A primer on bounce

What makes a wedge a wedge is the configuration of the sole – the design into it of a feature called “bounce”. Very simply, the term “bounce” defines the downward angle from the leading edge of the face to the rear edge of the sole.

Bounce is measured in degrees, the number defining the amount of backward slope from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the sole, in relation to the horizontal plane (the turf). The purpose of bounce is to help neutralize the club’s downward travel- it acts like an airplane wing, giving “lift” to the club to help it come back upward out of the turf or sand.

Those we call “high bounce” wedges typically have an angle of 12-15 degrees, which makes them functional from sand, rough and softer turf conditions, because they provide greater “lift”. However, on a shot from a tighter lie, a high bounce wedge tends to skip into the belly of the ball.

“Low bounce” wedges typically have 7-8 degrees of bounce or less, reducing the amount of this “lifting” assistance. While this makes these wedges play better from close-cut fairways, firm turf and other tight lies, only an extremely skilled player can fair well with them from bunkers, rough and softer turf.

“Tour bounce” wedges are copies of the kind of sole grind that the best players in the world have refined with their sponsor company in order to make sure their wedges do not “get in the way” of their remarkable skills. These are not the best choice for even the better amateur player.

So, what’s a golfer to do? The industry offers this as a general guide to help golfers through the myriad of loft and bounce options:

• Choose high bounce wedges if you play softer turf and a low bounce wedge if your course is firmer. (Apparently they assume that we all only play one course and it never rains; and they obviously don’t realize that on every course the turf is usually firmer in some places than others!)
• Choose higher bounce wedges if you have a “steep” angle of attack and a lower bounce if you have a shallow angle of attack. (Obviously they don’t realize that you vary your “attack” angle to the ball depending on the shot you’re trying to execute)

Pardon our “shots” at the selection out there, but hopefully that gives you a clear understanding of wedge bounce. And an idea of the challenges you face as you try to sort your way to a selection of two or three for your own bag that will equip you for the shots you will be facing on the courses you play.

See how and why EIDOLON’S patented V-SOLE is the ultimate solution