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Do You Really Need to Carry a Sand Wedge in Your Bag?

detlef32 — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 16:40:41 +0000

With the way golf club lofts have changed in the last few years, it’s important to consider what wedges you have in your bag and if they are the right fit for your game. A sand wedge is important not just for getting out of the sand trap but also for chips and pitches around the green.

I love my sand wedge and would never take it out of the bag, but not all golfers feel this way. Let’s take a look at some reasons why you may want to keep your sand wedge and some reasons you may want to let it go.

The Case FOR Carrying a Sand Wedge in Your Bag

I’ll let you know right from the start that my case for carrying a sand wedge will be stronger than my case against carrying a sand wedge. I think it’s an important club. There are three reasons I would recommend carrying a sand wedge in your bag: control, versatility, and loft.

Control

The sand wedge is one of the easiest clubs in the bag for an amateur golfer to be able to put backspin on. If you are chipping shots around the green, the ability to stop them is essential. Whether you are working on short approach shots or something out of a greenside bunker, control is paramount.

In addition to the ability to spin the ball and stop it on the green, the sand wedge is also good for distance control. Once you learn how your sand wedge works, you can hit shorter shots like 20, 30, 40, and 50 yard shots that help you become more accurate.

Versatility

The sand wedge is versatile. Although many beginners think this is a club to hit out of the sand traps, it is much more than that. A 56-degree sand wedge should be one of your best friends when you get close to the green.

The bounce angle, clean leading edge, and trajectory of the sand wedge make it a perfect selection for various shots. If you open the face of the sand wedge, it’s possible to hit a flop shot. If you close it a little, you can have a lower ball flight with a bit more roll.

Loft

Golf manufacturers are making clubs with less and less loft. The reason behind this is distance. If you need distance, then you want these lower-lofted clubs. With the center of gravity advancements and repositioning, golfers can still hit the ball high, even with the lower lofted clubs in their hands.

I love having the sand wedge in my bag because it’s a little more loft than the gap wedge and a little less than the lob wedge; it fills a gap in my bag that I need to fill.

The Case AGAINST Carrying a Sand Wedge in Your Bag

Now that you have a better idea as to why a sand wedge is so important, we have to address the elephant in the room here, the golfers that can’t stand the club and don’t keep it in the bag. Most of the time, this is a beginner golfer or high handicapper that struggles with the short game.

If you take the sand wedge out of the bag each time and it results in a shot that is chunked or skulled across the green, then chances are it is not helping you to keep the club in the bag.

As a golf professional, I have always felt that any player can learn how to use any club that is fitted to their game. I also understand that there are some mental hangups around certain clubs, like the sand wedge.

Sometimes the way the sand wedge sets up is not very confidence-inducing. It makes players think that they have to scoop the ball up off the ground to get it into the air. Of course, that isn’t the case, but it can take some time to figure this concept out.

In addition, when you are struggling with the sand wedge, it is not always a club that offers much forgiveness. In fact, it’s pretty unforgiving, especially in the blade style wedge. If you need to simplify your short game, there are alternatives to the sand wedge that could be a good fit.

The Types of Players Who SHOULD Carry a Sand Wedge

Golfers who should carry a sand wedge include mid to low handicappers and even some high handicappers confident in their chipping strokes. In addition, golfers that want more loft, easy launch out of sand traps, and more workability in their shots should also consider using the sand wedge.

Lower Handicappers

Professional golfers and those that shoot low have an incredible ability to control what the ball does around the green. The reason they can do this is partially because of feel but also because of the equipment they play with.

Something like a Titleist Vokey SM9 wedge is designed for this type of player, and it has lots of greenside spin to help keep the ball from rolling off the green or past the pin.

Mid Handicappers

The mid handicappers or average golfers find the sand wedge can help them get out of trouble and get up and down from a variety of places on the golf course. Depending on the type of courses you play, there could be trouble around the greens, and the sand wedge can save you.

Mid handicappers often have enough confidence in their swing to take a full swing with a sand wedge and use it as an approach shot into the green.

Most mid handicappers play with some type of game-improvement iron with a lower lofted pitching wedge. Adding the sand wedge into the game helps with an extra loft on bunker shots and greater versatility.

