Wedges: Spin or Height?

[GolfChannel]

Which would you rather have with a wedge, all else being equal (carry distance, dispersion, feel):

 

1. 500 more rpms of spin

2. Two more degrees of launch and height

[LaymanM]

500 more spin if all else is equal. I like my wedges lower in flight.

[NWS Alpine]

The flight should be lower with more spin. If you are launching higher with the same loft then you are missing out on spin.

[GolfChannel]

So, if you were given these numbers with the same carry distance which would you choose for a 50 Degree Gap Wedge:

 

8800 & 31.5 degrees of launch

 

9300 & 29.2 degrees of launch

[ani5009]

I would go for more spin and a lower flight as well. I don't have any issues getting the ball in the air, but any extra stopping power on the greens would be hard to pass up.

[SoloShot84]

So, if you were given these numbers with the same carry distance which would you choose for a 50 Degree Gap Wedge:

 

8800 & 31.5 degrees of launch

 

9300 & 29.2 degrees of launch

 

what would be the apex and decent angle for each?

[arbeck]

So, if you were given these numbers with the same carry distance which would you choose for a 50 Degree Gap Wedge:

 

8800 & 31.5 degrees of launch

 

9300 & 29.2 degrees of launch

 

You need more information. What is the ball speed? If the higher spin shot has more ball speed, it might actually get just as high as the other ball. What are their peak heights? What is the descent angle? What is the standard deviation of the launch and spin? You might want the higher average spin with lower launch, but if the standard deviation is 500PRM and the standard deviation for the other club is 100RPM, it might make more sense to pick that one because you always know what you are going to get from the club.

 

Then I really need to consider what the characteristics are on not full shots. My PW is the last club that I almost always hit full. I want to make sure my half and quarter swings with the GW fit in with distances I get with my lob wedge

[noodle3872]

Everything else being equal, I’ll take the extra launch and height. 500 rpm isn’t going to be a difference maker.

[LUMA]

Spin spin spin! I like to hit them in low and biting!

[Maximilian]

I also prefer lower flight, higher spinning pitches.

[TKS]

What ball, what type of pin placement?

The important thing is being to get both via your swing.

Lawn darts are always preferred.

[ChipNRun]

The flight should be lower with more spin. If you are launching higher with the same loft then you are missing out on spin.

 

Ed Snell, who started his own golf ball company, talks about this in his video clips. He suggests that:

• Due to advances in ball core design, distance balls don't really go much further than spin balls.
  
• On wedge shots, the wedge face will grab the softer urethane cover spin balls better, producing a lower launch and higher spin.
  

Snell Golf Overview:

Snell Talks Golf Balls (for 22 minutes):

 

(And yes, shaft dynamics also influence launch.)

[GolfChannel]

I will go in next week and get the additional numbers everyone thinks is useful information.

 

That said, ball speed was essentially the same. The higher launch produced a higher shot overall by a few feet, but still gave the same carry as the higher spinning wedge. Distance was the same including carry.

[stormbringer]

I will take the spin, lower flight and the tighter dispersion that comes with the lower flight.

[kiw1982]

I will take 50% tighter dispersion.lol

[hacker49]

I'd go with spin. My instructor is having me work on my impact position by hitting 1/2 to 3/4 pitch shots now. He mentioned when I hit it correctly the flight is lower and that is how I will get more spin.

[Chuck905]

I don’t have issues with spin rate.

 

Trajectory is most important to me with all my wedges. It’s how my eyes sees the ball flight and controls the distance.

 

The worst, is up shooting a wedge.

[GolfChannel]

I dont have issues with spin rate.

 

Trajectory is most important to me with all my wedges. Its how my eyes sees the ball flight and controls the distance.

 

The worst, is up shooting a wedge.

 

What do you mean by up shooting a wedge?