Is the lob wedge overrated?

[Titleist_PT23]

I previously used a LW a lot. But that was when I could practice on real grass every day.

For the last 1-2 years I've had a 57, 58, or 60 in the bag. But I rarely use it absent a situation where the 54 won't work.

There is no doubt that the flops can result in disaster. I still think the extra loft is useful when played square at times. Still, I seem to get more consistent contact with a 54 so use that as much as possible.

[Thinnedit]

58⁰ 2019 PM grind feels like cheating out of bunkers, wouldn't use anything else.

[billybaroo]

I carry a 60* and use it when the shot dictates; I don't force the 60* into a shot where it isn't the right option. Some rounds it gets used more than others, but if you commit to the swing it can be a very effective club. Like anything, practice, practice, practice. Don't try to learn something new while out on the course. I've found that inside ~50 yards, comfort is the deciding factor with a club. You've got up to 14 clubs in the bag, learn to be creative with them all, well maybe not the driver.

 

 

[lefty1978]

I technically carry 2 "lob" wedges. 58° and 62°. The 58 is vokey K grind and great from bunkers and inside 80 yards. 62 is vokey SM5 T grind, great around the green and on tight lies...absolute favorite wedge I've ever owned, I actually bought another as backup. You have to work on your wedges constantly to be consistent and confident. Take a bucket of balls to the chipping green, spend a hour or so working on your short game.

[woodlakecc]

It all depends on the individual, I learned to play back in the 60's and there was no lob wedge. I have tried both a 58 and 60 and for the amount of time I used one during a round I found it was better for myself to stop at a 56.

[Itsjustagame]

Use ny 58 several times a round.

[oikos1]

Not sure how the lob wedge is overrated.

You can either hit it or you can't.

[roundersmitty]

Very useful and the wedge that sees the most wear for me. Have holed out with it more times than hitting the dreaded thin bullet. Even though I can hit it well it's still last in the pecking order around the greens. First, if I can putt it I will. Second, will use a club to get it rolling as soon an possible. If I cant do the first 2 then the 60 comes out.

[dwh24]

My absolute favorite club. Use it 80 yards and in and all sand shots around the green.

[skm1127]

I'm not married to my 60*, but it does have its uses. Most times, the course I'm playing and the current conditions will dictate how much value I'd get out of carrying my LW. If I'm playing somewhere with lots of raised greens and greenside bunkers, it's probably in the bag. If there are lots of tight lies and more options to play it low, maybe I'll take an extra long iron or hybrid. Regardless, I don't normally have an issue with wanting to carry even 14 clubs so I can usually just leave it in and let the situation dictate when it's used.

[courcy75]

I would say a wedge fit to your game is more of a weapon than a burden. I would hate my 60 if it were say a Vokey L grind. My wedge wedge fits my game and I save more shots than I give away. I also only practice my short game with my free time. You will very rarely catch me on the range.

[dubbelbogey]

It's been an indispensable part of my set since it went in a couple of decades ago. I'd rather do without my PW and gap wedge than not have my 56* and 60*. To me, it's as much about bounce selection as it is about loft. If I had to describe it, I'd favor "underrated" instead of "overrated".

I think a 60* is easier for most players to hit when swinging under 80% rather than taking full cuts. If you're always taking full swings with a 60*, I question your club choices.

 

 

[bullsfan]

For me the 60* wedge or lob wedge is a waste of time and I agree it’s a touch over rated. I’ve seen golfers use it to great success and I’ve seen more cost themselves unnecessary shots. I grew up and played golf when the 56* SW was the go to club for most all shots from a 100 yards in. When lobs stared gaining traction I tried them and practiced with them on and off but could never really find a spot for it, in fact it cost me strokes on what I could do with my SW. I prefer to have more at the top end of the bag than a confusing assortment of lofted wedges.

[cgasucks]

I used to carry a lob wedge for the longest time because that what tour pros did (which was stupid for me). When I started to learn how to open the face and make flop shots with my SW I ditched it. Besides, SW has more bounce than LW in general and I don't want to make the game any harder as it is.

[gvogel]

8 or 9 years ago I used a 60* Vokey very effectively, but I was playing more and practicing 4 - 5 times a week. I hit some shots that I could not have hit with my 54*.

These days I walk and carry with 8 or 9 clubs. The 60* is one that didn't make the cut.

