Most golfers understand their golf clubs, in particular their wedges, differ by loft - typically from a 45-degree pitching wedge up to as high as 64-degrees for the most extremely lofted lob wedge. But there is also another angle you need to be aware of, and that's a wedge bounce angle. As the name implies, the bounce enables the clubhead to bounce off the sand or grass without digging in before impact. On a sand wedge, for example, you'll see the leading edge sits off the ground when the club is in the address position. The gap created between the turf and the leading edge is the bounce angle - the bigger the gap, the larger the bounce. If you want to learn more about what bounce is and how it works, please watch the video below or read the full article here. What is bounce?
What are the options?
If you think that a few degrees cannot change your game, then you'd be wrong. Using a wedge with the right combination of bounce and loft for the sort of course you play, and the kind of swing you have can make a big difference to your short game.
Although all golf clubs have a bounce angle of some degree, it is commonly only regarded as part of the buying decision when purchasing wedges. The actual degree of bounce will be a number, usually between 6-12, it can be simplified into three categories - low, standard, and high - with each one great at some things but not so good at others. Below is a guide on how each one will behave to help you pick the right bounce for your game.
Low Bounce Wedges
Low bounce wedge
Wedges with low bounce (less than 8-degrees) are ideal for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions - think links golf and The Open Championship. The small bounce angle lowers the leading edge closer to the ground to put a premium on good ball-striking - most tour professionals will have a low bounce in their wedges.
As well as firm ground conditions, low bounce wedges are great for golfers will a shallow angle of attack. If you don't know what this is - think about your divots. If you pick the ball cleanly off the turf, barely bruising the ground through impact, then you've got a shallow angle of attack. The sweeping motion through the bottom of the swing drastically reduces the chance of the leading edge digging in, and therefore the need for a higher bounce angle.
Low bounce wedges are typically in the lower loft range – e.g. pitching and gap wedges used for longer approach shots. A lot of bounce would be undesirable because it would make it more challenging to get the leading edge under the ball, causing you to thin it.
Low bounce wedge can be great but only in specific circumstances - most golfers are better off with more bounce (10 to 14 degrees) - which brings us onto mid bounce wedges.
Mid Bounce Wedges
Mid bounce wedge
Wedges with a mid bounce angle (10 to 14-degrees) are the best all-around wedges for playability in all types of conditions and all golfers.
These wedges are very versatile for players who like to be creative around the greens. Mid bounce is also an excellent choice for players who like to play an open or square face out of the bunker as the dynamic bounce does not change too drastically. However, this is something to be aware off and is the start of the conversation around grind. You can read more about that below and here.
High Bounce Wedges
High bounce wedge
Wedges with high bounce angles (14-degrees plus) are primarily designed for soft ground conditions and sand. The combination of the wider sole and higher bounce angle prevents the leading edge from digging in through impact. They work exceptionally well out of (soft) sand for players who prefer to keep a straight face through impact.
High bounce wedges are also a good choice for players with steep attack angles - if you take large deep divots then look out for these wedges.
Determining the Bounce of a Wedge
Wedge with 58-degrees loft and 10-degrees of bounce
As buyers becoming more informed and there is more than one bounce option for each loft option the specific bounce angle for a wedge is stamped on the clubhead - somewhere near the loft. For example, a wedge stamped 52 08 will be 52-degrees of loft with 08-degrees of bounce - there could be a 52 10 wedge of the same model.
A wedge which is an extension of iron set don't usually have the bounce on them and will most probably fall into the mid or low category above.
But wait there's more
As mentioned above, as you rotate the clubhead for precise shots around the green, the dynamic bounce will change - opening the clubface will add bounce. However, the clever engineers at your favourite brand have come up with a concept call grind - the process of grinding away part of the sole (usually the heel) to keep the bounce consistent regardless of what the face is doing. If you want to read more about this, you can do so here.
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FAQs
How do you know what bounce to get on wedges? ›
Low bounce wedges are great for firm conditions and players that take very little divot. A low bounce wedge will tend to dig or cut into the turf. High bounce wedges are great for softer conditions and players that take a bigger divot. A high bounce wedge will tend to glide through the turf and resist digging.
What is the purpose of bounce on a wedge? ›They are made to help golfers hit their exact distance and control the trajectory of the ball. High bounce wedges have more than 12° of bounce to help prevent the leading edge of the club from digging into the ground. Golfers who have a steep angle of attack and take large divots are a good fit for high bounce wedges.
