Different wedges for different conditions

[curtisj76]

Right now it's been a little rainy here so the ground is a little soft (not soggy though). For the life of me I can't hit my lob wedge. On one hole I hit three identical shots, back to back to back. It called for about a 50 yard shot and ALL three of them landed almost identically 30 yards down the fairway with huge divots to look at. I told my wife, "Watch this" and grabbed my sand wedge and proceeded to hit it 5 foot from the pin. I feel like I have a decent wedge game but just can't hit my LW right now. Do I just need more bounce?

Thanks

 

[Kevin Shields]

I think the problem begins with playing with your wife. Mine cant tell a lob wedge from a tennis racket.

Seriously, though, it's not practical to buy many wedges for diferent turfs. I just try to pick it with extra lean when the fairway is soft.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Open your lob wedge up to create more bounce; however you will also create more loft so plan your distance accordingly.

 

[curtisj76]

I think the problem begins with playing with your wife. Mine cant tell a lob wedge from a tennis racket.

Don't get me started, I've never left the course happy with her. I would love to see Bmanz in action on her swing, it needs some major work. I try to help her but I get too damn frustrated. I can't imagine how you guys do it.

 

[curtisj76]

I just try to pick it with extra lean when the fairway is soft.

I understand the "pick it" but I don't understand the "extra lean". Wouldn't you have less forward lean if you picked it? Thanks

 

[curtisj76]

Open your lob wedge up to create more bounce; however you will also create more loft so plan your distance accordingly.

I was wondering about that, thanks Jim.

 

[Steve Greffen]

I understand the "pick it" but I don't understand the "extra lean". Wouldn't you have less forward lean if you picked it? Thanks

I think he means hands forward get the ball first then turf. The last thing you want to do is to have any leakage. Fat city.

 

[softconsult]

I brought a similar issue to my lesson with Brian. Similar, but maybe not the same. My complaint was fatting pitch shots and chip shots from wet, no grass conditions. In my case, that problem didn't extend to a full lob wedge.

However, it's possible that the solution he gave me might help. He explained that I was aligned too open and had too much pop-out, which caused me to come in to steep and dig the leading edge into the mud. In other words, he
squared me up, eliminated the popout and voila, now I could use the bounce.

My 60 degree wedge was a Vokey M with 4 degrees of bounce. I have since retired it in favor of a Vokey 56-10 bent to 58-12, more forgiving.

 

[curtisj76]

I brought a similar issue to my lesson with Brian. Similar, but maybe not the same. My complaint was fatting pitch shots and chip shots from wet, no grass conditions. In my case, that problem didn't extend to a full lob wedge.

However, it's possible that the solution he gave me might help. He explained that I was aligned too open and had too much pop-out, which caused me to come in to steep and dig the leading edge into the mud. In other words, he
squared me up, eliminated the popout and voila, now I could use the bounce.

My 60 degree wedge was a Vokey M with 4 degrees of bounce. I have since retired it in favor of a Vokey 56-10 bent to 58-12, more forgiving.

I think that's me as well. My LW is the oldest club in my bag (7 years) so maybe it's time to hang her up for a little more bounce. From 4 to 12, that seems like a lot. How do you like it on firm fairways? Thanks Steve

 

[Kevin Shields]

I understand the "pick it" but I don't understand the "extra lean". Wouldn't you have less forward lean if you picked it? Thanks

No, go for max lean but a real high left shoulder. Feel like you're dragging a club up some stairs.

 

[softconsult]

Curtis asked how I like the 58-12 versus 60-04. The courses I play rarely present many bare, hard lies. 12 degree bounce hasn't been an issue.