Help with Bounce and Grind Selection on a few Vokey Wedges

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By David E

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  1. David E

    David E

    Howdy, all - Long time lurker, first time poster!

    Looking for some advice on bounce and grind on a few Vokey wedges.  My current iron set goes up to PW at 45* with 12* bounce.  I'm looking to pick up a 50 (as a gap wedge, primarily for full swings), a 54 (primarily for sand and perhaps some full swings) and a 58 (primarily for flops, etc near the green).  I play mostly public courses in the Midwest, where the sand is generally harder and the fairways & rough generally firmer.  My swing is more a slider / neutral (I certainly don't take large divots).  In general, I'm thinking more bounce & fuller sole on the 50 & 54, and less bounce and thinner sole on the 58.  Being in MN, I don't have much of an opportunity to demo anything on turf/sand, especially this time of year.  I'm a bit hesitant on a 54 for sand, as my understanding is that the grooves are narrower than on the 56 up, but perhaps that's a non-issue?  I could go 56/60, but have never had much luck with 60.

    My current thinking goes along these lines - 50.12F, 54-10S (or 54.14F perhaps?), and 58.08M.  That said, I've been wrong twice already today!  Any advice, flaws in my logic, or other ideas are welcome, as I know just enough about this to be dangerous!

    Thanks much!

  2. jonathan s

    jonathan s
    Indianapolis, IN

    I'm also in the Midwest and you're absolutely correct regarding the firm sand and how that should influence your decision on which wedges might be the best for you. Because of that firm sand and due to the description of your swing as being more of a slider/neutral I would think slightly less bounce might be best for you. 50 degree F grind 8 degrees of bounce, 54 degree S grind 10 degrees of bounce, and 58 degree L grind 4 degrees of bounce. I wouldn't go to a 60 degree wedge because that introduces larger gaps in the lofts than what you'd ideally want and you don't seem as comfortable with a 60 degree wedge.   

    In regards to your concern for the width of the groves I don't recall a difference in the groves but even if there was one I can honestly say from experience I haven't had any issues with using the 54 degree and 58 degree from bunkers.  

    One last thing about bounce and grinds. When I choose which wedge to hit I'm more concerned with my lie and what bounce to select than I am the distance and what loft to select. An uphill lie where I don't need as much loft to hit a high shot but the club may be more likely to dig is very different from a downhill lie where I need that loft to elevate the shot. Further more a lie in the rough where I need more bounce to hit the sweet spot is very different from being in a closely mowed fairway where I would ideally play very little bounce. The point here is that the lofts are important but they are relatively easy to gap and then manage distance using the length of your swing. The bounce though is critical and you need to have a spectrum of different bounce/grind options for different scenarios you will encounter out on the course.  

  3. David E

    David E

    Thanks much for the response Jonathan!  Sorry for the delay - life got in the way of golf for a bit, although I was able to sneak in a round Sunday.

    Interesting suggestion on the 58 L grind - had not really thought in that direction, but I understand what you are saying regarding the lie vs. loft.  I never really thought about wedge selection like that I guess.... I was putting together an order at 3 balls this afternoon so I threw in a 54-S, as well as both a 58-L & 58-M to try out.  On one course in particular I play it seems more often than not I'm chipping off a downhill lie.

    Thanks again!

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