What wedge??

[AmandaJR]

So. Bunker session today with the young pro at our club. Struggle generally with bunkers and he felt part of my problem was the wide sole of my G20's. When I played with Tom Lewis (cough, cough ) he said much the same and it's been something on my "to do" or rather "to buy" list since!

So we got my bunker play improved but by having my hands ahead of the ball at address and using more of the leading edge to drive the club under the sand.

The Ping Gorge wedges appeal of course but having invested in a couple of new fairway woods (must update my sig) the budget isn't there for those just yet. I'm thinking of an interim purchase of a sand wedge with a narrower sole and probably 8 or 10 degrees bounce. I've seen a couple of MD wedges on ebay at a decent price (£18-£30) but just wondering what anyone might recommend or have opinions on the MDs?

At some stage it will be an investment in pitching, gap and sand wedges but for now a more "relevant" SW would be a start.

Thoughts?

 

[CMAC]

So. Bunker session today with the young pro at our club. Struggle generally with bunkers and he felt part of my problem was the wide sole of my G20's. When I played with Tom Lewis (cough, cough ) he said much the same and it's been something on my "to do" or rather "to buy" list since!

So we got my bunker play improved but by having my hands ahead of the ball at address and using more of the leading edge to drive the club under the sand.

The Ping Gorge wedges appeal of course but having invested in a couple of new fairway woods (must update my sig) the budget isn't there for those just yet. I'm thinking of an interim purchase of a sand wedge with a narrower sole and probably 8 or 10 degrees bounce. I've seen a couple of MD wedges on ebay at a decent price (£18-£30) but just wondering what anyone might recommend or have opinions on the MDs?

At some stage it will be an investment in pitching, gap and sand wedges but for now a more "relevant" SW would be a start.

Thoughts?

its not the wedge Amanda and hands ahead using the leading edge isn't a technique I would use or recommend to escape sand- just the opposite in fact, hands level or slightly behind the ball to use the back edge of the wedge, played near the front foot would stop you digging in and see the ball popping up a lot easier imo

 

[CMAC]

go to 3mins 37 seconds :thup:

[video=youtube_share;FLEilxfw_5A]http://youtu.be/FLEilxfw_5A[/video]

 

[AmandaJR]

its not the wedge Amanda and hands ahead using the leading edge isn't a technique I would use or recommend to escape sand- just the opposite in fact, hands level or slightly behind the ball to use the back edge of the wedge, played near the front foot would stop you digging in and see the ball popping up a lot easier imo

I'd agree BUT the wide sole is to prevent fatting it and of course in the bunker you want to fat it. Hands behind the ball and hitting a few inches of sand behind the ball meant the sole tried to stop the club getting under the ball - if that makes sense...

Edit - what Luke suggests is what I try to do and we tried in the lesson but George felt the club wasn't conducive to that style and have to say when I had the club level with my hands or even in front for longer bunker shots it worked much better.

 

[CMAC]

I'd agree BUT the wide sole is to prevent fatting it and of course in the bunker you want to fat it. Hands behind the ball and hitting a few inches of sand behind the ball meant the sole tried to stop the club getting under the ball - if that makes sense...

I think your getting slightly mixed up, the wide sole doesn't prevent fat shots, it's there to help get the ball up in the air, you can still hit a big fat shot with a wide sole. In the bunker you do indeed want to hit the sand first- a fat so to speak- and the set up with ball further forward in your stance helps you achieve this naturally in your swing. The video I posted has 3 exceptional players all saying the same thing.

 

[AmandaJR]

Now I am confused for sure...played the ball off my front foot, opened the face and with hands behind the ball the club never seemed to stay easily under/through the sand to the ball. Hands more neutral and bingo out it splashed easy as pie. Perhaps I was overdoing the hands behind part but not according to the brilliant Luke.

Perhaps more practice before changing my wedge is required.

 

[bobmac]

If you position the ball too far forward and open the face and keep the hands back with a wide soled SW, you will struggle to get out of bunkers, especially if they are wet.

 

[ToddM1985]

I wouldn't bother buying something your not planning on using moving forward just wait until the cash is available. Otherwise go to Sports Direct and spend a tenner on a couple!

 

[AmandaJR]

If you position the ball too far forward and open the face and keep the hands back with a wide soled SW, you will struggle to get out of bunkers, especially if they are wet.

Thanks Bob. Meant to ask you on fb to look on here at this! So, the bunker wasn't wet as such although not totally dry either. Also Geoge quite easily exposed the bottom of the bunker. I didn't BUT not a lot of sand in there. Worth sticking with the G20 and adapting hand position according to depth of sand??

 

[AmandaJR]

I wouldn't bother buying something your not planning on using moving forward just wait until the cash is available. Otherwise go to Sports Direct and spend a tenner on a couple!

Fair point!

 

[c1973]

If you had 50 quid to spend then I would trade in your existing wedge for one of the Callaway rtx wedges. I found the 56° (med bounce, 10, I believe) to be excellent for bunkers.

I used to struggle terribly with bunkers, my SW was brutal (as was my technique). Now it's one of my strong suits and although I have improved my technique I don't think you can under estimate the benefit of having 100% confidence in the club your using.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have a Ping Gorge 58 in WIDE sole especially for the bunker. It helps me escape with ease and I can attack the sand with confidence. It is definitely the hands ahead that is the biggest problem

 

[Evesdad]

The md wedges especially the Drew ones get great reviews if you do decide on a stop gap solution.

 

[CMAC]

Now I am confused for sure...played the ball off my front foot, opened the face and with hands behind the ball the club never seemed to stay easily under/through the sand to the ball. Hands more neutral and bingo out it splashed easy as pie. Perhaps I was overdoing the hands behind part but not according to the brilliant Luke.

Perhaps more practice before changing my wedge is required.

thats too far forward

 

[Coatsy79]

I wouldn't bother buying something your not planning on using moving forward just wait until the cash is available. Otherwise go to Sports Direct and spend a tenner on a couple!

This is good advice, I have a dunlop nz9 60 degree wedge which I use out of bunkers and it's great! £9.99!!

I play the ball just forward of middle and hit 2" behind the ball and swing reasonable shallow, I don't struggle with bunkers as I'm good at hitting fat shots :rofl: