Knowing what wedges to use and when to do so, is important if you want to hit a variety of shots around the green. With so many different names like Pitches, chips, flops, bunker blasts and so on; it may seem difficult to know which one to pick. To lift you from the burden of confusion, let’s explain.
Using More Than One Wedge
New golfers find themselves wondering how many wedges they should be using. You might even be wondering, “Can’t I just use the same club for every shot?” To be frank about it, no you can’t.
When a golf player has more than one wedge, he or she will be able to make a selective choice in certain playing scenarios.
For instance, a pitching wedge is going to have a different loft and bounce in comparison to a sand wedge.
A pitching wedge will be ideal for long-distance shots, while a sand wedge would be more suited for shots out of sand bunkers.
When you want to hit the ball high in the air, you should use a club with more loft. If you want the ball to hit the green without rolling, you might want a club with less loft. Then again when you’re playing on a course full of bunkers, you could find a lob wedge to be most useful.
There are different clubs in your golfing arsenal that are intended to help you out of every unique and challenging situation.
There isn’t a specified number when it comes to how many wedges you have to carry. The only thing you have to do, is to make sure you’re gearing up in a way that is right for you.
Understanding Lofts
Wedges come in a widespread assortment of lofts. The aim of these lofts is to create a link between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
A good rule to follow is to have approximately four-degrees of loft between your wedges.
Look at the following example:
Let’s say that your 48-degree pitching wedge flies at 110 yards on average. By comparison, your 56-degree sand wedge flies at roughly 80 yards, you possibly need a 52-degree loft wedge that carries around 95 yards to fill the gap.
Types of Wedges
There are four kinds of wedges for you to choose from Each of them have their own unique design and purpose on the course.
Pitching Wedges
The first and most common wedge is the pitching wedge. Usually, the pitching wedge has a loft between 44 and 48 degrees. This wedge is mostly used for full shots into greens and lengthier chip shots. A lot of contemporary sets are in favor of a lower lofted or stronger pitching wedge. This is intended to fit in with iron designs with a far-reaching strike range.
Gap Wedges
Gap wedges fill the space between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Other names for the gap wedge include the attack wedge or the utility wedge, just so that you don’t get confused. Gap wedges normally carry a loft of around 50 to and 53 degrees.
They are mostly used for fuller shots, and to link a distance gap. Gap wedges offer a variation near the green for pitches that don’t involve a full swing and longer chips.
Sand Wedges
The sand wedge was initially intended to get the ball out of green side bunkers. This is made possible because of the thicker and broader shape of its sole. Sand wedges are typically found in the 54 to 58 degrees angle.
Lob Wedges
Our last wedges are also the latest when it comes to wedge designs. Lob wedges have a higher loft compared to other wedges- typically between 60 to 64 degrees.
This club’s heightened loft allows golfers to increase their height and spin their shots close to the green. Common uses for a lob wedge include chip shots, flop shots and bunker shots.
You Don’t Always Need a Lob Wedge
Lob wedges are not easy to wield and take a lot of practice to get use to. For new players, a 56-degree wedge would be the best choice to enhance your short game. By minimizing your loft you’ll find it simpler to control distances while avoiding bladed or chunked shots.
There are many wedges out there for you to choose from that will improve your golfing rounds significantly.
The best wedges will be useful for preventing fat or chunked shots when you are playing in a bunker. So basically, a loft is not always needed, think about the higher percentage play with less loft.
Using a lob wedge that you won’t be able to control can be risky. You are most likely going to experience this in severe and windy weather conditions. You have to consider your safety first before overvaluing your skills on the course golf injuries.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using the right wedge:
More Control
Choosing the wrong club gives way to problematic shots like slices and hooks. It also makes it incredibly hard to have control over your shots. Choosing the right wedge will give you more stability which is the key to making accurate shots.
Increased Distance
Taking a shot with the right wedge will add more spin and lift to the ball, increasing its travelling distance. This is the deciding factor between making or missing a good shot.
Improved Precision
With the right wedge you will have more control over the ball, which means your shots will be more accurate. Practice and becoming familiar with your wedges improve your skills with these clubs.
