I had the distinct pleasure of chatting with Titleist Master Clubmaker Bob Vokey on the practice range at the 2011 PGA Championship. Bob Vokey is worldly renowned as one of the top wedge crafters in the business and we discussed how proper wedge selection can benefit players of all levels.
The rules of golf allow a player to have a total of 14 clubs in their bag for tournament play and according to Bob Vokey 4 of those should be wedges. That might seems like a lot but when you really look at it over 70% of players shots come from 125 yards and in; so having a good selection of wedges can really help lower your score. “There are 3 key points in selecting the proper wedges for your golf bag and your game” says Vokey.
1. Know your Gap Distances:
Each wedge should have at least 4 to 6 degrees separation in loft. For example, if you have a 48 degree Pitch Wedge, your gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge should be 52, 56 and 60 degrees. This gives you enough separation to create a wide variety of shot options and distances with each club.
2. Know you wedge options:
Knowing your wedge option relate to the bounce and degree of your club. High bounce works better for longer fairways and soft sand, while lower bounce works for tight lies and hard sand. Your local club fitter or golf professional can assist you in selecting the proper bounce and degree for your wedges.
3. Do I need a Lob Wedge:
Many golfers see tour players hit amazing flop shots with a 60 or even a 64 degree wedge and run out and put one in their bags hoping to duplicate what they see. But in reality it’s not as easy as it looks to effectively use a Lob wedge. According to Vokey, “it takes a lot of hard work and practice to use a Lob wedge in the right way. A player needs to realize that it is a great club for high shots around the green and out of bunker, but you have to really practice with it to hit quality shots”.
If you want to lower your score and improve you game look at the wedges that in your bag and select a combination that works for you. Shooting better scores makes for more enjoyable rounds and wedges are a great place to start.
Titleist Vokey Wedges: http://www.bobvokey.com/
Bob Vokey is a true master craftsman and has developed relationships with some of the world’s greatest players by watching and listening to what they seek in wedge performance, looks and feel. By combining the feedback he receives from these players with years of research and experience, Bob creates wedges that perform under the most challenging course conditions
Edward Wanambwa
http://www.thegolfwriter.com/
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