High Handicappers

You may have assumed that high handicappers and beginners are the players that should not carry a sand wedge. I don’t think this is true. However, as a high handicapper or beginner, you do have to have a general understanding of what it takes to hit a solid chip shot with a sand wedge.

If you can get a general idea of what a great shot with this club feels like, you can decrease your score and get up and down.

Some beginner sets do not include a sand wedge because it takes a bit of time to learn how to use one. However, you can absolutely learn the skills if you dedicate a little time.

The Types of Players Who SHOULDN’T Carry a Sand Wedge

Golfers that should not carry a sand wedge include those that skull, chunk, or even shank a sand wedge each time they take it out of the bag. After having taught thousands of golf lessons in my career, I can tell you that this player exists.

Sometimes the higher lofted wedge is just not a good fit for a player, and they struggle too much each time the club comes out of the bag. There is good and bad news here.

The good news here is that most of the chipping you need to do around the green can be done with other clubs and slight adjustments to your stance and setup. The bad news is you still need a golf club with a high loft somewhere in the bag.

Sand Wedge Alternatives

There are a few clubs you will want to have in place if the sand wedge throws you off. Remember that if you choose not to have anything higher in loft than the pitching wedge, there will be certain greenside shots that are nearly impossible to pull off.

Pitching Wedge

The pitching wedge is the wedge that most golfers use if they are reluctant to take out the sand wedge. Pitching wedges can help you take a more compact swing and still see results in your golf game.

Pitching wedges have less loft than sand wedges, so the ball will roll a bit more when it does hit the green.

Chipper

A chipper is essentially like a mix between a putter and a wedge. With the chipper, you have a shorter club (about putter length) that allows you to take a miniature version of a bigger chipping stroke.

It’s almost like taking a putt with a club with a bit more loft and standard wedge grooves. The loft of a chipper is low, and it’s best for bump-and-run shots.

Forgiveness from a chipper is impressive, and the chance of skulling or chunking this shot is slim.

Lob Wedge (Bunker Rescue Club)

As I mentioned, if you don’t have the sand wedge in the bag, you still need something that provides a higher launch. A high launch club gets you out of a bunker or on the green when you have short-sided yourself.

Some golf clubs are made for golfers that struggle with the traditional sand wedge. They are high-lofted wedges like the xE1 designed specifically to get you out of the bunker in one shot.

If you take the sand wedge out because it brings in too much inconsistency, make sure you still have a plan for yourself when the golf ball ends up in the bunker.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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The Only 2 Wedges That a Beginner Should Carry in Their Bag

detlef32 — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:39:08 +0000

If you can master your wedge and putting game, you will see your scores drop rapidly. Up and downs have kept me in the game for most of my life. To help you improve your short game, I am unveiling the two best wedges that a beginner should carry in their bag.

I will help you teach you about loft, distance gapping, and what shots you can play with each. By the end of this post, you will possess the knowledge to dial in your wedges.

The Top 2 Wedges a Beginner Golfer Should Carry in Their Bag

There are four different types of wedges. A pitching, gap, sand, and lob. All of these clubs are crafted for your short game, but they contain varying degrees of loft and bounce. The weaker the loft of your wedge is, the higher it flies and the more it spins.

You can only carry 14-clubs in your bag. That is why it is a difficult process to execute. Personally, I play with three wedges, but beginners only need two.

As a beginner, I advise starting off with two wedges, nothing fancy. All you need to do at this point is a club that bridges the distance gap between your short irons and wedges. As well as a club that offers sufficient loft to get out of greenside bunkers and optimize your precision on chip shots.

Therefore, the top two wedges that a beginner should carry in their bags are pitching and a sand wedge.

1. Pitching Wedge

Golf Monthly suggests that a pitching wedge carries an average of 44.5-degrees of loft, making it the strongest lofted wedge on the market. A pitching wedge produces the least amount of spin and the most distance of the wedges.

A pitching wedge is generally the only wedge included in a modern iron set.

Golfweek explains that the average male golfer hits a full pitching wedge between 100 to 110-yards. Obviously, that distance depends on the wind, moisture, and how cleanly you strike your shot.

