which lies can I use the bounce?

[metaldog]

So I've been spending a ton of time trying to read through the forums and watch videos about using the bounce around the green, and I think I finally have a firmer grasp of understanding what bounce is and how to use it, 

but I still have some scenarios I wanted to check when/when not to use the bounce...

 

So my current understanding of when NOT TO use the bounce:

1. I saw a video of DJ/Tiger Woods doing a chipping video where it was short grass into the grain, and DJ shows taking a practice swing and the grass just kicking up, so I assume any into the grain lies you simply have to hit the ball first, Tiger demonstrated same into the grain where he hit a high shot but I assume he used almost no bounce here and had to basically nip it since he said it was a scary shot. 

2. Also there were some posts about rainy/very wet lies no bounce, only ball first contact as well, I assume cause any kind of contact with the ground first is hard for the club to slide into the ball beautifully with the bounce. 

3. I assume concrete/hard pan lies are impossible as well since the club will bounce up and the ball will be skulled into a migraine. 

 

So based on these assumptions, the current two scenarios wherei assume using the bounce is the easiest shot in the book.

1. fluffy lie rough where you can see most of the ball, hitting .5/1 inch behind the ball is relatively safe

2. tight lie with? the grain (not into the grain) where the grass is neither concrete hard or very wet, club will comfortably glide into the ball 

 

where else am I supposed to/not supposed to use the bounce like say when the ball is 30-50% covered in semi thick rough, how does bounce help/hurt here? Am I supposed to open up the face more? What about 30-50% covered in thin rough?

Albeit I'll figure more of this out on my own when I get more time on the course, but would like to pick the brains of more experienced people out there where else can I use this high error margin shot, and when is using the bounce a disaster

 

a bit on a trying to understand the physics side, how is it possible to hit the ground .5-2 inches behind the ball and the contact still works out so good? I'm a bit baffled how this is such a high margin of error shot, is it because I'm still hitting down on the ball a tiny bit with a very rounded edge on the bottom of the club? so the club kind of skids along the grass until it touches the ball?

 

kind of off-topic also, how do I also figure out if I need a high bounce gap/sand wedge or a medium bounce gap/sand? I currently hit a 12/14 bounce gap/sand, and wondering if I can move to something like a 08/10, my swing is on the shallow side and when I hit divots they are typically shallow and small, I went 12/14 because of the common saying more bounce is always better, but now that I have a better understanding of my swing and that I'm not a steep player, wondering if I can get away with lower bounce like gap/sand that is 08/10. 

 

Thanks a lot!

 

 

Edited April 28, 2023 by metaldog

[golfinbrad]

My opinion. you are over thinking it.  The ideal bounce changes based on lies, type of ground, weather, etc.  It not only changes throughout the season, but can change during a round.  The key is to find a bounce that you feel comfortable with for normal play.  Then work on technique for those one off shots.  Some players tend to have a lower bounce in one wedge and a little higher in another.  Others prefer to have similar.  No right or wrong, it is just what works best for you.  Unfortunately, a lot of this is trial and error.  If you look at the WITB photos, at times you will see pros with 3 sand wedge or 3 lob wedges.  They are doing exactly this.  What bounce and grind works best on these conditions.  We don't have that luxury.