Best Lob Wedge for Your Game

The time will come when you need to make a wedge shot that calls for a high carry, over a water hazard or bunker, to a tight, tucked pin position. The question is -- do you have the right wedge? If you have the usual 56-degree sand wedge, you might be able to pull it off. However, using a lob wedge -- properly suited to your game -- can definitely make reaching that difficult hole location much, much easier.

Let's start with some common terminology:

The term Lob Wedge covers any wedge with a loft between 58-64 degrees. Bounce Angle, or sometimes just Bounce, is a measure of the backward/downward angle of the sole of the club as measured from the leading edge to the lowest point on the sole. The problem that many golfers face is the low bounce angle of some lob wedges. The more lofted the wedge -- combined with a low bounce angle -- will literally act like a digging tool and, in the hands of less than an expert golfer, they will end up taking massive divots. Conversely, in the hands of a more experienced golfer with proper swing mechanics and the correct descending blow, a lob wedge adds a measure of dimension and versatility to any short game. If you're planning to buy a lob wedge, here are some simple tips and suggestions.

Beginner

For a novice, try a lob wedge that has no more than 60 degrees of loft. Though it seems counterintuitive, the higher-lofted wedge is actually more difficult to master. I say this from painful, firsthand experience, having jumped into a 64-degree wedge only to find I could hit it correctly about 1 in 20 tries. The second key is to select a wedge whose bounce angle spans from 6 to as much as 13 degrees. The reason here is: the higher the bounce angle, the easier it is to use the wedge since it will not dig into the turf excessively. Also, if you are trying to combine wedge uses, a wedge with a significant bounce angle that is also high lofted can double as a sand wedge for short bunker shots.

This advice assumes you already carry at least a standard Pitching wedge (about 47-49 degrees) and perhaps a Gap Wedge (51-54 degrees) which are both a must for beginners. As you will learn over time, having four wedges will become an advantage as your game improves.

Intermediate

As an intermediate golfer, your game has entered the range where you can start to look at a little more loft and/or a little less bounce on your Lob Wedge. While there are 64-degree options out there, I would suggest you stick with nothing more than a 60 or 62-degree, but perhaps narrow the bounce to 5-8 degrees. This combination will allow for a bit more versatility in using the club from both tight and fluffy lies (from a tight lie, a lot of bounce on the club is a disaster-in-the-making for anyone other than an expert player). A good choice here is the F2 series, in a 60 degree. It is equipped with their Face Forward technology that lets you forget about topping/skulling the shot or shanking the ball off the hosel.
One of my personal favorites -- and one that is always in my bag -- is the Cleveland 588 series; I carry the 58-degree with 6 degrees of bounce. These are available in a variety of loft/bounce combinations. A little experimentation to find your perfect fit is always a good idea.

Expert/Low Handicapper

Your choices are nearly without limit as an expert golfer, and adding a 64-degree wedge is certainly within the scope of your ability. Again Cleveland makes a version, as does TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, Ping, and many others in the premium club category. For the more budget-conscious golfer, Pine Meadow and Hi-Lob make decent options as well. With a 64-degree wedge, you can expect to see a maximum carry in the range of about 75 yards. The high-lofted wedge allows the expert golfer to maneuver shots into very tightly tucked pin locations and to get the ball up and down when short-sided near the hole.

Unlike the Intermediate player, you’re now able to use a lob wedge with nearly any bounce angle. Your swing and ball contact are probably sufficiently advanced as to avoid taking a huge divot and "laying the sod over the ball."  Secondarily, by manipulating the club face open, you can actually create bounce from many lies giving you an even more versatile club for your bag.

Unlike (to my eye, at least) the Ping Eye2, the iWedge has a more classic shape to the head. The Eye2 had a high toe and, with that flat steel finish, looked more like a yard implement than a golf club. The iWedge goes back to more traditional roots -- a design that should do nothing but inspire confidence as you prepare to hit your shot -- be it from behind a tree, from the fairway or blasting from a greenside bunker. Another Ping innovation is the "Sand Cup" sole design -- this design moves the pivot point further from the leading edge and is designed to help get under the ball quickly (and not dig into the turf) for higher, softer landing shots.

Ping has kept their usual non-glare finish for the club head and added only black paint fill for the model and club head number. The Ping iWedge is available in Right hand only and in loft increments (2 degrees each) from 50 to 60 degrees. For those looking (needing?) to truly customize their wedge, Ping has introduced a patented design called Flat Top Hosel, along with the Hosel Notch. The flat top hosel is designed to reduce stress and improve feel in the club. The hosel notch controls the bend point for precise loft and lie adjustment. Just be sure to see your local pro or golf repair shop to make any bend adjustments to your club.

