60 degree from the sand. I'd tend to just open up the 56 degree.

Well I've heard a lot of people recommend that you have one wedge with low bounce and the other with more.

Whether you put more on your LW or SW is up to you but by doing what you do, Graeme, assuming you have plenty of bounce on your SW, you have a low bounce LW for tight lying flop shots and still have a bunker club with bounce in the bag.

A good player will easily be able to play any necessary bunker shot with a 56 so that's pretty much the optimum situation.

I'd have a different choice if I played more links golf.

For me, I place a lot of emphasis on 110-80 yard shots for which I much prefer a 54 than a 56. 54 is just that bit strong for bunkers so I need to use 60 which means I need plenty of bounce on both wedges - not ideal for tight lies but it's the trade-off i choose.


Have a much better idea of what wedge spec suits me now. Cheers lads.

ShriekingSheet

Found this....

Pretty much all you need to know!

http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-wedge-bounce.html

eunified61

I nearly alway use my 60* with very littlr bounce from the bunkers around the greens open or close it always use the same full swing works very well.Had a vokey but prefer the wilson now .Wedges are a mind thing I find