ByKnightwind

What is Bounce?

When buying a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, or lob wedge there are two characteristics of the clubhead that require some thought, loft and bounce.  Loft is the effective angle of the clubface to the shaft of the club.  Bounce is the angle of the sole of the club relative to the ground with a proper setup position.

Bounce angles on wedges vary from 8° up to 16°.  Low bounce angles are ideal for dry, firm conditions and short grass (tight lies).  Standard or high bounce angles are ideal for soft or wet conditions and for playing out of the rough.  Knowing which bounce to use for which situation will help minimize the chance of skulling or thinning your shot near the green.  Firm bunkers require low bounce and soft fluffy sand is easier to escape with standard or high bounce wedges.

Escape Bunkers With Ease

In dry, firm conditions, low bounce guides the leading edge under the ball and gets the ball up in the air.  In soft or wet conditions, the leading edge would dig too deep under the ball resulting in a “fat” shot where the ball doesn’t go as far as we anticipated.

In soft, or wet conditions standard or high bounce will allow the leading edge of the club to avoid digging into the turf and get the ball into the air.

Determining the best loft and bounce for your wedges requires some research into the conditions of the courses you like to play.  Public courses are usually firmer in the bunkers and around the greens.  Coastal golf courses are softer and would be better suited to a higher bounce angle.  If you are like me and play in various course conditions and locales, a standard bounce angle would likely be your best bet.