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With innovations in golf club equipment happening nearly as fast as computer chips shrink and your cell phone goes out of style, it makes sense that wedge technology would be keeping pace as well. However, that hasn't really been the case as wedges have remained pretty true to form for the past 20-30 years. The biggest innovations have come in the area of "pro grinds" to the sole, and the creation of a four-way bevel on the sole for more flexibility in shot-making. F2 has set out to change that by moving the face forward of the hosel. We've all seen offset hosels -- where the hosel is set in front of the leading edge of the club, to a greater or lesser degree. Offset is generally built into clubs to promote getting the ball airborne more quickly and easily. F2's innovation of moving the face ahead of the hosel is designed with the idea that the ball is struck -- and leaves the clubface -- long before grass or sand can grab the hosel and twist the clubhead, resulting in poor contact and offline shots.

From most angles, the F2 wedges look a lot like a rattlesnake hook. But, from the important angle -- looking down on it from the user standpoint -- it looks pretty much like any wedge you've ever used. The rather unique dog-leg hosel allows for the face forward design without radically changing the golfer's perception. The F2 wedges are currently available in Right hand orientation only, but left hand versions are in the works and will be available soon, according to the F2 website. Wedge models feature a cavity back design with USGA legal grooves and include lofts of 52, 56, 60 and 64 degrees, and of course all feature the face forward design. Shaft options are either steel or graphite, though shaft specifications were not available as of this writing.

While I would often make a suggestion for comparison(s) in another wedge, there is really nothing like the F2 to compare to. If you're looking for some change in your wedge, then take a closer look at these F2 wedges. Perhaps they are right for your game.

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Eidolon wedges are designed with a "V-sole" (patented) -- two converging angles that allow the golfer to create a variety of loft/lie/bounce combinations and get the benefit of 2-3 wedge performance characteristics out of each Eidolon wedge. The Eidolon wedges utilize Hi-Spin CNC milling technology to create the ultra-sharp grooves in their wedges as well (the standard groove in an Eidolon wedge meets USGA limits for amateur and low-tier professional play -- if you're a PGA Tour player looking for a new wedge, then the Eidolon Prime wedges are for you). These grooves create extremely high spin rates, and of course stopping power on the greens is the natural extension of that.

Eidolon wedges are available in: Pitching, Gap and two versions of a Sand wedge. Both Right and Left hand orientation (though with some limitations in LH models). The heads are made from soft 8620 Carbon Steel, the same material preferred by most pro golfers for its soft feel and dynamic feedback. Head finishes are either satin chrome or oil/raw (no glare finish). Shafts are a proprietary steel called "Genius," with two graphite Genius options available for an upgraded cost. Clubs are available as individual wedges or sets of three. Strikingly handsome no matter the finish chosen, Eidolon wedges seem well designed for their intended purpose.

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At its core, the foundation of the difference in a Solus wedge lies in their "Crescent Cut" sole contour. The rearward 2/3 of the bounce contour of a conventional Sarazen wedge (Gene Sarazen, the original creator of the sand wedge, back in the day) sole has been repositioned upward and behind the leading edge of the clubhead. From there, the bounce angles are increased slightly and a camber is added to the rear of that sole contour extending from heel to toe. This improvement in the sole contour lowers the leading edge for better setup and play on square-faced shots from tight lies, downhill lies, and even buried bunker shots. Open the club face orientation for an explosion shot from a bunker, and you reveal an even greater bounce surface area for improved sand play.

By relieving the heel area of some club head material, Solus wedges feature a "pro-grind" look and feel and allow the golfer to play open-faced lob shots without worrying about bellying the ball with a raised leading edge. The CG (Center-of-Gravity) for the club head is also slightly raised and moved rearward with the design of the crescent cut sole contour. This higher CG is said to increase the ball spin rate and improves the golfers ability to control trajectory. Finally, by moving that CG rearward, Solus claims an enhanced gear-effect and increase in the MOI (Moment-Of-Inertia) of the clubhead for better distance and directional performance on off-center hits. The patented Crescent Cut sole contour is provided on all lofts of the Solus wedges.

Current models of the Solus wedge are available exclusively to Pro Tour players. This is due to the fact that earlier production models have what are now non-conforming grooves. However, Solus wedges can be found online at the usual outlets, be it auction sites or used club vendors.

