Montys views on Lob Wedges

thegen

I heard Monty advocating the banning of all wedges above 56 deg.

He maintains it will bring inventivness back into golf. As it stands he feel us mere mortals can perform lob shots quite easily with 60 or 64 deg wedges.

Whats your thoughts?

Mister Sifter

Monty wants to stop moaning about crap like this and work a bit harder at getting his game back in shape. Most amatuers i see trying to use lob wedges tend to make an arse of it anyway.

I don't see why a wedge over 56 degrees should be banned, when the likes of a rescue club is still allowed.

Blunder

What loft is on that wedge you have for sale graeme?

thegen

Graeme, my post was to get a discussion going on lob wedges.

Tiger is also supposed to be a supporter of this. But I get your point, i carry a 60 deg in the summer only. Too risky a shot in the winter.

I also carry two hybrid/rescue one 17 deg and one 20 deg. I drop the 17 for the 60 deg in the summer

Mister Sifter

thegen wrote: »

Graeme, my post was to get a discussion going on lob wedges.

Yep, and i've gave my opinions on it. As far as i can tell i've added to the discussion. Lob wedges have been around for a long time. If the argument behind getting rid of them is because they make the game easier and to bring back shot making, then i think they can't just take out wedges over 56+ wedges. For me, using a lob wedge well is far harder than using a hybrid/rescue. That's my point.

thewing

Lob wedges are a very hard club to master, monty would want to work on his man boobs and keep quiet

WHIP IT!

thewing wrote: »

Lob wedges are a very hard club to master, monty would want to work on his man boobs and keep quiet

No surprise Monty doesn't advocate the banning of the belly-putter which saved his career for a spell...

Trampas

They don't call him Moanie Monty for nothing

DIEGO WORST

The square grooves rule will make a huge difference when it comes in, I think they should leave it at that.
Seeing the likes of Phil Mickelson playing those wonderful shots with his 64 degree around the green is one of the more entertaining aspects of watching PGA tour golf. Seems plenty inventive to me.

Mr. Larson

I'd agree that the 56++ degree LW doesn't necessarily level the playing field as it's still a difficult shot to execute regardless of the loft. You could make the argument for all equipment in that case... todays driver might give you 40 yards extra but it's the same for everyone so as long as there is a level playing field I don't see the argument.

I would have thought that taking a full-ish swing at a golf ball from just off the green, 60 degree LW in hand or not, requires no small amount of skill, technique and timing (not to mention balls of steel! :eek:) which only the very good players will be able to do. I can only base my opinion on what I have seen - but if all you needed to do it was a 60 degree wedge, then everyone would be at it. I still see most people favour the bump and run or standard pitch shot approach and only see people going for the flop/lob when they are up s**t creek with no other shot on.

ShriekingSheet

I think it's safe to say Monty wasn't considering the amateur game when he made his comment. But the amateur side of it is interesting all the same. If you ask me, pulling the lob wedge out of every club golfer's bag would probably have a positive effect on most of their short games.

So many people go to it when they just don't need to. Whether it's because it's the shot a tour pro would play or their trying to impress someone, having too much loft makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Even when lots of loft is needed, the type of shot I see guys frequently going for is ridiculous. Big Hollywood full swings with the face way open. But watch any good scratch player and you'll see that even to a tight pin over a bunker, with 60 degrees of loft a simple back-and-through move with a shallow angle of attack produces more than adequate height and bite to get it close. And it's more simple to do than the big swing shot, for any player.

In tour terms, which Monty was getting at I think, I think it would be interesting to see. These guys can pick a lob wedge from any lie. Monty's suggestion is very much an affront to the US approach of always landing the ball on the green... hit it high so it doesn't bounce or roll! Having less loft would re-introduce the old scottish way of bumbling the ball in to the target, even if it meant landing the ball several yards off the green. Obviously you can see the difference here. The US way has next to no variables. You strike it, it hits the green and stops. With less loft you might have to look at using different clubs to give different trajectories and roll factors. You have to take into account humps and slopes. As Monty suggests, it is more inventive. More luck is also involved though.

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I think it's safe to say Monty wasn't considering the amateur game when he made his comment. But the amateur side of it is interesting all the same. If you ask me, pulling the lob wedge out of every club golfer's bag would probably have a positive effect on most of their short games.

So many people go to it when they just don't need to. Whether it's because it's the shot a tour pro would play or their trying to impress someone, having too much loft makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Even when lots of loft is needed, the type of shot I see guys frequently going for is ridiculous. Big Hollywood full swings with the face way open. But watch any good scratch player and you'll see that even to a tight pin over a bunker, with 60 degrees of loft a simple back-and-through move with a shallow angle of attack produces more than adequate height and bite to get it close. And it's more simple to do than the big swing shot, for any player.

In tour terms, which Monty was getting at I think, I think it would be interesting to see. These guys can pick a lob wedge from any lie. Monty's suggestion is very much an affront to the US approach of always landing the ball on the green... hit it high so it doesn't bounce or roll! Having less loft would re-introduce the old scottish way of bumbling the ball in to the target, even if it meant landing the ball several yards off the green. Obviously you can see the difference here. The US way has next to no variables. You strike it, it hits the green and stops. With less loft you might have to look at using different clubs to give different trajectories and roll factors. You have to take into account humps and slopes. As Monty suggests, it is more inventive. More luck is also involved though.

If that's the case then would it not make a lot of US redundant? It's been talked about alot on here, the change to courses with raised greens as opposed to the old aprons etc...

If that is what Monty is getting at then i think he's a tad behind the times. Golf has moved on from the days of bump and runs on the majority of tournament courses.

As for the 'strike, it lands and stops'... that's one of the hardest things about using a lob wedge i find. Judging distance. A huge amount of feel is required and that to me, is what golf is all about.

thegen

Lads its good to see its opened up the debate on them. Sheet you are correct in what you say Monty was talking about the Pro tour, funnilly enough when he is coming to the end of his career!!!

Graeme I get your point to. My lob wedge only comes out on rare occasions.

Tiger has had his tuppence woth too on it, with the same view as Monty.

Anyway long live the amateur trying to play a Mickelson shot only to see the ball travel 40yds over the green!!!!

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

If that's the case then would it not make a lot of US redundant? It's been talked about alot on here, the change to courses with raised greens as opposed to the old aprons etc....

Well in fairness, these are courses where guys are winning with 15 and 20 under par! I wouldn't say that guys having to manufacture some kind of shot with a SW once or twice a round would make a course redundant.

But either way, it's never, ever gonna happen.

Trampas

Monty probably doesn't want Phil chipping like this

soundsham

the same as when golf courses tried to hinder tiger a few years ago by "tigerproofin" courses by adding length all it did was play into his hands
equally any tinkering with wedges grooves and balls will make it harder on the average guy, but widen the gap between tiger phil and a few others maybe the old ernie if he ever comes back

the reason for this is these guys already understand, have the skills abd imagination for playing a pitch and run from the edge of a green with an 8 iron or a bump and run from 30y outwith a 6 iron where the other guys are throwing it to the hole always as this is the only shot they kno

the harder the game becomes will always play into the hands of the most talented


remember seve

p.s. ban the long putter instead imo

gimpy jittery putters should have no aid