Using the Bounce

Bounce it up close.

For those of us over 45, and you know who you are, wedge play, which was always important, becomes even more important. 

Those par 5’s we used to get to in two, are now just out of reach.  The longer par 4’s are that much longer (because we have too much pride to step up to the next set of tees), making it that much harder to hit the green in regulation. 

Finding the right wedges is critical to scoring success, and the most important thing for wedge success is finding the wedges with the right bounce for you and using it to play your shots.

For those who still don’t understand what the bounce is, essentially it’s the mass of metal on the sole of the club that is lower than the leading edge (pictured at left). When you put your wedge down on the floor, or cart-path or wherever, and you see front edge sitting up higher than the floor that’s because “the bounce” is holding it up.  It’s purpose is to keep the club from digging.  This was originally put into the club’s design for sand play, but as the ball evolved and grasses got shorter around the greens it became apparent that it could help with most green-side shots.  

Keys to using the bounce:

Avoid excessive forward press with the shaft.

• Forward press or angle between the lead arm and the shaft push the bounce back.  This causes the leading edge to catch or dig – aka chili-dip.

Keep the swing-path “neutral” – not too “in to out”

• Many of us were taught to open our stance and to swing by extending the club down the target line.  Exaggerating this often results in too much angle – see above.  If the open stance is just so ingrained, make sure your lead shoulder stays low at address and throughout the motion.

Pay attention to your ball position

• Keep it neutral
• Too far up and you need to chase after the ball and throw the club
• Too far back and you just can’t avoid carrying too much angle into the shot

Finally, keep your arms and chest swinging

• “Deceleration” is the enemy of most shots but especially the short shot.  You need to carry some speed through the shot to let the ball get up on the face of the club.  This creates spin by allowing the bounce (and the associated weight) to get below the center of gravity of the ball.

There are a few tour players whose technique inspired the evolution of wedge design, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker being the most notable.  Stricker is known for being crazy good at keeping his arms and chest moving and limiting his hands, where as Phil is much more active with his hands.  The bottom line is they both deliver a club with limited shaft lean. 

To learn what bounce is best for you, get together with our talented club fitter Adam Lash or one of your other Network PGA Professionals, they are here to help.

And it might just be worth moving up a tee to see remember what it feels like to reach those par 5’s again. 

Good luck and good golfing,
Ron Philo