do we reach for the lob wedge to readily?
i recently swapped my 60* tm rac spin milled lob wedge for a vokey 58* bent to 57* as it gives a lot more flexibility to my game.
a lobber can cause a one dimensional aproach to your game.

A lot of people use a lob wedge at the wrong time. For me they should only be used to make escapes, or maybe out of bunkers.

I think they are just to difficult to hit distance consistently.

As well as my pitching wedge, I carry a 52gap and a 58sand/lob both Titleist Vokey.

i totally agree, some use it all the time.
ie a bump and run when an 8 iron would be best.
its so hard to judge the spin,a 6/7/8 ion tends to come out consistently

I only use my 60* wedge when I have a vertical face to get past, or when the pin is tight to the edge closest to me and I need to drop it from high and no run.
Other than that, I use my 50* gap wedge for most things short.

Do you honestly think that bending a 58 deg wedge to 57 deg will make sod all difference to an amateur?

All this crap about tour vans grinding a 16th off VJ's spin milled oil can tour grind wedge and people thinks it makes a difference. (to their game)

I pet he probably asks for a giant jar of M&M's in the locker room with all the red ones removed otheriwse he'll refuse to turn up.

Grumpy Fen

A lot of trouble with lob wedges is that many don't realise what bounce it's got on it. So end up struggling to use it in certain shots. Also a good sole grind can make any single wedge very versatile, allowing you to vary the bounce to suit the shot.

A common problem seems to be someone gets a lob wedge with a lot of bounce. Great for rough and bunkers, but useless for off the fairway and especially flop shots. So find it pointless as it's only any good for the same shots the sand wedge is for. Really such lob wedges should be considered more like high lofted sand wedges.

Its an easy test.Go to the practice chipping green and hit 5 shots to a pin 10 yards away with a lob wedge,then 5 with a 5 iron chip and run.No contest.

Most wedge bounces are not designed with UK links courses with tight lies, or tight lies in general, in mind. Although the correct type of grind for a course can help, it also has to match the player's swing and likely use.

A lob wedge has its specfic and unique use and unless you are particularly gifted it is not expected/supposed to be used for each and every shot.

Although I personally don't go as low as a 5 iron for "bump and run", most players should practice as WB says and know how to use all of their irons from off the green, even the putter...you will be amzed at how many shots this will shave off your game, and also increases your confidence and touch.

Do you honestly think that bending a 58 deg wedge to 57 deg will make sod all difference to an amateur?

All this crap about tour vans grinding a 16th off VJ's spin milled oil can tour grind wedge and people thinks it makes a difference. (to their game)

I pet he probably asks for a giant jar of M&M's in the locker room with all the red ones removed otheriwse he'll refuse to turn up.

Grumpy Fen


its not an attempt to be cool or look like a pro the reason i done ths was to get an even loft between my pw 47* gw 52* and my most lofted-57*

wormburner
Its an easy test.Go to the practice chipping green and hit 5 shots to a pin 10 yards away with a lob wedge,then 5 with a 5 iron chip and run.No contest.

wb- good test,but i also recommend this test=
on the course,when just off the green,reach for the 8/7 iron instead of the lobber.
in my experience the least lofted club will get it closest 3/10.
of course this is my opinon and open to discussion

Totaaly opposite for me.Least lofted club that can gte the ball rolling will get the ball nearer the hole 9/10 compared to a lob wedge.Don't make the mistake of going to far back in the stance and just lifting the club back closed,you need to hit a 5 iron chip and run like a full shot,ie club going back square.Once mastered the chip and run is a superb shot and at least 90% more consistent than any shot with a lob wedge.

In your test,I would hit an 8 iron nearer the hole probably 95 times out of a hundred.

sorry, i meant to say in my last post that most lofted club would get it closest 3/10.

i think your comment is spot on and why i started the thread-
a lot of people AUTOMATICALLY reach for the 60 degree,when your experience (and mine) indicate a bit of variety in practice will prove invaluable to lowering scores.

It is easier and quicker to become more consistent with the shorter swing of a bump and run. So probably is the recommended way for less acomplished wedge users.

However, once you master the wedge, some end up becoming more consistent with it. Easier to predict what it'll do through the air than on the ground where pace, roll and break need to be considered.

Disgaree,they are only more consistent with it because they practice more with it,not because its the right club to play.Taking spin out of wedges was a key lesson one of the greatest ever coaches,Harvey Penick.Get the ball rolling,spin is your enemy around the green unless you have to get it to stop.On the Golf Channel once they asked a lot of top pros what is the most common mistake they see amateurs make in pro-ams,top 2 answers were under clubbing and using to much loft around the green.

Its not easier to predict,the more spin you put on the ball the less predictable it is.

If anyone wants thr ultimate lesson on this buy Seve's short game vhs,if you still have a video.Watch how he hits his chips,he just gets the ball rolling.Its a brilliant 30 mins,awe-inspiring.

The right club is whichever ones works for you and you get consistent results from. For most that might be the bump and run being easier to master and wider margin for error. But better golfers shouldn't be afraid to practice with a higher lofted club as a different option. Yes spin is unpredictable, so is a lot in golf but through practice you learn to account for it. Maybe not a go to shot for many, but useful to have in the bag. Especially when you find yourself in a less than ideal bump and run situation.

For example at the BMW recently you saw some bump and run shots not work out. When the weather changed, it was the green that was more unpredictable. Some were leaving it short with the bump and run not able to judge the pace. Others opted for a higher lofted club to take green pace out of the equation and get it closer. Not necessarily as high as a lob wedge mind.

Yes,for most its the lowest loft that is the best choice and its certainly a fair generalistion to say most amateurs use to much loft.

It all depends on your game and the course and the conditions. This time of year (June) with the greens like lino, I prefer a lob wedge on approach shots because I've a chance of the "&*£"%£ing ball staying on the green. At other times of the year, I'll do a pitch and run with a 7 or 8 iron. But that's my personal preference. Others may differ, and if their method works for them, then more power to their elbow.

With regard to spin milled, letting the club rust, etc. I'm sure that if you're a leading pro it makes a difference. For mere mortals like us, I seriously doubt if the physics really are all that significant. More important will be things like weight, how the club feels in our hand, stiffness of shaft, etc. Personally I like the Vokey range because they're a bit lighter (my lob wedge is a deliberately rusted soft steel 58 degree - because I can't be bothered to clean it). But for the lower lofts - where I need to hit the ball a reasonable distance I prefer my more substantial-feeling Titleist 822 PW and SW (I don't personally see the need for a gap wedge - but others will differ on this). I am thinking of swapping all three wedges for the new MD spin milled simply for consistency's sake, but I find the MDs a little bit too heavy.