Bounce on your SW

[rkillian]

I used to think I needed a higher bounce sand wedge. I had a 54.12W full sole that I used to struggle with. A 58.12X wasn’t any easier. Neither was a 58.12D Vokey I tried. 
 

Going to a different iron set I ended up with an MD5 52.12W and 58.8 low bounce W. If I open up the 58 just a little I seem to always get the ball out now. 
 

Sand on my local courses is on the firmer side but as long as it’s been dry it can get neutral/slightly soft. 
 

Curious if anyone else find that they are better With a lower bounce wedge out of the sand? 

[Tree Levino]

A stated bounce from different companies can play very different. Generally I prefer lower bounce. 

[Baitkiller]

58x10 Cleveland 

[ChipNRun]

1 hour ago, rkillian said:

Sand on my local courses is on the firmer side but as long as it’s been dry it can get neutral/slightly soft. 

Last season I had a hard time getting consistent sand strikes with my 54*/12 W sole.

 

In talking with two different pros, both said area courses keep going more and more to medium/mid-heavy sand. One pro said he has gone strictly to S-grind for his SW; the other says he uses mostly S-grind but keeps the W-sole high bounce for when he plays one of the courses with fluffier sand.

 

A complicating factor: Vanishing practice bunkers. The private country club is the only course in the county that still has a decent practice bunker. Excellent practice traps at my home course and three other nearby courses have been filled in or allowed to "go to seed."

 

Possible solution...

 

Edited February 13, 2021 by ChipNRun
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[10of14]

20 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

Last season I had a hard time getting consistent sand strikes with my 54*/12 W sole.

 

In talking with two different pros, both said area courses keep going more and more to medium/mid-heavy sand. One pro said he has gone strictly to S-grind for his SW; the other says he uses mostly S-grind but keeps the W-sole high bounce for when he plays one of the courses with fluffier sand.

 

A complicating factor: Vanishing practice bunkers. The private country club is the only course in the county that still has a decent practice bunker. Excellent practice traps at my home course and three other nearby courses have been filled in or allowed to "go to seed."

 

Possible solution...

 

This^  I like the S (Cobra is V) for most shots, including mid-to-firm sand shots, but carry a W (WL in Cobra) for softer sand conditions (my home course).  

[KevCannon]

Like others have stated, it will depend on course conditions where u play. The courses i play have gone away from fluffier sand and in some cases it has become basically dirt in the traps. I have gone to S grinds in 54* and 58* (Titleist & Callaway wedges). I do find the Titleist D grind seems to have more bounce compared to Callaway X grind. Different companies so it’s not apples to apples comparison.

[drl1534]

I’ve found that the 10* bounce on the Vokey S grind works for me. Works well for me out of the bunker and also on chips/full shots. 

[Alan Pllu]

Depends on the course, the course i used to play the bunkers were basically a light dusting of sand with hardpan dirt under them so needed really low bounce to not drop kick thin every bunker shot I hit. The fairways were also very firm so bounce wasn't helpful at all on this course. 

 

Moved to a different course and they are the opposite extreme with very fluffy sand thats quite deep so bounce is now my friend. Fairways are softer also due to different ground conditions so quite lucky that I can have a bit of bounce for the whole course. 

[NorthStar7]

I swap out Ping Glide 58 WS and SS, depending on the course and conditions. My default is the WS, but will switch to the SS if it's firm conditions.

 

I also carry a Ping Glide 54 SS.  When paired with the 58 WS, I have different loft and bounce options depending on the situation.  Again, the 58 WS is the default in the sand as I prefer more bounce when conditions allow for it.  

[rsballer10]

56.14 F in Sand Wedge

60.04 or 60.08 in Lob Wedge (I've played both in the past with equal success)

 

If the sand is firm, just play the shot with a square 56 or an open 60 depending on the length. I like having different bounces and grinds on each wedge so that I can play any course setup without having to change wedges.

[bear87]

I use a 58* 2019 Callaway PM Grind with 12* of bounce and a C grind.  The C grind has heel, toe, and trailing edge relief that helps me easily open the face.

[rkillian]

16 minutes ago, bear87 said:

I use a 58* 2019 Callaway PM Grind with 12* of bounce and a C grind.  The C grind has heel, toe, and trailing edge relief that helps me easily open the face.

I've thought about trying out a PM grind in a 60 if I move to a 52/56/60 set up. But I do really get a long with my 58 LBW.

[rkillian]

37 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

56.14 F in Sand Wedge

60.04 or 60.08 in Lob Wedge (I've played both in the past with equal success)

 

If the sand is firm, just play the shot with a square 56 or an open 60 depending on the length. I like having different bounces and grinds on each wedge so that I can play any course setup without having to change wedges.

I have also thought about going to a Vokey 56.12D and 60.08M if I change wedges again. I liked the 58D I had around the greens and in the rough. 

[polarbear87]

Floating between two set ups.  PXG 0311T 54 with 10* of bounce and 58 with 9* of bounce and Callaway JAWS MD5 with 54 with 10* of bounce and PM Grind 19 58 with 12* of bounce.  I love the feel of the PXG wedges, and I love the versatility of the PM Grind 19.

[cthetree]

Varies heavily based on your swing and sand conditions - softer sand and steeper angle of attack generally performs better with higher bounce, harder sand and shallower aoa better with lower. If you can work with your club's pro and demo a bunch on course that would be ideal. I personally prefer a shallower aoa by default, so even my 12* bounce on my 54* feels like too much on non-bunker shots, but in the bunker I've yet to feel like I've had too much

[rsballer10]

3 hours ago, rkillian said:

I've thought about trying out a PM grind in a 60 if I move to a 52/56/60 set up. But I do really get a long with my 58 LBW.

 

I just re-read your post. Your question was regarding bounce, but I believe the answer is actually the grind. A wide sole displaces more sand, which adds forgiveness in the bunker. That's how it's possible to have a low bounce club thats good in a bunker.

[rkillian]

2 hours ago, rsballer10 said:

 

I just re-read your post. Your question was regarding bounce, but I believe the answer is actually the grind. A wide sole displaces more sand, which adds forgiveness in the bunker. That's how it's possible to have a low bounce club thats good in a bunker.

That makes a lot of sense 

[Birddog2]

Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth SS 54/12...    Try opening it up a bit; I like the 58/8 too depending on situation.