Lob Wedges

Ichiro

Just begining in Golf been playing for about 6 months now.

I am toying with the idea of purchasing a loft wedge because I'm sick of blading with my wedge, and I have this idea that the loft wedge will help me greatly around the greens etc.

Yay or nay on the wedge?
and if Yay, any particular type?

Thanks

L.O.F.T

Is it a lob wedge you are after? They take a little time to master and can be frustrating to use as you need to be precise with your distance control and ball striking imho, just my opinion, i dont mean to be negative. But once mastered they are a very useful club.

This link below might help you also in regarding your blading issues even though it is not directed at around the green shots it is still revelant to your problem
http://www.videojug.com/film/golf-how-to-stop-topping-the-ball

ShriekingSheet

Ichiro wrote: »

Just begining in Golf been playing for about 6 months now.

I am toying with the idea of purchasing a loft wedge because I'm sick of blading with my wedge, and I have this idea that the loft wedge will help me greatly around the greens etc.

Yay or nay on the wedge?
and if Yay, any particular type?

Thanks

Nay.

The Lob (not Loft fyi) Wedge is one of the most difficult clubs to master for the average amateur. It can, unlike the Pitching Wedge or Sand Wedge, play the ball higher and stop it more softly. But with this benefit, comes more risk of a duff or bladed shot.

The Pitching Wedge is possibly the most basic club to chip* and pitch** with. IMO you should go about mastering these simple shots with the PW, before you move on to more advanced stuff such as using an LW.

In short, spend some time, not your money.



FYI

*a chip is a low shot from around the green that flies a short distance and rolls maybe twice that. Usually played with a putting-like stroke and little wrist-break.

**a pitch is a higher flying shot with little roll-out, played with a hinge in the wrists and a longer, more flowing stroke than the chip.

BombSquad

Yay and nay...

Yay on the wedge. Very useful.

Nay on fixing your problem with blading though. That's got a lot more to do with you than with the club. A lesson would be a lot more beneficial.

BombSquad

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Nay.
But with this benefit, comes more risk of a duff or bladed shot.

Why do people always say this? I don't see how a LW is any more difficult to use than a SW. If you blade a pitch and run with a 7 iron as opposed to striking it well then the actual result can be similar to the intended result.

This is not the case with the lob wedge. The bad shot will work out worse with a lob wedge... but I don't think that there's more of a risk of a duff or a bladed shot.

The risk will depend on the type of shot as opposed to the club used. A flop shot with a pitching wedge or sand wedge is more difficult than with a lob wedge.

jimbling

Lob wedge is a very difficult club to use. Only club in the bag that I still have a blading issue with in fact :pac:

mag

BombSquad wrote: »

Why do people always say this? I don't see how a LW is any more difficult to use than a SW.

its more difficult to hit because theres less margin for error, unlike a sandiron which typically will have more bounce in the sole.

BombSquad

mag wrote: »

its more difficult to hit because theres less margin for error, unlike a sandiron which typically will have more bounce in the sole.

How does bounce give more margin for error? What about off a tight lie?

thewing

A lob wedge off a tight lie is very hard shot to hit

I only ever use in the rough around greens to get over bumps and bunkers...

Great when it works, terrible when it doesn't...

BombSquad

thewing wrote: »

A lob wedge off a tight lie is very hard shot to hit

Isn't any club hard to hit off a tight lie?

thewing wrote: »

I only ever use in the rough around greens to get over bumps and bunkers...

Sounds like that'd be hard with any club... but easier with a lob wedge than sand wedge or pitching wedge...

Apologies for hijacking the thread but lob wedges are used in difficult situations. Doesn't mean they are more difficult to use than a other clubs though. Depends on the shot.

A lob wedge and practice can be a great combination.

ShriekingSheet

BombSquad wrote: »

Why do people always say this? I don't see how a LW is any more difficult to use than a SW. If you blade a pitch and run with a 7 iron as opposed to striking it well then the actual result can be similar to the intended result.

This is not the case with the lob wedge. The bad shot will work out worse with a lob wedge... but I don't think that there's more of a risk of a duff or a bladed shot.

The risk will depend on the type of shot as opposed to the club used. A flop shot with a pitching wedge or sand wedge is more difficult than with a lob wedge.

More loft means a longer swing is required. A longer swing for a short range shot brings more room for error in, does it not?

ShriekingSheet

BombSquad wrote: »

Isn't any club hard to hit off a tight lie?

Eh... no? I'm not Tiger Woods but wouldn't consider a short, wrist-less stroke with a PW from a tight lie a "hard" shot.

BombSquad

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

More loft means a longer swing is required. A longer swing for a short range shot brings more room for error in, does it not?

Yeah, that sounds reasonable alright. Is the tradeoff from the longer swing not counteracted by the extra loft. I suppose on these shots the loft is less of an issue...

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Eh... no? I'm not Tiger Woods but wouldn't consider a short, wrist-less stroke with a PW from a tight lie a "hard" shot.

I don't think a LW shot is much/any more difficult than a PW/SW... so rhetorical question...

Would you consider a short, wrist-less stroke with a LW from a tight lie a "hard" shot?

stockdam

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

More loft means a longer swing is required. A longer swing for a short range shot brings more room for error in, does it not?

