Golfers who don’t know learn how to use a lob wedge—or decide the incorrect state of affairs—usually find yourself with poor outcomes. To search out out if the lob wedge actually deserves a spot in your bag, we teamed up with Shot Scope to research efficiency knowledge.
We in contrast lob wedge method pictures, sand wedge versus lob wedge efficiency, and even checked out how the lob wedge fares from the bunker. We’ve damaged every part down by handicap, making making use of the insights on to your individual sport simpler.
Right here’s all the knowledge it’s good to find out about when to make use of a lob wedge.
Lob wedge method pictures
This desk provides perception into what you possibly can anticipate with method pictures utilizing a lob wedge. This might be extra of a full-swing method and, general, the “greens hit” percentages are greater than common.
We see this due to proximity to the inexperienced. The nearer you get, the simpler it’s to hit the inexperienced.
Discover that, as handicaps improve, the lob wedge turns into much less efficient. In case you can dial in your lob wedge on your full-swing method pictures, that’s nice however most gamers choose sand, hole or pitching wedges with rather less than a full swing to finish the identical activity.
An important place to check the effectiveness of the lob wedge is within the brief sport. The very best-lofted membership in your bag needs to be used across the inexperienced.
Quick-game shot. Sand wedge versus lob wedge efficiency by handicap
To see how efficient the lob wedge is, we in contrast it to the sand wedge.
The up-and-down percentages for the lob wedge (not from the bunker) are decrease for the low-handicap golfers. Whenever you get to the higher-handicap gamers, issues are likely to even out a bit however, general, up-and-down percentages on these higher-lofted golf equipment are very low for high-handicap gamers.
Apparently, low-handicap golfers additionally find yourself farther from the outlet when utilizing a lob wedge and require extra pictures to complete.
There may be much more knowledge to dive into about which golf equipment to make use of across the greens. Nonetheless, we are able to see that as loft is added, golfers are likely to have a tougher time getting up and down.
A 20 handicap golfer will get up and down 34 p.c of the time utilizing a 9-iron and solely 18 p.c of the time utilizing the lob wedge. A ten-handicap will get up and down almost 40 p.c of the time utilizing a spot wedge however solely 13 p.c with the lob wedge.
Typically, you want the loft of the lob wedge to assist get the ball out of thick tough. It’s additionally good to assist cease the ball shortly when you find yourself short-sided. The important thing takeaway is that any probability it’s important to take the less-lofted membership across the inexperienced, take it.
Lob wedge out of bunkers
The Shot Scope knowledge illustrates that lob wedges for greenside pictures (not within the bunker) is just not the proper selection.
We nonetheless have to take a look at bunkers.
Hitting out of a bunker is completely different, and the lob wedge’s extra loft is useful.
You’ll see within the desk under that the lob wedge is the higher membership to make use of out of the bunker. Gamers with the bottom handicaps are utilizing the lob wedge from the bunker. They’re getting up and down extra usually and getting the ball nearer to the outlet.
In case you haven’t used your lob wedge out of a bunker but, it’s time to start out doing it.
The underside line: When to make use of your lob wedge
This knowledge signifies that holding your short-game pictures decrease is extra useful to your sport. Subsequently, the lob wedge with its greater loft is just not at all times the perfect membership to make use of.
The lob wedge can be utilized from the deep tough as the additional loft can assist you escape. It’s additionally a very good membership you probably have little inexperienced to work with and should cease the ball shortly.
Nonetheless, when you possibly can preserve the ball just a little decrease across the greens and use one thing like a spot wedge or perhaps a 9-iron, take that probability. You’ll save your self pictures.
Strive the lob wedge from the bunker. Generally, it’s more practical than the sand wedge for beginner golfers. It’s the perfect use of your lob wedge so, if you will carry one, use it from the bunker.
The submit When To Use The Lob Wedge (And When to Keep away from It) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.