Understanding the Wedge: A Crucial Component for Your Golf Bag Setup
By: Patrick Stephenson
To play your best, you need to ensure that every club in your golf bag is tailored to your swing, the conditions you play in, and your tendencies on mishits.
Wedges are often the one club in the bag that gets overlooked when it comes to fitting. Many amateur players choose standard loft and bounce options off the rack without much thought. Unlike drivers, woods, irons, and putters, wedges may seem less distinct, leading to less attention during the fitting process. However, I argue that your wedges deserve the same custom attention as every other club in your bag.
In this article, we will discuss proper loft gapping and bounce selection to ensure you are well-equipped to choose the right set of wedges for your game. Wedges, after all, are your scoring clubs, and to play your best, they need to be perfectly suited to your game.
Distance Control: Choosing the Correct Lofts
If you look into ten different bags on the PGA Tour, you’ll find a wide variety of loft setups with wedges.
Some players carry four wedges ranging from 45 to 64 degrees, while others may have just three covering this spectrum. In certain setups, you’ll see players with standard even lofts like 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 64 degrees, while others might have their setup tweaked to odd numbers to dial in their distances perfectly.
When choosing lofts, your first decision is whether to carry three or four wedges, including your pitching wedge, which is most likely part of your iron set. Carrying just three wedges allows you to have an extra longer club, such as a five wood, in the bag, while carrying four means you might have to give something up.
In my opinion, longer hitters who expect to have many wedge shots into par 4s and par 5s are better off carrying four wedges. This setup makes it easier to dial in every distance and limits gaps. Shorter hitters may benefit from having an extra long iron or wood if they rarely need to hit a wedge on approach shots.
After deciding how many wedges to carry, it’s time to dial in your lofts. Start by figuring out the highest lofted wedge you want to carry – for most amateur players, this should be either a 56 or 58 degree, as the majority of us don’t need anything higher. I personally carry a 58-degree wedge, which I think is a great place to start for everyone, as it offers plenty of versatility without being too difficult to hit.
After selecting your highest lofted wedge, the next step is to find the next loft down that gives you a 15-17 yard gap in distance if you carry three wedges and a 10-12 yard gap in distance if you carry four wedges on a full swing.
For most players, this means going down about 6 degrees for a three-wedge setup and 4 degrees for a four-wedge setup, but this doesn’t apply to every golfer. Some players may need to have their lofts adjusted by a professional and might be better off with 49, 51, 53, or 55-degree wedges to get the correct gaps.
Possible Loft Configurations
Understanding and Selecting the Correct Bounce
Now that you have your lofts dialed in for wedge approach shots lets make sure your wedges are set up to help you succeed around the green. Choosing the right bounce for your wedges is crucial for optimizing your short game. Bounce impacts how the club interacts with the ground, affecting your ability to hit clean shots from various lies. Here’s a detailed guide to understanding and selecting the correct bounce for your wedges.
What is Bounce?
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of the clubface and the lowest point of the club’s sole. It helps the club glide through the turf or sand instead of digging in. Bounce is measured in degrees, and it can vary significantly between different wedges.
Types of Bounce
- Low Bounce (4-6 degrees):
- Best for firm conditions, tight lies, and hard sand.
- Ideal for players with a shallow angle of attack, who take minimal divots.
- Offers versatility for skilled players who like to open the clubface for flop shots.
- Mid Bounce (7-10 degrees):
- Suitable for a variety of conditions, making it a versatile choice.
- Good for players with a moderate angle of attack.
- Provides a balance between forgiveness and playability.
- High Bounce (10+ degrees):
- Best for soft conditions, fluffy sand, and lush turf.
- Ideal for players with a steep angle of attack, who take larger divots.
- Offers more forgiveness, preventing the club from digging too deeply.
Selecting the Right Bounce
- Assess Course Conditions:
- Consider the typical conditions of the courses you play. Soft, lush fairways and bunkers with fluffy sand call for higher bounce, while firm, tight lies require lower bounce.
- Analyze Your Swing Type:
- Steep Angle of Attack: If you tend to take deep divots, a higher bounce wedge will prevent the club from digging too much.
- Shallow Angle of Attack: If you take little to no divot, a lower bounce wedge will help you make cleaner contact.
- Evaluate Your Playing Style:
- Players who frequently hit high, soft shots around the greens might prefer wedges with more bounce.
- Those who rely on versatility and creativity in their short game might benefit from carrying wedges with varying bounce options.
- Get Fitted:
- A professional fitting can provide insights into the best bounce for your wedges based on your swing and typical playing conditions. During a fitting, you can test different bounce options and see how they perform with your swing.
Key Takeaway
Importance of Custom-Fitting Wedges:
- Wedges are often overlooked in the fitting process, but they deserve the same custom attention as drivers, woods, irons, and putters. Ensuring your wedges are tailored to your swing and playing conditions can significantly improve your performance.
Proper Loft Gapping:
- Choosing the correct number of wedges and lofts for your game is essential to dialing in your distance control and having proper gaps between wedges. You may also need to have a professional bend your wedges one degree stronger or weaker than standard to get these perfect gaps.
Selecting the Right Bounce:
- Bounce affects how the club interacts with the ground. Assess course conditions and your swing type to choose the appropriate bounce. Steep attack angles and soft conditions require higher bounce, while shallow attack angles and firm conditions need lower bounce. A professional fitting can help determine the best bounce options for your game.
