The Sand Wedge Has Great Flexibility

The Benefits of loft and Bounce in the Sand wedge

The Sand Wedge has great flexibility as it possesses the two advantages of loft and bounce. Looking at a typical sand wedge it usually possesses 56 degrees of loft but this loft can easily be decreased or increased making the ball run, walk or stop when hitting shots around the green. When hitting these shots the bounce gives this club a resistance to digging while also giving it an ability to glide and slide through the sand with green side bunkers.

Turning the club upside down reveals how the back part is higher than the front. This angle from back to front is the bounce and can range, hopefully, from no less than 12 degrees to 22 degrees or more. Several tour grinds can go even higher.

When sitting on the ground the club is resting on the back part as it is lower and so when one is swinging this club it makes since to hit the back part of the club on the ground and not the front or leading edge as this keeps the club from digging. To maintain the bounce and clubface it is vital to have the clubshaft point at a center line of the body. If the handle is pressed forward at address it removes the bounce and turns the club into a digger and so golfers that do this are apt to hit shots that are fat and thin.

To engage the bounce one simply allows the back part of the club to hit the ground. This way it will release and then turn the corner. Here some talk of putting the grip end into the left hip pocket while others talk of allowing the grip end and belly button to move through together. Moving the ball forward opens the shoulders and causes the face to aim left. But this allows one to aim the face back to the target adding loft and bounce, two things to make the ball go higher. Moving the ball back closes the shoulders and causes the face to aim right. But this allows one to aim the face back to the target reducing loft and bounce, two things to make the ball go lower. In both cases leave the shoulders where they are and simply swing the arms on the line of the shoulders.

Avoid trying to leaning the handle forward for impact. The only thing this does is to remove bounce and bounce is what gives this club its advantage, a resistance to digging. With green side bunker shots start with the clubshaft at a center line of the body and then simply make a full swing. The bounce will allow the club to glide and slide through the sand, splashing the sand out as well as the ball.

When hitting out of rough bend over more to lower the hands as this increases the bounce, creates a backboard and keeps the club from sliding under the ball. Move the ball forward to hit it high or back to hit it low. Off of hard pan stand taller to put the club more on the toe. This keeps the club from bouncing off of the hard surface. Learning to use the bounce allows any golfer to deal with any situation around the greens.