Alright folks, let me tell you about my little experiment today – high bounce wedge vs. low bounce. I’ve been struggling around the greens lately, chunking shots, skulling them over the back… you name it, I’ve done it. So, I figured, gotta mess with the equipment, right?
First thing I did was hit the range. I took my current wedge, a 56-degree with 12 degrees of bounce (my “high bounce” for this test) and a buddy’s 56-degree with only 6 degrees of bounce (the “low bounce” contender). I started with the high bounce wedge, trying to hit some flop shots from tight lies. Man, it was tough! I kept blading the ball, sending it screaming across the green. Felt like I was trying to scoop the ball up, which never ends well.
Then, I switched to the low bounce wedge. Immediately, I noticed a difference. It felt like the club slid under the ball much easier. I wasn’t getting that same “bounce” feeling that was causing me to skull it. My flop shots started to actually get some height and spin. Still not perfect, but a HUGE improvement.
Next up, bunker shots. This is where I thought the high bounce would shine. And, to be fair, it wasn’t terrible. It did what it was supposed to do – bounced through the sand and got the ball out. But, I found myself leaving the ball in the bunker a few times, or blasting it way over the green. It felt a little unpredictable.
Switched back to the low bounce. Okay, this was interesting. I had to be a little more precise with my strike, but when I hit it right, the ball came out soft and landed close to the pin. It required a little more finesse, but I felt like I had more control. It wasn’t as forgiving as the high bounce on mishits, but the good shots were noticeably better.
Finally, I messed around with some chip shots from the fringe. With the high bounce, I felt like I had to really open the face to get the ball up and over the rough. And again, that led to some inconsistent contact. The low bounce, on the other hand, allowed me to play the ball a little more square and just let the leading edge slide through the grass. Much more consistent results.
So, what’s the verdict? Well, for me, the low bounce wedge definitely felt better overall. I think it suits my swing and the types of courses I usually play (which tend to have firmer turf). The high bounce might be better for softer conditions or if you tend to dig a lot with your wedges. But for now, I’m sticking with the low bounce and seeing if I can finally start saving some shots around the greens. Time to get back out there and practice!
