Getting out of the bunker is tough for most of the amateurs because either they are unable to understand the design of their wedge or its use for their advantage.
Even if you are hitting a wedge into green or on the sand, it could become scary to hit the ball because you have to put so much pressure into the shots. The most common reason for this is the wrong wedge bounce. So that begs the question, what is a bounce on a wedge?
This article is brought to help you understand the Bounce that is built into your wedge.
Also, you will know how you can make your shots more effective and distant, along with the tactics to use it for your benefits. So, if you are curious to know what is Bounce on a wedge, you should read this article till the end.
But, before we proceed further, I am going to explain the concept of wedge bounce to you so that you can have an overview of how you are going to use it in any situation. So, without any further delay, let’s get started.
What is Bounce on a Wedge?
“In simple words, Wedge Bounce is the angle formed between the trailing edge and the leading edge of your wedge.”
The sole purpose of Bounce is to eliminate or reduce too much digging of your wedge into the sand. Means, when you hit the ball with your wedge, the total ground area you are hitting is considered as the wedge bounce.
The reason that we have the Bounce on a golf club is that when we hit the wedge into the turf or sand, it should not act like a digger. Because of this Bounce, the club is able to get into the ground or sand and then rides back up of it and hit the ball. Otherwise, it will go straight inside the sand and bury inside without getting up.
The wedges come in various types, along with various bounce angles. However, it is all up to you that how you are using your wedge bounce by making an accurate and suitable angle of your shot.
The most common error by the golfers is when they handle the wedge too far forward from the ball and the leading edge too much square to the target. This will tremendously reduce to effective Bounce on your wedge and make it dig too much in the ground. This directly means, escaping the bunker will become more difficult, and you will have to put too much pressure to make your ball cover the desired distance.
Wedge Bounce has an important role in making your game effective. If you want to level up your game from a beginner or intermediate golfer to a professional one, wedge bounce is one of the main things you should be aware of.
Lots of players spend a lot on their golf accessories like distance balls and costly wedges to increase their distances. But, they often do not try to learn the concept of wedge bounce, which is one of the major contributors to increasing the distance and efficiency of your shots.
In other words, if you know how to change your wedge bounce and choose the right wedge to achieve the desired shot, you are going to have huge progress in your game. Let’s know about the types of Bounce on wedges.
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Three main types of Bounce on Wedges
Low Bounce Wedges
These wedges are best for firm conditions where the bunkers are with hard sand. On these wedges, you will observe an angle between 4 degrees to 6 degrees. These wedges are suitable for short games where you require clean ball contact and high accuracy.
Low Bounce Wedges can easily be utilized to hit high flop shots near the green. If you have a sweeper swing style, you will find these wedges most suitable for you. For shallow attack angles with fewer divots, these wedges work just amazing.
In very rare circumstances, the players who strike at a sharp angle can put a great backspin on the balls using this kind of wedges. However, only the professionals will be able to do the same.
Mid Bounce Wedges
Mid Bounce Wedges normally have a bounce between 7 to 10 degrees. These wedges can suit the different players with a variety of swing types of playing conditions. However, these wedges are mostly used while playing on a firm or normal turf. Most of the golfers use these wedges to hit shots around the green. In this way, these wedges can help them to achieve huge distances and better control.
If you have a neutral swing style with an intermediate attack angle, mid bounce wedge will suit you the best.
High Bounce Wedges
Any wedge with more than 10 degrees of Bounce is considered as a high bounce wedge. It means that the leading edge will be higher when the sole is placed on the ground. These wedges are most suitable to use on soft turf and soft sand bunkers.
In other words, if you tend to dig your wedge at impact and play on deep fine sand, this wedge is most suitable for you. Because these wedges are designed to prevent too much digging of the leading edge, you can have numerous advantages from it.
Besides this, high bounce wedges can also help you generate a lot of spins when used properly. This will allow you to have more control when you hit lob shots
Hitting Wedges on Different Grounds
Using Wedge bounce in different places and scenarios will depend on your experience, location, and the ground. Obviously, you have to hit the balls on different surfaces using different tactics.