[Davidv]

Love my lob wedge especially chipping out of the rough around the green and even out of the bunkers. No way is it over rated.

[Sean2]

I agree. I have a 58º and a 62º.

[RobotDoctor]

No

[mharr]

I'm in the camp that it is more about bounce than loft.

I prefer 12˚ bounce on SW, for soft sand and fluffy rough lies.

Then I carry 6˚ bounce on LW for wet or heavy sand, hard-pan lies around the greens.

[Bodine2]

The 60 degree wedge is the KING of the chunk , dub , skull , you name it and causes alot more problems than its worth . I can do the same thing with a 56 degree wedge as a 60 and yet I rarely use that around the green except for bunker or short sided shots and rarely use it for full shots . To each there own , but for the average golfer it is a score killer . 90 percent of my greenside shots are made with a PW and the results are predictable and reliable , yes you have practice a lot with it too to get there ... I use a gap wedge ( 50 degree) for the other 10 percent of chipping around the green and for most full shots from a 100 in

[brew4eagle]

Those that say you can do the same thing with a 56* that you can with a 60*, I don't buy it. A 60* can be stopped quicker than a 56*, period. That's not to say it's for everyone, and I only carry a 58* periodically. But I won't argue that I can do everything with my 56* or 58* that I could do with a 60*. There's always sacrifices (and advantages) when picking one vs the other.

[ohioglfr]

I see your photo looks like a Honda 305 Scrambler. I had a '66 I bought in '69, kept it through high school. Memories . . .

[DFS PFD]

Guessing a lot of this comes down to course conditions where most of you play. My greens are fast, firm, and tucked pins. If I want to score, I need loft and spin, making 60* a necessity (often using a 64* as well.) Takes practice like anything else, 60 is not overrated, but may be over used by those without experience. YMMV

[Breiman]

Highly over-rated…. A bit more practice with a SW and most people will never need it.

[driveandputtmachine]

This is similar to the am I good enough to play blades. Every player is not created the same, so only you can answer this question. For myself, I play a 50 with high bounce, and will probably be going to a 54 that is similar, I am a pretty good wedge player around the green to the 60 is fine for me. As a matter of fact I am thinking of going 50, 54. 58. 62 and dropping the 3 and 5 wood to go to a 4 wood.

[scooterhd2]

Love my 60 degree LW. Use it on mostly every shot inside of 30 yards. Absolute weapon on touch shots. Just looks so comfortable opened up, where there is little fear that any shot is going to be hit heavy,

[jubilee_links]

I am in 2 minds about a lob wedge -

I have 2 wedge set ups - vokey 52/56/60 and cleveland 52/58 - the 52 gets the most use for pitching and full shots.

The course I play is a links course so fairway lies are generally quite tight making 60 degrees a challenge and sending it high in windy conditions with hard greens is not really the game - however having more loft really helps from deep bunkers....

Played the 3 wedges for a couple of years but after 6 weeks practicing in the back garden I might go back to 52/58 when we get out of lockdown - remove some decisions and play the shot instead of playing the club.

[bubbagump]

Its only overrated if you cant use it. It certainly is highly preferred by many pros, and amateurs and has a ton of purpose if you can use it. If you dont see the need for it, "can do the same with a 56" or haven't been able to utilize, thats more a personal situation regarding your bag.

[Dpavs]

If you are a consistently good ball striker then I would say maybe not but even then going beyond a 58* becomes a matter of choice and preference. If you are not then, yes... you're probably wasting a spot in your bag with a lob wedge.

 

[Pepperturbo]

Lob Wedges are NOT over rated but they are over advertised. Most of mid-hi cap golfers I encounter are not that good with them. Why? They don't practice with LW, they bang driver.

Yesterday, one of the guys must have skulled his ball over the green at least six times using LW and missed greens a few times using 56* from inside of 75yds. Pretty sad. I am pretty adept with any wedge to make any shot just by opening up the face. That to me is the best and most enjoyable part of the game as wedge shots demand creative execution. Also reason I am not bothered by missing a green. Yesterday got up and down from bunkers to save Par least 4 times and 3 times using SW or PW.

I can leave my putter in the trunk and still play 18 holes using LW as my putter. Now-a-days, not a day goes by that I am not practicing little pitches and lobs using 9i, PW, SW & LW in the house; that makes a huge difference. My Lob Wedge is still #1 club in my bag followed closely by 2 iron.