That would be my answer. However there would be little difference in my opinion between a wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge for risk (slight difference but not a big difference). If you can hit a bump and run with a 7 iron then I'd suggest that this would be less risky.

Tight lies are always difficult. A downhill, tight lie is my worst nightmare......especially with a bunker in front to duff into.

SuprSi

If you're constantly blading your sand wedge, which is the club I'm assuming you're using, rather than looking at a lob wedge, what about another wedge with a lower bounce angle? The leading edge of a sand wedge sits higher from the ground than that of a normal wedge as it's designed to cut through sand. The problem is that this edge is closer to the circumference of the ball, meaning that there's a slightly higher risk of thinning the ball.

The leading edge of a lower bounce angle wedge is closer to the ground, meaning less chance of thinning. The downside is that there's more of a chance of duffing it if you're not careful!! :pac:

Whyner

I bought a gap wedge and lob wedge 2 weeks ago and use the lob quite a lot, I find it fantastic from a variety of positions.

Perhaps borrow one from your mate a give it a try. It's great for attacking the pin, as are most wedges. I play with 4 wedges

Mister Sifter

Played with three guys recently, all in the 16-20 handicap range, who persisted on using lofted wedges for every shot around the green. Everytime they seemed to leave it 20-20 feet short of the pin and then get rather annoyed that the ball didn't run out.

As the lads are saying, a lob wedge is all well and good, but only at the right time and only when you have learned how to use one. I generally only use the lob wedge when i absolutely have to rather than when i simply can.

OP, from what you've said so far, it doesn't sound like a lob wedge is the answer to your problems. A bag of balls and 30-60 mins at the side of a green would be by shout.

jimbling

SuprSi wrote: »

If you're constantly blading your sand wedge, which is the club I'm assuming you're using, rather than looking at a lob wedge, what about another wedge with a lower bounce angle? The leading edge of a sand wedge sits higher from the ground than that of a normal wedge as it's designed to cut through sand. The problem is that this edge is closer to the circumference of the ball, meaning that there's a slightly higher risk of thinning the ball.

The leading edge of a lower bounce angle wedge is closer to the ground, meaning less chance of thinning. The downside is that there's more of a chance of duffing it if you're not careful!! :pac:

For beginners it is definitely far far easier to play the lower club chip shot around the green. Far less margin for error.
I used to be a pitch and putt player, so find this very hard to do.... but getting there.

whatawaster

I find that lob wedges today have usually very little bounce and are very unforgiving. Clean contact is crucial, and this might be a problem for high handicappers.
They also spin a lot usually, so you need to fly the ball a lot of the way to the hole which takes a lot of confidence. It’s very easy to leave them short I find.

I personally have 4 wedges. A PW (Cavity backed) that’s part of my set of irons. I only use this for full shots. A Gap Wedge which I use for most standard pitch shots. A 56 which I only use in bunkers, and a 60 which I only use when I have to get up and over something quickly like a bunker. For chips I think 8 or 9 irons are the easiest.

jimbling

whatawaster wrote: »

I find that lob wedges today have usually very little bounce and are very unforgiving. Clean contact is crucial, and this might be a problem for high handicappers.
They also spin a lot usually, so you need to fly the ball a lot of the way to the hole which takes a lot of confidence. It’s very easy to leave them short I find.

I personally have 4 wedges. A PW (Cavity backed) that’s part of my set of irons. I only use this for full shots. A Gap Wedge which I use for most standard pitch shots. A 56 which I only use in bunkers, and a 60 which I only use when I have to get up and over something quickly like a bunker. For chips I think 8 or 9 irons are the easiest.

This is exactly my use as well. Except I don't have a gap wedge. I use the sand wedge for most pitch shots within 100y. My 60 only comes out when in the slight rough and have little green to play with...i.e. flop shot.

PhilipMarlowe

When I miss a green, usually I will see if the shot can be played with a 9 iron, if I need more of a pitch and less roll I'll take the 52 degree gap wedge. I would only use the 60 degree in more 'extreme' examples.

Grey Fox

Ichiro wrote: »

Just begining in Golf been playing for about 6 months now.

I am toying with the idea of purchasing a loft wedge because I'm sick of blading with my wedge, and I have this idea that the loft wedge will help me greatly around the greens etc.

Yay or nay on the wedge?
and if Yay, any particular type?

Thanks

Hi Ichiro,

In fairness lob wedges are for more advanced players but by all means buy one and try it out, you never know you may be a wizard with it! Start off with a cheap one (€30 or so) and if it doesn't work out you won't have wasted too much money.

If you are blading your wedge maybe check your technique and master the wedges you have first. Youtube is good for instructional golf videos showing you how to hit chips and pitches. Once you know the right technique plenty of practice will have you nailing these shots in no time.

I have been playing a few years and have a 62 degree wedge. I find it great out of bunkers, great for flop shots(after a sh*tload of practice!), really great for 60 yard full shots, good out of medium/heavy rough... the only bad point I can think of is you really need to be aggressive with this club but again practice and experience will help.

Best of luck.

soundsham

must be the most thrown away,kicked and cursed golf club:D