But, before getting started, I would suggest you start from small. Means, pick a small target where it is easy for you to understand the impact, timing, swing, and accuracy of your shots. Also, try to choose a shot that will allow you to get your ball up.
Hitting Wedges on Rough
Make sure to position the ball back instance. Along with that, try to grip the clubface slightly open. It will be good if we have an additional loft. Also, standing closer to the ball will be good on rough because we normally need a steeper swing plane here.
Hitting Wedges on Tight Sand
The low wedge bounce will work great when you are hitting on the tight sand. Make sure to keep your weight forward by trying to hit the ball at a steeper angle. Using a wedge with a good weight will also be a good thing to try in this situation.
Hitting Wedges on Hard Sand
Having a sand wedge will be a good thing to do here. Also, make sure to keep your ball a little bit forward so you have a less steep wedge bounce. The shot on hard sand will become much more efficient when you have slower swings with no movement from the lower body.
Hitting Wedges on Fluffy Sand
On the fully sand and fluffy lies, it will be good to use the wedges with the highest Bounce. The ball on this surface will be sitting perfectly, it could become tough to hit the ball right.
Hitting Wedges on Fairways
On the fairways, make sure to keep the ball further back a few inches. This will reduce the Bounce on the sole that is on the sand wedge. In this situation, you should use a wedge with low to medium Bounce. This will help you make an accurate and distant shot by not thinning it over the green.
How to Properly Use Bounce on Your Wedge?
Wedge Bounce is probably a phrase you have heard when you play pitch or chip shots. One of the common things we see during the games is the strategy that I need to get the ball first.
But there is a problem.
In order to do it, you will have to understand the term Bounce. I think you have got your answer above.
But, when it comes to using the Bounce on your wedge, practice is the primary thing that is going to help you. So, let’s understand the concepts first so that you have a clear idea of what you are going to do in the field.
Position your wedge correctly
The first way to effectively increase the Bounce of your wedge and decrease the digging is to keep the handle farther away from the target (ball). You should also try to slightly open the face of the wedge. This will prevent your wedge from digging too much in the ground or sand and make it easier to get out of the bunker. Some players may also prefer to keep the wedge straight so that the wedge hit the ground as less as possible.
Flow and Timing is the Key
Suppose you are hitting the target with a rapid movement or with a snatchy swing, the chances of getting your club dig inside the sand increases. So, instead of doing it, I would suggest you do it as a light brushing on the turf. The goal is to get into a nice rhythm so that when you hit the ball, you do it in a flow and get the most out of your shot without wasting the energy inside the ground. Timing is the big key to consider here.
Do not get too far back in the stance
It is important to have a good and consistent tempo before you hit the ball. The weight should lie forward for about 60 to 70%. Just think about hitting the ball from the back edge of your golf club. When you hit in this way, a nice and clean strike will be there. If you are standing too far from the ball with a lot of lean, it is going to increase the digging and, of course, hurt your hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Wedge Bounce?
There is no standard wedge bounce available in the field of golf. In fact, each player will prefer different wedge bounce depending on their swings, location, ground, and various other things. The way to find the best one is to test different wedge bounces and then pick the one that suits you.
Where should I use Low bounce wedges?
A low bounce wedge will tend to dig into the turf. So, it will be a good option to choose in firm conditions. Also, if you take a very little divot, you should definitely try low bounce wedges.
Where should I use high bounce wedges?
These wedges are known for their gliding properties on the grounds by eliminating the digging effects. These wedges are most suitable for softer conditions and mostly utilized by both beginners and professionals.
How to know the bounce angle of a wedge?
The bounce angle comes after the loft of your wedge. If your wedge has 60/8 printed on its sole, that means it has 8 degrees of Bounce and 60 degrees of loft.
What is a bounce on a wedge – Final Verdict
I hope this article has helped you to understand what is Bounce on a wedge and all its related aspects. A wedge bounce is one of the most considerable things to improvise your game as a golfer. So, I will suggest you try different wedge bounce angles and see which one is best for you depending on various situations.
