Equipment
Is the lob wedge overrated? – GolfWRXers have their say
In our forums, our members have been discussing the lob wedge after WRXer ‘dalehead’ suggested that the club might not be necessary. ‘Dalehead’ says:
“Most recreational players are not very good with their wedges to begin with. Adding a lob wedge just gives them another option to use to skull or chili dip a shot. Tour pros could hit the same shots with a 56-degree sand wedge as they do with a lob wedge. The one exception is the short side pitch over a bunker, and even there the sand wedge would work, especially with the hours of practice those guys put in on their short games.”
Our members have been having their say on the subject, with plenty of interesting takes being offered up.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Fuscinator: “If you practice enough with a lob wedge, it’s worth carrying. You can go for more pins if you’re less worried about missing it on the short side. They CAN be addicting, though.”
- Z1ggy16: “Depends. Idk about other players but I prefer a bit more bounce on my 54* because I play it mostly square. I would not want to open up a mid to higher bounced sand wedge on a tightly packed/firm bunker… let alone one with a larger lip. That’s where my lob wedge comes in. It also gives me the option to hit high soft pitches to front pins in that 20-30 yard range… tough for me to do with 54*. I tend to agree that for not very good players… the less loft you have around the greens the better, but a lot of us also don’t play on PGA Tour set ups, with fine white sand as fluffy and soft as pillows. Many of us just get dirt.”
- Drivingrangehero: “Waste of a spot in my bag, so I removed it. I found that I could do the same with my 56* and preferred to use the 56* over the lob anyways. I dropped the 3 wood and the Lob wedge as well. In their place, I was able to carry a strong 2 hybrid and a 2 iron. Lob wedges were not a staple in professional golfers bags till the 80-90’s, and it seems like they are more of a rescue club from tough lies around the greens. You don’t see many full swings from 85 yards on tour like you do in public golf.”
- Pingistheanser: “Amen. That’s why I don’t carry a lob wedge anymore. There isn’t a shot that I need to hit that I cant hit with a 56 and the shots that you can hit with a 60 but can’t hit with a 56, I probably shouldn’t be trying anyways. Taking the lob wedge out of the bag, and taking the flop shot out of their game is one of the smartest things a high handicapper can do to lower their scores.”
- Powderedtoastman: “Those who believe the LW is overrated haven’t had the chance to use it fully to its potential. Pros would rather use 260cc drivers than give up the LW.”
- Scottbox: “They’re fantastic for golfers 15 handicap and lower. Otherwise, it’s best that you learn to use your SW and all the different shots you can execute with it.”
Entire Thread: “Is the lob wedge overrated?”
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Whats in the Bag
Dustin Johnson WITB 2024 (May)
- Dustin Johnson what’s in the bag accurate as of PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees @12.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution 2.0 Tour Spec X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 HL (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: LA Golf Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Dustin Johnson’s clubs here.
7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (21 degrees)
Shaft: LA Golf Prototype
9-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (24 degrees)
Shaft: LA Golf Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Dustin Johnson’s clubs here.
Irons: TaylorMade P730 DJ Proto (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG (52 @54, 60)
Shafts: KBS Tour Custom Black 120 S
Check out more in-hand photos of Dustin Johnson’s clubs here.
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour T3.0
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 1.0
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Check out more in-hand photos of Dustin Johnson’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Phil Mickelson WITB 2024 (May)
- Phil Mickelson what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
4-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: KBS TD 80 Category 5
Hybrid: Ping Anser (17 degrees)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Prototype 90 X
Irons: Callaway Rogue ST Pro (5), Callaway X Forged 2013 (6-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour-V 125 (5), Mitsubishi MMT 115 TX (6-9)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10J) Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind 19 (60, 64)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 115 TX
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Phil Mickelson’s clubs here.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/20/24): Callaway Triple Diamond Ai smoke 7-wood
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Callaway Triple Diamond Ai smoke 7-wood.
From the seller: (@bogeywoods03): “Triple Diamond ai smoke 7 wood 20 degree with Denali 6.0 70 shaft , hits nukes and comes with og headcover $225 shipped obo.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Callaway Triple Diamond Ai smoke 7-wood
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Mario Blanco
May 6, 2020 at 10:03 am
I carry 52-56-60 (low bounce), no way I am leaving the 60 degrees out. In the holiday bag I got 52-58-62 (medium bounce), if it’s not too dry, I might leave the 62 out. Both
On hard pan, you cannot open a 56 to make it 65 degrees without having the front edge way off the ground, you’re just asking for trouble. It depends on your level of confidence, I trust my flop shots 100% so I should carry a lob wedge, if that’s not your case, leave it in the garage.
Richard Douglas
May 4, 2020 at 9:49 pm
Almost any tool can hurt you if you don’t know how to use it.
I can’t imagine working around the green without one. Yes, flop shots are a part of it, but so are most shots from the fairway >50yds. I also use it for a lot of my shorter bunker shots, especially from hard sand. (I don’t have to open the face as much and expose the flange to the hard sand, reducing the risk of bouncing the wedge into the ball.)
The lob wedge is no different than any other club in the back, except for (a) more loft and (b) less bounce than the SW.
For me personally, I need it because my SW is the same length as the rest of my set. This makes it less utile around the greens, especially if you need to open the face.
Finally, what would I replace it with? I probably hit 10 shots per round with it, easily. What do I need on the other end that would get anywhere near that amount of use? Another wood? another hybrid? No. I hit a lot of approach shots on par-4 and par-5 holes with it, use it to stop short pitches and chips, and use it at least three-quarters of the time from bunkers. Other than the putter, it is the most valuable club in my bag. And when I hit that lob straight up in the air, I’d like to see you do that with a 56-degree wedge with all that bounce. Better not miss!
Joeoe
May 4, 2020 at 8:44 pm
A sand wedge is more than enough loft for any shot.