Additionally, as its name suggests, this is the best club to play a pitch shot, where the ball flies further than it rolls. If you can master this shot from 50-yards and closer, you will save many shots every round.

Finally, a pitching wedge helps you play a pitch and run shot around the green. Its strengthened loft keeps the ball low and runs it up to the hole.

Best Pitching Wedge: Callaway Big Bertha B21

Top pick

Callaway Big Bertha B21

Club profile is engineered to give you more confidence over the ball with noticeably wider soles. For easy launch, lower spin and straighter shots, more offset has been added.

Buy on Amazon

The Callaway Big Bertha B21 pitching wedge offers beginner golf players a forgiving, easy launching wedge for superior short game results.

Its A.I.-designed Flash Face Cup produces consistent ball speed and robust spin on all shots, leading to a forgiving wedge.

Furthermore, Callaway’s engineers shaped the profile of the wedge to deliver supreme turf interaction. This helps you to catch the ball cleanly from any lie in the fairway or rough, resulting in prime spin, launch, and ball speed on each shot.

Finally, urethane microspheres are inserted between the clubface and cavity. It produces a soft feel at impact.

Overall, high handicappers and beginners benefit from the forgiveness, consistent spin, and easy launching nature of the B21. As a result, it helps you achieve increased control in your short game to save strokes.

2. Sand Wedge

A sand wedge is the second weakest lofted wedge on the market and is used for bunker shots and chipping. Golf Monthly explains that this is typically a 56-degree wedge designed to help the average player get the ball high and spin rapidly.

Despite its name suggesting that it only be used from the bunker, it is the best wedge for chipping. In addition, it carries sufficient loft, should you need to send the ball high and stop it rapidly.

You can find a more detailed run-down on sand wedges in our guide to a 58-degree wedge.

Best Sand Wedge: Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge

Top pick

WILSON Harmonized Golf Wedges

This wedge performs optimally around the green producing high launching chips and supreme shot stopping power. The sole grind design of this wedge allows you to open the face for additional loft with ease.

Buy on Amazon

The Wilson Harmonized Sand Wedge is a highly affordable option for beginners. Despite its low price, this wedge performs optimally around the green producing high launching chips and supreme shot stopping power.

The sole grind design of this wedge allows you to open the face for additional loft with ease. That means that you can increase the height and spin of your shots by opening your clubface. In addition, the bounce angle design of the Harmonized wedge prompts rapid spin to stop your ball immediately when landing.

Therefore, it equips you with the confidence to attack the pin and increase your up and down record.

Ultimately, the Wilson Harmonized Sand Wedge offers an affordable, high spinning chipping tool ideal for beginners or a high handicapper.

Why You Should Be Carrying These 2 Wedges

Distance

I know wedges are associated with spin and greenside control, but distance gapping is relevant to this debate. If you select the incorrect wedges, you could leave distance gaps in your game, leading to inaccurate distance control, and wasted shots.

I hit an average length ball, and in dry conditions, with no wind, I average 120-yards with a 9-iron and 109-yards with a pitching wedge. My 9-iron is 39-degrees, and my pitching wedge 45. The six-degree loft variation equates to a loss of 11-yards.

Then, I carry a 56-degree sand wedge and a 60-degree loft wedge. With a full swing and a delofted sand wedge, I average 87-yards, in perfect conditions. I don’t generally hit a full lob wedge and keep it for flop shots, but if I do, my average is 70-yards.

If you have a 39-degree 9-iron and only carry a 56-degree sand wedge, you lack 17-degrees of loft. Based on my example, that means that 33-yards would be missing from my bag. Shots between 87 to 120-yards out would require a soft 9-iron or a forced sand wedge, which is not ideal for your distance control.

Similarly, without a sand wedge or lob wedge, you cannot swing full-on shots shorter than 109-yards. As a result, you don’t enjoy the launch and spin for superior shot-stopping power.

Control

A pitching and sand wedge optimize your short game control. Using the correct wedge produces improved distance control over a softly swung 9-iron.

Like anything, when you do not possess the correct tools, you cannot execute your tasks effectively. The same goes for wedges. If you only have a pitching wedge, you might struggle to control bunker shots or short chips.

