The Lob Wedge

[Golf2Much]

I never carried a 60 degree wedge until I ordered a set of 50, 55 and 60 degree Edison wedges several months ago.   Since I'm short off the tee and typically with the follow up fairway wood on a par 4, in order for me to score I need to have a solid wedge game and putt pretty well.   Here in Key West the Rees Jones course is classic design with small greens with false fronts.  When pins are cut close to the front, I find the 60 degree lob wedge essential for getting it close.  The challenge for me is with these relatively short distance shots is not not trusting the wedge, not swinging hard enough and coming up short.   It's still a work in process, but the 60 degree is staying in the bag!

[lefty110golf]

I carry 54 and 58. Regarding the 58, I have both a high bounce Vokey K grind and a Callaway Mack Daddy low (9 degree) bounce. The mack daddy is in the most of the time because of the sand conditions where I play. Which wedge is used from 30-60 yards depends on conditions, pin position, etc. I do tend to go to the lower loft option when conditions allow.

[HDTVMAN]

My 58° is a perfect 75 yd shot, plus green side bunker with no green to work with...that's it, otherwise it's in the bag.

[HappyPappy]

I played a 56* only for many years then change to a 54* & 58* set up. I feel like the 54* is money 85 yrds and in. However, the 58 has a place, too. I use a low bounce 58* that will allow for touch shots around the green from tight lies and bunkers that are rock hard. The 58* is also a viable option to reach tight pin placements, especially where water or bunkers come into play.

[Franc38]

I carry a 52 and a 58... I use the 52 a lot between 50 and 140 yards. It's my "approach wedge"... However, when I'm closer to the pin than that and I want to stop the ball quickly, spin will not be enough, it's got to have height too... And the 58 provides that. Plus all the times from 100 yards in when you need the ball in the air quick (going over trees and so on). On top of that, it's a much better option from the sand than all the 56 and 54 I've ever tried. 

So ditching the lob wedge would cost me at least 2 shots a round. However, I recognize that using it "unwisely" may cost a number of shots too.

It's all back to the old "never play a shot that doesn't have at least a 80% success rate in practice"... So a shot never practiced is a big No-No!

[Shankster]

I was using the 58° for everything inside of 100 until I got the 54°. Not sure what it is, because I have practiced and played with the 58°… I’m just more comfortable with the 54° for the inside 100 now, and maybe even the 48°.

58° will be reserved for the thick rough and bunker shots for now.

[Patt82mp]

My wedges are 45, 50, 55, and 60 and are gapped perfectly, but the 55 and 60 i use for only very specific shots. My go to for 115yds and in is my 50...i have the partial swings dialed in. The 55 is bunkers and short chips with little green to work with (my wedges and irons produce A LOT of spin). The 60 i use strictly for those times where i have to go high (over a tree, or on to an elevated green for example) from inside 50 yds or if i am very close to the lip of a bunker.  My 60 is one of those I dont hit consistently when i try to do a partial swing (i either skull it severely or hit it great), but I can always count on my 50 with partial swings (usually get it within 10 feet) We all have different games and skills with shots. Do what fits you, but maybe limit your uses for certain clubs and dial in that wedge that is easier to hit with your game/swing. If there is room in the bag keep it there. Its like a condom, better to have it and not need it, then to need it one day and not have it.

[Donn lost in San Diego]

My most accurate is Mizuno S5  a 52 deg 9 bounce.  As other noted, I use a 60 but not for full swing, I sometimes double hit it.  I am more accurate using the 52 deg on a less-than-full compared to a full swing on the lob 60.  Bounce is important, match bounce to the turf/lie.  Don't blame the loft if the bounce is wrong for the lie you are looking at.  And yes, hours and hours practice.  Twilight, on the back nine, nobody behind me, I wear out the rough 10 yards from the fringe 12th hole hitting 3 or 4 balls until just before they lock the gates.  Just me and the foxes and coyotes.

[JayB]

I'm actually considering dropping my 54 deg.

Inside 50y its my Callaway 58 deg PM Grind all the way, now that i've got used to it, it just feels like a weapon and i can hit any shot with it from that range in or out of the sand.

50y and out i'll quite happily choke down on either my 50 or 54 and zip one in low so its only really the yardage difference between the 50 and 54 on full shots for the reason to have both clubs in the bag. Originally my 54 was a bunker club with higher bounce as i tend to sweep so prefer a lower bounce for greenside. Since i got the PM tho it just feels so much easier out of the bunker and i've learned to use the bounce to my advantage and basically can be less precise on strike and still get good results.

So i may drop to 3 wedges and have a 6deg gapping between PW/GW/LW and look at my numbers with a 52 deg gap wedge.

Would be nice if it worked out as i really want a strong 3w in the bag for those days where the driver is not playing or safety off the tee during comps should i need it.

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by JayB

[revkev]

There are no right or wrong answers in this thread so long as decisions on what to carry are based on actual date (some sort of tracking of shots) rather than perceived strengths and weaknesses.  