Improved Score
The afore mentioned factors can lead to your score improving. This is what any golfer wants. You’ll soon be knocking fantastic shots and winning every round.
Wedges And Sole Grinds
Golf club manufacturers are shaping the sole grinds of wedges so that players can hit better shots. But what the heck is a sole grind?
In layman’s terms, a sole grind is the extra shaping of the wedge’s sole found at the heel or the toe.
Today wedge manufacturers provide a variety of sole grinds apart from the basic wedge sole. These customized wedge soles are altered to suit certain turf conditions or shots.
For example, a heel grind will cut off certain elements from the heel of the sole which lets the face to sit lower to the ground. This also makes it easier to open the club face when the player is at address. You should always ask an instructor about the sort of grinds you need that will be best for your game.
Wedges And Bounce
The bounce of a wedge is the area of the club that connects with the turf, and ‘bounces’ the club across the surface below the ball at impact. Bounce is the collective name for the basics associated with a sole’s shape. These elements are the bounce angle, sole width, leading edge, rocker and camber of a wedge.
When it comes to discussing bounce a lot of emphasis is placed on bounce angle. This refers to the angle from the leading edge to the point where the sole meets the ground. It is a common misconception that wedges are placed even on the ground, but that is definitely not the case. Bounce, and especially the bounce angle, is added to the wedge to prevent it from digging into sand or turf. Wedges come in three bounce types: low, mid and high.
Low Bounce Wedges
Wedges that have a bounce angle of 4 to 6 degrees are classified as low bounce. Wedges that have the least amount of bounce are appropriate for golfers who sweep the ball and take a lower divot. They are also better suited for denser turf conditions such as a links courses or bunkers with little sand.
Mid Bounce Wedges
A wedge with a bounce angle from 7 to 10 degrees of bounce is a mid-bounce wedge. This is the most adaptable option, most appropriate for a broader range of playing circumstances and swing types.
High Bounce Wedges
High bounce wedges have over 10 degrees of bounce. In other words, the leading edge sits higher when the sole is placed on the surface.
These wedges are best for players who dig at impact and take deep divots. They are also best for softer conditions (i.e. parkland and bunkers that have deep fine sand.
Now that we have covered what wedges you need and for what, here are two wedges that you should consider getting your hand on.
Cleveland CBX 2 Cavity Back Wedge
If you are just starting out your golfing journey, you’ll love the Cleveland CBX 2 Cavity Back wedge.
Cleveland has claimed that the CBX 2 wedges gives “off-the-charts forgiveness thanks to a new Hollow-Cavity, while the Dynamic Sole boosts all-around versatility. The Cleveland CBX 2 is a forgiving, versatile wedge optimized for golfers who play cavity back irons.”
The hollow design of the CBX 2 gives awesome perimeter weighting. You will still be able to produce quality shots, despite the shots being off center as they are levelled out for you.
The CBX2 also has a balanced feel to it. This is created using their enhanced feel balancing technology that provides a decent center of gravity. At the same time, the Gelback TPU Insert cuts out the vibration during impact.
Also, this is a wedge that has amazing detail in its grooves. The CBX 2 is fitted with fourth generation Rotex Face Technology. This important part of the club has the sharpest Tour Zip Grooves and accurate face milling. You will be able to deliver the best spins to enhance the precision of your short game.
Wilson Harmonized SG Wedges
Wilson Staff golf clubs are highly underrated in the golfing world.
When you carefully examine the Wilson’s Harmonized SG wedges, you will see that this the most affordable option that gives more than what you pay for.
For instance, the 56-degree sand wedge has 12-degrees of bounce, a perfect ratio for newbie golfers and those with a higher handicap.
These clubs provide a solid feel and forgiveness similar to a cavity-back iron.
This is all credited to its bladelike design. Their wide sole allows the club to sweep beneath the ball, letting it glide over the turf without feeling caught in the ground.
Conclusion
There is a lot more that can be said about golf wedges, and which ones to use. When you are new to golf, it can be overbearing to familiarize yourself with the different types of golf clubs out there.
The point of this guide is to explain which wedges you should use and when to use them. Remember the above tips when you are looking for wedges, and you’ll be prepared in the trickiest scenarios.
