subject: Wedges - The Key To Your Short Game [print this page] Any golfer will admit to losing points in their short game, for example when a shot lands in the area surrounding the green or worse a sand obstacle; a player is then presented with a difficult shot onto the green, ideally placing the ball as close to the hole as possible without over-hitting and missing the green.
When faced with a difficult shot from a bunker or the rough a player must take into account the current conditions and select the most appropriate golf club as a result. Finding the green can be achieved with most clubs from a 3-wood to pitching wedge, commonly a newcomer will feel comfortable playing a short iron (7-8-9) regardless of the conditions. Player's selecting a shorter iron will find it more difficult to accurately pitch the ball onto the green. In this instance a pitching wedge can provide a better alternative to an iron.
Wedges - Pitching Wedge
The pitching wedge is the most versatile of all wedges falling somewhere between an iron and a wedge. This type of wedge is most commonly used with a full swing to produce high shots on approaches to the green or for clearing tall obstacles - supplied in lofts of 42 to 49-degrees to achieve distances in excess of 100yards. Pitching wedges have a low degree of bounce between 0 to 10-degrees - most commonly between 2-3-degrees, leaving the gap, sand and lob wedges for recovery shots in tough situations.
Wedges - Gap Wedge
A gap wedge has the loft of a traditional pitching wedge or 9-iron (between 48 and 54-degrees). As the name suggests this type of wedge is intended to breach the gap between a pitching and sand wedge in terms of loft. Traditionally, a player will look for a separation of 4-degrees between golf clubs - a 52-degree gap wedge is most commonly played with a minor bounce angle. A gap wedge can reach a distance of up to 100-yards.
Wedges - Sand Wedge
A sand wedge has the highest degree of loft - typically between 54 to 58 degrees, and is used for shorter distances of between 80-90yards. As the name suggests a sand wedge is most often used to extract a golf ball from a bunker, however it can be effective in soft conditions such as thick rough and sodden ground.
Wedges - Lob Wedge
The lob wedge has the highest degree of loft of all wedges - typically between 58 to 64-degrees; a 60-degree wedge is the most commonly played and can be used for shots of up to 65-yards. The lob wedge can be used from the fairway, the rough or from the bunker - in any situation that requires a high shot and for the ball to stop quickly on the green. The degree of bounce is low - between 0 to 10-degrees, and is the least forgiving of all wedges. The lob wedge has gained popularity in recent years because it allows players to a make a full, unhindered swing to cover a short distance.
Relentless practicing and selecting the most appropriate wedge will help you to perfect your short game, hit more greens and produce lower scores; short-play is the one area that can truly make all the difference between winning and losing - therefore it is imperative to select the most appropriate club for the conditions.
