GREENSIDE BUNKERS: Lob Wedge or Sand Wedge?

"The advent of 'L' wedges or lob wedges (as they are more commonly known) has fuelled a debate as to which club is best used in a greenside bunker? In this passage I am quite simply going to identify the pros and cons of lob and sand wedges when used in this instance.

The standard loft on a lob wedge is some 60 degrees (the most lofted club in the bag). If played correctly in normal play, it will allow you to loft the ball high up into the air, over obstructions such as bunkers or mounds and land the ball softly and stop quickly the other side. But the lob wedge may just be a little more versatile than first thought. Many players are now choosing to use them from greenside bunkers. With such a high degree of loft it is not always necessary to 'open' the clubface and stance as more traditionally done when using a sand wedge.

From a coaching point of view it is much easier to retain a square stance and set-up rather than having to 'open' up as this can become confusing. So why shouldn't everyone adopt this method and play with the lob wedge? Well the large benefit of a sand wedge (standard loft 56 degrees) is that it is designed for the bunker. The sole tends to be wide at the base boasting a high degree of bounce angle. This angle enables the club to enter the sand and also 'bounce' back out to prevent the club from 'digging in' and allows the follow through to be completed. Lob wedges however tend to have lower bounce angles as they are primarily designed for use outside the bunker. For example, if you were faced with a shot over a bunker off a 'tight', bare lie then the last thing you would want to happen is for the club to 'bounce' as it contacts the ground. The result could be disastrous

So with less bounce angle the lob wedge may be prone to dig into the sand a little more when used in the bunker. To prevent this happening, I recommend that you aim to enter the sand only 1" behind the ball as opposed to 2" when using the sand wedge, on a standard greenside bunker shot. My opinion is that you try both clubs and see which works best for you. Experienced players and low handicappers may still favour the sand wedge as they have perfected this method over the years. But for those who are struggling in bunkers you may just find that the lob wedge is the answer and a more beneficial option to solve your bunker blues. See me in the pro-shop to discuss this further and also to show what clubs we have to offer.