wedges - what bounce ?

[jeffc]

Quick question for folks,

I currently have a mizuno 60* wedge with 10* bounce which I use for bunker play but it is rather old and battered.
I was looking at getting a new Vokey 60* but don't really know what bounce to choose.
Is 4* or 8* better for bunker play and if so is it vice versa for non bunker play?

any help much appreciated

 

[USER1999]

4 degrees is way too little to get out of bunkers (assuming there is a bit of sand in there). Even 8 is a bit on the skinny side. A 4 degree bounce wedge is for really tight lies on linksy aprons.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I think my 56* sand wedge has 14* bounce.
It should have the highest bounce of your wedges, or so I understand from my coach/CF'er.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Agree with Murph.....in my opinion during the summer months in the UK (a little drier normally) 4 and 8 degrees isn't really enough.
During the drier months if your greenstaff fluff up the bunkers there should be enough sand to warrant 10 - 12 degrees of bounce....IMHO.

 

[jeffc]

really appreciate that guys, I know which way to go now.

Perhaps someone could explain the whys and wherefors about it

 

[freddielong]

I would say it depends on the course you play as for bunkers it won't make a lot of difference as long as your technique is good, you will be opening the face and therefore vastly increasing the bounce anyway.

I play on a links course with pot bunkers and always go for the lowest bounce options

 

[USER1999]

My 58 has 8 degrees of bounce. When I got it it took a while to get used to the lack of bounce in the bunkers, and this is my club of choice in the sand, as I don't carry a sw. My belief is that for most handicapped golfers, 8 degrees is not enough bounce for bunker play.

 

[freddielong]

Once you open the face of your club in a bunker the degree of bounce on a club is no longer relevant it is purely down to loft and technique.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Once you open the face of your club in a bunker the degree of bounce on a club is no longer relevant it is purely down to loft and technique.

Er....surely the more you open the face the greater the bounce becomes because the trailing edge of the sole hangs down further?

 

[freddielong]

Yes once you open the face you are increasing the bounce massively therefore making the degree on the sole less relevant

 

[USER1999]

If you are correct, then why do they bother selling a variety of bounce angles?

Surely every wedge out there would have 4 degrees, allowing more variation from tight lies, but still having loads when opened up for sand play?

4 degrees won't come out of a bunker, unless you are a bit of a magician.

 

[freddielong]

4 degrees won't come out of a bunker, unless you are a bit of a magician.

Thanks I use my 60 with 4 bounce out of bunkers all the time - bunker play is all about technique have you never seen Seve play out of a pot bunker with a 4 iron (pro celebrity one club challenge from St Andrews). If you have decent technique you will create enough bounce to remove the ball from any bunker no matter what degree of bounce is on the club.

 

[USER1999]

It also depends how much sand you have in your bunkers. My old track had a slight dusting, so low bounce was good, but my current track often has sand more than a foot deep, and for this, bounce is a good thing. I often think we are storing the worlds supply of sand in some of our bunkers.

 

[slugger]

As far as i know, It also depends on if it's soft or hard sand, dry or wet, compact or fluffy in the bunker... more bounce for soft dry fluffy sand, less bounce for the opposite which lets you play the shot without taking as much sand.

 

[RGDave]

I have an 56*10, old model.

Seems about perfect to me.

I shouldn't think anyone would want to play with less than 8 degrees, impeccable technique or not.

The bounce is there to help. If you like to slide the club fairly cleanly under the ball and play with a follow through, use a medium or low bounce. If you just like to plunge the club at the ball and hope.....get more bounce.

t.b.h. I've not used a 60* in a bunker.....I might have need one day, I guess, but if I'm facing a 10' wall, I'll probably go sideways anyway.

 

[Brendan]

4 degrees won't come out of a bunker, unless you are a bit of a magician.

Ta Da....

 

[RGDave]

I often think we are storing the worlds supply of sand in some of our bunkers.

Right, I'm coming with a big truck and some special vacuum cleaners to remove some of yours and bring it to mine.

Communism rules OK.