What Is Wedge Bounce?
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. High bounce (12°+) prevents the club from digging into the ground. Low bounce (4–8°) lets the leading edge slide under the ball on tight lies.
Bounce Selection Guide
| Bounce | Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 4°–8° | Firm conditions, tight lies, shallow swings, bunkers with little sand |
| Mid | 8°–12° | Average conditions, versatile, most common |
| High | 12°–16° | Soft conditions, fluffy lies, steep swings, deep bunkers |
Ideal Distance Gaps
Each wedge should cover a 10–15 yard gap. If your PW goes 130 yards and your SW goes 90 yards, you have a 40-yard gap. You need a gap wedge (50°) covering the 110-yard distance.
Rule of thumb: Every 4 degrees of loft equals roughly 10–12 yards of carry distance.
Common Wedge Setups
| Setup | Wedges | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Wedge | PW + 56° | Beginners, bag space needed |
| 3-Wedge | PW + 52° + 58° | Most golfers |
| 4-Wedge | PW + 50° + 54° + 58° | Low handicappers, strong short game |
How to Use This Wedge Guide
- Check your pitching wedge loft. Look on the sole of your PW or check the manufacturer's specs. Modern game-improvement irons have stronger (lower) lofts — sometimes 43-44 degrees.
- Select your course conditions. Firm and tight courses (links-style) need lower bounce. Soft, lush courses need higher bounce to prevent the club from digging.
- Choose your swing type. Steep swingers (who take big divots) need more bounce. Shallow swingers (who sweep the ball) need less bounce.
- Click "Build My Wedge Setup." The tool recommends specific lofts, bounce angles, and grind types for your gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge.
Benefits of Proper Wedge Gapping
Eliminate distance gaps. If you have a 30-yard gap between clubs inside 100 yards, you're guessing on half your approach shots. Proper wedge gapping gives you a club for every 10-12 yard increment.
Better short game. 60% of shots happen within 100 yards. Having 3-4 wedges with proper loft spacing means more greens hit, more up-and-downs, and lower scores. See how it impacts your handicap.
Versatility around greens. The right bounce and grind lets you open the face for flop shots without the leading edge digging. Learn the different club types to understand how wedges fit in your bag.
Related Articles
- Different Types of Golf Clubs Explained
- Best Golf Clubs for Beginners
- Why Are Golf Clubs So Expensive?
- How to Hit a Golf Ball
Related Tools
- Club Distance Calculator — Check your distances with current clubs
- Shaft Flex Recommender — Match shaft flex to your wedge swing
- Club Fitting Calculator — Get the right wedge length
- Bag Setup Calculator — See how wedges fit in your overall bag