Do you dig or bounce? – Get your wedges fitted

Do you dig or bounce?
By Gareth Jones (Head Coach, Glenelg Golf Club)

Many players get confused when I ask them about bounce on their wedges. All irons are manufactured with bounce on the sole of the club and this is a crucial element in good ball striking, both on grass and in the sand.

Golfers can be divided into three categories of ball striking; Bouncers (Good Impact Alignments), Diggers (Hands too far ahead) and Scoopers (Hands too far behind). Look at your divot, or lack of, and see what category you fit into.

Understanding your equipment and your technique will certainly improve your wedge and bunker play. The Glenelg Professional Staff can assist you with both.

At Glenelg we have high lip bunkers with medium thickness sand and tight firm couch green surrounds. These conditions call for certain bounce and sole grinds on your wedges, and good technique!

My recommended wedge set up would be a 52 degree Gap Wedge with 8 degrees of bounce, a 56 degree Sand Wedge with 10 degrees of bounce and a 60 degree Lob Wedge with 8 degrees of bounce.