 

Each of us plays under different conditions and we each have different strengths and weaknesses.  I'm pretty confident that the proper set make up for me if I played most of my golf in Scottsdale AZ would be a bit different than it is in St Petersburg, Florida and different still if I lived in Denver.  

 

I carry a 60 - although at times I drop it during the winter for something else - when the rough is down and the course is firm so that bump and runs are doable.  Shot scope says I'm quite good with it too.

[gavinski91]

I carry a high-bounce 52° and a low-bounce 58°. Pretty much everything from 100 yards and in I use the 52°, with 3 exceptions - from the sand, when I'm short-sided, and when I need to get over trees. Going with the higher bounce for the 52° gives me more confidence and a larger margin of error on full and 3/4 shots, and I feel like I'm throwing darts with that thing. The lower bounce on the 58° gives me more room to open up the face when I need to make an awkward shot, and the full face grooves help too.

Could I get away without using the 58°? In the past it would've saved me strokes, but now that I make a more conscious effort to avoid using it unless I absolutely have to I've avoided losing strokes from using it when I shouldn't, and when I do need it it's available to me.

[Middler]

On 8/19/2021 at 5:31 PM, CarlH said:

While I carry a 60, I limit use of it to those times when I particularly need to go high from short shots, although I will use it quite often when the sand is a bit firm or wet.  I much prefer using a 56 or even my 52 or 48  for shots inside of 100 yards.  I just feel that I have better control with partial swings with these clubs than a fuller swing with a 60.

I only carry and use a 60 because there's room in my bag, otherwise I'd be carrying 13 clubs. My 56 is high bounce for sand, and my 60 is low bounce and I only use it when I'm short sided over a trap or other hazard. It takes some focus as hitting a 60 thin is a disaster of course, don't ask how I know...

[Badbobbyb]

SIM2 max PW, AW (49*/9* bounce) and Volkey 54-10 and 260-12. Considering switching the Volkey’s to increase bounce on the 54* and decrease bounce On the 60* to 4*. I have been trying to use the 60* more for the close in shots that need to fly but that requires practice- I have hit some really close but very inconsistent! I may decide to work more with the 54* to open it up to make these shots. OR maybe I should drop the 60 as you suggest and replace the 54 with a 56*! Good discussion. 

[Titleist87]

I carry the 50/54/58 set and the 58 is usually my go-to wedge. Second set in this configuration. Two sets ago was 52/56/60 and I never cared for the 60. Use what works for you. 

[Shankster]

I have came up with a system that I plan to utilize when looking at pitch shots.  
 

First: no more full shots with the 54 or 58.  Unless absolutely necessary.

Second: If there is no reason to go “Phil mode” I’m not going to.  The 48° is becoming my favorite wedge from the 65-100 yard range. The 20-65 yard range will probably see the 54 get the work load.

Third: If the 54 will not land steep enough, the 58 will be used.

Fourth: Bunker shots will likely see the 58 see the brunt of the action, around the green.

[Puttingmatt]

My Cleveland 58 *  is money for all sorts of greenside and bunker shots,  its rare if I take a full swing with it, I will use the gap wedge.

[Murray06]

Pretty much always use the 58 from a green side bunker. Have considered a high toe recently, especially the new callaway, but will wait to see what Titleist do next year

[Headhammer]

Love my 58*, and after my Cobra 3-wood it's my favorite club  

[NRJyzr]

I go back and forth on this.  I carry a 60* on occasion, but its really just a specialty club, for very short shots around the greens and shorter bunker shots.  When carrying the 60, I'll also have a 55 in the bag that gets most of the work.

Most of the time, I'm carrying a 58* in the bag.  To my way of thinking, this is a SW, not a lob.  The other non-PW club is a 52 or 53 in this bag configuration.

None of these clubs merits a full swing for me. It's not something I do effectively, so I've given up on it.

Because I'm not averse to opening a SW, I'm giving thought to dropping the 58* in favor of a 56*.  I may play my next couple rounds with 2-pw and a 56.  Experiments!

[JalanK]

Hey, NRJyzer!  Is the PM19 on the auction block? I'm still playing them, and will be for the foreseeable future. I'm trying a variety of shots with them, and digging the hell out of playing them. I'm hooked on 54º and 58º. No more 56º/60º in my bag. 

Interesting comments about not taking  full swing with them. I recently read something by Butch Harmon " if you have a 58º wedge and can't hit it 58 yards, get rid of it". I thought that was really interesting, in light of the fact I didn't take a full swing with any lob wedge, ever. Next round I had about 55 - 60 yards and I thought of that and tried it. Well, it went about 70 yards high and straight. and just fell out of the sky with very little roll or spin. I've tried it couple more times with varying results. I'll only hit it if the conditions are right - clean fairway lie, little wind. It's actually kind of fun. You should try it. I'm guessing you'll hit it about 110 .

I find it works well out of sand on short high shot, too.