Wedges, like irons, are an unavoidable aspect of the short game, so understanding how they perform, as well as their respective attributes, is one of the keys to success.
With that said, Vokey wedges offer a considerable deal of variety in wedge grinds that change their bounce characteristics.
But to understand the value offered here, we need to know what wedge bounce is in the first place. Let’s unpack that here.
What Is Wedge Bounce?
Strictly speaking, wedge bounce refers to the angle produced by the leading edge of the wedge and the lowest point of the club sole.
This angle significantly influences how the club will interact with the turf, and can have correspondingly acute effects on your game.
Depending on the degree of wedge bounce, the club head can either dig into the turf, or glide smoothly through it, helping you navigate tough lies.
Moreover, bounce can be crucial when trying to extricate your golf ball from a sand trap. Bounce in a wedge helps the club slice smoothly through the sand, contacting the ball evenly and generating the lift needed to get it out of there.
Bounce can significantly improve the forgiveness of a given wedge, and it can help ensure even contact and the desired launch and lift characteristics, even in tough situations and on mishits.
Therefore, it is important to think of bounce as an asset in your arsenal. Understanding how it works and choosing the right wedge with an appropriate grind that gives it suitable bounce characteristics can make a big impact on your short game.
As a general rule, it’s best to go with wedges that produce higher bounce when you’re working with sand or soft turf, as these do not dig too deeply into the ground and help produce a smooth, clean shot.
As for lower-bounce wedges, those are generally more suitable for firmer, harder ground, as they “bounce” less, and skip off the turf, rather than biting in - although this is not a hard or fast rule.
Vokey Wedges: Variety in Grind and Bounce
How the club is ground will strongly influence its bounce characteristics, which is why so many manufacturers produce wedges that have a number of different grind profiles.
Among these are Vokey wedges, which are available in a number of different grinds, which makes it possible not only to tailor them to specific turf conditions, but also to the needs of the golfer.
Vokey wedges are available in 7 different wedge grind profiles, which are the T, F, M, S, and D, grinds, along with two K grinds (both a 6° and 14° version are available).
On one end of the spectrum you have the 14° K grind, which offers the highest bounce in the Vokey lineup, and is optimized for soft turf conditions, making it the ultimate bunker wedge.
On the other end, you have the T grind, with the narrowest sole, which offers sharper shotmaking through low-bounce performance for greater versatility on firmer ground, such as on the green.
Between these, there is a great deal of variety in Vokey wedge grinds, optimized for players with different needs as well as for differing turf conditions.
Where to Learn More
Want to find the best Vokey wedges for your skillset and style of play? Not sure whether you’ll find that in the Vokey lineup or elsewhere? Get in touch with the pros at Dallas Golf Company.
Their professional club fitters will make personalized recommendations for which golf wedges and irons are best for your short game, so you can take the guesswork out of the equations. Even if you know what you want to buy but still have a few questions, they’re a great resource.
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