What does bounce angle mean on wedges? ›In golf, bounce or bounce angle is the angle inscribed by the leading edge of a golfing iron (particularly a wedge), the sole of the club, and the ground. In plainer terms, bounce angle is an indication of how much the sole, or bottom-most part, of the club head lifts the leading edge.
Should high handicappers use high bounce wedges? ›If your handicap is high, you should avoid blade-design wedges as they are very thin and don't offer much perimeter weighting, which makes them hard to hit. Instead, you should look for cavity back wedges that are designed for more bounce and even weight distribution across the clubhead.
What bounce is best for tight lies? ›Low bounce 10 and lower: Ideal for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions, if you actually keep your ball on the short grass. Less bounce makes it easier for better golfers to get creative with shots such as flop shots around the green because the leading edge is much smaller.
What bounce should my 56 degree wedge have? ›The best bounce for a 56 degree wedge for most golfer is about 12 degrees. This is a versatile number right in between the low end of 8 degrees and the high end of 14 degrees. You can play most courses with a 12 degree bounce sand wedge and enjoy your golf.
What bounce do pros use on wedges? ›Cleveland said that unlike their predecessors, many of whom favored low-bounce wedges, many of today's PGA Tour pros use wedges with about 12 or 13 degrees of bounce.
Does bounce affect distance? ›Launch Angle and Backspin
The higher the bounce, the higher up the so-called "leading edge" is in the moment of impact. This is obvious. Because the higher the bounce, the greater the distance between the leading edge of the clubface and the lowest point of the wedge.
If we open the face on a high-bounce wedge, the leading edge is raised too high off turf, and we will run the risk of hitting it skinny or be forced to hit down on the ball too much. this leads to getting too steep, creating a lower-than-desired shot that relies on spin and a good bounce.
What bounce is better for high handicappers? ›The best golf wedge bounce for a high handicapper is 10 degrees. Bounce is the amount of sole on the bottom of the wedge there is to literally bounce off the ground when you hit the ball. It's that simple.
What is the best wedge bounce for a high handicapper? ›
Most beginners and high handicappers have a steeper angle of attack. So… We recommend you have 10-12 degrees of bounce for your sand wedge and around 14 degrees of bounce for lob wedge.
What angle should my wedges be? ›An ideal progression is for the pitching wedge to be 45 degrees, followed by a 50-degree gap wedge and complemented by 54- and 58-degree sand and lob wedges. 6. As always, get with your fitter to gain a better understanding of how your irons and wedges should work together.
What is the easiest wedge to hit around the green? ›For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching or gap wedge will produce the most consistent shots around the green. Using a gap wedge will be the best place to start for standard chips, but a pitching wedge could work better if the ball is sitting up in the rough.
Can you hit a flop shot with a high bounce wedge? ›For the purpose of hitting a flop shot, you want to use a wedge with a low enough bounce that you can slip the leading edge underneath the ball, but a high enough bounce that you won't consistently dig the leading edge into the ground.
What is the best bounce for a 58 degree? ›For most golfers, a 58-degree wedge is the highest lofted club they should use. You'll want to make sure the bounce of the club is at least 10 degrees. The higher bounce will stop the club from digging too much into the sand or dirt.
What bounce is easiest to hit? ›With a high-bounce angle (10 degrees or higher), the wedge will be less prone to digging through impact, will have more of a bouncing effect in the sand and for most golfers, is an easier club to use than a wedge with low bounce (more on that later.)
Is 8 degrees of bounce too little? ›Low bounce with degrees usually sitting between 0 and 8 degrees; Mid or standard bounce, which is usually between 9 and 12 degrees; High bounce will cover anything above the 12-degree mark.
What bounce should a mid handicapper carry? ›A mid handicapper should have a sand wedge with a higher bounce (10+ degrees) and a lob or gap wedge with a mid bounce (7-9 degrees).
Should I carry a 56 and 58 degree wedge? ›For the average golfer, having a 56-degree wedge in your bag will be much more beneficial than having a 60-degree wedge. Sand wedges (54-56 degrees) are the most versatile wedge you can have while lob wedges (58+ degrees) should only be used by better golfers.
