How would Pro's do without a Lob Wedge?

[dpb5031]

I find lob wedge discussions interesting.

Many claim no one (at least amateurs) should carry a 60 (or higher loft) because they are risky propositions in which poorly executed attempts result in horrific misses. E.g. "get the ball on the ground running ASAP is your best bet!"

Others claim they make the game too easy and therefore there should be a limit on wedge loft. E.g. " Players nowadays don't have to be creative (like Seve) anymore!"

So which is it? ?

[atmorrow13]

1000% agree. It's so frustrating to be playing in a scramble and have one of your teammates pull a 60-degree wedge on a basic chip that has tons of green to work with.

[Big Cat 3]

Open a wedge

[Obee]

I would quibble and say that it became nearly a necessity for pros with modern green speeds. The additional combinations of height/spin that a LW allows to access tough pins from mid and short-sided misses is a definite advantage -- or there would be pros who elect not to have one in their bag.

If I had to quantify it, I would say, in the modern age on fast, firm greens, .25 to .33 shots per round (and maybe a touch more) are gained by having a LW versus replacing it with another club (additional hybrid, second driver, etc.)

[bazinky]

Sweet! I shoot in the 80's at my home course all the time, and I only play once a week. I had no idea I was ready for the tour! My boss is out of the office today, so I guess have to wait till Monday to let him know that I'm quitting to turn pro.

It would be unprofessional to resign over e-mail ...

[Man_O_War]

open the face of the SW and hit a low checker

[gvogel]

It depends upon how much talent you have. And then it depends upon how often you practice with your wedge.

[freowho]

Some of them would struggle. Viktor Hovland said he wasn't a good chipper.

I'd like to see it.

As someone else mentioned I'd also like to see no caddies. Some players have to have a deep and meaningful before every shot!

It's like watching Bold and the Beautiful.

 

 

Not that I've ever watched it. Just been told about it.

[3jacker]

You're probably right. Back then, you saw a lot more flop shots, sometimes from quite a distance. More players used it (because they had do).

It carried a lot more risk than simply squaring up a lob wedge though. Hence the popularity of the latter.

[Fairways_and_Greens]

When pros had 56s as their most lofted club the balls spun more and the greens weren’t as fast. Now there are pros with 62 and 64 wedges... it would be interesting if the PGA mandated 50 as the highest lofted club... you’d see more pros playing spinnier balls and a higher premium on strokes gained into the green. I like it!

[tgoodspe1991]

This is sort of what I was thinking. A lot of people are saying they would just simply adapt, and they would, but Pro’s don’t adapt as easily to things as people think they do. The anchor putting ban is a good example. You’d think they could just easily adapt to another style of putting, but most couldn’t.

With the modern course conditions the way they are, I think it would be tough on Pro’s if they didn’t have a 58/60/62/64 wedge. Look at how the API played: firm and fast greens, tucked pins, thick rough. Imagine being short-sided at Bay Hill in those conditions and only have a 50/54/56. You’d have to get much more creative to keep that ball near the hole.

[3jacker]

Or just avoid short siding yourself.

I'm amazed at how often these guys do that, always pedal-to-the-floor with their approaches. It would be nice to bring back a little more precision and strategy.

[williamsnrb]

Lower bounce, open face, problem solved.