subject: Hit A Lob Wedge With These Special Tips [print this page] Hit A Lob Wedge With These Special Tips Hit A Lob Wedge With These Special Tips
The lob wedge is the shortest distance wedge in golf, the pitching wedge being the longest and the gap wedge filling the "gap" between the two. It has the shortest staff and the greatest loft of all golf clubs. This is a club for a more advanced player, as a beginning or intermediate player can get away with using a pitching wedge in all pitching situations.
The lob wedge is used to create a good deal of "bite," or backspin, and to hit over obstructions. Hit a lob wedge from about 40 to 50 yards out, especially on fast greens where you would want the ball to have little to no roll. This wedge will typically have a club face angled at 56 to 64 degrees. The highest lofts are often referred to as x-wedges, the "x" standing for "extreme."
The lob wedge was invented in 1931 to compensate for some tricky maneuvering with pitching and sand wedges. In the past, in situations with difficult pin placements, golfers would have to hit glancing blows with these clubs. This risky shot was obviated with the advent of the lob wedge.
Now that you know a little bit about the lob wedge and what it is used for, you will need to know the mechanics to hit a lob wedge. First, address the ball. Place the ball forward in your stance, in front of your spine. Keep your weight leaning back. It is important to open up both your stance and the club face. This is accomplished by angling your front foot five degrees away from the target. Now angle your club five degrees away from the target as well.
An important point to remember is to keep your hands still. Looseness in the wrists will cause you to fail to hit the ball in the proper contact spot. As the object of the lob wedge is to loft the ball, it is important to hit somewhat behind the ball. The bottom of the club should hit the ground first, as opposed to the edge of the club face.
You are now ready to hit a lob wedge. Some recommend taking only a three quarter size backswing, whereas others recommend a full swing. Either way, it is important to have a smooth, consistent swing along the line of your feet with good follow through. Make sure to keep your head down all the way through the follow through. This should send the ball up into the air with some backspin and allow it to nestle where it lands, hopefully close to the pin!
