Learning how to properly use the sole of the club (bounce) is crucial when you need to hit a pitch shot that bounces high and stops quickly. If your wedge digs into the turf, you may overreact and try to avoid the ground entirely, which often results in a blade shot.
hitting the ground is no Question – Proper use of club bounce yes. This is just one of five ways to avoid bumping the ball. Check them all out below.
1. Use a bouncy club
Choosing the right club is crucial. For a true pitching shot, you should use a high-loft wedge with bounce:
- Sand Wedge: 54–56°
- Gap wedge: 50–52°
- Loft wedge: 58–60°
Bounce helps the club glide through the turf instead of digging into it. If you hit the ground a little early, it provides forgiveness and gives you the confidence to hit the ground without having to worry about the shot getting hit.
2. Ball position
The position of the ball greatly affects the interaction of the club with the ground. To encourage club slide, hit the ball slightly forward to center.
When the club is centered in your stance and the ball is in front of that line, you maintain loft and bounce. If the ball is hit too far back, the shaft will naturally tilt forward, lowering the loft, reducing bounce and increasing the chance of a hole.
3. Axis tilt
Leaning the shaft forward reduces the bounce of the club, making it more likely to dig. At address, the handle should be pointed toward your center or even slightly back to increase loft and expose bounce.
You can use your body weight to bias your front side, but be careful not to combine this with forward shaft lean. This applies to address and impact.
4. Rotate and release
Your passing motion is just as important as your positioning. Proper pitching and swinging can make Release the clubheadinstead of maintaining the angle and leaning the shaft forward.
Feel your hands helping the clubhead catch up with – or even slightly exceed – handle. Finally move your weight forward, using a small pivot so the club can sweep the grass under and behind the ball. Avoid backing off or trying to “help” the ball fly into the air.
5. Properly installed wedges
Great technique is important, but wedge fit also plays a big role in how the club interacts with the turf. Your wedge loft, bounce, and clearance should be appropriate for your swing and course conditions.
I send most of my students and my own family to True Spec Golf for club fitting. Using wedges that slide rather than dig can significantly improve your short game stability.
If you’d like to learn more about how to execute various short game shots and calibrate your system to lower your score, consider exploring my short game lessons, which cover chipping and pitching.