Conversely, playing the lack of a pitching wedge leads to you hitting soft 9-iron shots, which do not stop as quickly as the former.

Spin

Although a pitching wedge spins more than any iron, it combines spin and ball speed to deliver distance and control. That means that you can still hit the ball over 100-yards. However, the spin equips the ball with optimal shot stopping power for consistency around the greens.

Those who substitute soft 9-irons for full wedge shots lose that spin. Therefore, the ball does not stop as quickly and rolls uncontrollably, leading to inaccurate distance control.

Conversely, a sand wedge promotes increased spin enabling you to get the ball high and stop it quickly. That means that you can control your chip shots better to improve your up and down record.

Basically, the higher the loft of your golf clubs are, the more they will spin. As Trackman explains, excess spin impacts distance. However, insufficient spin implodes your control around the green. That is why you need a combination of a medium spinning pitching wedge and high spinning sand wedge.

Additional Wedges That an Intermediate Player Might Carry

Gap Wedge

I wish I had opted for a gap wedge instead of a lob wedge when I was a junior golfer. The weakest part of my game were shots from 90 to 110-yards out. A pitching wedge was too much club, while a sand wedge was insufficient.

If I had an approach wedge (AW), I would have improved my distance control and been far better than a 4-handicapper. However, I opted for a lob wedge because it catered to my preference of chipping the ball high and stopping it dead.

I advise intermediate players to not make the mistake I did and add a gap wedge to your arsenal. Having control over the 90 to 110-yard range is a game-changer, especially if you play on courses with short par 4’s.

Best Gap Wedge: Cleveland CBX 2

Top pick

Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge

Additional weight distributed to the perimeter offers more forgiveness at impact. Three different sole Grinds deliver more versatility to execute any shot on the course.

Buy on Amazon

The Cleveland CBX 2 offers mid-handicap golfers superior forgiveness because of its cavity back design. Added perimeter weighting increases forgiveness on off-center strikes, while three dynamic sole grinds execute any shot of your preference.

Furthermore, the engineers employed Enhanced Feel Balancing and Rote Face technology to ensure maximum spin. As a result, you enjoy a soft feel at impact and optimal greenside control for better results on approach.

Additional Wedges That an Advanced Player Might Carry

Lob Wedge

I am a big fan of lob wedges because the weaker loft suits my way of chipping. I like to put the ball up high and stop it dead wherever possible. I also grew up playing parkland courses where clearing trees and sand traps were an every-round occurrence.

The ability to generate supreme spin, launch a ball high, and stop it dead is a handy tool in your artillery. Mid and high-handicappers may struggle to control the spin and loft of this wedge. But low handicappers looking to attack the pin on every chip shot will appreciate the distance control precision that it offers.

To learn more about the powers of a 60-degree wedge, read our review.

Best Lob Wedge: Mizuno JPX 921

Top pick

Superior golfers demand a buttery-soft feel, attractive appearance, and optimal spin from their wedges. The Mizuno JPX 921 ticks these boxes and offers low handicappers some of the best golf wedges on the market.

Mizuno constructed these wedges with rough face milling lines to enhance the spin on close-range shots. In addition, X30 stainless steel produces a soft feel and crisp acoustics off the clubface.

Finally, a Pearl brush finish repels moisture away from the clubface to promote a clean strike. Plus, it reduces glare while setting up for your shot. Despite its quality feel and performance, it is a relatively affordable option.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Callaway players to carry St Andrews-inspired bag at 150th Open

detlef32 — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 06:06:40 +0000

Callaway, like many of the major golf brands, often creates limited edition golf bags for their tour players to use for the major championships, but this year, in celebration of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, the company has taken things a step further by launching a competition among local schoolchildren to come up with a design to celebrate the milestone event in bag form.