What degree wedge is best for chipping? ›What degree wedge is best for chipping? Typically, it is the sand wedge that is considered the best option for chipping. Sand wedges come in loft degrees that range from 54 to 58, and they can be suitable for a variety of golfing situations that require chipping.
Should I have a 52 and 56-degree wedge? ›
Do I need a 52, 56, and 60-degree wedge? Yes, you definitely need all of these wedges. The 52-degree, the 56-degree, and the 60-degree wedges are some of the most commonly used clubs in golfing. You'd significantly narrow your scope of play on the course if you didn't have any of these clubs ready to go in your bag.
Is 12 degrees of bounce too much? ›If you play on course with lush conditions and fluffy sand, a higher bounce will benefit you most (10 – 14 degree bounce angle). If you play on tight fairways and hard conditions, low bounce wedges are better ( 0 -10 degree bounce angle).
What bounce wedges does Jordan Spieth use? ›Jordan Spieth WITB – Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9, Vokey Wedgeworks Proto. Spieth uses three wedges in lofts of 46°, 52°, and 56°. All three of these belong to the Titleist Vokey SM9 line. You will also catch him with a 60° prototype Vokey Wedgeworks proto in his bag too.
Does high bounce cause thin shots? ›High bounce wedges help produce a lot of spin and can give players more control around the greens. Some beginners that have a shallow swing struggle to hit these wedges as they are typically not getting under the ball as often. High bounce wedges cause them to hit more 'thin' shots.
What bounce is best for around the green? ›Mid Bounce Wedges
Wedges with a mid bounce angle (10 to 14-degrees) are the best all-around wedges for playability in all types of conditions and all golfers. These wedges are very versatile for players who like to be creative around the greens.
So what is the best bounce for a 50 degree wedge? These wedges will typically have a low bounce, between 5-8 degrees. This is closer what you find on most pitching wedges. This low bounce is ideal for tight lies and players with shallow swings.
What is a good bounce for a 52 degree wedge? ›While this is going to have some variation based on what type of course you play, the standard advice would be 10-degrees of bounce for a 52-degree wedge. This gives you versatility from all lies in the fairway, rough, and bunkers. It also allows for a little more forgiveness.
How much bounce do I need on my sand wedge? ›If you play on course with lush conditions and fluffy sand, a higher bounce will benefit you most (10 – 14 degree bounce angle). If you play on tight fairways and hard conditions, low bounce wedges are better ( 0 -10 degree bounce angle).
What bounce should I get on my 60 degree wedge? ›The average bounce degree on a 60° wedge is 8° and will vary depending on its make and model. A lob wedge or 60° should have a mid-high bounce for optimal playability; some offer as much as 10+ degrees of bounce while others only produce 4+.
What bounce should a 52 degree wedge have? ›While this is going to have some variation based on what type of course you play, the standard advice would be 10-degrees of bounce for a 52-degree wedge. This gives you versatility from all lies in the fairway, rough, and bunkers. It also allows for a little more forgiveness.
What is the best bounce for a 58 degree wedge? ›
For most golfers, a 58-degree wedge is the highest lofted club they should use. You'll want to make sure the bounce of the club is at least 10 degrees. The higher bounce will stop the club from digging too much into the sand or dirt.
How many degrees of bounce should I get? ›Mid or standard bounce, which is usually between 9 and 12 degrees; High bounce will cover anything above the 12-degree mark.
What bounce is best for mid handicapper? ›A mid handicapper should have a sand wedge with a higher bounce (10+ degrees) and a lob or gap wedge with a mid bounce (7-9 degrees). Mid handicaps should avoid wedges with low bounce.
Does a mid handicapper need a 60 degree wedge? ›Do You Need A 56 And 60 Degree Wedge. For the average golfer, having both a 56-degree sand wedge and a 60-degree lob wedge is completely unnecessary. A 56 or 58-degree wedge should be a lot more versatile for most and is the highest wedge loft that should be in most bags.
What is a 56 degree wedge used for? ›A 56 degree wedge is used for golfers that want to hit pitch shots, chip shots, bunker shots, and even bump and run type shots around the greens. The 56 degree wedge is the most versatile of all the wedges in the bag.
Do I need a 52 and 56 degree wedge? ›Yes, you definitely need all of these wedges. The 52-degree, the 56-degree, and the 60-degree wedges are some of the most commonly used clubs in golfing. You'd significantly narrow your scope of play on the course if you didn't have any of these clubs ready to go in your bag.