GOLFTEC: How Much Wedge Bounce Do You Need?

Wedge bounce: high vs low

As seen on Golf Channel: Using the ideal amount of wedge bounce for your game can make a big difference

By GOLFTEC Digital

Wedge bounce, how much do you need?

We spend a lot of time writing about how to increase your distance off the tee. So, assuming you follow our swing tips and take our advice on finding a driver that fits for your swing perfectly, you’re no doubt crushing drives down the middle of the fairway with regularity.

Beyond mastering the long game, we want to ensure your short game is up to snuff, too, since your long-bombing prowess means wedges are in your hands so often.

When it comes to wedges, one thing most golfers don’t pay enough attention to is bounce. Whether it’s misunderstanding how bounce works or how it fits into your game, using wedges with the right amount of bounce is vital to playing your best golf.

So, pay attention to our “Bounce 101” course below and make sure you get the most out of every club in your bag!

Club bounce diagram

Bounce?

Bounce is defined as the angle formed between the leading edge of the clubface and the lowest point of its sole.

Having too little or too much bounce can be the difference between chunking a shot and blading it across the green, as bounce effectively dictates how your club interacts with the ground at impact.

Depending on the golfer and course conditions, a variety of bounce options could be ideal. Many PGA Tour pros mix and match high- and low-bounce wedges to best handle various scenarios around the greens. They’ll even change their wedges week to week, depending on course conditions and types of grass.

To overgeneralize the ideal amount of bounce for different course conditions: Soft, spongy conditions often call for high-bounce wedges, while tight lies and dry conditions are often more aptly handled with low-bounce wedges. And to relate the same to a golfer’s swing tendencies: Those with a shallow angle of attack often do better with low-bounce wedges, and those with a steep angle of attack often perform better with high-bounce wedges, since the added bounce helps the club refrain from digging too much.

What’s best for you?

What type of wedge bounce is right for you?

Many golfers manipulate bounce by changing how they set the clubface up to the ball (open, square or closed), which can lead to inconsistent contact, spin and trajectory. Especially with difficult lies like deep rough or hardpan.

When your wedges are built to the exact bounce preferences that fit your game and the course conditions you most often face, your short game automatically becomes less of a guessing game.

With this in mind, Brad Skupaka stopped by Golf Channel’s ‘Morning Drive’ to talk bounce with host Robert Damron. As they went through a mock fitting, Skupaka had Damron hit three different wedges: one with high bounce, one with low bounce, and one ultra-high bounce option designed for extreme forgiveness.

Check out the video below to see which bounce option fit Damron best. You might be surprised! And be sure to find a local GOLFTEC for your club fitting needs, including your next set of wedges.


VIDEO: How Much Wedge Bounce Do You Need?


Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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