The tour pro judging panel included Danny Willett, the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links champion, and Min Woo Lee, who played The Old Course in reverse last year to commemorate the 200th birthday of four-time Open winner Old Tom Morris.As an extension of the design challenge, larger-than-life sculptures of the final ten bags have been positioned in various locations around St Andrews running up to The Open. These specially commissioned sculptures formed a new attraction, The Big Bag Trail, a route from which locals and visitors can explore the town and remains open until July 17.Iona’s winning design takes inspiration from many of St Andrews’ iconic and recognisable landmarks, including the famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole of The Old Course, the colourful houses by the harbour, the historic cathedral and the town’s beautiful seafront location.After being selected as the winning artist, Iona said: “I’m thrilled that my artwork was chosen. I wanted the design to be full to the brim of all the things I love about Scotland, and for it to look recognisable and interesting to the viewer. It has been a fantastic experience to be involved in this design project with my fellow students. It will be a little bit surreal seeing my bag alongside some of the world’s best golfers, but I can’t wait.”

Handmade sculptures of the 10 shortlisted golf bag designs are being displayed around St Andrews until July 17, after which they will be auctioned for charity

Neil Howie, President and Managing Director, Callaway EMEA, added: “We have traditionally created limited edition Tour Bags for the Majors, and always take inspiration from the region in which the event is staged. While keeping to the traditions of creating a bespoke Tour Bag, we recognised the opportunity to do something different in this special year for The Open. To engage the local community in this way and to go to local students and do something like this has been truly unique. What is brilliant is that it is just so visible, and to think that Iona has the potential to see one of our Staff Professionals in contention, with her bag visible to so many people, is just phenomenal.”

Following the conclusion of The Open, the 10 sculptures from The Big Bag Trail will be auctioned at a special evening event at the Tom Morris Bar & Grill in the St Andrews Links Clubhouse on July 19, with all proceeds going to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) and Scottish Sports Futures (Changing Lives Through Sport).
This special auction is also accessible to the public, via bidder registration, from a virtual link HERE.

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How many golf clubs can you carry?

detlef32 — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 06:36:25 +0000

Golf is a
game that throws up many surprises. Even if you’re playing a familiar course,
there’s no guarantee each hole will be exactly the same as you remember.

There are
various factors which can impact your game and performance. Be it the weather,
surface, or your choice of club—you need to be prepared.

But different courses have different rules about what you can and can’t take with you out on the course, which leads to that all-important question…

How many golf clubs can you carry?

Of course, the
question of how many golf clubs you can carry often boils down to personal
preference and your style of play.

After all,
nobody wants to feel weighed down or not fully equipped. Buggy or no buggy, you
should only ever carry what you know you’ll need.

Generally speaking, the universal rules of golf stipulate you can carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in your golf bag, but the make-up of that 14 is entirely up to you.

For
example, some golfers choose to carry two drivers, and some carry two putters, then
there are your irons, and so on.

Related: What golf clubs do I need?

Choosing your golf clubs

Choosing an
appropriate set of golf clubs for your game can be difficult, especially if
you’re not entirely clued up on all things equipment—it’s a fast-paced world.

New sets
are released seemingly all the time, and the choice has never been greater.

Although no
two players or courses are the same, a typical golf bag might contain:

1x or 2x driver(s)
1x or 2x putter(s)
Set of irons (usually 5-7 clubs)
1x or 2x wood(s)
1x or 2x wedge(s)
1x hybrid or ‘rescue’ club (optional)

There’s often an element of ‘tradition’ associated with your golf bag and what it should consist of—but having a set of clubs which suits YOU and your game is the most important consideration.

Related: What are the best golf club sets for intermediate players?

Is 14 golf clubs too many?

The 14-club
rule was introduced in the 1920s for various reasons. The first was so as not
to exhaust the caddies but also to ensure the game was fair, with players not being
disadvantaged merely because of the clubs (or lack thereof) at their disposal.

However, golf has advanced hugely since the 1920s. Nowadays, both club manufacturing and technology are far superior to 100 years ago, with clubs having multiple functions and built-in capabilities.

Some golfers argue that even 14 clubs is too many to carry nowadays. But, again, that’s up to you.

Related: Why having 14 golf clubs in your bag is too many

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your golf clubs are your pride and joy as a golfer. That’s why you’d be daft
not to consider taking out some insurance to protect them and you.

At Golf Care, our golf insurance includes Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. It’s also underpinned by our very own ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which promises great cover and exceptional service at a price you can afford.

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