Solus wedges are available in a variety of lofts and are often sold in sets of three (lofts are usually 51, 56 and 61 degrees in the set). Early models were typically produced in stainless steel, while more recent models have been made with a beautiful gunmetal black gloss finish.

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Nike polled their Tour Staff members, and the resulting feedback and suggestions went into the creation of the SV Tour wedge. Among other things, the profile, bounce, and groove contour are all Tour caliber. The SV Tour wedges have classic (e.g., simple) profiles and sole grinds which provide a clean look with a lot versatility. Using a CNC milling machine to create a flat face will -- Nike claims -- provide a consistent golf ball response off the club face for more accurate golf shots. When you combine these features, they are bound to provide a greater degree of control, confidence, and accuracy necessary for a solid short game. Having confidence in your wedges is one of the key elements to their successful application. I've tried all manner of wedges over the years, from the most basic Sam Snead model to the gimmicky stuff advertised at 3:00 a.m. on The Golf Channel. After all the wedges I have tried, the ones that consistently perform the best are the high quality, tour proven options.

The Nike SV Tour comes in a wide variety of loft, lie and bounce options -- from a Strong Gap Wedge at 50 degrees to a Lob Wedge at 60 degrees, and several in-between, there is a combo available to suit most any need. Even the shaft option is simple: True Temper Dynamic Gold in regular flex. This is a handsome club as well with a satin chrome finish to the head and simple, yet elegant, markings. If nothing else, you'll at least feel like a Tour Pro pulling one of these from your bag.

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However, in golf, nothing is ever quite so simple, and there are many other things to consider, so... Callaway makes the Jaws Wedge available in either their Soft Milky Chrome or Dark Vintage finish and offers lofts of 52, 56, 58, and 60 degrees. To round out the options, most lofts are available in both right or left hand orientation with your choice of graphite or steel shafts in Regular and Stiff flex.

There is little question these elements combine to create a beautiful and useable wedge. The C-grind sole makes playing a wide variety of greenside shots not only easy, but fun. The soft carbon steel provides some of the best feedback you'll likely ever feel from an iron, and the ability to choose the right shaft material for your game is a great finishing touch. The Callaway Jaws wedge would make a great addition to nearly any golfer's bag.

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Ping has chosen to mill the face of the XG wedge series rather than rely exclusively on the investment casting for the groove finish. While more costly, this is a good step in ensuring the best possible performance of the club, and users will appreciate the sharper -- but USGA-conforming grooves -- afforded by this process. In addition to the sand or lob wedge options, you can select a right- or left-hand orientation and shaft options that include the True Temper Dynamic Gold 300, KBS Tour, or Ping AWT. The grip is the standard Ping ID8 rubber composition.

For many golfers, the non-glare satin finish found on these wedges will be visual appealing. But, even if you prefer your clubs with a bright chrome finish, the Ping EYE2 XG wedges are worthy of a closer look.

Some other options to consider for new wedges are these two from Cleveland: the Brown Wedge or the CG15 Black Pearl.

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Depending on your personal taste, you'll either love -- or hate -- the fact these clubs will tarnish naturally and rust over time. Having used a wedge (from a different maker) several years ago that rusted naturally, I wasn't a fan of that characteristic. It always looked like it needed to be cleaned.  It's a very personal preference however, so don't let that stop you from taking a look at these clubs.

One final thought: for those of you about to take a run at a Tour career, Ping says their Tour-S Rustique clubs "conform to the 2010 USGA Rules for Touring Professionals" -- so they've got that going for them.

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Ping. You make such nice stuff. But with the huge weight ratio on the bottom of your club, you make amateurs like me feel like we are trying to thunk that 70-yard shot toward the pin rather than really try to attack the green.

This club is a huge miss for me, unfortunately. I may have folks disagree with me, and I know that you have been making clubs for a loooong time. But Ping, this guy likes his wedges sleeker. Lighter. A little sexier. There are spendy dogs like Clevelands, but let's argue in the same general price ballpark for a moment, ok? Take the Nike SV Satin Wedge. I even chose a brushed metal look to be fair.

See the sleek lines? See the thin cut? I'm not convinced I need a tungsten weight for a wedge. Give me a club that feels like I can cut a nice divot, pop that ball up, set it down nice, and roll it close.

Even... if I can't.

I want to feel like I can. My long game is clunky, Ping. I don't need my short game feeling that way, too.

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