What is Wedge Bounce?

Golfers know how to give careful consideration to the loft and lie angles of their clubs. Having the right specs can make those clubs perform for you in a whole different way. But when it comes to wedges, there is a third angle to consider and that is bounce. Wedge bounce is important to understand, both what it is and how it affects your shots, because the right combination of loft and bounce can make all the difference in your short game.

What Does Bounce Mean on a Wedge?

Bounce angle is the angle between the ground and the leading edge of the club when the sole is rested on the ground. This is the part of the wedge that hits and moves through the ground when you hit the ball. It’s what helps you achieve the proper contact, control, and spin on your wedge shots. The bigger the bounce angle, the higher the leading edge sits up off the ground.

Wedge Basics

As we explore bounce and how it affects your wedge play, let’s go over some basics about golf wedges. The 4 key areas detailed here are the types of wedges available, bounce, grind, and loft.

Types of Wedges

The first type of wedge golfers encounter is a pitching wedge. These wedges are often included in your iron sets and they are the lowest-lofted wedges. Pitching wedges are designed for full shots either from the fairway or the rough as you approach the green.

Golf club manufacturers have strengthened the lofts of wedges over the years to try to squeeze every bit of distance they can out of each club. This led to the rise of the second type of wedge, the gap wedge, sometimes called the approach wedge. These wedges are also designed for full shots but have a higher loft than a pitching wedge. A gap wedge is commonly used from shorter distances where you can make a full swing and not be caught between distance gaps trying to hit partial wedge shots.

Next, we have the sand wedge. Sand wedges are designed for use out of bunkers and thick grass. They also generally have a larger, thicker sole designed to help bounce the wedge out of these trouble areas.

Finally, there is the lob wedge. Lob wedges are the highest-lofted member of the wedge family. They are designed for high, short shots into the green where you need a steep descent angle to hold the green. These wedges also come in handy from tight lies.

Bounce

Wedges typically have 3 types of bounce: low, mid, or high.

Low bounce wedges generally have 4°-6° of bounce and are best used on firm turf and bunkers with harder or more coarse sand where the club will tend to skip off the ground on its own. They also are a great fit for golfers with a shallow angle of attack that takes little to no divot on their wedge shots. Wedges with less bounce encourage clean contact for more precision. They are a popular choice for shots from tight lies around the green and are particularly useful when hitting high flop shots.

Mid bounce wedges usually feature 7°-12° of bounce and are the most versatile wedges. They play well on firm to normal turf and fit all types of swings, but work best with neutral swings that have a moderate angle of attack. Medium bounce is a good choice for golfers who want to create their shot around the greens because they are made for control. 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. Clubs with high bounce play well on softer turf and lies as well as bunkers with softer sand. High bounce wedges are known for generating a lot of spin, helping give you more control in your short game.

Grind

The grind of the wedge is how manufacturers manipulate or remove material from the sole of the golf club to help improve the way they interact with the turf. Areas where they reduce or grind away the material are called areas of relief. More relief brings the club face closer to the ground when a player opens the face, ideal for hitting off of tight lies. On the other hand, more relief reduces the amount of bounce that comes into play with hitting shots with a square club face.

Loft

• Pitching wedges typically have a loft of 43° to 47°.
• Gap wedges are usually lofted at 47° to 52°.
• Sand wedges generally feature lofts of 54° to 56°.
• Lob wedges have the highest lofts at 58° to 62°.

How to Choose Wedge Bounce

There are two areas to consider when selecting the proper bounce for your wedges. Unlike many other golf club choices, they are not your handicap or your swing speed. Choosing the right bounce comes down to your swing type and the turf conditions you typically play on.

Swing Type

When choosing between low, mid, and high bounce options for your wedges, take note of your swing and the divots you take with your wedge shots. Your divot can tell you a lot about which wedges you should be playing.

• Low bounce: Golfers with a shallow angle of attack who take little to no divot
• Mid bounce: Very versatile, fits all types of swings but best for golfers with neutral swings and a moderate angle of attack
• High bounce: Golfers with a steep angle of attack who take larger divots

Turf Conditions

Turf conditions are also important when selecting the right bounce. Pay close attention to the types of ground on the golf courses you typically play on. It can be the club you are a member of or the public course you play every weekend.

• Low bounce: Best on firm turf and bunkers with harder or more coarse sand
• Mid bounce: Very versatile, ideal on firm to normal turf
• High bounce: Best on softer turf and lies, plus bunkers with softer sand

Finishes & Shafts

There are two final pieces of the wedge-buying puzzle to consider. It is worth your time to consider the shaft and the finish of the wedges you want.

Shafts

Wedges typically have a slightly heavier shaft when compared to your irons. This gives the club a heavier overall swingweight which allows you to get the club through those sometimes troublesome conditions you use your wedges in.

Finishes

Many golf club manufacturers offer a variety of finishes on their wedges. This gives you the option to pick a look that suits your eye, something you prefer to see down by the golf ball, and a little style to help your clubs stand out in your golf bag.

Wedge makers now like to offer an unfinished, or raw, golf club. These wedges are designed to rust and oxidize over time and with use. This is designed to create a little more friction between the club face and your golf ball, hopefully enhancing spin as the wedge ages.

The top wedge manufacturers like Titleist, Callaway, Cleveland, and PING all offer their wedges with multiple bounce options so you can pick the right setup for your short game. Whether you are a low bounce, mid bounce, or high bounce player, there is a high-performance wedge out there to fit your swing and help you shoot lower scores.