Get Rid of Your Lob Wedge

 

The rules of golf allow a player to have 14 clubs in their bag for a round of golf. Most of the time, depending on the set and the preference of the player, that leaves room for 3 wedges for short game shots. A couple of the most common configurations is to have wedges that are 52-56-60 degrees, or 50-54-58 degrees. Being able to hit good shots and score from 120 yards and in is the key to being a good golfer, so it’s important to have some options in your wedge game to hit different types of shots, but I’m here to tell you that you don’t need a 58 or 60-degree wedge (sometimes called a lob wedge). 

The first reason you don’t need a lob wedge is that your sand wedge can do everything your lob wedge can do. If you’re using your lob wedge for full shots, chances are you are spinning the ball a little too much. Hitting a “knock-down” sand wedge will take care of that, plus you will have more control when you aren’t swinging full strength. Not only that, but those short, finesse shots around the green that a lot of golfers use a lob wedge for would actually be better with a sand wedge. Even high flops can be hit with a 56-degree wedge if you just open the face and your stance. There’s no need for a lob wedge because the sand wedge can do everything it can do, and more!

The other reason you don’t need a lob wedge is that it gives you options to add other clubs to your bag. The place where most people would benefit from having more options (myself included) is the top end of the bag, not the bottom. Having an extra fairway wood or hybrid would actually help you more than having a wedge that only does a couple of things for your game. Whether it’s more options off the tee or filling a yardage gap with your long clubs, it makes more sense to me to have more woods or hybrids than wedges. Those long par 3s will be less intimidating, approaches to par 5s will be covered, and those tricky par 4s where you can’t hit the driver won’t leave you in between clubs. So get rid of that lob wedge and grab another fairway wood or hybrid.

The reality is that golf is a feel game, especially with the wedges. Some people are just comfortable hitting certain shots with certain clubs, and that’s perfectly fine! However, I really think most people would benefit from limiting the number of options with their wedges and reappropriating that further up the bag. Ditch the lob wedge and rely on your sand wedge, you might even realize you don’t miss it after all!